reality at night

So I was watching Reality Bites and got to the part where Lelaina and Michael talk about stars and couldn't help thinking that was a conversation I've had many times. Too bad I'd rather have any other conversation in the movie. Anyway, Atwood put it nicely in a passage I just read: "The moon is a stone and the sky is full of deadly hardware, but oh God, how beautiful anyway." The moon's a stone and we are dust. Perspective speaks bluntly. Anyway, can't help thinking I am in some kind of twilight these days, but I think the whole world is feeling it. Except for kids, and some aspects of the media, like Up, or David Bromstad. Not really much hope going on, more like understanding that the storm's got to be weathered and that it'll die down eventually. Holding out for later, or something. Later, I will change the world. Yes, we can, but is the call as urgent? Maybe I should start reading the news again? And so, I live the little moments and enjoy them briefly and dearly. Where is the end? Where is the pattern? The Goal? I think everyone's life is a little bit just like Reality Bites, only maybe not as perfectly.

I left my heart...

So I won't forget: an incomplete chronicle of our adventures in SF. (Yes, the meals were good enough to necessitate their documentation.)

Tuesday 8/18
Market and Powell Station & Trolley
Fisherman's Wharf
Pier 39
Ferry around SF Bay
Aquarium of the Bay
Lunch at Neptune's
Sea Lions
National Maritime Visitor's Center
Ghirardelli Square and awesome violinist guy
Great American Music Hall - Anya Marina and Emiliana Torrini
Dinner at concert

Wednesday 8/19
Muir Woods
Sausalito
Lunch at burger place in Sausalito
Sundae at Ghirardelli Square
Lombard Street as Candy Land
Market Street shopping
Union Square
Japan Town and Japan Center
Dinner at noodle place in Japan Center
Kabuki Theater for District 9

Thursday 8/20
Market Street wandering
Haight-Ashbury shopping
Lunch on Haight at Thai place
Golden Gate Park
California Academy of Sciences & rainforest
Japanese Tea Garden
Nightlife at California Academy of Sciences & planetarium
Dinner and cocktails at Pakistani place on Haight
Music venue on Haight - One Good Round
Became groupies and followed band to bar on Haight

Friday 8/21
Palace of Fine Arts & Lagoon
Exploratorium
Lunch at Exploratorium Cafe - local CA food
Got lost on buses and roamed around
Fort Mason & beach
Ghirardelli Square again
Dinner at Columbini - Italian
Show at Comedy College on Mason

Saturday 8/22
Pier 33 and ferry to Alcatraz
Alcatraz audio tour
Late lunch at Butterfly - Asian fusion
Castro District
Mission District
Dinner at Luna Park in Mission
Bookstores in Mission
Hotel lounging and Slide at night

Sunday 8/23
Sonoma & Cheese Factory
Napa Valley & wineries - Madonna, ??, ??, and Sutter Home
Lunch at BBQ place in Napa
Dinner at Thai Express in Nob Hill
Hotel at night

Monday 8/24
Yerba Buena Gardens and MLK Memorial
SFMOMA
Lunch at Chinatown
Cable Car Museum

I Lift My Lamp

Beside the Golden Door

Who doesn't appreciate a good history story?

daviana and estefania

!!! always wanted to sponsor a child. am already dreaming of visiting nicaragua and honduras

sponsor your own

Picture News

My favorite medium for news has gotta be photography.

overcoming in the Gaza Strip!
unsurprising - Hey, Gerald Ford used to model. Why can't Putin be Indy?
werd.

I've always loved British news, and not just for the reporters' pleasant accents. Somehow it comes off as more world- and scope-conscious than the evening news at 5, if you know what I mean. (Traffic and weather, we belong together like traffic and weather - Fountains of Wayne.) This is not to discredit American reporting, which can be great(est), just the type of news that permeates.

I also love NYTimes slideshows.

Origins

Gonzo

Obama’s Agenda for the Middle East

I made this outline of Obama's 6/4/09 speech last week, but I didn't get a chance to post it until now. I really wish this blog would allow indents! Please bear with the ugly formatting.

Issues to address:

1) Violent Extremism
a. Protect American security
i. Commander-in-Chief
ii. 9/11
b. Afghanistan and Pakistan
i. Suppress violence
ii. Help install stable governments
iii. Bring American troops home
c. Iraq
i. US entered war by choice
1. Saddam Hussein
ii. Iraq for Iraqis

2) Arab-Israeli Conflict
a. Urge, not force peace
i. Stop Israeli settlements
ii. Stop Palestinian violence
b. Establish 2 states
i. Only workable solution
ii. Stable government for Palestine

3) Nuclear Arms
a. Peace with Iran
b. Disarmament for all nations
i. Even US
c. Peaceful nuclear power available for all nations
i. Even Iran
ii. Must follow Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

4) Democracy
a. No American nation-building
b. Self-determination for all
i. Governments must be elected
ii. Governments must rule for the people

5) Freedom of Religion
a. Islam has a tradition of tolerance
b. Should all strive for tolerance

6) Women’s Rights
a. Equal opportunity for education
b. Equal opportunity for employment
i. Micro-financing

7) Opportunities within Globalization
a. American partnership with Middle East
i. Education
ii. Economic development
iii. Science/technology
1. Healthcare
2. Greening projects