March 31, 2006

The Meatrix

Yesterday my Media Institutions class sat around watching alternative media and anti-corporation messages. This seems like a San Franciscan pastime and I just had to share it with the Bay Area! As an avid fan of the Matrix, I couldn't help but laugh at the ingenious use of Flash.

And of course The Meatrix has an important message about preserving sustainable development and supporting our local farmers. Check it out.

Sustainable Agriculture,

The Meatrix

Posted by Sophie at 03:19 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

March 31, 2006

Senate Passes Ambiguous Legislation

Jinky The Cat:

Hey, the Senate just approved legislation which pretends to tighten ethics rules. Hopefully, the public won't notice, and chances are, they won't!

(snip)

Legislation that the Senate approved in a 90-8 vote yesterday failed to include proposed rules concerning travel on corporate jets, limiting fundraising by lobbyists or keeping them from serving as campaign treasurers. The Senate also rejected a proposal to set up the first independent office to investigate charges of misconduct.

Bloomberg.com has the full article.

The senators overhauled ethics rules for the first time in more than a decade because of the furor over Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who admitted to defrauding clients and trying to corrupt public officials with gifts and golf trips. They passed the legislation just hours after Abramoff was sentenced to more than five years in prison in an unrelated fraud case in Florida.

``It's extremely weak,'' Arizona Republican John McCain, 69, told reporters at the Capitol yesterday, speaking of the legislation. ``The good news is that there will be more indictments, and we will be revisiting this issue.''

Something needs to be done about making the election process and governmental procedures more transparent. We deserve to know what's going on Capitol Hill.

Legislation and Ethics, Transparency Need in US Government

Posted by Sophie at 10:39 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Human Rights

Ang's Weird Ideas highlighted a recent case of discrimination towards the gay/lesbian community. And this is not in the US:

A Swedish court has imposed a 20,000 kronor ($2,600) fine on a woman kennel owner who refused to sell a puppy to a lesbian.

Okay and that is today's odd news. Why? What possible joy could someone get by not selling them a puppy?? Stupid.

SFGATE elaborates on the issue.

The kennel owner, who was not identified, had initially been willing to sell the woman a puppy but changed her mind when she found out the woman was living with a lesbian partner, according to Sweden's discrimination ombudsman, a government watchdog who filed the lawsuit.

It's a puppy! The dog does not care what sexual preference you are, your color or religious affiliation; they are truly like a best friend. Pity some people can't look beyond their own ignorance.

Lesbian Refused Puppy

Posted by Sophie at 10:21 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

March 26, 2006

MySpace Mug Shot

Tim Boucher: Pop Occulture exposes police criminal investigation techniques.
All you MySpace suspects and criminals, you can't hide from the police! Unless your only crime is having too many friends, or eating too much while surfing the net! Seriously though, police are now using MySpace to catch criminals, and locate their whereabouts. Pop Occulture has more:

BOULDER, Colorado — Detectives used profiles posted on the MySpace social networking website to identify six suspects in a rape and robbery that began when a party turned violent, leaving blood “in almost every room of the house,” officials said.

(snip)

The group met for a party. “At some point, the victim was no longer aware of what was happening, and she was sexually assaulted,” Bartley said.

She knew only their first names but their pictures were posted on MySpace. “Primarily, we pulled up her friends list. It helped us identify some of the players,” said Bartley.

And we all complain about the Privacy Act, when we are willingly placing ourselves in a vulnerable and very "public" sphere. I don't have a MySpace account, and for the record I am not a criminal :), I just value my privacy.

What do you think?

Police Catch Criminals on MySpace, Police MySpace,

Posted by Sophie at 05:35 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)

March 24, 2006

Digital Divide

Computers have replaced so many tedious functions in our life. Snail mail has been left behind, essays and reports are easily written and swiftly sent. But what about manual functions like handwriting? Have we left that in the dust too? Ypulse has more on this issue:

I don't think my handwriting has changed much from when I was in fourth grade. My letters are still kind of plump and bubbly and my cursive is a mix of the letters I remember and scribbles for those I don't. Textually.org posted about a BBC article about how handwriting has become the latest casuality of "digital age." According to a survey of UK teens (ages 15-24), only 5 percent of their communications were by pen and paper.

When is the last time you have hand written a lengthily paper? Has your handwriting suffered becasue of computer use?
Maybe in the future we won't even need to type, we could just verbally dictate our thoughts to our computer...what a concept!

Computers Replace Handwriting

Posted by Sophie at 05:28 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)

Event with a Cause

In support of the San Francisco Suicide Prevention organization, Bimbo's 365 is hosting a night of comedy and entertainment. This event will help fund the SFSP and allow them to continue to save lives. Check it out!

SFist has the details:

We suppose that sometimes you've got to laugh, otherwise you'll cry, when it comes to "Laughs for Life," an evening of comedy benefiting San Francisco Suicide Prevention. The SFSP hotline has run 24/7 for the last 44 years, but it don't run itself: we have a dedicated throng of volunteers, fundraisers, donors, and stand-up comedians to thank. The laughs start on April 19, 6:30pm, at Bimbo's 365, and include a light dinner, a DJ, auctions, tributes, and comics Doug Ferrari, Michael Pritchard, and Will Dunrst, none of whom we've ever heard of but then again we haven't laughed since Uncle Miltie passed away. Tickets are $75, and support an infinitely worthy cause: stand-up comedy.

Posted by Sophie at 04:57 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Where's the Love?

Hate Crimes are one of the most serious public issues we have today. Post 9/11 Arabs, Muslims, Indians and anyone who fits a stereotype of a "terrorist" (whatever that means), have be targeted personally and professionally. Last year I interned for the Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) in DC and wrote press releases in response to the unfair treatment of Arab-Americans in the Media. It is a sad day when people lash out against others, and create more pain and anguish in the world.
BlogHer tells several hate crime experiences:

Shortly after 9/11, a friend of mine told me a story about a Muslim woman who was physically attacked at her workplace. She worked at a museum, and when she went to a security guard to try and get the offender - an older white male - kicked out of the building, the security guards ignored her and refused to call the police. The offender was not even asked to leave.

Last weekend, four Somali men - who were also Muslim, departing from a Muslim theology seminar on the campus, were approached by a drunk white man, who then started yelling racial slurs at them. One of the students approached the man, and an argument ensued, and one of the men kicked the guy's car. As the men walked away, the drunk got into his car and swerved onto the sidewalk. as the men tried to cross the street, the driver sped up and tried to run them over, yelling racial slurs at them. One of the men was hit, fell to the ground and was sent to the hospital with minor injuries.

Hate Crimes

Posted by Sophie at 04:18 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

F*** That!

For all media organizations today the FCC is the "demon" gate keeper which censors the First Amendment right, "Freedom of Speech." Stations, even the wonderfully PC KRON 4 morning show had a little run in with the FCC a few years back. Now the vigilantes are targeting students from the College of San Mateo's KCSM-TV for a documentary which contained some vulgar words. The FCC insists upon it's after 10 p.m. policy where obscene shows/commentary must be aired after this time. Well, we don't want to shock the kiddies?! Anyway, Ang's Weird Idea's has more:

KCSM-TV set to fight FCC's obscenity fine Students to appeal $15,000 penalty for vulgarity in documentary

Though the FCC deems the language indecent, the station contends it contributed to the educational experience of the documentary. The subjects were using their own words, providing a window into their world.

"We don't believe that the FCC took into account prior precedent set by them in our case — how the language was used in context," KCSM-TV General Manager Marilyn Lawrence said Thursday.

Good for them fighting back. I think they get out of hand with their fines. This is not the type of show young kids would be watching, so just who are they trying to protect?

To further inform yourself:

More Info on InsideBayArea.com
Read the FCC notice
Learn more about KCSM TV

As a fellow media student, I think the FCC should take alternative action. I acknowledge that we need censorship for certain programs, shows, commentary etc...But fining the students, $15,000 is obscene in itself...keep it in perspective!

FCC Fines Students, San Mateo Students Challenge FCC,

Posted by Sophie at 03:26 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

March 22, 2006

Hairy Situation

So, as a Kiwi aka New Zealander I am always interested when her Majesty pops into with New Zealand or my surrounding neighbors Australia and former British colonies. During her recent visit to Singapore the Queen was targeted by an angry, fury bear. Well...it was not really a real bear but a faux bear. Yes everyone, it was another PETA protestor. FriskoDude explains:

So the Queen of England is doing some travel and after five days in Australia makes a courtesy call in Singapore, after an absence of 20 years. During her visit, some young lady who works for PETA, dons a bear outfit to protest the use of fur caps in the Queen's royal guard.

(snip)

Jodi Ruckley, 33, a volunteer with PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), dressed as a bear, protesting the use of the palace's Houseguards bearskin hats, struggles with a policeman as she is placed into a police van at the gate of the Istana or Presidential Palace where Britain's Queen Elizabeth II was expected to arrive on Friday March 17, 2006 in Singapore.

(Snip)

Then, the idiotic cops in Singapore arrest the bear on the grounds of an illegal demonstration. Singapore: the laughing stock nation of Southeast Asia.

Queen visits Singapore

Posted by Sophie at 05:16 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

March 21, 2006

Goggle vs.Yahoo in the Financial Service Round

Om Malik's has sussed out what Google finance has install for you!

The much awaited launch of Google Finance service finally happened - in beta of course. And in one word, it is simply disappointing. Its like watching Al Pacino in a stinker like Two for the money. Tony Montana was so long ago!

But back to Google Finance. After playing around with it for about 15 minutes, it is obvious that it will be a long time, and I mean long time in Internet years that is, before Google Finance really catches up to Yahoo Finance, which in fact is the gold standard. (Just by the virtue of lack of competitors, as it might be.)

My inner cynic says that the reason Google launched this service this quickly is because it wants to capture those high CPM/CPC dollars from stock and mortgage brokerages. Yahoo Finance is like an ATM for guys in Sunnyvale, and Google till recently had nothing to capture the “exuberant enthusiasm in the stock and real estate markets.”

(snip)

Given how entrenched Yahoo Finance is in people’s lives, Google cannot be incrementally better. A couple of ajax widgets will not make me switch from Yahoo Finance to Google Finance. Despite the beta-tag, I find Google Finance downright tiresome and plain ugly. Just like Al Pacino in … Two for the Money.

Then again, people could be make Google Finance their new little friend.

Google Finance Service

Posted by Sophie at 04:38 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Selling your information...to a Marketing Agency?

If taxes weren't stressful and complicated enough, now we are being targeted for our personal and financial information. This new proposal from the IRS allows the tax payer to sell their information to marketers and data brokers, for a price. If this law passes it would require a signature from you the tax payer. California Conservative points out around tax time many people are in such a rush to sign forms they do not fully read or understand exactly what they are consenting to.

The Seattle Times reports: “The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is quietly moving to loosen the once-inviolable privacy of federal income-tax returns. If it succeeds, accountants and other tax-return preparers, for the first time, will be able to sell information from individual returns — or even entire returns — to marketers and data brokers.”

The possible change is raising alarm among consumer and privacy-rights advocates. It was included in a set of proposed rules that the Treasury Department and the IRS published in the Dec. 8 Federal Register, where the official notice labeled them “not a significant regulatory action.”

IRS officials portray the proposed changes as house-cleaning measures needed to update outmoded regulations that were adopted before the IRS began accepting returns electronically. The proposed rules, which would become effective 30 days after a final version is published, would require a tax preparer to obtain written consent before selling tax information.

California Conservative

What kind of rules are these? After all, who would give consent to selling their private information and why? It’s not like the client would be compensated for it. Which makes it even more suspicious, because a tax preparer wouldn’t want to make a big deal of it. Just slip it in, so to speak.

As marketing and consumerism propels our huge economy, it seems the lines are blurring for us, the people. What role do we play in US society and economy? Are we now seen as merely consumers? What about the value of just being a citizen?

Privacy Taxes,
Selling Tax Information

Posted by Sophie at 03:45 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

ROCK ON

For you San Franciscans out there who want to be the next "American Idol" ROCK STYLE, now is your chance to adudition. According to SFist, auditions for a new reality show "Rock Star" will be held today.

...They're searching for a singer to front Supernova, a new supergroup featuring Tommy Lee on drums, Gilby Clarke on guitar and the Bay Area's own Jason Newsted, formerly of Metallica, on bass.

(snip)

The second season is set to start this summer, and is run like a rock n' roll American Idol with one singer being eliminated each week. Once the winner is selected, they will be stuffed into a just-add-singer master plan that includes an album co-written and produced by Butch Walker (The Marvelous 3) and a world tour starting in early 2007.

Dave Navarro and Brooke Burke will return as hosts and the new season will also feature some format twists with a different music celebrity or rock legend each week.

"Rock Star: The Series" Casting
March 21st
Rockit Room
406 Clement St
San Francisco, CA 94118
10am - 4pm

You've got half an hour! Otherwise you'll be watching it on TV like the rest of us.

Reality TV Rock Show,
TV auditions

Posted by Sophie at 03:25 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

March 20, 2006

War Anniversary, What Next?

Anniversaries are time of reflection, celebrating or remembering an certain event or person/people. BlogHer gets vocal about the three year anniversary of the Iraq War.

The American Princess writes “The truth is probably that, although Americans are unhappy with the thought of war, dismayed at the death and destruction that it brings, and malaise as far as the key players (come on, people...its time Cheney hits the bricks), they've resigned themselves to winning. Dubai ports may have had an effect: terrorism from the Middle East is a threat, and a close one. The Saddam-Al Qaeda tapes may have had an effect despite their lack of publicity. Maybe, the sudden realization that American 'interference' in Iraqi politics is having a unifying effect on a newly elected Parliament determined to keep their country together, and suddenly realizing that the democratic system is the best way to exercise control, not the suicide bombing, has shaken a few typically ambivalent Americans into being mildly interested in the actual progression of our foreign interests.”

Blogher’s own Kim Ponders notes “2,314 U.S. military dead - 30,000-100,000 Iraqis dead - $200-$250 billion spent - the 133,000 American troops in Iraq is a third more than the numbers used to oust Saddam Hussein beginning in the early hours of March 20, 2003. The numbers are so large, they've become difficult to comprehend.”

Many of us are still wondering where our future lies with the war in Iraq. Foreign policy has taken on a life of it's own, genocide in Darfur is in the mists and the US is right in the middle. As a unilateral country we are finding ourselves in a politically/racially/religiously charged atmosphere and is not a comfortable position to be in.

Iraq War

Posted by Sophie at 04:04 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Movies a Big Disappointment?

I enjoy the smell of popcorn, the fizzing of coca-cola and the crackle of M&Ms; as I pop them into my mouth. Sitting back in a dark theatre and watching a fun movie is one of my favorite ways to spend a Friday night. But lately I have not enjoyed the types of movies offered in the commercial movie theatres. Much of the action and stunts are now replaced by "computer enhanced graphics" or "special effects." Sure, it is a cheaper way of producing impressive images or mass armies or tidal waves etc...But how much is too much?
Mad Dog highlights how our movie industry has become so expensive yet is not delivering the goods:

A big topic among movie theater owners at the ShoWest conference in Las Vegas last week was how to get people back into the theaters.

The president of the National Association of Theater Owners says they're going to ask the FCC for permission to jam cell phone reception, which is currently illegal in the U.S., so people can't use their cell phones during a movie. That will definitely make it more enjoyable to pay more for the tickets than the babysitter costs, buy huge tubs of the cheapest snack product known to mankind at a 920% markup, have your feet stick to the floor, sit through a half hour of commercials and coming attractions, and listen to people talking throughout the whole movie.

Cell phone use is only half the problem, who knows? Maybe it's just better to make your own popcorn and settle down in a Lazy Boy recliner and watch a classic movie on a projector screen.

Movies and Cell Phones,
Future Movie Industry,

Posted by Sophie at 03:21 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

How to be Really Hot in SF

As the hail fell steadily down soaking me and fellow San Franciscans today, I wished for something, anything to make me warm. Many times I have shivered during the winter days traveling to and from school and work. I had even contemplated taking the classic hot water bottle and strapping it to my stomach. But practicality and the sloshing sound of a water bottle prevented me from trying it out in public. But my wish has come true!
According to Techidiva a new electrically heated undershirt is available.

...you'd like to know about a German company called WarmX that has introduced a line of electrically heated clothing. Their first product is a unisex undershirt with a silver plated thread of polymide knitted around the waist that contains a mini power-controller that regulates temperature.

These silvered fibers integrated into the jersey are supplied by a small battery with electricity. The jersey warms up itself directly on the skin - completely without heating wires. The temperature has three settings, and it's powered by a rechargable lithium battery that lasts 2 to 5 hours.

Then again the idea of more electromagnetic waves passing through my body is not so appealing, but at least when I ride on the Fulton number 5 bus or walk the windy streets of SF Im going to be HOT.

Winter invention, Winter WarmX,

Posted by Sophie at 03:20 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

What the #@%^& Ever Happened to TBAiT?

Well folks, it's been a couple of weeks and I haven't even had a moment to think about TBAiT. I wish I could tell you I've been involved in moments of high journalism but unfortunately instead I've been working night and day on KRON 4.com (Did you love the Australia section? How about Martina McBride? And those nifty AT&T; ads before your favorite videos?)

Yeah I'm to blame.

But I do have some good news! Sophie's back from a trip to New Zealand and she's all ready to get the TBAiT blogging going. I do have a grand plan for saving TBAiT which I've hinted about but haven't yet implemented. (But hey, the Australia stuff was kewl!)

So say hello to Sophie and let's get blogging.

TAGS: TBAiT,

Posted by Brian at 03:00 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

February 27, 2006

Hiding from the Bill Collectors

It's been tough going in and out of my little slice of heaven in the sky (even if it has been cursed by Anton LeVey). You see, I'm avoiding the bill collectors.

That's right, I've fallen behind on my pay schedule for the Other People Exist zine. Apparently a new one will soon be out and Todd may be stalking me with the pony.

At least I'm not the world's only scofflaw. It's gotten so bad, the OPE crew had to send out threatening mail.

Dear Lapsed Subscriber, By now you have received your complimentary issue of OPE #7, the first issue of our second year. This means that Kurt hasn't gotten a real job yet. We hoped that receiving this new issue would make you want to resubscribe for another year. Kurt put extra work into Issue #7 and does not plan to slack off until everyone's subscription renewal has arrived. Won't you take the time today to take care of this small piece of business? Yes, he'll probably send you Issue #8 anyway, but how pathetic is that? Won't you feel guilty getting it for free after he spent $78 on a new toner cartridge for his copier (Sharp AL-800)?

Remember, you can subscribe yourself and a new subscriber (or continue a previous gift subscription) for only $40 - that's 16.66% off on one of the most expensive zines on the market. Tell your friends,

The staff of OPE

I don't suppose I could pay in hot dogs?

TAGS: Other People Exist, Satire,

Posted by Brian at 01:58 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack (0)

Too Good to be True

Our fiendish friends at SFist are up to their old tricks again... and that's a good thing.

SFist Rita, being much cooler than I am, knows all about this cool new obscure movie by JT LeRoy called, "The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things,"

While you can debate the premise, it's hard to not have fun with the SFist contest growing up around the premiere.

Give us your fakest tale of San Francisco! A one-line description of the character ("a Green Party blogger who practices vegan-friendly S&M; in the basement of the rental apartment she's going to be Ellis Act evicted out of"), sample dialogue from your San Francisco slash fiction novel ("'Kiss me again, Chris!,' breathed Gavin. 'Like Kimberly does!'"), or even a whole paragraph of your tale -- we'll publish the top three entries (if we get enough entries in the first place, you slackers), and the winner takes the underwear and possibly the passes too if we get 'em. Do a good enough job and we might ask your character to write a column for the 'Fist!

Enter early and often! We and our intersex dog-walker friend who sells meth in clubs to finance an experimental documentary about the tech industry can't wait to read what you've got!

I think I know a few characters around KRON who might qualify... hmm....

TAGS: SFist, The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things,

Posted by Brian at 01:48 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Gimme Da Money

If my ability to eat was based on my ability to sell or fund-raise, I would be a lot skinnier.

Still, lots of folks who do good things in this world find the need to fund-raise. Thanks to Jody at TechSoup, there may be a way to do it without feeling too dirty.

Fund-raising is the ability to invent and reinvent one's organization, mission, and programs in a compelling way, over and over again. It's also about telling highly effective and engaging stories. If you are able to articulate your organization's story in a way that engages grantmakers, a big part of your job is done -- even if you haven't asked for a dime.

(snip)

I am a fundraiser, but I call myself a developer. That may seem like an odd statement, but the nuances of developing relationships and partnerships in order to secure funding encompass much more than simply raising money. Yet I could call myself a loan shark if I wanted -- fundraiser, developer, or loan shark, at the end of the day, I am responsible for raising the funds needed to keep my nonprofit operational.

As the old saying goes, the map is not the territory, the menu is not the meal.

TAGS: Fundraising,

Posted by Brian at 01:41 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

February 24, 2006

Roe vs. South Dakota

California Conservative highlights one of the most controversial issues today:

State Senate approved legislation that would ban all abortions except when a woman’s life is in danger. The bill, designed to wage a national legal fight about the legality of abortion, passed 23-12 Wednesday. It next returns to the state House, which has passed a different version.

In a time of progressive technology, equality and citizen rights, it is a wonder why we would go backwards on a decision like abortion.

Abortion, South Dakota,
Abortion Rights, Roe Wade,

Posted by Sophie at 07:55 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

February 23, 2006

Forget the News, Enjoy the Day

Eric at and the Family Buick offers his own perspective on the Ports story before deciding that while the White House may fret, there were better things to do with his day.

Set aside the Ports story, and you're still left with a White House totally flummoxed by Cheney's recent shooting mess, the terrifying fact of Iraq's escalating sectarian violence, a totally-downplayed Bushies' Katrina report (including a 19-page section titled "What Went Right"), and less heat from the Winter Olympics than that of a 40-watt bulb. So there's not much good newziness out there, no matter your political persuasion. Thankfully, I live in a beautiful city on a beautiful day with some time at hand to work on stories of my own creation. Hope your own day's content is worth smiling about. Rock on.

Yeah Eric, Rock on! And don't forget, "Be Excellent to One Another."

TAGS: Katrina, Port Security, Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure,

Posted by Brian at 04:05 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)