Morrie Turner: 1926-2014
Joseph Young
Morrie Turner: 1926-2014

Page One

Get Active, for Pete’s Sake (2011)
(a poem for Pete Seeger)

By Gar Smith
Tuesday January 28, 2014 - 11:03:00 AM

STANZA

If you’re humming in your hammock on a sunny summer day

And you hear some gears a-groaning on a hill across the way,

It just might be a feller-buncher tearing down some trees

So grab a rope and climb a limb and tell the loggers: “Freeze!”
-more-



New: Betty Medsger's The Burglary: They Broke the Law to Preserve It

By Carol Polsgrove
Monday January 27, 2014 - 09:39:00 AM

I have known for years that Betty Medsger, a former colleague and friend when we both lived in the Bay area, was working on the book that became The Burglary: The Discovery of J. Edgar Hoover's Secret FBI.

And now, it is here, and I see that one reason it took a long time arriving is that it is a very big book: not only the story of a group of eight anti-war activists who stole FBI files from an office in Media, Pennsylvania, but also the story of the world they unlocked the door to: J. Edgar Hoover's secret FBI.

That FBI story has been told before, but framed by the Media burglars' story it takes on a special meaning. Through Betty's telling, we can see how dramatically their brave act that March night in 1971 ripped back the curtain to reveal America's own demonic Wizard of Oz.

The sins of Hoover's FBI were legion, and The Burglary offers an array of them. Berkeley readers will especially be interested in the FBI's collusion in the firing of University of California President Clark Kerr, but there are worse cases—for instance the murder of Black Panther Fred Hampton and the framing of a man imprisoned for his murder. -more-



New: The Threat From the Right -- and What to Do About It

By Lewis Dolinsky
Saturday January 25, 2014 - 09:40:00 AM

Andrew Schmookler, author, political commentator and candidate for Congress in Virginia in 2012, will speak about the danger from the right in America -- and how to combat it

Schmookler will appear at the Niebyl-Proctor Library, 6501 Telegraph Avenue in Oakland, at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, January 29.

Schmookler's message:

"A destructive and dishonest force has arisen on the political right, unlike anything ever seen at center stage of American politics. The response from liberal America has been woefully inadequate.

"This combination of right-wing destructiveness and liberal weakness has caused tremendous damage. It's a dynamic that must be changed." -more-



Press Release: Survey Shows Students Opting Out of Buying Textbooks:
Students Demand Lower Cost Alternatives

From CALPIRG
Monday January 27, 2014 - 11:30:00 AM

Today, a survey released by CALPIRG Students at UC Berkeley shows that 65% of student consumers have opted out of buying a college textbook due to its high price, and nearly half say that textbook costs can dictate whether they take a course. -more-



Features

Alter Theater Offers Great Plays in Rep in San Rafael Store-Front

By John A. McMullen II
Friday January 24, 2014 - 01:13:00 PM

Just across the Richmond Bridge, up in San Rafael, there is theater on the main drag in a storefront. But not always the same store-front . ALTER THEATER, run by Jeanette Harrison, is a little peripatetic and portable. But she draws some of the best established and emerging actors in the Bay Area, and runs her plays in repertory, i.e, more than one play running on alternate evenings.

It’s rough theatre: sometimes you can hear people vacuuming in the apartment upstairs, but it all seems to fit together. It works, and supplies Marin County with cutting edge theatre.

Right now, they are playing at 1344 Fourth Street which is the main drag of San Rafael.
-more-


Public Comment

New: Blessings from Pete Seeger

By James Patterson
Wednesday January 29, 2014 - 12:06:00 PM

It was a cold night in Manhattan November 30 as I made my way to Carnegie Hall for what would be the last annual Arlo Guthrie and Pete Seeger holiday show. Seeger, 94, died January 26. The show was a family tradition that outlasted most of my family, save for my son and me. -more-


New: Help Save Berkeley Post Office Tonight at City Council

By Margot Smith
Tuesday January 28, 2014 - 02:44:00 PM

Fill the Council Chambers at Old City Hall tonight (Tuesday) at 6:30.

Convince the Council to vote YES. Let’s make this the law.

MUSIC! RALLY! on the steps!

The Zoning Overlay Ordinance on Berkeley’s Historic Civic Center District which includes our historic Post Office has gained national attention. The Planning Commission voted to recommend the Ordinance features to the City Council. Tuesday, January 28th the Council will vote on the Overlay. Again we must fill the room to overfull! -more-


Obituaries

Morrie Turner: 1926-2014

Wednesday January 29, 2014 - 10:45:00 AM

Betty Hannah Hoffman
1918-2014

Monday January 27, 2014 - 10:18:00 PM
Betty Hannah Hoffman: 1918-2014

Betty Hannah Hoffman, a retired executive editor of Cosmopolitan, and the only authorized biographer of Lucille Ball, died Friday at her home in Pacific Grove, CA. She was 96.

Ms. Hoffman, a pioneering journalist, was a 1939 cum laude graduate of Smith College in sociology. She edited the Smith yearbook and literary magazine, and Betty Friedan was on her staff. Following graduation, she served as a guest managing editor of Mademoiselle's first college issue. Ms. Hoffman then joined the Ladies Home Journal, where she rose to become associate editor. She wrote a series of articles on Joan and Ted Kennedy, and traveled with them on the campaign trail. The magazine enjoyed a circulation of 7 million, and she wrote two of the Journal's most popular long running columns, "Can This Marriage be Saved" and “How America Lives." Ms. Hoffman covered a wide swath of American life, from a coal mining family in Harlan County, Kentucky to the opulent Vanderbilt family estate. After working at the Ladies Home Journal, she served as the executive editor of Cosmopolitan under Helen Gurley Brown, and was head of press relations for the University of California system. She lived in Berkeley for about 20 years, between 1965 and 1985. -more-


Editorial

The Crazies Go After a Berkeley Family

By Becky O'Malley
Friday January 24, 2014 - 11:26:00 AM

Well, wimp that I am, I initially decided not to write anything about the bizarre flyer that appeared on my doorstep on Tuesday morning tucked under my newspapers. Unlike many of the crackpot publications that I’ve received since I undertook this enterprise, it was neatly printed with correct spelling and punctuation. It seemed to have been written by an educated person (sentences, paragraphs, vocabulary) but it was apparent that the author is someone who resides at the intersection of Literacy and Lunacy.

The cover was a great big Google Maps screenshot of a house on the other side of Ashby from our house, with the address clearly visible. Superimposed on the picture in big type were these words:

Anthony Levandowski is building an unconscionable world of surveillance, control and automation. He is also your neighbor.”

The text accused Anthony, the guy who lives there, a pleasant, mild-mannered father of two little boys, of being the techo-equivalent of Satan Incarnate. -more-


The Editor's Back Fence

Berkeley Sirens? Police on Their Way to a Funeral.

Wednesday January 29, 2014 - 08:16:00 AM

Did you wonder why a whole lot of police cars and motorcycles with lights blazing and sirens shrieking roared up Ashby during rush hour traffic at 8 a.m. this morning? The dispatcher at the Berkeley Police Department thought they might just be on their way to the funeral of the BART detective who was killed by a colleague. If so, that's very inappropriate. It does nothing to memorialize the victim of what we hope was an unfortunate error to endanger those in the path of the speeding officers. -more-


Columns

THE PUBLIC EYE: It’s Class Warfare, Stupid!

By Bob Burnett
Friday January 24, 2014 - 12:24:00 PM

Republicans have begun their campaign to regain the Senate in the 2014-midterm elections. So far, they’ve emphasized negative ads about Obamacare. If this tactic falters, the GOP will fall back on the same lies they used in the 2012 presidential election: “Obama’s policies have hurt the economy.” Republicans talk as if they are job creators but they’re actually job destroyers, engaged in class warfare. -more-


ON MENTAL ILLNESS: Delusions and Recovery

By Jack Bragen
Friday January 24, 2014 - 12:22:00 PM

Aside from moans about the evil mental health treatment system (which sometimes it is) it is obvious to anyone who can think that the life of a person with a major mental illness, at least some of the time, is pure hell. -more-


Odd Bodkins: The Little Heroes (Cartoon)

By Dan O'Neill
Wednesday January 29, 2014 - 10:41:00 AM

Odd Bodkins: Borrowed Vengeance (Cartoon)

By Dan O'Neill
Wednesday January 29, 2014 - 10:35:00 AM

Arts & Events

New: Ben Kreith Trio: Rosenak/Josheff/Kreith
At Berkeley Arts on Friday

Monday January 27, 2014 - 11:36:00 AM

Alban Berg's trio arrangement of the Adagio from his Chamber Concerto will be played alongside music by Darius Milhaud and Peter Josheff. Also a performance of Galina Ustvolskaya's austere and uncompromising 1949 Clarinet Trio. Her controversial music has been described as "a phenomenon" (Dmitri Shostakovich), "to be approached with caution" (Alex Ross) and "kind of ugly" (Roy Harris). Here's a chance to hear for yourself! -more-


Press Release: Expressions Gallery invites you to the Grand Opening of the Homelessness Art Show:
Saturday, January 25, from 6-8 PM

From Marcia Poole, Renna Flohr, Alejandro Soto-Vigil
Friday January 24, 2014 - 12:27:00 PM

The City of Berkeley co-sponsored the Homelessness Art show and contributed funds that covered the costs of art supplies from the homeless artists. Their art, as well as that of community artists, show the many aspects of homelessness. Please come and join us in the presentation of this important exhibition to the public. -more-


Around & About Theater: Jovelyn Richards & Luisah Teish--Ín the House of the Mothers,'Sunday at La Pena

By Ken Bullock
Friday January 24, 2014 - 12:19:00 PM

African-American storyteller Jovelyn Richards, a kind of vaudevillean, & her band will be joined by Luisah Teish for "än interactive version of Mz. Pat & the Voudou Queen ... who comes to visit with a bundle of herbs & charms in her pocket." Mz. Pat's Jovelyn's ongoing alter-ego, a 30s brothel madam whose house offers sanctuary & escape from the world outside, "where love & healing are experienced through ritual theater." A rare collaboration by two original performers. One night only, this Sunday at 7, La Pena Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck (near Ashby BART). lapena.org $15 -more-


Around & About The Movies: Noir City Film Noir Fest #12

By Ken Bullock
Friday January 24, 2014 - 12:18:00 PM

Noir City, the brainchild of Eddie Muller of Alameda, is back for its twelfth time around, from Friday night until a week from Sunday afternoon, with evening shows & weekend matinees (at the bargain price of $10 per double or triple feature program) on the glorious big screen at the Castro Theatre. -more-


JUDI IRANYI PHOTOGRAPHY Site Launched (First Person)

By Judi Iranyi
Friday January 24, 2014 - 01:05:00 PM

I recently launched my website -- JUDI IRANYI PHOTOGRAPHY. I hope everyone will enjoy looking at it; I encourage everyone to share the link with your friends who are interested in photography. -more-


Back Stories

Opinion

Editorials

The Crazies Go After a Berkeley Family 01-24-2014

The Editor's Back Fence

Berkeley Sirens? Police on Their Way to a Funeral. 01-29-2014

Amazing Bedfellows Endorse Berkeley Referendum
Signature Drive Ends Tuesday
01-18-2014

Cartoons

Odd Bodkins: The Little Heroes (Cartoon) By Dan O'Neill 01-29-2014

Odd Bodkins: Borrowed Vengeance (Cartoon) By Dan O'Neill 01-29-2014

Public Comment

New: Blessings from Pete Seeger By James Patterson 01-29-2014

New: Help Save Berkeley Post Office Tonight at City Council By Margot Smith 01-28-2014

New: Building Power By Harry Brill 01-21-2014

Setting the Record Straight on the Oakland Zoo Expansion Plan by Laura Baker, East Bay Chapter of the California Native Plant Society 01-18-2014

A Muslim American Reflection on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day By Khalida Jamilah 01-18-2014

News

Get Active, for Pete’s Sake (2011)
(a poem for Pete Seeger)
By Gar Smith 01-28-2014

New: Betty Medsger's The Burglary: They Broke the Law to Preserve It By Carol Polsgrove 01-27-2014

New: The Threat From the Right -- and What to Do About It By Lewis Dolinsky 01-25-2014

Press Release: Survey Shows Students Opting Out of Buying Textbooks:
Students Demand Lower Cost Alternatives
From CALPIRG 01-27-2014

Alter Theater Offers Great Plays in Rep in San Rafael Store-Front By John A. McMullen II 01-24-2014

Morrie Turner: 1926-2014 01-29-2014

Betty Hannah Hoffman
1918-2014
01-27-2014

Press Release: Congressman George Miller Endorses Tony Thurmond for Assembly From the Tony Thurmond Campaign 01-23-2014

Flash: Berkeley Re-Districting Referendum Qualifies for Ballot 01-21-2014

Embedded in The Square: Inside Egypt's Revolution By Gar Smith 01-18-2014

Finest Kind –Freight & Salvage Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014 By Carol Denney 01-18-2014

Jerome Carlin
1927-2014
01-21-2014

Columns

THE PUBLIC EYE: It’s Class Warfare, Stupid! By Bob Burnett 01-24-2014

ON MENTAL ILLNESS: Delusions and Recovery By Jack Bragen 01-24-2014

THE PUBLIC EYE: 2014 Democratic Agenda: Protecting the 47 Percent By Bob Burnett 01-18-2014

ECLECTIC RANT: Crisis in the California Courts By Ralph E. Stone 01-18-2014

ON MENTAL ILLNESS: Tragic Shooting in North Carolina By Jack Bragen 01-18-2014

SENIOR POWER: Memoirs, Memories By Helen Rippier Wheeler, pen136@dslextreme.com 01-16-2014

THE PUBLIC EYE: Why Hasn’t Obama Reined in NSA? By Bob Burnett 01-10-2014

ON MENTAL ILLNESS: Contagious Delusions By Jack Bragen 01-18-2014

Arts & Events

New: Ben Kreith Trio: Rosenak/Josheff/Kreith
At Berkeley Arts on Friday
01-27-2014

Press Release: Expressions Gallery invites you to the Grand Opening of the Homelessness Art Show:
Saturday, January 25, from 6-8 PM
From Marcia Poole, Renna Flohr, Alejandro Soto-Vigil 01-24-2014

Around & About Theater: Jovelyn Richards & Luisah Teish--Ín the House of the Mothers,'Sunday at La Pena By Ken Bullock 01-24-2014

Around & About The Movies: Noir City Film Noir Fest #12 By Ken Bullock 01-24-2014

JUDI IRANYI PHOTOGRAPHY Site Launched (First Person) By Judi Iranyi 01-24-2014

AROUND AND ABOUT THEATER: Shadowlight's Poro Oyna,' Myth of the Aynu By Ken Bullock 01-18-2014