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DATELINE March 21, 2016
UCSC’S SECRET BUILDING PLANS. Back in the early days UCSC was referred to as “Uncle Charlie’s Summer Camp” now it’s Unfairly Crowded Student Campus or UCSC.
Times are really bad even desparate for students attending right now at UCSC. With tuition so sky high and required classes too full to admit the students who need those classes to graduate, many leave without graduating because they can’t afford to stay…and that’s tragic. UCSC administration has doubled and tripled bed space so much that students can’t study in their rooms and try to study in the library…but the library is so crowded there aren’t enough seats. That too is a shame on our State University. Note too that UCSC wants to admit 600 more new students. The admin isn’t sending them to UC Merced, nope – jam them into UCSC !!!
With plans to develop the area North of campus with 3 million square feet of buildings UCSC is now mapping, surveying and plotting to develop West Campus, That’s Kresge College, the Porter Cave area, the famed 420 West Meadow (that’ll attract 10-20,000 folks next month on April 20). UCSC is right now boring test holes in Porter Meadow, they are cutting trees, planning to eliminate the age old Trailer Park (long time traditional student dwelling). And the building of Colleges 11 and 12…all on the West side of campus. Right now most of the students aren’t aware of what’s going on. As usual, UCSC Administration will race this development all through the summer when there are fewer students to see the environmental and scholastic changes. BUT other students are aware and we’ll be hearing more from them soon. The largest question is how did California ever start allowing our once great University system to turn into this unfair monster?
ABOUT THE CHANCELLOR’S HOUSE. The Chancellor’s House is also known as the University House…and last week I suggested that just maybe since the Chancellor lives over the hill and commutes, that the house could be converted into about 30 student residences. Since then I’ve been informed that… “Effective Nov. 3, 2015 UC Santa Cruz has closed the University House, built in 1967, after determining that the campus will need to make immediate and significant repairs and improvements to have it meet modern standards”. Then it says, “A committee formed this past summer is evaluating the University House to see how it might better meet the needs of the university both as a residence and as a venue for events”. Let’s all guess what that means. By the way, let’s see a show of hands…who remembers the more than $100,000 dog house and dog run that one of the Chancellors had built in the University House backyard??
OUR TRAFFIC TRAGEDY. The Campaign For Sensible Transportation sent this message…
Slash METRO Service And Spend $100 mil. on Highway 1?
Due to declining state support, Metro is facing a $6.5 million per year deficit. A portion of a proposed sales tax measure for the November ballot would reduce that deficit by $2.2 million. That’s not enough to prevent serious cuts in Metro service. Meanwhile the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) proposes to spend over $100 million in the sales tax measure on widening Highway 1, a downpayment on a larger highway construction project that Caltrans has estimated will have a “very slight improvement in traffic congestion”.
The Campaign for Sensible Transportation sent the following letter to the Boards of Metro and the RTC.
We believe that the current budgetary crisis at Metro calls for our leaders to step up to the challenge of prioritizing public transit in our County. Thus far, the Metro Board’s response to budgetary constraints is to create a service reduction plan. What we need is a Transit First Policy such as was adopted by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1973. If our community can decide to make public transit a priority, the long-term economic, social, and environmental benefits to our community will be profound.
The following are two steps that you can take immediately in your role as elected leaders to prioritize transit and reduce the need for Metro service cuts.
1. Increase Metro’s portion of the transportation sales tax for November, 2016. The 15% of the revenue allocated to Metro is inadequate. It would reduce Metro’s $6.5 million annual deficit by $2.2 million. To gut Metro service at the same time as allocating funds for an ineffectual widening of Highway 1 worsens social inequity in our County. This runs counter to our deeply held community value for social justice. The EIR on the Highway 1 projects estimates that the congestion relief for the proposed TSM Alternative will be “very slight”. The TSM Alternative is a much larger project than the widening project envisioned in the proposed sales tax measure. So there is no credible evidence that the smaller highway project that could be funded by the sales tax measure will have any measurable impact on traffic congestion.
2. Implement a plan for comprehensive Transportation Demand Management that includes free or discounted employee bus passes. For example, UCSC provides bus passes for employees for $10 per month. We urge you to campaign for a similar program at all large employers in the County as well as all businesses in Downtown Santa Cruz where bus passes could be funded by the Downtown Parking District.”. Get in touch with the Campaign and send emails to the RTC. Also note there will be a Metro Board Meeting, Mar 25, 8:30am: Presentation of Metro service reduction plan at the Santa Cruz City Council Chambers.
ERRETT CIRCLE. Most of the folks around Walk Circle (aka Errett Circle) are having an issue with the Garfield Park (new name) Church across the street. “The new pastor since mid- to late 2015 is attempting to “clean up” the neighborhood. The Circle neighbors like the neighborhood as it is now. In addition to painting the church, he has installed about 20+ high intensity mercury vapor flood lamps around the perimeter of the building and in the courtyard. These lights are illuminating most of the houses on the circle all night long. They’ve tried to talk to him and he’s been defensive concerning their installation but finally promised he would install shields (12/15/15). The neighbors have sent him mails and letters which go unanswered. Talk around the Circle is that he has no intention of doing anything and thinks we’ll “get used to them” NOT! In desperation, one neighbor reported the situation to city code enforcement, and they responded promptly. He (the pastor) bamboozled them into thinking that he was installing them immediately (2 weeks ago). If you’re in the neighborhood some evening, take a drive and check them out. Almost like having our bedrooms lit up like a football field”. That was almost word for word what one neighbor/friend sent to me this week. Let’s see what happens. I’ll keep you informed.
MY NEW iPHONE & APPLE. Never in a million years would I have imagined that the Apple Corporation would be the easiest, nicest, most patient manufacturer I’ve ever dealt with. I’ve now had my Apple iPhone 6 plus for 8 days. It’s my first cell phone. In that week I’ve had two free one-on-one half hour sessions and a free Apple workshop in Los Gatos that lasted 2 and a half hours. It was extra long because of some extra linkage details to Cruzio, my ISP. Cruzio’s Chris Neklason was of enormous help too. iPhones are full of tools, treats, and services I never knew existed…and Apple does an amazing job of making sure you know how to use as much of it as you choose. Imagine Comcast coming to your house (free) and showing you how to use your hookup. Think about a new car dealer giving you free lessons on your new car features, think about any new purchase of a device that was complicated…get any help? I’m just impressed with Apple, that’s all and I’ve scheduled two more sessions this week. More than that, near the end of my Los Gatos workshop session at the Apple Store, in walks Rita Wadsworth so I knew I was still on this earth.
SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL (NOT PROFOUND, NOT DEEP OR HEAVY, JUST BEAUTIFUL) PHOTOS FROM MY COUNSIN DEAN.
Click here to see a gorgeous slide show of pictures from all over the world.
HONOLULU AND OAHU TRAFFIC.
Just returned from 10 day stay in Hawaii. All 10 days on Oahu. Sharon and I used to visit this island at least once a year since 1986 mostly to enjoy the beaches and visit my brother and his family. My, how things have changed, traffic wise, since that first visit. The main freeway artery, the H1, goes from downtown Honolulu to the west side of the island, and in 1986 it was already crammed with cars. Leaping ahead to 2016 there are now long stretches of 10 lanes of H1, and you guessed it, all crammed with cars during rush hour. Want to drive up to the North Shore and see the rest of Oahu? Be prepared for a few hours on the weekend crawling along on a two-lane highway that hasn’t changed much since 1956, my first U.S. Navy duty station in Wahiawa.
There have been mitigation measures, like their “zipper lanes” that move a divider into the lanes that are going this opposite way during commute hours. They have under construction a light rail system that will basically parallel the H1. Road beds are built and stations are under construction, but the residents remain skeptical if the rail line will ever be completed due to project slippages. My guess is that it will, and be heavily used.
Honolulu has a great bus transit system. You can get to and from the airport on the bus, straight to the hotels. A yearly bus pass for seniors is $30. Many seniors on the staff at the hotel I stay at don’t own cars, eliminating that cost and having to pay for parking.
Sounds like something like that should be workable here?
(Paul Elerick is a member of, and former co-chair of the Campaign for Sensible Transportation, http://sensibletransportation.org . He’s a current member of Nisene to Sea, a group of mid-county citizens committed to maintaining an open hiking trail from Cabrillo College to Nisene Marks State Park.
THE MUNICIPAL WHARF’S FUTURE?
The comment period for the environmental review of the Santa Cruz Wharf Master Plan ends on April 12th. Not surprising if you are unaware the comment period had even started. Little publicity has been afforded this project, which will result in a distinctly different, made-over wharf. The Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) is worthy of your careful scrutiny and comment. The city and its consultants are probably hoping you won’t.
I admit to a preference for the current wharf in all its funky, fish-stained historical appeal. I understand that others may welcome the upscale, gentrified, design-coordinated makeover. All of us however should be concerned with the omissions and assumptions that underlie much of the MND. The document can be found at: (here) Amidst all the feel good rhetoric and assurances of “no impacts”, “less than significant impacts” or “mitigated significant impact reduced to less than significant” is a troubling omission. The viewing holes for the sea lions are perhaps the biggest draw for visitors. Their delighted exclamations at the first sighting of these protected marine mammals always makes me smile and reflect on how fortunate we are to live here and take such sights for granted. The sea lion viewing holes are gone in the new wharf project. Nor is there any mention of their replacement, either in the MND or the equally long Wharf Master Plan.
What we will have at the end of the wharf is a 45 foot-high warehouse-style building to replicate the original building from the early days when the wharf was a commercial fishing enterprise. This is one of three such large buildings proposed. In the words of the consultants: “new civic-spirited buildings are proposed that are punctuations in the built form of the Wharf as well as in the activity pattern to enrich and expand the visitor experience.” page 27 Wharf Master Plan. Each of these three new buildings of 45 feet in height plus architectural projections are said to be in scale with other larger structures such as the Dream Inn. Renditions of the new buildings are taken from a birds-eye view so you cannot see how much view-shed will be lost from the wharf although the documents assure us there will be plenty left to see.
The first two elements of the plan to be built will be moving the kiosks further down the wharf about 500 feet south and the construction of an Eastern Promenade which requires an additional 500 pilings to be pounded 30 feet into the sea floor. The placement of the new kiosks is probably a sound idea but there are troubling aspects. This will be a pay-on-foot automated system, requiring 12 pay stations, a parking office and a new “demand pricing strategy”(whatever that means) plus new, metal pilings under the wharf. This system sounds decidedly unfriendly to the elderly who have supported the wharf restaurants such as Gilda’s for decades. I for one will fight to retain the wonderful women and men who currently staff the kiosks. Such human issues of course are irrelevant to a MND.
What is relevant to the MND is the disconnect between the aim of the project, which is stated as economic growth and increased visitor access and the provision of adequate parking. There are currently 440 parking spaces on the Wharf. No additional parking is planned for, although new striping (read, narrower spaces) may yield an extra 40 spaces. Despite the fact that the project aims for an increase of businesses from the current 19 to 35-40, encourages second stories for all businesses, with a wide promenade on the east and a lowered walkway on the westside to encourage more access, when it comes to discussing how much the visitation to the Wharf will increase due to this project, the language becomes coy. All of this “could” increase the numbers of visitors states the MND, but it remains mute on predictions. Therefore it concludes that, “future construction would not result in significant traffic or parking impacts” because such impacts will be mitigated by the provision of 65 bicycle parking spots. This, despite the entry stating that, “parking is considered by most of the (Wharf) tenants to be the most essential element to their business success.” Page 35 Wharf Master Plan. There is much more in the MND to critique. Next week’s column will continue.
(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. Gary’s KUSP Land Use Reports contain such items as…
Lots of things are happening this week in the City of Santa Cruz!
| MARIA CALLAS 1965. She sings Puccini. |
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HOW WHALES CHANGE CLIMATE. Just a bit of supercilious Brit. attitude but interesting. |
If you care about the Santa Cruz downtown, and particularly about how automobile traffic flows, or might flow, or wouldn’t flow at all on Pacific Avenue, then you should be aware that there is a meeting this evening 3/21 of the City’s Transportation and Public Works Commission, and this meeting will probably have a big impact on what used to be called the “Pacific Garden Mall.” The Commission meets at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. That’s tonight! The big item on the agenda is a proposal to change the direction of automobile traffic on certain segments of Pacific Avenue and related side streets, to facilitate <quote> “Southbound Wayfinding.”
I think this means that the currently somewhat complex traffic patterns downtown would be modified to allow Pacific Avenue to serve as a thoroughfare for people wanting to get to the Beach Boardwalk. That’s what “finding your way South” actually means, as far as I can tell. Some people want a total pedestrian experience. You can weigh in if you show up!
In other City news, the City Council meets tomorrow, Tuesday 3/22 at 1:30 in the afternoon, and will consider whether or not to allow the installation of exercise equipment on West Cliff Drive. If you like our West Cliff walkway the way it is, you should let the City Council know. And, of course, the opposite is true, too”
Gary continues…” Here is another meeting coming up on the Santa Cruz downtown! On Monday 3/21, the City’s Transportation and Public Works Commission considered a proposal to alter traffic patterns in downtown Santa Cruz. Current traffic patterns are designed to prevent cars from using Pacific Avenue as a thoroughfare to get to the Beach. If you have a car, and if you are in the downtown area, and if you want to get to the Beach, the best way to do that now is to use either Front Street or Chestnut, and Front Street is really the most direct route. This could change, and Pacific Avenue could become a more direct route out to the Beach Boardwalk. I’ll keep you posted. Meantime, if you have any preference about this, it’s time to start getting involved. One way to get involved would be to attend tomorrow’s meeting of the Santa Cruz Downtown Commission, and to let the Commission know what you think. The Commission will meet on Thursday morning, March 24th, at 8:30 a.m. in the City Council Chambers. There are links to more information at kusp.org/landuse. Besides hearing from the public under its “Oral Communications” item, the Downtown Commission will be reviewing the City’s Capital Improvement Program for 2016-2018. The infrastructure investments proposed for the next couple of years will have a big impact on City residents, you can be sure of that!
Read the complete scripts of the above at Gary Patton’s KUSP Land Use site http://blogs.kusp.org/landuse . 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 expressed are Mr. Patton’s. Gary has his own website, Two Worlds/365” – www.gapatton.net
| MARIA CALLAS TALKS ABOUT JACKIE KENNEDY AND ARISTOTLE O. Note how she wears her hair long like in the Master Class play. |
CLASSICAL DeCINZO. DeCinzo, an experienced Cuba traveler gives us a sneak preview of recent policy changes. Scroll down just a bit.
EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. One step forward for Garland sez Eagan…see below a few pages.
MAH PRESENTS THE KINSEY COLLECTION OF AFRICAN AMERICAN ART & HIISTORY. Spanning 400 years of history, the Kinsey Collection reflects a rich cultural heritage. Includes work by Romare Bearden, Elizabeth Catlett, Jacob Lawrence, and Richard Mayhew alongside archival material related to Frederick Douglass, Zora Neale Hurston, and Malcolm X. The MAH is providing free admission to this exhibition for all Santa Cruz County K-12 students, UCSC and Cabrillo College students. Just show your ID at the desk Feb 27-May 22, Tuesday-Sunday, 11-5, to get in for free. Note: Free Admission does not apply during Third Friday festivals.
SANTA CRUZ BAROQUE FESTIVAL.The Festival presents their fifth concert in this season…FIVE FANTASTIC FLUTES. They say, “Come get your Louis the 15th on! Boismortier was the first composer in history to write for the unique combination of five solo baroque flutes. The program also includes the popular London Trios by Joseph Haydn written in 1794. This performance features the entire flute section of the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra – Stephen Schultz, Janet See and Mindy Rosenfeld – joined by Bay Area flutists Lars Johannesson and Alissa Roedig, with Amy Brodo on cello. Sunday April 3 at 4:00pm Holy Cross Church , 210 High Street, Santa Cruz.
Tickets probably/maybe at the door or call 831-457-9693, E-mail info@scbaroque.org, P.O. Box 482, Santa Cruz, CA 95061.
VAN ANTWERP THEATRE COMPANY Presents Edward Albee’s “A Delicate Balance” It’s Coming April 7 to Center Stage at 1001 Center Street, Santa Cruz. Wikipedia says, A Delicate Balance is a play by Edward Albee. It premiered in 1966 and won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1967, the first of three he received for his work. The uneasy existence of upper-middle-class suburbanites Agnes and Tobias and their permanent houseguest, Agnes’ witty alcoholic sister Claire, is disrupted by the sudden appearance of lifelong family friends Harry and Edna, fellow empty nesters with free-floating anxiety, who ask to stay with them to escape an unnamed terror. They soon are followed by Agnes and Tobias’s bitter 36-year-old daughter Julia, who returns home following the collapse of her fourth marriage. It stars Ali Eppy, Susan Forrest, Ann McCormick. Brian Spencer, Janine Theodore, and Frank Widman. Preview 4/7 @ 7:30p, plus 4/8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23. Tickets: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2514775
LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa writes: “Coming this summer: Alias Hook makes its stage debut in an original production by Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation Teen Theatre! Read all the details this week at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com).” Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.
THAT IS THE QUESTION
(THE NEWEST FILMS IN ORDER OF PERFECTION)
EMBRACE OF THE SERPENT. One of my maybe top 3 films from 2015. It also has a 99% from Rotten Tomatoes. This was Colombia’s best foreign film entry for the Oscars…it shoulda won! Filmed along the Amazon. It’s two separate stories of scientists exploring the jungles for certain rare plants. It’s really about how “whites” have ruined, killed, destroyed,the peoples and the environment as they stoled the rubber and lumber. There’s a very clear message for all of us here, today. (subtitled)
KNIGHT OF CUPS. Terence Malick’s newest “profound”, “deep”, “introspective” film has
Christain Bale leading the cast with Cate Blanchett, Natalie Portman, Brian Dennehy all appearing in flashes,with hardly any lines, and rarely even moving the non-plot forward. It’s series of images, and if there is a story (plot) it’s probably about a very rich screenwriter son relating to his father and figuring out what his lefe means. It’s shot in Santa Monica, Las Vegas and beaches and lots of parties and some strip joints. Much of the dialogue is purposely undecipherable, like the plot. Don’t go unprepared, and I haven’t any idea how to prepare.
ALLEIGIANT, Part of the Divergent series. This mess got a 10 on Rotten Tomatoes, and deserved about a 2. Shailene Woodley once again leads her group of troopers out of Chicago and you can’t blame her. It’s the future and Chicago has been destroyed by secret nasty people led by Jeff Daniels. Jeff has something to do with altering genomes and making people nutty. The flimsy, thrown together plot is too confusing and too improbable to explain. Just remember that no matter how bad Chicago is in the future, outside the wall that surrounds it…it’s even worse. So’s the movie, don’t go.
STILL PLAYING AT A THEATRE NEAR US
FROM BEST TO REALLY BAD
THE VVITCH. That’s not a “w” in “Witch”, for some unexplained reason the film always uses 2 capital v’s in the title. This completely deadily serious film does a fine job of creating and keeping a very scary mood throughout the whole piece. It’s set in 1630 New England centering on a family just off the boat from the old country. Perfect acting, perfect sets, the Brit/New England accents are hard to follow at times. There isn’t a familiar “ghost” idea in this film. No chainsaws, cellar stairs, hockey masks, or more importantly not one previously used scene in it.
10 CLOVERFIELD LANE. What a surprise…the reviews were coming in saying this is a well done, thrill -film from some very respected reviewers. They’re right, this is an exciting, involving, mysterious, well-acted, suspenseful movie. John Goodman stars as a creepy, misunderstood, possible deviate, who’s locked up a young beautiful woman Mary Elizabeth Winstead to protect her from what is (or isn’t?) outside the underground home-like prison. Great suspense, nicely filmed, believable, just go and have fun. Don’t read anything else about it, you’ll spoil the excitement and puzzlement.
WHERE TO INVADE NEXT. We liberals/progressives tend to think we know everything that Michael Moore has to say in his films…we sure don’t. His Invade film is full of very well thought out political concepts that we overlook constantly. He takes on women’s rights, slavery, college tuition, pregnancy leaves, bankers going to jail, decrominalizing drugs, prison sentences, school lunches, and many more. Moore is way too heavy handed and sinplistic but there are some very tearful and relevant points he makes in this documentary. He delivers the fact that so many great steps in human legal prigress were started way back when in the good ol’ USA!!! See this film. And vote accordingly! (that would be Bernie, naturally).
SPOTLIGHT. A big Oscar winner for this excellent film. When you have a cast like Mark Ruffalo, Michale Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Billy Crudup, Stanley Tucci and Liev Schreiber and a plot involving the Roman Catholic church’s child molesting priests and the “official cover-up” you got a winner. It’s shocking, even though you think you know all there is to know. When you add in the current troubles the Vatican is having…you’ve got a very sick institution. It’s newspaper business at its best. It’s also reporting such as no newspaper can afford today…you’ll see how important that is/was. Rotten Tomatoes gives it a 97%!!! A perfect example of what Hollywood can do….sometimes.
THE REVENANT. What’s odd about The Revenant is that hardly anyone I know, knew what the word meant. Looking it up (I had to) in Wictionary you’ll find… Someone who returns from a long absence. A person or thing reborn. A supernatural being that returns from the dead; a zombie or ghost. The film is a Big Golden Globes and Oscar winner for best Drama film and for Leonardo DiCaprio’s best acting and Alejandro Inarritu for best Director. Set in the 1820’s its about Leonardo and his fellow fur trappers being attacked or occasionally helped by Indian tribes such as the Ree, the Ankara,the Pawnee and the Sioux. DeCaprio almost dies from a bear attack and spends the rest of the film crawling and freezing his way to revenge the trappers who left him to die. DeCaprio has only 15 lines in English, he takes off his clothes and sleeps inside a dead horse (after removing the guts) and then he wins the Golden Globes and the OSCAR !!! Go figure, but you do need to see it on a big screen.
WHISKEY, TANGO, FOXTROT. That’s W.T.F. or “W _ _ _ T_ _ FUCK” ? Tina Fey produced this female TV (CNN type) brand- new-novice–war-correspondent goes to Afghanistan movie. Tina faces the Taliban in Pakinstan and Afghanistan and some heavy sexist dealings and manages to get a few laughs in this deadly serious and pointless movie. Tina is actually very good in this mostly serious role. But there really isn’t any reason for you to spend your hard earned money on it.
STAR WARS The Force Awakens STINKS & MORE. I was actually stunned when I left the theatre after viewing Star Wars: The Force Awakens. My sister and friends immediately asked what I thought about the film, I couldn’t even think about it as I would have with any other film I’ve critiqued in the last 40 plus years. Then I read Michael Hiltzik’s business column in the 12/30/15 edition of the L.A. Times. Michael’s new book is titled Big Science. His column is titled, “Why Star Wars Stinks”. In it he tells how the film is unimaginative, dull in long stretches, and is a poor copy of the original 1977 Star Wars. He says and I agree that it’s not a movie.”It’s the anchoring element of a vast commercial program”. He goes on to say that this film will bring in nearly 5 Billion dollars and that because of the related product sales it wouldn’t matter if NO ONE SAW the film, it still would make those profits. The plot is obscure, the art work is wonderful, and it’s cold, impersonal, and dullRead the critique above. This is not a movie, it’s a product placement showcase for Disney productions and world wide toy manufacturers.
EDDIE THE EAGLE. This movie claims it was based on a true heart tugging story. Hugh Jackman plays a big role as Eddie’s coach/friend and now we find out none of that was true.It doesn’t matter if any of this gross, manipulating, saccharine, dulcet, mellifluous, sugar coated movie is true…it should be made illegal. It’s that sappy. Why Jackman and nasty ol’ Christopher Walken (only at the end) showed up for filming can only be attributed to a need for money. Don’t go…ever. It’s about psychologically challenged Eddie becoming a British ski jumper in the Olympics.
LONDON HAS FALLEN. Aaron Eckhart as the President of the USA, is barely believable then there’s Morgan Freeman as vice prez. Angela Bassett plays somebody beautiful and Gerard Butler is the prez’s bodyguard. I must admit that in spite of the miserable ratings and critic’s zingers I was really enjoying the first 15 minutes of chase stuff around London. Evil lurkers killed several world leaders in London and tried very hard to kill our president. It is one awful movie. Extremely bad diaglogue, way heavy and overdone FX…avoid it at all costs (or even free)!!
BREACHING THE BOTTOM. DEADPOOL. To be fair Deadpool is a fairly decent movie, because if you’ve followed the Deadpool comic book character for its many years (since 1991) you might relate to this meaningless , pointless, extra violent mess. Deadpool is a reluctant, foul mouthed superhero. If you like superhero/Marvel type graphic heroes, you could like this movie. Deadpool is making millions at the boxoffice.
| 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. . Brian Ragunan tells us about the UCSC Veterans programs and benefits on March 22, and then Chip from the Santa Cruz Downtown Association tells us what’s happening on Pacific and environs. Michel Singher talks about the next concert of the Espressivo Orchestra on March 29. He’s followed by Jack Nelson relating the purposes and achievements of the Campaign For Sensible Transportation. There’s no Universal G’vine on April 5 because KZSC is broadcasting Robert Reich’s talk at The Rio Theatre live that same night. April 12 has UCSC’s Matthew Lasar talking about his new book, “Radio2.0 : Uploading the 1st Broadcast Medium”. Then Phil Kramer of the Homeless Services Center gives us the scoop on their plans and accomplishments. April 19 has Joan Van Antwerp describing Albee’s play “A Delicate Balance” opening at the Center Stage (4/8-4/23). She’s followed by Laurie King, author of 14 Mary Russell (Mrs. Sherlock Holmes) mysteries detailing her Bookshop Santa Cruz new book signing on April 20. Andrew Austin tells us about UCSC’s latest development plans on April 26. Followed by The Reel Work Film Festival people. Do remember, any and all suggestions for future programs are more than welcome so tune in, and keep listening. Email me always at bratton@cruzio.com
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This is perhaps one of my guilty pleasures… clips from the various “got talent” shows. I never watch whole episodes, and I don’t like the bad ones that make you cringe, but when someone comes on and out of left field blows everyone away – I love that. This is a good example. |
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-Darrow, 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. SPECIAL FLOOD QUOTES…
“The only thing that stops God from sending another flood is that the first one was useless”. Nicolas Chamfort
“The flood of money that gushes into politics today is a pollution of democracy”. Theodore White
“Nobody’s strong enough to stand up under a flood of weak material”. Alan Ladd
Subscriptions: Click and enter the box in the upper right hand corner of each Column. You’ll get a weekly email notice the instant the column goes online. (Anywhere from Monday afternoon through Thursday or sometimes as late as Friday!) Always free and confidential. Even I don’t know who subscribes!!
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 @ gunilla@thegoldenfleece.com
BEST OF VINTAGE STEVEN DeCINZO.
Deep Cover by Tim Eagan.
