I look around at Village Yoga and see fewer familiar faces, proportionately, as the room fills with new ones.  I guess yoga is catching on.  Most studios I frequent are filled, and I have many theories why this may be happening … Mostly I think that people have more time, with less work ... and are opting to “exercise,” with the added feature of an emerging connection to the self, or Self. Yoga is a meditation and through this meditation a connection emerges.

With Shaun White recently winning his second Olympic Gold medal in Snowboarding, Mavericks spinning up 60 foot waves and the Mega Ramp X-Game contests that go down, how much more can action sport athletes push the limits? Let’s take the Shaun White … his sponsors built him a private half pipe (dubbed project x) in the middle of nowhere for him to practice his double McTwist into foam pits. Whether its X-Games or the Olympics Shaun White appears unstoppable … or is he? Mavericks this winter provided some of the biggest waves ever for a paddle in contest.

One bed and breakfast gives a Santa Cruz local a new perspective on home
No one has to explain to me the magnetic beauty of Santa Cruz’s West Cliff Drive—I consider myself a lucky local for living around the corner from one of the world’s most romantic, scenic walks. In fact, I sometimes feel so lucky that there are times when I catch myself sympathetically nodding my head (at least in my mind) at the many visitors I dodge past during some daily errand. ‘Poor touristy tourist, lugging your bags into a hotel for a momentary intake of the utopian beauty that I consider home,’ I think to myself, letting run wild an inner condescending voice. Really, what can a hotel in town show me that I don’t already know? Apparently, as West Cliff Inn proved, a lot.

Students and workers attempt to join forces against unfair management practices
Since the words “UC Santa Cruz Protest” generally bring to mind images of enraged students chanting, marching, blocking traffic and wreaking as much havoc as possible, the student/worker “protest” for accountability that took place April 7 would more aptly be termed a “discussion.” The 15 students and workers who attended decided there were too few bodies to hold a true protest, so they used the time together to discuss some of the problems facing UCSC: budget cuts, lay-offs, the suspension of the community studies major, and the lack of a cohesive group for students and workers.

Santa Cruz designers create vintage-inspired, modern baubles that woo the fashion world
Recently, I picked up a Women’s Health magazine and randomly flipped to a page. There was a feature article on Eco-Chic goods—clothing, jewelry, etc., that have an environmentally friendly focus. Amongst the goods was a stunning cream-colored cuff bracelet, that looked like something Madonna would wear, when she’s having an ’80s inspired, romantic sort of day. I looked closer. It looked familiar. And there was the blurb about it: a cuff by Blank Verse Jewelry, sold at select Anthropologie stores.

What was just a menacing rumor for more than a year now has become reality at UC Santa Cruz: The Community Studies major has been axed. The university’s Academic Senate Committee on Educational Policy announced their decision to “suspend the major” on Wednesday, April 7, thereby “restricting new admission to the major for at least two years,” according to an open letter released by the office of the Campus Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor. Community studies is a popular and one-of-a-kind program that allows students to zero in on a field of community organizing or action, and requires all students to complete a six month field study. The decision to cut the program (although prospective students and students currently in the major will be able to continue) came as a result of a multi-million dollar target budget reduction UCSC was tasked with slashing by the UC. Outraged students and faculty, led by the Coalition to Save Community Studies, have already organized around the news. They will be gathering at UCSC’s Quarry Plaza at noon before marching across the campus in protest.

So it's a week later and if the finale to Blackest Night last Wednesday wasn't amazing enough, the nerd hangover from Wondercon is still pounding pretty hard. Overall, I have to say that this year may have been the best ever with so many incredible names showing up to meet and chat up the fans (That's me with DC Chief Creative Officer and overall bad-ass Geoff Johns!).

It wasn't so much about the panels this time without a Watchmen or Star Trek sized flick to look forward to in the coming months. Nope, this year was all about running around artist's alley and snagging as many signatures as I could (which turned out to be a lot more than I'd hoped for!).

In honor of National Park Week, entrance fees to the nation’s 392 national parks will be waived for the week of April 17–25, 2010. Special events such as hikes, restoration days, and beach cleanups are also being held at many of the parks. Discounts on tours, lodging, and souvenirs may also be available. National parks in our area include Alcatraz Island (nps.gov/findapark/index.htm), Golden Gate (nps.gov/findapark/index.htm), Muir Woods, Pinnacles, and Point Reyes. For more information, a detailed national park list, or the calendar of National Park Week events, visit nps.gov/npweek/.