As you get older, life only gets funner.

-- six-year old child to Trevor

As much as it is sometimes difficult, I've got to remember to look at year 35 like I looked toward 7.

Found a tenner on the sidewalk yesterday, and had a great time eating Southern BBQ and cornmeal-fried catfish whilst watching Independence Day fireworks from a fancy manse rooftop in Potrero Hill. Today, I've already had a lovely walk with my honey, as well as macaroni and cheese for breakfast with my Sunday NY Times, and am now off to the outdoor store to buy a new sleeping bag for a camping trip with friends to some super-secret hot springs Friday, and then to hot yoga with my favorite instructor and dinner with my sweetcakes afterward. Looking forward to super-secret birthday events on Tuesday and Paul Newman outdoor cinema and wine on Wednesday. Funner, indeed!

Bring it on, birthday week.

Happy Independence Day!

Oh man this is so cool!
















Paper Taco Trucks on Flickr

Now you can print and fold a culinary jewel of the Best Coast and hold it in the palm of your hand.

I love this guy.

The 99 Cent Chef

He likes the good life, AND he's more thrifty than me! Inconceivable!

Even though I played Off The Wall just the other night as a soundtrack for dinner with friends, I think I'd forgotten how much I loved Michael Jackson. Or maybe I just took it for granted he'd be around longer than 50 years.

RIP MJ. What a genius. If anyone needs just one reminder...

When Trevor and I moved to the Bay Area almost 10 years ago, a family member who shall remain nameless chastised us for moving to "the modern-day Sodom and Gomorrah." Still another warned us about not succumbing to Communist ideology. I've gotten some serious mileage out of those two quite serious but ultimately dated admonishments! But we chose the Bay for a reason, and to put it simply it is because we're social progressives (and we love great food!) -- which I suppose could be seen as in line with the things our well-intentioned relatives warned us about.

Even so, it goes without saying that all at once I absolutely love, and can totally hate on, the permissive, "accepting" culture here. Love because I am all about people loving who they want and being who they want; hate because when taken to extremes this can make people become ironically strict in how they feel you should interact with them, e.g naked people covered in mineral oil trying to force you to hug them lest they accuse you of being "clothing-centric" (for real, yo -- courtesy How Berkeley Can You Be?, and reason 5,709,432 why I live in Oakland)

But even so, I must be pretty jaded, because this is the first time I've ever really thought to myself, "only in San Francisco" (even though that's not really true).

So it seems I can look forward to more than just the new Harry Potter this summer.

This looks wonderful!

I'm telling you, Japan is leaving the 1950s and heading straight into their sexual revolution...

The Herbivore's Dilemma: Japan panics about the rise of "grass-eating men," who shun sex, don't spend money, and like taking walks




















Japanese men have long been expected to live like characters on Mad Men, chasing secretaries, drinking with the boys, and splurging on watches, golf, and new cars....[But] in this age of bromance and metrosexuals, why all the fuss [about grass-eaters]? The short answer is that grass-eating men are alarming because they are the nexus between two of the biggest challenges facing Japanese society: the declining birth rate and anemic consumption. Herbivores represent an unspoken rebellion against many of the masculine, materialist values associated with Japan's 1980s bubble economy.

Interesting that there seems to be a panic around the declining birthrate because these men aren't "Mad Men." As someone close to, as well as fascinated (and sometimes appalled) by Japanese gender structures, I think this article is pure Japanese machismo talking. Remember, this is a country whose former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori advocated limiting pensions to women who had children and where mayor of Tokyo Shintaro Ishihara decreed that "old women who have lost their reproductive function are not worth living."

My Japanese cousin and many of my Japanese friends will not marry because they don't want their lives to center around catering to the every whim of abusive, philandering, drunken, insensitive -- but especially, state-sanctioned -- chauvinist pigs. They know how things can be, and they want partnerships.

Granted, a lot of "grass-eaters" in this article seem to be portrayed as the last thing a woman would want in a partnership -- self-absorbed, whiny, disinterested. But I doubt that is always, and truly, the case. What I do know is that when my husband was seen allowing me to ride my bicycle in front of him because he wanted to protect me from traffic, a friend's dad thought my husband was being a sissy. I also know that blaming egalitarianism for deep societal problems stemming from outdated gender roles often seems to be the last-ditch attempt of desperate constituencies. Again, the Japanese machismo may be shining through in this article.

I am disappointed that Slate is perpetuating the same tired ideas that come straight from the Japanese good ol' boys club. Where are the all-important opinions of the other half in this declining birth rate equation? Where are the single women's voices? I tend to think it is more likely that grass-eaters could be GOOD for the declining birth rate!

Finally!

Flaming Lips, Black Francis, Dandy Warhols, More Pay Tribute to Love and Rockets














Look at this tracklist! Look at these artists!

1. All In My Mind - Black Francis
2. Holiday On The Moon - Puscifer
3. Love Me - War Tapes
4. No New Tale To Tell - Blaqk Audio
5. I Feel Speed - Dubfire
6. Inside The Outside - The Dandy Warhols
7. Kundalini Express - The Flaming Lips
8. Life In Laralay - Sweethead
9. An American Dream - Film School
10. The Light - A Place To Bury Strangers
11. Mirror People - Monster Magnet vs Adrian Young
12. Fever - The Stone Foxes
13. No Big Deal - Frankenstein 3000
14. It Could Be Sunshine - VEX
15. So Alive - Better Than Ezra
16. Lazy - Chantal Claret vs Adrian Young
17. Sweet F.A. - Ian Moore
18. No Words No More - Snowden

Class.

Except, um, Better Than Ezra. Really? Though I suppose the top 40 hit "So Alive" is a fitting song for them to do.

I am a tad disappointed there is nothing from the original release of my favorite Love and Rockets album, their debut Seventh Dream of a Teenage Heaven (an album that contains the song that is my online namesake). But I cannot imagine that I will be disappointed in Black Francis and The Flaming Lips -- I hope they do something outrageous with those two fantastic songs.

Artwork is by Shepard Fairey. Fairey is good friends with LNR bassist, vocalist, and frequent sine qua non subject David J, and has been THE it boy in "underground" art (or, to be more fitting, guerilla marketing) for some time.

I've really never understood the attraction of Fairey's work, but I can give it to him that he definitely helped get Barack Obama into office with his iconic "Hope" portrait. Anyway, points to Fairey for incorporating the era of LNR with an 80s/90s vibe: tribal/industrial artwork and the classic black and white and red of the Express and S/T albums.

Looking forward to this!

I have a great affinity and admiration for small, efficient spaces. I even forked over 2500 yen for a magazine-style book in a fancy architecture shop in Aoyama on the (mostly modernist) wacky buildings scrunched into the tiniest bit of vacant lot in Japan. And there is no place where small and efficient is more fully realized than Japan, where 5 seat restaurants and full apartments half the size of Western one car garages are common.

When Trevor and I sold everything we owned and moved to Japan a few years ago (and then moved back almost immediately because we were unwilling to live double, schizophrenic lives as second-class citizens/rockstars), we vowed to never again live in a space dominated by stuff. We moved into a small but beautiful apartment (and even so, it still has a kitchen the size of our Japanese apartment), and decided to make our fantastic neighborhood our living room.

Well, 5 years, a bookstore job with a hefty discount, my rediscovery of vinyl record collecting, and bazillions of shoes later, our place gets a crammed-in feeling if we aren't constantly mindful. Fortunately, our recent acquisition of a platform bed (yay storage!) has remedied some of those problems.

My point with all of this? I am excited to have discovered Little Diggs: a chronicle of "the Big things that make Small spaces livable — 500 square feet or smaller."

Oi, the living spaces there are just dreamy! And many appeal to my outdoor and slow-living aesthetic: I could drop everything and move right now into the Beach Chalet or the Small Cabin For The Masses. But equally represented is the flipside for you sophisticates: check out this wine cellar.

Although two of the small spaces that immediately appealed to me were in the States, funny how so many of these places are outside the U.S., hmmm? No matter. I've been planning on buying a small house -- with land for building additional small work and play spaces -- forever, and these "little diggs" give me so much inspiration!

Temescal Street Cinema starts tonight!







This happens 2 blocks from my apartment, on 49th and Telegraph in Oakland:


View Larger Map

49th is closed down at Telegraph so people can sit in the street, movies are projected onto the Bank of the West building, and Temescal merchants sponsor free popcorn. Bring a chair or a blanket to sit on and something warm to wear when the sun goes down. Come out to support local film, and the best neighborhood in Oakland!

Get the schedule here.

Oh yeah!

Foraging Fruit Gains Popularity












Supporters of this movement hold two basic principles. One, it’s a shame to let fruit go to waste. And two, neighborhood fruit tastes best when it’s free.

“There have always been people harvesting fallen fruit,” Ms. [Asiya] Wadud [pictured] said, “but there’s a whole new counterculture about gathering and eating public fruit. This tremendous resource is growing everywhere if people just start looking around.”

Also great about this article: more Oaktown, and more of my favorite thrifty ways.

I've got free fuyus, figs, lemons, plums, and squirrel-nibbled avocados on seasonal rotation in my neighborhood -- what about you?

And from free fruit directly to the compost bin:

S.F. OKs Toughest Recycling Law In U.S.

Throwing orange peels, coffee grounds and grease-stained pizza boxes in the trash will be against the law in San Francisco, and could even lead to a fine.

The Board of Supervisors voted 9-2 Tuesday to approve Mayor Gavin Newsom's proposal for the most comprehensive mandatory composting and recycling law in the country. It's an aggressive push to cut greenhouse gas emissions and have the city sending nothing to landfills or incinerators by 2020.

People very often will not take it upon themselves to change for the better -- especially if it puts them out a bit -- unless they are forced. The haters and libertarians are crying foul about this recycling program, but c'mon, what else is there to do? Where do we think our Earth is going?

So I say good for San Francisco, and I think it's about time, but there has to be real enforcement. Hard to imagine in a city that cannot seem to do a thing about it's shameful homeless population, no matter what programs are put into place. We'll see.

Regardless of what you think about flash mobs, you've got to love this.



I suppose it also helps that I hate hipsters, and love my Oaktown yo!

I think I love this more than the original. And I love it more and more every time I watch it.

Congratulations to the people of the State of New Hampshire!














Gay Marriage Bill Signed in New Hampshire

It's coming, California...

A lot of my friends called for the California Supreme Court justices' heads after they ruled that Proposition 8 stands. But I argue that the justices did their jobs, as well as what they could for what is right by upholding the marriages that were performed before Proposition 8. Chief Justice Ronald George said it best:

"In a sense, petitioners' and the Attorney General's complaint is that it is just too easy to amend the California Constitution through the initiative process," wrote George for the 6-1 majority. "But it is not a proper function of this court to curtail that process; we are constitutionally bound to uphold it." Translation: Until Californians themselves change their system for amending the constitution, it will be the people - not the courts - who have final say on even the most fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution.

Let's place our anger in the right place: to change the insanity around California's constitutional amendment process, and to repeal Proposition 8.

I HATE bureaucrats and lack of common sense, which so often go hand in hand.

The City Taketh Away

About a year ago, Larry Moore was panhandling for booze. Since then, he has built up a popular shoeshine business and hasn't had a drink. He nearly had the $600 needed to rent a place and get off the street until S.F. stepped in and forced him to pay for a vendor permit.

I know the Public Works official is just doing her job, but christ! Giving this guy a break doesn't set bad precedent -- it serves to reward someone trying to do the right thing and demonstrate there's a bit of humanity left in our structures.

Anyway, I may hate automatons in government, but I do love the human spirit.

"I had $573 ready to go," Moore said, who needs $600 for the rent. "This tore that up. But I've been homeless for six years. Another six weeks isn't going to kill me."

Really?

Amid Hard Times, An Influx In Real Superheroes

Mr. Ravenblade, Mr. Xtreme, Dark Guardian and hundreds of others. Some with elaborate costumes, others with haphazardly stitched outfits, they are appearing on city streets worldwide watching over the populace like Superman watched over Metropolis and Batman over Gotham City.

As people become disillusioned from financial woes and a downtrodden economy and look to put new purpose in their lives, everyday folks are taking on new personas to perform community service, help the homeless and even fight crime.

There are apparently even organizations that encourage folks in this direction and offer support, like Superheroes Anonymous.

Whoa.

When I first read this article, I did give a little chortle. But in the context of helping others, if this is what gives people purpose and encourages community activism, why not?

Okay, I suppose the "why not" might involve people becoming unrealistic about what their new personas can and should be doing in the community. And not to go all Watchmen on you, but adding anonymity to the equation could further those problems.

But forget about trying to deconstruct the political and social implications behind such things. I'm such a killjoy! Let's just say we live in interesting times. Now to think of a superhero name...

It is about time.



















When Del Monte Superfruit Smoothies asked a thousand women who they would most like to lick, they picked the newest Bond, Daniel Craig. So Del Monte got working on a limited-edition "license to chill" ice lolly based on a beach scene from "Casino Royale." It's no doubt the first popsicle with abs.

I'm loving equal opportunity objectification! Thank you third wave.

I'll admit, I can get on a Daniel Craig lolly. The sad thing is, Craig is supposedly quite a sweet man, but let's face it, he's so hot because -- I'm just going to say it -- he looks like he will hurt you *ahem* rough. Any Daniel Craig popsicle has to look good but taste like bad boyfriend.

Now to make delicious frozen treats that look like James McAvoy (Scotch), Bradley Cooper (watermelon), Zachary Quinto's Spock (milk tea with tapioca), Snape (blackberries), John Cho (coconut), and Jason Statham (chocolate), and I think they'll have almost all of my bases covered.

Lately, depending on your perspective, I have been either a) totally getting my health on, or b) punishing myself with torture that may lead to premature death.

To wit:

Today was my second Bikram yoga class. Today I watched a puddle of my own sweat form on the part of the yoga mat not covered by a terry towel during one asana. It was dripping off my back, onto my face, and then from my head.

Bikram yoga is 90 minutes of yoga in 110 degrees at 50 percent humidity. Apparently, you burn upwards of 500 calories in one session. Afterwards, you are starving and sleepy, and in some cases (like mine) feel like you want to die. Sounds good, right? Apparently, this is the way you are supposed to feel. Cleansing toxins from your body and massaging your organs and all that. I even have a friend who swears his stinky office mate got less stinky after starting Bikram.

Right now, I feel like I've been hit by a truck, but then again I've also got better posture, spring in my step, and those stairs to my apartment feel like nothing. Go figure.

I have a one month promo membership -- let's see where this goes.

And tired of paying $3 a pop for probiotic goodness in a jar, I've also been brewing my own kombucha.















^^ That was my first batch, made with Earl Grey tea. You can see the "mother" kombucha colonies (or "mushrooms") at the bottom of the jars. First batch was super vinegary, but produced some fine looking mushroom "babies" (the white layer on the top):



















Just harvested my second batch today -- this time made with green tea -- and it was significantly less vinegary. A lot of people say kombucha tastes like sweaty socks, so people will generally put a tablespoon or more of fruit juice in the glass to make it palatable. This batch is so easy to drink straight I thought I'd done something wrong.

Anyway, let's hope I'm doing more good than harm! Now I'm off for a beer.

I don't know a single person wielding two X chromosomes that does not love Pride and Prejudice -- P&P for short -- whether it be the book or the BBC film version (yum, Colin Firth!)

Anyway, in the age of zombie everything, P&Pers, you knew this was coming:



















I actually took a little looksie in this book at Diesel, a Bookstore and it's pretty cute.
















Plus, Elizabeth Bennett is a badass, taking to the next level the unconventional qualities (of the time) she displays in P&P that makes all young girls want to be her.

Seth Grahame-Smith, the author of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, will be at Diesel, A Bookstore on June 8. I think I may go.

Anyone who reads this blog knows I am a penny-pinching, reducing, reusing, recycling, reconsidering and refusing fool. And it is for this very reason that I am loving this stuff:

Swap Meets, Web Sites On Rise As Economy Falls

I've been thrifting for two decades -- first out of necessity and fashion, and now more out of frugality, green principles, and, well fashion too! I am loving these sites that are popping up all over the internets. One of the sites profiled in the above article, Rehash, is a particularly good one for fashionistas. Freecycle is another well-organized one (they've even got them in the UK) where I've found things in the past for my old offices, and given some things away as well.

At least there's an itty bitty silver lining in this bad economy cloud.

Weekends don't get any better than this.

Chicken and waffles at Brown Sugar Kitchen in Oakland:















Heavenly. Don't believe me?















Check out their Gourmet mag write-up here. Yes, they are that good.

And never let it be said that I don't make my own contribution to food coma weekends as well. Yay for the first peaches of the season, and yay for peach upside down cake:















To round out the food theme, I even got a prezzie. New lunch tote from my man:

Why is the GOP a dinosaur that is losing constituents, becoming the party of colossal FAIL?

Because they unapologetically put profit before people.

RNC Chief: Gay Marriage Will Burden Small Business

[GOP Chairman Michael] Steele said that was just an example of how the party can retool its message to appeal to young voters and minorities without sacrificing core conservative principles.

"Now all of a sudden I've got someone who wasn't a spouse before, that I had no responsibility for, who is now getting claimed as a spouse that I now have financial responsibility for," Steele told Republicans at the state convention in traditionally conservative Georgia. "So how do I pay for that? Who pays for that? You just cost me money."

Yeah, that's pretty hip, Michael Steele.

How difficult is it to understand that anyone who will trample the civil rights of someone else, especially for a buck, will not think twice before stabbing you in the back for the same? And the bit about appealing to minorities? Bitch, please. Watch your back.

The Work of Fashion Photographer Richard Avedon -- a retrospective at NYC's International Center of Photography.

This is stunning:

Golden Gate Bridge vs. Mega Shark = teh best

Irish Student Hoaxes World's Media With Fake Quote

When Dublin university student Shane Fitzgerald posted a poetic but phony quote on Wikipedia, he said he was testing how our globalized, increasingly Internet-dependent media was upholding accuracy and accountability in an age of instant news.

As regular readers of my blog know, I am a big fan of using Wikipedia as a reference link, as it is a great way to get a primer on something, and folks interested in more can check out the footnotes for more in-depth articles. But being aware of its potential problems is key. And when it comes to potential problems, how about them apples?

Also sweet: this oldie but goodie I found a while back on the Grammy page. Gotta love web 2.0.

Trevor's book, Rarer and More Wonderful, was reviewed by Michael Roberson on CutBank Reviews -- the blog for the literary journal of the University of Montana.

The craft of reviews is something I never really appreciated until Trevor started doing them himself. Michael's review of Trevor's book is a really terrific piece in its own right, seamlessly transitioning from one set of unique poems to another and capturing the book's many themes, then tying this fecund, wild world together by laying each component bare so we can all have a good look at what it contributes to the landscape. Fantastic.

Incidentally, Michael also has another claim to fame: he's from our backwoods 'hood. Tuompton, holla!

We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community... Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes and for our own. -- Cesar Chavez

Happy International Workers' Day!

Thursday, April 30, 2009 is the annual Dining Out For Life in the East Bay. Dine out at a participating East Bay restaurant and that restaurant will donate 25 percent or more of the total meal tab to an organization working to fight AIDS; this year, the beneficiary is Vital Life Services in Oakland.

I'm hitting up Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe for their killer mac and cheese and an ice-cold Oly. They're one of the few folks giving 50 percent -- doubling the standard donation!

Find out when your area is hosting their Dining Out For Life here.

Things to look forward to:

1) 10 Essential Cocktails To Make At Home

I can't stomach buying The Chron anymore, ever since they downsized to their hokey one-horse town layout and news style, but sfgate still pumps out some of the gems I'm missing by not getting the paper. This article takes a stab at listing the "essential" cocktails, but much more exciting is their list of affordable and non-pretentious essentials for the at-home bar. Class.

2) Sol Food in San Rafael

Vegetariano Plate: rice, beans simmered with Spanish olives, organic salad, tostones, Puerto Rican hot sauce, and a house-made limeade served in a Ball jar.















Sigh. I could eat this every single day, yo. Not having Puerto Rican food in Oakland is killing me. Killing me!

Not that I have to worry too much though. Soon, I may get to have it as often as I want, because of...

3) Trevor's sweet librarian position in San Rafael.

He studied, he withered my nether regions with talk of metadata, he worked tirelessly as an adjunct professor dedicated to his students, he honed his craft with internships, networking, and being seriously passionate about information and education. And it has paid off.

Trevor will be a librarian at a lovely, progressive, and academically challenging private college preparatory high school, with lovely students, lovely peeps, and a reverse commute. I am excited for him, and for us!

Trevor reading his book, Rarer and More Wonderful, and talking about publishing for our friend Ryan's Creative Writing class at Crafton Hills College:















See Rarer and More Wonderful on Facebook here!

My new obsession, P.O.S., covers Pearl Jam:



Just got his latest album, Never Better, on limited edition clear vinyl. Fierce.

Also picked up Bat for Lashes' new album, Two Suns. I'm really more partial to her first album, Fur and Gold, but that is not to say the latest album disappoints. It's just a little more disco!

BTW, I must say that I LOVE vinyl that comes with a free digital download card. One of the best things about the 21st century, yo.

Yee-haw! Artist and good friend Jon Stich, representing on the Squidbillies Volume 2 DVD release:

Woman Survives Polar Bear Mauling at Berlin Zoo

A polar bear attacked a woman at Berlin Zoo Friday afternoon after she climbed a fence and jumped into its habitat during feeding time, police said Saturday.













Sigh.

Some states have forward-thinking lawmakers, and some have, well...Betty Brown:

Texas Lawmaker Suggests Asians Adopt Easier Names

A North Texas legislator during House testimony on voter identification legislation said Asian-descent voters should adopt names that are “easier for Americans to deal with.”

Because people of Asian descent aren't really Americans, right?

“Rather than everyone here having to learn Chinese — I understand it’s a rather difficult language — do you think that it would behoove you and your citizens to adopt a name that we could deal with more readily here?” (Rep. Betty) Brown said.

Get out of town. For real?

How about putting some effort in to educate yourself and learn to accept and represent your full community? Betty Brown, you insult all Americans with this crap. With the election of an African-American president with decidedly non-Anglo first and last names, this is even more ridiculous.

Oi, I'm sure Betty Brown is glad I have my Dad's German last name -- no problems there, ever (riiiiight) -- and not my mom's phonetic Japanese last name.

I said it once, and I'll say it again, as it often sadly rings true -- you don't have to pass an IQ test to be [a public servant].

All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.












On the heels of Iowa, Vermont becomes the latest U.S. state to say yes to the United States Constitution:

Vermont Legalizes Gay Marriage

And D.C. is throwing their hat into the ring as well:

D.C. Council Votes To Recognize Gay Nuptials Elsewhere

"I think we're going to look back at this week as a moment when our entire country turned a corner," said Jennifer C. Pizer, national marriage project director for the advocacy group Lambda Legal.

I am giddy!

And as if things couldn't get better -- Kumar goes to White...House?

Kal Penn Joins White House Team (warning: House spoiler at link)

The White House has hired actor Kal Penn as a liaison between President Barack Obama's administration and Asian constituents. White House spokesman Shin Inouye said Tuesday that the actor who had a recurring role on Fox's TV show "House" and has starred in several movies would join the staff as an associate director in the Office of Public Liaison.

I love Kal Penn. Loved him in both Harold and Kumar... films, loved him on House, loved him in The Namesake, love his politics. I am proud to have Kal Penn representing Asian-Americans in the Obama administration.

Is it really only Tuesday? What a week!

Inspired by a friend on Facebook, I challenge you, dear reader, to a 80s video cheese-off!

My entry:



The hair, the soft-focus, the wet boys in speedos, and good god, the ninjas -- I don't think there's an equal.

Show me.

Whoa.

Getting Their Kirk On

I love Star Trek as much as the next nerd, but I think someone insisting on having one of these in my living room would be a deal-breaker.

Speaking of, Trevor and I were walking home from dinner last night and what did we see illuminated inside a small garage down a long, dark driveway in tony Rockridge? A boys room -- compete with a fooseball table, Guinness pool table lamp, computer, flat-panel teevee, various sports jerseys (meh), and a bar. With taps. It was really something. We were drawn like moth to flame.

Someday.

I never thought I'd say this, but...

WOO-HOO IOWA!!

Iowa Court Says Gay Marriage Ban is Unconstitutional

Today is a good day!

“The Iowa statute limiting civil marriage to a union between a man and a woman violates the equal protection clause of the Iowa Constitution,” the justices said in a summary of their decision.

And later in the ruling, they said: “Equal protection under the Iowa Constitution is essentially a direction that all persons similarly situated should be treated alike. Since territorial times, Iowa has given meaning to this constitutional provision, striking blows to slavery and segregation, and recognizing women’s rights. The court found the issue of same-sex marriage comes to it with the same importance as the landmark cases of the past.”

"...striking blows to slavery and segregation, and recognizing women's rights.  The court found the issue of same-sex marriage comes to it with the same importance as the landmark cases of the past." So simple, and so true.

Corn-fed IOWA gets that gay marriage is a social justice and civil rights issue. Smugly liberal California should continue to be ashamed.

C'mon California: repeal the shameful Prop 8.

I have a problem with being annoyed about things I cannot really change, especially those small human defects we all have that very often result in scenarios that are really none of my business. Like going out to dinner the other night at a pizza joint, and the young lady at the table next to me ordering garlic and pineapple on her slice ("hmmm" I thought, "that's exactly what I was going to order"). She then sent it back when it arrived as she had ordered it, and bagged on the waiter to her friend while waiting for her replacement slice (though she took the offending slice on the house as well). She had apparently forgotten she asked for garlic (or maybe she was just super-stoned). Either way, lame.

And lame that I even care! Hating on entitlement, working class solidarity, annoyed by people with bad memories, or just plain sad -- call it what you want, but that kind of shit just makes me crazy. Feel my pain -- it sucks!

So as you can imagine I've refrained out of self-preservation from posting about the really big fuck-yous that our humanness hands us, like AIG and all of the banking crooks who are in the process of using taxpayer bailouts to pay millions in bonuses and renovation of their headquarters, among other things. And that is because it fills me with so much annoyance -- nay, rage -- and helplessness that I can hardly see straight -- don't need to be reminded of that on my blog!

But this bit in the New York Times today is worth it:

A.I.G. Revenge Is All the Rage, but It Isn’t Healthy

Maybe it’s time to take a deep calming breath. Some people already have, no matter how deep their economic suffering. They are finding constructive ways to channel the anger they’ve been feeling — outlets that quell the instinct to throw a rock through the window of somebody’s mansion.

Joe Maysonet, the fitness manager at the Printing House Fitness and Squash Club in Manhattan, said there has been a rush of new attendees at boxing classes. Punching a human-shaped rubber dummy is especially popular.

While fists fly, trainers yell inspiration like, “You’re punching your money back into your pockets!” he said. “You’re punching that portfolio you used to have!”

Ha ha...humbug.

Though I do like this bit:

The dummy, Mr. Maysonet said, will not press charges. “He’s withstood it all,” he said. “Just like our country.”

The only way I can lure Trevor into thrift store shopping with me:

Spires record release party, Oaktown, 3.13.2009

six degrees of Sanchez:















Wilcox surfs and screams:















The W and Trevor:



















Support these hardworking Oakland boys and order the record here.

Back from a gorgeous, perfect weekend in my hometown. Packed a TON into a few days. Feeling really blessed right now to have such good friends and family, and to hail from such a beautiful place!

We started the weekend off with a drive out Italian Bar Road to take in the sights and spend some time with our good friend J.

Look at this gorgessity:















I-Bar is well known for its active and abandoned mining claims; on our hike we came across a few abandoned and waterlogged shafts:



















We were heartened to see that the PG&E ditches and the Stan were full and free-flowing. Our hike meandered along a tributary of the Stan and ended at one of many spectacular waterfalls:



















And then this being I-Bar and all, J ended up being a good samaritan and putting his tow strap to good use:



















That night we went to the casino with J and his mom to watch a comedy show (more tragic than comedic, but hey free Cokes) and then I won $20 in the nickel slots! Righteous.

On Friday, Trevor and I skied the best snow of our lives at Dodge Ridge:















17 degrees at 9 am! The wind was like ice, but the snow was all icing sugar.

Friday night I cooked dinner for my mom and my man. Afterward, we went to grab a beer with J at our favorite hometown haunt, and found there was, of all things, a rave going on:















Luckily we were able to cheese in just for a drink w/o the cover. Normally we go here to see hillbilly punk shows, and consequently know everyone in the bar; this time we knew not one soul. We just kept thinking: this is Tuompton -- where do these people come from?

Saturday saw us heading home into a traffic backup on 108 that extended for miles. After an hour of waiting where we moved a quarter of a mile, we called CHP and they told us there was a massive accident at LaGrange turnoff. At least a 2 hour wait. Never before have I been so grateful to be a local (and have an iPhone) -- we u-turned and went the back way through the Red Hills. I'd never really driven the backwoods of Chinese Camp before, but I knew we could get past LaGrange turnoff from there somehow. Not only did we discover a new place to hike, but a 20 minute detour popped us right back out onto the highway not but a 100 yards ahead of the accident, and on our way home.

Sunday we went to see Watchmen. I was very impressed. Perfectly cast, and well-edited from the comic. Alan Moore should be proud.

If only all weekends could be so magnificent. Makes Monday bearable!

Trevor's book, Rarer and More Wonderful has been nominated for the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association award in the poetry category.

And while I hope he wins or is at least a finalist, that old adage "it's an honor to be nominated" rings very true. Past nominees and winners include Willis Barnstone, Adrienne Rich, Ben Lerner, and Robert Hass, just to name a few.

I am so proud of him!

Haha, lest you think I'm turning all puppies and rainbows on you -- you know I can't go too many days without complaining.

Leonard Cohen is touring. And he's playing the gorgeous Paramount Theatre in downtown Oakland. Guess how much tickets are?

$100-$251.

Jeebus.

Unless, of course, you want a nosebleed seat. Those are $70. And I think I'd only pay that if it was general admission.

I am all about someone getting paid, but the prices of shows are really ridiculous. But I suppose someone like Cohen isn't making his money from merchandise, so a higher ticket price is a little more understandable. However, I won't excuse $251 for anybody. Boo.

Looks like I'll be putting on Songs of... and drinking bourbon at home that night, for free, instead of dropping nearly $100 after fees. Hell, it's probably better than a seat where you need opera glasses!

I'm on a high of goodness:

Miami Banker Gives Out $60 Million in Bonuses

This actually brought tears to my eyes. This man worked hard and seemed to make good decisions his whole life. He treated his employees well, and they were loyal (57 years!) and in turn most likely were part of the reason for his success. Talk about giving back! It feels good to know that there are still people like this in the world, a true role model.

This is the type of person I wish to emulate, even on my own meager economic level. Meager means most of my giving back is along the lines of sweat equity, tipping well, sharing a bottle, or buying someone dinner. But even these little things can make a difference in someone's day.

I've posted links to Operation Nice before, but I think it's time to do so again. We can't all give someone we appreciate $50K, but there are plenty of easy ways to give back to those who deserve it -- and maybe every now and then to folks who might just need it. And you might just get some good juju yourself in the process.

Just want to pimp this:

S. F. Zipcar Lets Charity Workers Drive for Free

The nonprofit organization I work for is already in negotiations to use Zipcar to pick up our clients for their medical appointments, but I didn't know this was part of a broader plan on the part of Zipcar.

It is this type of social entrepreneurship that makes me feel like we're on our way to a better world.