[Please note: the archives will be out of service for some time, while we pull everything together on the new server]

December 21, 2010 – January 4, 2011

SANTA’S VILLAGE. May 9, 1959. (Right to left) Real reindeer, Santa Claus (aka Hocus Pocus), George Liberace (Liberace’s real brother) and some odd-looking Pee Wee Herman type guy. Santa’s Village opened in 1955 in Scotts Valley and went bankrupt in 1977. But the freeway sign is still there. Merry Christmas. photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection. Additional information always welcome: email photo@brattononline.com

FIRST CARS EVER ARRIVE IN SANTA CRUZ. Historian, author and Editor Stan Stevens sent this… from the Santa Cruz Surf Feb 3, 1912
CARLOAD OF AUTOS ARRIVE AT THE DEPOT TODAY FROM DETROIT. A carload of Studebaker E.M.F. “20s” and Flanders “20s” for the local agent, J. O. Cedar, are being unloaded at the S. P. depot this afternoon. This is the first carload of automobiles ever shipped to Santa Cruz and speaks well for the prosperity of this city. The autos are from Detroit and are attracting much attention”.

ARANA GULCH, POGONIP, DE-SAL, UC EXPANSION, APTOS VILLAGE AND MORE ISSUES INVOLVED IN SIERRA CLUB EXECUTIVE ELECTION.

Members of the Santa Cruz Group of the Sierra Club received an unusual mailer from County Treasurer Fred Keeley last week (click here to see it open in a new window) endorsing a slate of candidates (Casterson, Durham and Howerton ) for the annual Executive Committee election. Eyebrows shot up at the list of “celebrity endorsers” such as Gary Griggs and Rowland Rebele who aren’t known for any previous interest in or support for, Club committees, activities, processes or positions. Usually a low-key annual rite with candidates’ statements and pictures presented to members in the newsletter, the sudden surge of high-profile interest and investment in this year’s election generates a big “WHY?”

3 seats are open on the Executive Committee each year; with 3 candidates endorsed on the mailer, it appears that the goal is to “take out” the one incumbent (Pat Matejcek) who is running again. She is known for her staunch defense of the Arana Gulch Greenbelt and her support for the east-west bike route in the rail right-of-way and the route of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Scenic Trail and even more. Could the mailer’s endorsement of cyclists be only about Arana Gulch? Not bloody likely.

There are only 2 independent non-profit environmental organizations operating in Santa Cruz County – California Native Plant Society and The Sierra Club. Only their members and consultants evaluate proposed development projects, private and governmental, and comment on the environmental impacts, as required by the California Environmental Quality Act, the Coastal Act, the National Environmental Quality Act, the Clean Water and Clean Air Acts. These organizations are the only ones that function solely on members’ dues and receive no government funds. Only these organizations have sued when all other attempts to bring proposed projects into compliance with state and federal laws have failed.

The Sierra Club has never faced a concerted, manipulative effort to influence/co-opt Group members’ votes. Given the “high profile” of the local “celebrity endorsers”, several of whom just joined the Club in time to be able to get the list of members and vote in this election, this must have to do with far more than the fate of Arana Gulch or even of Pogonip. It’s about the Club’s integrity and history, on members’ ability and readiness to evaluate and comment appropriately on the flood of governmental and private projects coming forward – desalination, UC expansion, city and county General Plans, the Pajaro River watershed/flood control proposals, transportation projects, Poor Clares, Aptos Village, timber harvest plans, storm water plans, climate change proposals.

The initiator of the mailer Fred Keeley, a county staffer, has a history of political manipulation of national Sierra Club staff to quash the voices of members and the public on projects his business supporters want. For their sleazy moves like this mailer, may they get coal in their stockings and by ignoring the mailer they’ll get their just desserts.

CHRISTMAS, CLEVEREST CLIP I’VE SEEN. Welles B. Goodrich sent this in. Agnostics, Atheists, plus Christians and your best friends should love this clip.

PART TWO. In response to all of above Pat Matejcek sent the following:

Dear friends and colleagues in the Sierra Club-Santa Cruz Group:

I am asking for your vote so that I may continue to serve on the Executive Committee of the Santa Cruz Group. I believe the experience that I have gained while serving on the Executive Committee, as the Group’s Conservation Committee Chair, as a current member of the Pajaro River Watershed Committee, as past Political Committee member, as delegate to the California/Nevada Regional Conservation Committee and its annual Convention, as a member of the CA Coastal Committee and the Sierra Club California Nominating Committee, and the National Marine Action Team will continue to be useful to Club members in addressing the numerous and increasingly complex resource issues facing our County.

You may have received a mailer from Fred Keeley and a faction of bicycle/mountain bike advocates who are trying to hijack this election by recently joining the Sierra Club. The politicos are trying to assure the Santa Cruz Group’s compliance with the local political support for excessive growth and development, while the bicyclists are trying to develop support for putting paved bikeways through natural preserves like Nisene Marks in Aptos, and Arana Gulch and Pogonip in Santa Cruz.

None of the candidates endorsed by this mailer, except Keresha Durham, have ever been active in or with any of the local issues. Their mobilizing issues have been bikes in Arana Gulch and, recently, Pogonip, but any evidence of interest or capability beyond “bikes belong everywhere” and economic self-interest is not demonstrated in their candidates’ statements.

The ballot is on page 15 of the most recent Ventana newsletter. Put a check mark by my name, tear off the page and post the ballot as soon as possible – the deadline is JANUARY 2. See instructions at the top of page 15.

Thank you. Patricia Matejcek

THE GHOST OF MORTON MARCUS!!! Absolutely amazing, is what you’ll say if you’ve never seen or heard of JJ Webb and Beau Blue’s WWW.CruzioCafe.com . Go there, and then click on “Stage Directory”. Then you’ll see all these sites with poet avatars reading their poems. Morton Marcus reads The Angel Incident inside “Stage Upstairs”http://www.cruziocafe.com/new_site/directory.html . Good ol’ Mort does The Tooth Fairy there too. He performs Shouting Down The Silence if you open “Green Room”. Local poets like Ellen Bass and Robert Sward are in there too. Then again so are Al Young, William Carlos Williams, Kenneth Patchen, Nick Herbert, and Robert Bly.

CHRISTMAS SONGS FOR ATHEISTS. Over on AlterNet, Greta Christina says:
“What do you do if you’re an atheist who likes Christmas carols? It’s widely assumed that atheists, by definition, hate Christmas. And it’s an assumption I’m baffled by. I like Christmas. Lots of atheists I know like Christmas.” Read the rest and see her list of songs!

MOBIUS STRIP EXPLAINED. Mobius strips are fun but deep. Try these two attachments during a down time this week.

PATTON’S PROGRAM. Gary opens by wanting to create a “Land Use Academy“. He carries on giving us lesson one on Land Use Decisions. Then he tells us about monks and bowing and judges and judicial deference. He gets involved with how we should elect the right people. He closes on Friday saying, “ We can provide the operations and maintenance our environment needs only by close attention, and diligent work. Actively participating in the governmental decision-making affecting our environment is one way to do that. Start thinking about that for the New Year coming! We can all probably do better”.

(Gary Patton is “Of Counsel” to the Santa Cruz law firm of Wittwer & Parkin, which specializes in land use and environmental law. The opinions expressed are Mr. Patton’s. Gary has his own website, “Two Worlds / 365” – www.gapatton.net )

EAGANS DEEP COVER. Again in full color Tim takes on talk shows…scroll below.

DAVE BRUBECK AT THE BLACKHAWK. Watch Mort Sahl as emcee with the young Brubeck who just turned 90 last week. Ken Koenig sent this clip.

LANDAU’S PROGRES. Just in time for the holidays and the roasting of Julian Assange Saul Landau gives us “The Wikileaks Cookbook” .

Read it all and here’s a sample… “Julian Assange should write a new cookbook, and a certain best-seller. Take a Leak* would offer not only recipes about what to do with that rarely used political vegetable, but also what not to do when preparing the diplomacy menu. President Obama’s “friends and allies” dinner guests, for example, could certainly take a leak – especially after dinner when they’ve drunk forbidden spirits and feel vulnerable. The Saudi royalty and other “moving slowly toward democracy” rulers in that vaguely Middle Eastern area, will not eat Congressional pork, but anything else the waiters put on their plates – and in their glasses — will inevitably draw compliments, no matter how the stuff tastes. These friends and allies never tell us the truth – are they even honest with their own multiple wives? – And we don’t care: they sell us oil and make sure the residents of their kingdoms, who detest us, don’t get a chance to vie for political power. Incidentally, those straightforward residents of the oily realms — the majority – possess different levels of negativity toward the Western world: ranging from violent hatred to murderous dislike. Don’t miss the rest of the Landau lumping”.

Saul Landau is an Institute for Policy Studies fellow whose films are on DVD from roundworldproductions@gmail.com

LISA JENSEN LINKS. This loonar week Lisa says, ” Don’t you love Christmas surprises? What’s under the tree at Lisa Jensen Online Express this week is so hush-hush, even I don’t know about it yet. But expect an update on the extended Art 4 Art show on the west side, some thoughts on holiday windows downtown, and more ideas for a cool Yule in Santa Cruz.

Lisa Jensen has been writing film reviews and a column for Good Times since 1975.

BLACK SWAN. A dark, arty drama starring Natalie Portman in her best acting role yet…and she’s done some very fine acting. Ballet is a demanding art and so is this film.

Tragedy, psycho drama, and as one friend said reminded her of Catherine Denueve and Roman Polanski’s Compulsion. See it only if you like very good movies.

FIGHTER. Not quite up to Raging Bull but still with Mark Wahlberg’s love of boxing, and Christian Bale’s award winning crack head role it is a well done film. These two guys even with such showy screen personas can’t top Amy Adams in her floozy barmaid part of the action. She does it all. Doubt, Julie & Julia, Sunshine Cleaning, Junebug, and she deserves an Oscar or something even better for Fighter.

I LOVE YOU PHILIP MORRIS. Ewan McGregor does cute, wimpy and gay like you can’t imagine and Jim Carrey acts out this true yet unbelievable story like we’ve never seen him before. There’ll be squirming in the audiences but it’s very well worth seeing…not with the visiting family for example.

TRON LEGACY. It’s really just a mind blowing collection of effects leading nowhere. Actors don’t act, plot is beyond comprehension, pointless, and it steals stuff from every good sci-fi movie ever made. Entire sets were copied from 2001, Star Wars, never mind just go if you have youngsters who are our for cheap thrills. But be sure to at least see it in 3D.

HOW DO YOU KNOW. Jack Nicholson looks and acts simply washed up in this lighter than air flick. What’s worse Owen Wilson is in the same boat and can’t act his way out of this asinine script either. Reese Witherspoon has a few cute dimply moments but this is a shameful waste of your hard earned money especially at this time of year.

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 sometimes old programs are on “blog”) at WWW.KZSC.ORG. UCSC Professor of History Dana Frank will be reporting on her latest Honduras trip on December 21^st followed by County Supervisor Neal Coonerty telling us what’s the latest about our County especially District 3 and an update on the Cemex problem. December 28^th will feature a re-broadcast of an earlier Grapevine while I drive back from Victorville. 2011 starts off on January 4^th with Chris Kenney conservator of Paintings and owner of Mobius Art Conservation. Peter and Celia Scott follows on the 4^th talking about The Campaign for Sensible Transportation and what’s new with that. Any and all suggestions for future programs are more than welcome so tune in and keep listening. Karen Kefauver will be back later in January and Kinan Valdez from El Teatro Campesino will be on in February. Any and all suggestions for future programs are more than welcome, so tune in and keep listening.

A CLASSIC “VINTAGE” DISNEY CARTOON. Dawn Gable sent this poignant and surprisingly meaningful Disney 1939 cartoon. She added, “Please take a look at this gem of a video… it really sums up the reasons why we all need to continue trying to bring about peaceful policies and rational relationships among all who share this beautiful earth and wondrous universe. Thanks to each of you for your unique and invaluable contribution. Have a Joyful and Peaceful New Year.

That goes for me too, I’ll be in Mar Vista and Victorville until the middle of next week. See you right back here the first week of January.

QUOTES. “There is less in this play than meets the eye“, Tallulah Bankhead. “I can take any amount of criticism, so long as it is unqualified praise”, Noel Coward. “Scratch an actor and you’ll find an actress”, Dorothy Parker

Deep Cover

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December 13 – 19, 2010

SAME SNOW AS LAST WEEK, OTHER END OF PACIFIC. This was 1957 and as many, many Facebook contributors have noted we’ve had several snows around here. This is looking up Mission where Water, Mission and Pacific meet. It’s another of my favorite holiday photos. photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection. Additional information always welcome: email photo@brattononline.com

HISTORICAL QUESTION. Which was it Brigham Young University or Oral Roberts University? My nephew Larry Cornman and I got to talking at Thanksgiving about how poorly UCSC was doing back about 1980-1982 while he and his brother Bob were going to school here. I used to read in the Sentinel and write about the proposed sale of the UCSC Campus to either Brigham Young University. Larry says nope, it was Oral Roberts University that was being considered as a possible buyer. Larry went on to say that the only thing that saved the UCSC Campus was to guarantee future students that they could get into UC Berkeley if they did their first two years at UCSC. It worked and the then nearly empty campus was saved. Now who can tell me with any authority whether it was BYU or Oral U. that almost became our big neighbor? I’ve asked all my historical friends…nada! Don Miller of the Sentinel hasn’t responded about using the Sentinel archives…so somebody out there must know. Please advise!!!

CREATING A NEW AND “INTERACTIVE” CITY COUNCIL. We have our new City Council now, and we’ll probably survive…but what about a new way of representing the people…por ejemplo…All too many times the council dismisses issues or isn’t aware of just how many citizens care about a problem that faces our city. Few town halls are held because the council claims with little or no proof that it isn’t of sufficient interest…SO….Get Cruzio to develop (from plenty of existing sources) a secure voting system for our City. The results wouldn’t be necessarily “official”…lots of folks don’t use the internet. BUT if they put out the “vote” online about how many people care about an issue and got whatever they figured would be a sizable number of voters to listen to. (Guesses are that 80% or more Santa Cruzans use the internet!!) Then the council could be more aware, more honest and more responsible to us folks who got them into office. Far too many residents don’t like or trust De-salination plants…but Bill Kocher, Mike Rotkin and of course Cynthia keep pushing it. That’s with the help of UCSC of course they want that water for the new campus, when they get the funds to build more of than they have already. These Council Servants of the people have become all to used to the concept that they know more than we do about what’s good for us. With an online tabulation they could see, and WE could see how many citizens wanted or didn’t want De-sal, or Pogonip, or widening Highway 1, or La Bahia or Arana Gulch. No more developers shoving it down their throats and ours. And remember that cost of these “people’s voices” or internet votes would be free and fast…and secure.

MÖBIUS STRIP EXPLAINED. Try this on your tintype over the holidays.

BEST YOU TUBE CLIP…Not a glass harmonica…but much more fun!! Keep watching…big surprises ahead!!

BEYOND MÖBIUS STRIPS. Like for example what do you get when you glue, then cut two Möbius Strips?? This becomes nearly mind boggling but it’s something to think about during these holiday parties.

PATTON’S PROGRAM. Gary talks about the uses and importance of General Plans. He relates news about Wildfire Plans in Monterey County and why we should be careful of them. What’s the use and importance and the in’s and out’s of a “Consent Agenda“?? He uses the word “Kleptocratic” and talks about a co-op in Salinas. (Gary Patton is “Of Counsel” to the Santa Cruz law firm of Wittwer & Parkin, which specializes in land use and environmental law. The opinions expressed are Mr. Patton’s. Gary has his own website, “Two Worlds / 365” – www.gapatton.net )

EAGANS DEEP COVER. Certain mysterious forces say we should call this Deep COLOR but never mind. It’s how Tim Eagan foresees the dealing with taxes…scroll below.

LANDAU’S PROGRES. “WIKILEAKS DESERVES AN AWARD” says Saul Landau in this issue. He continues, “U.S. officials routinely declare commitment to a free press – except when someone uses it to reveal unflattering information. Ironically, members of the media critical of Wikileaks also think the government should protect us by not sharing “classified information.” Those two words often alert us to some bureaucrat who is covering his ass by barring the public from knowing of a possibly illegal act. In school, Americans routinely hear “we are a government of law.” Teachers should add “when convenient.” Indeed, Julian Assange formed Wikileaks because the U.S. government had acted in a wildly illegal fashion and then used “classification of documents” to cover crimes — and because mainstream media abdicated its responsibility decades ago”. Read it all here
Saul Landau is an Institute for Policy Studies fellow whose films are on DVD from roundworldproductions@gmail.com

LINK TO LYDON. Sandy Lydon and Gary Griggs are skulking around plotting stuff and sent this missive…”First off, here’s the link – I know it’s long and a pain – we’re working on making it easier – but won’t have it fixed for a week or so:

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs080/1102805358274/archive/1104043079731.html

Griggs and I spent yesterday with our photo files and went up and did a dress rehearsal of the North Coast walk for this coming Saturday December 18. — Wow, have we got some great stuff — Unless a person has walked along that cliff-top from Scotts Creek Beach down to Davenport Landing, they wouldn’t have a clue as to what’s out there…amazing. There’s a storm coming for this weekend, apparently, in which case we’ll have to reschedule the damned thing — if there’s one place you don’t want to be when a storm blasts in off the Pacific, it’s El Jarro Point. (Griggs can show the group the PRECISE earthquake fault that helped do in the PG&E nuclear project out there). Cool stuff. Happy Holidays! Onward! Sandy

LISA JENSEN LINKS. This week at Lisa Jensen Online Express she promises you can catch up with some vintage holiday chestnuts at the Aptos Cinema Classics series, and find out why I think Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is the perfect novel (and what my favorite adaptations are) in advance of the upcoming Cabrillo Stage version.
Lisa Jensen has been writing film reviews and a column for Good Times since 1975.

STAY MISERABLE DURING THE HOLIDAYS!!! Atheists, why be happy, why hedonism, self improvement, hunger, Obama. Michael Schermer says it all.

WATERS WEIGHS IN. Christina comes back from Santa Fe full of tamales and restaurant tips. All at http://christinawaters.com

PREPARED AND DANCEABLE PIANO’S ODE TO JOY I can’t embed this video from the New York Times, but it’s rather interesting. Just click the link and see for yourself!

THE TOURIST. The visual sugar contented of this tripe could probably be counted in calories. For an international spy film set in Venice there isn’t one second of tension or suspense in this fluff. Watching Angelina J. smart around and to see Johnny Depp without eye makeup isn’t worth your hard earned money or time. Jolie looks like she’s wearing all of Depp’s eyeliner from Pirates of the Caribbean series. It’s mostly due to bad directing by Florian Donnersmark who’s done much better work in the past.

NARNIA, CHRONICLES OF. This lack luster spell binding, sword, dragon, dreams, innocent kids stuff is getting boring. It’s just another mess of poor special effects spinning off from Hobbits, Potter, Go see Tangled in 3D, it’s not great either but it’s better than this serialized duplication.

HOSTETTER’S HOT STUFF. Another little update before the next little update: Kleptograss, my pal Eric’s ongoing effort to mix things up, has a new CD and a show coming right up; Kevin Carr will be telling stories at the Freight on an afternoon soon, and the Blind Boys of Alabama have a Christmas show, of all things. Then the holidays will scramble all our brains and it’ll suddenly be 2011. Have a look right here. You’ll see. Cheers, ph
(editors note..scroll to the very bottom of Paul’s site and check out the animated 2 headed banjo player and other features).

HOLIDAY FUNNY THINGS. Simon Kelly and Ralph Davila teamed up to send this…A paraprosdokian is a figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected in a way that causes the reader or listener to re-frame or reinterpret the first part. It is frequently used for humorous or dramatic effect. Enjoy!

• I want to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather. Not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car.
• The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it’s still on the list.
• If I agreed with you, we’d both be wrong.
• We never really grow up; we only learn how to act in public.
• War does not determine who is right — only who is left.
• I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn’t work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness.
• Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
• To steal an idea from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research.
• How is it one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a campfire.
• Whenever I fill out an application, in the part that says “In an emergency, notify: “I put “A DOCTOR.”
• Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?
• The voices in my head may not be real, but they have some good ideas!
• I used to be indecisive. Now I’m not sure.

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 sometimes old programs are on “blog”) at WWW.KZSC.ORG. December 14 means Roger Knapp creator and owner of the Davenport Gallery will talk about the genuine local art for sale and for looking at over the holidays. Then UCSC Senior Lecturer Emeritus Don Rothman has a new book in print “One Way of Seeing”, about his devotion to photography and writing. He’s also on Dec. 14. UCSC Professor of History Dana Frank will be reporting on her latest Honduras trip on December 21^st followed by County Supervisor Neal Coonerty telling us what’s the latest about our County especially District 3 and an update on the Cemex problem. December 28^th will feature a re-broadcast of an earlier Grapevine while I drive back from Victorville. 2011 starts off on January 4^th with Chris Kenney conservator of Paintings and owner of Mobius Art Conservation. Peter and Celia Scott follow on the 4^th talking about The Campaign for Sensible Transportation and what’s new with that. Any and all suggestions for future programs are more than welcome so tune in and keep listening. Karen Kefauver will be back later in January and Kinan Valdez from El Teatro Campesino will be on in February. Any and all suggestions for future programs are more than welcome so tune in and keep listening.

QUOTES. “The Gullickson Twins, Tim and Tom, are both from Wisconsin”, Dan Maskell. “Skiing? Why should I break my leg at 40 degrees below zero, when I can fall downstairs at home?”, Corey Ford. “Meet my daughter,” said the bishop, with some disgust”, Evelyn Waugh.

Deep Cover

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December 6 – 12, 2010

PACIFIC AVENUE WITH REAL SNOW 1957 @ 7:45 a.m.. One of my repeat seasonal favorite photos. This is the corner of Cooper Street on the left, and looking down Pacific towards the ocean. It shows our Town Clock in its original location atop the ODD Fellows Building on the left. That is now Urban Outfitters and Regal Cinema 9 on the right and the O’Neills building where you can barely see the Cooper House on the left. photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection. Additional information always welcome: email photo@brattononline.com

SANTA CRUZ’S HOLIDAY PARADE.Even with lightly scattered showers the annual Santa Cruz Holiday parade was a success. It seemed like more people than usual and the parade started almost on time…a new record!!! And it was more than an hour long. I asked Dennis Etler if his contingent of non believers with their “Reason’s Greetings” received any bad/awkward reactions. He said nope, it all was very friendly and they had a good time. I couldn’t figure why the Santa Cruz police put their two fattest cops on motorcycles to lead the parade…an awkward spectacle at best. Then again why didn’t Zach “Flack” Friend the police promoter put the totally brave little Deputy Cathy Bramanti who wrestled with 6’7″, 275 pounder thug Maurice Ainsworth…put her in an open car in the parade…she’s the Santa Cruz hero we’d all like to applaud. Then again how come those high school marchers have to carry those wooden rifles? What kind of Holiday symbol are wooden rifles painted white??

BACKWARD GLANCE AT POLITICIANS & ENDORSEMENTS.Here’s a look back at The Sentinel in 2008 all about who contributed what to which candidate. There’s not much need to comment on it. You can see that Charlie Canfield gave what he could to his now live in sweetie Betty Danner. Then Mayor Ryan Coonerty got his bucks from the usual suspects Redtree, Swenson, Louie Rittenhouse etc. Read this article then just picture how it all continues to work out.

WES MODES BEFORE HIS TRIAL 11/30. Wes Modes wrote both of these takes on our justice.

“This is the scheduled court appearance one year after the Farmer’s Market incident plea deal. Remember this? Last year, after 15 months in court, I accepted a suspended sentence as part of a plea deal. This was the Farmer’s Market incident in which the police jumped and clubbed me while I was drumming at a protest, sending me to the hospital, then charged me with battering police officers.

As part of the plea deal, I offered to do 250 hours of community service (I did more than 500 hours) and go back to court in a year so they could sentence me for the second lesser offense (resisting arrest). This is that one year check-in.

This is draining and stressful of course, but then that is what they do with folks who engage in struggles for freedom, particularly if it pits you against the powerful forces of police, money, and government. I’d be honored if you came to show your support and your resistance against the kind of petty bullying the police and courts in this small town engage in. Wes.

WES MODES RESPONDS AFTER HIS COURT CASE TWO WEEKS AGO.“I’m not displeased with 6 months probation and no further community service (I was required to do 250 hours and did 500). However, from a bigger perspective: Considering that the police jumped me and beat me unprovoked during a protest, put me in the hospital, and then charged me with assaulting them, the last 2 years of hassle and court appearances and police harassment leaves a pretty bitter taste in one’s mouth. But then, there’s our justice system for you.

People kept asking me if this meant it was over, and it left me thinking. As a person who is politically active in this town, as an activist, as a person who thinks there are better ways to ensure our safety than the institution of policing, it will probably never be over. In this small town, to go against the status quo, to go against money and power, means that the people in power are not going to be wholly stoked about you. For 200 years, police have targeted political activists before me and will continue to do so after I’m gone.

While much of the town seems to be clamoring for stiffer and more severe punishment for lesser and lesser social ills, I keep wondering how we will ever approach the safe and compassionate society I want to live in. I think I share a lot of the same concerns with even the most conservative and reactionary segment of this town (safety, economic sustainability, accessibility of education) yet our proposed solutions seem to be headed in opposite directions. For all the vitriol, I keep waiting to meet someone who wants to talk reasonably about our opposing viewpoints. Wes.”

LIGHT SKINNED HOBBITS WANTED. Discrimination in Tolkien country???
Setbacks abound with the filming of the “prequel” to Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit. The latest appears to be some enterprising casting agent, with his/her own ideas of the proper appearance of a hobbit…Read the article

HOMELESS & HOLIDAYS. Homeless Sleeping in the Cold – Urgent Need for Blankets. Many homeless people in Santa Cruz are sleeping in the cold these frosty nights. Please, if you have an extra blanket or sleeping bag in the back of your closet, consider donating it today to the Homeless Services Center at 115 Coral Street. For directions, call Nancy Abbey at 831-458-6020.

HEATH LEDGER IN NEW BATMAN FILM!!! We’ve read about special effects, but
scraping Heath Ledger off the cutting room floor is a brand new money making idea. Read about it here

DeCinzo, Best of….scroll downwards.

PATTON’S PROGRAM. Gary talks about Growth Control and explains the much misunderstood Measure J from way back in 1978. He discusses the De-sal water scoping meetings this week. Adds some views of the importance of the Coastal commission meeting in S. F. and closes with work being done on Fort Ord and more sustainable communities around the area. (Gary Patton is “Of Counsel” to the Santa Cruz law firm of Wittwer & Parkin, which specializes in land use and environmental law. The opinions expressed are Mr. Patton’s. Gary has his own website, “Two Worlds / 365” – www.gapatton.net )

HALLEUJAH IN THE MALL.These surprise-type music performances are getting to be old but still delightful….catch this one.

EAGANS DEEP COVER. Again, in full color catch Eagan’s version of father and son and heritage…scroll down.

LANDAU’S PROGRES. Saul Landau writes, “Leaked Cuba Memo to Raise Eyebrows” in it he says, “A recently retired military intelligence officer submitted this memo [see below] to his former commander (Southcom) — copies to other appropriate agencies. Obama Administration officials ignored it. “Cuba is not on our agenda,” one said. One official surreptitiously mailed us a copy, which we share.” The Cuban government has announced it will lay off 500,000 “superfluous” state workers. Our sources predict at least another 500,000 will get pink-slipped before the end of 2011. “Such news should ring alarm bells in Florida and Washington. Havana could encourage – without formally acknowledging it to its newly unemployed population – a migration northward rather than face possible unrest on the island. If the Cuban government tried to stop migration, we do not think Cuba’s police or military would fire on the population, even if their commanders ordered it.” This hypothetical scenario could force our President into a situation where he had little choice but to order military intervention — not a welcome event at this precarious time”. Read all of it here

Saul Landau is an Institute for Policy Studies fellow whose films are on DVD from roundworldproductions@gmail.com

LISA JENSEN LINKS. This week Lisa Jensen Online Express says to, “forget Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Ruby Tuesday, Wingnut Wednesday, or any other artificial, media-contrived shopping frenzy, and consider a scenic drive up the Slow Coast for art and antiques in Davenport. Also, check out the view from inside the Santa Cruz Downtown Holiday Parade, and get tangled up in some thoughts on the evolution of the hero in “Disney princess” movies.

Lisa Jensen has been writing film reviews and a column for Good Times since 1975.

VERY EARLY SPIKE JONES.

TINY FURNITURE. Tiny Furniture is a tiny movie, filmed for $25,000 and it’s easily one of my top ten films of 2010. Sharper than any of Woody Allen efforts it’s biting, really funny, perfectly acted by the very people in the plot. The star is the director. Read what critic V.A.Musetto says in the NY Post. See it quick, it’s so good it’ll only be here for a week, probably.

THE WARRIORS WAY. Every film critic says this film looks like a Dollar Store version of real films by Sergio Leone, and Fellini. I’d definitely add Quentin Tarantino, Von Trier as sources. It’s meaningless, pointless, empty, poorly acted, way over effected and a waste of time…avoid it.

MAJOR HOLIDAY ART SHOW. It’s called “Art For Art Event” it’ll happen Dec. 10, 11 & 12. Who’s involved??? Helen Wallis, David Fleming, Rich Deutsch,

Catharina Marlowe, Ronna Schulkin, Victoria May, Sara Friedlander, Jenny Morten, Mott Jordan, Brian Coleman, Peter Vizzusi, Robin Kandel,D. Hooker, Jean Sheckler Beebe, Jim MacKenzie, Dana Harris, Laamie Young & Jane Farrar, Alena Byrnes Laura, Marvin Plummer, Jack Howe, George Dymesich, Nora Dougherty, Claire Lerner Bailey Winters, Natasha High, Kathryn Stowell, Colleen Kiebert, Anna Oneglia, Ned Greene, Robbie Schoen, Margaret Niven, Robert Blitzer & Kathleen Crocetti.

WHAT: It’s an art exhibition of 34 local artists, including Painting, Photography, Sculpture, Ceramics, Hand-blown Glass, Jewelry and an Interactive Light Installation. Food, Raffle and Fun. ART FOR ART announces the creation of SCAARF, the Santa Cruz Artists’ Assistance & Relief Fund, a fund to assist artists, facing a career-threatening crisis, through grants and resources.

WHERE: R. Blitzer Gallery on the corner of Mission Street Extension and Natural Bridges, Santa Cruz (entry is on the back side of the old Wrigley Building)

WHEN: Opening Reception: December 10^th 6:00 – 9:00 $5 donation

Exhibition: December 11^th & 12^th 11-5 FREE

www.ArtForArt.org Sara Friedlander: 831.427.2650, Dee Hooker: 831.462.3430

COCKTAILS WITH SPIKE JONES

DON YOUNG READING. Poet and former Cabrilho Professor Don Young will read from his new book of poetry Reflections in Our Time and his other new book Revelations at Bookworks across from Eric’s Deli by The Aptos Cinema in Rancho Del Mar Shopping Center. He’ll start at 10:30 a.m. this Saturday December 11th. Revelations contain poems about crucial moments of revelations in the lives of men as Homer, Chaplin, Obama, Michael Jackson, Einstein and people like that!

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 sometimes old programs are on “blog”) at WWW.KZSC.ORG. On Tuesday December 7 poet David Swanger returns to read and talk about his works. After David, Sara Friedlander will talk about a huge “artforart” sale happening this weekend. December 14 means Roger Knapp creator and owner of the Davenport Gallery will talk about the art for sale and view over the holidays. Then UCSC Senior Lecturer Emeritus Don Rothman has a new book in print “One Way of Seeing”, about his devotion to photography and writing. He’s also on Dec. 14. UCSC Professor of History Dana Frank will be reporting on her latest Honduras trip on December 21^st followed by County Supervisor Neal Coonerty telling us what’s the latest about our County especially District 3 and an update on the Cemex problem.. Any and all suggestions for future programs are more than welcome, so tune in and keep listening.

QUOTES. “Anywhere is everywhere“, William Carlos Williams. “Energy is eternal delight”, William Blake. “The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible”, Albert Einstein

Deep Cover

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November 29 – December 5, 2010

THE COOPER HOUSE. 1971. It looks cold dark and foreboding here for some reason. It doesn’t reflect all the dozens of small businesses that would open and flourish inside all the way to the earthquake of ’89. It was our focus, the heart of our city and with The Oak Room, Wild Thyme Restaurant, and Camouflage it couldn’t be beat (except with a wrecking ball). photo credit: stolen from Shmuel Thaler Additional information always welcome: email photo@brattononline.com

The President pardons the turkeys

SECULAR HUMANISTS TO MARCH IN HOLIDAY PARADE. Dennis Etler sent this… “Secular Humanists of Santa Cruz Country along with allied groups Santa Cruz Atheists and the Secular Student Alliance of UCSC will be joining forces to participate in the Saturday Dec 4^th “ANNUAL SANTA CRUZ HOLIDAY PARADE” on Pacific Ave. We will have a contingent in the section organized by the United Nations Organization. Let’s come together to show the community our united presence. We always get a big cheer when we march by with our banner. We will also be unveiling a new “Reason’s Greeting Banner” to display on route! For those who would like to join in please assemble between 8:30 and 9:30 am at Pacific Avenue and Laurel Street. The March will begin at 10:00 AM Saturday, December 4, 2010 and proceed down Pacific Ave. to Water St.

Following the parade we will have a table at the THIRD ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS FAIR to celebrate the 61st Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The event will be held at THE GALLERIA 740 Front St., Santa Cruz on Saturday from 12 NOON TO 5 PM. Hope to see you at the parade and at the Human Rights Fair.

CUBAN CULTURE. Manny Santana told me years ago that what was of lasting importance about a civilization or a culture was not the wars and not the politics but the art and culture that was produced during that time. I’ve never been able to find a current source for any Cuban Culture. Ginav Val-leiva had this site attached to an email she sent out. http://www.escambray.cu/Eng/culture Read it over, it’s much more human than anything we’ve seen. Books, films, Here’s a link to the Latin American Film Festival happening next week in Havanna. http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/12/02/cuba-latin-american-film-festival-in-havana . Saul Landau said this looks like another official Cuban Government site but we do get a glimpse of the current culture & performance events.

NOAM THE GNOME http://www.justsaygnome.net This seemed like a great and nutsy idea Noam Chomsky gnomes!!! They’re $185 each, painted. But go to the site….a few laughs in there….and we need laughs.

SECURITY SEARCHES. I went through the genuine and authentic TSA security Searches at both San Jose and The Los Angeles airports on my Thanksgiving trip. They didn’t exactly touch any junk but my collector’s items got nudged a little.

BEST OF DeCINZO…SCROLL OR ROLL DOWNWARD….

PATTON’S PROGRAM. KUSP’s Gary Patton talks about the possible removal of the San Clemente dam, and we’ll see about that! He continues on with more about De-sal and what EIR’s really are and how they work. Then he discusses an AMBAG blueprint. Gary closes with a “desal” pledge…“The proposed “desal” plant is a very big deal, with major economic and environmental impacts likely. I do encourage you to get involved, and getting “informed” is the first step towards effective involvement. You can find some relevant links by clicking on the Land Use Report icon on the KUSP website. One link is to a group called “Desal Alternatives,” which is going to be actively involved as the project review process goes forward. Feasible “alternatives” must be taken seriously, so one pertinent question is whether it would be “feasible” for us simply to use our existing water supplies more “efficiently.” If you think that’s an option you’d like, you might want to take the “Desal Pledge” to use less water yourself”. (Gary Patton is “Of Counsel” to the Santa Cruz law firm of Wittwer & Parkin, which specializes in land use and environmental law. The opinions expressed are Mr. Patton’s. Gary has his own website, “Two Worlds / 365” )

EAGANS DEEP COVER. In full color every week…scroll below to partake on Mr. Eagan’s version of GOP Politics. In case you didn’t know.

SONNY & CHER “I GOT YOU BABE”. See the review of “Burlesque” further down…

LANDAU’S PROGRES. Saul (and apparently most of his family) have finished a film. Not only that but he writes this week about ADS TO THE BRAIN. He starts off….”The long recession has reduced consumption, so how does the “business community” – an oxymoron since businesses try to destroy their competitors – sell its crap to people it laid off? The potential buyers. Advertisers — the avant garde of the “sales community – must somehow get these consumers without money or credit (suckers) back into “the market.”

read the rest here (link expands, click again to collapse).

In Spanish…here’s a link to some news about Saul’s film with Danny Glover.

Saul Landau is an Institute for Policy Studies fellow whose films are on DVD from roundworldproductions@gmail.com

LISA JENSEN LINKS. This week Lisa Jensen admits that…”My mind is still on vacation, but my keyboard may be working overtime to catch up with all that’s going on in Santa Cruz as we hurtle headlong into The Holidays. Find out what’s new at Lisa Jensen Online Express.

Lisa Jensen has been writing film reviews and a column for Good Times since 1975.

WATERS WEIGHS IN. December finds Christina fresh from an unusual Czech opera, a bistro dinner in Paso Robles and full of passion for a Santa Cruz Mountains wine….all at http://christinawaters.com

SANDY LYDON’S CENTRAL COAST SECRETS. Click and read here…. for the latest update on historical stuff during and after the holidays….

BURLESQUE. As it says in Wikipedia, “Cher (pronounced /????r/;^[1] born Cherilyn Sarkisian on May 20, 1946)^[ which makes her only 64 years old…and a Taurus/Gemini cusp (and we all know what that means!!!) stars in this empty headed numb-nuts flick. The kinkiest thing about this film is that you spend every second Cher’s onscreen staring at her lips and eyelids looking for plastic surgery history lines. The damned frustrating thing about this cheap copy of Chicago and Cabaret is that actors such as Cher, Stanley Tucci, Alan Cummings, Peter Gallagher and even Christina Aguilera know how to cat but because of a miserable numbed down script and poor dance editing this film flops more than Cher’s

Adriana Caselotti singing Disney’s Snow White (1939) …see “Burlesque” review still further down.

TANGLED.What is possibly interesting about this 50^th animated Disney film aside from magnificent 3D and Maxfield Parrish coloring, is that it’s nearly the same plot as Burlesque. The evil imprisoning “stepmother” Mother Gothel looks so much like Cher you can’t take your eyes off her either!!! There isn’t a single character human or animal we haven’t seen in dozens of Disney films. No excuse for that either, these are drawings after all, and characters should be totally singular and unique. I defy anyone to be able to identify the horse, the heroine or the hero from any other of their films. Go see it, it’s a big seller and huge success but trust me we’ve seen it before, a lot. How Mandy Moore can sound so much like what Snow White’s spinto-soprano sounded like as sung by Adriana Caselotti in 1937 is amazing. I won’t even mention how much Zachary Levi (who voices the role) looks like the “nummer”-than-spring-time hero Eugene.

LOVE AND OTHER DRUGS. Of course we’re hearing Oscar talk about Anne Hathaway in this tragic-comedy. She and Jake Gyllenhaal make a great on screen couple….they click and link like few other stars do nowadays. There are some oddly dull moments in this laughing weeper, and some wonderfully sensitive parts too. Go see it.

Comedy Night @ The Mill Works Theatre . On Monday December 6^th that means…

*Solo Artist Christine Silver delivers: “The Court of Self-Judgment “

*Stand Up Performer Richard Stockton presents – Richard Stockton

*Monologuist Helene Jara entertains with – Vat Means Rad? Russian woman tries to decipher Craigslist.

*Playwright Nick Kirkendahl offers up a 10 minute play ” Homeland Surveillance” – Casting available 4 men/3 women

*Playwright Ariana Loving brings in – ” Tough Cookie” A typical night @ Vince’s V Spot – Whatsa gal gotta do ta get some peace?

*Playwright Kim Luke give a first short look of a new play “Making Plans”, a dark comedy about suicide. It’s all at The Mill Works Theatre @ Actors’ Theatre 1001 Center Street Santa Cruz 7:30pm.Call Debbie Quigg 247-3857/or Joan Van Antwerp 475-2854

BETTER SOLUTION FOR RAPUNZEL’S TANGLEMENT

GREY BEARS ANNUAL HOLIDAY DINNER. This Sunday December 5^th celebrates the 38^th annual Grey Bears Holiday Dinner at the Civic. For any & all seniors over 55 there’ll be plenty of turkey, stuffing, home made apple pies mostly from Big Creek Lumber and entertainment such as John David on piano and as I’ve done for 37 of those 38 years I’ll be the emcee. Last year they served 2700 dinners. Executive director Lynda Francis retires this year so stop by and wish her Happy Holidays. It’s 11:30-1:30. Check out the video on the Grey Bears home page. This is a few years old and we were a few years younger but it’s a nice little clip.

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 sometimes old programs are on “blog”) at WWW.KZSC.ORG. Dr. Carlos Arcangeli who will update us on matters of the urinary tract will be on November 30 followed by David Watson owner of The Literary Guillotine. On December 7 poet David Swanger returns to read and talk about his works. I’ll interview rose expert and enthusiast Bill Grant right after David. December 14 has County Supervisor Neal Coonerty telling us what’s the latest about our County especially District 3 and an update on the Cemex problem. UCSC Senior Lecturer Emeritus Don Rothman has a new book in print “One Way of Seeing”, about his devotion to photography and writing. He’s also on Dec. 14. UCSC Professor of History Dana Frank will be reporting on her latest Honduras trip December 21^st. Any and all suggestions for future programs are more than welcome so tune in and keep listening.

QUOTES. “Marry an orphan: you’ll never have to spend boring holidays with the in-laws”, George Carlin. “Once again, we come to the Holiday Season, a deeply religious time that each of us observes, in his own way, by going to the mall of his choice”, Dave Berry. “There’s nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child”, Erma Bombeck.

Deep Cover

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November 22 – 28, 2010

ARTISTS IDEA OF THE SANTA CRUZ MISSION. No one knows what our Santa Cruz mission looked like. It was the 12th mission in the franchise and ours was dedicated on September 25, 1791. The bell tower fell in 1846, and almost all of the rest of the structure went down in the 1857 earthquake. What we have up there now is a 2/3 sized sort of replica. photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection. Additional information always welcome: email photo@brattononline.com

WALMART & GOOGLE WEARING “NEIGHBORHOOD MASKS” TO FOOL YOU. The never stoppable Jim Hightower reveals tricks to fool progressives. Again from last weeks Alternet…

PEOPLE ARE AWESOME.

HISTORY NEVER STOPS. Martin Rice who was born in Santa Cruz’s Hanley Hospital (aka Sister’s Hospital across from the Dream Inn) in 1924 really believes that the mysterious Train Depot photo (scroll down) shows us nothing less than Buffalo Bill’s visit here and that is Bill himself on horseback. Martin looked it up and Buffalo Bill was in Santa Cruz 10/3/10, 4/18/14 and 5/7/15. Not long after that former Santa Cruzan Paul Dragavon wrote…”… the depot picture, I thought “Oh great. The circus is coming to town! Many of the circuses at that time got off a train then paraded thru town. Possibly the guy and the white horse, in the middle, with the dress on, will lead the parade. The boys behind him on their bikes are ready to follow the parade. Sounds good but I see a fatal flaw. The train isn’t a circus train, but simply a regular passenger train with one car for drayage… Tsk, tsk. Eric Fingal the main guy at Covello & Covello in the Historical Photo Department emails “Hey Bruce, It looks like the cars are ” newer ” than 1906. I’m just guessing that some of those cars are from the “teens” ; I bet there are vintage car people that can tell the models and years. Also, with an original print in front of you, sometimes you can read the dates on the license plates with a magnifier. I was thinking it was maybe the end of WW1 in 1918, but that was in November and it looks like the sun is higher than that to me. I don’t know where the date 1906 came from, but I agree, it doesn’t look right. –Eric. Historian and researcher Judy Steen suggests, “That photo really does look like a crowd that would have been at the 11 May 1903 Teddy Roosevelt visit. But 1906, I don’t know. Fred Swanton and the Boomer train got back to Santa Cruz at the end of May. The Casino opened in early June, and on 22 June 1906 the Casino burned. Then in September 1906 the infamous 1906 Republican State Convention was held in the tent at the Beach. I don’t know if any of these events would have created the crowd and hoopla in the photo”.

ESCALATOR DRAMA. Since I use Regal 9’s escalator about 200+ times per year this clip is hilarious.

I think the real story is this one from Stan Stevens again…”That photo, I believe, is mis-dated three years off, as you suggested. Here is what happened on May 11, 1903: President Theodore Roosevelt visited Santa Cruz. F. A. Hihn made him an honorary member of the Santa Cruz Society of Pioneers.

10 WAYS TO OUTFOX COPS. Alternet came up with a great article that applies more than ever during Holiday time. “It’s true that much work remains to be done towards ensuring police accountability, but the very first step is to educate the public about basic constitutional rights. Citizens who understand their rights are much less likely to experience negative outcomes, both on the street and in a court of law. Until each of us has the ability to protect our individual rights and recognize injustices against others, we’re not likely to accomplish much in the realm of broader policy reform”.

Read it here

GROUPON ?? Does anyone have anything positive to say about joining Groupon? I just joined and now can buy hot dogs in Scotts Valley for 50% off. Other than that what have any of you learned from Groupon? I’m still trying to figure and configure, a presence on Facebook. Not an easy task.

PATTON’S PROGRAM. On Tuesday Gary talks about a recent meeting at UCSC of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band who are the documented descendants of Missions San Juan Bautista and Santa Cruz Indians. They are working toward restoring some of the original environmental riches of the Pajaro Valley area. Their website is here . He then goes on about a mysterious Monday meeting in Marina concerning possible development of sizable proportions. Mr. Patton talks about Santa Cruzans for Responsible Planning or SCRP and you can read what issues they are worried about. He wishes everyone Happy Thanksgiving and adds some material about dangers from eating commercially produced foods. Here’s his entire talk about de-sal in case you can’t listen to him next Friday.

Gary Patton’s radio script on De-Sal

As KUSP listeners probably know, the City of Santa Cruz and the Soquel Creek Water District are planning to construct a desalination plant, to provide drought protection and to provide for additional water supplies for new growth.

CLEAR CUTTING CALIFORNIA. Do we care? Jodi Frediani sent this clip she adds, “PLEASE read the following, then submit comments prior to December 16. The issue is complex, but exceedingly important. On December 16, the Air Resources Board may adopt regulations that will allow clear cutting as a means of obtaining carbon credits! This is complete madness. In addition, there are other provisions that are very bad. Read on, take action and forward this to your lists, your friends and anyone who cares about the future of our forests and the future of our planet. Please submit comments to the ARB asking them to protect the integrity of California’s forests (the lungs and filters of our air and water), by: a) eliminating from the offset program clear cutting of our forests as a way of sequestering carbon; b) adding provisions to assure that forest projects do not result in the conversion of ‘naturally managed’ (uneven aged forests) into clearcut plantations (even aged forests). A GREAT WAY TO GIVE THANKS FOR THE BOUNTY OF THE EARTH: Set up a computer at your Thanksgiving activity and have everyone there (including kids) go online and submit a brief comment opposing clear cuts in our climate sequestration program. (Michael has 18 people coming and set a goal for 15 comments to ARB). The proposed regulations http://www.arb.ca.gov/newsrel/newsrelease.php?id=165 can be viewed here

To be fair, let me say that the City of Santa Cruz, in particular, might take exception to this description, claiming that the water from desal is for “drought protection” only. I think I’ve got the better case, but whatever the truth might be, whether or not to construct a desalination plant will have mammoth environmental and economic impacts within the Soquel Creek Water District, and within the City of Santa Cruz Water Service Area, which includes not only the entirety of the City of Santa Cruz, but also parts of the City of Capitola, and all of Live Oak and Pasatiempo. The City system also serves farmers on the Santa Cruz County North Coast. Lots of people have a big stake in what happens.

Because that’s true, lots of people ought to be getting involved right now in the Environmental Review process. Two “scoping meetings” will be held on December 8th. One is scheduled from 12:00 Noon to 2:30 p.m., at the First Congregational Church, 900 High Street in Santa Cruz. Another is scheduled from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. at the New Brighton Middle School, 250 Washburn Avenue in Capitola.

(Gary Patton is “Of Counsel” to the Santa Cruz law firm of Wittwer & Parkin, which specializes in land use and environmental law. The opinions expressed are Mr. Patton’s. Gary has his own website, “Two Worlds / 365” – www.gapatton.net )

EAGANS DEEP COVER. On BrattonOnline you get the genuine Deep Cover….in COLOR!!! Scroll down.

LANDAU’S PROGRES. Saul Landau writes in his Progreso Weekly column

“The Majorities Choice, No One!”

He leads off with…“Pundits, professional interpreters of events, have awarded the Republicans with a “legislative landslide” in the House, and declared the Democrats “brutally defeated.” Backed by immense and well-organized corporate staffs and spinners (Karl Rove, the Chamber of Commerce and the billionaire Koch brothers for three), House Republican candidates were “swept into office.” Read it all here

Saul Landau is an Institute for Policy Studies fellow whose films are on DVD from roundworldproductions@gmail.com

LISA JENSEN LINKS. This week at Lisa Jensen Online Express reflect on the Passion of Harry Potter as you toddle off to your holiday feast. Give thanks for your loved ones and meet me back here next week. Lisa Jensen has been writing film reviews and a column for Good Times since 1975.

UCSC’s Museum of Natural History Collections opens again for public viewing. For only the second time, portions of the extensive Museum of Natural History Collections at UC Santa Cruz will be open for public viewing. The free open house is set for Sunday, December 5 from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. in adjacent rooms 229, 233, and 221 in the Natural Sciences II and Interdisciplinary Sciences building, both are next to the Science and Engineering Library. They plan to showcase the museum’s extraordinary collection of more than 5,000 butterflies and moths donated by UCSC mathematics professor Gerhard Ringel. A mini fungus fair is also planned with fresh specimens of fall and winter mushrooms collected from campus. Experts will be on hand to help attendees hone their mushroom identification skills, and visitors are encouraged to bring samples for identification. A newly published mini-guide to mushrooms on campus will be for sale, along with campus natural history books, custom-made butterfly prints, and t-shirts.

Hundreds of other specimens from other collections of birds, mammals, insects, reptiles, and amphibians will also be on display. The open house is a rare opportunity for UCSC students and community members to see the collections, learn more about local natural history, and get a “behind-the-scenes” sense of how a natural history museum operates.

WINDOW CLEANING ACCIDENT. Scarier than any Hollywood created scene.

HOLIDAY WISH FOR MOVIE GOERS. May you never see another turkey on the screen.

CLIENT 9. Eliot Spitzer was being talked about not just as the next president of the United States but as the first Jewish president of the USA. What he did as Governor of New York and what he promised to do to stop our economic collapse was amazing. He took on the big corporate bosses and they won. This documentary shows how those billionaires spied and caught Spitzer with a prostitute and ruined him. See this film it’s like the beginning of “Inside Job“. It makes you appreciate all the more what Barack Obama is facing every day in his efforts to straighten things out.

THE NEXT THREE DAYS. Russell Crowe and Elizabeth Banks are very fine actors,
but they sure don’t work as a married couple in this sleeper. The film is boring, and completely unbelievable. It’s the director’s fault; he has left no tension in the plot. Don’t bother with it…in any form.

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS, PART 1. I only read the first book and wasn’t impressed. Too much like the Hobbit Series and Wagner’s Ring Operas. I saw the first six Potter films, and liked only about the first two. This Deathly Hallows (#7) was boring. I swear that there’s one monster swiped from Pan’s Labyrinth, one Gollum from The Hobbit and an actress who’s a dead ringer for Amy Goodman. But don’t go see it for those reasons. Don’t see for any reason unless you’re a fan. There is absolutely no explanation of the plot or any attempt to make this a film in itself. So if you’re intending to see it to learn what the fuss is about rent the first six Potter films first, I should have watched them again. I did mean Amy Goodman!!

RARE MORTEN GALLERY DAY. Ceramist Jenny Morten is having a Holiday sale of her porcelain works and Geoff’s monoprints and paintings. She emails…”You are Invited to a Holiday Sale of Jenny Morten and the late Geoff Morten’s work – Paintings, Prints and Ceramics Saturday 4th December 11am – 4pm. It’ll be at the Morten Gallery 168 Mar Monte Avenue, La Selva Beach 95076. If you haven’t seen their work, jump at this rare chance to see their gallery.

FOR WIND TURBINE ENTHUSIASTS.

SEVENTH ANNUAL SANTA CRUZ HARP FESTIVAL. Everyone loves harps, and all kinds of harps are played at this event. It features Jennifer Cass and Audrey Lee, classical harps, Jesse Autumn, double strung Celtic harp, Malima Kone, kora (African harp), and The New World Gypsy String Band: Chris Caswell, Lisa Lynne, and Aryeh Frankfurter. Also performing will be a Harp Orchestra of over 20 local harp players conducted by Shelley Phillips, playing music of Sweden, Wales, China, 14th century Italy and Zimbabwe. It occurs Sunday, December 19th. 2-4 PM Good time for kids and elders and they are very welcome. The concert will be at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, 515 Frederick Street in Santa Cruz. A harp petting zoo will take place at intermission. Admission is free, and they’ll have a basket out for donations.

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 sometimes old programs are on “blog”) at WWW.KZSC.ORG. Dr. Carlos Arcangeli who will update us on matters of the urinary tract will be on November 30 followed by David Watson owner of The Literary Guillotine. On December 7 poet David Swanger returns to read and talk about his works. I’ll interview rose expert and enthusiast Bill Grant right after David. December 14 has County Supervisor Neal Coonerty telling us what’s the latest about our County especially District 3 and an update on the Cemex problem. UCSC Senior Lecturer Emeritus Don Rothman has a new book in print “One Way of Seeing”, about his devotion to photography and writing. He’s also on Dec. 14. UCSC Professor of History Dana Frank will be reporting on her latest Honduras trip December 21^st. Any and all suggestions for future programs are more than welcome so tune in and keep listening.

QUOTES. “Jesus was born on a bank holiday and died on a bank holiday. We can assume therefore that when he returns again it will be on a bank holiday”, P.G. Johnson. “I don’t pray because I don’t want to bore God”, Orson Welles. “Maybe this world is another planet’s hell”, Aldous Huxley.

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November 15 – 21, 2010

HIP POCKET BOOK STORE, Pacific Avenue September 10, 1964. This bronze statue of two nudes graced the Steam Beer Brewery roof in San Francisco before sculptor Ron Boise moved it to the Hip Pocket Bookstore in the St. George Hotel on Pacific. I was at the dedication at The Brewery in San Francisco and can attest to all that stuff. This statue’s “nudity” caused all sorts of hell in Santa Cruz. The mayor, the City Council, the police all got involved. photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection. Additional information always welcome: email photo@brattononline.com

LAST WEEK’S TRAIN STATION PHOTO DATA. Scroll down to see the vintage Depot Park photo dated May 11, 1906. But I couldn’t figure who or why so many folks were there to welcome or wave farewell to. Sandy Lydon replied in this message…” Hey Bruceee! (he always calls me that!) Was intrigued by the 1906 photo you ran – I searched my database but could find no mention of an event on May 11, 1906 — The only thing that comes to mind is that the April 18 earthquake was only weeks old. May 11, 1906 was a Friday, which also makes it curious.

So then, I did what all good historians do — I did a search of the Santa Cruz Surf newspaper – microfilm, not on line (most of the important historical documents are not now on line…probably never will be) — both before and after the alleged date of May 11, 1906. There is no event that would occasion such a crowd — such a patriotic crowd (see flags) until May 19, 1906 when the Santa Cruz Naval Reserve unit returned from doing post-earthquake duty in SF — protecting from looting, etc. According to the newspaper there was a very large crowd at the depot welcoming the boys home, flags, speakers, etc. Methinks that the date on the photo might be incorrect — or mis-read (11 and 19…), or? But, there’s nothing on or immediately before/after May 11 in the newspaper that would explain a crowd/event of that size until May 19. That’s what I know. Maybe somebody else will provide the answer…Onward! Sandy.

CAN DAVID TERRAZAS DO THIS??

Trying even harder I asked Carolyn Swift at the Capitola City Museum she replied,

“Too many cars for 1906. I always thought this photo had something to do with troops leaving for WWI, but everyone seems too happy for the occasion to be something so somber. I do think the year is more like 1915-1917. C.S. ”

Figuring that historian and Hihn expert Stan Stevens would know something about that date I asked him…he replied, “Yesterday, after viewing your column and that photo, I
spent about an hour looking through the newspaper index for that date. Nothing popped out as being a significant occasion that would bring that crowd out to the station. There was one general theme that seemed to occur around that time, but no obvious match: chamber of commerce types had gone off on a statewide tour to promote Santa Cruz. When they returned the papers made note of it. e.g., They were called “Boomers” and under the heading (in the newspaper index) “Tourism” SC Boomers return 31 May 1906 pg. 1, col. 3; and under “Tourism-Promotion of” SC “Boomers” on tour 1 May 1906 3:4.
Also, keep in mind that the 1906 earthquake had just happened, so was this a welcoming party for survivors? That’s the best I could do, without going to the microfilm
at the library and looking up events on or about May 11, 1906″. Stan.

It’s a great photo and the Covello collection almost always has correct dates scrawled on the back, so who, what, why???

50 STORIES FOR PAKISTAN FLOOD VICTIMS. Erik Svehaug, a past winner of Bookshop Santa Cruz’s Short Story Contest sent this to Casey Coonerty Protti. She sent it to me and now you have it…”I’m writing because I thought you and even Bruce Bratton might be interested in the latest writing project I got involved with. 50 writers contributed their stories (competitively) to an anthology whose profits will go entirely to the Pakistan flood victims. We all co-proofed each others work and the editors donated their time and talents and presto! The writing is generally very good and there is so much suffering that can be helped with these modest sales! They did one previously for Haiti, called 100 Stories, which did very well. It just received book of the week honors at Blurb. I wish I was more of a marketer myself, but thought you might take a shine to this intuitively good effort, win/win for the reader. My next story will be published by the Dead Mule School of Southern Literature. What a hoot. Thanks so much again for the previous honor. Erik Svehaug
esvehaug@gmail.com http://eriksvehaug.wordpress.com

PATTON’S PROGRAM. County Supes to work on plans for 30^th avenue. As Paul Elerick also says above They’ll also rule on building second units and easing development rules, if you care!!! There’s more talk about Zone 7 (not to be confused with District 9. Developers dream about changes in “Public Interest” definition. KUSP confirms Patton can stay!!! Monterey Bay growth faces AMBAG and vice versa and there’ll be changes to East Cliff Drive pedestrian status. Click here

(Gary Patton is “Of Counsel” to the Santa Cruz law firm of Wittwer & Parkin, which specializes in land use and environmental law. The opinions expressed are Mr. Patton’s.)

EAGANS DEEP COVER. The nearly irrefutable Mr. Eagan offers tea and empathy to our troubled way of life…scroll down.

LANDAU’S PROGRES.

WELLES B. GOODRICH SENT THIS FOOTBALL VIDEO CLIP. Very cool!!!

Saul Landau is an Institute for Policy Studies fellow whose films are on DVD from roundworldproductions@gmail.com

LISA JENSEN LINKS. This week at Lisa Jensen Online Express, relive the harrowing real-life experience of rock climber Aron Ralston in the gripping new fiction film, 127 Hours, then hear what Ralston himself has to say about it in a vintage Capitola Book Café appearance rebroadcast on Community TV. Also, a shout-out to local videographer Peter McGettigan, archivist-laureate of Santa Cruz pop culture.

Lisa Jensen has been writing film reviews and a column for Good Times since 1975.

WATERS WEIGHS IN. Christina checks out MegaMind, considers Indian cuisine and discovers a few choice wines for the upcoming holidays. All at http://christinawaters.com.

UNSTOPPABLE. It’s an excellent “runaway train” movie. One of the very best “runaway train” movies. It’s what Hollywood does best. It’s what makes movies so great….and popular. Denzel Washington is always excellent and believable and Chris Pine as the lovable new kid with a hint of life off the tracks is perfect too. See it if the Boardwalk’s Giant Dipper is closed. Besides this film is 90 minutes the Dipper is about 3 minutes.

FAIR GAME. No doubt about it, Naomi Watts and Sean Penn make a very hot couple on screen. The fact that this film exposes one of George W. Bush’s dirtiest Iraq war secrets makes it even more important to see. It’ll cause you to wonder that when all the facts are known about 9-11 and our government’s involvement, will folks still wait in line to get Bush to autograph their books? Probably.

MORNING GLORY. It’s cute, it’s fluffy, it’s Rachel McAdams as the perky new kid versus Diane Keaton and Harrison Ford as the old TV anchors needing replacement. Having worked there myself (CBS, ABC) I can attest that the film has little if any, basis in reality. It is I repeat, cute and fluffy.

JEWEL THEATRE’S “COMPANY”.In case you’ve forgotten just how great Stephen Sondheim’s musicals are go see Jewel Theatre’s production of Company now through Nov. 21^st at the Broadway Playhouse…if you can get tickets. The first weekend sold out completely. The choreography even on that tiny stage was fantastic, acting, singing, casting were all great too. But it'”s Sondheim’s lyrics that you go home singing. Go to WWW.Jeweltheatre.net for tickets and info and hurry.

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 sometimes old programs are on “blog”) at WWW.KZSC.ORG. On Tuesday, November 16th George Bunch will talk about English learners in Community Colleges. Then after George, Linda Burman Hall will sing praises of the Santa Cruz Baroque Festival’s newest season. Dr. Carlos Arcangeli who will update us on matters of the urinary tract on November 30 followed by David Watson owner of The Literary Guillotine. On December 7 poet David Swanger returns to read and talk about his works. I’ll interview rose expert and enthusiast Bill Grant right after David. Dana Frank will be reporting on her latest Honduras trip December 21^st. Any and all suggestions for future programs are more than welcome so tune in and keep listening.

QUOTES. “Honest officer, had I known my health stood in jeopardy I would never had lit one”. Hell Angel’s maxim. Re; Arana Gulch “The magnificence of mountains, the serenity of nature—nothing is safe from the idiot marks of man’s passing“. Loudon Wainwright. “Thank goodness modern convenience is a thing of the remote future”, POGO.

Deep Cover

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November 8 – 14, 2010

SANTA CRUZ TRAIN DEPOT. May 11, 1906. I can’t figure this one out. I thought it was taken when President Teddy Roosevelt came here but that was 1903 and this photo is dated 1906. Who else would have drawn this big a crowd? Any ideas or facts? photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection. Additional information always welcome: email photo@brattononline.com

MEG WHITMAN COULDN’T BUY IT, BUT SANTA CRUZ SOLD OUT!!! Meg Whitman couldn’t buy her way into winning that California election, but according to last week’s Sentinel Hillary Bryant, David Terrazas and Lynn Robinson did exactly that by coming in as the top three campaign money spenders and shamefully for Santa Cruz, the top three vote getters. Pleich and Ceballos the bottom two vote getters, spent the least. Hard to argue that point.

MORE ON BERKELEY’S AND OUR “DEVELOPING DEMOCRATS”. Here are some excerpts from the latest Berkeley Daily Planet on their problems with elected officials and the influence of the campus nearby…”While President Obama is not to blame for how this train wreck got started, his choice of economists has done little to put on the brakes. Summers and Geithner were participants in the run-up to the come-down, and their performance to date has been no more forceful than that of the derided Irish economists. Elizabeth Warren is a seeming exception, but she’s a law professor who teaches contracts, not an economist, which may explain why she has such a clear-eyed analysis of what’s gone wrong. Basically, it’s all about foolish deals sold to gullible consumers by people who should know better and probably do: Consumer Protection 101 The suburban U.S. equivalent of Ireland’s folly can be seen today in Stockton, and Tracy, and Las Vegas and Atlanta. Here as in Ireland rows of fancy houses stand empty, abandoned by hapless buyers who were told by sharks that they could afford their mortgages. And today in Berkeley you can see the urban equivalent, the results of similar stupidity, in the empty new apartments and vacant storefronts which are proliferating downtown. The pattern of “political leaders…complicit in … every aspect: land acquisition, planning permission, funding.” is just as easy to find here if you know where to look.

Seven out of nine Berkeley Planning Commissioners work in the building industry. The Zoning Adjustment Board and the City Council repeatedly permit huge developments to bypass the California Environmental Quality Act. Measure R, a green-washed scam intended to give a green light to even more overbuilding in downtown Berkeley, was completely funded by developers and even endorsed by former Massachusetts politician and economist Robert Reich, now a snowbird professor at U.C. Berkeley. And that’s just for starters. Read it all here…

REYNER BANHAM FAMED ARCHITECT (AND ONCE SANTA CRUZAN) VIDEO. Banham takes us on a corny tour of 1970’s LA. I think it’s an hour long but Reyner’s in great shape.

JIM HETH DIED. Jim was one of those larger than life people. He and his wife Katie and their incredibly loyal family gave this community a lot. In the 60’s they created The Buy and Sell Press, in the 70’s they started the Staircase Theatre in Soquel and even a daily newspaper The Evening Star. Later on Jim sold stocks, began an olive grove and the projects never stopped. He died about three weeks ago, no public ceremony, just think good thoughts for him.

BEST OF DeCINZO…scroll down. (a little KSCO music…)

PODCAR (PRT) CONFERENCE IN SAN JOSE. Former attorney, activist Reed Searle attended this conference last week. He reports, “PODCAR is the European term applied to what we call Personal Rapid Transit or, PRT. An international conference called “Podcar Cities” was held at the new San Jose City Hall last week. Experts from England, Sweden, Germany, India, China and the U.S. attended. Our local Public Works Director Mark Dettle and UCSC transit chief Larry Pageler attended, along with several members of the Santa Cruz PRT support group.

The conference provided in-depth studies of PRT, its potential, its problems, its successes. Presenters included Steve Westly, Cindy Chavez, a large number of consultants and PRT vendors, and representatives from Caltrans and the Federal Transportation Commission. All aspects of PRT were discussed in detail, including design, finance, public acceptance, rider ship expectation, safety and potential problems. Most experts agreed that PRT is the transportation methodology of the near or immediate future. They also agreed that PRT is a site specific methodology.

DEBUSSEY’S ARABESQUE as played by Aldo Ciccolini. Simply beautiful.

A basic but brand new PRT system is now operating at London’s Heathrow Airport. Test tracks are operating in Cardiff Wales, Uppsala Sweden, Amritsar India, and Masdar U.A.E. Studies are under way in a number of U.S. cities. Former Santa Cruz Councilmember Ed Porter is chair of a committee that is coordinating California cities from Santa Cruz to Marin County to Fresno, which have shown interest or which have conducted preliminary studies in PRT.

San Jose, a city which Santa Cruz should surpass in transportation planning, has committed $4,000,000 to preliminary studies of a system that will connect the airport, Diridon Station, VTA Light Rail, and Santa Clara stations with long-term airport parking, airport terminals and adjacent hotels. Initial finance studies have shown that PRT would be far more financially feasible and efficient than any other form of public transport that could serve these areas. This, of course, is in addition to other advantages such as zero emissions at point of service, elimination of gridlock and freeing-up of roads to drivers who prefer or need to use automobiles.

PRT is being considered by Santa Cruz as a means of relieving gridlock on the UCSC/downtown corridor. Santa Cruz is very much in the beginning of the process—one would hope that our leaders would continue the initial studies of a system here. Students and faculty could travel from downtown to campus in about 7 minutes, non-stop (as are all PRT trips because of off-line stations), roads on the Westside would be unclogged, access to local business vastly improved. If we could somehow manage to be the first city with a complete system, our city as a tourist destination and center of successful efforts to reduce global warming, would gain international standing and lots of high-class tourism as a result”. Connect and get Santa Cruz PRT info here, or by calling (831) 425-8721.

METROPOLITAN OPERA ON SCREEN. Read it here about how the Met made $8 million from last year’s screening operas in movie theatres. And greatly increased their audiences. Read here too about how much more Canadians love opera than we do. Read about Maureen Dowd’s take on their production of the Ring.

Watch the crazy Catalonians lip synch for their independence. I know it isn’t one but doesn’t it look like one long take? Can’t you imagine Santa Cruzans dancing in the streets like this? Led by Cynthia and John Barisone!!!

PATTON’S PROGRAM. Gary informs us about and praises the California Coastal Commission. He tells of the ongoing pressure to develop both the Del Monte Forest and The Carmel Valley. He reports that our Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors will be dealing with Marijuana dispensaries, and also the plan to revise the railroad crossings in Aptos Village as part of Barry Swenson’s larger plans. Gary closes by relating his involvement and future projects of Land Watch.

(Gary Patton is “Of Counsel” to the Santa Cruz law firm of Wittwer & Parkin, which specializes in land use and environmental law. The opinions expressed are Mr. Patton’s.)

BOOKSHOP SANTA CRUZ BIRTHDAY & BLUEGRASS.( a repeat 4 more emphasis) Bookshop Santa Cruz has been in business since 1966 making this their 44^th Birthday Party coming up on this Friday night November 12. Along with the biggest discount on books for the entire year there’s always a birthday cake, ice cream and our Hot Damn String Band playing most of our favorite songs. The band consists of Todd Kimball on mandolin, Annie Steinhart on fiddle, Dave Magram on banjo, Jim Reynolds on guitar, Dick Hough on bass and yours truly on Washboard. Yes we still miss Jim Houston who played bass and sang a few songs, but we’ll soldier on. Stop by between 7:30 and 9 and buy books and say hello. We’ve been playing these Bookshop Birthday parties for about 25 years…and it shows!!!

EAGANS DEEP COVER. Tim takes a new approach to Doctoring up the economy scroll down…

LANDAU’S PROGRES. Saul Landau writes, “A Pre-election Conversation” in Progreso Weekly. His article opens with, “Walking into a San Francisco bar, I saw Chico, a guy I knew in the 1960s. We had run into each other at anti-war marches, sit-ins for equal hiring practices and other popular political activities of the times. Over beer, we overheard a nearby couple discussing the November 2 elections. “Man,” I told him, assuming he still had those hippy, lefty values of the old days, “the Democrats haven’t sold themselves well on the jobs bills, the health plan incomplete as it is; and in the good work they’ve done keeping teachers in schools and helping students get loans.” He sort of half sniffed, half sneered. “I’m not a Democrat.” It goes on to a conclusion that only Landau would dream of writing 😉 Saul Landau is an Institute for Policy Studies fellow whose films are on DVD from roundworldproductions@gmail.com

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? Jan Harwood emails to say…”With the elections over, many people are asking, “Where do we go from here?” You are invited to join a community discussion on this question at 7 P.M. on November 16, sponsored by the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. An interactive discussion will focus on how the progressive community of Santa Cruz can work together in the coming years on common interests such as ending the wars, health care, re-districting, and the financial influence of mega-corporations on elections. WILPF earnestly invites all concerned to join us at 7 P.M., Tuesday, November 16 at the Quaker Meeting House, 225 Rooney St., Santa Cruz.

LISA JENSEN LINKS. This week at Lisa Jensen Online Express http://ljo-express.blogspot.com find out what happens when you cross Thomas Hardy with a modern (feminist) graphic novel, revisit an update on The Odyssey in a new London/Santa Cruz fringe production titled Nobody’s Home, consider just saying ‘no’ to NaNoWriMo … and more! Lisa Jensen has been writing film reviews and a column for Good Times since 1975.

WATERS WEIGHS IN. Christina gushes about John Malkovich, eats gooey Mexican food and ponders food futures. All at http://christinawaters.com.

THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNETS NEST. There’s a lot of talking and not much of “The Girl” in action in this conclusion of the three part murder mystery series. But you need to see it if you’ve seen the other two. The characters are so vivid it’s like reading a graphic novel in print. I would go to about 25 more parts of “The Girl Who” series, but alas.

TAMARA DREWE. It’s hard to believe for some reason but this film originated as a graphic novel. If you remember that it’s a Stephen Frears film you’ll be half way there in taking it the right way. Frears directed My Beautiful Laundrette, Prick Up Your Ears, High Fidelity, The Queen, Dirty Pretty Things…all great and so is Tamara Drewe.

STONE. Just to watch Edward Norton and Robert DeNiro work the screen is more than enough reason to see this film. Add on Milla Jovovich as the wife/temptress and you’ve got a twisted, winding film that is a fascinating character study with no easy answers. You’ll think about it for days after…so see it quickly. It’s a winner.

ENTER THE VOID. (a repeat for emphasis) Only if you truly liked Gaspar Noe’s earlier film Irreversible, or Bela Tarr’s Werckmeister Harmonies and boundary pushing films like those will you like Enter the Void. It is psychic and psychedelic, ghastly and ghosty, an entire new way of telling a story, sexual and seedy beyond belief. It takes awhile to get on board with Noe’s way of relating but it is an amazing and wonderful film…and it’ll be copied forever. It was a hit a Cannes, Sundance and Toronto. I loved it, but go warned and you have to sit through the first 10 minutes to begin to get with it. I saw it twice and it’s better each time…and it’ll be leaving very soon.

HOSTETTER’S HOT STUFF. Paul Hostetter writes (from high atop the fog in Bonny Doon)…”Friends -In the offing, a number of CD release events, plus other stuff: Gourd’s CD release of Jefferson’s Fiddle and Colonial Chrsitmas, Renata Bratt’s Slice of Summer, Peter Rowan Bluegrass band’s Legacy, not to mention that Brian Blade still about to be at Yoshi’s, the Secret Life of Banjos is baaaaack, Archie Fisher at the Freight, the Ariose Singers warbling for the Santa Cruz Baroque Festival along with the mighty Holy Cross organ, and you can get more info at http://www.lutherie.net/live.music.html
If bounding around in odd time signatures is your thing, at Cabrillo’s regular Balkan dance evening coming up on the 19th of November, there will be LIVE MUSIC by Orkestar Sali (minus the leader, Rumen “Sali” Shopov, who, alas, cannot be there) but ably carried off anyway by:

Peter Jacques – clarinet (of Brass Menazeri and Janam)
Dan Cantrell – accordion (of Dan Cantrell’s MegaBand, former member of the toids)
Evan Stuart – bass (originally from SANTA CRUZ, formerly of the Brash Punks)
Sean Tergis – percussion (“All I do is play drums…”)

that’s Friday, November 19, 2010. Doors open 7:30, music starts at 8:00.The dance studio–room 1117–is at the northwest corner of the gym building, overlooking the intersection of Soquel & Cabrillo College Drive. CAMPUS MAP

That’s all for today.

BOOKSHOP SANTA CRUZ BIRTHDAY & BLUEGRASS. Bookshop Santa Cruz has been in business since 1966 making this their 44^th Birthday Party coming up on Friday night November 12, Along with the biggest discount on books for the entire year.

There’s always a birthday cake, ice cream and our Hot Damn String Band playing most of our favorite songs. The band consists of Todd Kimball on mandolin, Annie Steinhart on fiddle, Dave Magram on banjo, Jim Reynolds on guitar, Dick Hough on bass and yours truly on Washboard. Yes we still miss Jim Houston who played bass and sang a few songs, but we’ll soldier on. Stop by between 7:30 and 9 and buy books and say hello. We’ve been playing these Bookshop Birthday parties for about 25 years…and it shows!!!

SANKAI JUKU’S RARE APPEARANCES. I’ve never been able to explain Butoh theatre…I only sit mesmerized when I am able to attend any of the performances by Sankai Juku the Japanese troupe who come to the USA only rarely. They’ll be in San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Art Center on November 11, 12, 13 and a matinee on the 14^th and at Stanford on November 9. They perform on a different level than theatre or dance. More like subconscious, mythological, primal stuff. They’re probably sold out because real fans don’t talk about them; they just attend every performance possible. Get in touch with San Francisco Performances, or Stanford’s Lively ArtsNOBODY’S HOME. I’ve been Facebooking and emailing everybody I know who likes good drama to go see Nobody’s Home: a Modern Odyssey at the West Stage on Swift Street now for two weekends through November 14. There are just two actors Will Pinchin and Dorie Kinnear, who also devised and wrote the one act play. They are young, masters of the stage, and convey the pure tragedy of a war vet trying to return to real life after combat. They do it as well and better than most actors double their age. Go to www.westperformingarts.com and get tickets asap because the theatre is small but nicely arranged, if you haven’t been there.

COOL BIRD SHAKES IT FOR RAY CHARLES. Thank DW when you see him for sending this more than cool clip.

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT ACTORS’ THEATRE!!! I just got this bad news last Wednesday….”As of Jan. 31, 2011 Santa Cruz County Actors’ Theatre will no longer be the resident theatre company in the Art Center Theater, 1001 Center St., Santa Cruz. Although Actors’ Theatre will no longer reside in the theater, we do plan to continue as a production company. Depending on availability, we will rent the Art Center Theater or other venues on an as-needed basis. When we will be able to begin producing plays again will largely depend on how much funding we will be able to secure over the months ahead.

To begin that fund raising, we’ve decided to have a Comedy Festival to kick things off!

We call it:Laughing Our Way Into The Future – A Benefit for Actors’ Theatre”

If you are a part of an Improv troupe, an actor, a standup comedian, a solo performer, a playwright with a short funny play, or simply want to experience the events while supporting the theatre during this last push, please join as a performer or audience member. November 21^st thru Dec.5th are OPEN dates available for you to sign up and share your talents while helping Actors’ Theatre. For further information, to sign up to perform, buy tickets Or MAKE A DONATION call Gerry @ 831 425- 1003. ACTORS’ THEATRE, A 25 YEAR INSTITUTION IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, has supported, championed, and provided a venue for the performing arts, with an emphasis on the theatrical arts. Your Help is Needed!!!! NOW!!!

COMING ATTRACTIONS AT ACTORS THEATRE.
November 14th – Santa Cruz Actors’ Theatre 18th Annual Improvathon – featuring some of the most popular Improvisation troupes in Santa Cruz. 12pm to 10pm. A minimum donation of $10 gives you access to the Improvathon all day and night!

November 16 & 17– Willing Suspension Armchair Theatre offers up: “Well, let me tell you about My family”, exploring the funny and quirky characteristics of family. The show features Skot Davis, Suzanne Schrag, Leslie Guzman and others and is directed by Susan Forrest. Scripts are by Laurie Lee, Ogden Nash, David & Amy Sedaris, Dave Berry, etc., plus local playwrights Pat Grube & Wilma Marcus Chandler.

November 19 & 20 — “You Had To Be There” Sketch Comedy by the local favorite comedy troupe. To repeat…..ACTORS’ THEATRE, A 25 YEAR INSTITUTION IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, has supported, championed, and provided a venue for the performing arts, with an emphasis on the theatrical arts. Your Help is Needed!!!! NOW!!!

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 sometimes old programs are on “blog”) at WWW.KZSC.ORG. Susan Hillhouse and Paula Kenyon from The Museum of Art & History will hold forth on November 9th followed by Chris Krohn giving us the low down on elections, trends and futures. On November 16th George Bunch will talk about English learners in Community Colleges. Then after George, Linda Burman Hall will sing praises of the Santa Cruz Baroque Festival’s newest season. Dr. Carlos Arcangeli who will update us on matters of the urinary tract on November 30 followed by David Watson owner of The Literary Guillotine. On December 7 poet David Swanger returns to read and talk about his works. I’ll interview rose expert and enthusiast Bill Grant right after David. Dana Frank had a bad cough, had to cancel her 11/09 Grapevine appearance and go to Honduras again. She’ll be reporting on that trip December 21^st. Any and all suggestions for future programs are more than welcome so tune in and keep listening.

QUOTES. “No one can imagine any other persons suffering–that’s the human tragedy”,. Inspector Morse, Channel 9. “I don’t like me when I’m around you, that’s why relationships don’t work”, Exotica movie. “We are always searching; I think that now we are at the point of finding”, John Coltrane.