A lot of the people have certain needs that aren't being met and they go to Pacific Avenue either for attention or perhaps to get money. If we could find another way to meet those needs, it would be good. It is a problem, but I don't know if we could have a simple sound bite solution.
Richard Snow
Santa Cruz | Substitute Teacher

Plus Letters to the Good Times Editor...
Good Grub
Quick On Her Feet

I had to chuckle when I read something from local Jim Rosenstein, who is part of a fascinating venture surrounding Climate Action Day. At the bottom of one of his notes was this tagline: “The planet doesn't give a damn about politics.” Gotta love that. On the flipside, do we give a damn about the planet? Now that we’ve endured the political and economic roller coasters of the past year, are we giving enough attention to more pressing concerns ... as in the health of the planet? That’s where Rosenstein and others who are part of the Climate Action Team come in. Mark  Saturday Oct. 24 on your calendars. That’s the day that you, and others in the area, can take part in a global campaign to raise the level of awareness on just how dire our state of enivironmental circumstances are—and will continue to be—if action isn’t taken right now.

They say that journalists should not reveal their sources. But as is so often true, Santa Cruz does things differently. Sources and journalists here can be metaphorically in bed together for years at a time, and the relations between the newsmakers and news reporters sometimes run deep. Once in a while, people even become friends.

Such is my relationship with Mardi Wormhoudt, former Santa Cruz mayor, former dominating presence on the county Board of Supervisors and one of my most indispensible friends.

Mardi now is battling melanoma, and those close to her say the long-term prognosis is not good. She remains an active presence in Santa Cruz, but her medical situation gives us pause to consider what she has meant to the community.

In the Libra sky each night, as of this writing, Jupiter (Ray 2, Love/Wisdom) and the Moon (veiling Uranus, Ray 7, new world) have been companions. They are the rulers of Aquarius (Age of Knowledge), the planets that are seeding humanity to bring forth the new culture and civilization. Knowledge we must have in our world today. We must have knowledge and intelligence in order to reach the Soul, which is the only vehicle that can observe, understand, and choose to stand against the forces of darkness, obstruction and materialism. Libra tells us we must no longer be blinded to the dangers among us. It is important to know our country has been educationally dumbed-down with 40 percent of our citizenry functionally illiterate. When we are illiterate we cannot discriminate (Virgo) or make choices (Libra), the task for humanity this month.

Although he often looks hapless and disheveled (he seeks comfort—Taurus Sun), filmmaker Michael Moore is an unrelenting (Sun, Vesta, Venus in Taurus) force (Pluto in Leo in the 1st) to be reckoned with. Casting his wicked humor that sheds light into the darkness, Moore gives us hope as he knocks on doors and enters offices where many “fear to tread.” Moore’s film reveals corporate injustice, cruelty, unfairness, prejudice, inequality, bias, wrongdoing, disparity and ultimately the self-indulgent greed ruling our present centralized world and that has directed us all quietly and subtly into the “Matrix.”

As his films uncover the hidden and controlling realities that have led to humanity no longer owning its food sources, seeds, soil, farms, money, banks, homes,  education or minds, Moore lends each of us the strong arm of knowledge and a dose of reality. Within his truth-telling, we are invited to stand against the forces that quietly and cunningly continue to oppress. Moore’s latest film (his work is a love story), Capitalism : A Love Story opening in a thousand American theatres this week asks us to “Rise up”, to take back our days and nights, our farms, families, soil, seeds money, banking, local towns and cities and above all our education.

And so, during Libra, which each gives us a month to make a great life decision, Moore’s film informs and illumines our minds (and hearts) assisting us to choose which side we are on. It’s the Arjuna Experience once again with Krishna bidding us to take up arms. Where do each of us stand? Pacifism, in the light of our present world dangers, is not a choice. (See Moore’s chart at nightlightnews.com)

I think a homemade version of yogurt would be really great, where you just put unsweetened yogurt with granola and maple syrup and fruit together and shake it up in a bag and eat it from the bag.
Rachel Zack
Santa Cruz | Planner

Plus Letters to the Good Times Editor...
Food For Thought
Endless Wars

Dance is hot. Take one look at some of the offerings on television and it’s easy to see that’s true. But beyond reality shows, there’s a fascinating reality that one local woman is living. Her name is Ruby Vasquez, she lives in Watsonville and she’s doing everything in her power to keep a Mexican tradition alive. Vasquez is the subject of this week’s cover story (page 14), where writer Leslie Patrick explores the local’s passion for dance, its value and the importance of honoring it. Read on.

So much was made about Barack Obama being the first African-American president, that more subtle—and more important—issues were ignored.

Obama, at 48, is decidedly not a Baby Boomer. He wasn’t part of the raging segregation debate of the ’50s, nor was he an adult during the tumult of the ’60s—black power, white rage, all the rest.

Obama’s election was instead a triumph of a new generation, one that is more comfortable about diversity than the generation that came before. Nowhere is that more obvious than the recent public discussion of whether the rude outburst by U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, the South Carolina Republican. A number of columnists, and no less an observer than former President Jimmy Carter, almost reflexively maneuvered themselves to an allegation of racism.

We are under the influence of Libra—ruling relationships, marriage and economics, seeking balance between polarities. We presently see polarities between governments, leaders and nations but especially experience polarity within relationships. Always when there is polarity and tension. Tension creates “attention.” In relationships, under the jurisdiction of Libra, polarities, if not integrated (male/female, etc.), create conflict and with conflict a new harmony within relationship is being called forth—difficult yet a process of learning. Out of conflict there will be harmony, but we don’t know what the New Harmony will be while experiencing the phase of conflict. Feeling chaotic is the first step in creativeness. Relationships are not only battlegrounds. They are schools where we learn how to interact, how to cooperate, love and serve each other. In relationships we learn how to be in relationships and we learn who we are.

Do things in your home that you love to do.
Michael Orick
Santa Cruz | Library Guy