Santa Cruz Good Times

Plus Letters to the Editor

There was a time during the fourth grade when I played hooky. (Yeah, I was going through something.) I’d like to say that I used the time off from classes productively—you know, as in catching up reading “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” or something like that—but I think I caught up on reruns of Love American Style and, sadly, eating too many cheese sandwiches and leftover meatloaf. Occasionally, I’d escape into a fantasy world and act out many of the wonderful scripts playing out in my young mind. There were many afternoons where I re-enacted a gripping story about an unlikely hero in a far-off land that would soon be forced to save the day. Years later, when Star Wars came out, I couldn’t help draw (minor) comparisons. But I digress ...  Needless to say, I eventually got caught. My Polish aunt, her suspicions aroused after getting a phone call from the school, leapt into her brand new Cadillac, drove over to our house, barged in and dragged me back to my fourth grade class. Humiliating. She also forced me to go to penance and confess my “sins.” “Sweetheart,” she insisted, Polish accent in tow, “be a good Catholic boy and just let God forgive you.” She paused. “And I won’t say word to mommy and daddy.” I thought it was a great plan. Days later, once absolved of my sins, she was driving me back home from the church where ... she told my “mommy” and “daddy” everything. I think this is where I developed trust issues.
Why am I telling you this? Other than truly needing to get it off my chest—thanks, by the way—I was reminded about these significant times while reading the inviting cover story this week by John Malkin. The article (page 14) revolves around homeschooling, which, over the past decade, has become a viable educational option. Thoughts? Send them our way.
In the meantime, if you’re going to ditch anything this week, make it any attitude that doesn’t serve your greater good or the good of those around you.
Onward ....  (and see you at the Wharf to Wharf).

Greg Archer | Editor-in-Chief

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Letters to the Editor

Money, Money, Money
Kristof recently explained that hedge fund CEO's make a "performance bonus" of 20 precent or more. (Totaling millions for them
annually.) That's a great idea, especially for the underpaid service workers doing homecare for seniors and the disabled. Our "performance" can include lifting the disabled out of bed, driving seniors to the doctors and waiting for unpaid hours, and fighting the pharmacies in order to get their medications, hoping to reduce their pain.
I'm not exactly sure how we can get our 20 percent while we are fighting to not get cut 10 percent, because our supervisors can only pay a "living wage" of $14.83 in Santa Cruz—theoretically. (In reality, we get $11.50 which they want to cut to $10.35 so we can "share the pain" with the supervisors who make more than $100,000 a year.)
So, should I take 20 percent of my client's SSI of $830 monthy income, or should I just steal 20 percent of his artwork and clothing, or cut off 20 percent of his organs and try to sell them on eBay?
I'm so happy to get some hints about how to get my part of the "American Dream!"
Barri Boone,
Homecare Worker
Capitola

Best Online Comments

On SmartMeters ...
SmartMeters are linked to cancer. Utility companies based previous safety claims on the World Health Organization (WHO). But May 31, WHO says Wireless Smart Meter radiation is linked to cancer (possible Class 2-B human carcinogen—same as lead, DDT, etc.), and so it likely also damages bodies and brains (including children’s) in many additional ways sooner than cancer. Take note:
1. Wireless SmartMeters—100 Times More Radiation Than Cell Phones: Video Interview: Nuclear Scientist, Daniel Hirsch: http://stopsmartmeters.org/2011/04/20/daniel-hirsch-on-ccsts-fuzzy-math/
2. Wireless SmartMeters/Cancer Nervous System Damage, Adverse Reproduction Effects. Video Interview: Dr. Carpenter, New York Public Health Department, Dean of Public Health—http://emfsafetynetwork.org/?p=3946
3. The Karolinska Institute in Stockholm—the university that gives the Nobel Prize—Issues Global Heatlh Warning Against Wireless SmartMeters—scribd.com/doc/48148346/Karolinska-Institute-Press-Release
4. Best four-minute smart meter Video ever—youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=8JNFr_j6kdI.
Robert Williams

On Mountain Biking ...
There is another controversial bike trail story brewing. Santa Cruz Mountain Bikers Organization is trying to push a trail into Pogonip. Parks and Recreation gave birth to the idea a bike trail leading into this area would solve the problem of drug dealing and druggies. Mountain bikers would call police on suspected illegal activites. Rangers and police could use their ATVs. Have you ever heard of such a harebrained idea?
A mountain biker rarely stops for walkers and hikers, let alone calling police to give the location of drug dealers. The proposal has been on hold as Pogonip Park Master Plan developed by Santa Cruz city residents called for this to be a park without bikes. Bikes change the environment, abuse the environment, and almost always go off trail. Santa Cruz Mountain Bikers Organization has had an expensive bike raffled off to create funds to build this trail—also writing a grant for 200K to build the trail. Sounds like they are trying to buy the trail to me. There is much opposition.
As for the bikers who whine about not having enough trails, Check out SCMBO website. It is loaded with mountain bike rides. If the trail prevails, then think about this. The very behavior for which the trail was created to curtail will be legally allowed in Pogonip. Drug dealers’ favorite mode of transport is biking. By the way, take a walk/hike in Pogonip. It is really clean. No druggies, no dealers. The police made many raids in breaking up the dealer/drug activity on the railroad tracks from the Homeless Services Center past Vernon Street. Now if the SCMBO want to fund the cleanup of the San Lorenzo “Heroin” Benchlands, that would be choice. By the way, I wonder how many bikers call in for the problems they see while biking the levee? Walk or ride on the river levee. It is an eye opener.
Cathy Puccinelli

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