Localism is about having pride in your community and being proud of where you live. When we were young we tended to take it a little too far with the Westside vs. Eastside vs. Valleys ... but most of us grew out of that. Santa Cruz is a great town. Now I'm committed to improving my neighborhood and making Santa Cruz cleaner and safer.
Jeremy Matthews
Santa Cruz | Sales Operations

“Let’s say what we mean; mean what we say and let’s get it done.” —Gubernatorial Candidate Meg Whitman

We the electorate have been attacked by Silicon Valley business-speak. The above quote has been tacked on to former eBay CEO Meg Whitman’s many television commercials as she gears up for a run for governor.

I feel like hiding. Both the business world and the political world have been overtaken by soundbites and messaging.

It used to be in the business world that the damage stopped with vacuous but inoffensive mission statements like “We (fill in the organization) are the leading providers of (fill in the product) as we provide our customers with the best products and services on the market.”

What was good about mission statements is that they went into the drawer and nobody ever saw them again, except for maybe on the bulletin board where you can also find the phone number for OSHA.

Spring’s almost here, daylight’s increasing, trees are abloom, and we’re beginning to bloom and increase in light, too. Esotericists worldwide are preparing for the Three Spring Full Moon Festivals (Aries, Taurus and Gemini), many since Winter Solstice. Sunday morning (8:20 a.m. Pacific time) is the full moon/solar festival (10 degrees Pisces/Virgo). It’s also the noisy, joyful, liberating Jewish festival of Purim. (See the Book of Esther.) The Soul’s seed thought for Pisces is “I leave the Father’s house and turning back, I save.” Observant readers recognize similarities between Pisces and Capricorn seed thoughts. For both the disciple/Initiate “turns their back” on ”heaven” choosing a return to Earth to “serve” (Aquarius) and to “save” (Pisces) suffering humanity. The Pisces seed thought is a message of willingness. It knows a supreme sacrifice was made when we left the “place where the Will of God is known,” the “Father’s house,” our original spiritual home prior to successive lives on Earth. We (our Souls) know we left the harmony and unity of the Spiritual world in order to serve the Plan for Humanity (potential world disciple). When we realize these things we understand who we are, why we live on this planet of deep suffering, and what we are to do from this moment forward. As all signs reveal the Path of Light of the Soul, Pisces is the “Light of the world,” which reveals the Light of Life itself ending forever the darkness of matter.” Pisces, the last zodiacal sign, holds all gifts, abilities and seeds of the preceding signs. Pisces also holds the sufferings of humanity as well. These words also explain in depth the person born in Pisces (Sun, moon, rising).

Plus Letters to Good Times
Housing Sucks
Pack of (Light) Travellers
Solutions, Solutions

Who’s the best in your book? Maybe it’s time you tell us. Yes, it’s that time of year again—where you, the reader, have an opportunity to vote for your favorite people, places, businesses and more. It’s all at your fingertips—literally—in the Best Of Santa Cruz County Readers Poll online. It’s already our biggest voter turnout to date, so be sure to log on and get voting. There is something in it for you, of course—other than cheering on your favorites. GT is giving away some prizes in the process too. A handful of online voters will be picked from a random draw and to win movie tickets or dinners-for-two at a local restaurant. Have fun with it all. And thanks for your votes.

For the past year I’ve watched my grandmother succumb to dementia.  In truth she has full-blown Alzheimer's disease, but there’s no doubt in my mind she’d prefer the term dementia if she indeed knew what was eating her brain from the inside. She’s proper, after all, hailing from a generation that says “intestinal fortitude” instead of “guts.” Pushing well into 90 years on this good earth, my grandmother is ox-like from the neck down. Her brain, however, has lost all of its capacity to remember what happened five seconds ago.

Though it sounds cruel, I’m trying my best to forget how she is now, trying to forget how last Christmas, she asked me, “is your mummy still alive?” while my mother and I sat on either side of her. Thus, I’ve found I prefer to pull up the more pearly memories.

Cybernetics. The merging of brain capacity with electronics.
Brij Lunine
Santa Cruz | Lecturer

Most people are satisfied with their contributions to their community, but there may be a bigger reason those that volunteer do so with such fervor. Studies indicate people that volunteer in their communities experience longer lives, better relationships with their families and a stronger sense of social connection. Veritable nutrition ingestion for the soul.

The human soul (to quote C.S. Lewis “You don’t have a soul, you are a soul. You have a body”) cannot be disputed; it’s only what happens in death that becomes discussion. Nonetheless, people require balance between body and soul in order to sustain and live happy lives. The human soul craves connections with other souls. Interacting and supporting another human is nourishment for the soul.

As Aquarius, sign of service, comes to a close, and we begin the influence of Pisces, sign that Saves the World, here are two quotes invaluable for understanding our world situation and maintaining balance through unceasing personal and global chaos (Ray 4). ‘Conflict is the essential core of a free and open society,’ (Saul Alinsky) and ‘Do what you can with what you have, where you are’ (Theodore Roosevelt). Quotes are from "Taking On The System: "Rules For a Radical Change In A Digital Era," a book by Markos Moulitsas, founder of "Daily Kos," (daily weblog, political analysis on U.S. current events from a liberal perspective).

Happy Birthday, Pisces. The compassionate (Neptune) yet powerful (Pluto) Pisces (water) influences begin Thursday, 10:36 a.m. (Pacific time). We must be careful with Pisces (the fishes). They can feel threatened by social limitations, criticisms, censure and judgments. They must swim away to safety.

Plus Letters to Good Times
Oh ... Some Hope
Put it in Park

Love is all around. But how much of it are you getting? Or giving, for that matter. I came across some old notes of mine that documented some interesting readings I found over the years. Love—loving—actually promotes good health. More on that next week, but for now, it’s great to see some love emerging in the form of the many benefits for Haiti taking place around the county. Motiv in Downtown Santa Cruz had one last week, and The Red has plans to host one. On Friday, Feb. 12, First Congregational Church in Santa Cruz welcomes Franklin Marshall for an event. Now that one news cycle has rolled out, much has been reported on Haiti, but it shouldn’t stop there. More attention can be drawn to the events unfolding there as Haiti rebuilds. One organization I found intriguing, which News Editor Elizabeth Limbach wrote about in our “Fresh Dirt” blog, is Save the Children. It’s an entity on a mission to generate lasting change in the lives of children in need around the globe. Presently, Save the Children is offering assistance in Port au Prince— food, water, shelter and more. Consider making a donation to Save the Children at savethechildren.org. Learn more about other ways to contribute to this cause by logging onto our website. Just click on the ‘Fresh Dirt” blogs and you’ll find updates on Haiti and what locals can do to assist.

The craziest thing that I ever did for love was to move to Germany. I met the guy and we spent three crazy weeks together and then I moved to Germany for him. We’re married now.
Jasmine Wiest
Santa Cruz | Waitress