Monthly Archives: June 2007

Save Net Radio Benefit This Weekend!

I’ve been remiss in not getting the word out to folks as best I can about the looming destruction of Internet radio that’s coming fairly soon, and how they can help try and forestall the Forces of Doom. Which is rather stupid , on my part, since I am an avid listener of SOMA FM. In fact, thanks to SOMA FM, I’ve ended up buying more music than I would if there was no SOMA FM. Plus, their “Groove Salad” channel is great for background music when I’m on a writing deadline.
There is a Save Internet Radio event coming up on Sunday that you should check out. Also, oddly enough, there is an unusually informative piece in the SF Weekly that explains much of what’s going on, and its impact on Internet stations here in town.
This was a surprise, since this is the first time in a years I can remember reading something that I didn’t already know in said publication. But I digress.
My biggest objection to how all of this is going down is that once again we see the big entertainment companies and the RIAA decide that the only way to be successful in business is to go to war with the customer, and use Congress and their ilk to write bogus laws that reinforce this war. Then they wonder why it is people are running away in droves from their dull offerings and towards all things Internets. Duh!

Adama for President Shirts Are Going Fast! Order One Now!

Tired of the same old boring presidential candidates? Not happy with your party’s potential nominees?
Then get yourself one of these limited edition “Adama ’08” shirts! We will be changing T-Shirt providers soon, so order one today, before we discontinue this version of this product!
(Please. I need to sell just a few more, then I can switch to Spreadshirt….so order one today!)

A “Hey, Wait a Minute!” from BlogSF and the ABC News I Team On the Latest Non Issue?

While reading the blog feed at BlogSF.com I saw this interesting piece from the ABC news I-Team about a rather provocative video attacking the Mayor, SF POA Chief Gary Delagnes, and SFPD Chief Fong.
It concerns that “scandal”you may recall a while back concerning some officers in the SFPD’s Bayview District who made a retirement video for a departing colleague which ended up on the Internet.
All of this made me have a “Hey! Wait A Minute!” moment. Right now I’m told Chris Daly is indeed the anti-Christ for saying that the Mayor was evasive when asked about a possible problem with cocaine in the past.
However, when the police officers who were disciplined by the SFPD sued recently, they indicated they’d demand a deposition under oath from the Mayor about….well, you know.
So the question today about the non-issue issue, since Mayor G.C. gave said allegations a no-holds barred F.U. in no uncertain terms, is this: Why hasn’t anyone called the suing SFPD cops “evil” for doing something that would seem to be in the same vein as Mr. Daly’s loud rhetoric?
And, when do I get to read that detailed analysis of the Mayor’s budget and the like, instead of more “everything is the Internet’s fault” foolishness from The Chronicle?

What Is In The Water These Days That Makes SF Politicians Such Whiners?

Someone managed to put something in Hetch Hetchy that turned the “City That Knows How” into the “City That Knows How to Whine“. Its effects are already being seen in our alleged political leaders, and their allied interests.
Seriously. No side is looking particularly statesman-like (statespersonlike?) these days, and it’s mostly because folks are happy with firing off the missives, big or small, but cry like schoolchildren (schoolpersons?) when someone fires back.
How else, then, to explain the “mean people are picking on the Sensitive Mayor” meme anytime anyone dares to suggest Our Mayor is less than perfect? Mild critiques of his sometime galpal, a mere molehill in blogville, got blown up into a mountain – again because someone made a slight comment that perhaps she and Mr. Mayor were not 100% perfect. (What is this, Soviet Russia or something?)
Meanwhile, the Mayor and his allies have no problem dishing it out – remember all the nastiness spewed during the District 6 Supervisor’s race? How many times have the Mayor and his staff resorted to name-calling when they don’t get their way? Folks, you can’t throw rocks and not expect rocks to get thrown back at ya. Deal, or get out of politics and something less acrimonious.
Don’t for a minute think I excuse “progressives” from their share of the blame. Supervisor Daly’s “outrageous” comments aren’t as common as the mainstream media and gossipers would have you believe, but the meme wouldn’t exist if it weren’t at least somewhat true. Worse than that, however, is the cacophony of whining from the left about how “bad” the Mayor and his allies are – and yet after all the whining and gimmicks, folks are content to whine and complain, rather than have the nerve to stand up and do something.

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Kerry McCain ’08???

More fun with Google Ads in my Gmail inbox: This time, whilst reading my weekly dispatch on all things concerning Clint Reilly (he who sued MediaNews and sort of won), I saw this ad for McCain with the headline, “Kerry McCain”.

Which is kind of funny, since at one point Sen. Kerry entertained the notion of having McCain on the 2004 ticket, something McCain, in his inimitable way, toyed with Kerry before scorning his bid.

It’s also kind of funny since McCain’s GOP credentials have been suspect at times by those in the Republican Party. Wonder which junior intern gets blamed for this one?

Who’s Paying For Matt Gonzalez’s Non-Campaign Campaign Ads?

While most have been watching the daily soap opera As The Supervisor Turns, detritus and miscellany from progressive theater production continues to find its way on stage. Although right now things have ended in tears for more than one aspiring politico, and the Mayor is using the disarray on the other side to his advantage, there’s a hint of Act III, right here in my Google Mail.

If you look closely at those “targeted” Google ads that popped while reading all about Our Mayor in the news, you’ll see an ad for Matt Gonzalez for Mayor. Clicking it takes you to the site he’s had since 2003, but the ad copy itself clearly was written recently.

It’s especially interesting as it comes as Beyond Chron ran an article suggesting that Matt could be the Great Healer for the Progressives.

I’m just wondering who paid for this ad, and how they did it. Google isn’t in the business of giving away ads for free. Does this mean Matt is finally going to bless us with a run for office? Anyone? Anyone?

More to the point, is it too late? Even after all those laws that were passed? Anyone? Anyone?

Don’t ask me, I have no idea. Let’s see what happens…

The International Blogger’s Union, Local 20-Deep, Thanks Ed Jew , The Ol’ Gil of SF Politics!

On behalf, once again, of the International Blogger’s Union, Local 20-Deep, I want to take a moment to thank Supervisor Ed Jew, and his house in my home town of Burlingame for the work they’ve done to ensure that hard working local bloggers have the material they need to keep on writing.
All it took was being the ol’ Gil of SF politics, coming up with a weird little plan that made little political or common sense. Add to that the whole residency thing, and a continuing chain of odd comments to the press and bingo! Blogger heaven.
Thanks, Ed, and we appreciate your hard work making sure that tapioca chains pay money to your playgrounds in the Sunset. Without you, we’d have nothing to write about since the “progressives” wussed out of the Mayor’s race and all the fun we had with Bumblebee Girl and Mayor McDreamy seems to have died down.

I Can’t Believe I Missed Ed Jew’s Surrender In Burlingame…

I can’t believe I actually missed Ed Jew’s surrender in Burlingame, to John Law the week I’m in Burlingame visiting family.
My mom’s place is not too far from Casa De Tapioca, and I’d actually walked by the place earlier today. Just goes to show what you miss when you take a week off and go out of town.

Friday Fun: Paris Hilton Provides Us With a “Ha HA!” Moment!

If ever there was an indictment of cable news, the incessant coverage of Paris Hilton’t tearful return to LA County Jail was it. Forget that whole “war in Iraq” thing, or whatever, this is Big News by the Big Journalists Who Know Best.
Now, if Fox News wanted to validate themselves a little (after Roger Ailes said Fox News was as badass as Al Qaeda, they could have puncutated the coverage with Nelson Muntz giving some much needed commentary with his inimitable “Ha HA!” instead of having their usual boring blowhards. For more fun, check out this picture of Sheriff Lee Baca with his pals, Gov. Arnold and Mayor Rudy – wonder how they feel about this mess?
Have a great weekend!

A Few Notes and Links From The “Progressive Convention”

There was a certain irony to holding the “Progressive Convention” at a kids’ school, with all these Deep Thoughts posted around the school. Given all the constant talking and bemoaning and whatnot, seeing this little missive about excuses seemed rather appropriate.
I stopped by to check it out, but since there was no candidate announcing or whatever, the “news” value of it was a bit low. However, it was clear there were a lot of people willing to do something, anything, if only there was a candidate to run for Mayor or D.A.
I stuck around long enough to see Public Defender Jeff Adachi give a short speech, which was well received. Otherwise, after hanging out a little, I took off, since at these things people love to putter around the room, and progressive hospitality inevitably means brown rice is involved somehow.
Bob over at Calitics compiled a link list of bloggers talkin’ about the convention, and this wrap up, that describes the letdown at the end. Check it out!