ANOTHER LOGGING PICTURE FROM OUR MOUNTAINS.I don’t have any clue just where in our mountains this enormous and professional logging operation was taking place. It’s one of hundreds of photos showing the glories of clear-cutting. Additional information always welcome: email photo@brattononline.com

OBAMA AND McPHERSON.What I see happening is that the Republican Party will re-form it self more toward center after last Tuesday’s stunning defeat. Then Bruce McPherson will go back to his lifetime party. It makes one wonder why, after losing elections for the State Senate, and then losing again for Lieutenant Governor and not even getting enough votes to beat Eric Hammer in the County primaries, why he even ran again, what’s in it for him? But now that leaves the local Democrats, who somehow against all logic and principles, voted for both Obama and McPherson on the same day, the only choice which would be to leave the Democratic Party.

THE MORRISEY SAFEWAY STORY. It’s odd that The Sentinel hasn’t given us the facts on what’s happening with Safeway’s plans to make the Morrissey Avenue Store into another monster store like Almar & Mission Street and like their proposed Rancho Del Mar plan. Well the woman who owns the property where Staff of Life used to be won’t let Staff O.L. out of their lease. She seems to prefer keeping the former S.O.L. store empty and collecting on that lease rather than dealing with Safeway. You better believe that Safeway wants to tear down and upsize that store, just wait and see.

BORED ENGINEERS. John Aird sent this You Tube clip to prove that Rube Goldberg is alive and well…check it out.

DEAR DAUGHTER HILLARY. While having coffees in Octagonal Lulu’s last Sunday daughter Hillary, after hearing my subtle rant about the Warrior Tent said, “gee Dad you’re always against everything”. I need to state right here and just about now that it’s not true (unless)…about 98% of the time I follow the environmental groups like the Sierra Club or the Coastal Commission, if they approve of the impact, so do I. 96% of the other time I follow the citizens who live in the affected neighborhoods, if they can live with the project, that’s great and so can I. I usually oppose any developer and development that claims to need a change in existing codes, limits and regulations. For example three large hotels applied for and received approval last year with nary a word from all of above. Does that make it clearer?

(FROM LAST WEEK) I ran this item…

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING MIND READING MAGIC. I swiped this stupefying mental magic trick from Peter Scott’s old webpage. Try it a few hundred times and if you figure it out let him & me know…

If you haven’t gone there and tried this great piece of magic do so immediately. I hadn’t quite figured the final details but both brilliant guys John DeValcourt and Munich tourist Tom Noddy sent me perfect explanations of how that trick works. I’m not printing it here, but try it out and email me at bratton@cruzio.com and I’ll send you the solution, post haste.

BLAIR WITCH TURKEY CALLING. It’s only appropriate…

PATTON’S PROGRAM. Gary announces more news and voting on the future of Highway 68. He relates plans involving The Monterey Airport. He talks about the new County Railroad and the Coastal Commission’s role. He closes discussing the CWC the December 5^th meeting of LAFCO and de-sal and UCSC and water… read it all 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)

JERRY LEWIS DOES COUNT BASIE. Maybe the French were right about Jerry Lewis!!

VINTAGE DE CINZO.Change this to Nob Hill or Whole Foods and it’s a classic…scroll down

EAGANS DEEP COVER. Tim shows us the Republican view of the future see below…

LANDAU’S PROGRES. Saul writes, « The Civil Society Ploy » in this week’s issue of Progreso Weekly. He says, “Can the United States export democracy to another country, the way it exports Coca Cola? Apparently the government, particularly, USAID, and the mass media – think so. But, some tricky issues emerge because we – the USA – the ‘city on the hill” represent “exceptionalism. “The United States, our teachers tell us, was God’s special gift to the world. God blesses America. Yet, as the exception, we ironically attempt to export the very qualities that make us exceptional? Or maybe our policy elite just want other countries to behave like junior partners of the GRAND OL’ EXCEPTION?”. There’s more and read it all here. Saul Landau is an Institute for Policy Studies fellow whose films are on DVD from roundworldproductions@gmail.com

WALT DISNEYS “THE STORY OF MENSTRUATION”. No kidding folks, this appears to be a genuine & suppressed authentic Disney film.

LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa writes: “This week at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com), just say no to Black Friday at the Hand-Made Holiday Gift Sale, watch Daniel Day-Lewis perform alchemy as Lincoln, and find out what’s new in fiction when I join the literary blog chain, The Next Big Thing.” Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.

CAN’T SEE UM!!! These gems came and went at The Nick. Not enough audience, so they left quickly. So rent them, when available or see them somehow. THE LONELIEST PLANET is an amazing accomplishment in film tension and photography.

Gael Garcia Bernal and his fiancée hike across the Caucasus Mountains in Georgia. We watch and watch and watch then something happens for about 4 seconds and the entire film changes while they continue their hike. Magnificent, Go rent it, buy it whatever.

THE DETAILS. Tobey McGuire, Laura Linney, Elizabeth Banks all work perfectly in this odd, complex, and completely absorbing comedy. It too left early. See films locally should be some new motto.

LINCOLN. Such a huge and American movie. Daniel Day Lewis looks like every penny you’ve ever seen. This film covers only the Civil War and Lincoln’s backstage work in ending slavery. It’s so damned patriotic it would be illegal not to love this film to pieces. It’s an important film but I’m not sure if it’s good or just impressive. Foreign films critics would have a better vantage point to judge it’s good and bad points. But do see it.

HOLY MOTORS.It’s another film for cinema enthusiasts only. One of the year’s best. It’s funny, completely odd, very French sort of like the early Luis Bunuel films. Monsieur Oscar goes from job to job changing make-up, costumes, and personality. Why he does this and what role the cars he rides in are staggering. Go see it but only if you love good films.

A LATE QUARTET. Christopher Walken on cello, Philip Seymour Hoffman on second violin, Catherine Keener on viola…what’s not to like? Plus Beethoven’s favorite Quartet # 131. Wonderful film, especially if you like watching quartets and listening to Beethoven.

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.

November 20 has Wes Modes from the SubRosa Collective and Julia Chiapella plus Jory Post from “phren-Z” the quarterly. The winners from Bookshop Santa Cruz’s Young Writers Contest are featured the entire hour on 11/27. Joe Jordan talks about NASA, space and global Warming on December 4^th followed by Attorney Bob Taren wrapping up the local political year. December 11 has photographer Charles Berger discussing the fine points of his art. Then on December 11 Futzie Nutzle talks about his Blitzer Gallery show. 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

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 herehttp://kzsc.org/blog/tag/universal-grapevine then tap on “listen here” to hear any or all of them… all over again. The update includes Nikki Silva, Michael Warren, Tom Noddy, 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, 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. “It takes forty dumb animals to make a fur coat, but only one to wear it”, Bryn Jones. “Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another house”, George Burns. “I have problems flown in fresh daily wherever I am“, Richard Lewis.