Saturday, June 30, 2007

As a follow-up to the letter by Maxine Clark (Chronicle Letters, June 30), the Academy of Art University does indeed seem to be taking over many buildings. We have such buildings as the former First Congregational Church at Post at Mason, the Copenhagen furniture store on Van Ness, and an apartment building near Bush and Leavenworth now under the AAU banner to name a few. What next? City Hall? One final question: Are they in the business of teaching art classes or of becoming one of the biggest landholders in San Francisco???

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

I really think Herb Caen was being too kind when he referred to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors as the Board of Stuporvisors. Their idiocy seems to have no bounds. Latest case in point: We live in one of the dirtiest cities in the U.S., Europe, and Southeast Asia yet now they want to reduce the number of trash cans on the street. Really now! Do they really think that the trash is going to magically move to another city because we don't have sufficient trash cans?

Well, at least things are not dull at Silly Hall (another Caenism). Between Chris Daly and Ed Jew and others, it is the stuff of a daytime soap opera under that dome.

Saturday, June 23, 2007

Regarding possible and/or pending water shortages, one letter to the editor of the Chronicle this morning contains the word conserve eleven times. Point well taken. How about the other part of the equation: desalinate (x 11)?

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Wanted

Part-time clerical job in San Francisco through the end of the December 2007. At least that is my hope. Uncle Sam via the IRS is knocking on my door and while I am paying him, it is taking all of my remaining resources. There is virtually no wiggle room in my budget now. This is not good.

On another matter...three candidates for president all from New York? Yikes! Two are announced, Clinton and Giuliani, and the third, Blomberg, has not announced yet. Very interesting...one Democrat, one Republican, and now one Independent and we are still over a year away from the conventions and the elections. Ain't no po' boy (or gal) ever gonna get elected to be president of these here United States. (Yuck)

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Caveat Emptor

To the best of my knowledge www.careerbuilders.com and www.monster.com are legitmate on-line businesses but they are being used by illegitmate companies, people, dirt balls, whatever. Since placing my resume on both of these sites recently I have been receiving e-mails with offers "to good to be true" and you know, or should know, that if anything seems too good to be true that it probably is. The questionable e-mail replies to my resume have simply been the notorious phishing scams which are numerous on the Internet now. Now I am worried about a job offer I replied to at www.craislist.org recently. Could that one be a scam or phishing expedition as well?

Monday, June 18, 2007

What is the matter with our Giants? They can't seem to fight their way out of a paper bag. Perhaps the top executives need replacing...like Brian Sabean!!!!!!!!!!! The choices of personnel for this team are horrendously terrible.
What a weekend! The Giants visit Boston's Fenway Park for the first time since 1915 or so and lose three games in a row. Booo... Oh well, Boston is my other hometown team so it helped them against those damn Yankees. Those Yankees, by the way, come to AT&T Park for the first time this coming weekend. I wonder if the Giants will help them (God forbid) or help the Red Sox by losing three more in a row, something they seem to be good at this year.

The weekend was also very tiring as I was still recovering from the 90+ heat in Vallejo earlier in the week. Then I was out late Saturday night and while I enjoyed myself it did a number on me and I had to cancel an event I wanted to attend Sunday night. I guess I am just getting too old for this stuff. Yuck!

Need to find a temporary job and/or a part-time one as my bills from the IRS are killing me. So I have re-sent my resume to one agency already and may send it to another one this week. Also found an interesting listing on Craigslist which I will respond to this morning. That one is part-time and seems right in my area of interest.

Received three very nice pictures from a friend in Sakon Nakhon, Thailand this morning. He is even dressed up in one and that one surprised me. First time I have seen him so dressed.

My final opera of the 06/07 is on Saturday night but culture clash will exist as I need to go out to another venue after that. And then there is the big Gay Pride day parade on Sunday and one or two more parties after that. Help...I need a vacation. Ha!

Saturday, June 16, 2007

Yes, I am still here although not completely. To explain...part of this week has been spent in Vallejo assisting a friend who had a bi-lateral hernia repair. Everything went well but the heat of the past few days about did ME in. I returned to a cooling San Francisco on Friday but was exhausted. I think I am now returning to normal anyway and my friend is recovering nicely.

Whenever I take long overseas flights I always wish I could afford first class as those flights are butt busters especially in coach. Well, someday, those long flight might be a thing of the past if this new supersonic jet engine is a success. Imagine, San Francisco to Taipei in two to three hours instead of the thirteen hours it now takes. Wow!

Wednesday, June 06, 2007

The computer software industry is against a new tough anti-spyware bill just approved by the House because it could hurt innovation and technology investment. That has got to be the lamest and phoniest excuse I have ever heard. If anything, it should do the opposite. Certainly legitimate businesses do not want to lose their share of business so all would scramble to improve what they've got. Those that would be hurt would be the evil pests our there who try to claim legitimacy and who howl at any attempt to curb their (nefarious) activities.

Saturday, June 02, 2007

San Francisco Opera General Director David Gockley has fired soprano Hope Briggs before the opening night performance of Don Giovanni because she it not suitable for the role of Donna Anna. Mr. Gockley only wants the best for this company and in that regard he has my full support. I was at the Wednesday dress rehearsal and it was a painful afternoon in listening to Hope Briggs. He is correct. She is not suitable for the role and now it pains me to see people are trying to play the race card in this matter. Those people need to grow up. They also need to understand the musical values involved with opera singing and that not all voices are the same and singing opera is not the same as singing hymns in church on Sunday. It takes far more than just lovely tones of which Ms. Hope has plenty but singing Mozart makes demands that she is not suited for, at least not at this stage of her career. I will be at tonight's performance and hope that Ms. van den Heever (another young singer) has got what it takes. If not, Messrs. Gockely and Runnicles could both be in deep do-do over this one however I hope that this will have a happy ending.
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P.S. (6-June-07)
The replacement for Hope Briggs was wonderful. Mr. Gockley made the right choice. Thank you.