Sam Spade's San Francisco

Present your current, valid U.S. military I.D. this weekend at Old Navy and get a 30% discount off everything you buy!

The offer is valid for all active duty, retired and reserve U.S. military personnel and their dependent family members.

Print the coupon and take it with you. remember: this weekend only!

I spotted this good news through the USO's twitter acccount. You can follow the USO on Twitter at @

You can follow me (Sam Spade's San Francisco) on Twitter at @

Old Navy Flagship Store
4th & Market- SF
801 Market St
San Francisco
Phone:

For other locations go to: Old Navy Store Locator

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This just in from the USS Nimitz, At Sea (NNS) --

USS Nimitz (CVN 68) departed her homeport of San Diego July 31 on a regularly scheduled Western Pacific deployment.

"Teamwork … A Tradition" is the motto and philosophy of the USS Nimitz, the flagship of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG). Nimitz will leverage both as she leads a versatile, flexible and mission-tailored force in support of the nation's maritime strategy.

"I'm proud of these Sailors, and all of their families for the mutual commitment to support their country," said Rear Adm. John W. Miller, commander, CSG 11 "This deployment is the culmination of a lot of hard work. We are ready."

Aircraft carriers and their accompanying strike groups deliver the right balance of presence and power necessary to wage war in the 21st century. They enable the Navy to execute the six core capabilities of the maritime strategy – forward presence, deterrence, sea control, power projection, maritime security and humanitarian assistance/disaster response.

"This ship is one of our nation's primary on-call assets, we can take this capability forward even to places where access is not assured", said Capt. Michael Manazir, Nimitz' commanding officer, "and it is all made possible through the pride and professionalism of the Nimitz Sailor".

Last year, Nimitz CSG deployed to the western Pacific in support of the U.S. commitment to peace and stability in the region while USS Kitty Hawk's (CV 63) was in maintenance. During the four-month deployment Nimitz CSG supported the maritime strategy by expanding cooperative relationships with the Republic of Korea (ROK), participating in Operation Key Resolve/Foal Eagle 2008.

"The carrier strike group has a unique ability to access critical areas and project power ashore without requiring basing ashore, said Miller, "but this same access can also position us for sustained, routine security cooperation activities with foreign partners and allies."

Nimitz CSG, commanded by Miller, is comprised of USS Nimitz (CVN 68), the guided-missile destroyers USS Pinckney (DDG 91) and USS Sampson (DDG 102) of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 23, the Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Chosin (CG 55) from Commander, Naval Surface Group, Mid-Pacific and the Perry-class frigate USS Rentz (FFG 46) from DESRON 1. Squadrons from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11 include the "Black Aces" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 41, the "Tophatters" of VFA 14, the "Warhawks" of VFA 97, the "Sidewinders" of VFA 86, the "Indians" of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 6, the "Black Ravens" of Electronic Attack Squadron 135, the "Providers" of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 30 and the "Wallbangers" of Carrier Airborne Command and Control Squadron 117. Detachments from the "Easy Riders" of Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 37, the "Battle Cats" of HSL 43, the "Wolfpack" of HSL 45 and the "Scorpions" of HSL 49. Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 11 and USNS Bridge (T-AOE-10) embarking the "Wildcards" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 23 also accompany Nimitz CSG.

Nimitz was commissioned in 1975, making it the first Nimitz-class, nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in the U.S. Fleet. The ship is named for World War II Fleet Adm. Chester Nimitz.

Resources:
USS Nimitz - ship's website
U.S. Naval Base San Diego
USS Pinckney-was in SF for Fleet Week2008

GO NIMITZ!

Celebrate Summer's bounty by sipping hand crafted botanical-inspired cocktails made by some of the city's best bartenders!

August 12, 2209

5:30 to 7:30 pm

Ferry Building North Arcade

The Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture (CUESA) and the San Francisco Chapter of the United States Bartenders Guild will host an evening of summer farmers' market cocktails.

Botanical-themed spirits will be paired with summer produce (think berries and peaches). For $30, guests will enjoy 2 full-sized signature cocktails made with Square One Botanical, the new spirit that brings together floral and fruit flavors, along with 12 other sample-sized drinks featuring Beefeater 24 Gin, Bols Genever, Chartreuse, Galliano, and Plymouth Gin.

Delicious bites will be provided by local restaurants such as Globe, Boulevard, Chez Papa Resto, Laiola, MarketBar and TWO.

Participating bartenders include: H. Joseph Ehrmann from Elixir, Brian MacGregor from Jardiniere, Krista Silva from Rickhouse, Victoria Damato of Cent'Anni Cocktails, Parker Heineman from Pacific Catch, Scott Baird from 15 Romolo, Ryan Hazen from Bourbon and Branch, Jackie Patterson from Heaven's Dog, Darren Crawford from Tony Nick's, Brooke Arthur from Range, Gabriel Lowe from Beretta, Greg Lindgren from Rye & Rosewood, and Alicia Walton from Elixir.

The event takes place in kitchen in the North Arcade, in front of the San Francisco Ferry Building.

Buy tickets here>

Outside Lands Fast Facts and Quick Links:

When: August 28-30, 2009

Where: Golden Gate Park, Lindley Meadow / Polo Field

In the photo: Tom Petty at Outside Lands 2008

Getting to Golden Gate Park
Volunteer to work the Outside Lands Festival

The Lineup! See who will be performing
Tickets
The BEST place for deli sandwiches nearby
EcoLands - the Green Committment
The Barbary - by the Vau de Vire Society
Winehaven - 25 local winemakers
Crowdfire - upload your music and videos online
California Academy of Sciences at Golden Gate Park - this is a MUST SEE!
Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs at the de Young Museum
San Francisco Visitor's Guide from SF Visitor & Convention Bureau
Transit Tools - arrivals, schedules, routes, info
San Francisco Taxicab scams - Read this warning!
San Francisco History - links and resources
Pot Clubs (medical marijuana dispensaries) - list with addresses and phone numbers

Follow Outside Lands on Twitter @
San Francisco Outside Lands website: www.sfoutsidelands.com

Live in San Francisco?
If you live in the Richmond District (on the North side of Golden Gate park) or the Sunset District (on the Southside) you need this very useful and well prepared "survival guide", A Resident's Guide to Outside Lands Festival from the Richmond District blog - richmondsfblog.com

Go to the following links for a well-rounded Twitter education:

1) 20 ways to tweet for companies, corporations & small business

2) Twitter backgrounds and best 10+ sites

3) Ten types of people to unfollow at Twitter

4) Twitter attacks getting smarter

5) Tips for teachers using Twitter with students

6) You can take a tweet to a twit, but you can't make them click

7) Real relationships - phony followers

8) Google should integrate Twitter search (maybe buy Twitter first?)

9) U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services Twitter use guide

10) How not to suck on Twitter

11) 5 tips that will reduce Twitter spam

12) Ten things you need to know before using Twitter

13) Yes, Twitter works for recruiting

14) Nonprofit fundraising on Twitter

15) Optimizing your Twitter experience

16)

Follow Sam Spade's San Francisco on Twitter at @

Find more tips on Twitter at @ and @

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San Francisco
Street Food Festival 2009

- August 22
- 11am to 7pm
- Folsom Street (between 25th and 26th)
- FREE

I came across this absolutely wonderful story about Sacha Baron Cohen and his "Bruno" character from the Al Arabiya news service. Al Arabiya is based in Dubai and the story is about a man in Palestine.

For the record I came across this lead from Jamal Dajani (Mosaic World News producer for LinkTV) through his Twitter account, @

Here's the story. Read it below or at it's source, Al Arabiya.

Who: The Pacific Islander Cultural Association
What: The 15th annual San Francisco Aloha Festival
When: Saturday and Sunday, August 1st and 2nd
Hours: 10am to 5pm
Where: San Francisco Presidio
Cost: FREE

- Daily Raffle Prizes
- Pacific Island Music & Dance
- Island Food / Art & Crafts
- Free Educational Workshops
- Activities for Kids
- Outrigger Race on Saturday (sponsored by He’e Nalu ‘O Marin Outriggers)

Resources:
Directions to the festival
Frequently Asked Questions about the festival
Entertainment schedule
Hawaiian and Polynesian food, arts and folk crafts
Download Aloha Festival flyer/poster (.pdf)
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Soon the USS New York will be joining the fleet. The New York's bow stem includes thousands of pounds of steel salvaged from the World Trade Center. What a symbol of America the New York will be!

Here's the announcement from the U.S. Navy:

The future USS New York (LPD 21) completed Acceptance Trials July 24, sailing from and returning to the Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding (NGSB) shipyard in New Orleans. The ship's bow stem includes thousands of pounds of steel salvaged from the World Trade Center.

New York is the fifth ship of the San Antonio class to be presented to the Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) for acceptance. This is the final major milestone prior to the shipyard delivering the amphibious transport dock ship to the Navy.

"The completion of acceptance trials is a major step towards bringing New York into the fleet," said Capt. Bill Glens, LPD 17-class program manager for the Navy's Program Executive Office for Ships (PEO Ships). "This week, four out of five San Antonio-class ships were underway at the same time. There's really no better indication that we're delivering urgently needed assets to our warfighters."

During the Acceptance Trials, NGSB successfully demonstrated a variety of systems including main propulsion, engineering and ship control systems, combat systems, damage control, food service and crew support. Among the highlights of the trial, New York successfully completed a full power run, self defense detect-to-engage exercises, ballasting, deballasting, and steering and anchor handling demonstrations. In addition to the INSURV team, Navy experts from Naval Sea Systems Command, the LPD 17 class Program Office and the Supervisor of Shipbuilding Gulf Coast participated in the trials. Among the most interested ship riders were those men and women from New York's crew who will be moving aboard the ship in August shortly after delivery.

The future USS New York is scheduled for commissioning in New York City on Nov. 7, 2009.

PEO Ships is responsible for the development and acquisition of U.S. Navy surface ships, and is currently managing the design and construction of a wide range of ship classes and small boats and craft. These platforms range from major warships such as frontline surface combatants and amphibious assault ships to air-cushioned landing craft, oceanographic research ships and special warfare craft. PEO Ships has delivered 32 major warships and hundreds of small boats and craft from more than 30 shipyards and boat builders across the United States.

For more news from Naval Sea Systems Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/navsea/.

Download a high-resolution photo of the USS New York.
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Here's some great ideas for non-profits. It would behoove many of our San Francisco nonprofit organizations to pay some attention to this story - particularly during these lean times.

Here's the story that first appeared in . The story was first brought to my attention on Twitter thanks to @.

Here's the story. Share this post with the executive director of the nonprofit or charity that you support.

For a while, most questions one would hear about would be "what is it?" Most webinars I've sat in about Twitter fundraising have included basics of the Twitter world, like how to post, reTweet, and, in some cases, redirect people to your fundraising page.

FBI agents this morning arrested a group of homegrown terrorists in North Carolina who were heavily armed, organized, and making plans to wage jihad overseas.

The seven men arrested—including a father and his two sons—were charged with providing material support to terrorists and conspiring to murder, kidnap, maim, and injure people overseas.

The father, Daniel Patrick Boyd, once fought in Afghanistan and trained in terrorist camps in Pakistan and Afghanistan. All of the defendants are North Carolina residents, and all but one are U.S. citizens.

“The threat that terrorists and extremists pose to America and our allies has not dulled or gone away,” said Owen D. Harris, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Charlotte Division. “These arrests today show there are people living among us, in our communities in North Carolina and around the U.S., that are honing their skills to carry out acts of murder and mayhem.”

The seven-count indictment details a conspiracy that began in earnest in 2006 and continued until shortly before today’s arrests. The defendants trained in the U.S. for battle and were willing to die as martyrs. They raised money to support their training and in some cases recruited and radicalized others to further their cause overseas. In one case, Daniel Patrick Boyd traveled in March 2006 with one of his sons to Gaza to introduce him to individuals who believed violent jihad was a religious obligation. A year later, Boyd and several of the defendants went to Israel to wage jihad but returned without success.

The defendants, as well as some of the additional charges they face, are:

• Daniel Patrick Boyd: The 39-year-old Boyd faces charges of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime, receiving a firearm through interstate commerce, and also selling a firearm to a felon.
• Dylan Boyd: One of Daniel Boyd’s sons, Dylan, 22, is also charged with selling a firearm—a 9mm Beretta handgun—to a felon.
• Zakariya Boyd: Also a son of Daniel Boyd, Zakariya, 20, is charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime.
• Hysen Sherifi: The 24-year-old Kosovo native is a legal U.S. resident. As part of the conspiracy, the indictment alleges he traveled to Kosovo in July 2008 to engage in violent jihad, then returned in April to raise support for the mujahedeen. Sherifi allegedly supplied $500 to help fund Daniel Boyd’s overseas efforts.
• Anes Subasic: The 33-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen discussed preparations with Daniel Boyd to send two people overseas.
• Mohammad Omar Aly Hassan: A 22-year-old U.S. citizen.
• Ziyad Yaghi: The 21-year-old U.S. citizen traveled to Jordan in October 2006 to engage in violent jihad.

The indictment details the arsenal the defendants built up over several years, including handguns, assault rifles, and a Bushmaster M4A3 that Daniel Boyd allegedly received illegally in 2006. Over the past two months, the defendants practiced with the weapons and developed their military tactics on private property in rural Caswell County.

The Raleigh Joint Terrorism Task Force of the FBI Charlotte Division led the multi-year, multi-agency investigation, dubbed “Triangle Terror Takedown” in reference to the state’s research triangle, along with the North Carolina Information Sharing and Analysis Center.

“We will remain vigilant, so must the public,” Special Agent in Charge Harris said. “If you see or hear something, act. Call your local police department or the FBI.”

Resources:

- Caswell County, North Carolina (Wikipedia)
...- Press release
...- FBI Counterterrorism

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This photo is one of a series of excellent photos taken by Luke Thomas, publisher of Fog City Journal. You can click to enlarge the photo in a separate window or tab. You can also go to the source and see the whole portfolio.

Fog City Journal is blog that keeps very close tabs on San Francisco City Hall from a progressive perspective. Luke Thomas does good, solid journalism and he is obviously a talented photographer.

See more of Luke's photos and the accompanying story of the July 25 United 4 Iran rally and protest in front of San Francisco City Hall.

Read Fog City Journal here.

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Visit the Farallon Islands off the coast of San Francisco through this audio slideshow from KQED Quest. The Farallon Islands, or Farallones, are a group of islands and rocks found in the Gulf of the Farallones, off the coast of San Francisco. Learn more about the islands at this excellent Wikipedia article.



You can also see a live-cam of the Farallon Islands at the California Academy of Sciences at Golden Gate Park. See the live-cam here.

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Stern Grove Festival
Sunday, August 2, 2009 - 2 PM
Sigmund Stern Grove
19th Ave and Sloat Blvd ()
San Francisco

Admission is FREE

Bollywood superstar Kailash Kher teams up with brothers Naresh and Paresh Kamash to bring a soulful melding of traditional Sufi folk songs and modern rock sensibilities this summer. Kher’s raw, earthy vocals and energetic performances have catapulted him to stardom in India and around the world.

The distinct traditional sounds of Ireland and India collide with drum and bass in Delhi 2 Dublin’s crowd moving performances. The five-piece group harmonizes the eclectic sounds of a sitar, fiddle, dhol, and tabla over dance-inducing beats.

Parking is very sparse. Come early or take public transportation. Click here for transportation and parking tips.

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Current Open Administrative Vacancies in the U.S. Marshals Service as of July 27, 2009

Please follow this link and follow the link on the job title to see each vacancy announcement.

Budget Analyst, GS-0560-9
Closing Date: 7/27/2009
Announcement Number: 272851
District of Columbia, Washington, DC
Grace Adams-Johnson

Budget Analyst, GS-0560-9
Closing Date: 7/27/2009
Announcement Number: 272833
District of Columbia, Washington, DC
Grace Adams-Johnson

Strategic Planning Specialist, GS-0301-13
Closing Date: 7/27/2009
Announcement Number: 270166
Management Support Division, Office of Support Management
Arlington, VA
Tina Payne

Supervisory Budget Analyst, GS-0560-14
Closing Date: 7/29/2009
Announcement Number: 272113
Financial Services Division, Arlington, VA
Lorrisa Frazier-Bey

Criminal Program Specialist, Current USMS and CTAP Eligibles in the Local Commuting Area Only
GS-0301-09
Closing Date: 7/29/2009
Announcement Number: 273379
District of New Mexico, Albuquerque NM
Beverly Meder:

Operations Support Specialist
Current Career and Career-Conditional and ICTAP Eligibles in Local Commuting Area
GS-0301-09
Closing Date: 7/30/2009,
Announcement Number: 273536
Northern District of Florida, Panama City FL
Grace Adams-Johnson:

Administrative Support Assistant (OA)
CTAP Eligibles in Local Commuting Area GS-0303-07
Closing Date: 7/31/2009
Announcement Number: 274456
Southern District of California, San Diego CA
Beverly A. Meder:

Supervisory Policy & Strategic Planning Specialist
USMS Employees Only, GS-0301-14
Closing Date: 8/06/2009
Announcement Number: 273237
Office of Support Management, Arlington VA
Tina L. Payne:

Supervisory IT (Network Services), GS-2210-14
Closing Date: 8/6/2009
Announcement Number: 272729
Information Technology Division, Arlington, VA
Tina Payne

IT Specialist (Applications Software), GS-2210-14
Closing Date: 8/13/2009
Announcement Number: 273909
Information Technology Division, Arlington VA
Tina L. Payne:

Supervisory Policy & Strategic Planning Specialist
USMS Employees Only, GS-0301-14
Closing Date: 8/06/2009
Announcement Number: 273237
Office of Support Management, Arlington VA
Tina L. Payne:

IT Specialist (System Admin/Customer Support), GS-2210-13
Closing Date: 8/12/2009
Announcement Number: 273816
Information Technology Division, Arlington VA
Tina L. Payne:

Supervisory IT Specialist, GS-2210-14
Closing Date: 8/14/2009
Announcement Number: 273850
Information Technology Division, Arlington VA
Tina L. Payne:

The full URL for these job opportunities is: http://www.usmarshals.gov/careers/ad_vacancies.html

Have you ever wondered who watches those late-hour videos of the San Francisco Police Commission that are shown on the SFGTV channel? Well, I'm one of the goofy people who seemlingly have nothing better to do but watch political programming. I've seen most of the Police Commission meetings and I've become a fan of the Commission's most recent past president, Theresa Sparks.

I find myself agreeing with most, if not all, of her positions. (The new president of the Police Commission is Dr. Joe Marshall of SF's Omega Boys Club - an excellent choice, by the way).

Now it looks like Mayor Newsom will ask Sparks to head the city's powerful Human Rights Commission. That is exciting! Theresa Sparks would be the absolute best choice the Mayor can make to head our HRC. I whole-heartedly endorse the proposed appointment.

>>> Read this report from City Insider, a section of the San Francisco Chronicle:

It's no secret that former Police Commission president Theresa Sparks is on the hunt for a job -- and it's appearing as if she didn't have to look far.

Sparks is reportedly being tapped by Mayor Gavin Newsom to run the city's Human Rights Commission, with an announcement expected next week. Her appointment to lead the $6.5 million agency would leave current executive director Christopher Iglesias out in the cold. The news is already irking some of the mayor's critics. Some are charging that Iglesias, a former Newsom staffer, is being sidelined because he has clashed with the mayor over how to run the office. There's also chatter that Sparks, a transgender woman who was appointed to the Police Commission by the Board of Supervisors but was criticized for her cozy relationship with Newsom, is being rewarded.

Iglesias declined to comment Saturday.

"I hope it's not because Chris stood up to efforts to essentially minimize the role the Human Rights Commission plays in city contracting," said Supervisor David Campos, who stressed that he has "a lot of respect" for Sparks, his former colleague on the police commission. "But I have a hard time seeing why this is happening."

The Human Rights Commission is charged with implementing and enforcing city anti-discrimination, contracting, equal benefits and disadvantaged business laws. But it's also supposed to mediate disputes and play an advocacy role. A Newsom spokesman said Saturday that Iglesias remains in charge of the agency. Sparks wouldn't say one way or the other, but noted she would take the agency in a different direction if she were named to the post.

"I don't want to do a disservice to the person who is there now, but my understanding is that he will be moving on to another position, and if that is the case I would be interested," said Sparks, adding that she feels the agency has been too focused on contracting oversight. "If I had the opportunity, I would like to bring it into focus as the primary human rights advocacy organization in the city. There are some big issues -- immigration, sanctuary city, the depopulation of the Bayview, inner group tensions -- what it was originally set up to do."

The Chronicle piece was written by Marisa Lagos. You can reach her for more information at

Other Resources:

Theresa Sparks - Wikipedia

San Francisco Human Rights Commission

San Francisco Police Commission

Mayor Gavin Newsom

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This dramatic photo comes to us from the International Space Station by way of NASA.

U.S. Navy Seal, Commander Christopher Cassidy, is in space aboard the shuttle Endeavour as mission specialist on STS-127 mission since July 15. He is NASA’s 500^th astronaut.

In the photo Cassidy, pictured during the Endeavour crew’s third space walk, works near the Japanese Exposed Facility (JEF). Astronaut Dave Wolf, Cassidy’s colleague for the spacewalk, is out of frame. Click on the photo to enlarge in a separate window or tab. Click here to get a high resolution photo to download.

Those Navy Seals are a remarkable team. They go to the most dangerous places on Earth (and in space) on the most dangerous missions this nation can offer.

They are heroes, every one of them: U. S. Navy Seals.

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The Mayor, who in addition to running the City and County of San Francisco, also contributes to the Huffington Post. His latest article, a hard-hitting call to support President Obama's health care plan, is below:

Politicians and pundits on both sides of the aisle are trying to make national health care reform into a game. One senator even said that defeating health care reform is about "breaking" President Obama.

It is not about "breaking" our president. Reforming our national health care system is about fixing our economy by creating competition to lower health care costs and improve care.

Health care reform is about the estimated 47 million Americans that do not have health insurance. Nearly five million people have lost their insurance since September 2008. 14,000 more are losing coverage every day -- and the situation is only getting worse.

This is not a game. This is a crisis. And as the recession continues, it is a crisis with profound implications for every city and county in America.

Earlier this week, Governor Schwarzenegger balanced the California state budget on the backs of local governments, taking $4 billion from cities and counties, slashing $1.3 billion from the state's health care program for the poor and gutting millions more from the Healthy Families insurance program that provides coverage for children.

What is happening in California is not unique to our state. Mayors and city councils across the country are facing similar problems as state governments slash health coverage to balance their books.

Our emergency rooms will bear the brunt of these cuts, as patients will flood our hospitals when they can no longer see a doctor. Our residents will pay the price with higher taxes, more expensive premiums, hidden costs and increased fees. Our cities and towns will all have to pick up the tab.

This is a crisis. And our cities and towns are on the front lines.

That's why this afternoon I'm hosting a call with mayors from around the country asking them to introduce resolutions in their city councils to support the Administration's health care reform principles. Health care reform cannot wait.

In San Francisco, we decided to treat this crisis. Two years ago, we launched the country's first universal health care program, Healthy San Francisco. Today, almost 75% of previously uninsured residents are enrolled in our "public option" program. 44,249 people, at last count are now covered by our public plan.

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Mayor Gavin Newsom is running for Governor of California. If you would like to know more about Gavin's campaign, please go to: www.gavinnewsom.com

Follow Gavin Newsom on Twitter @

Follow Sam Spade's San Francisco on Twitter @

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Update: Columbus Salame announced today that - despite the devastating loss of their South San Francisco plant to fire - they will remain open and remain in full production.

We probably won't even notice an interruption. Good news!

That sure puts a brighter spin on the story and the following obituary is no longer in need - but the history of this company is a good SF read. Here it is:

Damn. Another fine, local product that we shall enjoy no more!

Columbus Salame, instantly recognizable to generations of San Franciscans, is no more! Their plant just burned to the ground. It's over.

Here's a brief history timeline for the great old San Francisco Bay Area company:

1917: Two Italian partners, Domenici and Parducci, start making and selling salame out of their North Beach apartment.

1932: By this time they were selling their salame to grocery stores in a 100-mile radius from San Francisco.

1946: Domenici and Parducci retire. They sell Columbus Salame to John, Tony, Luis and Victor Devencenzi.

1957: In 1957 the Devencenzi brothers sell the company to three San Francisco North Beach families: the de Martini, Gatto and Piccetti families. The company remains in their hands today.

1967: Columbus Salame opened a large state-of-the-art production plant in Hayward. Yesterday that plant burned to the ground.

Lets hope they had some really good insurance and they are able to rise again from the ashes. That is, after all, a precious San Francisco value.
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NOAA’s National Weather Service is asking the marine community to help safeguard its offshore buoys — which provide meteorologists with critical data for weather and tsunami forecasts — following a series of incidents where buoys were damaged or cut from their moorings.

Since November 2008, three weather buoys around the Hawaiian Islands have been damaged, and several tsunami buoys around the Pacific Rim stopped transmitting data after severe weather or commercial ships broke the mooring lines. Two weather buoys suffered serious damage and stopped sending data. A third weather buoy continues to transmit data, but has drifted thousands of miles to the west because of a cut mooring line. NOAA and the U.S. Coast Guard have repaired many of the buoys, and the remainder will be serviced as soon as ship schedules permit.

To learn more about NOAA weather buoys go to: National Data Bouy Center
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An urgent message from the San Francisco SPCA:

Despite our plea in June, we are still at full capacity with adult cat and kittens, and need your help. Kitten season is currently well underway, and together with a large number of adult and senior cats, the feline population at shelters continues to increase.

About the photo: This is Thomas. He is one of the many beautiful cats waiting for a loving home. Read more about Thomas here.

The current economic crisis is also blamed for a rise in the number of owner-surrendered and abandoned cats. The SF/SPCA and other shelters in surrounding areas, are still urgently looking for more adopters to save cats' lives.

Please click here to see photos and descriptions of the beautiful cats who so desperately need a loving home.

If you love cats, you will want to read the SFSPCA's terrific blog, Litter Did You Know.

You can also follow the SFSPCA on Twitter at @ and on

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Alan Colmes published this very interesting post today on his Liberaland blog:

Writing in The Age, former President Jimmy Carter explains why he’s leaving the Baptist Church.

Women and girls have been discriminated against for too long in a twisted interpretation of the word of God.

I have been a practicing Christian all my life and a deacon and Bible teacher for many years. My faith is a source of strength and comfort to me, as religious beliefs are to hundreds of millions of people around the world.

So my decision to sever my ties with the Southern Baptist Convention, after six decades, was painful and difficult. It was, however, an unavoidable decision when the convention’s leaders, quoting a few carefully selected Bible verses and claiming that Eve was created second to Adam and was responsible for original sin, ordained that women must be “subservient” to their husbands and prohibited from serving as deacons, pastors or chaplains in the military service.

Interestingly, Carter acknowledges how difficult this would have been for him to do were he still in the political arena.

I understand, however, why many political leaders can be reluctant about stepping into this minefield. Religion, and tradition, are powerful and sensitive areas to challenge. But my fellow Elders and I, who come from many faiths and backgrounds, no longer need to worry about winning votes or avoiding controversy – and we are deeply committed to challenging injustice wherever we see it.

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With 2009 now half over, the Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers to take advantage of the numerous tax breaks made available earlier this year in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

The recovery law provides tax incentives for first-time homebuyers, people purchasing new cars, those interested in making their homes more energy efficient and parents and students paying for college. But all of these incentives have expiration dates so taxpayers should take advantage of them while they can.

First-Time Homebuyer Credit

The Recovery Act extended and expanded the first-time homebuyer tax credit for 2009.

Taxpayers who didn’t own a principal residence during the past three years and purchase a home this year before Dec. 1 can receive a credit of up to $8,000 on either an original or amended 2008 tax return, or a 2009 return. But the purchase must close before Dec. 1, 2009, and an eligible taxpayer cannot claim the credit until after the closing date. This credit phases out at higher income levels, and different rules apply to home purchases made in 2008.

New Vehicle Purchase Incentive

ARRA also provides a tax break to taxpayers who make qualified new vehicle purchases after Feb. 16, 2009, and before Jan. 1, 2010.

Qualifying taxpayers can deduct the state and local sales and excise taxes paid on the purchase of new cars, light trucks, motor homes and motorcycles. There is no limit on the number of vehicles that may be purchased, and you may claim the deduction for taxes paid on multiple purchases. But the deduction per vehicle is limited to the tax on up to $49,500 of the purchase price of each qualifying vehicle and phases out for taxpayers at higher income levels. This deduction is available regardless of whether a taxpayer itemizes deductions on Schedule A.

Energy-Efficient Home Improvements

The Recovery Act also encourages homeowners to make their homes more energy efficient. The credit for nonbusiness energy property is increased for homeowners who make qualified energy-efficient improvements to existing homes. The law increases the rate to 30 percent of the cost of all qualifying improvements and raises the maximum credit limit to a total of $1,500 for improvements placed in service in 2009 and 2010.

Qualifying improvements include the addition of insulation, energy-efficient exterior windows and energy-efficient heating and air conditioning systems.

Tax Credit for First Four Years of College

The American opportunity credit is designed to help parents and students pay part of the cost of the first four years of college. The new credit modifies the existing Hope credit for tax years 2009 and 2010, making it available to a broader range of taxpayers, including many with higher incomes and those who owe no tax. Tuition, related fees, books and other required course materials generally qualify. Many of those eligible will qualify for the maximum annual credit of $2,500 per student.

Certain Computer Technology Purchases Allowed for 529 Plans

ARRA adds computer technology to the list of college expenses (tuition, books, etc.) that can be paid for by a qualified tuition program (QTP), commonly referred to as a 529 plan. For 2009 and 2010, the law expands the definition of qualified higher education expenses to include expenses for computer technology and equipment or Internet access and related services to be used by the designated beneficiary of the QTP while enrolled at an eligible educational institution. Software designed for sports, games or hobbies does not qualify, unless it is predominantly educational in nature.

Making Work Pay and Withholding

The Making Work Pay Credit lowered tax withholding rates this year for 120 million American households. However, particular taxpayers who fall into any of the following groups should review their tax withholding rates to ensure enough tax is withheld, including multiple job holders, families in which both spouses work, workers who can be claimed as dependents by other taxpayers and pensioners. Failure to adjust your withholding could result in potentially smaller refunds or in limited instances may cause you to owe tax rather than receive a refund next year. So far in 2009, the average refund amount is $2,675, and 79 percent of all returns received a refund.

Related Information

For more on the Recovery provisions that may apply to individual taxpayers see the ARRA page on IRS.gov.

Audio Files for Podcast

Tax Breaks for 2009 & 2010: In English and in Spanish

Videos

IMPORTANT: The best all-in-one website for Recovery Act help is the new Recovery.gov website created by the White House. Check it out: www.recovery.gov

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