Wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Years!
I'll be watching bowl games, drinking, eating (don't forget your black eyed peas and greens!!!) and playing Rock Band and/or Guitar Hero III over the next 2 days. Coming up in the new year, a look at the February election (got the statewide ballot propositions the other day, a preview of what I'll say- just say no), and which songs on Rock Band are surprisingly difficult (Orange Crush by REM, I would have never guessed).
Monday, December 31, 2007
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Layovers
With my holiday travels done for the year, what have I discovered. Well, I need to pay more attention to layovers. The first trip was to Alabama. Flew on Frontier from SFO to Nashville (BNA) via Denver (DEN). Flight out of SFO ended up taking off about 40 minutes late, which was not good when we only had a 35 minute lay over. Thankfully, we were seated towards the front of the plane and, according to both our boarding passes and the flight attendants, our next gate wasn't too far from where we were supposed to end up. We rush out of the plane, the jetway attendant's "HEY!" being left behind, and hear "Final Boarding Call for Flight xxxx to Nashville, if you aren't on board in 2 minutes we're closing the door at Gate xxx". Well, needless to say, Gate xxx was not where we were told, but was at the opposite end of the Frontier terminal. With about 4 gates to go, we heard "Final call for Flight xxx to Nashville, we will close the doors when this announcement is over." My final dash for the gate and I make it just time. However, my wife, who has the boarding passes, has not caught up to me. At the same time, another couple walks up and complains that they had been waiting at the other gate and had been rushing to this gate. In any event, we make it on the plane- being out of shape, and running from one end of a terminal to the other at more than a mile high leaves one with a wheeze and a cough that tastes vaguely of blood. It lasted almost the entire length of the 4 day trip. Oh, and our bags didn't make the connection; finally got them a day later.
This past Christmas weekend, flew US Scare courtesy of two vouchers we received after I complained about how awful they were last Christmas. Anyway, luck has us sprinting through the Phoenix airport from one terminal to the other in order to catch our planes. Not as bad as the previous trip, but the US Scare terminals are incredibly misleading- they have 3 terminals, two of which are called A and the third is B. One A terminal is for gates 1-15 and the other A terminal is for gates 16-30. So, unless you land and take over from gates within those ranges, you actually have to run down the terminal, turn and take "people movers" to the next terminal, even though you haven't "changed" terminals. It makes no sense to me. Just call them what they are, three different terminals and be honest with people.
All that being said, the service was much better than I expected, especially for US Scare.
The holiday's turned out to be relatively uneventful, and I got to partake in various regional foods that I cannot go without when I'm there- catfish, hush puppies, and Sonic whilst in Alabama (didn't make it to Krystal this year), and Malnati's deep dish pizza, Portillo's sausage and Old Style whilst in Chicago. Now if only I could find a reliable place for Big Red and Wolf Brand Chili, without ordering it online or going to Texas, that would make me happy.
Just to show that I don't always complain, or plan to use this as a place to vent and complain, allow me a moment to talk about the City of Oakland. Apparently everything is "Under New Management." After we landed at Oakland yesterday and took the Bart bus to the Coliseum stop, I was bombarded with signs all over the place letting me know that it was Under New Management. The first signs appeared across the street from the airport on two hotels. They wanted to let me know that a) they were Under New Management and b) that comes with redesigned rooms. The next was another hotel, telling me the same thing. Finally, I found the same sign attached to a company that offers to mail packages safely; I can only wonder what happened under the old management. All in all, 4 giant signs from the airport to the Bart stop letting me know that they were Under New Management; all that was missing was a Waffle House extolling that they were now Under New Management. So, congratulations to the City of Oakland, I'm glad to see that you are now "Under New Management."
This past Christmas weekend, flew US Scare courtesy of two vouchers we received after I complained about how awful they were last Christmas. Anyway, luck has us sprinting through the Phoenix airport from one terminal to the other in order to catch our planes. Not as bad as the previous trip, but the US Scare terminals are incredibly misleading- they have 3 terminals, two of which are called A and the third is B. One A terminal is for gates 1-15 and the other A terminal is for gates 16-30. So, unless you land and take over from gates within those ranges, you actually have to run down the terminal, turn and take "people movers" to the next terminal, even though you haven't "changed" terminals. It makes no sense to me. Just call them what they are, three different terminals and be honest with people.
All that being said, the service was much better than I expected, especially for US Scare.
The holiday's turned out to be relatively uneventful, and I got to partake in various regional foods that I cannot go without when I'm there- catfish, hush puppies, and Sonic whilst in Alabama (didn't make it to Krystal this year), and Malnati's deep dish pizza, Portillo's sausage and Old Style whilst in Chicago. Now if only I could find a reliable place for Big Red and Wolf Brand Chili, without ordering it online or going to Texas, that would make me happy.
Just to show that I don't always complain, or plan to use this as a place to vent and complain, allow me a moment to talk about the City of Oakland. Apparently everything is "Under New Management." After we landed at Oakland yesterday and took the Bart bus to the Coliseum stop, I was bombarded with signs all over the place letting me know that it was Under New Management. The first signs appeared across the street from the airport on two hotels. They wanted to let me know that a) they were Under New Management and b) that comes with redesigned rooms. The next was another hotel, telling me the same thing. Finally, I found the same sign attached to a company that offers to mail packages safely; I can only wonder what happened under the old management. All in all, 4 giant signs from the airport to the Bart stop letting me know that they were Under New Management; all that was missing was a Waffle House extolling that they were now Under New Management. So, congratulations to the City of Oakland, I'm glad to see that you are now "Under New Management."
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Due diligence
That is what I want to see after reading this. So, feel guilty about taking that vacation to Hawaii, or grilling that steak over charcoal, or just feel guilty about your carbon footprint because you are alive? Then the City of San Francisco has a deal for you- it will sell to you carbon offsets for your guilt. That's right, you don't actually have to reduce anything you currently do, but to soothe your conscience, you can give money to the government which will funnel the money to a few very worthy companies that will plant a tree or dump iron particles into the ocean.
I may have this wrong, but let me see if I understand this. The City will fund carbon offset companies to do whatever it is they will do to offset official travel for the first year, then begin selling offsets to people in Ess Eff who feel guilty about living. So, the City is just setting up a new spending program to ease peoples' minds? Yet they have to float a $185 million bond to pay for upgrading and maintaining playgrounds. I hope they've figured out how much they will have to pay to offset that.
I may have this wrong, but let me see if I understand this. The City will fund carbon offset companies to do whatever it is they will do to offset official travel for the first year, then begin selling offsets to people in Ess Eff who feel guilty about living. So, the City is just setting up a new spending program to ease peoples' minds? Yet they have to float a $185 million bond to pay for upgrading and maintaining playgrounds. I hope they've figured out how much they will have to pay to offset that.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Various rants
So, was in Alabama over the past weekend for my niece's first birthday. Regardless of party affiliation, recycling is a tough sell- don't even ask about CFLs. Even though the cities that my relatives live in don't have recycling programs (apparently), they still would not make the effort to recycle even though they would then reap the benefits of getting paid to recycle. Growing up, I would separate plastic bottles, glass and aluminium from the regular trash and after a month or so, would have my parents drive me (or drive myself when I got old enough) to a recycling center and come home with like $80 for everything. CFLs would reduce the electricity bill, but that didn't seem to get through either. Oh well, when you get your electricity from coal and nuclear sources, electricity doesn't cost very much anyway.
California state assembly passed a $14.4 billion universal health care bill, even though the state is in a $14 billion deficit. The state senate, of all things, has no plans of voting on the bill, thankfully. How does doing this make any sense in a deficit? Instead of finding ways to balance the budget, the Gov. and state assembly has decided to pass a program that increases government spending even more- even with all the gimmicks that the proponents say will pay for the program, such as increasing the tax on cigarettes. Of course, I have issues with the piling on of cigarette taxes (we tax things that people do to raise money, said thing raises alot of money, state begins to rely on money raised from taxes, policy changes to raise taxes on item to get people to stop consuming item, people stop consuming item, revenue from taxes on item falls, budget not meet, government raises taxes on some other item, rinse and repeat). Which leads me to. . .
S.F. Mayor Newsom wants to add a "fee" onto soda to encourage stores to stop selling them and/or encourage people from consuming them. Once again, Ess Eff looks to control the way people live their life, but only on some activities. So, I'm calling this "Pick and Choose" government. As an example- there is no city law requiring bicycle riders to wear a helmet, despite all the studies showing the safety of wearing a helmet. Instead, it's up to the rider to decide whether or not to wear a helmet. Ok, fair enough. On the other hand, a bar can't decide that it wants to allow smoking. So, the government has decided that some issues are ok for people to have their own choice, and on some issues people are "making the wrong choices" so government should do something to correct them. In other words, it has picked the issues it wants to deal with and choosed (sp on purpose) the result it wants.
Needless to say, I've been keeping these frustrations to myself as they aren't necessarily the most welcome viewpoints in the City by the Bay. The last two elections, both statewide and citywide, have been quite an awakening for me. So, I hope to be more vocal moving into the February primary election and citywide election.
At the risk of bringing attention to myself, I am quite lucky that I have not been contacted by anyone from any Republican candidate due to the congressional district where I live. Thanks to the change in the way delegates are distributed, now on a district-by-district basis instead of statewide, I live in quite an interesting district being so heavily Democratic. I think I will wait until closer to the election to reveal my endorsements (which will cover statewide issues and citywide issues). Maybe I'll even bring in an opposing view.
California state assembly passed a $14.4 billion universal health care bill, even though the state is in a $14 billion deficit. The state senate, of all things, has no plans of voting on the bill, thankfully. How does doing this make any sense in a deficit? Instead of finding ways to balance the budget, the Gov. and state assembly has decided to pass a program that increases government spending even more- even with all the gimmicks that the proponents say will pay for the program, such as increasing the tax on cigarettes. Of course, I have issues with the piling on of cigarette taxes (we tax things that people do to raise money, said thing raises alot of money, state begins to rely on money raised from taxes, policy changes to raise taxes on item to get people to stop consuming item, people stop consuming item, revenue from taxes on item falls, budget not meet, government raises taxes on some other item, rinse and repeat). Which leads me to. . .
S.F. Mayor Newsom wants to add a "fee" onto soda to encourage stores to stop selling them and/or encourage people from consuming them. Once again, Ess Eff looks to control the way people live their life, but only on some activities. So, I'm calling this "Pick and Choose" government. As an example- there is no city law requiring bicycle riders to wear a helmet, despite all the studies showing the safety of wearing a helmet. Instead, it's up to the rider to decide whether or not to wear a helmet. Ok, fair enough. On the other hand, a bar can't decide that it wants to allow smoking. So, the government has decided that some issues are ok for people to have their own choice, and on some issues people are "making the wrong choices" so government should do something to correct them. In other words, it has picked the issues it wants to deal with and choosed (sp on purpose) the result it wants.
Needless to say, I've been keeping these frustrations to myself as they aren't necessarily the most welcome viewpoints in the City by the Bay. The last two elections, both statewide and citywide, have been quite an awakening for me. So, I hope to be more vocal moving into the February primary election and citywide election.
At the risk of bringing attention to myself, I am quite lucky that I have not been contacted by anyone from any Republican candidate due to the congressional district where I live. Thanks to the change in the way delegates are distributed, now on a district-by-district basis instead of statewide, I live in quite an interesting district being so heavily Democratic. I think I will wait until closer to the election to reveal my endorsements (which will cover statewide issues and citywide issues). Maybe I'll even bring in an opposing view.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
So, one drunk scientist says to the other. . .
hey, why don't pregnant woman fall over? Thankfully, we have our answer. That has to be the way this project was first dreamed up.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Oh Food Netwok, how fall you've fallen
First Molto Mario, now
this. Frankly, I always found Emeril Live to be hokey, but understood that Emeril was trying to make it entertaining and informative to people who might not ordinarily cook. It is also another sign that the Food Network is abandoning any and all programming where people can actually learn valuable kitchen skills. I will enjoy my Good Eats while I can.
this. Frankly, I always found Emeril Live to be hokey, but understood that Emeril was trying to make it entertaining and informative to people who might not ordinarily cook. It is also another sign that the Food Network is abandoning any and all programming where people can actually learn valuable kitchen skills. I will enjoy my Good Eats while I can.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Priest
I would be re-miss in my fanhood if I did not mention the retirement of Priest Holmes. As a Chiefs fan, he was the key piece of the Vermeil-era offenses, taking pressure off of Tony Gonzalez as the sole offensive weapon on that team. I thank you Priest for your years in Kansas City and hope that you can now fully recover from your injuries.
Day before Thanksgiving
In honor of Thanksgiving, I'd like to provide two important Thanksgiving Proclamations, the first from George Washington and the second from Abraham Lincoln.
Proclamation of National Thanksgiving
George Washington
City of New York, October 3, 1789
Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor, and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me "to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness."
Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be. That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks, for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation, for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his providence, which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war, for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed, for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted, for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.
And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions, to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually, to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed, to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shown kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord. To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and Us, and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.
Go: Washington
After a long drought of not having Thanksgiving Proclamations, in 1863 Abraham Lincoln decided that it was time to re-new the tradition.
THANKSGIVING DAY 1863 by ABRAHAM LINCOLN
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – A PROCLAMATION
The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added which are of so extraordinary a nature that they can not fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.
In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict, while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the ax has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield, and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.
No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.
It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore if, as soon as may be consistent with the divine purpose, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity, and union.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, this 3d day of October A.D. 1863, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-eighth.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
Proclamation of National Thanksgiving
George Washington
City of New York, October 3, 1789
Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor, and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me "to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness."
Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be. That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks, for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation, for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his providence, which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war, for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed, for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted, for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.
And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions, to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually, to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed, to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shown kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord. To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and Us, and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.
Go: Washington
After a long drought of not having Thanksgiving Proclamations, in 1863 Abraham Lincoln decided that it was time to re-new the tradition.
THANKSGIVING DAY 1863 by ABRAHAM LINCOLN
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – A PROCLAMATION
The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added which are of so extraordinary a nature that they can not fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.
In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict, while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the ax has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield, and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.
No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.
It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore if, as soon as may be consistent with the divine purpose, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity, and union.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, this 3d day of October A.D. 1863, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-eighth.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
As promised
So, sitting here at work, almost time for lunch, and I overhear a conversation where people are making plans for lunch. They make their plans, and one person says, ok, I'll meet you there after I run to the versateller.
Now, I gather that alot of people don't know what a "versateller" is, but I can say that I know what it is, even though I have not heard someone use that phrase in quite a long time. Mind you, I lived in D.C. for 8 1/2 years before moving back to the Bay Area, so that helps. Anyway, a versateller is what Bank of America first called their ATM before everyone just started calling it an ATM; it was also before Bank of America decided to take over the banking world and changed their colors. Digression: I remember when Bank of America was only in 5 states, and I couldn't make a deposit in my Texas-based account at a Bank of America in Arizona. My how things have changed.
I'm always intrigued by local vernacular or turns of phrases like that. For example, I call it a "Coke" even if I'm not specifically referring to a Coke, much the same way that everything is "Pop" in other parts of the country. By the way, I hate the term "Pop".
Now, I gather that alot of people don't know what a "versateller" is, but I can say that I know what it is, even though I have not heard someone use that phrase in quite a long time. Mind you, I lived in D.C. for 8 1/2 years before moving back to the Bay Area, so that helps. Anyway, a versateller is what Bank of America first called their ATM before everyone just started calling it an ATM; it was also before Bank of America decided to take over the banking world and changed their colors. Digression: I remember when Bank of America was only in 5 states, and I couldn't make a deposit in my Texas-based account at a Bank of America in Arizona. My how things have changed.
I'm always intrigued by local vernacular or turns of phrases like that. For example, I call it a "Coke" even if I'm not specifically referring to a Coke, much the same way that everything is "Pop" in other parts of the country. By the way, I hate the term "Pop".
Ooops
It appears that I have neglected my poor old blog. I certainly hope to be more vigilant in the coming weeks and months. . .
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Monday musings
Another new Muni bus driver, another request for "Where's my next stop?" as the bus driver moves into the right turn only lane, when he should be going straight.
Watched a bit of the Food Network awards show last night. That was painful. Luckily, I was doing taxes so I was able to mostly ignore it, my poor wife on the other hand got to watch and listen to it. Here is Bourdain's take - absolutely a must read!!!!
I should put this in a separate posting, but I don't really feel like it at this moment. Anyway, our illustrious Mayor and our Board of Social Engineers reached a compromise over the so-called "Healthy Saturday" indoctrination. In essence, the compromise cuts in half the total length of road that will be closed, makes it permanent that it will be closed 6 months out of the year (this year it starts on May 26, just in time for Memorial Day). On the one hand, it keeps open the path from 9th Avenue, through the park, and over to Arguello, a key cross-over point through the park (otherwise you have to go 19th and try your way on Stanyan), and will probably result in Richmond bearing the brunt of this closure, instead of sharing it with Inner Sunset. However, it's obvious that the Mayor and Board simply do not care about the people who live in Richmond and Inner Sunset, not to mention the two ballot initiatives that were rejected by the voters- roughly 70% of voters in Richmond and Sunset voted against the prior ballot measures. Instead, they continue to abide by the will of a vocal minority (that do not live near Golden Gate Park) that supposedly represent so-called San Francisco Values, which can be summed up as, no cars for anyone. Kudos to the Board and Mayor for compromising, compromising away the wishes of the people they supposedly represent.
Needless to say, this issue really gets to me. Almost as much as the Lands Commission and Coastal Commission's rejection of an LNG facility off the coast of Ventura County. The rejection by these two commission's virtually insures that the cost of electricity in this state will continue to rise. At this time, California does not generate enough electricity for its citizens, and relies on imports from Arizona, Nevada and Oregon. California also cannot build nuclear facilities, and, due to the brilliant piece of legislation passed by the previous Legislature, cannot contract for cheaper coal-fired electricity. So, we are left with natural gas fired (the predominant source of in-state generation), renewables and conservation/efficiency. A few years ago, an executive for a utility in New England said that people have moved from NIMBY (Not In My BackYard) to BANANA (Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anything), note, he was bemoaning the inability to get transmission lines built in order to get more electricity into New England.
Anyway, some sports related rants.
1) John Shea's article from Sunday's Chronicle about the demise of Saturday day games. Growing up, I used to love going to the Saturday day games, part of growing up in the Bay Area, choose between the sunny, but cold afternoon at Candlestick, or the sunny and not quite as cold afternoon in Oakland. But, surprise, money is again changing the game. As a fan, it is annoying that if I want to watch a Saturday day game, but that game is not a Fox game, I can't watch it (unless, apparently, it's the Cubs, because I was watching a WGN Cubs game on Saturday morning/afternoon last weekend). When the Nationals first played in D.C., wife and I lived about 10 blocks from RFK, so we would have friends over, grill and drink in the afternoon, then head over to the ballpark for the Saturday evening game. Of course, summer days are very different in D.C. than here in the Bay Area. But that doesn't really change my thought- would I rather go to the game in the afternoon, then come home and grill and drink the rest of the night, or vice versa. I can't help but say I'd rather go to the game in the afternoon, then grill and drink afterwards. Of course, I don't have to deal with 98 degree days with 90% humidity anymore.
2) How bout that Marco Scutaro? Quite a comeback by the A's on Sunday. I admit, I turned the game off once Joe Kennedy came in, because, honestly, I knew there was no way he was getting out of that inning without giving up a few runs, and give up a few runs he did.
Off to D.C. for a week on Wednesday. Should be fun seeing some old friends and going to some old haunts.
Watched a bit of the Food Network awards show last night. That was painful. Luckily, I was doing taxes so I was able to mostly ignore it, my poor wife on the other hand got to watch and listen to it. Here is Bourdain's take - absolutely a must read!!!!
I should put this in a separate posting, but I don't really feel like it at this moment. Anyway, our illustrious Mayor and our Board of Social Engineers reached a compromise over the so-called "Healthy Saturday" indoctrination. In essence, the compromise cuts in half the total length of road that will be closed, makes it permanent that it will be closed 6 months out of the year (this year it starts on May 26, just in time for Memorial Day). On the one hand, it keeps open the path from 9th Avenue, through the park, and over to Arguello, a key cross-over point through the park (otherwise you have to go 19th and try your way on Stanyan), and will probably result in Richmond bearing the brunt of this closure, instead of sharing it with Inner Sunset. However, it's obvious that the Mayor and Board simply do not care about the people who live in Richmond and Inner Sunset, not to mention the two ballot initiatives that were rejected by the voters- roughly 70% of voters in Richmond and Sunset voted against the prior ballot measures. Instead, they continue to abide by the will of a vocal minority (that do not live near Golden Gate Park) that supposedly represent so-called San Francisco Values, which can be summed up as, no cars for anyone. Kudos to the Board and Mayor for compromising, compromising away the wishes of the people they supposedly represent.
Needless to say, this issue really gets to me. Almost as much as the Lands Commission and Coastal Commission's rejection of an LNG facility off the coast of Ventura County. The rejection by these two commission's virtually insures that the cost of electricity in this state will continue to rise. At this time, California does not generate enough electricity for its citizens, and relies on imports from Arizona, Nevada and Oregon. California also cannot build nuclear facilities, and, due to the brilliant piece of legislation passed by the previous Legislature, cannot contract for cheaper coal-fired electricity. So, we are left with natural gas fired (the predominant source of in-state generation), renewables and conservation/efficiency. A few years ago, an executive for a utility in New England said that people have moved from NIMBY (Not In My BackYard) to BANANA (Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anything), note, he was bemoaning the inability to get transmission lines built in order to get more electricity into New England.
Anyway, some sports related rants.
1) John Shea's article from Sunday's Chronicle about the demise of Saturday day games. Growing up, I used to love going to the Saturday day games, part of growing up in the Bay Area, choose between the sunny, but cold afternoon at Candlestick, or the sunny and not quite as cold afternoon in Oakland. But, surprise, money is again changing the game. As a fan, it is annoying that if I want to watch a Saturday day game, but that game is not a Fox game, I can't watch it (unless, apparently, it's the Cubs, because I was watching a WGN Cubs game on Saturday morning/afternoon last weekend). When the Nationals first played in D.C., wife and I lived about 10 blocks from RFK, so we would have friends over, grill and drink in the afternoon, then head over to the ballpark for the Saturday evening game. Of course, summer days are very different in D.C. than here in the Bay Area. But that doesn't really change my thought- would I rather go to the game in the afternoon, then come home and grill and drink the rest of the night, or vice versa. I can't help but say I'd rather go to the game in the afternoon, then grill and drink afterwards. Of course, I don't have to deal with 98 degree days with 90% humidity anymore.
2) How bout that Marco Scutaro? Quite a comeback by the A's on Sunday. I admit, I turned the game off once Joe Kennedy came in, because, honestly, I knew there was no way he was getting out of that inning without giving up a few runs, and give up a few runs he did.
Off to D.C. for a week on Wednesday. Should be fun seeing some old friends and going to some old haunts.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
New Muni drivers?
So, Tuesday morning I'm waiting at my normal time for the bus to pick me up, and, whoa! a new bus driver. So, I sit down and let the drive progress normally. We turn up Franklin, to make a right on Golden Gate, except. . .bus driver keeps going. After 3 blocks, she realizes she missed her turn, makes the next right toward Van Ness. I ask to get off at that corner, since my work is close-by anyway. She says, You sure? I'm turning right on Van Ness. I still get off, and start walking down Van Ness. As I'm walking, I see the bus come down Van Ness, and, with the right blinker on, tries to merge left so she can turn left on Golden Gate.
So, yesterday on the bus ride home, another new bus driver. As we are driving down Fell, she says loudly, I'm gonna need some help with directions. She has the directions for the route written out, but doesn't know the streets near the Panhandle and GG Park. The riders simply tell her to move over one lane, and just follow the traffic onto Lincoln. At least she knows what the next stop is; I once had a bus driver that everytime someone asked the bus to stop, he'd stop at the next bus stop, even if it wasn't a stop for that route.
All of this makes me wonder: Does Muni actually do any training for their drivers on new routes? Wouldn't you think that it would be beneficial to have that new driver ride along one or two days to get an understanding of the route, especially an Express route?
Note, I have no comment on the problems related to the Third Street line, mainly because I don't ride it. I will say that not having the N run to the ballpark is kind of annoying. HOWEVER, was at the corner of 9th and Irving the other day and I saw a Muni train claiming to be a Ballpark Shuttle that was running on the N line track from the Sunset to Pac-Bell Park. So, maybe there still is a way to get from the Sunset to the ballpark without having to switch to the J.
So, yesterday on the bus ride home, another new bus driver. As we are driving down Fell, she says loudly, I'm gonna need some help with directions. She has the directions for the route written out, but doesn't know the streets near the Panhandle and GG Park. The riders simply tell her to move over one lane, and just follow the traffic onto Lincoln. At least she knows what the next stop is; I once had a bus driver that everytime someone asked the bus to stop, he'd stop at the next bus stop, even if it wasn't a stop for that route.
All of this makes me wonder: Does Muni actually do any training for their drivers on new routes? Wouldn't you think that it would be beneficial to have that new driver ride along one or two days to get an understanding of the route, especially an Express route?
Note, I have no comment on the problems related to the Third Street line, mainly because I don't ride it. I will say that not having the N run to the ballpark is kind of annoying. HOWEVER, was at the corner of 9th and Irving the other day and I saw a Muni train claiming to be a Ballpark Shuttle that was running on the N line track from the Sunset to Pac-Bell Park. So, maybe there still is a way to get from the Sunset to the ballpark without having to switch to the J.
Monday, April 9, 2007
Solomon Islands
I am just amazed at this news article. The 8.0 earthquake that caused the Solomon Island tsunami apparently uplifted a significant portion of the island Ranongga, exposing coral reefs, and changing the entire environment of that island. As a result of the uplift, the numerous coral reefs are now above the ocean level, and are dying everyday without the nutrients the ocean provided.
All this shows is that despite our best attempts living in, on and with the Earth, there are still events that, no matter what we do or don't do, it simply will not matter. The Earth will do what it wants.
All this shows is that despite our best attempts living in, on and with the Earth, there are still events that, no matter what we do or don't do, it simply will not matter. The Earth will do what it wants.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Waste of time
Got off the bus this evening, and noticed this taped to a telephone pole-
Notice is hereby given to the general public that the Land Use and Economic Development will hold a public hearing on Monday, April 9, 2007, at 1:00pm, in an unknown room at City Hall, at 1 Dr Carton B Goodlett Place, San Francisco, California, to consider the following:
File (070269) Ordinance adding Section 6.12 to the San Francisco Park Code to prohibit, on a trial basis from Saturday May 5, 2007 and continuing for six months to Saturday November 3, 2007, motor vehicle traffic on Saturdays in Golden Gate Park on John F. Kennedy Drive between Kezar Drive and Transverse Drive; Arguello Boulevard; Conservatory Drive East and Conservatory Drive West; 8th Avenue; Bowling Green Drive between John F. Kennedy Drive and Middle Drive East; and Stow Lake Drive between Stow Lake Drive East and John F. Kennedy Drive; to require reports from the Recreation and Park Department and Department of Parking and Traffic pertaining to the Saturday road closures; to require the Golden Gate Park Concourse Authority to share its own data and reports that are relevant to the Saturday road closures with the aforementioned departments; to require a hearing on the Saturday road closures before the Board of Supervisors or a Board committee; and making environmental findings.
For more details, go to www.sfgov.org/bdsupvrs or call (415) 554-5184
Gloria L Young, Clerk of the Board
Yes, the Board is dead set on setting up a Healthy Saturday for Golden Gate Park, which means the closing of JFK Dr. from roughly 19th Avenue east towards Stanyan. The Board's continued attempts at social engineering is an unending source of frustration on my part. Previous attempts by the Board to close JFK for just this purpose have been voted down by the voters of this city, yet at the urging of a vocal minority, the Board will not rest until it has subjugated the residents of San Francisco to all forms of government interference and regulations, all in the name of progress. I already have difficulty with finding parking on Sunday, when JFK is already closed, I can only imagine the increased difficulty on Saturday. As an added annoyance, meters are active on Saturday, which increases the competition for parking spaces in the Inner Sunset.
The purported study commissioned last summer to study the effects of the closing of JFK Dr. is hilarious in its research. It basically was a guy walking around asking people what they thought about closing JFK. Assumptions made in the report failed to account for the reopening of the Academy of Sciences, was done on 2 weekends on a Saturday in August, and does not go into the neighborhoods to ask what residents think about the closure.
The Richmond ReView recently began researching and laying out the case of a possible recall of Jake McGoldrick who is the sponsor of this legislation. The supervisor for my district is not beholden to the people who live here; the Inner Sunset is merely a handle attached to the larger swath of Haight, Panhandle, NOPA/Alamo Square and Western Addition, who will not feel the direct impacts of this measure. Here is another article on the lunacy of this measure, from the editor of the Sunset Beacon and Richmond ReView. Fire away.
Notice is hereby given to the general public that the Land Use and Economic Development will hold a public hearing on Monday, April 9, 2007, at 1:00pm, in an unknown room at City Hall, at 1 Dr Carton B Goodlett Place, San Francisco, California, to consider the following:
File (070269) Ordinance adding Section 6.12 to the San Francisco Park Code to prohibit, on a trial basis from Saturday May 5, 2007 and continuing for six months to Saturday November 3, 2007, motor vehicle traffic on Saturdays in Golden Gate Park on John F. Kennedy Drive between Kezar Drive and Transverse Drive; Arguello Boulevard; Conservatory Drive East and Conservatory Drive West; 8th Avenue; Bowling Green Drive between John F. Kennedy Drive and Middle Drive East; and Stow Lake Drive between Stow Lake Drive East and John F. Kennedy Drive; to require reports from the Recreation and Park Department and Department of Parking and Traffic pertaining to the Saturday road closures; to require the Golden Gate Park Concourse Authority to share its own data and reports that are relevant to the Saturday road closures with the aforementioned departments; to require a hearing on the Saturday road closures before the Board of Supervisors or a Board committee; and making environmental findings.
For more details, go to www.sfgov.org/bdsupvrs or call (415) 554-5184
Gloria L Young, Clerk of the Board
Yes, the Board is dead set on setting up a Healthy Saturday for Golden Gate Park, which means the closing of JFK Dr. from roughly 19th Avenue east towards Stanyan. The Board's continued attempts at social engineering is an unending source of frustration on my part. Previous attempts by the Board to close JFK for just this purpose have been voted down by the voters of this city, yet at the urging of a vocal minority, the Board will not rest until it has subjugated the residents of San Francisco to all forms of government interference and regulations, all in the name of progress. I already have difficulty with finding parking on Sunday, when JFK is already closed, I can only imagine the increased difficulty on Saturday. As an added annoyance, meters are active on Saturday, which increases the competition for parking spaces in the Inner Sunset.
The purported study commissioned last summer to study the effects of the closing of JFK Dr. is hilarious in its research. It basically was a guy walking around asking people what they thought about closing JFK. Assumptions made in the report failed to account for the reopening of the Academy of Sciences, was done on 2 weekends on a Saturday in August, and does not go into the neighborhoods to ask what residents think about the closure.
The Richmond ReView recently began researching and laying out the case of a possible recall of Jake McGoldrick who is the sponsor of this legislation. The supervisor for my district is not beholden to the people who live here; the Inner Sunset is merely a handle attached to the larger swath of Haight, Panhandle, NOPA/Alamo Square and Western Addition, who will not feel the direct impacts of this measure. Here is another article on the lunacy of this measure, from the editor of the Sunset Beacon and Richmond ReView. Fire away.
Quick update
Walked past Canvas again this morning on the way to the bus stop and realized that I put the wrong name of the restaurant taking over the Canvas space. It's called Pacific Catch, which bills itself as a "Fresh Fish Grill" and currently has two locations, one in the Marina and another in Corte Madera. I suppose a non-sushi fish place is missing from the 9th and Irving area, especially if I can get some fish tacos.
Monday, April 2, 2007
Whoops
Didn't mean to take a week between posts. Things happen, you get busy, stuff like that.
OPENING DAY!!!! One of my most favorite days of the year as baseball season starts. Spring brings hope to fans of every team this year, even the Royals and the Pirates, as they look for any bit of forward progression. I couldn't but help forward to my wife this article from today's Chicago Tribune by Rick Morrissey-
1. Denial (May). This isn't happening. This season isn't going down like the previous 98 Saharan seasons. No sir. The sky is always blue. Everybody has perfect posture. We'll all live forever. Heidi Klum/Brad Pitt wants me.
2. Anger (June). What kind of benevolent God would allow the Cubs to do this to me again? This kind of benevolent God: The kind of benevolent God who gets his kicks out of using a magnifying glass to burn the wings off defenseless butterflies. Me mad? No. But if the popcorn vendor looks at me the wrong way, I'll rip his lungs out.
3. Bargaining (July). OK, there is a God, and if He just lets the Cubs win a World Series, I promise I'll go to church every day, be kind to attorneys and work for a cure for post-nasal drip.
4. Depression (August). The Cubs are 25 games out of first. I don't want to get out of bed. The ivy at Wrigley is poison, all games should be played under the cover of night and cotton candy is the handiwork of the devil. Just to sum up.
5. Acceptance (September). Hello darkness, my old friend. Well, if I'm going to die, I can't think of 3 million paying customers I'd rather die with. I want an umpire to sweep my ashes off home plate. Woo! Woo!
Shortly after publication this morning, news broke that the Chicago Tribune, owner of the Chicago Cubs, is being sold, including the Cubs. The winner of the bidding is also a partial owner of the Chicago White Sox and will be forced to either relinquish his portion of the White Sox, or put the Cubs on the market; it's presumed he will see the Cubs.
I can't wait to read the reviews of Cormac McCarthy's "The Road" after the first wave of Oprah viewers/readers get through with it. "The Road" is just a brutal work by my favorite living writer (Sinclair Lewis being my favorite). The journey the father and son take in the aftermath of a presumed nuclear holocaust is just terrible, and, maybe I'm not giving them enough credit, but I just can't see Oprah readers finding the beauty of McCarthy's language, the storytelling and the brutality that McCarthy describes. I am reminded back to when the Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magik" came out, and "Under the Bridge" became this huge hit; how many people were prepared for "Breaking the Girl" or "Sir Psycho Sexy"?
I took a contemporary American literature class in college, and McCarthy's "All the Pretty Horses" was one of the books that we read that year. The class was good for 2 reasons- 1) it introduced me to McCarthy and Annie Proulx, the good, and 2) it made me sure that I would never read another Anne Tyler, Jane Smiley, Saul Bellow, or John Irving book again. Yes, I'm sure that there are good books by them, but after what I read by them, I have no desire to read them.
After watching the the first two games of the Final Four, I am convinced that Greg Oden needs to stay in school at least one more year. He is immature and too raw of a talent. It is in spite of him that Ohio State is playing for the national champion ship game today. Kevin Durant, on the other hand, is at too large a risk to stay in school another year, by that I mean he's liable to blow out a knee and only have a measly education to fall back on, poor thing. Instead, he can come out, make a ton of money, get bounced around by NBA centers and forwards, and be good in 5 years when he finally bulks up. Oden has the size, but he just does not have the temperament, in my opinion.
A new restaurant is coming to my neighborhood. Canvas, a local bar/restaurant/entertainment place was apparently bought out by a company called Pacific Fish. There is a notice of new ownership in the window, along with closing specials, not that I'd really call a $5 Irish Coffee a closing special price. This is in addition to something opening up next to Masala on 9th Ave., and a new zone diet restaurant called Good Earth Cuisine is opening where the Burger King used to be on 9th, between Irving and Judah. Walked past that place and their menu is up, and I am quite excited to find that a Bison Burger is listed. Love me some bison burgers.
OPENING DAY!!!! One of my most favorite days of the year as baseball season starts. Spring brings hope to fans of every team this year, even the Royals and the Pirates, as they look for any bit of forward progression. I couldn't but help forward to my wife this article from today's Chicago Tribune by Rick Morrissey-
1. Denial (May). This isn't happening. This season isn't going down like the previous 98 Saharan seasons. No sir. The sky is always blue. Everybody has perfect posture. We'll all live forever. Heidi Klum/Brad Pitt wants me.
2. Anger (June). What kind of benevolent God would allow the Cubs to do this to me again? This kind of benevolent God: The kind of benevolent God who gets his kicks out of using a magnifying glass to burn the wings off defenseless butterflies. Me mad? No. But if the popcorn vendor looks at me the wrong way, I'll rip his lungs out.
3. Bargaining (July). OK, there is a God, and if He just lets the Cubs win a World Series, I promise I'll go to church every day, be kind to attorneys and work for a cure for post-nasal drip.
4. Depression (August). The Cubs are 25 games out of first. I don't want to get out of bed. The ivy at Wrigley is poison, all games should be played under the cover of night and cotton candy is the handiwork of the devil. Just to sum up.
5. Acceptance (September). Hello darkness, my old friend. Well, if I'm going to die, I can't think of 3 million paying customers I'd rather die with. I want an umpire to sweep my ashes off home plate. Woo! Woo!
Shortly after publication this morning, news broke that the Chicago Tribune, owner of the Chicago Cubs, is being sold, including the Cubs. The winner of the bidding is also a partial owner of the Chicago White Sox and will be forced to either relinquish his portion of the White Sox, or put the Cubs on the market; it's presumed he will see the Cubs.
I can't wait to read the reviews of Cormac McCarthy's "The Road" after the first wave of Oprah viewers/readers get through with it. "The Road" is just a brutal work by my favorite living writer (Sinclair Lewis being my favorite). The journey the father and son take in the aftermath of a presumed nuclear holocaust is just terrible, and, maybe I'm not giving them enough credit, but I just can't see Oprah readers finding the beauty of McCarthy's language, the storytelling and the brutality that McCarthy describes. I am reminded back to when the Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magik" came out, and "Under the Bridge" became this huge hit; how many people were prepared for "Breaking the Girl" or "Sir Psycho Sexy"?
I took a contemporary American literature class in college, and McCarthy's "All the Pretty Horses" was one of the books that we read that year. The class was good for 2 reasons- 1) it introduced me to McCarthy and Annie Proulx, the good, and 2) it made me sure that I would never read another Anne Tyler, Jane Smiley, Saul Bellow, or John Irving book again. Yes, I'm sure that there are good books by them, but after what I read by them, I have no desire to read them.
After watching the the first two games of the Final Four, I am convinced that Greg Oden needs to stay in school at least one more year. He is immature and too raw of a talent. It is in spite of him that Ohio State is playing for the national champion ship game today. Kevin Durant, on the other hand, is at too large a risk to stay in school another year, by that I mean he's liable to blow out a knee and only have a measly education to fall back on, poor thing. Instead, he can come out, make a ton of money, get bounced around by NBA centers and forwards, and be good in 5 years when he finally bulks up. Oden has the size, but he just does not have the temperament, in my opinion.
A new restaurant is coming to my neighborhood. Canvas, a local bar/restaurant/entertainment place was apparently bought out by a company called Pacific Fish. There is a notice of new ownership in the window, along with closing specials, not that I'd really call a $5 Irish Coffee a closing special price. This is in addition to something opening up next to Masala on 9th Ave., and a new zone diet restaurant called Good Earth Cuisine is opening where the Burger King used to be on 9th, between Irving and Judah. Walked past that place and their menu is up, and I am quite excited to find that a Bison Burger is listed. Love me some bison burgers.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Randomness
Here is an editorial from today's L.A. Times that I can completely agree with.
While I don't necessarily agree with the libertarian view on foreign policy, I am certainly of that mind when it comes to domestic issues, mixed with a fervent states' rights position on federal pre-emption. Not the most popular political viewpoint in the city I currently call home, but I like to think that I am able to be reasonable in my view points.
When I was living in D.C., I was certainly much more vocal about letting the states' decide certain issues, while the Federal government should be responsible for what's in the Constitution- provide for a national defense, engage in international trades and treaties, and so forth. However, now that I'm out of D.C. and living in California, I certainly do not want our current legislature making decisions. Having our current legislature legislate our daily lives is certainly not a very effective way of using their time in Sacto, or an efficient way to spend our money. I won't even get into the Board of Supervisors here in S.F. That is for a later date.
Was on my way home today and a woman was standing in the street, not more than 1 1/2 feet away from the curb, directly in the way of cars wanting to make a right hand turn. This woman wasn't distracted by a book or an Ipod, instead, she purposefully stood just on the other side of the gutter, forcing cards to make a wide right hand turn. Sometimes I just don't get people.
So, on the left hand side of the page, I'm hoping to keep a running tab of how long it takes me to wait for my Muni bus to pick me up. I not basing it on their publishing schedule, because, frankly, I view that as a hope and prayer. So, all that total shows is the time I get to the bus stop until a bus picks me up. Today consisted of an 11 minute wait in the morning and a 15 minute wait in the evening. I've had longer waits, but I've had shorter waits. I guess there's only one way to compare and that's do this everyday.
Speaking of bus, what is the deal with the people in this city refusing to take off their back-pack when riding on a full bus or muni line? I was on the bus a few days ago, and it got very full, but this guy kept his back-pack on. So, I repeatedly over-emphasized the turns and bus bouncing down the road and kept backing into him. Coming from D.C., once a car on the Metro got full, either you took off your back-pack or you incurred the wrath of the Metro riders and shamed you into taking off the back-pack. Taking off the back-pack opens up precious space that could be used by another person, or is simply breathing room because you have personal space issues. PERSONAL SPACE!!!! not that I have such issues.
I suppose I should fill in the D.C. history. Short version- went to college, after college, decided to move to D.C. Ended up spending 8 1/2 years there, doing various things (mainly related to law). Got married and moved back to the Bay Area. That's it.
While I don't necessarily agree with the libertarian view on foreign policy, I am certainly of that mind when it comes to domestic issues, mixed with a fervent states' rights position on federal pre-emption. Not the most popular political viewpoint in the city I currently call home, but I like to think that I am able to be reasonable in my view points.
When I was living in D.C., I was certainly much more vocal about letting the states' decide certain issues, while the Federal government should be responsible for what's in the Constitution- provide for a national defense, engage in international trades and treaties, and so forth. However, now that I'm out of D.C. and living in California, I certainly do not want our current legislature making decisions. Having our current legislature legislate our daily lives is certainly not a very effective way of using their time in Sacto, or an efficient way to spend our money. I won't even get into the Board of Supervisors here in S.F. That is for a later date.
Was on my way home today and a woman was standing in the street, not more than 1 1/2 feet away from the curb, directly in the way of cars wanting to make a right hand turn. This woman wasn't distracted by a book or an Ipod, instead, she purposefully stood just on the other side of the gutter, forcing cards to make a wide right hand turn. Sometimes I just don't get people.
So, on the left hand side of the page, I'm hoping to keep a running tab of how long it takes me to wait for my Muni bus to pick me up. I not basing it on their publishing schedule, because, frankly, I view that as a hope and prayer. So, all that total shows is the time I get to the bus stop until a bus picks me up. Today consisted of an 11 minute wait in the morning and a 15 minute wait in the evening. I've had longer waits, but I've had shorter waits. I guess there's only one way to compare and that's do this everyday.
Speaking of bus, what is the deal with the people in this city refusing to take off their back-pack when riding on a full bus or muni line? I was on the bus a few days ago, and it got very full, but this guy kept his back-pack on. So, I repeatedly over-emphasized the turns and bus bouncing down the road and kept backing into him. Coming from D.C., once a car on the Metro got full, either you took off your back-pack or you incurred the wrath of the Metro riders and shamed you into taking off the back-pack. Taking off the back-pack opens up precious space that could be used by another person, or is simply breathing room because you have personal space issues. PERSONAL SPACE!!!! not that I have such issues.
I suppose I should fill in the D.C. history. Short version- went to college, after college, decided to move to D.C. Ended up spending 8 1/2 years there, doing various things (mainly related to law). Got married and moved back to the Bay Area. That's it.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Sunday night
Ok, after a weekend of watching my carefully crafted bracket implode (thanks Kansas for doing your best Washington Generals impersonation in the 2nd half; my wife was thrilled though, being a Mizzou grad and all), I decided that spending the next 7 months obsessing over my fantasy baseball team isn't enough. So, I've decided to start this. Who knows what this will lead to: fame and fortune perhaps?? Most likely my continued anonimity. I can live with that.
1 week to first pitch. Had my first fantasy draft today, and I'm not terribly happy with it; too many position players, not enough pitchers, but there are only 9 teams in this league and pitching can always be found during the year. My second draft is on Thursday in a league where I've finished second the last two years- the first year was the first time I played fantasy.
Anyhoo. . .I have been advised that I should include an overview of what this is all about. It will be about anything and everything that I care to comment on- politics, sports, music, TV, in other words, the state of. . .whatever is going on at the time.
For example, I wonder if Chevy is finally figuring out that people hate those "Our Country" commercials, because I only noticed one played all day on Saturday. Isn't the first rule of advertising that whatever is in the commercial, you hope that people will remember the brand- with this one, I sure remember it, and I promptly turn the channel. Good job Chevy.
1 week to first pitch. Had my first fantasy draft today, and I'm not terribly happy with it; too many position players, not enough pitchers, but there are only 9 teams in this league and pitching can always be found during the year. My second draft is on Thursday in a league where I've finished second the last two years- the first year was the first time I played fantasy.
Anyhoo. . .I have been advised that I should include an overview of what this is all about. It will be about anything and everything that I care to comment on- politics, sports, music, TV, in other words, the state of. . .whatever is going on at the time.
For example, I wonder if Chevy is finally figuring out that people hate those "Our Country" commercials, because I only noticed one played all day on Saturday. Isn't the first rule of advertising that whatever is in the commercial, you hope that people will remember the brand- with this one, I sure remember it, and I promptly turn the channel. Good job Chevy.
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