Archive for March, 2015

Berkeley’s People’s Park Tree-cut Cuts Deep

Posted in People's Park, The Berkeley Scene on March 31st, 2015 by admin – Be the first to comment

by Steed Dropout
March 30, 2015

Deep Cut. Photo by Ted Friedman.

Michael Delacour, the acknowledged founder of Berkeley’s People’s Park, was worried about Cal’s plans for the park.

He sat through a Cal student council meeting (ASUC) before Spring break to warn students that the university was about to take the park, as it had in 1969.

Under attack, Delacour told me, was the People’s Park trees and the People’s Park stage.

Crying wolf over the park runs rampant in the park. Some one(s) at the park will tell you often and often that the university is engaged in battle with the park, has it under surveillance, and is ready to come in to “take back the park.”

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Inside Berkeley’s Latest Demo

Posted in Telegraph Avenue, The Berkeley Scene on March 25th, 2015 by admin – Be the first to comment

by Steed dropout
Mar. 24, 2015

‘You don’t like it when we sprang?
Sit down, let’s talk, and make some change!’

‘Arresting people always fails!
Give us housing, not more jails!’

‘Give us a home!
Leave us alone!’

A FLAG, A BRASS BAND, AND RUNNING WOLF

A flag, a band, and Running Wolf. Photo by Ted Friedman.

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Selective Service Should Have Been More Selective

Posted in The Global Scene Through Berkeleyan Eyes on March 16th, 2015 by admin – Be the first to comment

by Steed Dropout
Mar. 16, 2015

“General Fuck-up.” That’s what my ROTC name tag said when I showed up for drill. Some hazing-happy fraternity brothers had promoted me to General.

ROTC was mandatory at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana 1957-61.

Here, Dropout learned he was a military misfit, but was slow to get the message.

Literature and film loves military misfits. From Abbot and Costello, Martin and Lewis, Saxophonist Lester Young–the ultimate army fuck-up, who was discharged for stowing medical marijuana in his boot-camp locker during WW2–Ensign Pulver to Stalag 17. Kurtz, (Marlon Brando), in Apocalypse Now, a major screw-up.
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Berkeley Street “Leader” Attacked, Berkeley-style

Posted in Telegraph Avenue, The Berkeley Scene on March 10th, 2015 by admin – Be the first to comment

by Steed Dropout
March, 9, 2015

Crime scene. Weapon was wrapped in Subway bag, lower right.
Photo by Ted Friedman.

‘Purple,’ only wanted to be helpful when he was whacked with a submarine sandwich, Saturday, on Telegraph Avenue.

Recently named by one Teley businessman as “leader” of a band, of notorious slackers slouched outside a tattoo head-shop near the Caffe Mediterraneum, Purple is, at 6’2″ an imposing figure, with a thoughtful personal philosophy he shares with passers-by on Telegraph.
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Berkeley Pot Doc

Posted in The Berkeley Scene on March 3rd, 2015 by admin – Be the first to comment

by Steed Dropout
Mar. 2, 2015

SCORING IN BERKELEY’S POTSTERDAM

Doc. Bladgley--South side's savior. Photo by Ted Friedman.

Used to be, you were at the mercy of your pot dealer. Your dealer would routinely leave town.

Now you frequent a “dispensary” where you don’t score pot, or god forbid–dope. It’s medicine now.

But to score, you have to see a pot (M.D.) doc.

If you live near Berkeley’s. Potsterdam (pronounced Amsterdam), near Parker/Telegraph next door to a dispensary–you’re easily potted.
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