Sonny

Blue on Blue

Miramar Cottage

The Miramar Hotel finally got a passionate buyer in Rick Caruso, a man who understands that you can develop and make money in California by honoring the state's rich historic resources. He's not afraid to meet with the media and local folks and summed up his simple plan: remake the Miramar a family oriented place where both swimsuits and sport coats are welcome! BRAVO!

MIRAMAR'S ROCK 'n' ROLL HISTORY

1960:
While Jim (Roger) McGuinn was accompanying the Limeliters at the Ash Grove, a 19-year-old hopeful actor introduced himself. His name was David Crosby and he had just finished acting in a play at the Ashgrove the week before the Limeliter's appearance.

David suggested that he and Jim hang out together and offered to pick him up at the Park Sunset hotel. David had a convertible in which he had installed aircraft seat-belts. Very few cars had seat belts then and David was very proud of the addition he had made to his car. Over the next week, Jim taught David a few guitar chords and David taught Jim how to drive.

Jim was a Chicago city boy where cars weren't really necessary. Learning to drive David's Chevy with a manual transmission was the first clue Jim had of David's sense of humor. After a few times around Santa Monica Blvd, David had Jim drive up the steep hill of La Cienaga Blvd. For a novice at the clutch, it was a baptism by fire.

The Limeliters finished their Los Angeles gigs and told Jim to look them up if he was ever in San Francisco. David suggested that Jim go home with him to Santa Barbara. When they arrived at David's mother's house, she made them the most exotic sandwiches Jim had ever tasted, lamb and avocado. Southern California was indeed different from Chicago.

Jim stayed at the Crosby's for a few days, then David found him
a room at a nearby house filled with fraternity boys from Cornell University. Mornings started with the frat boys "breakfast of champions" -Coors beer. After breakfast they would crash the private beach of the Miramar Hotel. Their nights were spent drinking gin and tonics with the Santa Barbara society scene. Jim lost his wallet at the Miramar beach and was shocked to find it at the front desk with all his money still in it. Southern California was indeed different from Chicago.

my night with an Edie-Sienna look-a-like..

In an effort to ease the pain of some recent personal losses, I decided to attend the SBIFF opening night gala. I secretly was looking for an Edie Sedgwick-Sienna Miller look-a-like to be my companion or just hook-up. Lo and behold, she just plunked into the seat next to me! She looked like an angel on heroin…cute but skinny. “OK”..I say..”close enough!”

I started laying on the charm quick so she wouldn’t get away. I told her I was a producer from New York just checking out the Santa Barbara scene. She looked at me with hungry eyes, then snorted a little coke. Next thing I knew, we were out the door headed for a hotel. We drive to Montecito. She says she feels weird and starts hearing voices. I tell her to ignore them. We check into the Miramar. The place is run down, but we get a battered old room by the beach…we screamed and moaned..next thing I knew, it was morning. I awoke with a head full of sand and then noticed my Edie-Sienna look-a-like was gone! I also noticed that someone’s dog crapped on my shoes! DOGS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED ON THE BEACH!

Opening Night

The SBIFF opens Thursday, Jan 25 with "Factory Girl"..a film about Santa Barabara gal Edie Sedgwick. I had an indirect connection with Edie and ever since, I've been hooked on crazy, funny, beautiful blonde woman! Edie was indeed a beauty-passionate, spoiled, ferocious, naive, and vulnerable.. a classic California girl from Massachusetts with an odd, wealthy family..like a stick of dynamite, burning the fuse at both ends..BOOOM!

Music, sex, drugs, freedom, youth and trying to find your way thru a crazy time makes this story sad and grand. Her time with Warhol and Dylan added to the enigma and if she inspired "Just like a Woman" from "Blonde on Blonde", then all I can do is thank her...

in my little head...

This week’s Sunday Voices section of the NewsPress contains more delusional bellowing from Travis. The opening lines sounded like his swan song as he says thanks to “all my frens” (think Mickey Rourke in “Barfly”).

Some examples “ over these last five wonderful years”, “all in all, we have a better newspaper”, “some employees are clinging to the hopes of a union because they have no place else to go”…. and he likes the fact that when Wendy lets him write an opinion, he is the center of attention, but bemoans blogs who analyze him. "GET A LIFE" he tells us! Well, honey, as long as you continue your editorial charade, you will be dissected! I, for one, enjoy keeping you abreast of the fact that you’re always hiding under Wendy’s skirt like a sissy!

getting closer to the truth...

Skyview News Presents..a Conversation with an Enigma or Two

By S. Brien

Last week. I emailed Nipper and asked if he would like to sit down with me and discuss, in detail, the NewsPress situation. I suggested that Wendy and Travis join us and that I would love to give them an opportunity to tell their side of the story. A few days later, I received his reply: “ Yes..Let’s do it!”

We met at a Santa Barbara location that shall remain nameless to protect the innocent. I introduced myself and found all three to be cordial and funny. Wendy was really a talker! “Whew” she said. “Am I happy to see you!” “I know I can trust you..you have dolphin eyes!”

“Oh?” I asked, looking awkward, helpless and not at all like a journalist .

“Well, yes, you can trust me, Wendy. I love dolphins and I have have one at home in the bathtub!”..With that, Wendy started squealing like a delighted little pig. That broke the ice!

The next few hours, I got to know these folks and I can tell you this: the media ought to be ashamed! The coverage of the News-Press has been a hatchet job, pure and simple! Wendy, Nipper and Travis have been dropping clues all along hoping someone would pick them up.

Well, that someone is me and this is what they told me:

The problems at the paper started when then-editor Jerry Roberts began practicing witchcraft- at his desk! There is a strict company rule that states: NO EDITOR SHALL PRACTICE WITCHCRAFT. However, this did not deter Mr. Roberts and soon he became a practicing Wicca. He cast spells on the newsroom which began producing stories with extreme Wicca bias. Wendy, being so holy, simply had to put a stop to it.

Travis mentioned that Mr. Roberts would stand outside his apartment every night, sometimes with a pretty girl called Starshine, and chant for two hours. Travis believes that the chant was heard by all Santa Barbara media and that now, they all get their orders from Roberts, telepathically.

Nipper confirmed this and said the reason for their silence is another company rule: THE NEWSPRESS DOES NOT TALK TO WITCHES.

Hiring a legion of lawyers and PR firms was necessary because, and it’s a little known fact, witches and lawyers really don’t get along very well. Thus, they serve as a protective barrier against Roberts and his followers.

Our meeting was over. I thanked all three and parted with this question: “Does the NewsPress have a future?”

Wendy looked back, smiled and said “Not if I have anything to say about it, pardner!”

Wow, the woman really is a mystery….

agendas & sabbaticals!

The NewsPress informs us that Dr. Laura is on sabbatical..I think she's just run out of steam..how many times can she write about her wonderful son, our wonderful president, the wonderful war and the terrible bloggers? Meanwhile, the editorials are starting to resemble Travis's personal diary. We get another glimpse into his warped version of the NP "transition" as he points a finger at all the agendas aiming to silence him. The Indy is holding a be a reporter- contest...to tell the story from the News-Press' perspective.

My perspective: I just think that Travis is a lousy editor. The only reason he has a job is Wendy likes him. If he worked for the public sector, he'd be fired by now!

speaking of gamblers... lookin' for a pot o' gold with a silver lining... Casinos have been popping up like zits on the American landscape, luring thousands of people with hopes of making a fast fortune. Of course, most never make a dime. Gambling is designed to make you lose with variable interval rewards..if you have a negative image of yourself, the losses compound this negative feeling and the ONLY relief is gambling more to to try to win..thus, you have a problem..an addiction. Casinos thrive on this psychology. Mix in entertainment and alcohol and you have a continuous consumer base made up mostly of neo-conservatives! You know, the family values folks! Like William Bennet.. like Melanie Morgan! Go figure! But we'll always have people like Melanie to thank for the casino cancer growing in California..

What has the casino culture brought to Santa Ynez: from a local website: "Travis has completely lost any respect he had on this side of the Hill- his romantic siding with all things Chumash due to his ancestory is pathetic. Not once do we ever read about the crime at/involved with the Casino- several weeks ago a man eluded police with an "armed and dangerous" label from the casino parking structure- it made every paper (including the Santa Maria Times) but not the NewsPress- the fact a man is still on the loose in my hometown is very important information to me! I am well aware of all the good and wonderful projects now funded by the Chumash Band of Indians- but to ignore the crime being commited in the area of the Reservation is a crime itself."

kooks and cons... Poster MK brings up an interesting story. A fight has been brewing between very conservative talk show host MELANIE MORGAN of KSFO_(AM), and a blogger called SPOCKO. Click the links for the details. Since the Bush administration has been in power, neocons have crawled outta the woodwork and ended up with their own radio shows..financed in large part by jackass Rupert Murdock, FOX NEWS owner. I love free speech, so let 'em talk, I say! But they should stop crying when bloggers outsmart them! It is obvious that the coterie of neocon hosts are NOT the sharpest tacks on the bulletin board: Limbaugh, Morgan, Hannity et al exist to "expose" left wing "kooks", cover for Bush and his mistakes, and hide behind phony patriotism.The talk show bar has been set pretty low by Rush, so if you're dumb enough to get suckered into a gambling obsession, More Melanie "the Gambler", you're dumb enough to host a radio show..

HELL, I could do it!

birdbrains of a feather..O'Reilly was ranting and raving over Barbara Boxer picking on Condi Rice at the Iraq Invasion hearings..he looked plastered! Meanwhile, the movie "Alpha Dog" opened at theatres everywhere. I've heard it's baaad, but the story is about some young Santa Barbara slacker-druggie-morons who kill a kid to avenge his "brother's" drug debt. Jesse James Hollywood is the central character and he simply proves my contention that there should be mandatory psychological tests to determine what type of offspring folks produce..in this case, the fathers should have all been castrated!

Who done it? Dr. Laura or Aunt Agnes..

from a local website: "Sonny, just curious - does ranting and going off in your blog posts make you feel more in control? I don't quite follow your way of thinking or reacting. seems something is terribly bothersome in your life and the frustration is dripping from every line. reading your posts, you seem intelligent, articulate, and full of anger"...

Circus de Fools..

The last time I was in this building, Rob Puddicombe was on trial for allegedly feeding vitamins to rats on the Channel Islands. The National Parks Service couldn't prove anything and the case was tossed. This case is just as lame.

At 9:00 am, I show up at the Bankruptcy Court on upper State Street. I enter the stately doors and go to a little counter where 3 or 4 government guys admit you. "Empty your pockets, no cameras" they tell me. These fellas were straight outta "Men in Black" and were actually very nice and funny. I made it in and took a pee, then went upstairs to Room 202. I sat in back with shades on..tryin' to look cool. About 25 folks were in the seats..among them: Starshine (looking fine as butter on a cob o' corn), Craig Smith, and Scott Steepleton, who looked a little dour.

The first witness was Agnes Huff, a scrawny blonde with a high pitched voice and black heels about one size too big! She kept referring to her "visions of war" against the NewsPress by the public, the employees and the union. Oft mentioned was the infamous post on Blogabarbara, which allegedly threatened the NewsPress. Agnes said the union posted it, but offered no evidence. Even her lawyers said the post was anonymous! This riled the judge who said, in so many words, that the NP lawyers and witness Huff were pulling things out of their hats, were not prepared and should have produced evidence yesterday! They sheepishly proceeded with questioning and Huff finally stepped down..it was very silly and funny!

Next up was Nipper, who was nowhere to be found. We stopped for 15 minutes so his lawyers could go get him. He was on the stand for about 10 minutes, answered questions curtly about him and Wendy taking pics in the parking lot..I didn't get what the line of questions was aiming for, so I left for greener pastures. I hope the judge sees thru this management nonsense and tosses this case OUT!

Board of Supervisors..2007

The new chair, Brooks Firestone looked confused as usual, Joni Gray gave a long speech about herself, and closed with a veiled warning to Janet Wolf and Salud Carbajal.."a fight not fought, is a fight won!"..I could barely watch her..she's such a phony! Now, when the new Montecito Whiner's Club called "Voices of Montecito" complained about the Montecito Planning Commission and Montecito Association and the appointed members, the board majority decided to hold hearings! Why? Because COLAB's Willie Chamberlain told Andy Caldwell to tell them to! When COLAB says JUMP..the "three amigos" (Firestone, Centeno and Gray) say "how high?"

We pay the supes $80,000 a year, and Firestone, Centeno and Gray can't figure out how people are appointed to commissions? Janet Wolf tried gracefully to move the process along, but the "three amigos" wouldn't allow it!

Most of this stems from Ty Warner's "STEPS to the BEACH" controversy. Ty wants to spend the money to refurbish the steps, but only if it's his way! The county needs to STEP back and stop accepting money from this guy! He is ruining Channel Drive! His orange citadel has been under construction for five years now! All the while, an ugly green construction curtain has be hiding this massive eyesore..what are the three amigos doing about that? NADA!

Report #1 .. It was a beautiful day today so I said "forget these stupid hearings, I'm going to the beach" and that's what I did! Then I went for a lovely bike ride, back home for a pasta lunch, some poetry and maybe I'll catch tomorrow's hearings...stay tuned for REPORT #2!

GO BY.. Just stand aside and watch yourself go by; Think of yourself as "he" instead of "I." Note, closely as in other men you note, the bag-kneed trousers and the seedy coat. Pick flaws; find fault; forget the man is you, and strive to make your estimate ring true. Confront yourself and look you in the eye- Just stand aside and watch yourself go by.

from Strickland Gillilan

exposing rich hypocrites and phonies.. and bringing them to justice! While I was watching the Rifleman/Bat Masterson marathon on the Western channel last nite, I flashed upon "simplicity"..that's what we need now! No more legal delays, but real, simple frontier justice. Under the gun will be Wendy and Co at the NewsPress..they will answer for misdeeds against the cowhands and they will sling plenty of horse manure along the way. But I ain't worried! The NewsPress coterie will be EXPOSED for what they are: train robbers and villains; gamblers and drinkers; pickers and grinners! Keep it tuned right cheer, y'all!

living a life of delusion...Many years ago I had a newspaper route in Montecito. I'd load up my VW bug with hundreds of NPs and take off 3:00 am. I'd toss the papers out the passenger window, then the driver's side window..what a shot I was! I delivered to the stars, too. Up Hot Springs Road to..Michael Douglas, Kenny Loggins and Robert Mitchum..then over to Park Lane and ol' Joe Walsh's spread..now I hear that Craig McCaw has bought an estate on Park Lane! WOW! Wutta small world! Wendy used to be his wife and now she owns the NP! and Nipper fits in there, too, somewhere..maybe Craig's here to rescue Wendy, or make her jealous with his pretty wife, or..who knows..to buy the NewsPress! Something's up and I'm gonna find out!

"do the rightwing thing"

I recently read where you said doing housework can cure cancer! Does this work for guys ,too?? What about sex? Does that cure anything? I'm naked RIGHT NOW and I feel GOOOOD! so I guess I answered my own question! Thanks for all your help!

$200,000!! Is that what you make? Nelville Flynn says all you do is sit around and read letters-to-the editor! I dunno..just seems like alot of money for such an easy job. Anyway, was happy to see your name was not among the DUIs at the holiday checkpoints..so things must be looking up. What was up with that blurb about that punk lawyer Acappella? He's fixated on the law and money because he is a Jew, not for altruistic reasons! Lastly, I liked Miss Wendy's New Year Resos..truth, ethics, honesty..if she keeps just one, I'll be happy!

Girls &Boys... here's some New Year resolutions you may want to consider..

• be tan
• have white teeth
• take ballet
• go to Brazil
• grow my blonde hair down to 2 inches past my breasts
• find Dr Laura another town
• host a dinner party
• stop writing lists
• have the "euro-trash with money" look
• become a folksinger