The Come Up

Cider tastings

2012-01-11T06:59:00.001-08:00

http://www.yelp.com/biz/carter-mountain-orchard-charlottesville#query:cider

http://www.albemarleciderworks.com/

Nothing changes but the date

2011-10-27T09:40:00.000-07:00

Athletes are the same today as they've always been. They work hard and play hard. Night out with a pornstar? Drunk driving arrest? Barfight? This ain't nothin new. The catch is that the microscope is amplified in 2011. The 24-hour news cycle (I'm looking at you ESPN), Twitter/Facebook, Smartphones with cameras and over-informed/overzealous fans have contributed to the massive scrutiny the modern athlete endures.

They were always doing this stuff, we just hear more about it now than ever. The "Gotcha" journalism, the bloggers, the haters--these are the folks I look to blame.

The hypocrisy (Not all of us fans are squeaky clean) stretches further when you hear the media and fans complain about their favorite stars lacking personality in interviews. Of course they lack panache in interviews! With endorsements and legacies at stake I'm surprised we don't see even more cliched interviews.

Don't scrutinize these athletes and then ask for them to be more colorful. It's one or the other. I'd love to see these guys have more fun.

Who are the athletes we love to watch the most? Mayweather, Ochocinco, T.O., Joey Barton. We may not love these guys but we tune in or log on to see what they're doing and saying in their leisure time.

To the haters: Back off and shut up. These guys deserve to have fun.

Umbrella related near-decapitation count for April 28, 2010 in the San Francisco Financial District

2010-04-28T16:17:00.000-07:00

1 near fatality as of 4:17 p.m.

It's baaaaaaaaaaaaack...

2010-04-24T07:46:00.000-07:00

Bitch Hunter w/ Will Ferrell from Will Ferrell

Cartoon stereotypes that may screw up your child

2009-10-29T16:45:00.000-07:00

-Black Crow Minstrels - I won't speak to this one.

-Boxing Kangaroos - Apparently not all kangaroos wear boxing gloves and throw a solid jab.

-St. Bernard mobile alcohol units - Do they really wander the Alps with barrels of sweet brown liquor around their necks?

-Pepe LePue - I would never, I repeat, never try to woo a skunk. You've been warned.

After all that Bugs Bunny and WB friends as a child I'm happy I'm as well adjusted as I am.

Champer Damper

2009-10-29T16:40:00.001-07:00

Nike CTR 360 Maestri

2009-10-29T16:33:00.001-07:00

I have these and love them. Comfort, class and you don't have to box a kangaroo for his hide (peep the kanga-lite material).

Amazing

2009-10-29T16:30:00.000-07:00

http://www.thebeatlesrockband.com/

More fun than Christmas morning. The visuals alone make you wanna watch while others play.

Movember is coming...

2009-10-29T16:24:00.000-07:00

and I'm shaving my mustache for the 2nd time ever. Crucial. And...it's for a good cause.

More on Movember: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Movember

Watch this space for updates.

Ridiculous

2009-10-29T16:21:00.001-07:00

I Think We're Dead

2009-10-29T16:16:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-29T16:13:00.001-07:00

Kid Cudi

2009-08-04T14:43:00.000-07:00

Cudi is about to break through.

His album drops soon and he's touring currently. Here's a mixtape that Complex is featuring on imeem (brilliant site!): http://www.imeem.com/complexmagazine

All-time Low

2009-08-03T10:59:00.000-07:00

Proof that Americans will sue anyone for anything.

Embarrassing: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8180806.stm

Where's the Irony?

2009-07-22T11:30:00.000-07:00

Has irony lost it's irony?

Think about this one for a minute...

Think about all the things you see hipsters intentionally do for laughs. Now think about how unfunny they are.

The element of shock and awe has all but vanished.

Plotted acts calling for attention seem more contrived now than ever. (Thanks Facebook!)

Is there irony in the ironic?

...?

2009-07-20T22:35:00.001-07:00

I guess he's a fan of...

I guess he doesn't wanna catch the...

...Stevie G flu...

Damn, I can't make a proper joke out of this one. I'm just confused.

Who has two thumbs and is an International Deuchebag?

2009-07-20T22:25:00.000-07:00

This Guy! Heeeeeeyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy! I'm Marco Materazzi. You may remember me as the guy who said unspeakable things to Zinedine Zidane then got a bald head imprint in my sternum as a reward. Heeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyyyyy! It's me! I'm an overerated (Calcio) soccer player. Heeeeyyyyyyyyyy! I love Los Angeles! Heyyyyyyyyy!

Shows You Should be Watching (on the reg)

2009-07-20T22:07:00.000-07:00

-Cake Boss - Wiseguys doin the most incredible cake designs you've ever seen. 1 part Jersey + 1 part Italian Americans + 1 part The Learning Channel. Sweet tooth porn.

-True Blood - "Twilight" is bullshit. Step your game up if you're gonna get on the vampire bandwagon.

-Late Night with Jimmy Fallon - So simple and so catchy. Brilliant like a perfect three-minute pop song that you can't get out of your head (I'm looking at you Black Eyed Peas - "Boom Boom Pow"). The Roots are the house band and have played everything imaginable as intro music for the guests ("Final Countown", "Woody Woodpecker Theme", "I'm on a Boat", "Muffin Tops", "Werewolf Barmitzvah"). Jimmy is great and grows on you with every episode.

-The Daily Show - Where else you gonna get your news?

-No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain - Travel show bliss mixed with food porn. Tony is gritty, raw and over the top but most importantly he keeps it real and honest. He's seen it all twice. Trust him.

No Reservations: San Francisco

2009-07-20T22:04:00.000-07:00

It's coming.

August 10th is the debut of the SF episode of Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations. This episode is way overdue.

Where will Tony go? Will it be SF only? The French Laundry in Napa? Absinthe? Gary Danko? How many taquerias will he hit up? How many times will he dis Chez Panisse?

Tune in.

Cereal

2009-07-20T21:59:00.000-07:00

Top 5 Cereal List (in no particular order):

1. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

2. Frosted Flakes

3. Golden Grahams

4. Honey Nut Cheerios

5. Blueberry Morning

East Bay is OK

2009-07-20T21:46:00.000-07:00

I hella heart Oakland.

I dare you...no implore you biased, pompous San Franciscans to get off that island (SF is an island more than a peninsula, let's be frank) and visit the East Bay. We got it goin on over here. Yeah, its more spread out than your dense pseudo-metropolis. Yeah, we drive cars over here. Yeah, its slower over here. But you know what, it's better over here too.

The weather's better than that windy, fogbox you live in. The food's better (yeah, I said it). It's cheaper over here. We have more personal space over here. We have more grass and parks over here. We're the gateway to the rest of California and the U.S. (did you forget?!)

So leave your excuses at your BART station and get your ass over here. Don't front about getting back because you can always sleep on my pull-out couch/bed or I'll drive you back (no sweat!). But it's worth the trip. You don't need a passport to cross the Bay just some initiative.

P.S.--I don't want your pity when I say that I live in the East Bay. There's no other place I'd rather be. Don't furrow your brow and make that sad "ohhh/awww" noise because I don't wanna hear it. Open your horizons. You're San Francisco you're supposed to be liberal.

Best Celebration Speech Ever

2009-06-18T14:07:00.000-07:00

In lieu of the Lakers winning it again this year, I have to revisit Mark "Mad dog" Madsen's victory speech from back in the day:

Death and No Consequences

2009-06-17T08:56:00.000-07:00

No one can ever tell me that celebs/atheletes/rich people are treated the same as me or any other Joe Public after a story like this. What would be the penalty if you murdered someone while driving drunk? The NFL should suspend Stallworth for a year or two at the very least. Life without consequences...what's that like?

Donte Stallworth Sentenced to Only Thirty Days for Killing Pedestrian--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

By Jim Roberts
Jun 17, 2009

NFL News makes its usual stop at Crime Beat with a new free get out of jail card for another athlete as Donte Stallworth gets a free pass for running over and killing a man with his car while driving drunk. He has been sentenced to thirty days. His crime, he ran over a 59-year-old pedestrian on March 14 in Miami Beach and killed him. Was it an innocent accident? No, Donte Stallworth was drunk, clicking in at a healthy .126 after a night of hard drinking.

And he got only thirty days! The lesson, if you are going to drive drunk and kill someone, make a trip to Miami and look for the plea bargain. It must surely help if you play in the NFL.

***

Stallworth had a blood-alcohol level of .126 after the crash, well above Florida's .08 limit. He hit the man as he was going to work. Stallworth was feeling good and buzzing along after a nice night of drinking at Miami Beach's Fountainebleau hotel

"I accept full responsibility for this horrible tragedy," said Stallworth. Or in other words, thirty days and a big cash settlement to stay out of jail. The night before the crash, Stallworth earned a $4.5 million roster bonus from the Browns. Stallworth had a blood-alcohol level of .126 after the crash, well above Florida's .08 limit.

Ignorance

2009-06-17T08:53:00.000-07:00

Yet another reason I'm glad I grew up without Facebook/Myspace/Twitter--the ignorant dissemination of opinions:

Racial Tensions Boil Over at Berkeley High
Student Facebook postings using the word "nigga" create on-campus furor.
By Sam Levin

PJune 17, 2009

Berkeley High School's lingering racial tensions exploded this month in a flurry of online and verbal slurs, on-campus protests, and disciplinary actions. The Class of 2009's highly charged final days ended Friday in a celebratory graduation ceremony that only partially masked the friction recently ignited among the student body.

Eric Klein contributed reporting to this story.

Related Stories: Berkeley High School, Black Student Union, Wendell Brooks, Taylor Brown, Berkeley Unified School District, Mark Coplan, Bill Huyett, Facebook, Kad Smith, Eve Shames, Taylor Brown, Ariana Fowler, Rikki Moore, Berkeley High PTSA, Mark van Krieken Article Tools

About two weeks ago, a white male senior posted a Facebook photo album entitled "Niggas," which included images of him and his Caucasian friends in hip-hop attire with guns. The album used the word multiple times and triggered angry responses among students, especially from the Black Student Union.

Shortly thereafter, the same student posted a photo of African-American history teacher Wendell Brooks, which had been modified to outfit Brooks in stereotypical gangster paraphernalia and wardrobe. The photo was accompanied by a caption and several comments from both white and black students that also used the term "nigga."

Part of the dispute involved the difference, if any, between the words "nigger" and "nigga" — the latter of which some view as a slang nickname and not a derogatory insult. Other students, angered by any form of the word, brought this to the attention of Brooks, who said he resolved the issue with the student.

One of the seniors who appeared in the original photo album also was accused of allegedly calling a female African-American senior a "nigger bitch" on campus. According to Taylor Brown, a member of the Black Student Union who was nearby but did not witness the incident, the male senior was criticizing the black students' response to the Facebook album, and that sparked a confrontation between the girl and boy. Whether the term "nigger bitch" was used remains his word against hers. The Express is not publishing the students' names.

The culmination of these events was a walk-out on Friday, June 5, in which more than 200 students left campus during finals and staged a protest at the Berkeley Unified School District Office. At the June 10 school board meeting, Black Student Union members issued a list of demands that included the implementation of awareness training, an ethnic studies requirement for graduation, student input into the hiring of more diverse teachers, and programs designed to initiate discussions in the aftermath of racial incidents. School district spokesman Mark Coplan said Superintendent Bill Huyett would address the demands this week.

These incidents highlight the challenges officials face when attempting to respond to online actions on social media outlets such as Facebook. Online behavior officially occurs off campus, and such speech is legally protected.

School officials declined to discuss the incidents with the Express, but seem to have responded only when the behavior occured on campus or involved a teacher. There apparently was no tangible response in the case of the photo album, which had no connection to the school other than the students who posted it.

Although the fate of the two main seniors remains unclear, several students said the student who posted the photo of Mr. Brooks is facing expulsion. He was banned from walking at graduation and a student appeal panel at BHS will determine whether he will actually graduate and remain eligible for admission to UC Santa Cruz. The student who allegedly slurred a female classmate was apparently suspended for three days. He was banned from speaking at graduation, as his fellow students had selected him to do. He is expected to continue on to UC Berkeley.

Black senior Kad Smith, who is friends with the two students but also an active member of the Black Student Union, said he tried to make both sides understand the opposing perspective. "He was desensitized to the word," Smith said of his white friend who posted the photo. "He hears it every second and has friends who allow him to use it. ... I told them that they did not understand why it was insensitive and why it would make people so upset." Smith said he felt that expulsion was too harsh a punishment. Smith spoke at graduation without incident, although several members of the Black Student Union apparently considered turning their backs on him and raising the black power fist.

Student school board representative Eve Shames — a white student who protested alongside the black students — agreed that expulsion was unfair. "One guy's life is being ruined over this," she said. "He said something really stupid ... but he has been getting the message for four strong years that it is okay to say it."

Teachers, students, and parents agreed that the recent events highlighted a larger tension within the school community. "None of this would have exploded had it not been for underlying frustration and preexisting issues," said Brooks, the history teacher. Brooks said the student who posted the "disgusting" photograph of him apparently meant it as a joke with little appreciation of its offensiveness. Although he said the issue is resolved between the two of them, he added that many black students feel frustration over what they view as racism among white students, while they often feel unjustly accused of racism due to the actions of a handful of classmates.

Black Student Union member Taylor Brown said that the events stemmed from underlying community prejudices but not racism. "The walk-out was about real issues, but the events that led up to it were not really of substance," she said. "The class of '09 has done a lot of growing. I feel like this is the proudest I have ever been."

However, black sophomores Ariana Fowler and Rikki Moore said the protest was unnecessary and unmerited. "People blew it way out of proportion," Moore said. Both students agreed that many participants knew little about the controversy and simply wanted to skip class.

Berkeley High PTSA president Mark van Krieken criticized the administration for its lack of transparency, citing its failure to properly inform parents of what has been happening on and off campus. "There is a general tendency at Berkeley High to address things behind closed doors," he said.

Both of the two students involved in the Facebook actions declined to comment.

Comments???

Essential Reading: "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy

2009-06-12T10:05:00.000-07:00

I'm not even done with this book yet and it's already Essential Reading. I know I'm late on this one, but you should grab it immediately if you haven't already.

It's a post-apocalyptic road journey about hope, filial love and resilliance. I can't put this one down and I don't want it to end.

The movie based on the book is set to debut in the Fall and the cast includes Viggo, Charlize Theron, Robert Duvall and Michael K. Williams (better known as Omar from "The Wire").

Here's the trailer:

Soapbox

2009-06-12T09:57:00.000-07:00

I woke up a bit jaded today. Maybe its the fact that this is my 12th straight day of work. Maybe its the fact that I'm unmotivated and lacking passion in my day to day at the moment. Whatever it is I need to set aside some time to provide an outlet. I have some story ideas--just need to do the damn thing. How people find time to work 40+hrs. a week and still produce books/screenplays is amazing to me. Just need to do it.

I'm finding it difficult to relate to people around me these days. Living in one of the most expensive places in the country creates a huge gap between the haves and have nots. The haves don't realize this. How can I relate to a Marin County housewife who's always had it good or a Berkeley Hills workaholic that eats $100 dinners on the reg? Answer: I can't and I don't. This city is too fucking expensive.

I have some friends here, but only a handful I'm close with. Occasionally that gets me a bit twisted inside. Having to reach across the country for someone who knows you gets old. But, within that melancholy is something sweet. Something poetic. Something I enjoy. Pained victory. In a world where everyone is so connected I like dropping off the map at times. I wonder how I can enjoy people and simultaneously want to be a recluse.

I find myself holding back alot for one reason or another. Sometimes i get paralyzed by the fear of going broke--i have my dad to thank for that one. Sometimes its the reluctance to trust new people. Funny how the little things that get instilled in you are so difficult to eschew in adulthood.

I have to remind myself that I've come this far and even though i'm almost 30 i never had a linear plan. I look at other people's corporate success with slight jealousy yet realize that I have more freedoms than most.

Have you ever thought about our society's quest to jam in as many superfluous things as possible? We're always told that we must be doing something prosperous in order to have valuation.

The meritocracy aspect of our country is hypocritical. I'm not one for desperate competition--stepping on heads along the way. Social climbing. I just see our society getting more selfish by the day. It disturbs me and I feel distant. People don't even speak to each other on the street anymore. How many times do you make eye to eye contact with someone on the daily?

Essential Listening: Grizzly Bear - "Veckatimest"

2009-05-28T20:56:00.001-07:00

Call it what you may (freak folk, lo-fi, indie rock), Grizzly Bear's latest effort is hypnotic, ethereal bliss. Approachable, layer vocals and instrumentation meet for a modern day Beach Boys/Beatles type vibe that Radiohead is jealous of. An album worth purchasing and listening to end to end.

You Talkin to me?

2009-05-28T20:20:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered what your local "crazy" street person is on about?

What is that guy muttering? Why is he cussing so much? Is he talkin to me? (I know he ain't talkin to me because if he is...)

The street crazy is a fixture in SF, especially downtown. It's easy to tune out the blue noise coming from his mouth and tune in your iPod/crackberry/phone conversation, ignoring the cries for help in the form of rantings against the world.

Where this person's discontent emanates from, who knows? But today I wanted to know. As such a fellow crossed my path mumbling every curse word known to man I watched as the surrounding populace avoided him like he was Pig Flu incarnate--you know the group mentality of "If we all block it out then it didn't really happen (see: If a tree falls in the woods...).

I've been in this situation in public many times over (I used to ride Muni in SF, know dat) so i know the score. Protocol is to ignore but I wanted to break rank and talk to this man. My attempts would ultimately be futile I reckoned so I eschewed my crusade. Yet, this left me wondering has anyone ever tried to talk to this man? He could have schizophrenia for all we know.

This synopsis leads me to this: Why don't we help our mentally ill?

Unfortunately there's an abundance of maladjusted, sick people stomping through the SF streets (and streets of most cities for that matter) and no one to care for them. I realize it's a sisyphean task, but why are they treated as second class citizens?

Within a block of this questioning I saw the blind man that works in the same vicinity as me. He's recognizable by his cyclist's hat and his walking stick. I've helped him cross the street before and although he's completely able I always feel compelled to help him. Yet, I kept my head down and walked right past.

I still have cold feet about helping the Blind cross the street ever since I once was growled at by a blind Czech lady who I semi-accosted. She was crossing at the same time as me and I asked "Pomoc?", which means "Help" in Czech, and touched her arm to which she immediately replied with a guttural growl similar to that of a wolf protecting its habitat. I reeled away from her and have had cold feet in similar situations ever since. My approach was less than adequate but the sentiment counts for something right? (sho nuff)

So who's to help those in need? Is it you or I? Them or they? No one seems to be the usual answer. It's a noble deed and a tough task to say the least. When is a person a lost cause? Things to ponder...

I should probably go see "The Soloist" now.

Cox out.

Eastbound and Down - Theatrics

2009-05-14T14:40:00.000-07:00

John Krasinski - "Away We Go"

2009-05-14T14:25:00.000-07:00

Immigrant Vision (..."he hit it.")

2009-05-11T15:13:00.000-07:00

Motherlover

2009-05-11T15:09:00.000-07:00

Dude, We're Going to Rome!

2009-05-06T10:05:00.001-07:00

Was there ever any question?

Paper Heart

2009-05-04T15:15:00.000-07:00

Release date: 8/7/09

You Can Always Go Home

2009-04-16T12:23:00.000-07:00

Momma I'm comin' hoooooooooome.

Jules and I leave on an aeroplane tomorrow night for the East Coast (Beast Coast). Red eye -- SFO to IAD (Dulles), connect to RVA on some sure to be small dingy.

Sleeplessness (that word needs more s's), reading Anthony Bourdain, restless leg syndrome, darkness, middle seat, please no babies crying, please no panic attacks this time, please no delays this time (last trip home was the worst--alone in Newark for 5 hours, bad food, vouchers, no sleep).

Taking stock in the new RVA (TJ's, sprawl, movie theater, record shop). '09 version is an upgrade. Same watering holes, same dishes at the fave spots. New babies to kiss, kids growing rapidly. Fun family questions to answer. Warm weather, maybe we can sneak in a T'storm for old time sakes.

Good times to be had.

Then the roadtrip: Memphis, Davis Oklahoma, Santa Fe, Le Grande Canyon, the Mojave and Oakland in 6 days. Plains, prairies and puzzles. New music to be digested, stories to tell, car trip games to be played, energy drinks to be swallowed and diners to eat eggs at.

Welcome to 29. It's gonna be a good year.

"Hello Tomorrow"

2009-04-16T12:20:00.000-07:00

While The YYYs are on the brain...

Remember this Adidas commercial?

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Zero

2009-04-16T12:19:00.001-07:00

Yeah that is the Warfield. Yeah that is SF.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGxBTsmuRIk

Snake Bitten

2009-04-16T12:16:00.000-07:00

This takes real ingenuity kids.

Ask yourself: What would Samuel L. Jackson have done?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7999909.stm

"I had to bite it"

Bat for Lashes Covers KoL - "Use Somebody"

2009-04-16T12:14:00.000-07:00

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Who is Mike Ribeiro?

2009-04-10T08:52:00.000-07:00

Mr. Penalty Shot slayin haters:

Bruno

2009-04-09T16:41:00.001-07:00

Text Message Overload!!!

2009-04-09T14:17:00.000-07:00

Can you imagine the conversation this girl had with her parents when that bill came?

Dad: "Have you seen this bill? What were you thinking?"
Stupid Girl: "..."
Dad: "How did you do this?"
Stupid Girl: "..."
Dad: "Where's my hammer?!"
Stupid Girl: "...(fart noise, followed by texting sounds)"

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_12097656

Stay Calm

2009-03-17T15:13:00.000-07:00

Shut up Balotelli

2009-03-12T11:22:00.000-07:00

Balotelli acted petulant all night and tried to challenge C-Ron verbally while CR7 did all his talking with his play. The kid has a lot to learn.

Balotelli: "blahblahblahblahyoudiveblahblah!"
Ronaldo: "Scoreboard" (smile)

White Suburban Teens Rejoice!

2009-03-11T09:36:00.000-07:00

Bob Marley's fam finally gave in to the marketing offers:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123422801889765831.html?mod=rss_whats_news_us

Beer Pong = Risky Behavior

2009-03-05T16:52:00.000-08:00

http://www.videosift.com/video/Colbert-Report-Beer-Pong-Herpes-Outbreak

Quote of the Day

2009-02-26T13:48:00.000-08:00

"I think my tongue just took a shit." - John Stewart (after tasting baconnaise on a pancake wrapped sausage on a stick)

Breakin the Bad News

2009-02-20T14:41:00.000-08:00

HJO's finest acting moment (Watch the entire clip).

You can't teach this kind of timing:

D.I.Y. Selecta

2009-02-19T11:21:00.000-08:00

For all you Trustafarians out there...

Create your own Dub Reggae sounds: http://www.infinitewheel.com/dubselector9.html

Thanks to my man Chris Hall for putting me on.

Your Ad Here

2009-02-18T10:27:00.000-08:00

Would you choose the flight or the money?:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/18/business/media/18adco.html?_r=1&hp

Rags to Riches

2009-02-17T14:31:00.000-08:00

My company recently moved from the edge of the Tenderloin to the edge of the Financial District/North Beach/Chinatown. If you know SF, you know that this is a major step up (DC:Southeast to Capitol Hill, RVA:Gilpin Court to The Fan).

Here's an article about my company's former stomping grounds (One Hallidie Plaza):

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/24/BAQUSAAUD.DTL&hw=Hallidie+Plaza&sn=010&sc=171

We keep it gully across from the TransAmerica Pyramid now.

LA I love you, but you're bringing me down

2009-02-17T14:04:00.000-08:00

I'm gonna dead this for everybody right now.

Haters need to get off Becks' back.

Wouldn't you leave L.A. for AC Milan too? It's a no-brainer.

All of these hateful American journalists/bloggers (bastards) need to eat a dick and get over it. The quality of the MLS doesn't even compare with European Club football.

It's done. Leave it. Get used to seeing Becks' in that Milan kit.

East Bound & Down is Coming!

2009-02-13T13:54:00.001-08:00

I LOVE YOU BARACK

2009-02-13T11:10:00.001-08:00

Peep the blonde lady in the white coat to the left:

The Employment Line

2009-02-12T15:09:00.001-08:00

Bjork on Iceland

2009-02-09T09:35:00.000-08:00

I'm on a Boat!

2009-02-09T09:34:00.000-08:00

Skanks

2009-02-06T16:33:00.000-08:00

In The Know: Are Reality Shows Setting Unrealistic Standards For Skanks?

LMAO

2009-02-06T11:44:00.001-08:00

"Gangstas don't ask questions."

2009-02-06T10:30:00.000-08:00

Hilarious:

"No Hipster Scum"

2009-02-06T09:08:00.000-08:00

American Apparel took one on the chin yesterday in their bid to become the retail hipster clothing equivalent of Starbucks. AA's quest for even more real estate in SF was denied as angry Mission district residents expressed discontent with a proposal to put bright-colored cotton outfits on Valencia St.

Mission district residents opposed to AA's encroachment cited that AA's presence would incite a bumrush of retail chains in the Mission, thus killing the character of the Mission and forcing an increase in rent rates. Apparently the ever increasingly gentrified Mission is wagging their finger at chains usurping the empty lots on Valencia.

This is a bit ironic to me. It's also a bit hypocritical since the Mission is becoming "whiter" and "hipper" (2 characteristics I find synonymous with AA) as I type. Traditionally a Latino haven, cheap rents and ghetto fabulousness have beckoned scensters from all corners of the globe to divirge on the Mission.

(I'm wearing a very comfortable henley from AA right now so I too could come off as a hypocrite. I admit this.)

AA wanting more retail space in the Bay Area is baffling since they just opened a store near Chinatown, already have a location in Haight-Ashbury and have two burgeoning store fronts on Berkeley's campus. The kids on Valencia are already wearing AA. This is like trying to put a Walmart next to a Costco.

I do appreciate the effort from Missionites to keep the Mission chain store-free. It's as if they're saying "Keep San Francisco weird". That's a positive. Add the fact that AA has a sleazy rep (peep their pseudo-porn ads)and it's easy to see why they're opposed.

The news: http://missionlocal.org/2009/02/mission-residents-1-american-apparel-0/

It's Official (Like a referee with a whistle)

2009-02-03T15:55:00.000-08:00

Signs of aging:

Everytime I look in the mirror I find a new grey hair (bad lighting?).

As of 15 minutes ago I own a box full of business cards with my name and info on them (Jamaal = Manager).

3pm=Naptime. 11:30=bedtime.

I'm no longer capable of sleeping past 9 on Weekends.

2008 Recap

2009-02-03T14:15:00.001-08:00

RVA's own Skillz gives a great recap of the year that was:

http://www.okayplayer.com/news/Audio-Skillz-2008-Rap-Up-.html

Who Doesn't Love Barca?

2009-01-29T11:44:00.001-08:00

Kobe Bryant talking about his lust for FC Barcelona and Ronaldinho:

http://www.veoh.com/videos/v17353841eHEN926f

Medicine for Melancholy

2009-01-22T16:01:00.000-08:00

"I love the city. I hate the city."

Story of my life:

http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/medicineformelancholy/

Foodies Unite

2009-01-20T12:27:00.000-08:00

Some fun guerilla/pirate foodie ventures to check out:

http://www.theghet.com/

http://blog.missionstreetfood.com/

The Ubiquitous Diego Maradona

2009-01-15T09:55:00.001-08:00

Ever since Diego Maradona was selected to coach the Argentinian National Team he's used his carte blance and demi-god status to visit seemingly every European based Argentine footballer.

Every day I see a different photo of little Diego clutching some strapping Argentine. And whoever it is is obviously beside himself with glee because arguably the best player ever is posing with him (OMG it's DIEGO FUCKING MARADONA!).

I'm interested to see how long Diego's Tour de Europa lasts. Who's footing the bill on his cigar-fueled, fantasy football vacation...i mean scouting trip?

Quirky, whimsical, weird, arrogant, Napoleonic--you gotta love Diego.

Rap is too far gone to redeem itself

2009-01-14T16:41:00.000-08:00

Wow! How can Rap continue to get worse? Lil' Wayne continues to reign and the same 10 producers are in heavy rotation among these fake emcees. This mess is redefining what a "groupie" is.

I guess the game is imitating the business world now. Only a few corporations own everything we consume so it's no big surprise that the rap world reflects this.

Right now, if rap was meat I'd go vegan.

Face Tattoos...

2009-01-14T16:40:00.000-08:00

Why?

Etiquette

2009-01-12T17:14:00.000-08:00

When do you tell your friend(s) "it's time to grow up"?

Does the fact that I'm even considering such things make me old or just responsible...or arrogant...or uptight?

30 is getting closer and closer...

I Love the BCS

2009-01-11T11:08:00.000-08:00

Couldn't have said it better myself:

http://www.hulu.com/watch/52186/saturday-night-live-update-bcs-song

Get Off Tim Tebow's *#$@

2009-01-09T12:11:00.000-08:00

The Hater is back...

Never has a college quarterback been as heralded (or overhyped) as Tim Tebow. The media has anointed him as a messianic figure (both on and off the field). Last night his Florida Gators locked up their second National Championship during Tebow's tenure in The Swamp.

Throughout the game and during the entire season the announcers (and media in general) have praised this guy like there's no tomorrow. On and on about his offseason trips to leper colonies and mission trips and how he has a bigger presence than the average college Junior. Blah, blah, blah.

Enough is enough.

They've overlooked the arrogance (not confidence, arrogance) of this burly do-gooder.

Spoiler Alert: Christian friends may want to cover their eyes or click away.

Mission trips don't make you the best guy ever. Praising Mission trips is like "supporting our troops". No one's gonna give you shit about going to Developing nations to spread the word of your God. Instead people will deem you noble. Especially if you're doing it during Spring Break as opposed to hittin up Cancun in search of the thickest girl in Mexico.

Get over this kid so he can get over himself. Jesus Christ! (pun intended)

Back to the arrogance: Why don't people point out the obvious nature of his cheerleading and taunting? He's always trying to hype the crowd like a Pro Wrestler. Give me a fucking break. If he pulls that shit in the Pros Ray Lewis or Joey Porter will lay his ass out.

On his ability as a quarterback: He's overrated here too (no big surprise). He's a fullback with a big arm, period. He runs a high school offense that hurts my eyes to watch. Various times during the season I wanted to throw my remote at the screen while watching Florida's offense. It's all gimmicks, people.

While Pete Carroll prepares his boys for great pro careers with an excellent system, Urban Meyer runs a two-bit offense consisting of misdirection, brute force and speed. Yeah, he's winning but how could he not win with the talent at his disposal?

Add all of these rants to the fact that Florida arguably isn't the best team. Tebow's legend is growing as I type but dude hasn't played the mighty Trojans of USC, this year's edition of the the Texas Longhorns (who beat Oklahoma) and the undefeated #2 Utah Utes. How would he fare against these foes? I'm salivating thinking about what USC's linebackers would do to Tebow and Harvin.

So, to boot, the system is flawed. Florida isn't the people's champ...they're the media's champ and Tim Tebow is their Don King.

Utah's gotta be crying in their cereal this morning.

In the words of Jim Mora: "Playoffs? Playoffs!"

Yeah, it's past time for playoffs. But that's a whole other bitchfest.

Yummy

2009-01-02T21:30:00.000-08:00

We all know we've been pigging out over the last two weeks. Gluttony and sloth. Here's a tribute:

This is what I'll be doing on my Christmas break...

2008-12-22T15:27:00.001-08:00

Enough is Enough

2008-12-19T15:51:00.000-08:00

How the hell did Lil' Wayne get 8 Grammy noms? How is that fucking face-tatted gremlin even relevant? What the fuck is he mumbling about? Lollipops?

Hip-hop is dead and Rap is Pop's mistress.

Classic Jose Mourinho puppetry

2008-12-19T13:24:00.000-08:00

Viral

2008-12-18T15:59:00.000-08:00

Jeff put me on to this. Fun mash-ups, re-edits and stream of conscious lyrics about everything from hot chocolate to weed to window washing etiquette.

http://www.myspace.com/superviralbrothers

Terrible Re-Gifts

2008-12-17T21:59:00.000-08:00

-Fruitcake

-1/2 drank bottle of Peach Schnapps

-1 lb. ground decaf coffee

-Jerry Lewis telethon DVD's

-Tickets to Guys and Dolls from your best guy friend

-Kwaanza gift card

-"Ghost" DVD

-Boxer briefs with little red fish

-Christie Brinkley poster from 1986

-Referral to "my mom's favorite tattoo parlor"

-pet pig (that doesn't talk)

-used birkenstocks

-a baja (drug rug, pancho)

Questions After Watching A Charlie Brown Christmas?

2008-12-17T21:47:00.000-08:00

Is Charlie Brown clinically depressed? Bi-polar?

Is Pigpen homeless?

Is Lucy a butch lesbian?

Why do the characters sound like adults in Spanish?

Why is Snoopy such a hater?

Are all the kids hippies because they dance like hippies?

How does Schroeder get so much quality sound from his toy piano?

Flying Lotus Essential mix 11/08

2008-12-15T15:48:00.000-08:00

The Truth:

Essential Mix 2008-11-29 - Flying Lotus

Celebration of the Season

2008-12-14T19:57:00.001-08:00

Slumdog Millionaire

2008-12-14T14:35:00.001-08:00

Another one for your Holiday queue. M.I.A. on the soundtrack:

"Milk"

2008-12-14T14:29:00.000-08:00

A must see. One of the best films I've seen all year. Sean Penn is Oscar-worthy. Brolin is intriguing. Franco can actually act (he's so pretty!). San Francisco is as much a character as any of the aforementioned. The scenes of the Castro (now and then) gave me chills and a sense of ownership. San Francisco is part of my world now and will forever be.

Milk's message transcends Gay rights. Like Obama, his was a message of hope. Hope for Gays, Blacks, Latinos, Asians, the disenfranchised everywhere. His sacrifice made all the difference. Thank you Harvey Milk.

Wildcat!

2008-12-14T14:20:00.000-08:00

Attention all NFL Offensive coordinators: Do not run the "Wildcat" offense unless you are the Miami Dolphins.

The Dolphins started the trend this year now everyone is trying to stick their most skilled athlete in the shotgun and add some variation to their vanilla offense (sense Oakland Raiders).

It doesn't work if you add this series to your playbook in week 14. Desperate is the word which comes to mind amidst such feeble attempts to supplement crap offenses.

It's time to focus on the draft Oakland.

Shoes to the face!

2008-12-14T14:11:00.001-08:00

I believe this reporter acts on behalf of all intelligent beings with his reaction to Bush's presence:

More magic from Ibra

2008-12-14T14:08:00.000-08:00

Essential Reading: "Downtown Owl" by Chuck Klosterman

2008-12-10T10:42:00.000-08:00

There's something endearing about small town life. Even amidst the repetition, the complacency and the exoticising of what lies beyond city limits, there lies intrigue. In his first novel, Klosterman paints a great story built around the lives of three characters in fictional Owl, North Dakota.

It's 1983 and Owl is detached from life in urban America. High School football is king and conservatism (in all walks of life) is the way to go. We're stuck inside the heads of the central characters and their daily routines until one single event changes things forever.

Klosterman uses his sense of humor, "insight" into relationships and his own experience as a North Dakotan to craft a great story. He also reminds us why the slang term "boss" is so awesome.

Haterade

2008-12-09T09:35:00.000-08:00

Obama is our next president. Get over it haters.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081209/ap_on_go_su_co/scotus_obama

"Prop 8 The Muiscal"

2008-12-04T20:41:00.000-08:00

It's great that we can make light of our foibles. I agree with the lot of this star-studded cast. Not only as a state (CA) but as a nation...as a universe we need to get past our phobias and move forward. People are people. No matter the color or sexuality everyone has a right to rights.

The bible thumping and fear mongering won't lead us to any sort of promised land--unless you consider intolerance, segregation, damnation and hatred the inevitable.

Hopefully one day we'll come to our collective senses and do the right thing. We elected Obama right? Maybe we'll eventually get this thing right.

The funny:

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

Pink!

2008-12-04T19:51:00.000-08:00

More Pink:

Nike Mercurial Vapor Rosa/Berry

2008-12-04T19:49:00.000-08:00

Gotta love Franck Ribery:

The Spirit

2008-12-01T23:41:00.000-08:00

Opens 12/25/08. Merry Christmas.

Messi undoes Sevilla

2008-12-01T23:40:00.000-08:00

Posterboy for Gun Control

2008-12-01T23:21:00.000-08:00

After Plaxico shot himself in the leg this weekend and had to post $100,000 bail to get himself out of jail, I can only ask for the thousandth time:

Why are guns legal in the U.S.?

Note: Sweatpants don't serve as a steady holster for a glock 40.

Pure stupidity: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/02/sports/football/02burress.html?bl&ex=1228366800&en=999dc033151c2b6c&ei=5087%0A

WTF?

2008-12-01T23:11:00.000-08:00

Truly a Black Friday. Sad and laughable.

The newest sign of the apocalypse:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/11/29/black.friday.death/index.html

"Nine Blocks"

2008-11-25T13:57:00.000-08:00

The only time I tried to ghost ride my whip I tumbled from it and watched from the asphalt as it slowly headed toward a concrete wall behind Need Supply Co. and Plan 9 in Richmond's famous Carytown District (The car was going way too fast when i stepped out).

Luckily my car didn't careen into a permanent structure, thereby destroying my two-year old baby and injuring my friend Tom (who sat nonplussed in the passenger seat, for seconds that seemed like minutes, before palming the break pedal thus bringing the unleashed beast to halt--always warn the passenger before you do something this idiotic).

Let my cautionary tale be a lesson.

In reminiscence (is that even a word or just a Bushism?) of one of the stupidest things I've ever done I offer "Nine Blocks" by RVA's own:

Brazil demolishes Portugal

2008-11-21T10:02:00.000-08:00

Portugal made need a new goalkeeper. Elano's and Maicon's goals are pure class.

Trentemoeller Essential Mix of the Year '06

2008-11-20T16:16:00.000-08:00

One of the best mixes I've ever heard:

Essential Mix 2006-12-31 - Trentemøller

Fanboys

2008-11-20T16:07:00.001-08:00

More Star Wars themes..."Fanboys" trailer:

Star Wars Junkie

2008-11-20T16:05:00.001-08:00

Tom Middleton's Essential Mix from 2005:

Essential Mix 2005-05-15 - Tom Middleton