Jun 8 2009

Schools go green – no books, but digital!

arnold-schwarzenegger-picture-1In Terminator, machines took over...

In an effort to assist the $24 billion budget deficit in California, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger plans to bring the education system into the 21st century. But in a good or bad way????

Schwarzenegger is looking to eliminate text book spending and funnel those funds into more electronic learning, which is more cost effective and relevant for kids today.

In a press conference, he announced his plan and assure his state's citizens that the move will be highly beneficial:

"For so many years, we've been trying to teach the kids exactly the same way. Our kids get their information from the Internet, downloaded onto their iPods, and in Twitter feeds to their cell phones … Basically, kids are feeling as comfortable with their electronic devices as I was with my pencils and crayons. So why are California's school students still forced to lug around antiquated, heavy, expensive textbooks?"

While it is clearly a smaller corner to cut, it might actually do some good, as long as the school is equipped to handle the move to a digital classroom. One textbook can average in price between $75-$100 and the numbers add up with the size of California schools. However, unless the school has the kind of hardware to sustain the change, then it becomes a useless endeavor.

Share

May 26 2009

San Francisco Adventures Day 1 – Part 2

img_05181img_05191OK, then we went to his place, visited with his cat Killer and hung out for a quick geek laptop check in on Gmail. After the coffee kicked in we then hit the streets of San Francisco.

We left his apartment near Alamo Square and took a walk up the hill to the park and the view of the Victorians that you always see in the movies. Next we went down to the Castro to eat at Zapatas. After the much needed food we hiked up the hills of the Castro, up Collingwood to 20th Street, over to Church (the biggest hill in the City!) and down to Dolores Park, along Dolores to the Mission, back to Market Street and a refreshing Red Bull at Cafe Flores. We then went down underground and took the Muni Metro down to the Civic Center and a protest and march to round off the afternoon.

img_05201img_05221img_05281img_05331img_05361img_05421img_05451img_05471

I swear we walked almost 6-7 hours total (5 to 6 miles total) possibly?  After the protest march we hit up the Chessecake Factory over the beautiful MACY*S at Union Square. And yes, after all the hard work of recently loosing some weight, I did not have my favorite dessert of cheesecake!

It was a great day. Tomorrow is another day and adventure. I think I am taking Kenny around to all of my childhood haunts and visit old neighborhoods and memories.

I'll post the balance of my pics to the Photos page, enjoy. Time for sleepy time...

Share

May 26 2009

So I landed in SF and ended up at a protest

OK, so Virgin America charges you for the Wi-Fi, heck I thought this was for free so I'm writing this on my TextEdit program. More later... we're landing!

Well after landing I was greeted by Kenny and the news that again I am regarded as a second class citizen here in my beautiful state of California. The California Supreme Court ruled in favor of upholding the Prop H8 measure. I've posted a few images here of the protest we went to in front of the San Francisco City Hall and the balance of images will be on my Photos page.

Share

May 14 2009

Harvey Milk Day Bill Passes Senate!

Here is the latest news update from Equality California:

The California State Senate passed the Harvey Milk Day Bill today in a 24-14 vote with bipartisan support. The bill, authored by Senator Mark Leno (D -- San Francisco) and sponsored by Equality California (EQCA), calls for a "day of special significance" in honor of slain civil rights leader Harvey Milk. The bill also seeks to educate Californians about the former San Francisco City Supervisor, who became the nation's first openly lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) person elected to political office in a major city.

harveymilk"Harvey Milk risked everything to change the course of history and to advance civil rights for the LGBT community," said EQCA Executive Director Geoff Kors. "There is no one else more fitting to be honored in this way by the state of California."

Milk's groundbreaking service as an openly gay official helped bring LGBT people out of the closet and into civic life. During his time in office, he was responsible for both passing San Francisco's first gay-rights ordinance and helping to defeat the controversial Briggs Initiative, which sought to ban gay and lesbian teachers from public schools. Milk, along with San Francisco Mayor George Moscone, was assassinated in November 1978.

"Harvey Milk is an inspiration to Californians who believe in fairness and equality," said Senator Leno. "He fought for many of the issues we value today, including access to education, public transportation, affordable housing and protecting the environment. Harvey Milk gave his life for what he believed in, and with that courage and sacrifice he gave hope to an entire generation of gay and lesbian people whose basic humanity and freedom had been denied and dishonored," he said.

The legislation was originally introduced last year by Sen. Leno, but Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed the measure at the time, claiming Harvey Milk was not well known enough beyond San Francisco. Since that time, however, Harvey Milk has become a focal point of national conversation following the release of the successful biographical film Milk, for which both actor Sean Penn and screenwriter Dustin Lance Black received an Academy Award. In March, Penn joined Equality California's campaign publicly calling for the day; earlier this month, Black testified before a Senate Committee on the need to appropriately honor the civil rights leader.

The bill will now go before the Assembly.

Share

May 13 2009

Take that Miss Cali

From one of my favorites Keith Olbermann, enjoy!

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Share

May 12 2009

Day 2 of the Cleanse

OK, today was a bear in the sense that I woke up with a splitting headache that would not leave until the mid-afternoon. The good part was I went from a starting weight of 203.7 lbs  to 198.4 lbs... it made it worthwhile in a day. On another note, don't forget to add Charmin to the grocery list when starting the cleanse, you'll need plenty of it.

On a lighter note, as I can't have any food for the following 8 days and I am a typography nut, I thought I'd share this combo picture. What's better than french fried letters!

typography-15

Share

May 11 2009

Day 1 of the Master Cleanse

lemonsOK, here I go again, or rather we go again. You just can't do the Master Cleanse without a support partner. Dave and I are going for it, a healthy, fresh prelude to jump start the Bowflex regimen we have planned.

This brilliant idea came to me a few weeks ago when we received an invitation to Dave's niece's wedding up in Portland on August 8th. So that means 3 months to pull it together, get the fat off and the muscle toned up! 10 days with a Cleanse to start and then a 6 week BowFlex program, maybe twice? Yeah, why not!

It's the usual story really. We were both not eating the best, especially at night and the pounds came back. Plain and simple. When I see myself in a picture with 2 chins, it's time to re-evaluate my priorities and vanity (who am I kidding?!).

So yesterday I bought the Grade B maple syrup, the cayenne pepper and bags of lemons. Oh, and also the "Smooth Move" herbal tea, can't forget the tea! The Master Cleanse is a complete internal makeover and it's something we have done 3 times before. It lasts 10 days and there is no food, coffee, nothing besides the lemonade you make daily. First thing in the morning you weight yourself, then drink down 16 oz of warm water with 2 tsp. of sea salt. Mmmmm you just gotta psyche yourself into it! I like to say its my chicken broth (whatever gets you through, right?) then with our trusty 64 oz jug from Henry's I squeeze 1 cup of lemon juice, add 1 cup of grade B maple syrup and 1 tsp of cayenne pepper. That's your food for the day and all the water you can handle.

My weight: 203.7 lbs (damn those Easter egg malt balls!)

Share

May 9 2009

Boy George – From Songbird to Jailbird

george_header_1005_39301aFormer 80's pop star Boy George, real name George O'Dowd, is getting out of prison next week - after serving just a quarter of his jail sentence. The former Culture Club singer will be freed just four months into his 15-month term for chaining a male escort to a hook in his bedroom.

Some are claiming special treatment.

One inmate griped: "George is getting out of here in the shortest possible time. He's been a good prisoner like a lot of us, but he does seem to have been treated with kid gloves and it's caused jealousy."

George will have an ankle tag and curfew when he leaves the supposedly cushy Edmunds Hill jail in Suffolk where he did most of his time after being transferred from London's tough Pentonville Prison before being moved to Category C Edmunds Hill. While in the clink, he has been employed as £15-a-week pot washer.

The "Karma Chameleon" singer was jailed in January for falsely imprisoning a Norwegian male prostitute named Audun Carlsen back in 2007 at his East London home. Boy George met the boy toy online and they agreed to meet in person for a pornographic photo shoot, according to reports.

"I absolutely admit I had him in the handcuffs, so he wouldn't go anywhere while I checked the computer. I certainly wasn't going to kill him, that's hardly going to do my career any good is it," said Boy George on the tape.

The false imprisonment apparently happened at their second meeting when the former Culture Club front man became suspicious that the paid date was hacking into his computer and stealing the photos. George not only chained him up, said the escort, but he also beat him with a chain.

To that Boy George says on the tape, "You can't spank anyone if they don't want you to. Those are serious handcuffs, there was no reason to beat him up when I'd put him in those. I was just so angry. It wasn't about me doing anything, I just wanted to make sure he did not leave my house."

In case you are wondering, the boy hooker escaped by unscrewing the hook he was handcuffed to. Crazy shiz...

Share

May 7 2009

Quote of the day!

"I know a lot of people who used to be gay; I don’t know anybody who used to be black."

- Miss California Carrie Prejean's preacher, pastor Miles McPherson.

Well I beg to differ... look below!

off-the-wallmichael-jackson-settles-lawwuit

SPOILER ALERT... some of these are truly scary!

Here are some other crazies who took the nip and tuck a bit too far:

Jackie Stallone

The surname might have given it away, but this is Hollywood actor Sylvester Stallone’s mother. Famous for claiming she can talks to dogs about the future, she also once set up a psychic hotline which would charge callers for advice. Now she’s relatively famous for what looks like a little too much plastic surgery.

Jackie Stallone.

Donatella Versace

Brother of the late famous Italian fashion designer Gianni Versace and a fashion designer herself, it’s a pity that Donatella couldn’t design her own face, or – depending on your opinion of the clothes she makes – maybe that’s a good thing.

Donatella Versace.

Pete Burns

Former frontman of the British band Dead or Alive, Pete is most famous for having sung the song “You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)”. Pete has since had extensive cosmetic surgery performed on his face, as you can probably guess.

pete_burns_spinning_you_right_round

Pete Burns.

Michael Jackson

I just had to post one again! I especially like the nose debris... But honestly, does this really need to be explained?

Michael Jackson.

Carrot Top

Scott Thompson, the comedian, is better known by his stage name of Carrot Top and is famous for his hair and particular brand of prop comedy. Also, probable surgery.

Carrot Top.

Dennis Avner

Also known by his Native American name of Stalking Cat, this man has undergone incredible extensive surgery in order to look like his totem animal, the tiger. Modifications include: extensive tattooing, transdermal implants to allow whiskers to be worn, subdermal implants to change the shape of the face and the filing and shaping of the teeth to make them look more like a tiger’s.

Tl;dr? This is man…Who wants to be a cat.

Dennis Avner.

Amanda Lepore

The first four letters of her name might give the game away, as Amanda was originally born a man. Famous for fashion, partying and modeling, as well as having undergone extensive surgery to change genders.

Amanda Lepore.

Michaela Romanini

Famous for…I’m not sure exactly what. But don’t you agree that Italian socialite Michaela has a face that isn’t going to be forgotten any time soon?

Michaela Romanini.

Share

May 6 2009

40+ to go!

gay_marriageThe news is in and the Governor of Maine just signed the bill!

Maine is now officially the fifth state in America to legalize gay marriage.

Now if only the rest of the Union took notice, woke up and got it right.

Share