The Week

Tibetan Buddhists are outraged at the use of the Dalai Lama's picture on Keds American sneakers.  See Commentary below.
Tibetan Buddhists are outraged at the use of the Dalai Lama's picture on Keds American sneakers. See Commentary below.
 

News

New: First Person: Arnieville Update

By Jean Stewart
Sunday July 04, 2010 - 09:34:00 AM

I came home last night for another brief R&R before returning to ArnieVille in an hour or so...What a difference hot water & shampoo make! -more-


Disabled Protesters To Extend Their Berkeley Camp

By Dan McMenamin (BCN)
Sunday July 04, 2010 - 09:33:00 AM

A tent city has sprouted up for the second time in as many months on the median of a Berkeley street in protest of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed budget cuts to in-home support services, an organizer said today. -more-


Flash: Mehserle Jury Goes Home

Planet
Friday July 02, 2010 - 02:25:00 PM

According to Elizabeth Martinez, the court's designated media contact, the jury has gone home for the day at 4:00 p.m. and will resume deliberations at 8:30 a.m. on July 6th. -more-


New: AC Transit Board Imposes New Contract on Union as Talks Stall

By Jeff Shuttleworth (BCN)
Friday July 02, 2010 - 02:10:00 PM

AC Transit's board of directors has imposed a new contract on the bus agency's 1,600 union employees after talks on a new contract stalled. -more-


New: Lawyers Complete Closing Arguments, Jurors Begin Deliberations in Mehserle Trial

By Jeff Shuttleworth (BCN) and Planet
Friday July 02, 2010 - 01:58:00 PM

Prosecutor David Stein and defense attorney Michael Rains completed their closing arguments today in the trial of former BART police Officer Johannes Mehserle on a murder charge for the fatal shooting of unarmed passenger Oscar Grant III. -more-


Berkeley Police Kill Armed Hit-and-Run Suspect

By Dan McMenamin, BCN
Tuesday June 29, 2010 - 02:41:00 PM

An armed hit-and-run suspect was fatally shot by Berkeley police after he fired a gun at them Monday night, a police spokeswoman said today. -more-


Council Preview: Libraries, Waste, YMCA and More

Monday June 28, 2010 - 06:02:00 PM

A controversial item on Tuesday’s Berkeley City Council Agenda has the innocuous subject line “ Zoning Ordinance Amendment to Allow Development Flexibility for Existing Public Libraries”.It’s even on the consent calendar, a try for easy passage without discussion.Here’s what it means: “ to allow (1) existing public libraries to be changed, expanded, or demolished and a new public library constructed, and (2) modification of any Zoning Ordinance requirement applicable to such projects with a Use Permit, rather than a Variance.” [emphasis added] The Public Library Users’ Association is up in arms, since the ballot measure to provide funding for what now looks like two brand new libraries said not a word about demolition, and also, they say, plans call for fewer books in the new buildings.Development Flexibility, for sure. -more-


Council Preview: The Downtown Plan (Again, and Again, and Again)

Monday June 28, 2010 - 05:06:00 PM

The Berkeley City Council will be presented with three competing versions of what might be a new Downtown Plan Tuesday night, if all goes according to the published agenda: Here’s what they’ll be trying to do. -more-


UC Berkeley DNA and Investigation of Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects I

By Jude Ya
Tuesday June 29, 2010 - 02:48:00 PM

When UC Berkeley planned the “On the Same Page” project to request first year students provide DNA for analysis and subsequent discussion it is doubtful anyone anticipated the vigor of public reaction. One concern cited was is the accuracy of the genetic testing kits and that the testing technology under scrutiny of the FDA. -more-


Opinion

Editorials

Reporting the Hard News: Your Help is Needed

By Becky O'Malley
Tuesday June 29, 2010 - 11:34:00 AM

So, the dust has finally settled around here. Mike O’Malley (heretofore “The Publisher”, now “Chief Technical Officer”) and I are more or less smoothly ensconced in the routine of online publishing.Because we have been advised by our lawyer to wait and see what taxes the Berkeley Daily Planet LLC might owe (after our payroll service absconded with payments intended for the state and federal governments) we’ve been working for free (which is fine with us) without employees (somewhat harder).. In the past couple of months, we’ve been gratefully publishing work contributed by public-spirited Berkeleyans, both professional journalists and passionate amateurs, who haven’t been paid either. Now it’s time to ask the readers for their help in improving what’s here. -more-


Public Comment

Letters to the Editor

Tuesday June 29, 2010 - 02:40:00 PM

Walgreens Wants to Sell Beer and Wine; Supreme Angst;Wall Street Reform;Corporate Takeover; Take Down the Wall;Measure C Vote Explained; -more-


Stiffing the Dead: How the Pentagon Blew Memorial Day

By Gar Smith
Tuesday June 29, 2010 - 01:18:00 PM

Memorial Day is trumpeted as a day “to honor the memory of America’s Fallen.” But rather than live up to that lofty goal, the Pentagon routinely falls short, lapsing into cosmetic rituals and empty rhetoric with volleys of ceremonial gunshots followed by volleys of commemorative clichés. -more-


The railroading of Michael Vick and the machine gunning of Deondre Brunston

By Jean Damu
Tuesday June 29, 2010 - 12:51:00 PM

Ordinarily it would suffice to allow the Michael Vick case to recede into a state of distant memory except that a Forbes magazine poll and the surfacing of a horrific video of a 2002 police murder of an African American youth insist that we revisit both incidents. -more-


Pepper Spray Times

by Grace Underpressure
Tuesday June 29, 2010 - 12:19:00 PM

The Brand Vultures – Keds & Co.

By Chime Tenzing
Tuesday June 29, 2010 - 01:26:00 PM

Keds’ new-fangled line of sneakers called 'Tibetan Buddhist Shoes' bearing images of the Dalai Lama, the Buddha, holy mantras, Tibetan national flag and other sacred images is a gross denigration of the faith which has millions of followers around the globe! -more-


Columns

Dispatches from the Edge:The Guns of August in the Middle East?

By Conn Hallinan
Tuesday June 29, 2010 - 12:22:00 PM

Crazy talk about the Middle East seems to be escalating, backed up by some pretty ominous military deployments. First, the department of scary statements: -more-


Senior Power: BPL, Wherefore Art Thous?

By Helen Rippier Wheeler
Tuesday June 29, 2010 - 12:50:00 PM

Kudos to Peter Warfield’s Partisan Position, Monday, June 21, 2010 Planet: “Berkeley’s Branch Library Plans: Two Demolitions Instead of Renovation, Book Cuts and Permanent Changes to Zoning Variance Requirements.” -more-


Blogbeat: Civic Sustainability: Scouring the Web for interesting tidbits

By Thomas Lord
Tuesday June 29, 2010 - 01:48:00 PM

This week’s items: An online twist to OPD’s riot preparations; shootings at funerals and memorials; school bond fails in Alameda: heads up Berkeley?; a correction to last week’s column

-more-


Dispatches From The Edge: Turkey, the U.S, and Empire’s Twilight

By Conn Hallinan
Tuesday June 29, 2010 - 04:04:00 PM

When U.S. forces found themselves beset by a growing insurgency in Iraq following their lighting overthrow of Saddam Hussein, the most obvious parallel that came to mind was Vietnam: an occupying army, far from home, besieged by a shadowy foe. But Patrick Cockburn, the Independent’s (UK) ace Middle East reporter, suggested that the escalating chaos was more like the Boer War than the conflict in Southeast Asia. -more-


Arts & Events

Classical Music-East Bay Through July 11

Tuesday June 29, 2010 - 02:21:00 PM

CRANEWAY PAVILION -more-


Stage-San Francisco Through July 11

Tuesday June 29, 2010 - 03:35:00 PM

AMERICAN CONSERVATORY THEATER -more-


Stage-East Bay Through July 11

Tuesday June 29, 2010 - 03:35:00 PM

ASHBY STAGE -more-


Professional Dance-San Francisco Through July 11

Tuesday June 29, 2010 - 03:34:00 PM

CONTEMPORARY JEWISH MUSEUM The museum, formerly known as the Jewish Museum San Francisco, has a new addition designed by Daniel Libeskind and is dedicated to exploring the richness and diversity of Jewish thought and culture. -more-


Readings-East Bay Through July 11

Tuesday June 29, 2010 - 03:33:00 PM

BOOKS INC., BERKELEY -more-


Classical Music-San Francisco Through July 11

Tuesday June 29, 2010 - 03:32:00 PM

CONTEMPORARY JEWISH MUSEUM The museum, formerly known as the Jewish Museum San Francisco, has a new addition designed by Daniel Libeskind and is dedicated to exploring the richness and diversity of Jewish thought and culture. -more-


Galleries-East Bay Through July 11

Tuesday June 29, 2010 - 03:37:00 PM

ALBANY ARTS GALLERY -more-


Popmusic-East Bay Through July 11

Tuesday June 29, 2010 - 03:36:00 PM

924 GILMAN ST. -- All ages welcome. -more-


Theatre Review: SPEECH & DEBATE at Aurora

By John A. McMullen II.
Tuesday June 29, 2010 - 10:47:00 AM
Maro Guevara) Jayne Deely, and Jason Frank take a dance break in SPEECH & DEBATE.

Please O please O please, people!There is a reason for the theatrical convention of two acts separated by an intermission.When half of your audience has white hair and tricky bladders, you have a little break after about 55 minutes for a little potty time, a little drinky-poo, a cookie, a chat, then back in for another 45. Unless you are going to deliver a chock-a-block thrilling ninety minutes tops, dispense with the NO INTERMISSION FOR AN HOUR AND FORTY FIVE MINUTES which is how long this pointless play runs. -more-


Opera Review: Raves from a Low-Brow for SF Opera Die Walkure

By John A. McMullen II
Monday June 28, 2010 - 06:02:00 PM
Mark Delavan (Wotan) and Nina Stemme (Brünnhilde)

What?Four and half hours at the Opera!Wagner?The Anti-Semite?Nazi music with the corny parody of the Fat Lady with the Horned Helmet? How many cappuccini would I have to drink to stay awake?What could keep my attention for that long?How about an octet of sopranos parachuting onto the stage?How about lightning strikes and roiling thunderclouds on the diorama?Maybe a real ring of fire!You get it all at the War Memorial Opera House, and the voices are as spectacular as the stagecraft. -more-


Reviews: Around and About...

By Ken Bullock
Tuesday June 29, 2010 - 11:32:00 AM

Aurora Theatre, Contra Costa Theater, Berkeley Symphony -more-


Film Reviews: Now Available on DVD

Tuesday June 29, 2010 - 08:44:00 AM

Mystery Train -more-


Highlights-East Bay Through July 11

Tuesday June 29, 2010 - 03:42:00 PM

ALAMEDA COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS -more-


Fourth Of July-East Bay Through July 11

Tuesday June 29, 2010 - 03:40:00 PM

BERKELEY MARINA -more-


Museums-East Bay Through July 11

Tuesday June 29, 2010 - 03:43:00 PM

AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM AND LIBRARY AT OAKLAND The Oakland Public Library's museum is designed to discover, preserve, interpret and share the cultural and historical experiences of African Americans in California and the West. In addition, a three-panel mural is on permanent display. -more-


General-East Bay Through July 11

Tuesday June 29, 2010 - 03:40:00 PM

ALAMEDA COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS -more-


Exhibits-East Bay Through July 11

Tuesday June 29, 2010 - 03:39:00 PM

CARMEN FLORES RECREATION CENTER -more-


Outdoors-East Bay Through July 11

Tuesday June 29, 2010 - 03:44:00 PM

ARDENWOOD HISTORIC FARM Ardenwood farm is a working farm that dates back to the time of the Patterson Ranch, a 19th-century estate with a mansion and Victorian Gardens. Today, the farm still practices farming techniques from the 1870s. Unless otherwise noted, programs are free with regular admission. -more-


Kids-East Bay Through July 11

Tuesday June 29, 2010 - 03:42:00 PM

ARDENWOOD HISTORIC FARM Ardenwood farm is a working farm that dates back to the time of the Patterson Ranch, a 19th-century estate with a mansion and Victorian Gardens. Today, the farm still practices farming techniques from the 1870s. Unless otherwise noted, programs are free with regular admission. -more-


Dance-East Bay Through July 11

Tuesday June 29, 2010 - 03:38:00 PM

ELKS LODGE, ALAMEDA -more-


Press Release: Honoring the Life and Legacy of David Brower, July 1, 2010

Monday June 28, 2010 - 02:00:00 PM

July 1, 2010 is the official David Brower Day, honoring firebrand environmentalist and community activist of the same name. David Brower is considered by many to be the father of the modern environmental movement. With a vision and influence equaled in the last century only by Rachel Carson and Jacques Cousteau, David Brower created a legacy of activism which focused on the interconnectedness of the world around us. Brower had an unmatched talent for articulating what we were doing to our planet, and the urgent need for remedial action. Brower’s message and vision made the environmental movement part of our day-to-day lives and led thousands of activists across many generations to put the Earth first -more-