The Week

The northern chestnut-backed chickadee can be seen around northern California in the holiday season.
Thom Quine
The northern chestnut-backed chickadee can be seen around northern California in the holiday season.
 

News

Call to Boycott Caffe Med Over Free Speech
Leaves Medheads Speechless

By Ted Friedman
Tuesday December 21, 2010 - 09:12:00 PM

A recent incident at the notorious Caffe Mediterraneum on Telegraph has led to calls for a boycott of the home of the Sixties Free Speech Movement. -more-


New: Catherine 'Kay' Kerr, 1911-2010

From the University of California Press Office
Friday December 24, 2010 - 10:06:00 AM

Catherine "Kay" Kerr, a dedicated environmentalist and widow of Clark Kerr, the 12th president of the University of California system, died Friday (Dec. 18). She was 99. -more-


Opinion

Editorials

One More Time: Give Peace A Chance

By Becky O'Malley
Wednesday December 22, 2010 - 10:53:00 AM

They’re talking about peace on earth again, just as they do every year around the winter solstice. We can all be glad that today is the day that days start getting longer again—that’s one sentiment most humans can share, despite strife induced by religion and other causes. (Though nearer to the equator it doesn’t make so much difference, but never mind...) -more-


This is the Holiday Issue
December 22-January 5

Wednesday December 22, 2010 - 09:21:00 AM

This is the Planet’s Holiday Issue. Our regular writers, including me, are relaxing a bit, some contributing and others not over the two week period.

We encourage our readers to become contributors to this issue, submitting anything that they’d like to see online to opinion@berkeleydailyplanet.com. We’ll add reader submissions as they come in, on an occasional basis when we have time, no pressure. We welcome unconventional forms for this issue of the newspaper: personal essays, fiction and poetry as well as opinion and news.

We’ll get back to reporting the news on a regular basis with the January 5 issue. Until then, happy holidays! -more-


Cartoons

Cartoon Page: Odd Bodkins, BOUNCE

Wednesday December 22, 2010 - 05:46:00 PM

Public Comment

Letters to the Editor

Wednesday December 22, 2010 - 10:54:00 AM

A Christmas Carol -more-


The Spirit of Scrooge

By Caroline Hamilton, Ph.D.
Tuesday December 21, 2010 - 10:23:00 PM

Everyone knows the story of “A Christmas Carol”: the grouchy old man who dismisses Christmas greetings with “Bah, humbug!,” his hard-working clerk Bob Cratchit, cheerful, crippled Tiny Tim, the Spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. This is a good time to reread the story, available for free from Project Gutenberg. “A Christmas Carol” is remarkably pertinent not only to the season but to the contemporary political climate. -more-


Seasonal Musings

By Ron Lowe
Tuesday December 21, 2010 - 10:07:00 PM

All the world is young at Christmastime -more-


Birthstone to Gravestone
and the stones in between.

By Madeline Smith Moore
Tuesday December 21, 2010 - 09:55:00 PM

[steppingstone |ˈstepi ng ˌstōn| noun

a raised stone used singly or in a series as a place on which to step when crossing a stream or muddy area. Oxford American Dictionaries]

Stepping stones originally referred to those stones that allowed one to go from the bank of a river to the far side, and to arrive safely—maybe getting just a little bit wet. Some of these stones are rocks; some are pebbles. Some are smooth and cherished, even polished and displayed on mantelpieces. Some are rough; scratch one’s bare feet. Sturdy shoes insure our safe traversal. But there they are and there they have been: stones taking us from the womb to the tomb. Some stones are seen very clearly looking back, but are rather fuzzy looking forward. What is the next stone? -more-


Columns

Lost in the White House

By Bob Burnett
Tuesday December 21, 2010 - 08:16:00 PM

Lewis Carroll wrote: “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.” Carroll was musing about Wonderland but his words apply to the White House, where the Obama Administration has lost its sense of direction. The challenge for Progressives is to recalibrate the President’s moral compass. -more-


The Great Chickadee Invasion

By Joe Eaton
Tuesday December 21, 2010 - 09:02:00 PM

The weather and a persistent head cold have kept me indoors for most of December. Contact with the natural world has been pretty much limited to killing ants in the kitchen (yes, the Argentines are back) and watching the bird feeders. Ron decided to hang up a suet feeder this year, and the chestnut-backed chickadees have responded—up to four at one time. We’ve also had visits from a ruby-crowned kinglet. -more-


Eclectic Rant: Palestinian Statehood to be Decided by UN?

By Ralph E. Stone
Tuesday December 21, 2010 - 09:37:00 PM

On November 15, 1988, the State of Palestine was unilaterally declared in Algiers when the Palestinian Liberation Organization’s National Council adopted the Palestinian Declaration of Independence. The independent State of Palestine is widely recognized by over 100 United Nations member countries, although oftentimes in equivocal terms. Although an independent state, it has no universally recognized borders. In 1993, the Palestinian Authority recognized the state of Israel. Now it is the time for Israel and the world to recognize Palestine as an independent state in the 1967 borders. -more-


Senior Power: How Does the ADA Define Disability?

By Helen Rippier Wheeler
Tuesday December 21, 2010 - 08:29:00 PM

ADA stands for the Americans with Disabilities Act, last revision in July. The Act has a three-part, controversial definition of disability. Under the ADA, a person with a disability has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, OR has a record of such an impairment, OR is regarded as having such an impairment. -more-


On Mental Illness: Employment and Self Esteem of Mentally Ill People

By Jack Bragen
Tuesday December 21, 2010 - 09:37:00 PM

In the course of battling a mental illness, a number of mental health consumers ultimately discover that regular employment is not a good fit. While “normal” people occasionally have a “bad day” in which their work isn’t up to par, a person with a mental illness may have a bad day more often, and may need a work situation that can accommodate this factor. Such an accommodation isn’t done in most companies--they may expect that their employees be efficient at all times. The effects of psychiatric medications in combination with residual symptoms of the illnesses often slow down and impair job performance, sometimes to the point of the work not being at a competitive level. The mental health consumer is then stuck in a lifetime of not being able to work, and thus of not having a lot of the good things in life that people in mainstream society frequently take for granted. A reader writes: -more-


Arts & Events

Stage-San Francisco Through January 2

Wednesday December 22, 2010 - 01:42:00 PM

"CIRQUE DU SOLEIL'S OVO," -- through Jan. 24. A lively rush into a world of insects and acrobatics. Written and directed by Deborah Colker. See website for times, dates and complete details. Performances take place under the "Grand Chapiteau'' at AT&T Park. -more-


Stage-East Bay Through January 2

Wednesday December 22, 2010 - 01:41:00 PM

ASHBY STAGE -more-


Professional Dance Through January 2

Wednesday December 22, 2010 - 01:40:00 PM

PARAMOUNT THEATRE -more-


Classical Music-San Francisco Through January 2

Wednesday December 22, 2010 - 01:33:00 PM

AUDIUM -more-


Classical Music-East Bay Through January 2

Wednesday December 22, 2010 - 01:32:00 PM

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF BERKELEY -more-


Popmusic-East Bay Through January 2

Wednesday December 22, 2010 - 01:39:00 PM

924 GILMAN ST. All ages welcome. -more-


Review: Under Milk Wood at the Library

By Dorothy Snodgrass
Tuesday December 21, 2010 - 10:27:00 PM

Once again, the Berkeley Main Public Library is due lavish praise for the many excellent programs it offers its patrons week after week. Debbie Carton, Librarian and Head of the Art and Music Department deserves much credit for these stimulating programs. Her "Playreading for Adults" is a popular, ever expanding class meeting each Wednesday from 12 noon to 1 p.m. for a reading of plays which are acted out by members of the class. But this past Tuesday evening, Debbie outdid herself with an unforgettable production of Dylan Thomas' play, "Under Milk Wood". Thirteen adult members and five children of the play reading group sat at long tables and did a staged reading of this classic play for voices, beautifully directed by Libby Vega. -more-


Around & About the Performing Arts

By Ken Bullock
Tuesday December 21, 2010 - 09:57:00 PM

Two East Bay favorites are putting on special holiday shows: -more-


Tours And Activities-East Bay Through January 31

Wednesday December 22, 2010 - 01:42:00 PM

ARDENWOOD HISTORIC FARM ongoing. 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-


Outdoors-East Bay Through January 2

Wednesday December 22, 2010 - 01:39:00 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-


New Years Eve-East Bay

Wednesday December 22, 2010 - 01:38:00 PM

"NEW YEAR'S EVE BALL AT THE MALL," -- Dec. 31. Enjoy live music, piano bar, champagne, hors d'oeuvres and more. Event takes place at Stoneridge Shopping Center, Pleasanton; see website for complete details. -more-


Museums-East Bay Through January 2

Wednesday December 22, 2010 - 01:37:00 PM

AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM AND LIBRARY AT OAKLAND ongoing. 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-


Museums-San Francisco Through January 2

Wednesday December 22, 2010 - 01:37:00 PM

ASIAN ART MUSEUM OF SAN FRANCISCO The Asian Art Museum-Chon-Moon Lee Center for Asian Art and Culture recently unveiled its new building in San Francisco's Civic Center. The building, the former San Francisco Public Library, has been completely retrofitted and rebuilt to house San Francisco's significant collection of Asian treasures. The museum offers complimentary audio tours of the museum's collection galleries. "In a New Light," ongoing. There are some 2,500 works displayed in the museum's new galleries. They cover all the major cultures of Asia and include Indian stone sculptures, intricately carved Chinese jades, Korean paintings, Tibetan thanksgas, Cambodian Buddhas, Islamic manuscripts and Japanese basketry and kimonos. -more-


Highlights-East Bay Through January 2

Wednesday December 22, 2010 - 01:36:00 PM

"TELEGRAPH AVENUE HOLIDAY STREET FAIR," -- through Dec. 24. The event will feature festive lights, colorful decorations and a multicultural shopping atmosphere featuring more than 200 street artists, merchants, and community groups. -more-


Exhibits-San Francisco Through January 2

Wednesday December 22, 2010 - 01:35:00 PM

"SUN SPHERES," -- ongoing. "Sun Spheres'' is a trio of mosaic sculptures by artist Laurel True at the intersection of Ocean and Granada Avenues in the OMI District of San Francisco. -more-


General-East Bay Through January 2

Wednesday December 22, 2010 - 01:35:00 PM

"BERKELEY POTTER'S GUILD HOLIDAY EXHIBITION," -- through Dec. 24. A diverse array of pottery and sculpture will be available at this annual sale and show. Event takes place at 731 Jones St., Berkeley. -more-


Exhibits-East Bay Through January 2

Wednesday December 22, 2010 - 01:34:00 PM

"BERKELEY POTTER'S GUILD HOLIDAY EXHIBITION," -- through Dec. 24. A diverse array of pottery and sculpture will be available at this annual sale and show. Event takes place at 731 Jones St., Berkeley. -more-


Kids-East Bay Through January 2

Wednesday December 22, 2010 - 01:36:00 PM

"TELEGRAPH AVENUE HOLIDAY STREET FAIR," -- through Dec. 24. The event will feature festive lights, colorful decorations and a multicultural shopping atmosphere featuring more than 200 street artists, merchants, and community groups. -more-


Dance-East Bay Through January 2

Wednesday December 22, 2010 - 01:34:00 PM

ASHKENAZ -more-