Category Archives: arts
The Santa Cruz Sentinel’s historic achievement
OK — there’s been so much negative stuff surrounding newspapers (much of it self inflicted by the way), that I’m going to step out from any feigned posture of humility and toot our, the Santa Cruz Sentinel’s, horn for … Continue reading
My niece and the Dove “Beauty Sketches” commercial
How do you feel about your body image? My 18-year-old niece has become part of a global phenomenon. Unless you’re an aging male (hmmm, who could that be), or so consumed by news out of Boston you can’t concentrate on … Continue reading
Come to the tree
Amid the Christmas shopping and the parties, planted among family, holding up traditions, stands the tree. Call it what you will — “holiday tree,” tree of the knowledge of good and evil, syncretic totem, and, oh yes, Christmas tree … Continue reading
And the winner on iPhone apps? Google Maps
It’s back. Yup. Google Maps is back as an iPhone app, and it’s much better. Much better than the previous Google mapping app for iPhone — and way better than Apple’s much reviled Maps app that seems to have brought … Continue reading
The gift of thanksgiving
What? Thanksgiving already? Even if it feels as if summer just slid into the sunset, no matter. We’re here, and what’s not to like? Of all the holidays, Thanksgiving goes down the easiest, like mashed potatoes or pumpkin pie. Although the … Continue reading
Chasing Mavericks captures Santa Cruz surf culture
When the first scene in the recently released film, Chasing Mavericks showed a panorama of the Santa Cruz coastline, the audience inside the theater began whooping and hollering. While this film may not play well in Ohio — but what … Continue reading
Tempest shows Bob Dylan using all his skills
After spending much of last night listening to Bob Dylan’s 35th album, “Tempest, “ I found myself in something of a storm of thoughts and swirling impressions. Among them: I’m trying to think of another 71-year-old artist who has put … Continue reading
Streaming of consciousness: Olympics in 140 characters — or more
TMI. Has the ongoing debate about Olympics’ media coverage uncovered a new trend? Could it be that Americans’ incessant desire for near-instant posts, entertainment, tweets and Facebook updates, is suffering from a groaning sense of overload rather than faster download … Continue reading
Is there a doctor in the house? Doc Watson, Paul Simon and Chimes of Freedom
Doc Watson played the Coconut Grove, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, March 12, 1994/ Tim Mosenfelder, Getty Images Seems like all the tired horses writin’ in the sun are writing about the … death of important artists from the not-so-far-off musical … Continue reading
Lightning does strike twice: Thunderstorm, Lockyer and Kinkade
Photo by Phil McGrew Wow, was that a Midwestern-style thunderstorm or what early this morning? Don’t get a lot of these, but if you were awake — and I couldn’t help but be — around 1 or 2 a.m., it … Continue reading
