SQUID FRY 11.12.15 - Snooze Tube…

SNOOZE TUBE… Squid was hoping to get a little limelight for winning a shrimp popcorn eating contest last week, but then in came the city of Monterey – again – which has made a habit of hogging attention all year.

First, the city made the 2015 list for “America’s Happiest Seaside Towns” in Coastal Living, a magazine that allegedly exists. Then came the BBC/PBS production Big Blue Live, which highlighted the ecological recovery of the Monterey Bay. And now, the city is set to be featured on “Book TV.”

If you aren’t aware of what Book TV is, it might be because you aren’t a very dedicated channel surfer, or perhaps it’s that – instead of watching TV – you are actually reading a book. Squid only became aware of this channel last week, after receiving a press release from the cable network C-SPAN, which stated that producers would be arriving to Monterey in “Local Content Vehicles” and that the city will be in the “national spotlight.”

That rights folks, Monterey is getting attention yet again, and this time it’s in the blindingly bright spotlight of Book TV (on C-SPAN2, Comcast channel 109) and American History TV (on C-SPAN3, Comcast channel 110) in a Monterey Weekend series airing Jan. 2-3.

One can only speculate what publicity might come next for the city. Perhaps “Monterey beige” will be named Pantone’s 2016 color of the year?

TOO SOON… With enough snacks on hand, Squid will watch just about anything. (On the side, Squid is working on a screenplay with the working title Revenge of the Cephalopods.) Squid’s even watched a rare channel less popular than C-SPAN: The YouTube channel of Pacific Grove City Councilwoman Casey Lucius, who’s running for Congress. In her videos, Lucius sits in a room surrounded by lots of books (real ones, not the C-SPAN kind). In a video on leadership, which has 86 views, she says: “We need real solutions.” In another, on immigration with 109 views: “[Comprehensive reform] becomes really overwhelming.”

While she might not be a YouTube sensation, Squid got the point right away: She’s smart and has read a lot of books. She might be smart enough to have shaken long-time incumbent Sam Farr. The Democratic congressman of Carmel announces his campaign for re-election Nov. 12. “It is clear that 2016 is shaping up to be a different kind of election on the Central Coast,” according to a press release.

Different how? YouTube campaigns? A Republican who reads? In at least one way it’s the same: Candidates get started way too soon. Squid’s already seen Lucius yard signs popping up, when the 2016 primary is seven months away. It’s enough time for Squid to rework Squid’s screenplay to include a scene of a literate cephalopod infiltrating the GOP. Scary stuff.