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DATELINE June 20,2016
| RAY BOLGER and the missing dance from The Wizard of Oz. Ray came to Santa Cruz a few times. We visited once when he filmed Peter and The Wolf for Dan Bessie out on Swanton Road. |
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THE DOWSERS ARE COMING!!! We don’t hear as much about dowsing as we used to. Dowsing being the “art” of divining where water is located by use of some sort of sticks, or rods. There’s much more to it than that and the 34 th annual West Coast Dowsing Convention is happening again this year from July 1-5 on the UCSC campus.
DOWSING CONFERENCE IN SANTA CRUZ.
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FUTURE OF PACIFIC AVENUE. Our Santa Cruz City Council race is looming closer each week. What should be one of the largest issues facing our council is the health and future of Pacific Avenue. Our wimpy council kowtows daily to allow business exploitation and what should be better marketing concepts to stop more ruining of our Downtown. As out of town franchises like Five Guys Burgers gets more and more popular, more and more of that money goes out of town and more of our local burger businesses are hurt. As our City Museum of Art & History brings in four or five out of town restaurants and a wine and beer business, again more of our local businesses are decimated. As our police hassle our street performers and the vendors, they refuse to ticket or stop the insane loudness from the roaring motorcycles. Those motorcyclists licenses could easily be photographed and ticketed. We now have one “parklet” narrowing Cathcart street. The quick debate will soon carry over to more parklets on Pacific and so will the decades old debate on making Pacific a one way street, or closing it to all traffic. We need some consistent thinking, planning, and permitting if Downtown is going to remain the centerpiece it once was…when locals went there to shop and have fun.
COTONI-ESHOO-CEMEX NATIONAL MONUMENTAL THREAT. Before everybody gets excited over again about Congresswoman Anna Eshoo’s National Park Monument with Obama’s Yosemite push, we need to realize and remember that our Coast Dairies Land just north of Davenport is now and has been 1. Almost wilderness 2. Completely protected by BLM regulations. 3. Even if declared a National Monument BLM doesn’t have the money to protect it from the tens of thousands of tourists that will invade and ruin the very nature of the place. AND what happened to all the political promises by Supervisor Ryan Coonerty, Anna Eshoo and others to not support the Monument status unless certain rules and regulations were made part of the plan?
SANTA CRUZ SHAKESPEARE. I drove up to the De La Veaga building site of Santa Cruz Shakespeare’s new outdoor theatre a couple of weeks ago. I was going to take pictures of how it’s developing, but I couldn’t, the project is just too big to photograph. Rick Wright the president of the Shakespeare board stopped by my car on his way to saw down a couple of trees. He told me there was more than 2 ½ miles of cables under the new “Tech House” building that was near completion. Tractors, bulldozers, trucks were everywhere, didn’t see any seats yet but the whole scene is so large I might have missed them. Everything opens July 12th. It’s going to be something else. Especially when they only have a two year lease.
APOLOGY TO STEPHEN KESSLER. I wrote here two weeks ago in answer to Stephen Kessler’s diatribe against Bernie Sanders that he was heir to the Maidenform Bra fortune. Stephen corrected me…it was Rose Marie Reid Swimware not Maidenform Bra. Stephen after continuing to slam Bernie in every possible way also corrected me in saying he never had to work for a living. He said he did too, he’s been a writer almost all his life…you can see what he’s been up to all of his years at http://stephenkessler.com
PAUL ELERICK IS ON VACATION (In Michigan)
DEMOCRACY UNDERMINED
Last Thursday, the City of Santa Cruz Planning Commission voted unanimously to conduct their next round of discussions on the Corridor Plan and the Downtown Recovery Plan in a series of private ad hoc committee meetings. No public allowed. Two ad hoc committees were voted in: one to review development standards and circulation issues for the Corridors Plan and the other to review development standards for the Downtown Recovery Plan, that outdated name for the bulky high rises that will eventually line the river on Front St. between Laurel and Soquel, and parts of Pacific, bulldozing the current buildings that house Recycled Stereo, India Joze, University Copy and many other small long-time Santa Cruz businesses. These zoning changes foreshadow the development of projects more massive and impactful than any Santa Cruz has ever experienced, ones guaranteed to change the character of Santa Cruz to the point of rendering parts of town unrecognizable.
click here to continue (link expands, click again to collapse)
Our democratic process is not something to take for granted. It needs constant vigilance. As it increasingly slips away it needs your voice raised in protest. ( Gillian Greensite is a long time local activist, a member of Save Our Big Trees and the Santa Cruz chapter of IDA, International Dark Sky Association http://darksky.org Plus she’s an avid ocean swimmer, hiker and lover of all things wild).
PATTON’S PROGRAM. From Gary’s Two Worlds website…
Stanley McChrystal is a retired General in the United States Army. In other words, this is a guy who knows about guns (and other weapons). In an opinion piece in the June 17, 2016 edition of The New York Times, McChrystal came out in favor of gun control legislation, to “keep guns out of the hands of those who cannot be trusted to handle them responsibly.” What we need to avoid, said McChrystal, is a situation in which “our communities … feel like war zones.” 
McChrystal’s article bore this title: “Home Should Not Be A War Zone.” I want to join with McChrystal in saying that “home should not be a war zone.” But let me ask this question: Does that same principle apply to Iraq? Or to Afghanistan? And what about Syria? What about Libya? Presumably, we all remember the pictures of what United States military operations, some of them directly commanded by McChrystal, did in those countries. U.S. Military operations have turned the homes of other nations into “war zones,” with drone strikes, on the ground military operations, naval bombardments and aircraft bombing runs. The picture below is from Iraq, and is labeled as “collateral damage.” We started that war.
In the article readers are reminded that the United States has a long history of bombing the homes of other peoples “back to the stone age,” to use the colorful, but largely accurate, language of General Curtis LeMay. Here for nostalgia buffs, is a picture of a United States aviator destroying Ben Tre, a village in Vietnam.
| GREAT WHITE SHARKS JUMPING. Probably not as big a danger as the bird poop on our wharf but worth thinking about. |
There is at least some evidence that the recent and horrific events in Orlando, Florida were the result of someone trying to achieve retribution, in this country, for what this country is doing to the homes of those living in countries that the United States government has decided have something to do with “terrorism.” Ask the ordinary people whose homes are being destroyed by the United States military who they think the terrorists are. Their answer will almost certainly be that the greatest purveyor of terror today is the United States government (and specifically its military troops and the private contractors who have properly been identified by Bob Dylan as the Masters of War). Want to stop terrorist efforts from targeting U.S. communities, and trying to turn them into war zones? Let’s stop doing to others what we do no t want them to do unto us!”
Gary is a former Santa Cruz County Supervisor (20 years) and an attorney who represents indivuduals and community groups on land use and environmental issues. The opinions expre ssed are Mr. Patton’s. Gary has his own website, Two Worlds at www.gapatton.net
CLASSICAL DeCINZO. Our spacial neighbors and their welcome see down a few pages..
EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. Eagan views our constitutional RITES…use your scroll wheel for a few pages below.
Then check out Tim’s other views…
And the latest EaganBlog, We’re All in This, but Not Necessarily Together:
LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa writes: “Party like a pagan this week at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com), as we celebrate the Summer Solstice! And. as an extra added attraction this year, we also get a full moon on the same day! Read all about it!” Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.
THAT IS THE QUESTION
(THE NEWEST FILMS IN ORDER OF PERFECTION)
WEINER. As weird as Anthony Weiner is, the social programs he fights for to become Mayor of New York City are way better than Cynthia Mathews’s any day. He’s brilliant, the documentary is well done, and this guy has a lifelong hang up with his name and his wiener. So he photographs his crotch and puts it online. Later on during his Mayor campaign, he has phone sex with a young babe. His famous wife is/was Hillary Clinton’s best friend and advisor. If it wasn’t all true it would be the nutso fantasy of all time. Go see it.
DARK HORSE. Another documentary, and it’s syrupy, feel good, nearly predictable and grand fun to watch. The middle class Brits who all chip in and buy a race horse are perfect. You’d want them for neighbors. It’s another slam at England’s class system. Their class system is just older and better defined and more accepted than ours.
STILL PLAYING AT A THEATRE NEAR US
FROM BEST TO REALLY BAD
MAGGIE’S PLAN. This NYC tradgi-comedy falls into the “Woody Allen, New York City Odd People in Love” category. Julienne Moore, Greta Gerwig, Ethan Hawke and Bill Hader do excellent acting (except for Julienne Moore and her lousy German accent). It’s about University teachers, divorce, sex, raising kids, control freaks, and our very, very complex lives today. You’ll be completely absorbed all the way through. Not a classic but “absorbing”.
ME BEFORE YOU. It’s an odd bit of casting to see Emilia Clarke who plays the white haired, skinny, oft-bare-nippled, dragon mother Princess Daenerys Targaryen Thoros in Game Of Thrones in this hammy, corney tragi-comedy. She is chubby, uneducated, clutzy, poorly dressed, goofy and mugs incessantly. The other star is a guy in a wheelchair who looks so much like Christopher Reeves (in and out of the wheel chair) that there’s a creepy feeling all through the film. It’s beyond a tear jerker, it’s treacle, sugary, and not worth your time.
LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP. This sharp, wordy, comedy is from a little known Jane Austen book, “Lady Susan”. If you’re particular, it takes place in England 130 years before Downtown Abbey (1790). Plenty of Hayden, Cherubini and Cimarosa-type music. Daughter Hillary convinced me that I’d been slipping critic- wise and that Kate Beckensale is completely out of character, and phoney. It’s a desperate, wordy attempt to make still more money out of anything with Jane Austen’s name on it. The plot centers on what women had to do to survive back then. Go see it if you like Brit costume epics, with lots of scenery and furniture. 99% on Rotten Tomatoes, so go figure. It’s just not all that gteat a film.
NICE GUYS. Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe make terrible buddies in this sloppy attempt at another buddy movie.This one is set in L.A. in the 70’s. An investigator and a cop team up and with no laughs, no subtleties whatsoever, more violence, much blood, …it’s awful. There’s a 13 year old girl in it that does an excellent job of acting her name is Angourie Rice. We’ll be seeing and hearing more of her.
NOW YOU SEE ME 2. A disaster sequel to another disaster opener. 36 on Rotten Tomatoes. Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, and bit parts by Morgan Freeman & Michael Caine but don’t tell anybody. Four would be stage illusionists (technical advice by David Copperfield, really) are supposed to be world famous but Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe, really) is an evil world plotter and you’ll never be able to follow the plot anyways, so don’t go. Tell your friends who like stage magic not to go too, there isn’t any. What effects there are, are all digital Fx.
THE LOBSTERColin Farrell, Rachel Weisz and John C. Reilly head the cast of this unfathomable, supposedly dystopian satire on our views and customs relating to sex, marriage, and it’s not nice to animals either. It’s heavy drama, with some laughs thrown in. Maybe you have to be young and distant to catch all the supposedly clever zingers. I missed 95% of any meaning or purpose to this flick.
X MEN: APOCALYPSE. Another Marvel Comics dystopian monster versus mutant movie. The one in teresting thing I remember from this very forgetable mess is that Magneto played by Michael Fassbender is Jewish and got all his superhuman strength from the ashes of Auschwitz!! And it shows Auschwitz too!! Jennifer Lawrence, Oscar Issac, James McAvoy and a big surprise Ally Sheedy are all in it for the big bucks they got paid….why else?
POPSTAR: NEVER STOP NEVER STOPPING. I am many generations before this parody of today’s rock scene and didn’t laugh or like any of the parts I stayed awake through. Then I left just about half way through. It is true that Sarah Silverman, Ringo Starr, Mariah Carey, Martin Sheen, Jimmy Fallon, Simon Cowell, and Joan Cusack all have “cameo” parts of about 12 seconds each BUT that Judd Apatow directed it… should be warning enough.
| UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE RADIO PROGRAM KZSC 88.1 FM or live online at www.KZSC.ORG TUESDAYS 7-8 P.M. |
UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE. Each and every Tuesday from 7:00-8:00 p.m. I host Universal Grapevine on KZSC 88.1 fm. or on your computer, (live only or archived for two weeks… (See next paragraph) and go to WWW.KZSC.ORG. June 21 has Carla Brennan talking about Meditation, Buddhism, and Mindfulness. She’s followed by Lincoln Taiz and Ben Leeds Carson talking about the workshop presentation of their opera “Menagerie: The Trial of Spock” (the Star Trek Opera). June 28 has naturalist Grey Hayes warning us of more dangers from the ill-schemed proposed North Coast Cotoni National Monument. He’s followed by UCSC Professor James Clifford telling us about his new UCSC Campus book, “The Ecotone“. Gillian Greensite local environmental activist, brings us up to date on stuff on July 5th…She’s followed by Karen Ashley and Dick Tippett reporting on the West Coast Dowsing Conference. Do remember, any and all suggestions for future programs are more than welcome so tune in, and keep listening. Email me always and only at bratton@cruzio.com
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Oh yes. This isn’t new (2011), but if you’ve ever shopped at Whole Paycheck, this will resonate.
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NEW UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE ARCHIVE FEATURE. Stuff changes at KZSC a lot. If you missed either of the last two weeks of Universal Grapevine broadcasts go here… http://www.radiofreeamerica.com/dj/bruce-bratton You have to listen to about 4 minutes of that week’s KPFA news first, then Grapevine happens.
UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE ARCHIVES. In case you missed some of the great people I’ve interviewed in the last 9 years here’s a chronological list of some past broadcasts. Such a wide range of folks such as Nikki Silva, Michael Warren, Tom Noddy, UCSC Chancellor George Blumenthal, Anita Monga, Mark Wainer, Judy Johnson, Wendy Mayer-Lochtefeld, Rachel Goodman, George Newell, Tubten Pende, Gina Marie Hayes, Rebecca Ronay-Hazleton, Miriam Ellis, Deb Mc Arthur, The Great Morgani on Street performing, and Paul Whitworth on Krapps Last Tape. Jodi McGraw on Sandhills, Bruce Daniels on area water problems. Mike Pappas on the Olive Connection, Sandy Lydon on County History. Paul Johnston on political organizing, Rick Longinotti on De-Sal. Dan Haifley on Monterey Bay Sanctuary, Dan Harder on Santa Cruz City Museum. Sara Wilbourne on Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre. Brian Spencer on SEE Theatre Co. Paula Kenyon and Karen Massaro on MAH and Big Creek Pottery. Carolyn Burke on Edith Piaf. Peggy Dolgenos on Cruzio. Julie James on Jewel Theatre Company. Then there’s Pat Matejcek on environment, Nancy Abrams and Joel Primack on the Universe plus Nina Simon from MAH, Rob Slawinski, Gary Bascou, Judge Paul Burdick, John Brown Childs, Ellen Kimmel, Don Williams, Kinan Valdez, Ellen Murtha, John Leopold, Karen Kefauver, Chip Lord, Judy Bouley, Rob Sean Wilson, Ann Simonton, Lori Rivera, Sayaka Yabuki, Chris Kinney, Celia and Peter Scott, Chris Krohn, David Swanger, Chelsea Juarez…and that’s just since January 2011.
QUOTES“SHARKS”
“French fries kill more people than guns and sharks, yet nobody’s afraid of French fries“, Robert Kiyosaki
“Sharks are beautiful animals, and if you’re lucky enough to see lots of them, that means that you’re in a healthy ocean. You should be afraid if you are in the ocean and don’t see sharks”, Sylvia Earle
“Most people don’t know that humans kill 100 million sharks every year, mostly for a really expensive soup in Asia”, Michael Muller
Snail Mail: Bratton Online
82 Blackburn Street, Suite 216
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Direct email: Bratton@Cruzio.com
Direct phone: 831 423-2468
All Technical & Web details: Gunilla Leavitt @ godmoma@gmail.com
BEST OF VINTAGE STEVEN DeCINZO.
Deep Cover by Tim Eagan.
