This... is Berkeley.

"Nothing would jump off until we hit Berkeley. If we had a joint in Oakland, we wouldnt even light it up until we got to Berkeley. Berkeley was fun, man. "
- Rick.

Berkeley isnt as strange as it's often made out to be, but its kinda in its own time zone.

From the current issue of the Berkeley Daily Planet, the leading community paper.

Sex, Drugs And Bark Set For Berkeley Ballot

Berkeley voters will likely face landmark ballot initiatives that would make the city the friendliest place in California for medical cannabis users, sex workers and some trees.

This could be called fighting for Quality of Life issues.
---
I was explaining to someone yesterday why Im looking for a room in Oakland, not Berkeley. A good portion of the rooms for rent in Berkeley , reasonable rent category, were for women.

She didnt believe me.

From the classifieds:

Berkeley. 2 rooms available now ($515), ($445). Seeking lesbian or celibate straight women. No smokers/pets. 510-843-0680

Now, one of the great strengths of many of the folk in the Bay is their strong activist spirit and their willingness to volunteer...

MAKE TRADITIONAL
TIBETAN BOOKS
FOR WORLD PEACE

P/T & F/T Prepare Buddhist
Sutra books to offer as free
gifts to 1000?s of monks and
nuns who will be praying for World Peace at 10 day
ceremony in Bodh Gaya
India, in January 2005.

Qualify for Scholarships for yoga,
meditation classes & residential
internships.

Truly, the diversity of the place is pretty amazing, if one takes the time to check it out..

From the events calendar just for *today*:

Chinese Dragon Boat Festival at 1:30 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center with refreshements and entertainment. 981-5190.

Remembering Homeless Youth at the Grove Street Park on the corner of Oregon and Martin Luther King Street from noon to 4 p.m. with food, games and entertainment.

Tilden Sunset Hike through southern Tilden Park with panoramic evening views from the Seaview trail. Meet at Inspiration Point at 6 p.m. with very warm, layered clothing, flashlight, snack to share. Sponsored by Solo Sierrans. 601-1211.

?A Night of Ferocious Joy,? a film of the first concert against the war with Ozomatli, Blackalicious, Dilated Peoples, Mystic, Saul Williams, Jerry Quickley, Hassan Hakmoun, Pan Afrikan People?s Arkestra. At 7 p.m. at Humanist Hall in Oakland at 390 27th St. Cost is $5-$15, and helps send youth and activists to the Republican National Convention Protest in NYC. 601-8000.
bayarea.notinourname.net

Queerosity Celebrating LGBTQ youth with spoken word and open mic, from 6 to 10 p.m. at SMAAC Youth Center, 1608 Webster St. at 16th, Oakland. Sponsored by Youth Speaks and the Sexual Minority Alliance of Alameda County. www.smaacyouthcenter.org

Shabbat Potluck Share the joy of Shabbat at a festive Shabbat potluck for singles, ages 30 through 40, at the Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center. Please RSVP to 839-2900, ext. 208.

An interesting place, indeed.

Cool in its own way tho.