Chasing History

I thought I might be a part of history last night. A lot of people seem to be thinking that Barry is going to hit the big dinger this home stand. I sure do, others think it is going to take a while. I went to the Giants game hoping Barry Bonds would crush a few home runs. He didn't and is still two away from tying Hank Aaron for the all-time record, three away from breaking that record. I have another chance to possibly see history on Friday (if he doesn't do it by then).

So all the press is here and the demand for tickets is skyrocketing. Barry is slumping despite hitting two dingers in Chicago. Anyone who's been following all things Barry knows that whenever he gets close to some record, he gets all slump-y, probably due to all the hype and pressure surrounding him and so it takes him awhile to get to the big number. All of which has many guessing when and where he breaks the record and the speculation that Barry and the Giants so want this record broken at home that they'll rig it so that he does. So what they’re saying is that the Giants will intentionally sit Barry on the road just enough to make sure that there's no way he'll be break the record in the team's grays. This despite the evidence out there that it's possibly the stupidest thing anyone has ever thought up due to it's complete disregard to reality.

Mmmmmovieeeee

San Franciscans are a hearty bunch when it comes to movies. San Francisco, like a lot of cities, has organizations that throw outdoor movie gatherings. While other cities have warm, pleasent weather, San Francisco in the summertime means wind and fog. Saturday night was the showing of Sixteen Candles in Dolores Park and a crowd pushing 5-thousand showed up. By nightfall the wind had picked up, the fog was rolling in and it got darn chilly. But the tough San Franciscans held tough and refused to let a little cold get in the way of their free movie. Maybe all the food and wine people bring has something to do with it.

New Look

For the past few months I have been working hard trying to get a 'new look' for KRON 4 on the air. Well today it finally happened, sort of. With the help of some great designers the new red look was completley done in house. I think it is a big improvement over the old graphic look. While a majority of the graphics go live today, the remaining will go live next week.

Korean Cuisine

I must say that during my visit to S. Korea I ate extremely well. Koreans are known for their kimchi and for sometimes cooking an animal that others might find offensive. That later is becoming less and less common and is frownd upon by the majority now. The strangest thing I saw was a kimchi and rice hamburger. I doesn't look too bad but the idea of rice bun kind of defeats the purpose of having a bun in the first place. You can hold a bun, you can't hold a rice patty.

Passing of the Porn Legend

One of San Francisco's true characters has passed.

Famous for creating the Mitchell Brother(s) O’Farrell Theatre and then committing fratricide with a 22-caliber rifle, Jim Mitchell helped give San Francisco the wonderful and sick reputation it still (sort of) maintains. Today he died at 63 in Sonoma County. Starting out by selling nudie pics with his brother, Artie, the two built a porn empire with the help of such luminaries as local horny SF politicians, Marilyn Chambers, and lots and lots of boobies. Even batshit crazy journalist Hunter S. Thompson worked as a night manager at the (in)famous theater. Years later -- after all of the sex, coke, and more boobies -- took their toll, things moved too downhill fast. In an apparent “intervention” to help his brother; Jim shot Artie to death, and then kicked in the VIP lounge at San Quentin State Prison up until his release in 1997.
You had a fascinatingly torrid life that seemed to end in peace, and we promise to rub one out in your honor tonight, Jim. Or better yet, take a loved one to your flagship theater to see a peepshow.
Also, I am sorry that Emilio Estevez had to play you in your biopic. Alas.

Good Chopsticks, American

I just returned from Korea and I must say, I do believe I made us fellow Americans proud. I had plenty of meals with various Koreans and during each one somebody commented on my excellent chopstick skills. If they came away with one thing from my visit it may very well be the thought that us Yanks can handle the 'sticks. I am proud of this small yet important accomplishment.

Also, Koreans like to think their food is spicy. Well, after seeing more than one native turn away and cower from the heat, once again this Yank took it with an open mouth. Their so-called spicy food is nothing compared to hot wings at the Old Pro in Palo Alto or a tongue scorching bowl of chili at a chili cookoff.

I did get tired of sitting on the floor.

All-Star Events

San Francisco is hosting this year's MLB All-Star Game. While I will not be attending the game or the pre-game Home Run Derby I did go to the All-Star Fan Fest. The celebration took up three floors of the Moscone Convention Center and was filled with goodies, collectables and tons of displays. Not only can you take plenty of fake photos (Wheaties, for example), there were batting cages, pitching cages and tons of things to do for young kids.

I love San Francisco

No day makes me prouder to live in San Francisco than the day of the LGBT Pride Parade. It is the day making a lot of Americans shiver and San Franciscan's smile. The feeling all over The City is one of love and respect. The year's parade was again filled with the call for marriage equality. I feel it is only a matter of time before this becomes reality and much needed. How can somebody be against love and respect?

If LGBTs were allowed to marry the U.S. divorce rate would not be so high.

KRON 4's Henry Tenenbaum interviews George Takei of Star Trek Fame and one of the parade's Grand Marshalls.

Tahoe Weddings

I just returned from a trip to Tahoe for a wedding and while the ceremony was great (right on the lake) the unexpected joy came after.

I made a pit-stop on the way home to visit my first love, Mother Nature. The Pyramid Creek Trail is just off I-50. Horsetail Falls cascades hundreds of feet, flowing full force right now making for a magnificent sight.

The trail wanders over huge granite slabs and through thin stands of trees for about three miles and reaches a good vantage point at the base of the falls. The creek is raging right now. Along the way are great pools, clear water, and plenty of serenity.

Beautiful Modern Cube

This building is downright gorgeous.

San Francisco modern architecture is transforming the South of Market area. I suppose you could simply call it gentrification: flop houses and factories make way for architect's and realtor's and web designer's loft conversion offices. But that's a silly word for the process of urban evolution, especially here in this very young city (with barely 160 years under its belt).

New construction sits side by side with decrepit century-old buildings. Riding my bike and walking through the neighborhood, I'm often pleasantly surprised to find a new-ish and interesting building filling a slot in the urban grid.

SeaWorld = StrollerWorld

While in San Diego I went to SeaWorld with my friends, their two kids and the kids' grandparents. While I enjoyed the day I could not help but feeling I was being run over by strollers. I had never seen so many strollers in one place in my life.

Strollers are the very manifestiation of the dark commercial forces and one-upmanship that consume new parents. These were not strollers, these were mini-SUVs. I saw one stroller made by Jeep. Double-decker strollers, strollers with nobby-tires, extra storage, secret compartments and maybe even a coffee cup warmer for the parents. And the kids in them were usually not infants. What happened to walking? What happened to the simple stroller?

Parents need these super-sized strollers to carry all the extra stuff instead of the child. Often, the stroller turns into a shopping cart with the child relegated to a shoulder, the bags of over-priced memories filling the seat (since the kid will be too young to remember anything).

$900 for a stroller! I'll take a Red Flyer Wagon, it has more room looks a lot cooler.

Run San Diego

People ask why I run. I say, "If you have to ask, you will never understand". It is something only those select few know. Those who put themselves through pain, but know, deep down, how good it really feels.

I talk to my friends about running a lot. But only one of them has ever had the determination to see what I am talking about for themselves. This past weekend was the San Diego Marathon and while I finished the 26.2 miles in 4:20, it was nothing to my good friend Omar finishing at 4:40 in his first marathon.

The night before the race he was nervous, anxious and uncertain about what the marathon would hold in store for him. I reassured him he would do well, having trained hard, put in the hours and knew of his competitive spirit first hand. He was hoping to just finish, maybe around 5:30, 6 at the latest. All of his hard work paid off and I could not be more proud of him.

What a City

It is nights like tonight that make me wonder why I even consider living someplace else. Beyond the scenic vistas lie the true spirit of The City, the people. Cosmopolitan and tolerant. Grand and gutsy. Free and fun.

Tonight I was heading to the Giants game (they lost) and came across the usual Critical Mass crowd (every last Friday of the month). In addition, tonight there was a Zombie Mob. A Zombie Mob? All these people were dressed as zombies walking up Market Street. Their outfits were great. Blood and bones, limping and lurching about. There were well over one hundred people dressed up as zombies all around.

Night of the living dead, right here.

Restaurant Tips

I like SF Chronicle Food Critic Michael Bauer. Now I like him even more because he not only answered my restaurant tip question but he used it in his food blog.

My question was about restaurants automatically charging a gratuity onto the bill for a large dinner group. If the service is bad, do we have to pay the included tip? Most restaurants will make sure the service is good or allow for a lower tip if the service is extremly poor. But, according to a consultant Michael Bauer contacted, large parties have an implied contract.

"...I talked to restaurant consultant Frank Klein, who confirmed what I suspected: If the charge is printed on the menu, there's an implied contract. "By sitting down to eat, you're agreeing to pay," he explained. Klein says that when he goes to restaurant, he tells them before he sits down that he doesn't want to be bound by the service charge. Instead, he tips on the quality of the service (which is often more than 20 percent)."

There are many who made comments to Michael's post. Check it out.

Bay to Breakers

Runners. Costumes. Naked People. This past weekend was Bay to Breakers and while I fit into one of the mentioned categories all three and then some were out in force. The weather was perfect for the event. Pictures really can not catch the mood of the race. It has been called the world's largest moving party.

Bay to Breakers is the most grand expression of civic pride I've ever been a part of. Bands and DJs rock out on street corners, mobile soundsystems cruise the streets, elaborate floats are built and pushed to accommodate bars, kegs, beer pong, dance floors. There are no spectators. Everybody walks, runs, or rolls. You reach the top of Alamo Square--the halfway point, and the only hill on the course--and look down from the peak. In both directions, thousands of people of all stripes are celebrating life for the best of all reasons: Because it's there.

While The City and race organizers try to shun and stop the boozing and bare bodies, I have always thought they should embrace it. Those are the things that make this race stand out. Race organizers and The City should encourage such behavior and use it as a selling point to get more people involved in the race. Almost gone are the days of the centipedes that used to attrack a lot of attention. I fear the rest will soon follow.

Here are a few ideas I have to encourage more fun to the race:

1. Instead of frowning on alcohol, give it out. Give those over 21 special bibs they can use to get alcohol along the course. Hand it out at the water stops. Nobody is driving anyway. The organizers try to discourage those who do not register and it never works, this gives them an incentive to do so. Sure there are liabilites but don't let that stop it.

2. Have special prize money given to the first male and female nude runner.

3. Bring back the centipedes. If Bay to Breakers can give 20k to the first finisher (male or female) it can give some change to the first centipede.

Those are just three.

Gratuitus Gratuity

Since when did a gratuity become mandatory? I have come across several services where the gratuity is automatically added to the bill. I always thought a gratuity was at the discretion of the customer.

Restaurants, many times, have a policy of adding a gratuity to large parties. While I do not agree with this policy I can accept it because I get the bill after all is said and done and if I really wanted to I could argue for not paying.

I have a problem with a company charging me a gratuity before the sevices have been rendered. I needed to hire a car service to transport some people around. The company was going to charge me the hourly rate plus 20% gratuity. I would have to give my credit card number to reserve the car not knowing how the service would be. What if the person was late, rude or something happened? I would not have any recourse in not paying the gratuity because the company already had my credit card number and I paid in advance. Now, the likelihood of the company charging me the full gratuity if something happened and I complained serverly might not happen, but it could, and in principle I am opposed to this.

The same goes for a service known as Waiters on Wheels. It delivers food from restaurants that normally do not have delivery service. When ordering from Waiters on Wheels it automatically adds a gratuity. This is before the food arrives. How am I supposed to pay gratuity for something that has not occured?

I am not a cheap tipper. I tip according to service. Not before. After.

Chicago

I have to admit I like Chicago. The Chicago River cutting through downtown gives it character and feeling. Lake Michigan keeping watch makes me feel comfortable. Chicago is a big city with a midwestern feel, as it should. It stands out in so many ways, so do its buidlings and skyscrapers. Chicago was the first American city to have a "skyscraper". Okay, it was only ten stories tall but it was labeled "skyscraper".

The city is really pushing bicycle use and has been actively creating bike lanes in the city and paths in parks. Right now it even has a city-wide art exhibit in the form of stylized bikes all around. The same concept other citites have used, San Francisco had hearts, Madison had cows, San Jose had sharks. The city also does a great job beautifying the place by planting flowers everywhere, the tuplip were in full bloom.

Millenium Park is a big draw and is new since I had been there last. It features "the bean" a huge mercury looking pebble that is great for reflections and two giant squares that serve as visual art and a waterfall. Water cascades down all sides and even shoots out of the mouth of the faces shown from time to time.

While there I got a chance to see my good friend Michael. He just stated the Illinois Education Foundation, helping financially challenged kids pay for college. Here is the link for more information on his wonderful program. Michael will run for office one day.

New York City

One way to really appreciate San Francisco is to leave it for a over a week. After a trip to New York and Chicago, San Franciso's charms take center stage Other cities try but San Francisco doesn't have to. Its natural beauty comes shining through even on grey days. Where cities have to create beauty in the form of parks or buildings, San Francisco can just sit back and giggle at them. Keep trying you lesser places, you will never compare.

New York is a fine place and as you can see, Michelle and I enjoyed the place. The cherry blossoms and Magnolias were in full bloom at the New York Botanical Garden (way up in the Bronx). I think we might have been the only non-New Yorkers there (and free on Wednesday's too).

We made our way to the man made vista known as the Empire State Building. San Francisco does not have building you have to pay for to peer out its windows at the top. NY has ESB and the new Rockefeller Observation Deck. Can you imagine going to the top of the Transamerica Building? What is the point? Climb to the top of Coit Tower or go the Top of the Mark and you see the same thing for free.

One of of the most fascinating sights was the line at a hamburger joint called the Shake Shack. NY'ers were waiting 45 minutes to an hour in line to order a hamburger. Seeing the burgers and reading reviews online it did not seem worth the wait. Makes me wonder if NY'ers are so starved for a good burger maybe I should copy In-n-Out and open up a place of my own.

Travel Situation

I had an interesting occurance flying Southwest Airlines the other day. I was sitting in the front row, the very front, with no seats in front to place my carry on items below. I had no luggage. I only had my leather attache, or "man-bag". My bag does not contain a computer but just paperwork and magazines. The flight attendant told me I would have to place it in the overhead storage unit. I gave her my bag without argument. She then asked the woman next to me to do the same thing. The woman protested saying it was her purse. The flight attendant complied and did not push the issue. I did. I said if she could have her's I wanted mine back. I only did it for a matter of purpose. The flight attendant said no, her's was a purse and mine was note. I forced the issue saying my bag is of less "danger" than her purse since it is likely carrying less. Her's was probably carrying "lipstick to terrorize the passangers" while mine only had magazines. I eventually lost the battle and apologized to my neighbor. She agreed I was right and should have been allowed to have it. It just goes to show you how obsurd certain flight rules are. Women can carry more than their fair share of carry-on's. Everybody has a carry-on that is too large. Try fitting any of them into those "standard carry-on" size displays at check-in.

Job Security

I have been doing quite a bit of traveling recently, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and noticed security is big business. What if 9/11 did not happen? What would all these newly formed "security personal" be doing? I am not just talking about the mass of TSA staff at the airport but the "security" surrounding other vunerable locations.

While in New York I went to visit the Statue of Liberty. Everybody had to go through not one, but two security checkpoints. The second included an "air puff" machine which supposedly detected explosives.

Here is my beef with all this security, does it really protect us? Why is it I have to take off my shoes at the airport when I do not at the Statue of Liberty when it appears to be more secure in having two checkpoints? In order to visit the statue two people had to check my ticket and mark it with an 'x'. Necessary? That appeared to be their only job, using a marker to check my ticket.

Without noticing I did a little test. Going through security at one airport I forgot to take my wallet out of my pocket. My wallet containts a metal bar in it. The metal detector did not go off. Why must people remove their wallets in the first place? Afraid of the Swiss Army Knife Credit Card? The next time I forgot to take off my belt and again the metal detector did not respond.

Some would argue it is a deterent and it does prevent a lot of dangerous stuff from occuring. I can not argue with that. Security is big business and businesses will do everything it can to expand, needing more equipment and more people. I am glad all of these people have work. What would they be doing if we didn't need all this security?