It has been 50 years since four University of California scientists revolutionized agriculture with a new approach to pest control known as “integrated pest management.” The UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources first published the groundbreaking research of Vernon Stern, Ray Smith, Robert van den Bosch, and Kenneth Hagen in Oct. 1959. Among the first to critique the rampant use of harsh pesticides such as DDT, these scientists advocated limited, targeted chemical controls to mitigate long-term ecosystem disruption and reduce dangers to farm workers.

What am I doing?  Is this job the one I want?  Why do I do what I do?  To be in control?  For power and attention?  Is my ego in the way?  
As I read Eckhart Tolle’s, A New Earth, again, I find it a lot more interesting than the first time around.  I’m paying a little more attention.  He talks about recognizing who you are and not just reacting to culture and expectations.  This takes a lot of work – work to separate these expectations and illusions from innate knowledge.
The physical aspect of yoga has helped me to feel the spot of that strength.  Whenever I feel this, I find life to be smooth and even. Reactions seem less dramatic.
This morning, I needed a challenge.  I yearned to feel the sweet spot, so I drove over the hill to Los Gatos to try Angie’s Power Flow.  I’d heard about this class from another yogi. It did the trick: dripping sweat and long holds.  Swooping over route 17, I am back at my computer doing what I do  …or am I trying to impress you?  This is my point!  Help me to get closer to me.
yogasourcelosgatos.com/classes eckharttolle.com

On October 2nd, Fox Searchlight will release WHIP IT, featuring Ellen Page, Marcia Gay Harden, Kristin Wiig and Juliette Lewis. (Daniel Stern, utterer of a favorite movie line, “If hate were people, I’d be China,” makes the crossover to father figure, making me feel both old and comfortable somehow.) Although not a Mark Mothersbaugh bio-pic, as the title might imply,  it is the much-anticipated directorial debut of Drew Barrymore.  However, despite all of the glitter and fuss, the real star of the movie is…roller derby.

WHIP IT, based on the 2007 novel “Derby Girl” by Shauna Cross (aka Maggie Mayhem) formerly of the L.A. Derby Dolls, is a fictionalized account of experiences skating with the Texas Rollergirls, nicely wrapped in teen-vs-parent-angst-plus-rock-‘n-roll-love story. Got that?

Resin takes new shape in one local glasser’s hands

In surfing lexicon, the phrase “give a wave” is used on a rare occasion by nostalgic and well-intentioned old-timers who have reached a point of Zen-like surf satisfaction in their lives. Cynics may scoff: that just translates into “give me a wave.” But the more enlightened among us recognize the karmic value in letting the odd peak slide under their longboard to a stoked grom on the inside with an encouraging “Go!”

And while the act of giving a wave is ephemeral, one local surfboard glasser has found a unique way of making a more lasting statement.

Wednesday, Sept. 16 marked a very special day for students at Gault Elementary on Seabright Avenue: it was the first of what will become a weekly Farmers’ Market, sponsored by Food, What!? Every Wednesday from noon to 1 p.m., students and parents can buy organic produce from Freewheelin’ Farms at lower prices than other local Farmers’ Markets. Santa Cruz City School District Board Member Cynthia Hawthorne says that the market has been wildly successful so far, exclaiming that, “even the beets were gone!” after the first day.

I remember when my brother came home from boarding school with his mantra: “INGA” My hip Aunt also practiced.  Her mantra was “KARIM.” The concept was quite ahead of its time in this age of NEW.  The class was TM, or Transcental Meditation, founded by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the yogi made famous by the Indian pilgrimage of The Beatles.  For those of us who remember, The Beatles quickly transformed, with these long stays in India and colorful clothes.   The practice “stuck” with George, as he meditated through life on his spiritual path.  . This concept was new to the west and quite questionable, as it seemed to reflect the drug culture of the time.  I wanted a mantra. What exactly is a mantra?  It is defined in Wikipedia; it is a “sound, syllable, word, or group of words that are considered capable of creating spiritual transformation.”  A mantra is supposed to help a person focus their mind with its repetition, eliminating attachment, hatred, jealousy, desire, greed, and ignorance.  I haven’t heard too much about TM is the past few years, although with a little research, I have learned that there is a Transcendental Meditation Program right here is Santa Cruz, at 171 Seabright Avenue.  www.tm.org

The air of fall brings back memories of the smell of new shoes, crisp ironed clothing, new notebooks and Bikram Yoga.  I began my yoga journey with the Bikram Yoga method about 11 years ago and since then have discovered yoga’s larger world, like Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Hatha, Power, Forrest , Kundalini, Ananda, Anusara, Iyengar, Jivamukti.  Each practice has its benefits and striving to know and practice these different yogas has been the center of my world for these 11 years.  I always come back to the Bikram method, the hot yoga, for many reasons.  One is the familiarity.  Believe it or not, being in a hot ( at least 100º ) room for an hour and a half is a sweet feeling for me.  And the knowledge that I know which postures will be practiced is also sweet. The same 26 postures are practiced, kind of like a familiar drill. Home.  The added benefit is the actual studio, here in Santa Cruz, Village Yoga.  It is clean, colorful, and friendly.  Also – check out my “wall” of photos of the yogis – the yogis are great subjects.   Not only are the instructors excellent, but they are caring, engaged, and thorough with the students.  A wonderful place to visit.  A wonderful place to go back to.

Check it out.  There are generally 5 classes a day. www.bikramyogasantacruz.com.

Santa Cruz smokers will soon find it harder to legally light up in popular areas of town. The Santa Cruz City Council voted Tuesday to prohibit smoking on Pacific Avenue, Beach Street, and West Cliff Drive. The new ban also makes it illegal to smoke within 25 feet of public entrances and within all outdoor dining areas. City property, including the Municipal Wharf and all city parks, will be smoke-free as well. Police will give warnings for the first month of the ban, which takes effect on Oct. 20, and will issue citations after that. 

The smoking ban, which council members unanimously supported, was prompted in part by a 2008 report by the American Lung Association of California that gave Santa Cruz a “D” for underwhelming efforts to curb public second-hand smoke. The council also voted to increase the percentage of nonsmoking hotel rooms in Santa Cruz from 75 to 90 percent, and they will consider a new tax on the city’s cigarettes sales at a future meeting.