Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Bush & Co.

Although Mark Morford's column in this morning's SF Chronicle was about the Abstinence/Sex Education program as administered by the Department of Health and Human Services, I really liked his description of the Bush administration which applies to everything it has done: "The Bush government is all about restriction, contraction, containment, self-righteousness and pain." The only thing I wonder now is how much more pain can this country suffer before it falls apart completely.

Sunday, November 26, 2006

Update

Since my previous post about the so-called "black Friday", I am informed it is called that because merchants operate in the black on that day instead of operating in the red. OK, I can accept that. What would be depressing for me is to get caught out amongst the frantic shoppers who operate like there is not tomorrow. This is gross commercialism run amok. Not only is that is depressing but it puts me in a black mood also.

Friday, November 24, 2006

Black Friday?

How did that name originate when referring to the first official day of the Christmas shopping season. For those who just arrived on this planet, it really refers to the stock market crash and great depression which began in 1929. I don't think you could call today a depressing day unless it was the fact that people got up too early to go shopping and that there were too many of them.

Now, about a quality of life issue here in San Francisco. This is a platform that Gavin Newsom ran on when seeking the post of mayor but a lot of things in this area have gone undone. One of the most persistently bothersome things to me is the proflireration of dirty, empty, and vandalized news racks by the dozens on many streets. Many of them block access to the sidewalk from parked cars yet when I discussed with a friend the possibility of removing many of them, I was told that to do so would be infringing on "freedom of the press" rights. Well that is b.s.! How can the removal of unused news racks prevent anyone from publishing something euphamistically called a newspaper?

I do not propose the total ban of many of these worthless garbage cans which is what most have become but I do think the city should hold the owners and publishers of whatever publication liable. There should be a "use it of lose it" law. That is, the owner or publisher must maintain the rack in a neat and orderly condition and keep it stocked with whatever publication they are producing. To not do so would result in a fine and or removal and disposition of the unused and dirty racks cluttering up our sidewalks. Now, is that difficult? I think not! As it stands now these unsightly racks are a big part of much of the visual polution that resides in this city.

As for another major problem, the one of dirty sidewalks, why can't business owners or building owners sweep off their sidewalk each day and collect the garbage left there during the day and night? Doesn't anyone take any pride in their city? No, I don't expect things to as spic and span as Singapore but neither do I expect so many areas to look like a slum in progress. Again a simple law is all that is needed. Keep the sidewalk in front of your business or building clean or else the city will do it for you but bill you for the expenses. Many of these sidewalks need not only sweeping but steam cleaning and disinfecting. There are just too many black as well as brown spots and smudges out there. I wonder what I am tracking into the apartment at times. The streets and sidewalks of San Francisco have got to be the dirtiest I have encountered anywhere in this country, Europe, and Southeast Asia. I am not saying that they don't exist somewhere but a modern American city should be able to do better. What is the problem here? City government or lack thereof? Homeless people? Possibly and if so that bring me to another problem which I won't go into at the moment.

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

The Good, the bad, and the ugly

The Good: Rudolph Giuliani is considering running for president in 2008.
The Bad: Maris Arnold of Berkeley thinks it is still a good idea to impeach President Bush (Chronicle , Letters 11/14/06). Never mind that that would bring normal congressional activity to a halt or that Dick Cheney would become president should Bush be convicted. That would be going from the frying pan to the fire. Yuck! Of course, it might also make Nancy Pelosi Vice-President. Now THAT would be interesting.
The Ugly: Extremist Christian Evangelicals who believe that backing Israel is doing god's work. Read the story by clicking here. If there is to be a WWIII, it will probably be because of Muslim and Christian extremists.

Saturday, November 11, 2006

Computer problems

Computers...you gotta love 'em or hate 'em. Well, not really but after upgrading my five your old Dell Dimension 8200 from Windows 2000 Professional to XP Professional, I am about ready to pull my hair out or go mad or both. The transition worked fine except for one thing. Sounds do not work as they should. The sound card is OK because log-on and log-off sounds play, my music files play, videos people send me which are played via the Windows Media Player have sound, BUT, if I view a media website and there is a news story imbedded there, the sound will not play even though I can view the video. Also, mail notification sounds and some other system sounds do not play. E-cards sent to me will not have any sound either even though it is supposed to be there. Oh, by the way, those computer system sounds that won't play when they should, can be played manually if I open the Media folder and click on them. So what in the world is going on here Mr. Gates??? Anybody??? And to make matters worse my old sound card and its drivers are no longer support by Santa Cruz Turtle Beach. I just wish I could remember what I did earlier this week that had everything working as it should for a few hours.

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Ah, Sweet Victory of Life...we've found you.

The sleeping giant of the U.S.A. has finally stirred from its long sleep and being fed up with the three headless horseman running roughshod over everything and everyone, has moved to reign in the excesses of that team and take a new direction. Hopefully the new congress will be able to work with the opposition (Republicans) and restore dignity to what was once a great country respected around the world. The war in Iraq, however, could still undo Democratic gains if they don't play their cards right. The most pleasing thing to me however in this election is that now one of our own, Nancy Pelosi, is about to become the Speaker of the House, the first woman to do so and the first Italian-American. Being a "liberal San Franciscan", this is the worst nightmare of conservative Republicans come true. Now will the Republicans be able to work with Democrats to do what is right for the country?

Saturday, November 04, 2006

Halloween in the Castro

I have a suggestion for our esteemed (yuck) Board of Stuporvisors: cancel the Halloween Party (?) in the Castro, announce to all that there will be no celebration in 2007, establish an 8 PM curfew for the area and all non-residents will not be allowed in the area. Also, all SF residents on the street in the Castro after 8 PM that night must carry a pass, obtained for a nominal fee and issued by local businesses hosting "private" parties for people in costume. Those not in costume would be required to pay an additional (penalty) fee at the door. I think those regulations should take care of the looky-loos and gang problem.

Friday, November 03, 2006

To Be a Republican...

This was sent to me yesterday by a friend but the original source is unknown. It is very relevant however to today's situation.

To be a Republican:

You need to believe:

1. Jesus loves you, and shares your hatred of homosexuals and Hillary Clinton.

2. Saddam was a good guy when Reagan armed him, a bad guy when Bush's daddy
made war on him, a good guy when Cheney did business with him, and a bad guy
when Bush needed a "we can't find Bin Laden" diversion.

3. Trade with Cuba is wrong because the country is Communist, but trade with
China and Vietnam is vital to a spirit of international harmony.

4. The United States should get out of the United Nations, and our highest
national priority is enforcing U.N. resolutions against Iraq .

5. A woman can't be trusted with decisions about her own body, but
multi-national drug corporations can make decisions affecting all mankind
without regulation.

6. The best way to improve military morale is to praise the troops in speeches,
while slashing veterans' benefit and combat pay.

7. If condoms are kept out of schools, adolescents won't have sex.

8. A good way to fight terrorism is to belittle our long-time allies, then
demand their cooperation and money.

9. Providing health care to all Iraqis is sound policy, but providing health
care to all Americans is socialism. HMO's and insurance companies have the best
interests of the public at heart.

10. Global warming and tobacco's link to cancer are junk science, but
creationism should be taught in schools.

11. A president lying about an extramarital affair is a impeachable offense, but
a president lying to enlist support for a war in which thousands die is solid
defense policy.

12. Government should limit itself to the powers named in the Constitution,
which includes banning gay marriages and censoring the Internet.

13. The public has a right to know about Hillary's cattle trades, but George
Bush's driving record is none of our business.

14. Being a drug addict is a moral failing and a crime, unless you're a
conservative radio host. Then it's an illness and you need our prayers for your
recovery.

15. Supporting "Executive Privilege" for every Republican ever born, who will be
born or who might be born (in perpetuity.)

16. What Bill Clinton did in the 1960's is of vital national interest, but what
Bush did in the '80's is irrelevant.

17. Support for hunters who shoot their friends and blame them for wearing
orange vests similar to those worn by the quail.

If you don't send it to at least 10 other people, we're likely to be st uck with
more Republicans in '06's and '08's.

Friends don't let friends vote Republican!

Thursday, November 02, 2006

Pocketfull of notes (and dust)

When are city officials and gay community leaders going to get their act together and put an end of the rowdy Halloween celebrations in the Castro? Some act as if the world would come to an end if these annual events were terminated. Well, it is not but the big problem now, after so many years of them, is how to prevent outsiders from even going there even if there is no event. Somehow I think security could even be more of a nightmare under such circumstances. Oh well, just raise the drawbridges and enact Martial Law for the night. Oh, that is right, our bridges are not draw bridges. Oh well, an 8 PM curfew might work. HA! And as it turns out there were outsiders in the Castro this year in the form of some gangs from other parts of the city. How do you keep them out?

I haven't been to the Castro at Halloween in years and personally I don't like large crowds and barely tolerate the Gay Pride Celebrations at the end of June but at least the parade and Civic Center events are held in the daytime which leads me to wonder if part of the problem at Halloween is that it is at "nighttime". Why do people go bonkers after dark anyway? Well, it seems like some do but it is really the outsiders who are the problem. The teenagers and those in their early twenties, who are not gay, and who come just to drink and bash gay people. You would have to profile everyone who enters the area to stop them and that may not be possible. SO END IT ALL I SAY. Enough of these rowdy, dangerous events which results in injuries and property damage and much extra expense to various city departments.

I personally prefer small events in places where I know people. They are the fun events and we don't get the riff-raff of outsiders and other trouble makers in those places.

Now the other big problem of the day is the election coming up next week with its host of deceiving ballot propositions and less-than-truthful politicians. How does one vote without making things worse than they already are? Since it is corporate America that really runs things how can we expect arguments for and against various ballot measures to be truthful and helpful? My rule of thumb is this: Unless there is a compelling reason to vote for something, I will vote NO. 1A and 1B will get my yes vote but can't think of any others at the moment. Most ballot measures are so poorly written that they do more damage than good and then some get overturned by the courts or people don't like the results and re-introduce the same or similar measures year after year until they get the result that THEY desire. Another thing I do not do as sign petitions to put propositions on the ballot as I certainly do not have the time to read and analyze such propositions in my supermarket's parking lot.

Another problem facing us is John Kerry. Since he is not running for anything why is he spouting off on National TV especially in front of a live audience where there is no chance of squelching some words that he did not intend to utter. At this point he probably has only helped the Republicans but I hope voters have enough sense to overlook his gaffe.

One final note...a number of years ago when I first became aware of Rev. Al Sharpton, he had said or done something which irritated me but as I have become more familiar with him and his philosophy over the years I have no trouble referring to him as the "Reverend" All Sharpton whereas I cannot call Jerry Foulwell or Pat Robertson by such titles.

Gotta run now and get ready for a busy day...lunch with former co-workers, a haircut in mid-afternoon, and then a private happy hour ("cheap wine night") as a friend's place.