Berkeley is obviously known for it’s eccentrics–heck, even the Wikipedia article on Telegraph Avenue includes them in its list of Telegraph’s “diverse audience of visitors.” Even alumni will tell which oddities frequented Upper Sproul in their day.And it seems that a new character has migrated into the entertainment playing in front of Dwinelle Hall (or this Clogger just hasn’t paid previous attention). We don’t know his name, but we can try to prove that he is somehow more eccentric than the other Southside eccentrics.The new character was carrying a carrying a large wooden sign that said “lennonmurdertruth.com.” Run by a certain Steve Lightfoot, the Web site claims that Stephen King shot John Lennon through a plot with Nixon and Reagan.The Web site seeks to promote Lightfoot’s booklet about the truth. What we specifically recommend checking out is the “About the Author” page. There, Lightfoot claims that

Even Paul McCartney, who endorsed me live at Berkeley (see Web site) has retreated singing “…words of NON wisdom…” lately letting civilization slide into barbarism and banality. His recent 2002 concert passed without a relevant remark.

 (Note: We looked everywhere on Lightfoot’s Web site, and could not see any endorsement by Paul McCartney, much less in Berkeley.)So while you are seeking to procrastinate with your typical Facebook routine, show some support of your local oddities, and consider this new character’s cause as equally necessary to check into as “Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week.”If anything, please do us a favor, and laugh at the juxtaposition of these two causes, which situated themselves today side by side outside of Dwinelle. And while you’re at it, ask the new eccentric if he is actually the Steve Lightfoot.Image Source: Roy KerwoodThe Truth About John Lennon’s Murder [Home]

A new movie titled “Berkeley” opened Friday for a limited theatrical release in Laemmle’s Sunset 5 in West Hollywood and Colorado One in Pasadena.

The movie’s Web site claims that if there is enough of an audience, the movie will have a national release.We sure hope not. We at the Clog are not the movie-reviewing type, but we do know that this movie fits into our general annoyance with people projecting onto Berkeley what they want it to be like.

We know how the upper-middle-class businessman who smoked pot once in his life during their college days likes to fake nostalgia for some revolution they weren’t a part of. We also know how the edgy preteen hipsters like to come to Berkeley on their days off school and buy tie-die and bongs on Telegraph Avenue, later friending the movie on MySpace.But for us elite, Facebook-using, oh-so-different Cloggers, we need none of this trite and formulaic nostalgia.

News [Berkeley: A Bobby Roth Film]Berkeley [MySpace]

Berkeley The Movie Trailer [You Tube]

The bastion of cheap organic food, cheap wines, great specialty chocolate and yes, the Two-Buck Chuck, finally crossed its final hurdle yesterday when the Berkeley City Council voted to reject an appeal from neighbors to try to stop the specialty grocery store from coming into town.

Yes, Trader Joe’s finally got the green light after five years of debates, 14 different public hearings and being suspended in purgatory.

Trader Joe’s can finally be built on the corner of University Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Way, on the present site of a Kragen Auto Parts store.

Of course, Trader Joe’s adds to a growing list of corporate America seemingly being able to invade the city, which may or may not be such a bad thing.

About a month ago Walgreens opened its Telegraph Avenue location. Last fall we saw the grand opening of really bad Mexican food, a.k.a. Chipotle.

We also guess that this underlines the city’s focus to revitalize both the Telegraph Ave. and Downtown Berkeley areas.

But of course, some residents won’t be happy. Not with all the traffic and congestion that they say will come with the new Trader Joe’s. This is what one resident said back in October, when neighbors filed the appeal.

“Trader Joe’s is a nonunion store owned by a secretive German family that sells specialty food and low-cost alcohol,” said Steve Wollmer, who lives 250 feet from the site. “Do we really need this in our neighborhood?”

Maybe you haven’t had some of that Two-Buck Chuck. Try some. We’re sure it’ll relax you and maybe convince you that Trader Joe’s won’t be too much of a problem.

Downtown Trader Joe’s wins approval with 5-3 council vote [SF Gate]
Neighbors say no to popular market [SF Gate]

Richard Nixon once said, “People get drunk to have a good time; people smoke weed to get high.” So it wouldn’t be far-fetched to assume his ghost had a hand in this case of a possible foiled cover-up. OK, maybe that would be a bit far-fetched. But in a world with with 24 hour service on T-graph, anything’s possible.

Anyway, it appears that Berkeley citizens may have rebuked an anti-marijuana plan. Or they’ve merely unearthed an idiotically obstructed recount of a failed pro-weed initiative.

The bill, had it passed, would have allowed a patient to obtain medical marijuana without any cap on the amount. However, it missed by just 191 votes in 2004, prompting the weed people (like the swamp people but more weedish) to fork over 22,600 bucks for a second look at the results from the Diebold Election Systems machines. That money went towards recounting data that mysteriously no longer exists. Hence, the judge gave the plaintiffs a refund and called the election–and its officials–into question.

First off, we’re curious as to who these shady anti-pot guys are. Yes, we know you’re probably thinking that, as respected quasi journalists, we should be privy to these things. We’re working on it, people. Geez. Secondly, we’re curious as to how this whole post steered clear of tired marijuana puns. A medal will be probably be forthcoming. With consciences clear, we stoically await multiple sneering pundit comments regarding “Berkeley” and “marijuana.”

Image Source: Ian Umeda, Daily Cal
2004 CA Election Results Nullified; Election Officials Sanctioned by Court [WIRED]

Last week a man was hit by a car while trying to cross Telegraph Avenue and Blake Street. Severely injured, the man died Friday, according to police.

Police have not yet released the man’s name, but say that he was in his 40s. The man was taken to Highland Hospital after the accident.

This adds to the grim reality of what looks like an unusual number of deaths in the city of Berkeley since the beginning of the summer.

* The first death of the summer was discovered in early May, when a body was found near some old train tracks in West Berkeley.

* Police found the body of 46 year old Terrence Broadnax in an apartment in Downtown Berkeley a few weeks ago.

* The body of a man was discovered off the Berkeley pier.

* An elderly woman died after being hit by a car.

* And probably the most shocking (but it doesn’t take away the magnitude or importance of the others), the suspected “murder-suicide” of a Berkeley family also occurred last month.

We asked this before, and we’ll ask it again: What the hell is going on?

Image Source: Skyler Reid, Daily Cal
Pedestrian hit in Berkeley dies [Inside Bay Area]

A man was struck by a vehicle while crossing Telegraph Avenue this afternoon. At the time of the Daily Cal report, the man was in critical condition and still unconscious in the trauma center of Highland General Hospital in Oakland.

The man was crossing the street at the intersection of Blake Street and Telegraph Avenue. He was hit by a white Honda Accord, Berkeley police Lt. Wesley Hester said. Police received a call at 12:14 p.m.

OK, so let’s just recap:
* An elderly woman died after being hit while crossing Solano Avenue about three weeks ago
* An entire family died in a “murder-suicide” about a week ago
* A Bay Area activist/former UC Berkeley English professor died after being hit by a train about a week ago
* A body was found off Berkeley pier a day ago

And now this. What the hell is going on?

Image Source: Skyler Reid, The Daily Californian
Pedestrian Struck by Vehicle on Telegraph [Daily Cal]