WALGREENS CORNER, LAUREL AND PACIFIC February 2, 1949. Back in the day, this was Bill O’Reilly’s Dodge Plymouth garage and dealership. Additional information always welcome: email photo@brattononline.com

MUCH EXPOSED AT DESAL CANDIDATES NIGHT LAST WEEK. The Santa Cruz Desal Alternatives held a well organized Santa Cruz City Council candidates night at London Nelson Center last Thursday night. It was a night to remember!!! At one point Richelle Noroyan, because she completely lacked any knowledge of how the LAFCO –City-UCSC water authority worked, had to be corrected by the moderator Rick Longinotti. Noroyan, completely unable to stand any such give and take and so poorly informed on this topic, stormed out of the hall saying “this isn’t working for me”. I never in many years of candidates experienced such crazy behavior Can anyone possibly imagine how she would handle herself if she was on the City Council? Write her off. Also write off Pamela Comstock, even though she is backed by developers, the Council power group, and Coonerty’s she had to admit when asked, that she knew nothing and “had a lot to learn” about desal. What kind of newbie do we want on the council with these issues facing them? And she hasn’t done her homework, why???

Outgoing mayor Don Lane had the nerve to complain that he was only given 2 minutes when the sponsoring organization made a longer presentation. Lane too needs more time on the citizens side of the railing to experience what it’s like being given 2 minutes to the Councils hours of their presentations. Cece Pinheiro got a lot of laughs when she asked if anyone in the audience would like to shower with her to save water! It was a night like that. Jake Fusari is another one of those nice, young, naive kids who know next to nothing about local politics. Where are good candidates when we need them?

Mark Levy and some other well meaning readers sent this brilliant Samuel Jackson clip. Jackson based this on the hit children’s book “Go the Fuck to Sleep” which he also reads on You Tube.

PATTON EXPOSES CITIES “WATER SUPPLY PROJECT”. Gary Patton in his KUSP broadcast for Monday Oct.1^st says, “The Santa Cruz City Water Commission meets Tuesday evening, and will be reviewing its role in what the City is now calling a “Water Supply Project.” To be less coy, what the City is now calling a “Water Supply Project” is actually the City’s proposed desalination plant. I continue to be surprised by the City’s unwillingness to be forthright. There are, in fact, some good arguments in favor of desalination, but there are some very good arguments on the other side, too. It would be the best for everyone, I think, if the City would frankly acknowledge what is going on”. He continues, “To summarize, the City’s “Water Supply Project” used to be called the City’s proposed “desalination plant.” Changing the name (which began with the City’s last budget) doesn’t change the essence of the project. Similarly, the City has made an official commitment to accommodate future UCSC growth by building desalination facilities. At times, City officials have denied that commitment, but it’s down in black and white, as an Exhibit to the “Comprehensive Settlement Agreement” between the City, UCSC, and other parties. Again, there are some good arguments favoring continued UCSC growth, but there are also good arguments on the other side. A full, frank, and fair discussion would be to everyone’s advantage. At least, that is my personal view. Links to the Water Commission agenda can be found at blogs.kusp.org/landuse“.

Mt. RUSHMORE ON CHESTNUT STREET, PART 2. I’m not printing the faces suggested so far for carving into that excavation on Chestnut Street extension. One caller did suggest however that the cliffs are getting extensive and expensive re-shoring because Ryan Coonerty’s close friend and business partner Jeremy Neuner’s house is atop those cliffs and just maybe this project was just slipped into some budget somewhere. Has anyone seen any public notice anywhere of this project, before or during its development? If not, why not?

KEVIN SPACEY DOES CHRISTOPHER WALKEN AND JACK NICHOLSON

I NEED A CAR. Over the last 37 years of creating this column I’ve asked readers a few times if they knew of a good deal on a used car….I need one again!!! The transmission is failing on the small 1995 Buick I’m driving now. Each time I put this in a column only one or two folks respond believing that I’ll be swamped with offers, nope. Then for weeks and even months afterwards folks say they “almost responded” but figured I’d get dozens of answers, but I don’t!!! So please email me at bratton@cruzio.com if you know of a car somewhere near $3000 or maybe a bit more, like $4000. I’ll be eternally grateful…and mobile. Do it now while you’re thinking about it OR if you have ideas on where I could go to get a good deal. Thanks.

PATTON’S PROGRAM. Gary talks about Private vs. Public water and Monterey County possibly allowing Cal-Am possible control of their water supply. He talks about the future of Fort Ord and where’s the action on that issue? Monterey County is also working on establishing an actual Toll Road!!! 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)

XEROX COMMERCIAL. A Marilyn Monroe imitation.

VINTAGE DE CINZO. The Renaissance Faire never changes, scroll below…

EAGANS DEEP COVER. Tim E. unmasks the real Mitt Romney see a few pages downwards…

LANDAU’S PROGRES. Saul’s Progreso Weekly article is « Where’s The Rage »

It’s a critique of Richard Gere’s role in Arbitrage, the movie. He says, “Since we will not learn in school the lessons about the 1% we ought to know, many of us rely on movies and TV, so that through images and sound we can form ideas of who the men were who screwed up our economy. In Arbitrage, we see how Hollywood conceives of a cinematic grammar into which we can analyze the nature of the people who sparked the financial crisis” Later he writes, “This façade of a philanthropic patriarch who philanders as naturally as he dines with his family, emerges on screen as a realistic portrait of a felon who could wreck the world economy and think only of saving himself as the world collapses around him. Realism, Hollywood style. Justice? Not in the “Arbitrage” script, nor in the vision of the U.S. economy or justice system. Attorney General Eric Holder has ordered fruitless raids on licensed marijuana distributors, unsuccessfully prosecuted former presidential candidate John Edwards for campaign funds and mistress problems, and former Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens for using steroids, but has indicted none of the criminal bankers who broke the system. Will a film about governmental cowardice toward Wall Street provoke the AG to arrest a real bad investment banker-arbitrager? Don’t hold your breath!” Read all of it here

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

ROBOT IMITATES MORGAN FREEMAN

LISA JENSEN LINKS. “Lace up your walking shoes for the Open Studios Art Tour this week at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com), where I preview some notable South County artists you won’t want to miss, along with a new Open Studios-themed murder mystery by Santa Cruz author Vinnie Hansen. And speaking of art, check out the cover of my new novel, Alias Hook! ” Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.

LOOPER. You just have to forget the age old time travel problem..that if you go back in time and kill your father then where will you be…or will you even be??? Bruce Willis and Joseph Gordon-Levitt shoot at each other, Emily Blunt goes around looking pretty with an axe and it’s all good film fun. Just don’t too intellectual about time travel, and enjoy the effects, some are special.

BELOVED. It’s a drama about two women and their sex lives with French actors singing pop tunes in Paris starting in 1964 sums it up. Catherine Deneuve is back and so is Ludivine Sagnier as a young singing prostitute, but they can’t save this very overworked plot. Go only if you like to see Paris scenery…there’s lots of it.

BACHELORETTE. Lots of cocaine, New York City, fuck words, and even with Kirsten Dunst there is non one in this film you’d ever want to meet of spend 1 hour and 31 minutes with (film length). However Adam Scott who’s from Santa Cruz is in it and his Mom still lives here. So if you do go and you talk about it in the future, be kind.

TERRIBLY CUTE KITTY WRESTLES TODDLER

THREE PHOTOGRAPHERS: DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS 5
Different Directions 5, a compelling new selection of photographs by Susan Lysik, gail nichols and Susan Hillyard, runs from Friday, October 5 through Friday, November 30, 2012 in the Hallway Gallery at London Nelson Community Center, 301 Center Street in downtown Santa Cruz.

This is the fifth annual collaboration of the Different Directions women. IMBY, a series of colorful images and thoughtful commentary distilled from posts in Susan Lysik‘s daily on-line photo journal, is a loving and intimate portrayal of the abundant life in her backyard garden. In dramatic contrast, Still Lives, a collection of black and white images of mannequins presented by gail nichols, explores the interplay between manufactured fantasy environments and the often unwittingly surreal urban landscape. Susan Hillyard‘s captivating images in iPhoneography celebrate a hip new technology, and reveal some of the magical creative potential of the iPhone, where images can be taken, processed in many different ways, and shared instantly. The L.N.Center is open from 9 am to 9:30 pm, Monday through Saturday. An opening reception is scheduled for Friday, October 5 from 5:30 to 8:30 pm, and is included in the October First Friday Art Tour.

For further information on Different Directions 5, please contact Susan Lysik at 831/425-1305, or email soozalope@cruzio.com.

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. OCTOBER 2nd has Susan Lysik and Susan Hillyard from Different Directions photography group talking about their new show at London Nelson Center 10/5-11/30. Then land use attorney Bill Parkin talks about the legal issues involved with the Aptos Safeway expansion. Cathy Pickerrell from Santa Cruz Chamber Players will provide season news on October 9Then David Foster discusses the newly opened Re-Store project. The October 16^th Grapevine has Catherine Segurson talking about The Catamaran Literary Reader then Richard Popchak discusses The Ventana Wilderness alliance. October 23^rd means the Bi-annual KZSC Pledge Drive with County Supervisor John Leopold returning as special guest co-host. Professional political advisor Bruce Van Allen talks about the area’s politics and makes guesses on October 30. Retiring City Council member Katherine Beiers wraps up her political career on November 6^th (election night). Linda Bixby and Jimmy Cook will discuss child placement and the local CASA organization on November 13.Bookshop Santa Cruz Young Writers contest winners read their works for the full hour November 27.

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 here 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. “He is such a devout Catholic, he won’t be happy until he’s crucified”, John B. Keane. “Few sinners are saved after the first twenty minutes of the sermon”, Mark Twain. “Life is the ever dwindling period between abortion and euthanasia”, Patrick Murray.