ENTERTAINMENT BIMONTHLY… Squid got a chuckle out of the Monterey Bay News & Views cover shot of Nader Agua, oops, Agha, next to a water tank, with the headline, “Which Desal Plan is Worth Its Salt?” The accompanying stories, which practically trip over themselves in admiration of Agha’s water-supply plan and contempt for Cal Am’s, makes the answer clear. Agha, of course, is co-owner of the new bimonthly paper, but even hawk-eyed Squid was unable to find a “full disclosure” statement.


But wait: There was this, in an editorial by publisher Jon Chown: “While Agha is an equal partner in this paper, those who are against his plan will see this publication as just a tool to promote his efforts, but they are wrong. Despite his financial commitment, he has virtually no input on what goes on inside.”


Well! Squid is mightily impressed that Chown, a Santa Cruz guy, is independently super-excited about Agha’s proposed four-star hotel in Pacific Grove’s Holman Building (in the April 26 issue) and Carmelita Garcia’s campaign for county supervisor, to which Agha contributed $2,000 (March 17). And just like Nader, Jon seems to be annoyed with all things Cal Am (April 3 issue). In the space of its six issues to date, the paper has already run two opinion pieces by Agha plugging his own desal project. 


With friends like this, who needs disclosure statements anyway?


JELLIES’ LAST JAM… Squid was freaking out last month at the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s new exhibit, the Jellies Experience. After all, what could be better than being seduced by the shimmering light of magnificent, translucent jellyfish while listening to rock and roll and taking in a light show? Squid was trying to play it cool, but the music just wasn’t working. It was a bad trip (great visuals, but the sounds, man, very uncool except for one sitar song). Squid knows a tune or two, and Pink Floyd’s “Shine on You Crazy Diamond” would turn this thing right-side-up. 


Well, guess what – Squid wasn’t the only one feeling vertigo from the musical incongruence. A bunch Japanese sea nettle jellies had enough of that bad set list and broke on through to the other side – literally. These typically spineless (and brainless) creatures crashed the wall of their European-made tank, spilling seawater and themselves onto the Aquarium floor in a mass protest reminiscent of the late ’60s. Squid feels sad about the mass suicide, but hopefully the exhibit designers will get the point and bring out some new (older) tunes. Let’s hope the tuna and sardines don’t catch wind of this protest and join in – it could get messy (and stinky) real fast on Cannery Row.