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BUSH CONVICTED OF WAR CRIMES. Jim Elmore sent in this link to Foreign Policy Journal.com. Check out the journal, it looked good to me. More than that read …”In what is the first ever conviction of its kind anywhere in the world, the former US President and seven key members of his administration were yesterday (Fri. May 11) found guilty of war crimes. Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld and their legal advisers Alberto Gonzales, David Addington, William Haynes, Jay Bybee and John Yoo were tried in absentia in Malaysia. The trial held in Kuala Lumpur heard harrowing witness accounts from victims of torture who suffered at the hands of US soldiers and contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan. They included testimony from British man Moazzam Begg, an ex-Guantanamo detainee and Iraqi woman Jameelah Abbas Hameedi who was tortured in the notorious Abu Ghraib prison. At the end of the week-long hearing, the five-panel tribunal unanimously delivered guilty verdicts against Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and their key legal advisors who were all convicted as war criminals for torture and cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment”. Then we have to wonder why this is the first time we’ve heard of this? Read it all here…
DE-SALINATION AND HOW WE GOT INTO THIS MESS. The signature campaign that’ll make sure citizens get to vote on whether we want a de-sal plant or not is breaking all records and will end soon. Go here to sign up and get details on how the city….namely Rotkin, Kocher, and Mathews are pulling so many fast and sneaky moves, just to cause confusion and doubt.
Then there’s the history behind it all at..
After that you can sign here…
OTTER 501. Isn’t there anybody else who sees the locally made film Otter 501 as a real piece of junk? Friends are friends and local is local, but that narrator, that voice, her acting was like something from an eight year old. Yes, the footage of our rocky Moss Landing shore came out beautifully but why such an idiotic script? Wikipedia says,” An otter is any of 13 living species of semi aquatic (or in one case aquatic) mammals which feed on fish and shellfish, and also other invertebrates, amphibians, birds and small mammals”. Now we need a film from the birds, small mammals, and amphibian’s point of view showing what ruthless monsters Otters are.
| NASTY OTTER FOOTAGE. The other side of those little otter nasties.. |
NEW SANCTUARY EXPLORATION CENTER ART DEBUTS…BUT.
Here’s the official announcement…”The City of Santa Cruz Department of Economic Development; the Santa Cruz Arts Commission, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation; and NOAA’s Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary; will co-host a lighting ceremony on May 29 to celebrate the unveiling of two works of public art that will be part of the new Sanctuary Exploration Center. The public is invited. “Sea Life Stewardship,” a project of Meltdown Glass studio, is a 40 feet by 9 feet mural fabricated from arctic glass that is suspended in a steel frame affixed to the side of the Exploration Center. A whale tail sculpture by Wowhaus studio, “Fluke,” is a life-size, cast bronze stylized humpback whale tail that invites visitors to sit, touch and explore. The artists who created both pieces will discuss their work.
WHAT: Sanctuary Exploration Center Public Artwork Ceremony WHEN: Tuesday, May 29, 7 p.m. WHERE: Sanctuary Exploration Center, 35 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, Calif. WHO: Santa Cruz Mayor Don Lane, Paul Michel, sanctuary superintendent; artists from Wowhaus and Meltdown Glass studios.
BUY WHAT LOCAL? The Meltdown Glass Studio is in Chandler, Arizona. Check them out… They made the 40 x 9 arctic glass mural. The Wowhaus Studios are in Sebastopol, California they made the bronze whale tail.
If you know anybody on our Santa Cruz Arts Commission, ask them why our local artists weren’t paid all that money to create those pieces. Where was The Tannery with all their artists? Isn’t this Exploration Center supposed to show off our LOCAL talent? Why Chandler, Arizona why Sebastopol? I couldn’t find a single mention of these Sanctuary Center art projects on the Santa Cruz Arts Commission website. You go look…
BLUE LIKE JAZZ. This bonkers flick deals with both Christianity and Reed College and seriously goofs on both scores. In addition to lousy acting it doesn’t do either institution any good. Stay away. Go see Monsieur Lazhar or Sound of My Voice, if you like good films.
PATTON’S PROGRAM. Gary warns us about creating safe routes to schools in San Lorenzo Valley. He adds some news about a library in Felton and some dealings with the Coastal Commission and developing Pebble Beach. He closes with… “The reliability of Santa Cruz’s water supplies for existing customers is definitely of concern. The current Draft General Plan estimates a growth in water demand of 500 million gallons by 2030, or a 14% increase in current water demand. This new water demand is more than the output of the proposed desalination plant, so even if that proposed desalination plant were built (and that’s hardly certain), there would be no increase in water security for current customers. Those affected by this issue include residents and businesses in Live Oak, Pasatiempo, and even parts of Capitola, as well as residents and business owners in the City of Santa Cruz itself”. Read all of it 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. Gary has his own website, “Two Worlds / 365” – www.gapatton.net)
ANCHOR IN ANTARCTICA. Micaela Neus sends us…”Last night I finally got to take part in one of the little perks available to winterovers at Palmer Station— fish prints! The science group that studies the Antarctic deepwater ice fish arrives in late fall (May-June) to gather specimens of each species for experiments in how these fish survive the unique conditions of the Southern Ocean. When they’re done with the fish, they host an evening where people paint on the body of the fish and use newsprint or fabric to create impressions with as much detail as possible.
I printed C. Aceratus, a species whose charms are largely scientific; they are pretty stupid and quite unattractive, but produce “anti-freeze blood” without any hemoglobin and need very little energy (low metabolism) to survive. This class of fish is a dominant and unique component of the Southern Ocean, completely adapted to cold temperatures and possibly threatened by the warming currents now sweeping along the Western Antarctic Peninsula. They’re also very ancient, which makes studying how they develop in the egg very revealing to evolutionary biologists. Certain aspects of the research done on them may even contribute to our understanding of osteoporosis and inform its treatment in humans. I can’t speak too specifically about those topics, but I can tell you without a doubt that their odd shape, disproportionate jaw and huge eyes make for pretty good art… if you’re a kindergartner!
The childishness of the activity was not lost on us, of course, even if we had paintbrushes in one hand and beers in the other. We joked about hanging our masterpieces on the fridge and laughed at the bizarre paint jobs people gave the awkward greeny-brown monsters. At the same time, everyone had a go… middle-aged mechanics, first year-grad students, the station manager and the even some crew from our research vessel. These
activities may sound stupid, but they’re little milestones in ice culture. Have you ever made fish prints? Have you seen the tin man? Have you met King Neptune’s southern cousin? Somehow, these tokens add up to something significant. I’m still working out what that is, exactly”.
(Micaela Neus works for Raytheon Polar Services Company as a utilities technician and is currently living at Palmer Station, Antarctica until at least October 2012.
EAGANS DEEP COVER. T. Eagan delivers the not so cold facts, scroll down.. asap.
LANDAU’S PROGRES. Saul Landau’s article is titled,” Nefarious Details In The Cuban Five Case”. He closes his piece with, “Worse, ignoring Desmond Butler’s reporting and former National Security Council official Fulton Armstrong’s devastating op ed in the Miami Herald (Dec. 25, 2011), he proclaimed his innocence, insisting he only wanted to help the Jewish community get better internet access. For this he smuggled in equipment (documented by Butler) and got paid almost $600,000 from a company contracted by USAID. And Blitzer, who should win the journalism award for best stenographer, didn’t ask him about any of the facts Butler and Armstrong had raised.
We hugged goodbye. Gerardo raised a triumphant fist before returning to his cell. I walked into the dry desert wind, to the car and the road, down 5,000 feet and 40 miles to the Ontario, California airport with a chance to think about justice and injustice, again. It’s all here…
Saul Landau is an Institute for Policy Studies fellow whose films are on DVD from roundworldproductions@gmail.
Landau, is an Emmy-winning, internationally-known scholar, author, commentator, and filmmaker on foreign and domestic policy issues. Landau’s most widely praised achievements are the over forty films he has produced on social, political and historical issues, and worldwide human rights, for which he won the Letelier-Moffitt Human Rights Award, the George Polk Award for Investigative Reporting, and the First Amendment Award, as well as an Emmy for Paul Jacobs and the Nuclear Gang.
LISA JENSEN LINKS: Lisa writes: “This week at Lisa Jensen Online Express, immerse yourself in “The Cult of Beauty,” the gorgeous Pre-Raphaelite exhibit at the Legion of Honor in SF (and check out some of my favorite objets d’art from the show), and get set for a New York state of mind as Cabrillo Stage unveils its summer season.” Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.
ALMOST, MAINE PLAY AT UCSC. Go see this play. It’s fast, funny, well acted, cleverly staged and I saw it last Friday night. It’s a play by John Cariani and is presented by the UCSC Theater Arts Department “As the Northern lights fill the sky above, the residents of the mythical town of Almost, Maine, find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected and often hilarious ways. The play inventively explores the mysteries of the human heart, touching audiences with laughter, heartbreak and hope. The New York Sun describes it as “love in the time of frostbite.” directed by Kathryn Wahlberg. It plays only this weekend Thu-Sun, May 24-27 @ 7:00 pm (Sundays at 3:00pm) at The Experimental Theater (UC Santa Cruz) Tickets ONLINE at santacruztickets.com, at the UCSC Ticket Office (831-459-2159) and Santa Cruz Civic (832-420-5260)
“I DREAM OF CHANG AND ENG”. The year is 1874. A plantation home near Mt. Airy, North Carolina. Sixty-three year-old Chang Bunker takes his last breath. His twin brother, Eng, dies a short time later. Their quiet passing in a rural farmhouse was the final note in a truly remarkable and fascinating life — as the world-famous “Siamese” twins.
The UC Santa Cruz Theater Arts Department presents I Dream of Chang and Eng, a play by Bay Area playwright Philip Kan Gotanda, directed by Gina Marie Hayes.
Conjoined twins Chang and Eng Bunker were born to Chinese parents in Thailand (Siam) in 1811. Connected by a band of cartilage at their chest, the twins were simultaneously hailed as a miracle and a portent of evil. It is reported that the King of Siam ordered that the “monster” be killed, but their lives were spared and they grew into capable strong boys. As young men, they traveled abroad and were exhibited as curiosities in Europe and the United States. The twins ultimately gave up the touring life and settled in rural North Carolina, marrying two local sisters in 1843, and raising two large families.
Director Gina Marie Hayes points out that Gotanda’s play is not really a history play. “We have, instead, imagined it as a dream that the twins’ eldest daughter, Katherine-Josephine is having about their lives. The spirits of Chang and Eng’s twenty-one children dance through this dream.”
Gotanda, who attended UC Santa Cruz as a student in 1969-70, will return to campus for a special post-show conversation with fellow UCSC alumnus and writer/performer Brenda Wong Aoki and musician Mark Izu on Saturday, June 2. The play happens Friday–Sunday, May 25-26-27 & Thursday–Sunday, May 31, June 1-2-3 in UCSC’s
Mainstage Theater, Theater Arts Center, 7:00 PM (Sundays at 3:00 PM).Unreserved seats
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 archived…(see next paragraph) and go to WWW.KZSC.ORG. Rachel Goodman and George Newell will bring us up to date on Tannery Doings on May 22, after Rachel, Buddhist Tubten Pende will unveil details on his “Art Of Happiness” series at “The Land Of The Medicine Buddha”. May 29 has Mark Wainer and Judy Johnson discussing details of the annual photography exhibit opening around that time at Felix Kulpa Gallery. In the second half hour Wendy Mayer Lochfeld talks about The Capitola Book Café and their latest plans. Supervisor Neal Coonerty helps me celebrate 6 years of Grapevine on June 12. Winners from Bookshop Santa Cruz read their works on June 19th. Bubble Man Tom Noddy tries radio bubbles on July 3. Dr. Rosalind Shorenstein discusses women’s medicine on July 17th. 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 Do remember, any and all suggestions for future programs are more than welcome so tune in, and keep listening.
UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE ARCHIVES. In case you missed some of the great people I’ve interviewed in the last 5 years here’s a chronological list of just this year’s podcasts. Click here then tap on “listen here” to hear any or all of them… all over again. The Great Morgani on Street performing, 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 Conpany. 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. Hear them all!!!
QUOTES. “Nothing comes into existence, Nor does anything go out of existence“, Nagarjunas. “To feel life is meaningless unless “I” can be permanent, is like having fallen in love with an inch”, Alan Watts. “Real life calls for real taste. For the taste of your life—Coca-Cola”, advertisement
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Direct email: Bratton@Cruzio.com
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BEST OF VINTAGE STEVEN DeCINZO.
Deep Cover by tim eagan.
