Sam Spade's San Francisco

This just in from San Francisco Business Times:

AAA of Northern California, Nevada and Utah plans to close 10 of its 103 locations and cut 100 jobs.

The locations include San Francisco, Menlo Park, Emeryville, Livermore, Sacramento, Lincoln, Rancho Cordova and Stockton, which will be closed by March 26. A Car Care Plus facility in Henderson, Nev. will close its doors by March 31. Two offices in Oakland and Walnut Creek will be relocated or consolidated by June.

Most of the positions that will be cut are in middle management and branch offices.

AAA Locations to Close

.

The Green Party of San Francisco has officially endorsed Restore Equality 2010, the campaign to repeal Proposition 8. On February 24^th, the SF Green Party held their monthly meeting at the San Francisco LGBT Center where they were joined by three of the Regional Representatives for RE 2010. Together, they discussed the signature gathering effort to get marriage equality back on the ballot in November.
.
"The Green Party is proud to distinguish itself as the Party which has always and unequivocally supported full equality for the LGBT community,” said Paul Platt, SF Green Party County Council member. “In keeping with this tradition, we enthusiastically endorse, and commit to working on the campaign to repeal Prop 8 and restore equality this November."
.
California is a stronghold for the Green Party, with over 111,000 registered Greens and the San Francisco Party is one of the largest and strongest local Green groups in the US. There is a Green on the Board of Supervisors and CA Coastal Commission (Ross Mirkirimi), and a Green on the Golden Gate Bridge Commission (Dave Snyder).
.
Restore Equality 2010 is a grassroots campaign dedicated to passing a constitutional amendment in 2010 that guarantees marriage equality for all Californians. Restore Equality 2010 empowers everyday people and ensures that they have a voice in the campaign to legalize marriage for all Californians.
.
Learn more at Restore Equality 2010

.
.

Well before midnight last night I was on Twitter. That's where I learned about the earthquake in Chile.

I subscribe to automatic tweet notices from the U. S. Geological Survey (on Twitter: and and ). I learned about the earthquake in Chile moments after it struck.

I tweeted about it shortly after. That was well before midnight Friday night. The quake struck early Saturday morning Chile time. I sent off a few more warning tweets and spent the next 30 or 40-minutes or so trying to find breaking news coverage on TV.

Nothing.

CNN was showing a tired-old repeat of a tired-old Larry King program. MSNBC was broadcasting paid programming. NBC, CBS and ABC had nothing, zippo, nada. The entire American professional media was a no-show. I didn't turn on any local radio stations, but the local media that love to blast us Twitter users with their endless spam/news/garbage all day long were silent on Twitter. Nothing.

And what about all those "wannabe" journalists who have all those "breaking news" type Twitter names? Where were they? Asleep? At a party?

Where were all those local radio and TV newsroom crews who (we are told) monitor Twitter 24/7? Where were they? Asleep?

Here was an opportunity for anyone in the local professional media to use Twitter as a source and make a name for themselves by scooping the competition to get on the air with a breaking story. They let the opportunity slip away.

I've heard the local media brag about how well they monitor Twitter. TV news stations brag about it frequently. Some of the local media even follow me ( ) on Twitter, not all of them, but a few. So, if they really monitor Twitter, how did they miss that story for so long?

Professional journalism failed and they failed miserably. They did the same thing during the Iran election riots. During the first hours of the events in Iran last year, the U.S. professional media were failures and no-shows. The world relied on Twitter, Facebook and social media.

This is why the major news networks in this country are losing money. This is why they are in trouble. This is why SFGate, the online presence of the San Francisco Chronicle, is little more than an "also mention" when it comes to local news.

When the real people of the world need real news they turn to Twitter and to social media. Professional journalism has become irrelevant.

For me one thing is absolutely certain. When emergencies arise on the planet, I will turn-off the TV paid-programming, forget about the radio and log in to Twitter and social networking. I will be directly plugged into the whole world - instantly. The professional media will slowly catch up with in-depth reporting to be certain, but they no longer have a monopoly on breaking news.

.

The Coast Guard’s newest cutter is scheduled to arrive at its new homeport of Coast Guard Island in Alameda, Feb. 28 at 1 p.m.

Commissioning is set for May 7, 2010

Here's a great opportunity for someone to take over a great little restaurant that is world famous and located at one of the best spots in the country.

Contact Alexandra Picavet at

The National Park Service (NPS) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to provide commercial food and beverage service through a lease in the Sutro Historic District. This NPS property is currently operated as “Louis Restaurant” located at 902 Point Lobos Avenue in San Francisco, California.

Federal law requires competitive bidding of certain commercial services within national parks. The NPS may not lease property for commercial use without issuing a public request for bids or proposals.

Qualified organizations or individuals interested in leasing this NPS property for either a table service or quick service restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and/or dinner, including beer and wine but excluding spirits, may submit proposals to be considered

An objective of this NPS lease is to have an accessible, safe and functional restaurant facility. This will be fulfilled in part by requiring the lessee to complete real property improvements, including the installation of an accessible unisex restroom and an accessible front entrance, as well as a secondary emergency exit.

The NPS promotes and supports environmentally sound and sustainable operations throughout the national park system. Specific to this lease, this includes, but is not limited to, environmentally responsible back-of-house operations and integration of sustainable food and beverage options into the menu.

The term of the lease will be 10 years with an estimated beginning date of October1, 2010. The lessee will be required to pay the NPS a minimum fair market value rent. Rent proceeds are used for support of park facilities and operations.

Any proposal, including that of the existing Lessee, must be received by the Business Management Division, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Building 201, Fort Mason, San Francisco,

California 94123, no later than May 25, 2010.

A pre-submittal site visit is scheduled for March 24, 2010. Please contact Todd Robertson at to RSVP, or to receive a copy of the RFP.

The following is an excerpt from California Assemblymember Tom Ammiano's legislative update on his progressive marijuana regulation bill:

AB 2254 – "Originally AB 390, I have reintroduced my landmark marijuana regulation bill (now AB 2254) to build on the momentum from the Assembly’s first formal consideration of marijuana legalization in American history in early January. The Marijuana Control, Regulation, and Education Act (AB 2254) would create a regulatory structure similar to that used for beer, wine and liquor, permitting taxed sales to adults while barring sales to or possession by those under 21."

In related news, UC San Diego recently published the first results in the United States in 20 years from clinical trials of smoked cannabis and found that marijuana does in fact have therapeutic value.

The results of the study can be found here:


You can read Tom's entire legislative report here.

By the way .. just in case you may not know ... Tom Ammiano is a Progressive Democrat and he is a San Franciscan and he is delightfully, thoroughly, happily, proudly and openly gay.

Visit Tom Ammiano's official state government website.

Visit Tom Ammiano's personal website.

Please don't miss the opportunity to browse through the TaxCannabis2010 website: www.taxcannabis.org
.

Here's the latest news (March 2010) from the Presidio Trust:

Jews in Modern China Exhibit Now Open
A new exhibit is now open at the Presidio Officers’ Club - The Jews in Modern China. Between 1840 and 1949, Shanghai was an open city that did not require passports to enter. Jewish refugees found sanctuary there and in other Chinese cities where they lived in harmony with their neighbors. Among them were Sephardic merchants from Iraq, Russian Jews escaping czarist pogroms and the Russian Revolution. The exhibit brings this history to life. Several special exhibit programs will also be offered in March. Get details on the website. This program is part of the Shanghai Celebration.

Historic Buildings Tour - Saturday, March 20
Two architectural gems - a former nurses’ dorm and a barracks that housed cavalry soldiers - have recently undergone a complete rehabilitation to prepare them for their next chapter of life. This tour led by the staff members who guided the projects will describe what went into repairing these historic buildings and how environmentally-sensitive approaches were included. These historic buildings are expected to be among the first in the Presidio to achieve a LEED Gold rating. The Historic Buildings Tour will be held on Saturday, March 20, at 9 am & 11 am. Space is limited. Reservation required: or .

Comment on "Wood Line" Proposal from Artist Andy Goldsworthy
The Presidio Trust has received a proposal by the artist Andy Goldsworthy for a new installation in the park titled Wood Line. Wood Line is conceived as a celebration of the Presidio’s historic forest. It will utilize eucalyptus branches generated by various Presidio projects, laying them end to end on the ground to create a sinuous line that, in the artist’s words, “Draws the Place.” The first phase is envisioned as a pilot project, allowing the artist to experiment with his approach and provide the public an opportunity to experience and react to it. The Trust held two informational walks in February, and we welcome additional public comment through March 22. Comments can be sent to . Visit the website for complete details about the project, or call .

Presidio Teacher Workshop
Calling all teachers! A workshop titled Make California History Come Alive with Music and Dance will be held at the Presidio on Saturday, March 13. Experienced presenters will take you back to California’s early days as they perform and teach songs, games, and dances from the Mission and Rancho periods. Discover California’s colorful Hispanic and native roots and take home new ideas for the classroom. Admission is FREE but an RSVP is REQUIRED by March 9 to .

March Events at the Walt Disney Family Museum
The Walt Disney Family Museum at the Presidio features an ongoing series of concerts, screenings, and special programs in addition to its extensive regular collection. View a complete list of their March events. The special screening this month is Darby O’Gill and the Little People, and many other events and programs are on their calendar. The museum is located at 104 Montgomery Street, on the Main Post, in the Presidio.

Presidio Social Club Now Open for Lunch
Presidio Social Club, located just inside the Lombard Gate, is now open for lunch seven days a week. Lunch is served every day from 11:30 am to 2 pm; a mid-day menu is offered from 2 to 4 pm; dinner starts at 5 pm. Brunch runs from 10 am to 2 pm on weekends. Presidio Social Club is one of several eateries in the park.

Leasing Open House for Building 682
The Presidio Trust Leasing Department invites you to attend an open house for newly rehabilitated Building 682, the former cavalry barracks building above Crissy Field (off Lincoln Boulevard near McDowell Avenue). The Leasing Open House will be held on Tuesday, March 2, from 4 to 6 pm. The barracks is offered for office or cultural uses. Available suites range from 2,819 to 14,710 rentable square feet. Features include an open floor plan built out to warm shell, a shared conference room, shared kitchenettes, and hardwood floors. Some suites feature beautiful tin ceilings. Suites are data/telecom ready. To RSVP, and for details and directions, contact us at or . Visit the website for other leasing opportunities. See a photo of Building 682 above.

Resources:
Presidio Trust
Presidio Trust Management Plan (.pdf)
National Park Service at the Presidio of San Francisco
Presidio volunteer opps and internships
Presidio park review - the major attractions
Restaurants on the Presidio grounds
San Francisco National Cemetery at the Presidio
Presidio: former Headquarters of the U. S. Sixth Army
Maps of the Presidio (includes a transit map)
U. S. Park Police, San Francisco Field Office at the Presidio


You may also want to read about the annual Memorial Day events at the Presidio:
Memorial Day in San Francisco 2009

.

Letter to Captain David Lazar, commanding officer of the SFPD Ingleside Station, from Lt. Erica Arteseros, SFFD, about San Francisco's volunteer emergency response team free training:

San Francisco Fire Department NERT Training

My name is Erica (Lt. Erica Arteseros, SFFD) and I am the current program coordinator for NERT, the San Francisco Fire Department Neighborhood Emergency Response Team. This program provides instructor lead classroom training with hands on components included to prepare San Francisco for a disaster no matter how big or small. Earthquake? Power Outage? Flooding on Shotwell Street? This all hazards approach begins with caring for oneself and family and includes training to become a volunteer emergency responder in your neighborhood.

I am writing to request your assistance to get the word out about this free training opportunity. We do not have an advertising budget and rely on word of mouth to spread this important information. We are now celebrating 20 years of consistent emergency response team training and I still often meet people who are not aware of this opportunity.

NERT training is coming to an area near you, however I am including the additional classes that have been confirmed so people can find a class that meets their scheduling needs. People can join their neighborhood team upon completion of the training. Participants should plan to attend all sessions of the training to gain the full scope and benefit. New students may begin no later than the 2nd week of a six week class and must begin on the 1st day of a two day intensive class.

Thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide in telling people about NERT training.

Ingleside Schedule:
Minnie & Lovie Ward Rec. Center
650 Capitol @ Montana
Wednesday evenings 6:00pm-9:00pm, March 16 – April 20
Class session 1: March 16, 2010
Class session 2: March 23, 2010
Class session 3: March 30, 2010
Class session 4: April 6, 2010
Class session 5: April 13, 2010
Class session 6: April 20, 2010

Download and distribute copies of this .pdf poster for the Ingleside NERT training program here:
http://www.sf-fire.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=1596

Thanks to Captain David Lazar, commanding officer of the SFPD Ingleside Station, for providing us with this information. You can learn more about the Ingleside Station and Captain Lazar here.

..

On February 25, 1964, 22-year-old Cassius Clay shocks the odds-makers by dethroning world heavyweight boxing champ Sonny Liston in a seventh-round technical knockout. The dreaded Liston, who had twice demolished former champ Floyd Patterson in one round, was an 8-to-1 favorite. However, Clay predicted victory, boasting that he would "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee" and knock out Liston in the eighth round. The fleet-footed and loquacious youngster needed less time to make good on his claim--Liston, complaining of an injured shoulder, failed to answer the seventh-round bell. A few moments later, a new heavyweight champion was proclaimed.

Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. was born in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1942. He started boxing when he was 12 and by age 18 had amassed a record of over 100 wins in amateur competition. In 1959, he won the International Golden Gloves heavyweight title and in 1960 a gold medal in the light heavyweight category at the Summer Olympic Games in Rome. Clay turned professional after the Olympics and went undefeated in his first 19 bouts, earning him the right to challenge Sonny Liston, who had defeated Floyd Patterson in 1962 to win the heavyweight title.

On February 25, 1964, a crowd of 8,300 spectators gathered at the Convention Hall arena in Miami Beach to see if Cassius Clay, who was nicknamed the "Louisville Lip," could put his money where his mouth was. The underdog proved no bragging fraud, and he danced and backpedaled away from Liston's powerful swings while delivering quick and punishing jabs to Liston's head. Liston hurt his shoulder in the first round, injuring some muscles as he swung for and missed his elusive target. By the time he decided to discontinue the bout between the sixth and seventh rounds, he and Clay were about equal in points. A few conjectured that Liston faked the injury and threw the fight, but there was no real evidence, such as a significant change in bidding odds just before the bout, to support this claim.

To celebrate winning the world heavyweight title, Clay went to a private party at a Miami hotel that was attended by his friend Malcolm X, an outspoken leader of the African American Muslim group known as the Nation of Islam. Two days later, a markedly more restrained Clay announced he was joining the Nation of Islam and defended the organization's concept of racial segregation while speaking of the importance of the Muslim religion in his life. Later that year, Clay, who was the descendant of a runaway Kentucky slave, rejected the name originally given to his family by a slave owner and took the Muslim name of Muhammad Ali.

Muhammad Ali would go on to become one of the 20th century's greatest sporting figures, as much for his social and political influence as his prowess in his chosen sport. After successfully defending his title nine times, it was stripped from him in 1967 after he refused induction into the U.S. Army on the grounds that he was a Muslim minister and therefore a conscientious objector. That year, he was sentenced to five years in prison for violating the Selective Service Act but was allowed to remain free as he appealed the decision. His popularity plummeted, but many across the world applauded his bold stand against the Vietnam War.

In 1970, he was allowed to return to the boxing ring, and the next year the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Ali's draft evasion conviction. In 1974, he regained the heavyweight title in a match against George Foreman in Zaire and successfully defended it in a brutal 15-round contest against Joe Frazier in the Philippines in the following year. In 1978, he lost the title to Leon Spinks but later that year defeated Spinks in a rematch, making him the first boxer to win the heavyweight title three times. He retired in 1979 but returned to the ring twice in the early 1980s. In 1984, Ali was diagnosed with pugilistic Parkinson's syndrome and has suffered a slow decline of his motor functions ever since. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. In 1996, he lit the Olympic flame at the opening ceremonies of the Summer Games in Atlanta, Georgia. Ali's daughter, Laila, made her boxing debut in 1999.

At a White House ceremony in November 2005, Ali was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Learn more on Muhammad Ali's official website, www.ali.com

.

Lieberman to introduce Senate bill to repeal DADT The push to end the military's anti-gay "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy gathered significant momentum this week as Senator Joseph Lieberman announced he would introdu... http://ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=4569

Gov appoints lesbian judge in Contra Costa Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has appointed out lesbian Rebecca C. Hardie to a judgeship on the Contra Costa County Superior Court. The Moraga resident is the governo... http://ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=4570

Gay man takes helm of state Assembly Already numbering in the hundreds, the rubber duck collection of openly gay state Assembly Speaker-elect John A. Perez (D-Los Angeles) is about to be flooded with mo... http://ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=4571

Oscar parties abound in Bay Area Is San Francisco big enough to hold two Oscar viewing parties that cater to the LGBT community? The answer would appear to be yes, as preparations are under w... http://ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=4572

HUD to hold SF town hall for LGBT housing study The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, which is preparing for an unprecedented look at housing discrimination against LGBTs, will hold a town hall in... http://ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=4573

SF Pride is without main stage producer Just four months before San Francisco's LGBT Pride Parade and festival, the event's main stage is without a producer. This year's event, June 26-27, marks Pr... http://ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=4574

Man bikes with dog for suicide prevention, basset protection A gay man who credits his basset hound with stopping him from completing suicide has biked to the Bay Area from Chicago to raise awareness for suicide prevention and b... http://ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=4575

Two unknowns, sex worker seek Dufty's supe seat Joining the race to replace Supervisor Bevan Dufty are two largely unknown gay men and Starchild, a bisexual sex worker who is making his third stab for the board's Di... http://ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=4576

Report touts medical pot; Ammiano bill reintroduced A panel of experts last week released a report concluding that marijuana has therapeutic uses including relieving the pain of neuropathy caused by HIV drugs. The follo... http://ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=4577

SF reiterates HIV reduction rate in new plan After not reaching their goal to reduce new HIV infections among gay and bisexual men by 50 percent by 2008, San Francisco health officials will try again. In... http://ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=4578

LGBT provisions missing in president's new health care reform proposal President Barack Obama released a new health care reform proposal Monday, February 22 that he says incorporates work done in the House and Senate and adds ideas from R... http://ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=4579

Ugandan president feels the heat Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni is feeling the heat over a bill pending in that nation's Parliament that would jail gays for life and punish some with the death pe... http://ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=4580

Baring their chests raises serious green Hunky Bare Chest Calendar men from the 2010 calendar and representatives from the beneficiaries, the AIDS Emergency Fund and the Positive Resource Center, present the ... http://ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=4581

Arrest warrant issued for ex-lesbian mom A family court judge in Vermont Tuesday issued an arrest warrant for ex-lesbian Lisa Miller who disappeared with the child she once shared with her former civil unio... http://ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=4582

Retrovirus conference emphasizes treatment, prevention The 17th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, which took place last week in San Francisco, brought together researchers, public health officials,... http://ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=4583

Those pennies do count Students at Marshall Elementary School in San Francisco received an award from the IDS Emergency Fund for being a top performing school in its annual school-based pen... http://ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=4584 Online extra:

Political Notes

Gays gain say over Russian River redevelopment The LGBT community has gained direct say over how monies earmarked for redevelopment in and marketing of the Russian River gay resort area will be appropriated. ... http://ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=4567

Online extra: Wedding Bell Blues: Facebook group wants married couples [Editor's note: This begins a biweekly online column looking at various issues related to the marriage equality fight in California.] One of California... http://ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=4568

Maryland joins NY in recognizing out of state marriages Just days before Washington, D.C.'s new marriage equality law is set to go into effect, the attorney general of neighboring Maryland issued a long-awaited opinion on w... http://ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=4585

Political Notes: Gay Republican runs for Assembly in San Diego Ralph Denney, unlike in years past, finds himself the lone gay Republican running for a state office in the 2010 elections. He is unopposed, so far, in his pa... http://ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=4586

News in brief: Center gets its L word back This week the San Francisco LGBT Community Center got its L word back. For two and a half years the word "lesbian" affixed to the left side of the ... http://ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=4587

ARTS

Theatre - Queen of lesbian pulp fiction The book-jacket blurb tells one story: "Sex, sleaze, depravity." The author of the book tells another: "Gee whiz." In the course of a friendly, rambling conversation with Ann ... http://ebar.com/arts/art_article.php?sec=theatre&article=592

Fine Arts - Not quite Shanghai'ed With Shanghai, a much-hyped, rudderless exhibition timed to coincide with San Francisco's 2010 Sister City celebrations and Shanghai's hosting of the World Expo in May, the Asian A... http://ebar.com/arts/art_article.php?sec=general&article=113

Out There - Exaltation of the figure Just as locavores are committed to eating food and drinking wine grown and produced locally, Out There keeps a special spot in our tiny heart for arts & entertainment created by Bay Are... http://ebar.com/arts/art_article.php?sec=outthere&article=253

Theatre - A rural gay menagerie When the critic for The New York Times compared his first play to The Beverly Hillbillies, Nathan Sanders thought it was a compliment. It wasn't, as Sanders soon realized.... http://ebar.com/arts/art_article.php?sec=theatre&article=593

Fine Arts - American fringe American industry takes form in artistic expression this week with the San Francisco debut of fine art photographer Susan Mikula's American Device: Recent Photographs, opening at... http://ebar.com/arts/art_article.php?sec=general&article=114

Film - Pre-Oscar buzz party "People are constantly asking Vera Farmiga what it's like to kiss George Clooney – nobody asks me what it's like to yell at George Clooney, and it's spectacular. I would much r... http://ebar.com/arts/art_article.php?sec=film&article=723

Out & About - The Man Show Hey, man. What does it mean to be a man? What is manliness and masculinity? See how local artists explore, question and address this concept. Violence in the name of masculini... http://ebar.com/arts/art_article.php?sec=outabout&article=346

DVD - Animation nominations Remember the first time you saw Nick Park's The Wrong Trousers or Chicken Run? Remember how it made you reevaluate everything you ever thought about claymation? Wes Anderso... http://ebar.com/arts/art_article.php?sec=dvd&article=289

DVD - Garcia Lorca's heroic gay life Federico Garcia Lorca (1898-1936) was Spain's most acclaimed playwright (Blood Wedding, Yerma, The House of Bernardo Alba ) and poet of the 20th century. He was also openly gay and... http://ebar.com/arts/art_article.php?sec=dvd&article=290

Film - Love & life, German-style While it's not the full banquet of German-language film treasures we've come to expect from the long-running Berlin and Beyond film festival, programming wizard Ingrid Eggers has ... http://ebar.com/arts/art_article.php?sec=film&article=724

Film - Yorkshire blood pudding "I've sucked the cocks of the greatest people in the country." "Every boy should have a hobby." In the opening episode of Red Riding (1974... http://ebar.com/arts/art_article.php?sec=film&article=725

Music - Wagner World Once upon a time, a new recording of Wagner's Ring cycle from Bayreuth, the Wagner shrine, would have set the standard by which all other contemporary Ring s could, and wou... http://ebar.com/arts/art_article.php?sec=music&article=694

In the Bars - Bar & Nightclub Events

Feb 25 – March 4 Big Top pitches its tent, Latin Explosion spurts out a great time, Testarossa gets all 80s at Trigger. Thu 25 The Crib @ Cit... http://ebar.com/arts/art_article.php?sec=inthebars&article=137

Television - The gay gladiator At 6'4" tall, Antonio Te Maioha tends to standout in a crowd, even if that crowd is an equally impressive assortment of tall muscled men. Maioha plays the gladiator Barca in Spartacus:... http://ebar.com/arts/art_article.php?sec=television&article=134

Leather Events - Titles & more titles! The focus of this week's column is on the recent and upcoming activity in the titleholder world. It's "title season," so for the time being expect a bit more details about these events.... http://ebar.com/arts/art_article.php?sec=leather&article=87

Karrnal Knowledge - From babe to bruiser I savor the name: Ty LeBeouf. Oh, baby! That hard and humpy body, bodacious butt, startlingly electric pop-up boner. The twinkle of his butch, the ebullience of his lust! What a surpris... http://ebar.com/arts/art_article.php?sec=karrnal&article=198

Music - We're gay: big deal! The Power of Two – Michael Feinstein & Cheyenne Jackson (Harbinger Records) No political slogans, no rainbow flag on the cover. Just two o... http://ebar.com/arts/art_article.php?sec=music&article=695

Music - Queer women sound off We may not be able to legally marry in most states, but we can still start our own families. For some, that includes children, biological or adopted. Warm Sun (The Next Family) by ... http://ebar.com/arts/art_article.php?sec=music&article=696

CLASSIFIEDS & PERSONALS

To visit the B.A.R. classifieds: ebar.com/classifieds

.

The American Civil Liberties Union sent a letter to Fresno City College February 8, 2010 demanding that the school ensure that all its health science classes teach unbiased and medically accurate information. According to students at the college, lectures by Professor Dr. Bradley Lopez, who teaches an introductory health class, often present religiously-based and anti-gay views as "science" or "fact."

"I feel very let down by my school," said Jacqui Mahaffey, a 24-year-old student who took Professor Lopez's class. "I signed up for health science because I was interested in the subject, but what I got was hateful lecturing based on Professor Lopez's personal beliefs. I am in school to learn, not to be indoctrinated with one professor's religious views and anti-gay beliefs."

The ACLU letter includes several examples of Professor Lopez teaching sectarian views and personal bias as "fact." In recent lectures, Professor Lopez:

• Presented a slide listing "homosexual facts," including that homosexuality is a "biological misapplication of human sexuality" and said that the "recommended treatment" is "psychological counseling" or "hormone supplements."

• Presented LGBT people as a burden on and/or threat to society, claiming, for example, that anything but a heterosexual union provides a "one-sided foundation for raising children."

• Presented bible passages as "empirical" evidence that life begins at conception in support of his assertion that abortion is murder and "the leading cause of death in this country" (because there are over a million abortions a year).

• Followed a slide on climate change in a presentation on "environmental health" with a slide containing a Biblical quote about the world ending in fire, and said "that is the real global warming we should be worried about."

• Repeatedly referenced the Bible and used it as a teaching tool, for example assigning as homework a question as to Jesus' genetic makeup.

"The college class room of a state school should be a welcoming environment for all students, and courses, especially health courses, should be based on objective and medically accurate information, not religiously-based bias," said Elizabeth Gill, a staff attorney with the ACLU of Northern California. "While Professor Lopez is free to talk about his religious beliefs outside of the classroom, Fresno City College has an obligation to protect its students from religious indoctrination and anti-gay bias presented as 'science' or 'fact.' Professor Lopez's health class fails students in both regards."

The letter sent by the ACLU charges that because the classes are being taught at a publicly funded college, Professor Lopez's lectures violate federal and state constitutional protections guaranteeing the separation of church and state. To satisfy its legal obligation to combat anti-gay bias, the letter also urges the school to mandate accurate and unbiased health instruction.

The ACLU's letter, which is available here, gives the college until February 15 to explain how it intends to address the problem. For updates go to http://www.aclunc.org/index.shtml

If you would like to add your comments to those of the ACLU, you can send them to Fresno City College President Cynthia Azari at:

Finally, a very subjective personal observation:

If you want to help the ACLU continue to check people like Bradley Lopez, think about becoming a card-carrying member.

..

The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California (ACLU-NC) created a very well-done web presence to educate the community about the offices of District Attorneys in California. The District Attorney is the chief prosecutor and highest-ranking law enforcement officer in each of California's 58 counties.

(The equivalent office on the state level is the California Attorney General. On the federal level the country is divided into districts and each is headed by a U.S. Attorney. They collectively report to the U.S. Attorney General.)

The Power of the District Attorney

Voters from every county in California elect one attorney whose job it is to speak "for the people" in the criminal courts. The primary duty of the District Attorney (DA) is to promote the safety of our communities by prosecuting those who break the law. As the "peoples' lawyer," the DA is supposed to serve the interests of all members of the community and to enforce the laws without prejudice, bias, or political purposes.

A great deal of power and responsibility lies in the hands of District Attorneys. Yet most voters don't pay close attention to the positions of DA candidates. Many voters simply skip this box on the ballot. Even editorial boards of newspapers often do not bother to endorse DA candidates. Without involvement from voters, community organizations, opinion leaders and the media, the immense powers that we put in the hands of DAs will go unchecked.

Many voters don't realize that the District Attorney is one of the most powerful elected officials in the state.

The D.A. has the power to:

• Decide who should be sentenced to die.

• Set the stakes by deciding what charges to file.

• Send someone away for life under the Three Strikes Law.

• Give someone a second chance.

• Influence state policy.

• Listen to and respond to the community.
  

District Attorneys make policy decisions that go far beyond individual cases and impact the local community, county budgets and the state budget. Over the last 30 years, as the result of changes in the law, the discretion and therefore the power of District Attorneys is unprecedented.

• The DA can set young people on the path to rehabilitation or through a revolving door to prison.

• The DA can help build positive relationships between law enforcement and the community – or turn a blind eye to abuses by police and unfair enforcement of the law.

• The DA can be an advocate for the interests of all the people or can respond to special interests.

Read more about California District Attorneys from the ACLU's DA Project.

If you would like (in my opinion) a good example of the way a District Attorney's office should be run, take the time to browse through the website of the San Francisco District Attorney, Kamala Harris.

.

The following post was written by Dr. Eric Goosby. Dr. Goosby earned his M.D. from UCSF where he also completed a two-year Kaiser Fellowship in his specialty, infectious diseases.

In the 1980's Dr. Goosby was among the first physicians to treat HIV/AIDS patients at San Francisco General Hospital. In 1987 Dr. Goosby was appointed associate medical director of San Francisco General Hospital's HIV/AIDS Clinic, "Ward 86".

In June of 2009 President Obama appointed Dr. Goosby United States Global AIDS Coordinator. In this role he reports directly to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Here is Dr. Goosby's post, first published today in AIDS.GOV blog: .

Nine Coast Guardsmen, from Maritime Safety and Security Team San Francisco 91105, returned home this weekend from a 16-day deployment to Haiti.

The unit, based on Coast Guard Island in Alameda, sent nine members of its crew to assist in the aftermath of an earthquake that hit the nation of Haiti Jan. 12, 2010.

About the photo: Nine members of Maritime Safety and Security Team San Francsico 91105 arrive in Haiti via a Coast Guard C-130 Hercules aircraft Jan. 15, 2010. The MSST unit deployed to Haiti for 16 days to assist in the recovery from the earthquake that hit Haiti Jan. 12, 2010. U.S. Coast Guard photo by MSST San Francisco.

The unit acted in several capacities during their deployment to Haiti including providing security for the:

• American Embassy
• Diplomatic Security Service
• Senior military officers and the U.S. Secretary of State
• Federal Communication Commission
• Federal Emergency Management Agency
• Port-au-Prince, Haiti Seaport Pier as part of a Joint Security Team with the 82nd Airborne

"We witnessed total devastation of outlying villages, collapsed buildings, a lack of infrastructure, very little running pottable water, very little food for the people and limited medical staff and supplies," said Chief Petty Officer Clifford Fuller of MSST San Francisco 91105.

The unit was on-call 24/7 for the first nine days of their deployment and averaged 12-16 hour days during their deployment.

"Our training for intra-control points was vital in our ability to plan on the move during our many security details and during crowd control,"said Fuller. "Our trained emergency medical technicians provided quick assessments and quicker medevacs." The unit was staffed with two combat lifesavers and one EMT.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Cory McDermott, an EMT assigned to MSST San Francsico 91105, who was instrumental in assessing injuries and arranging numerous medevacs for injured Haitians, commented on the importance of teamwork within his unit. He said, "Petty Officer 1st Class Marcel LeRoy, our interpreter from MSST Miami, and Petty Officer 2nd Class Jonathan Edwards, our Corpsman from New Orleans, made life a lot easier on us and they were instrumental in our successful mission."

The MSST unit was part of a multi-agency and multi-national strike force that had the resources and opportunity to help the people of Haiti in their time of need.

For more information and news about the U.S. Coast Guard in San Francisco Bay, please visit the USCG District 11 Media Port.

Learn more about Coast Guard Maritime Security Teams and Maritime Safety Teams.

.