LandOfTheLel

Monday, October 12, 2009

There and Back Again [airport bound]

Thursday, October 8, 2009

yanked head[lines]

I opened my paper this morning (translation: I turned on my computer at work and hit the link for SF Gate). I know that SF Gate has stumbled upon hard times -- they write by proxy now more than anything to avoid those pesky overhead costs of having employees, and they spawn ill-conceived notions for series like 'Scenesters,' a trainwreck photo series that pretty much documented people partying and lead to interesting comments like "I just caught an STD from this photo."

So, I'm not sure if what I observed on the front page is indicative of SF Gate's current dogma proper or a broader reflection on news media entirely, but the following were the top news links:

Girl, 5, killed when school cabinet falls on her 7:23 AM
Dead deer in clown suit left on Iowa porch 7:48 AM
Marin couple pays $27k to sleep at Hearst Castle 8:12 AM
Prop. 8 rerun is headed for Maine 8:18 PM
Herta Mueller wins 2009 Nobel literature prize 8:05 AM
Gun-toting soccer mom, husband found dead 7:18 AM
Tennis star's father on hunger strike in prison 8:11 AM

Are these twittered news (ergo time-stamp)? Are these the top visited stories on the AP (oh the sad ramifications)? Who chose these, and why are they the first listed stories on a Bay Area newspaper when only one event even occurred in California? SF Gate is not a gossip site (not entirely) or a spoof site or even a dedicated 'random' news site. Where is the news????? A majority of those stories listed above are sensational, morbid, and not anything really informative. Apart from the Prop 8 article and the Nobel prize nod, they are sadistically entertaining, playing on modern fascination with weird death and gratuitous living. And I daresay, the Prop 8 article likely plays on people's love of controversy, because even if the article is actually legit and informative and --- newsworthy--- wedging it between extravagant hotel lodging and gun-toting soccer moms is ridiculous and cheapens the topic.

Oh soapbox, I greet thee. The online version of the SF Chronicle news is completely rubbish. I am disappointed and feel like I have been cheated on --- but suspect that there are a lot of SF Gate readers out there unsurprised, checking out the Daily Dish and the curmudgeon comments, and then cruising over to NPR or BBC for actual news of the world.

Monday, October 5, 2009

in search of Poc Chuc

Bill and I were wandering around Noe Valley yesterday, and decided to have some dinner at Mi Lindo Yucatan on 24th. One of our favorite go-to restaurants in the city, MLY specializes in Mayan food and has the most kick ass Poc Chuc ever. So. good.

As we walk up, we notice folks are having a garage sale on the sidewalk in front of the place. That's weird but whatever. And then we see this:

Sadness. So sad. We both made faces.

It's a sad moment, when your favorite store or restaurant -- or maybe not even a favorite, but one you took for granted -- closes. There is usually a wee sign, an apology, possibly a reference to another location... but more notable is the hit home moment that the economy fairly sucks and yes, it does affect people... including the nice owners of the closed business we stand in front of. Cup our hands to the sides of our eyes, press our faces to the window, and see that all that's left are a few strewn chairs among the bright wall tiles.

Oddly enough, the night before we attempted to go to Jade in Hayes Valley. Don't bother people. That place is boarded up as well, and the windows, whitewashed. Other fallen comrades? Most recently in my neighborhood, Black Oak Books (both in my hood and the Berkeley store.) and Cafe Gratitude (it WAS getting a bit pricey...).

Econoclipse. It keeps on creepin'.

Friday, October 2, 2009

do yourself a favor

and listen to this.

(amanda palmer covering regina spektor= all shades of awesome)

mini-conversation (with laundry, with geraniums)

photo by Mr. Bones

Fall is good. Cold weather is good. Ants are bad. They are in my kitchen, coming in from unseen corners, vexing me, causing me to curse and spray kitchen friendly bug spray. My building was built in like 1910. Points of entry for teeny tiny things are endless. Whelms.

But also good? Pumpkin spice soy lattes. I'm back to Fall is good.

I have been doing pilates, stretching tiny corners of my abs, of my ribs (who knew there are mini-muscles there?). I make more space for pumpkin. Pilates is fun, is like dancing and then crying as you lift your legs just one more time (body shakes).

Olga, my Russian neighbor is back from St. Petersburg. When she is here, our shared garden on the back porch thrives. The plants--- they receive more attention and love and I think they know we enjoy sharing them. The flowers and vines may also bask in the company of the multi-colored laundry Olga hangs on the line. I look out my kitchen window, between the geranium and the aeonium to a view of undergarments and jeans and sweaters hanging, swaying. She likes to modify her clothes with ribbon -- a red sweater this morning had pink ribboned stripes woven in. The clothes feel like friends, or at least their presence. The mums need little encouragement now though--- their flowered heads begin to bow with new growth coming from underneath...

I'm still not sure what to do about the ants.