Monthly Archives: November 2009
The Berkeley Wire: 11.30.09
If you missed Maira Kalman’s visit to Berkeley, read it right now [NYTimes]
Most surprising read of the day: UC Berkeley lags in attracting international students [Daily Cal]
The Shattuck renaissance. Really [San Jose Mercury News]
The Graduate revised: “One word: algae” [LBL]
[Photo: Roxie Delicatessen by Alex Rez from Berkeleyside Flickr pool]
Not what you usually find in Berkeley: Filipina boxing “sensation”
The Cal Bears in a bewildering variety of sports, sure. Kite flyers at Cesar Chavez Park. Lycra-clad pelotons up the wazoo toiling up Claremont canyon. There’s no shortage of sporting folk to see in Berkeley. But I didn’t expect this:
Tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. Ana “The Hurricane” Julaton (5-1-1, 1 KO) will take part in a public media workout as she prepares for her second title shot set for December 4th at the HP Pavilion … Continue reading »
Thanksgiving a thankstaking for Berkeley musician
Pete Madsen’s Thanksgiving weekend ended abruptly this morning when he discovered three precious guitars were stolen from his music studio at 3501 Adeline Street. A working musician, writer, and teacher, Pete performs frequently throughout the Bay Area and teaches finger-style guitar at the 5th String. Audiences see his early blues, ragtime, and slide guitar performances frequently at Berkeley’s restaurants and coffeehouses.
Pete’s lost guitars represent not only his livelihood but also milestones in his musical evolution. They … Continue reading »
Is there a fire in the hills?
I’ve just seen the following tweet:
there is a huge white smoke plume in the Berkeley Hills which has grown larger over the past 10 minutes. A fire? Anyone know about this?
Any Berkeleyside readers see or know anything?
Is The Daily Planet anti-Semitic? The New York Times takes a look
The New York Times today takes a look at the controversy surrounding The Berkeley Daily Planet and its attitude toward Jews and Israel.
In a lengthy article that ran in the national section, San Francisco bureau chief Jesse McKinley discusses the controversy and points out the irony that free speech is in the center of this debate – in a city long known for its devotion to free speech.
In the last few years, the Daily Planet has been … Continue reading »
The Wizard of Oz wows
If you are looking for something to do with your children this weekend – or you enjoy musicals – check out The Wizard of Oz at the Julia Morgan Theater on College Avenue in Berkeley.
This energetic production from Berkeley Playhouse combines terrific music and scenes with extraordinary costumes and some fantastic special effects. The production by Jon Tracy reinforces Berkeley Playhouse’s reputation for giving a fresh spin to familiar plays.
A surprise favorite in the show is … Continue reading »
A Berkeleyside Thanksgiving
A number of Berkeleyside’s contributors are flying today to visit relatives for Thanksgiving, so posting here will be light to non-existent.
A glance out the window at the beautiful sunshine is a reminder that Berkeleyites (and even Berkeleysiders) have much to be thankful for, even in a year of economic hardship for many. We’ll resume normal service on Monday, and in the meantime wish all of our readers a very happy Thanksgiving. If you want to tell us what … Continue reading »
The Berkeley Wire: 11.24.09
You wouldn’t think Berkeley would be a good training ground for bobsledding [CalBears.com]
On the other hand, new theories of space time are a natural [Scientific American]
More evidence that Freakonomics has jumped the shark. Argues UC tuition hike is good [NYT]
Does the new noise ordinance affect your First Amendment rights? [IndyBay.org]
[Photo: School lunch by Gilson Rome from the Berkeleyside photo pool]
What might have been
The city of Berkeley traditionally has acted as though its downtown bore no relation to UC, despite their shared border. The university repaid the favor by treating downtown like a back alley, necessary but of little note.
Read John King in today’s Chronicle on the city’s loss of a Toyo Ito-designed art museum.
Investigation of police behavior — the full text
Here is the complete text of the email Chancellor Robert Birgeneau’s sent today to the UC Berkeley community:
Monday, November 23, 2009
Dear Campus Community:
Last week was a very difficult week for everyone across the University of California as the Regents voted to increase fees by 32% in response to the extreme funding cuts imposed on the University by the State of California. Protests occurred on many campuses, including our own, as students, faculty, and staff are justifiably angered by the fee increases, by lay-offs, and by other difficult decisions necessitated by the state budget reductions.
On Friday, 40 individuals, the majority of them students, took over the second floor of Wheeler Hall, refusing to come out unless the administration agreed to reinstate 38 laid-off custodians. Supporters and on-lookers gathered at Wheeler Hall, urged on by fast-spreading electronic communications. We urged the police to be as respectful as possible of our students. As the size of the crowd grew and false fire alarms were repeatedly set off in many campus buildings, our police chief recommended bringing in additional officers from outside the UC Berkeley police department to help maintain order and ensure safety. As safety barriers were brought in, confrontations began to occur between the police and the quickly growing crowd.
The Berkeley Wire: 11.23.09
UC investigating alleged police brutality at last week’s campus protests [SF Gate]
UC protests ongoing: in Oakland and against that alleged police violence [Indy Bay]
Husband and wife Michael Chabon and Ayelet Waldman talk to Jon Carroll [PDS]
With unemployment at 11%, Berkeley looks to stimulus money to create jobs [Daily Cal]
Robin Lakoff to speak on the meaning of choice , November 29 [Hillside Club]
[Photo: Morning frost by Dan Brekke from Berkeleyside photo pool]
