usfblogtastic

Thanks

2007-05-09T13:21:00.000-07:00

Thanks for a great semester in Digital Journalism! Professor Silver had great advice and helped in creating a comfortable and creative learning environment. Our blogs are all interesting and hopefully we can all keep in touch that way.

rss in plain english

2007-04-25T10:52:00.000-07:00

here is the instructional video i showed in class today:

it comes from lee and sachi lefever of common craft.

flying out of the nest

2007-04-23T12:06:00.000-07:00

Christina W. (www.cdw806.wordpress.com)
SKBlackburn (www.skblackburn.blogspot.com)
Andrew Oliver (www.oliverpost.com)
Todd (www.toddwouters.wordpress.com)
David Silver (www.silverinsf.blogspot.com)
Michael Vick (www.mikevick.net)
Carly Perez (carlyspostscript.blogspot.com/)
Eerickson (www.sneakysalamander.com)
Christina Kho (lifeandthecity-sf.blogspot.com/)

surf, converse, enjoy!

Street Festival, Japantown Style

2007-04-16T09:21:00.000-07:00

Thousands of people flooded Post Street between Fillmore and Gough for the opening weekend of the 40th Annual Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival last Sunday. The first thing any visitor to Japantown will notice about their celebration of the blooming of the cherry blossoms is how tame it is in comparison to other public parties in the city. While an event like the Bay to Breakers is a celebration of our city's special ability to integrate debauchery and running, the Cherry Blossom Festival was a celebration of Japanese culture and showcased a far more wholesome set of skills. On the main stage, children performed a few basic karate manuvers to the delight of their parents and one onlooker who clearly was just sticking around to see if the kids were really going to start brawling. They didn't. In fact, there would not be any shenanigans. The freak quotient was well below the standards I've come to expect. That said, I did manage to find a grown man dressed as what I can only assume is a Power Ranger.

The defining characteristic of the event came in the form of the event's sponsors whose white tents lined Post and forced visitors to run a blocks long gauntlet of barkers who harangued passers-by to provide them with personal information in exchange for low quality freebies. Not even cries of "I'm walkin' here!" in a heavily affected Brooklyn accent could ward them off. Their presence varied from obnoxious to creepy, with one booth promising to turn your eight-year-old into a modeling superstar.

For the kiddies who want to act their age, there was the Children's Village which provided the young ones with a "jump house." A term I managed to discover by googling "inflatable jumping around thing," which I would argue goes much further in explaining its purpose. Based on the miserable faces of the children leaving the General Mills-sponsored inflatable jumping around thing, the event was of a dud for children of all ages.

That said, and in fairness to the event's organizers, I may have been the wrong weekend to happen upon these particular goings-on. The real show takes place on April 22 at 1 pm with a parade from City Hall into the Western Addition which will feature, among other things, a sake barrel shrine float which will be carried by an estimated 100 people as the festivities make their way into Japantown. However, despite what we might expect from the other street festivals, I don't suspect they'll be cracking that barrel open once they arrive on the scene. It is the prerogative of the organizers to have a family-friendly affair, and they have exercised it. You've been warned.

Where Do You Hide?

2007-04-16T09:17:00.000-07:00

San Francisco, California is glamorous, fabulous, amazing…and extremely distracting. Around every corner San Francisco seems to offer something new, fun, and beautiful; for example, Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, Alcatraz, Coit Tower, SF MOMA, and China Town. Not to mention that San Francisco has some of the best restaurants in the country, phenomenal shopping, and (although, they may be a bit windy) beautiful beaches. This 7x7 mile city has so many hidden gems; including, Sociale an Italian restaurant hidden down a tiny shadowed alley and the often overshadowed independent book store City Light s.

Stress factors! School, parents, relationships, work, bills, debt, deadlines, traffic jams, errands, chores… and I’m sure you agree, that list could go on forever. I am a city girl, I grew up in Chicago; which is three times the size of SF, so I definitely understand the struggle of trying to find some ‘peace and quiet’ in a city that never sleeps.

Philosophical! As you have all learned over the course of this semester, I tend to be a pretty ‘deep’ person, so to speak. No matter what the assignment may be I always seem to find some obscure angle and get all philosophical…I even managed to make going to a baseball game about much more than just strikes, outs, and innings. Anyway, don’t think for a second that this assignment is going to be any different.

Alright, now that I have your attention and you are completely confused as to where I am going with this… let me (try to) explain. As college students (and of course professors), there always seems to be that “to do” list that never goes away; and no matter how many things you complete and can cross off the list, there is always 15 more things to add. However, living in one of the most amazing cities in the world I often find myself forgetting to ‘email that guy about that internship’ or ‘call Grandma to catch up’ (because she has left 8 guilt-tripping messages) and find myself caught up in some San Francisco escapade. Somehow, I rarely find myself feeling guilty that certain “to do’s” linger on my list for weeks at a time, because honestly life is too damn short! And who knows where life is going to take us and when, before you know it you may be stuck in Birmingham, Alabama and we all know it won’t even begin to compare to our beloved San Francisco.

San Francisco has endless possibilities for eating, shopping, and adventuring… but sometimes the most satisfying thing is to find a ‘place’ to hide from the overwhelming, stressful hustle and bustle of city life. A perfect place to do this is on the tiptop of Telegraph Hill where you will find breath-taking panoramic views and 74-year-old Coit Tower. Coit Tower was built in 1933, and is dedicated to the SF firefighters who ‘fought a massive blaze’ after the devastating 1906 earthquake. Coit Tower and Telegraph Hill both have fascinating stories. Another fabulous place to see in SF is the Exploratorium, which is a public science museum, which has beautiful buildings like the Tactile Dome and the Palace of Fine Arts. Even Ocean Beach has endless activities to get involved in; including, surfing, kite flying, and bonfires.

However, it is not the 210-foot concrete tower, the science facts, the surfing, or the famous wild parrot flock that resides on the hill that draw me to these various places in San Francisco. When I am stressed out and trying to hide from everything and everyone, I run away… and go the top of Telegraph Hill or the benches outside the Exploratorium and so on. These places are my escape; the views are spectacular and the people watching are to die for. If I have one suggestion for any of you, it is to find a place like this of your own.

Does somebody have a case of the Mondays?

2007-04-16T09:01:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wanted to be invisible, to be able to walk through a crowded party unnoticed as if you never existed? It’s possible, believe me, I’ve done it hundreds of times. Just this past weekend I invisibly visited three parties, unnoticed.

You may ask, how is this possible? Well, it’s easy and anyone can do it if they really want to. All you have to do is become a caterer (actually take any job in the service industry and you will become invisible).

Now, you may say to yourself, “Wow, that sounds great I want to be invisible too!” Before you jump in head first into invisibility let me fully disclose what being invisible entails.

People are unable to see you unless;
1. They need something from you, this can include: drink/food requests, being asked to fix overflowing toilets or any other type of janitorial duties, moving furniture, going to the store, washing dishes, unwanted sexual advances etc…
2. They want to tell you a lame joke that usually puts you down in one way or another.
3. They want to complain. Be warned, this can be very confusing at first because the complaints almost never have anything to do with you, you are just the person to file any and all complaints to.
4. This rarely ever happens, but, there are a few people who will be able to see you as the true living person that you are.

You Can't Always Believe a Bad Review

2007-04-16T08:54:00.000-07:00

After her book, Sex and the City, was reviewed by a famed New York Times critic, the Manolo obsessing Carrie Bradshaw posed a thought provoking question, “why do we believe our worst reviews?” And in today’s web 2.0 world of Yelp, Citysearch, Menupages, and Zagat, reviews matter more than ever. But why should a bad review of a restaurant from a complete stranger overrule our sneaking curiosity that only seems to build with every passing? Is it possible that these non-critics are just too critical? This past Saturday, for my friend Rebecca’s 23rd birthday, we disregarded the bad reviews of the restaurant Tortilla Heights, and ended up having a wildly enjoyable dining experience.

Located on the corner of Divisadero and Bush in lower Pacific Heights, Tortilla Heights, is a Mexican restaurant whose sizzle isn’t only found in the fajitas. “The fajitas were damn good!” Said Rebecca. “And they went well with the delicious margaritas.” The “delicious margaritas” which rated an 8.6 out of 10 on Citysearch, are made out of the over 50 different types of tequila that Tortilla Heights carries. But don’t be fooled into thinking tequila is confined to the bustling bar, shot glasses are gathered on each dinning room table, and when the waitress first came to serve our party she was quick to alert us of the special, four dollar tequila shots. Triggering a flashback of the debauchery that is spring break in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, where shots are shoved down your throat by whistle bearing waiters, I was relieved to see our waitress simply set the shots down on the table (I, of course, stuck with water).

Tequila (and water) weren’t the only things going down smooth at Tortilla Heights. My friends were happily and rapidly consuming tex-mex styles of quesadillas, taco salads, and enchiladas that caused my friend Josh to say, with his mouth crammed full, “this is so good!” With good food, good friends, and good fun, the Tikki themed Tortilla Heights set the tone for the rest of the night. “The atmosphere was full of people having fun and drinking, that put everyone in a good mood,” said my friend, Jennifer.

So, despite the two and a half star rating on Yelp or a review titled, “bad food, expensive, horrible service and management” on Citysearch, we thoroughly enjoyed our time spent at Tortilla Heights, the ideal place for a group party. Therefore you can’t always believe a bad review. Besides, where else are you going to find a birthday bowl of vanilla ice cream served with a side of tequila?

Time Machines

2007-04-16T08:20:00.000-07:00

It hasn't started 'til the fat toothless lady starts laughing.

Across the street from the Fisherman's Grotto where the savory aroma of boiled seafood wafts in the air and hopeful seagulls coast overhead waiting for a snack is San Francisco's Musee Mecanique. Hidden behind swarms of tourists and the original Boudin Sourdough bakery, on Pier 45, the museum features 200+ working coin operated machines from the 1800s to the present day video games. Previously located at the lower level exterior of the Cliff House, the museum moved to the pier during the renovation of the restaurant in 2002.

According to owner Daniel Galland Zelinsky, who can be found in the maintenance room in the back wearing dark blue overalls and a big name tag that reads I work here, Musee Mecanique has been around for 70+ years. It was first started by his father, Edward Galland Zelinsky, who wanted to share his collection of mechanically operated machines with others. From mutoscopes and player pianos to dioramas, the museum showcases a myriad of coin machines from around the world. San Francisco history can also be found here, among other things, in a towering, robust mannequin with wild red hair and a toothless grin named Laughing Sal, who was located at Playland at the beach from 1940 to 1972.

'Because it's old school technology, it's a good way to experience it," Dan said, "if you look at the historical aspect, the machines nowadays are made the same way using quarters, nickels, and dimes."

The shrieks of pain and laughter from the Addams Family electric shock machine. The awe and wonderment of a mechanized toothpick carnival made by inmates of a California State Prison at the turn of the century. The amusing effort of many trying to beat the arm wrestling machine that Julie Andrews in The Princess Diaries effortlessly defeat. These are just some of the things you can encounter at the Musee Mecanique. Whether they're 5 years old or 90, many visitors enjoy this place. With their free admission and myriad of entertaining coin machines ranging from a penny to a quarter, it's not hard to see why.

Thrown Out The Window

2007-04-16T08:02:00.000-07:00

Defenestration: 1: a throwing of a person or thing out of a window 2: a usually swift dismissal or expulsion (as from a political party or office)

Crab-like and tweakerish, a yellow chair scuttled up the brick side of the building, yet another cracked out inhabitant of 6th Street’s. A coffee table bearing suicidal tendencies leapt from the roof, an old wardrobe twisted out of a window and reprimanded the street lurkers below, while a grandfather clock peered up at the sky inquiring after the weather. If there were one thing to go see in San Francisco it is this, Brian Goggin’s art installation, opened March 9th 1997, that represents “to be literally thrown out the window”.

A neighborhood that has fallen into irreversible disrepair looks entirely average in its seediness until one has glanced up at the building on the corner of 6th and Howard. It would seem a nearly hallucinogenic vision of the furniture from Disney’s "Beauty and the Beast" has come to life.

Take a minute to glance about, and when you’ve done that you may understand the inspiration of this particular piece of art. His clever choice in title (The Defenestration Project) reflects the 6th Street community perfectly. Almost every person who lives on, or frequents 6th has been thrown out the window by society. Fiending drug addicts, old forgotten grandparents, and inexplicably shunned individuals have one similarity amongst them… funds are seriously lacking and there is no way of changing that.

For an exclusive interview with the supposed son of the artist, 60-year-old veteran and street vendor of sorts (inventory consisting of considerable lengths of dirty yarn, and bottle caps), and hopefully an interview with the artist himself (Brian Goggin, who bears no relation whatsoever to the veteran), once it is up and running-check out SneakySalamander.

Driving that Train

2007-04-16T07:26:00.000-07:00

In the San Francisco Bay Area, one of the premier modes of public transportation is the Bay Area Rapid Transit, or BART. Run by an elected board of supervisors from each of nine geographic locations at a total yearly cost of $1.6 billion, BART services an area spanning the distance between San Francisco International Airport, SFO, to points in the East Bay as far away as Fremont, Pleasanton, Richmond and Bay Point. In any one of 43 stations, patrons will find an atmosphere that has become the great equalizer. Businesspeople ride alongside soccer moms. College students and tourists listen to the underprivileged and the homeless play the guitar and the didgeridoo for spare change. Commuters travel from all parts of the Bay Area to reach jobs in San Francisco, and still others make the reverse commute to the East Bay.

I am among the roughly 323,000 passengers BART services every weekday, as I use the service to make the commute from my home in Emeryville to the University of San Francisco. Though the trip can be long, the BART leg of the journey is the fastest and most reliable. The BART employees are courteous and attentive, and the train schedules allow for a variety of options in terms of destinations and arrival times.

Also, because the BART train system is the central artery around which the Bay's transit system is situated, the various stations act as hubs for further travel to various points of interest along the way. I have used BART to connect to many local bus services, from MUNI and SamTrans on the peninsula, to AC Transit, Emery-Go-Round and Wheels in the East Bay. Passengers can also use the system to connect to other transit systems, like Golden Gate Transit, to connect to VINE, which serves the North Bay, and CalTrain, with stops along the peninsula from downtown San Francisco to San Jose.

Though riding public transportation can be a chore sometimes, with the longer commute times relative to driving, in an age of global warming and rising gas prices, it can become the only sane alternative. There is also something to be said for mass transit's ability to create a melting pot of different cultures and classes. People from all walks of life frequent the BART station. It is here that people go to reach whatever destination life takes them.

One of BART's workers, Steve, said it is of paramount importance to get used to unusual occurrences in a BART station, because when you throw together people from different backgrounds, there are bound to be interesting results. Steve said that one major problem is people's responses to the homeless, who often frequent BART stations to panhandle, sell Street Sheets or play music for money. Sometimes, people come to BART employees expecting them to do something about homeless people asking for change. Unless they are being overly aggressive, there is nothing that BART can, or in Steve's opinion, should do about the situation.

"Most of the homeless are nice to people," he said. "You just have to get used to the shock and reality."

BART stations provide a slice of life in one of America's most diverse cities, showcasing both the economic hardship of areas like the Mission, and the affluence of places like the financial district. Because BART connects these two disparate neighborhoods and scores of others on a railway system that passengers can ride for as little as $1.40, this blending of society will remain the hallmark of BART. It is a hallmark that is here to stay as long as the heartbeat of the city pumps its life into the veins of public transportation.

Pace Yourself

2007-04-15T23:36:00.000-07:00

In an image obsessed world, how well do we really know our bodies?

Someone once told me that our bodies are capable of doing 50% more than our minds realize. Runners seem to understand this fact very well.

That someone was Tamara Johnson, a good running friend who I have been training with since last August. She is a marathon runner, with more than 25 under her belt, and to challenge herself more, she is getting into ultra running. It was her first 50 mile race and as her pacer of the last 23 miles, I can say that she kicked some a** out there.

A pacer is someone who runs with the person running in the race to hold their energy powders and water bottle and to encourage them along when they become so exhausted finishing seems utterly impossible. I ran in front of Tamara encouraging her along, reminding her to drink water and eat, and chatted her ear off.

You know the saying rain or shine? Well, when it comes to racing, they certainly aren’t kidding. Saturday morning 500 runners lined up in the dark and rain in for the American River 50, a foot race that goes from Sacramento to Auburn. The times ranged from 6.5 hours straight for the winner, about 9-10 hours for the average runner, and up until 13 hours for those struggling along. Tamara finished in 9.5 hours, which, as one of her reasons for running, qualified her for the Western States 100 mile race next June. (The Western States is a whole other story…) Her other reason for running is “because I can.”

I accept that as a great answer because, though I’ve never run 50 miles, I’ve felt that fatigue and kept going during marathons and numerous training runs. It’s an amazing thing to realize what our bodies are actually capable of. Running is about ignoring your mind trying to hold you back and to surge on using all the physical force you have. It’s about feeling your legs come to life as if they have been injected with springs, to feel your breath run through you, to watch your muscles become stronger and your body change to be capable of taking on so many miles.

It’s crazy on so many levels, but it is fun. All those people wouldn’t be out there putting themselves through that if they didn’t enjoy it. Technically, they’re all addicted to the endorphins, but they are also addicted to the accomplishment that they alone did something unthinkable. They overcame a challenge that seems physically impossible to most people and walked away smiling (and it’s not because they were all handed a nice fleece jacket from North Face). No one runs 50 miles just for the jacket and no one would do it if there was a trophy involved either. All those runners accomplished something for themselves that they knew was great. And that’s why they do it.

Sloshing through the mud, getting drenched with rain, running along a trail with the American River by my side, and feeling pretty tired but strong at the same time, had me thinking about the human body. Not in the way our culture has trained us to think but in a way that made me realize that we can always do more than we think. Here was an event where it didn’t matter that everyone was covered in mud and sweat because when they come through the finish line, no one’s expecting anyone to look good. They praise what you did, and that’s a refreshing reward.

Someone's watching you...!

2007-04-11T09:00:00.000-07:00

I was excited that looking at ‘mapping softwares’ was our homework, mainly because last year my roommate and I used to always look stuff up on Google Maps (So, being the dork I am I have some background on the whole ‘Google map’ thing.) Although, I never added a map or anything like that, so this project will be good to further my previously acquired ‘mapping’ knowledge.

The satellite option on ‘Google Earth’ is awesome, but if you think about it…kinda creepy! For example, when my friend Kristi from home ‘Google maps’ her house in Crete, IL if you zoom in as far as it will let you, you can see her and her x-boyfriend in the driveway standing next to his yellow Ferrari. Like I said, really cool, but who took that picture…weird huh?

Web 2.0 and all of the interactive abilities that come along with it, has really opened up consumer possibilities. Web 2.0 is crucial for our DJ class success! Google Maps & Google Earth are perfect softwares, because they are easy to use and an ample amount of ‘accessories’ (so to speak).

G Map’s also include all the necessary tools for DJ to personalize our very own map:
* Mark your favorite places on your map.
* Draw lines and shapes to highlight paths and areas.
* Add your own text, photos, and videos.
* Publish your map to the web.
* Share your map with friends and family.

Awesome!

Candy's Success was No Piece of Cake!

2007-04-11T08:30:00.000-07:00

The interview with travel writer, Candy Harrington, really caught my attention. As I have always wanted to be a writer, it is cool to read about a woman who had the same dreams as little girl. Although I want to write about the fashion industry, travel writing is amazing and Harrington shed some serious light on the pros and cons of her job.

One thing that Harrington mentioned a time or two was how back when she ‘got her first big break’ the industry was not so competitive. That could not be more true. However, that is really scary when it is the industry I hope to make an impact on in my life. The 21st century has changed so many things and made so many advances; namely technology (the Internet) which has cast a huge shadow over ‘print journalism.’

Harrison also talked about the challenges that her job brings. She described the pressures of running a business, writing, and maintaining her relationship with her husband were the major challenges she faces. Although I am not married and probably won’t be for a long time, I have always worried about how being a journalist will effect my ‘marriage.’ Due to much required traveling, covering breaking news stories in the middle of the night, and a lot of time ‘away’ in general. It was comforting to hear about a successful woman who was facing this same challenge.

Harrison shared her best advice for ‘breaking in’ and said it is important to “Establish yourself as an expert in a specific niche.” I think that is perfect advice. Although, I am pretty sure her advice was meant for travel writers, I think that’s true for writers across the board (i.e. fashion writers). Freelancing and covering odd jobs is a good way to break in. But showing passion and knowledge about the subject you want to cover will make it much easier to find a job where you can write about what your interested in. Which I think is the key to being successful and happy!

Reliving what seems like a century ago

2007-04-11T08:28:00.000-07:00

Beautiful tan people from all over the world sitting on the bright sandy beaches with only bikini bottoms, speedos, or nothing at all. Welcome to life in the Cote d'Azur, also known as the South of France. In Roselyn's blog titled, Cannes Film Festival, May 2004, she relives the warm, sunny days when she ate good food, rubbed shoulders with celebrities, and walked the famed red carpet to attend a couple of screenings.

In May of 2004, representing Anthony's Grand Cellars as an invited guest of Baron Philippe de Rothschild Wines, Roselyn was able to attend the annual Cannes Film Festival. She stayed at the posh Martinez Hotel, on the same floor as actresses Kathleen Turner and Tilda Swinton, members of the Cannes Film Festival jury headed by the eccentric Quentin Tarantino.

Wining and dining at numerous restaurants and sitting out on the hotel's private beach area weren't the only things she got to do. She also was able to attend two film screenings (a French film by Emir Kusturica called Zivot Je Cudo [Life is a Miracle] and Shrek 2) and walk the famed, le tapis rouge, the red carpet with other celeb while being the center of attention of adoring fans and photographers.

Reading this blog made me remember when I was there in May of 2004, studying extensive french at the College International de Cannes. I took a bullet train with some of my classmates from Paris, where I studied for a semester (and where it rained the last couple of days I was there). Five hours and a bus ride later, I was in warm, sunny, beautiful Cannes.

It seemed like life there was all about laying on the beach, eating good food, sailing away, and partying with friends. Even the students at the college, who were all from different parts of the world, acted as if life in college was all about having fun. Tanned girls wearing bikinis played volleyball, while well toned (and surprise! tan) guys wearing nothing but shorts would sit outside flexing their muscles hoping for a girl to notice. This was the life.

Amidst the "Comment-allez vous?" and "Je suis fatigue/" of our 6/7 hour days, my friends and I attended Film a la Plage (screenings on the beach), befriended numerous Cannes-ians, lazed away our days on the beach drinking beer and smoking foreign brand cigarettes, and even had a few celebrity sightings (Cameron Diaz, Quentin Tarantino, Mike Myers just to name a few).

It was a wild time. Looking back now, it seems like ages ago. But for one moment, Roselyn's blog made me remember and took me out of the cold and fog, to a place of warmth and sunshine.

It's Not Just Earth ... It's Google Earth

2007-04-11T07:38:00.000-07:00

As CNET's Elsa Wenzel notes in her review of Web 2.0 mapping software, the effectiveness of any mapping software lies not just in the application itself, but also in the purpose for which it is being used. With so many different mapping sites, from old stalwarts like MapQuest to newer sites like Google Maps and Windows Live Local, it can be difficult to choose which one to use. Each has its own particular benefits and concomitant quirkiness. All of the various mapping websites offer directions. Some, like Yahoo Maps and Windows Live Local, integrate live traffic information, which can help avoid trouble spots and give a more accurate driving time prediction. MapQuest remains among the most popular, in spite of the fact that newer mapping sites have surpassed it in features, precisely because it is so old and people are used to using it. Google Maps and Google Earth, the first of the new crop of mapping sites, were the first to open up their source code, allowing for the proliferation of mashups for everything from locating real estate to pinpointing disease outbreaks. Windows Live Local can also be interesting in that it showcases a "birds-eye view," a 2-D or 3-D view of certain cities showing all four sides of buildings, rather than just their roofs as in a satellite view.

Ultimately, for our purposes, the only ones worth consideration are Windows Live Local, Google Maps' My Maps, and Google Earth. This is because these are the only mapping systems that allow users to mark their maps with text, photos and videos. In the final analysis, Google Earth wins out for several reasons. First, Windows Live Local, while perhaps the most sophisticated with it's "birds-eye view" software and live traffic updates, these features are not particularly necessary for our class activities. What's more, many of Live Local's features require Windows to operate, and when zooming, sometimes the frame rate can be slow enough that it's jarring.

Google Earth, like Google Maps' My Maps, allows users to integrate their own content. It uses the same natural language interface, which allows for easier and faster searches. It also starts out with a beautiful NASA image of the entire globe, and features smooth zooming software with no pixelation. The software, which is a downloadable program, also comes with many pictures and links to sites like Wikipedia already built into its maps, giving users additional information about the places they are mapping. These features make Google Earth my choice for our maps projects.

5:23 AM

2007-04-11T05:10:00.000-07:00

I looked at the blog, "My Year of Getting Published" and read an interview with a travel writer. The "kiwi writer" interviewed Candy Harrington, a travel writer who wrote two books, There is Room in the Innand Barrier Free Travel . The Kiwi writer asked questions about how she got started, her big break her biggest challenge, and any advice she has for people hoping to get into travel writing.

Harrington's challenges are running her business while on the road and maintaining her health. She says that a sense of humor is essential. Her advice to writing hopefuls is to get a staff position to learn the ropes and to build up a network. "never, ever stop marketing yourself. Writing is the easy part -- selling yourself is harder." Harrington is the editor of the magazine "Emerging Horizons," which is a resource for people with physical disabilities who travel.

I really enjoy the advice and the people the kiwi writer seeks out to interview and we can learn a lot from her and her interviewees.

On International Affairs

2007-04-11T02:17:00.000-07:00

BuzzMachine had an interesting post that captured my attention not so much because of the content, but more so the response it received. The blog itself is concerning the optimism that European Media has in regards to the future of News.

Now, I realize that Internet is universal, it is globalized, packaged and marketed to mankind everywhere but… this failed to fully register until I read a comment from a German blogger responding to what Jeff Jarvis had written.

Hmm… will we here at USFblogtastic attract an international audience? We can only hope so. Something else I was considering was language barrier. How long will it be before there is a link we can hit on blogger to instantaneously translate the blog into any desired language? (Or does that already exist?)

In Regards to Mapping: I am definitely a fan of Platial mapping because well, it’s “The Peoples Atlas”. And it truly is, the detail one can include in Platial maps is astounding. It isn’t just any map; Platial is a handbook to your neighborhood, city, state, and world. You can find a good restaurant around your block on Platial OR you can look up an obscure city in some foreign country thousands of miles away.

It's a Two-Way Street

2007-04-11T01:29:00.000-07:00

He still has a great teaching blog on the advancements and excitement of web 2.0, he still has the credentials to back it up, and he is still feevy worthy. However, after reading several of the posts by Dan Cohen on his blog, and listening to the first episode on his podcast, Digital Campus, my attention seemed to keep veering from the informal discussion on the changing forms of media to Sanjaya's latest American Idol performance (my friend is a die hard fan). As a result, I decided to redirect my attention to a different blog, allDAY, which is the Today Show anchor’s blog.

In a post made yesterday, by jolly weatherman Al Roker, his rarely seen serious side came out as he expressed his opinions on the recent uproar concerning Don Imus and the comments he made regarding the Rutgers women’s basketball team. In the post, Roker says that Imus remarks, and similar instances where humor is used as a weapon at the expensive of others, is inexcusable and needs to have serious consequences rather than just a “slap on the wrist,” said Roker. Roker’s post has created an uproar all on its own, as comments about the post began flooding the blog, to the extent that an Editor’s note was made, stating, “we’re trying to post as many comments as possible, but it’s hard to keep up.” Roker’s post resulted in such strong reactions that he sat down with a Today Show online correspondent to talk about the comments posted on the entry, which can now be viewed on the Today Show website.

This blog is a great example of web 2.0 working as a conversation. Roker expressed his opinions, hundreds of viewers responded with their own feelings, and then Roker sat down for an interview about the viewer's response to his post, all in the same day. Like Roker, I found myself reading comment after comment after comment, which in my opinion, ended up being more interesting than the original post that evoked them. This illustration of blogs operating as a two-way conversation street, was an exciting and optimistic way to see the era of web 2.0, which is to often characterized as scary and bleak.

A Picture's Worth a Thousand Words ... Just So Long as They're the Truth

2007-04-10T22:24:00.000-07:00

Photojournalist Allan Detrich resigned from his job at the Toledo Blade yesterday amid controversy over a doctored photo published recently in the paper. The photo, taken at a Bluffton University Baseball game, depicts the players kneeling in prayer prior to their game, their first since a tragic bus accident killed five teammates on March 2nd. Several photographers captured the moment from remarkably similar angles, and each picture shows a pair of legs behind one of five jerseys hung along the fence in remembrance of the fallen students – each picture, that is, except Detrich's.

After some investigation, curious journalists at other newspapers found out that the legs in question belong to freelance photojournalist Madalyn Ruggiero, who was working for the Chicago Tribune during the game. Ruggiero insists that she never left the scene, a story confirmed by other photographers at the scene.

When confronted with the inexplicable differences, Detrich initially denied doctoring the photo. After he met with his editors and they inspected his laptop, he changed his story, admitting to doctoring the photo. He claimed to have inadvertently sent the photo to his editors after changing the picture for his own personal use. He had no explanation for why he would change the picture while under deadline without the intent to submit the doctored version, and said that he had forgotten about doing so when he was first questioned.

Detrich's distinguished career spans a quarter century. His work garnered him recognition as Photographer of the Year from the Ohio News Photographers Association, and his photo essay, "Children of the Underground," was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for Feature Photography.

It is unfortunate that such a long and lauded career should be cut short by an incident like this, but as Mindy McAdams writes in her Teaching Online Journalism blog, "the moral of the story is that in a 24/7 digital world, a journalist is always one click away from a serious error that would put false information before the public." Detrich's story should be a cautionary tale for future journalists. You may think that changing something trivial is too small a lie to matter, but your audience demands absolute integrity and has a right to expect it.

Tipping the Scales of Justice

2007-04-10T14:31:00.000-07:00

On April 10, Josh Marshall added a new post to his blog talkingpointsmemo.com on the unfolding Justice Department scandal. Marshall highlighted new aspects of the Department’s initiative to consolidate and politicize its power. Marshall wrote, “in addition to the no-senate-confirmation provision in the revised USA Patriot Act, there's also a new provision allowing the Attorney General to waive the residency requirements for US Attorneys. So the US Attorney for, say, Omaha can do his job from Washington, DC.” The Justice Department and its political allies have argued that none of the department’s actions have been political. However, the firings, the lack of senate confirmations, and the use of out-of-state U.S. Attorneys paint a very different picture.

The initial story of the U.S. Attorney firings was broken in large part due to the work of talkingpointsmemo.com’s sister site tpmmuckraker.com. Bob Garfield on NPR’s On the Media spoke with tpmmuckraker.com's Paul Kiel last month about his early newsbreaking coverage of the scandal and the role the blogosphere plays in modern politics. Kiel summed up the significance of this scandal and why it is important for the public to be aware of it. “One of the points that comes out of this scandal is that once you see that the rule of law is not the rule of the Justice Department, that prosecutors are being viewed in a political light, every decision becomes suspect,” said Kiel.

vide, yo

2007-04-10T13:53:00.000-07:00

not to steal eva's thunder but i found this video on sfist.com and figured it'd have a place here

A Place Where the Dead Are Alive

2007-04-09T09:30:00.000-07:00

A jar of Gefilte fish and a Chinese takeout box fill Sally Marie Mendelowitz's niche, while Lily J. Moy's is centered around a baseball field, complete with painted onlookers. These are just a couple of the thousands of niches found in San Francisco's Columbarium, a resting place for cremated remains.

Located off Anza Street on Loraine Court just a few blocks away from USF, the 109 year old columbarium is hidden among residential homes. It is the only cemetery in the Richmond District and the last remaining landmark left that was part of the Odd Fellows Cemetery which spanned 27 acres. Along with other cemeteries that encompassed San Francisco, it had to be relocated to Colma after the city's board of supervisors prohibited further burials and sales of cemetery lots in 1902.

Designed by B.J.S. Cahill and built in 1898, the Greek and Roman inspired three-story building is the final resting place of early San Francisco's many founding families. According to caretaker and tour guide Emmitt Watson, the building fell into disrepair throughout the years after being passed from one organization to another. For thirteen and a half years the columbarium was abandoned until 1980 when the Neptune Society bought it and Watson was brought on to restore the old building. "This was one nasty, filthy place," said Watson. He described finding the building infested with mushrooms, fungus, and mold. He also found pigeons and raccoons living inside, as well as a homeless man trying to make a fire in the entryway.

Although the floors, walls, and urns have been cleaned up and he has uncovered beautiful mosaic tiles, stained glass windows, intricately carved walls, and shiny (bronze, marble, brass, and silver) urns, he said that there is still a lot to be done. Watson pointed out that he painted the walls with light colors because he wanted to brighten up the place, to make it pleasing to those who visited. "When you say cemetery, people think dark and cold. I wanted it to represent life."

Watson, who said he is known as "the man that keeps the dead alive," watches over approximately 7,500 niches, some with "residents" and others on reserve. Throughout his 20 years of working at the columbarium, he has formed a connection with its present and future residents, finding out their stories and telling visitors about them. He pointed to a niche with two fresh tomatoes on flower holders and shared the story of the couple who grew tomatoes in their backyard. When the wife died, the husband would always put a fresh tomato at her niche. After he passed away, close to four years ago, Watson has taken over the duty of replacing the tomatoes. "That's what they wanted. How can I not do what they wanted?" he said. He nicknamed the couple the "Tomato King and Queen."

Preferring to call the niches "apartments," "condos" (for the bigger ones), and "penthouses" (for the niches within the dome), Watson makes death something that shouldn't be dreaded. Many of the niches follow in the same way, each personalized with pictures and mementos, some even revolve around themes. This is what makes this columbarium different from others, in that visitors can get to know some of the people interred there.

Aside from being a place where ashes are kept, the columbarium also rents out their space for memorials, parties, and weddings. Among the Shattucks, Haights, Bacon Boggs, Steiners, and Eddys (and even Carlos Santana's father), the living can visit and celebrate with the pioneers of San Francisco and some "famous" people. How do some of the guests feel about this? "Some of 'em react weird, some of 'em walk out the door," Watson said, "they don't realize that the dead are the best people to be around. What they gonna do to you?"

After 15 years, when Watson turns 62, he plans to retire. But until then, he plans to keep restoring the "one-of-a-kind" historical building and it's inhabitants, keeping their memory alive, and comforting people's qualms about death.

Bring Your Own Big Wheel

2007-04-09T09:10:00.000-07:00

Lined up and revving fantastical motors, roughly 150 full grown adults in ridiculous attire big-wheeled it down the illustrious Lombard, crookedest street in all of the United States. At exactly four-o-clock Easter Sunday, a race of epic proportions took place leaving behind the carnage of tiny plastic toys.

Similar to a twisted movie, I found myself staring at Mario, Luigi, a drunken Santa, a man self-sponsored by Jagermeister, and a Lego person barreling down, leaving only a split instant to jump out of the way. This past Easter was the seventh year that the “Bring Your Own Big Wheel” event took place. Formerly an illusive affair, this past Sunday it had blown up in publicity. Three “heats” or sets of 50 people flew down the street three times. Semi organizer of the occasion, Jonathan Kakatek dressed as Mario (character from Nintendo’s Mario Cart) said, “last year there was thirty people and this time it’s just out of hand… it was easier to control before”.

The actual founder of the event could not be found but through word of mouth it was discovered that his name is John. He began the big wheel race seven years ago and awarded the courageous winners with his own hand made prizes. Sadly, there were no gifts given this past Sunday, the individuals with the most panache and grit went home empty handed but relishing their eternal glory.

“It was crazy this year, neighbors are pissed off and we don’t even know who won the event”, said a friend of Kakatek’s. Aside from the few disgruntled neighbors peering over their balconies and the concerned coordinators, no one seemed to mind the extreme confusion and disorganization, “it doesn’t matter how you did, it doesn’t matter who won, it doesn’t matter who put this thing together. This is all about breaking the norms and having a great time… and well, we did that,” said Kim, a spectator there to cheer on her boyfriend. Moments later, her boyfriend was destroyed by the Luigi imposter who slammed into him, causing a five big wheel pile up.
San Francisco commemorated the religious day by having an all out, gory race on neon kid-cycles. Typical of the city and true to “San Franciscan Values”, Easter was by no means an ordinary affair. But don’t think that religion was entirely neglected; Easters true sentiments were recognized when Jesus made his own special celebrity appearance dressed in full traveling messiah attire on a hot pink Barbie big wheel. An enthusiastic fellow big wheeler hi-fived him and yelled “Jesus! You’re alive, and now I’m going to own your ass in the next race.”

When the race had ended, a few insane participators decided to depart with all the class and daring they could possible muster. They rode off down the next (unsafely steep) hill, through two intersections and left behind a scattering of infuriated cars that had screeched to halts in order to avoid what could have been a disaster. There was no prominent first place winner this past Easter, but several breakneck speed daemons reserved a spot for themselves in history, going down as some of the bravest souls to ever careen down the crookedest street in the U.S.

Relaxation and Recreation at Crissy Field

2007-04-09T09:01:00.000-07:00

It’s where Will Smith swept his son Jaden gleefully off of his feet and into a rare moment of joy as the father and son pair acted in the film, The Pursuit of Happyness. It’s where Charlize Theron showed the Salvatore suit wearing Keanu Reeves, that even the simplest thing, like playfully running with a group of dogs, can amount to a greater degree of happiness than any success found in a business boardroom, in the film, Sweet November. And it’s where I, Carly Perez, have spent countless afternoons sunning, barbecuing, and exercising. What is this wondrous place? Crissy Field, a park that has become a favorite amongst film directors but even more so with me, as the backdrop of the Golden Gate Bridge, cool bay breeze, and clean soft sand come together to create a rare treat in the urban chaos of San Francisco.

Best enjoyed on a sunny day when time is not of the essence, Crissy Field, is a 100 acre park, that is right below the Presidio, situated along the shoreline between the Golden Gate Bridge and the marina that is right before Fort Mason. The park is outfitted with picnic tables, barbeque grills, a public restroom, large overgrown grass fields, a running/walking path, café, and a beach, but best of all is the jaw dropping views of the bay, which is often crowded by numerous sailboats and the occasional sea lion. Before all of this existed, Crissy Field was where the Panama Pacific International Exposition occurred in 1915, and in following years, was one of the country’s top airfields and part of a U.S. army post. “Crissy Field played an important role in the pioneering years of military and commercial aviation as one of the earliest army air bases on the West Coast,” says Stephen A. Haller, National Park Service Historian on the Golden Gate National Recreation Area website.
Due to Crissy Field’s historical significance, the park, along with the Presidio, became a National Historic Landmark in 1962. Since then, restoration efforts have occurred which have helped Crissy Field add a community center and natural vegetation that make up the majestic setting we see today. The Crissy Field Center offers many amenities including a media lab, resource library, arts workshop, science lab, bookstore, café, gathering room and a teaching kitchen. The next event being held at the Crissy Field Center is an Internet workshop for older adults taught by Dr. R. Wood Massi on April 13th at 1:10pm.

So whether you are utilizing the educational aspects of the Crissy Field Center, barbecuing some burgers for a family picnic, or bravely donning a bathing suit in the cool San Francisco climate, take advantage of all that Crissy Field has to offer. Or at the very least, get out and explore the city, take a day to get lost (how I stumbled upon Crissy Field), and who knows you may stumble upon a favorite place of your own.

Adventures in Outsider Retail

2007-04-09T08:56:00.000-07:00

They're known by many names: flea markets, swap meets, bazaars, dirt malls. Each one conjures up thoughts of card tables with junk piled on top, beneath and all around, in short an outdoor version of Fred Sanford's house. And each one sounding unsavory enough to manage expectations and not gloss over the fact that most of this stuff was, to at least one person prior, trash. Not that its a bad thing, some people embrace, even revel in that fact-- I do.

In operation since 1996 and located in Bernal Heights beneath the junction of 101 and 280, the Alemany Flea Market is no different. According to Gary Gentry, who oversees the administrative operations of the flea market, 8,000 to 10,000 people visit the market's 150 to 250 vendors every Sunday between 5 am and 5 pm.

As diverse as the array of antiques, clothes, food and old-fashioned flea market junk is, the individuals who accumulate and sell the stuff are often the real attraction. "He's not here today," said Gentry, "but there's a guy who brings all kinds of weird stuff: caskets, mannequins. Actually, he'll even carve a mannequin's head to resemble your face." Uhh, alright. Actually, my reaction at the time was that I was sorry to have missed out. Upon further reflection, however, I decided having a mannequin with my face carved into it might not be the irresistible conversation piece it first seemed.

For many of the sellers, this is how they make their living. George Feldman has been at it 50 weeks a year for 23 years (taking into account the customary two weeks vacation). Today, he had spread out on his table an array of earthenware vessels, some of which were said to be 600 years old. That came as something of a shock to me as my flea market experiences in New Jersey mostly involved people selling at low, low prices things that had fallen off the backs of trucks (wink). However, his potential buyers didn't even flinch when he made a price of nearly 400 dollars for a set of two-foot tall vases. He is a regular at flea markets all over the Bay Area and for him, market day is a borderline religious experience. "The breath of life is in the market culture. There's communication; there are thousands of years of history behind this."

Not everyone out here sells Michael Delane has been a firefighter for 36 years, but likes selling as a hobby in his free time. "It gives you peace of mind," said Delane, "interacting with people. The connections you develop with other sellers, its almost like a functional dysfunctional family."

Then there's Jose Jimenez, the skittish belt salesman who, after one question, was (hilariously) asking for his lawyer. Not only that but he didn't even make an effort when providing me with a phony name. When I asked him for confirmation on the spelling, he just looked at me blankly and said, "Um." On our separation, my parting, "Take it easy, Jose," didn't register even a flicker of recognition on his face. Its always better when the performer doesn't break character.

The Alemany flea market, the one thing this wide range of strange and wonderful people have in common, is widely considered to be the premiere weekly market in the area (a monthly flea market held on an airstrip in the naval base at Alameda was described as being between four and ten times the size of Alemany). Feldman, who frequents weekly markets up down the peninsula declares this the best market in 100 miles. "A good market develops when a consensus is formed," he explained. "You need people who have quality items to sell, and you need people who appreciate it-- and have money." And with the unsavory connotations of the word embraced, this flea market delivers.

Great Chocolate, But Where are the Oompa Loompas?

2007-04-09T07:56:00.000-07:00

Ghirardelli Square, once a major chocolate manufacturing center, and now an historical landmark and tourist attraction, is one of the most recognizable spots in the city. Every year, thousands of people visit the square, including tourists visiting nearby Fisherman's Wharf.

According to the company website, the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company moved to the location in 1893 after a 40 year history at other locations in San Francisco. Ghirardelli began its San Francisco journey when Domingo Ghirardelli opened a confectionery company at Kearny and Washington streets in 1852. This was just a year after Ghirardelli, who came to California seeking gold during the great California Gold Rush of 1848, lost both his San Francisco and Stockton stores to fire. Amazingly, the Stockton fire, which destroyed half the city, occurred just three days after the fire that destroyed 1500 buildings in San Francisco.

My trip to Ghirardelli Square began with a stop at Lori's Diner, a 50's nostalgia restaurant with an amazing view overlooking Alcatraz Island. Lori's has locations across the city, and started in 1986 with a store on Mason Street. The food and service were excellent, and the bay view through the picture window made the dinner even more enjoyable.

The square is currently undergoing construction and renovation, which will result in the installation of an upscale residential area. All the stores and restaurants are still open during construction, and signs ask visitors to "pardon the mess, we're sweetening the square."

Visitors to the square are often confronted with long lines to enter the Ghirardelli chocolate shop and ice cream parlor. Inside, patrons can watch the chocolate being made by large machines cordoned off by a rail to prevent onlookers from getting too close. The chocolate is mixed in a large vat clearly visible from the first floor of the establishment, an enticing sight that visitors can watch as they wait for their ice cream.

During its over 150 year history, Ghirardelli has remained at the cutting edge of confectionery technology. Ghirardelli was the first company to discover a means to create ground chocolate, using the so-called "Broma Process." This entails hanging a bag of chocolate in a warm room, allowing the cocoa butter to drip out. The residue can then be processed into ground chocolate for a variety of uses, including chocolate drinks.

"It starts with choosing good beans," said Ghirardelli Chocolate Shop receptionist Abrehet Tedeila. Tedeila said that customer service comes naturally in a place where visitors walk in with smiles on their faces. "I like talking to people, answering their questions, and letting them know what the best chocolate is. People come here to buy their chocolate because it's the best."

"Take Me Out To The Ball Game!"

2007-04-09T07:52:00.000-07:00

The crowd goes wild as Barry Bonds, whose achievements include 7 MVP’s and ‘Player of the Decade’ (1990’s), slams his 735th home-run during the first inning. Unfortunately, the Giants 1-0 lead did not last for long, as opponent’s the San Diego Padres slipped by for a 5-3 victory over the Giants, in their 'opening night' game.

Win or lose, rain or shine—sometimes it just doesn’t matter, plus the Giants have a 163 game season (regular season games, not including spring training or wild card) to redeem themselves. But wait, lets zoom out for a minute…

There is just something about the atmosphere and ambiance of being at a baseball game that is unparalleled. Hot dogs, cold beer, baseball hats and gloves, rowdy fans, legendary players—it’s just so…American. On April 4th (Opening Night), I walked hesitantly into AT&T Park and my stomach dropped a little, as I have been a die hard Chicago White Sox fan my entire life, and was suddenly surrounded by thousands of San Francisco Giants fans (there was even one holding my hand). Why was I even here? Who would I cheer for? Would I even cheer at all? Would my boyfriend be mad if I talked sh*t about his team? Just as these questions of uncertainty started to overwhelm me, I saw the perfect white lines and flawless green grass that framed the most beautiful diamond on the earth—the baseball diamond!

Baseball has become known as “the national pastime” of the USA, and people of every age enjoy watching the game as much as they love to play it. Just like gardens, baseball is another one of those words that instantly sparks childhood memories, but the memories do not stop there. A four-year-old struggles to even make contact with a stationary ball placed on-top of a ‘stick’ (Tee-ball); while time after time, major league players like Barry Bonds and Frank Thomas smack 100 mph pitches out of the park. Smiles plaster the faces of toddlers perched on daddy’s shoulders and sheer joy can be seen on that 85 year old mans face as he watches the home-run, that finally put his team in the World Series after being a season ticket holder for 65 years, soar over the wall in left field.

Our seats were in the Field Club Level, a mere 10 feet from the Padres (Visitors) dugout, and I was pleasantly surprised by the various types of people in the nearby rows. The people included, an Oakland A’s fan in front, four die hard season ticket holders to the right, an out of place overdressed wine-sipping couple to the left, and a family of seven (with five sons, who were absolutely ecstatic) filled the row behind me. Michael Linzy, father of the enthusiastic family, said, “ Our family loves baseball, the four older boys all play, as will the baby. We come to ‘opening night’ every year, this is Jack’s first game it’s so exciting!” Michael later told me that this game was he and his wife’s 23rd ‘opening night’ game; the first one was the couple’s first date.

Baseball is special, there is no better place to be on a hot summer day than at a baseball ball game (OK, or a garden); regardless of if you're at a little league game or game seven of the MLB World Series. “I have been a season ticket holder for 19 years,” said Matt Stapleton (from the right), “and AT&T becomes my second home from April through September.” Die-hard fans and families with four (soon to be five) sons who play are unfair examples of how amazing baseball and the types of people it draws in. However, do not forget the snooty couple to my left, who refused to be ‘interviewed’ for USFBlogtastic, but I know I saw them both crack a smile or two throughout the game. Why you might be wondering? Well, because baseball Rocks!

The Grapes of Craft

2007-04-08T18:14:00.000-07:00

In the film, Thank you for Smoking, Nick Naylor, played by Aaron Eckhart, tells the journalist sitting across from him at the dinner table to try the '82 Margaux.

When she asks, “Is it good?” Naylor says, “Good? It'll make you believe in God.”

Wine drinking is a seductive and strong experience, maybe not always spiritual, but connoisseurs don’t take their wine lightly. Drinking wine is a learning experience; such as, which wines go well with which foods, wine and cheese pairings, wines for different occasions, which vineyards and years of wine are the best. Whether you enjoy a cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, merlot, white zinfandel, a syrah, and the list goes on.

I went to London Wine Bar; America’s first wine bar, as proclaimed on the sign out front. I also knew this because of the interesting young guy standing out front who said, as he smoked a Marlboro, "I wouldn't be caught dead in a yuppy, pompous sh** hole place like that, even though it is America's first wine bar." So there you have it. It opened in September of 1974 and the owner, Gary, has been there working behind the bar since 1975. The cozy bar located in downtown San Francisco on Samson and Sacramento Street, is the kind of place you could go to have a good glass of wine and de-stress after work. The crowd was a mix of older men and women and business people chatting at different tables.

I decided on a 2002 Bridgeway Cabernet. Patrick Cress, the waiter, or sommelier, told me that this particular wine is made by a negotiant, where the owner negotiates with different wineries that actually have the juice and then he makes the wine. It was elegant and fruity, going down very easily so I could relax and enjoy good conversation with my friends, which is an essential pairing of good wine.

Lining the bar around the ceiling were empty bottles of Bollinger wine. Sean McLaughlin has been a regular at London Wine Bar for many years. As tradition, every year on Friday the 13^th, from 5-9 pm, McLaughlin buys Bollinger wine for everyone in the bar. This year was the 50^th anniversary of this tradition and they went through a record breaking 67 bottles of Bollinger that night. I did not try this wine because it is $65 a bottle. I’ll just have to make it back on the next Friday the 13^th. (looks like there's one this month).

There is a library of wines that has been collecting since the 70’s. There used to be over 1,000 selections of wine,” Cress said, “but now there are 600. The bar usually has 50 different bottles of wine open at any time.

“When I smelled my wine, it was like I was standing in the middle of an oak tree,” said Marc Velasquez, I'm assuming somewhat facesiously, who was enjoying a glass of Pinot Noir from a vinyard in Sonoma County.

My second wine was a French Brouilly (Broo-e-yee) Chateau de la Chaize. This one was more of a flowery taste, but rich and smooth. I preferred the Cabernet to this one, but it was enjoyable nonetheless.

Maybe this wine bar is a yuppy pompous place to some, but I enjoyed my wine and still have so much more to learn. As the makers of Brouilly describe it, wine "brings happiness and sunshine to the heart and insures you against difficult tomorrows." We could all use a little of that.

Life. Death. Growth.

2007-04-04T09:33:00.000-07:00

“Gardens are about memory.” Thomas Lucas, S.J., Associate Professor of Visual Arts at the University of San Francisco, could not have described gardens more perfectly.When I hear the word ‘garden’ vivid memories begin swirling about in my head. As I stand distracted and drawn away by childhood memories of countless summers spent on the 100 acre Rowell Family Farm. I can once again see the bright July sun shining on the brilliantly colored picture-perfect flowers, feel the dew of early morning grass on my tiny feet as I ran barefoot through the fields that, as a four-year-old, reached unquestionably straight up to heaven and the cloudless blue sky, and just as my mouth begins to water…I can almost taste the frying bacon and fresh banana pancakes, that made up the traditional—Interruption! Screaming sirens from a team of ambulances and firetrucks race down the crowded San Francisco streets, and I instantly snap out of my state of reminiscing as I am hurled back into reality.

The memories that Father Lucas spoke of are more specifically experiences of— “LIFE. DEATH. GROWTH.” Another phrase that he used to describe gardens. As our Digital Journalism class, wondered wide-eyed through the Jesuit’s ‘secret garden’ at the University of San Francisco’s Loyola House, those three words kept replaying in my head. “Life, Death, Growth” are stages that describe the entire existence of gardens and people alike. Looking into a garden, you will find flowers and plants in every stage of life; from buds in the wet soil to flowers blooming in the sun, as well as plants that have begun to wilt away as the end is near. This garden can easily compared the stages of a humans life; for example, a baby in the womb of his/her mother, a woman basking in the hot-summer sun, and ultimately a person laying peacefully as they have shut their eyes for the last time.

Life is made up of memories, both good ones and bad. Moreover, so are the lives of flowers in a garden. Rambunctious kids were distracted by the blood trickling down their skinned knees from playing kick-the-can; oblivious to the sunflowers and lilies blooming in the sun in their mother’s garden on summer days that seemed endless. The bitter winter brought devastating news, and tears soaked the cheeks of her family and friends, her death seemed like a bad nightmare, one we would ultimately never wake-up from; just as the daises and roses were smothered and smashed under the ten feet of snow and ice from a harsh Chicago storm.

As flowers wilt away, so do the sweet memories of being children and the ones that once haunted our dreams. New seeds will be planted, and new memories will be made. Flowers will bloom and children will grow. It is all merely a cycle, a cycle we come to know as “Life, Death, & Growth.”

A Gardens Hidden Memoir

2007-04-04T09:19:00.000-07:00

Retching and reeling, San Francisco revels in its caucophony. An insomniac, the city never sleeps and its residents are perpetually caught in its restless grip. Needless to say, quiet space and an area for reflection are a rare find. It was only after I had allowed my weary limbs to sink into the garden bench in the Jesuits secret garden that I truly became aware of the treasure USF had tucked away.

After lightly scoffing at Father Tom Lucas’s claim that gardens recall childhood memories, I found myself zoning out, recollecting an era that seemed an eternity ago. A time where I sat under a Peony bush and played with earthworms, allowing their grotesquely squishy bodies to slime around my dirt encrusted fingers.

Part of the gardens understated beauty lays in its simplicity and basic design. Nothing about the secretive spot screams Martha Stewart, there are no exceedingly rare plants, the space is reserved in its layout and the fountain is anything but gaudy. “That garden just has good bones, it was thoughtfully put together”, said USF’s head gardener Robert McNeil. However, rooted primarily in remembrance this obscure garden treasures a piece of artwork that for varied reasons highlights its Jesuit values.

A terracotta piece of Our Lady Guadalupe was almost overlooked before Father Lucas drew our attention to it. Framed by carefully maintained ivy, the story behind Guadalupes calm demeanor only added to the gardens overriding theme of reflection.

Gloria Osuna Perez, mother and artist, was the creator of the beautiful terracotta piece residing in the Jesuits garden. Father Lucas had gone to one of her (many) exhibits and fell in love with her art, “I approached her at her last exhibit, she went home, did the Lady Guadalupe and it became the last piece she ever did.”

A victim of ovarian cancer, Perez died in 1999 her artwork outliving her fond memory. Two of her works can be found on campus but only the Terracotta is real. And so, instead of placed on a wall in a gallery or put behind glass, Perez’s last piece is exactly where it should be. Placed directly atop the former center of the City of Dead, and in the current heart of USF’s secret garden of musings.

2007-04-04T09:03:00.000-07:00

On Monday, every student in our Digital Journalism class was gifted a branch of freshly picked rosemary. It was a gift from Fr. Lucas S.J. a visual arts professor at USF. Fr. Lucas is a resident of Loyola Village on Lone Mountain and the caretaker of one of the most spectacular private gardens in San Francisco.

Fr. Lucas led us through his hilltop sanctuary and he spoke of his personal reflection on the garden. “There are a lot of metaphors in gardens. Gardens are about memory…you have to remember what you planted and always be thinking ahead about what’s coming up,” said Fr. Lucas.

Walking through the garden you can see the dedication that went into creating such a lovely space. Fr. Lucas talked about the different cycles of life and blooming that took place in the garden and it was clear he was very much in step with those rhythms. He said, “It’s (the garden) constant work, like life well-lived is constant work.”

The gift of rosemary could not have been more appropriate. Fr. Lucas gave us this herb saying, “Shakespeare says that rosemary is for remembrance.” As I searched for this quote in Shakespeare’s archives, I was amazed to see what the full quote truly is.

“There's rosemary, that's for remembrance; pray, love, remember.” These are the words of Ophelia in Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

Prayer, love, and remembrance; three actions that the Loyola Village Garden truly evoked and actions we could all spend a lot more of our time doing.

A Garden Close to Heaven

2007-04-04T07:59:00.000-07:00

It doesn't contain fairies or even unicorns, but the garden located at Loyola House where the Jesuits reside is, according to Fr. Tom Lucas, "pretty magical." Hidden behind 6-foot-tall ivy covered walls is a secret garden where only a select few, mainly Jesuits and their guests, have stepped foot in. Only the soothing sounds of trickling water and chirping birds can be heard while walking along the outside of the walls. It seems as if the sun is always shining here, even on a dreary day. Sometimes students can be seen tiptoeing on the stairs located beside the garden to sneak a peek inside. I must confess, when I first transferred to USF, I have tried to steal a glance through a gap at the rear gate. What is this place that has garnered so much attention, even from the raccoons, hawks, and hummingbirds? What makes it so special?

Built in 1998 under the guidance of Lucas, a Jesuit and professor at USF, during the construction of Loyola House, the garden contains italian, mediterranean, and southwestern influences. Highlighted with hedges, sprinkled with bushes and trees, as well as dotted with different pots and plants, the garden provides a little paradise. This paradise is paralleled with a spectacular view of the Golden Gate Bridge, the bay, and residential homes that line the northernmost part of San Francisco.

It is a space for the Jesuit community to relax from the hustle and bustle of life and the city, a place where they can reflect and meditate. Lucas said it was designed so that more than one person can use it. The garden has three seating areas; the first area is located on the patio overlooking the garden, the second is in the far right corner surrounded by trees and rocking chairs, and the third is on the left corner behind the chapel. An octagon shaped fountain stands inbetween the two corner seating areas, providing a hypnotic melody with each drop of water. "Gardens give you breathing room, gardens give you mental room," Lucas said.

The garden not only provides a serene space or fresh lemons and rosemary, it is also a symbol for life Lucas said. Like a garden, life also needs to be tended to and is a constant work. Gardens are also for memory, for remembering the past. He pointed out that at the seating area behind the chapel there is a statue of St. Joseph that was from Xavier Hall where the Jesuits used to live. Artwork can also be found on the wall there in a Gloria Osuna-Perez Lady of Guadalupe plaque; it is the last piece the artist made before she died. With its lush atmosphere, beautiful foliage, and breathtaking view, not to mention its mystery, it's no wonder why people and animals are so drawn to this place. But together with its symbolism and connections to history does this place become something truly special for those it was made for. On this place on the hill, the Jesuits can retire to relax, remember the past, reflect on the present, and look on to the future.

The Secret Garden

2007-04-04T07:44:00.000-07:00

Nestled on the eastern slope of Lone Mountain, and overlooking the Presidio and San Francisco's famed Golden Gate Bridge, is a little known part of USF's campus, the Loyola House. Few students have ever been inside the building, and fewer still have walked around the gated garden housed therein. Father Tom Lucas, one of the Jesuits who lives in Loyola and a caretaker of its garden, drove home the obscurity of the garden when he admonished students, "Pull the gate closed, because we have to keep the secret garden secret."

Built between 1998 and 1999, Loyola houses 25 Jesuit priests, including Father Lucas and Father President Stephen Privett. The Jesuits used to live in Xavier Hall, now Fromm Hall, but Lucas said the building was too large for their needs. Several locations were scouted for a new home, and Lone Mountain was chosen both for the size of the available space and the spectacular view.

The garden attracts animal life from around the Bay, including 28 different kinds of birds, from hummingbirds to Red-tailed hawks, and often draws in raccoons at night. The raccoons, who have no salivary glands, are attracted to the garden's fountain because they need water to digest their food. Lucas seemed happy to host the raccoons, in spite of their tendency to knock over the papyrus plants growing in the fountain, and their penchant for eating the goldfish he occasionally places inside.

The garden attracts more than just animal life. When it first opened, the stairs going up the north side of Lone Mountain had not yet been completed, and students would sometimes stumble upon the garden when trying to scale the mountain. Lucas also related the story of a man who walked his terrier along the garden wall, and complained when Lucas asked him to stop.

When explaining the fact that the garden is closed to the public, Lucas asked students to remember that Loyola House is the priests' private home. "Think of this place like your backyard," Lucas said. "This is our backyard. Your neighbors don't just stroll into your backyard, do they?"

"Talkin' Bout my Generation" and a Garden?

2007-04-04T02:15:00.000-07:00

For my multitasking, often celebrity obsessing, and over achieving generation, it is rare that any of us can find the time or the ability to appreciate the simple pleasures that a garden has to offer. For Father Tom Lucas, a professor at the University of San Francisco, he had a similar mindset as a young adult, yet something began to change as the years progressed, “when I turned 40, gardening started making sense to me,” said Father Lucas. Since then, Father Lucas has acquired quite the green thumb, as he maintains the secret garden that graces the rear grounds of the Jesuit’s Loyola House.

The garden boasts a sporadic collection of flowers, cactus plants, and trees (one lemon). “We have a lot of agaves. Were not going to make tequila out of them, there isn’t enough,” said Father Lucas. It features a large fountain that takes you out of the chaos of the city and comfortably situates you into the tranquility of this well kept secret. “The sound of the water makes all the difference,” added Father Lucas. Yet, most impressive, is the jaw-dropping view that overlooks Laurel Heights, the shallow bay waters, and just barely the Golden Gate Bridge as it peaks it's famous red arches over the hills of the Presidio. “We wanted to maximize the view potential,” said Father Lucas. By maximizing the view potential and by designing the garden to have three main areas, a patio, a meditation zone, and a seating area (where counseling sessions often take place) the Jesuits use the garden as a place for relaxation and reflection. “Gardens give you breathing room,” said Father Lucas. “Gardens give you mental room.”

And at a time and in a city where “breathing room” comes at a rare expense I found myself constantly wondering as I meandered along the shrub lined paths, “why keep it secret?” But the answer seemed nearly as clear as the sunny spring day, many students could and would appreciate the beauty of the garden yet it would only take a select few to disvalue its splendor and ruin it for everyone. So as my generation and I matures, I happily await the calming afternoons of, as Father Lucas put it, "weeding and watering."

A More Convenient Truth

2007-04-03T23:27:00.000-07:00

At a time of severe environmental crisis surrounding global warming, the rise of green house gases and the depletion of the rainforests, it can be overwhelmingly depressing to think about the condition our world is in. In the middle of a city, overlooking the Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge, hidden amongst San Francisco’s Jesuit University is a spectacular garden offering plants and flowers full of life, abundance, growth, and views of the city that seem to sparkle.

From this tranquil space, the red peaks of the Golden Gate Bridge, a beacon of hope and new life for pioneers in the early 20th century who traveled west with gold in their eyes, can be seen. It seems appropriate that this lush garden peaks over through the trees and watches over the city daily. Looking out at the view, with a clear blue sky and perfect springtime warmth, environmental stresses were the furthest thing from my mind.

Father Tom Lucas, a Jesuit professor at USF, maintains this secret garden, as he called it, because “it’s cheaper than psychotherapy.” He does his part to promote a healthy environment by planting olive trees, lemon trees, flowers, desert plants, all encompassed by the serene sound of a trickling fountain. The garden is shared among the 30 Jesuits in the community as a place to relax and find a piece of nature in the middle of the city. “Gardens give you breathing room. Gardens give you mental room,” Lucas said.

A block away, on the corner of Stanyan and Fulton Street, is another example that gardens continue to be a saving grace for our human and environmental welfare. The sprouting community garden is quite a contrast from the Jesuit garden but it proves, nonetheless, that people are not giving up on allowing beauty and life to continue thrive.

Just as the Golden Gate Bridge stands strong against time, and all its effects, the little garden at the Loyola House remains an optimistic expression of health and growth in an environmentally challenged time.

Amazing Places and Great Food

2007-04-01T18:57:00.000-07:00

Travel and good food is what this blog is all about. Cordon Bleu graduate and freelance writer, Roselyn Sugay de Helbling weaves descriptions, reviews, and recipes about food around the world in her blog titled, Gourmet Traveller. From Argentina to London and France to Spain, she transports readers to a different part of the world while making their mouths water. Although not dealing directly with the topic of digital journalism, Roselyn incorporates words and pictures to tell a story similar to what can be found in travel/food/lifestlye sections in newspapers and magazines. Because some students in our class, including myself, are interested in writing in this style rather than the more formal approach of news writing, this blog would be an interesting addition to our class blog feevy.

MediaShift: Web 2.0 and the Salvation of Journalism

2007-04-01T17:37:00.000-07:00

As a form of new media, blogs have become a major point of interest for professional journalists. This analysis comes out of a desire to both chronicle and participate in the digital media revolution. One of the journalists on the cutting edge of this move toward digital journalism is Mark Glaser of PBS. Glaser's blog, MediaShift, is one of the web's premier sources for information about the potential of blogs and Web 2.0 to reinvigorate and transform the stagnant media world. MediaShift is hosted by PBS, long recognized as an excellent source for news and commentary with shows like NewsHour, Washington Week and NOW.

Glaser's writing style is engaging, humorous and informative at the same time. The topics range from crowdsourcing, online and community journalism, digital video recorders, podcasting, and Wiki software, among other related matters. The site is updated frequently, and includes a Feevy-esque blog roll for further reading.

Because the focus of our class is the emerging field of digital journalism, and specifically Web 2.0 as it relates to online media, MediaShift is an excellent candidate for our Feevy.

Gardeners inspired by Tom Petty...

2007-04-01T12:26:00.000-07:00

Well I won't back down
No I won't back down
You can stand me up at the gates of hell
But I won't back down!

Remember that little tree…you know the lonely one I mentioned in ‘The Invisible Hand’, well it’s an avocado tree! Wondering how I know that… this weekend the magical nocturnal non-existent gardeners from my previous post became actual flesh and blood real-life people. Frolicking about mid-Friday afternoon, I happened to drive past our ‘little garden’ and was shocked by what I saw.

‘SAVE OUR GARDEN’

Written in blue paint on what appeared to be a torn white sheet, held up by four strings tied to street poles and blowing in the fierce San Francisco wind hung the gardener’s desperate plea to preserve their precious little garden. Along with the sign were about 15 people, who had set up a BBQ and appeared to be playing cards or something like that. Apparently, the out-of-state landlord made it clear that the garden must be eliminated by the end of this weekend.

I absentmindedly disregarded to ask the name of the gardener I spoke with; however, he told me they planned on keeping watch over their garden all weekend. So at the very least if someone actually came to remove the garden they might have a chance to ‘Save’ it. He also told me that he was planning on writing a piece on it for the Bay Guardian to try and get the word out. I gave him and Justin (the originator) the link for our website, as they seemed pretty excited that other people had taken interest.

I am not sure if anyone else saw this over the weekend, but I figured since we all did a bit of research and did our little ‘garden project’ this new development might be fascinating.

Talkin' Talking Points Memo

2007-04-01T12:13:00.000-07:00

Talking Points Memo, a blog operated by Joshua Micah Marshall, provides a steady stream of news items, editorials, and links which allow the reader an opportunity to follow the daily action on the national political scene. What sets this blog apart is the presence of Marshall, and other contributors, whose additions let the reader get deeper into stories. The entire blog is very efficient; the links Marshall and others provide are quality without being too many. Most items are directly quoted from journalists and are supported by Marshall's own writing which provides background information without wasting a word.

What Talking Points Memo is doing is a perfect example of bloggers contributing to national news coverage without diminishing the role of traditional journalists. More often than not his news links are to the Post and Times, and it seems, whenever possible, he'll refer his readers to the two national papers of record. He gathers news, sifts through for relevant stories and articles, and passes along the important text, a citation for where to find it, and his own contextualizing of it all. In doing so, he operates symbiotically with traditional news outlets, enhancing their ability to reach the widest possible audience while they provide him with the bulk of his content.

What's really amazing about this blog is the amount of information you get just from reading it once or twice a day. Marshall keeps tabs on a wide range of mostly domestic issues, active scandals, developing concerns, and profiles news makers, while offering his own thoughts on all of the above. Probably the only thing you could say about Marshall's site is you can't read news on his site without knowing how he feels about it. Though, at a site which is self-described as "commentary on political events from a politically left perspective," you have an idea that you can expect the contributors to be up front on how they feel. And, while its good to read a news story without getting someone's opinion on its contents beforehand, it's Marshall and company that makes the work blog so well and the good vastly outweighs the bad.

71 Million and Counting...!

2007-04-01T11:54:00.000-07:00

Blogtastic, blogs, blogging, blogger, blah, blah, blah! Prior to my enrollment in Professor Robertson’s J1 class, I had never even considered reading blogs muchless blogging myself. To be completely honest there is a strong possibility that I did not even know what blogs were. However, during the last eight months ‘blog’ in every sense of the word has become part of my daily routine. Thanks in large part to David Silver, my enthusiastic (to say the least) Digital Journalism professor, I constantly find myself either writing, reading, or even checking USFblogtastic for comments and updates.

In March 2007, Technorati, a blog search engine, reported that there were over 70 million webblogs. As Technorati’s webpage popped up on my screen, a box in the corner that read “71 million blogs…some of them have to be good” (Matt), instantly caught my attention— as an avid blogger, I could not agree more! There seems to be a blog for (what it seems like) just about Everything. Politics, religion, fashion, food, music, education, celebrities, business, art, sports—and I promise you that does not even begin to scratch the surface (every category I listed can essentially be broken down into a copious amount of subcategories)!

However, on my quest for an ‘interesting’ blog to share with my classmates and ultimately add to our feevy, I found myself less than impressed with most of what I found. Maybe I am jumping to conclusions or being unfair to the blog society. Since technically I was searching for a blog relevant for a Digital Journalism class, the blog subjects were not exactly…exhilarating. Perhaps if the search had been for blogs about Dave Matthews Band or shopping, I would have found myself absorbed into the blog sphere much more quickly.

Refusing to let the inordinate amount of mind-numbing, repetitive blogs get the best of me—I set out on a blog-adventure, determined to find one worthy of our time. It had to be interesting, it had to be relevant. Basically, it had to be legit. Upon entering college, our lives became inundated with the Internet—e-mails, instant messaging, USFCA.edu, Google searches (personal guilty pleasure!), and (although, no one likes to admit it) the infamous Facebook. Former Facebook Inc. Senior Engineer Karel M. Baloun even wrote a book about the “Facebook Generation” and societies need to understand it. Baloun’s book, Inside Facebook, reported that “85% of students at U.S. universities have made Facebook and essential part of their social lives.”

Create your personal identity: how old you are, where you are from, the kind of music/books/movies that you like, relationship status, and excessive amounts of pictures. Facebook.com seemed so innocent at first. It was merely a place for social networking, a place to keep in touch with friends who are far away or even catch up with long lost friends from the past. However, recent changes in the network have opened up a can of worms! (Sorry, sometimes clichés are just really dead on—but I guess that’s the point.)

To make a long story short, Facebook just seemed so relevant, considering we are the “facebook generation” that Baloun is talking about. Justin Smith, of Social Intelligence ( A social networking watch list and analysis), is the independent author/creator of the blog: Inside Facebook- Tracking Facebook news, commentary, and analysis. It approaches issues including companies who search profiles to screen employees as well as schools attempting to force student athletes to cancel their accounts. As the 7th most popular site on the web (Facebook.com) and a service that directly affects our community (USF ie. College students), I think that dissecting a blog trying to get to the bottom of Facebook.com and social networking could be very useful for our class!

Feevy Worthy

2007-04-01T11:35:00.000-07:00

With his bachelor’s degree from Princeton, his master’s from Harvard, his doctorate from Yale, as co-author of Digital History: A Guide to Gathering, Preserving, and Presenting the Past on the Web, and as an inaugural recipient of the American Council of Learned Societies’ Digital Innovation Fellowship, maybe, just maybe, blogging professor Dan Cohen (pictured right with his favorite students) knows what he is talking about. Cohen’s blog, brilliantly titled Dan Cohen, features a plethora of useful information on blogs and digital journalism.

Cohen, who is a professor in the Department of History and Art History at George Mason University in Virginia, and who is the Director of Research Projects at the Center for History and New Media, has been posting on this blog for over a year. Throughout this time Cohen has created a user guide, “Creating a Blog from Scratch” that features eight parts that allows for even the most hopeless bloggers to get up and posting (Part 1 example). Cohen also spends time introducing new websites and podcasts like Zotero and Digital Campus. Digital Campus is a biweekly discussion of how digital media and technology are affecting learning and teaching at universities. Zotero (Cohen was a part of the start up team), a new website that was launched in October, will “enable vastly simplified citation management, note taking, and advanced scholarly research right within the Firefox browser,” said Cohen in a blog post.

With his credentials, the way his blog perfectly coincides with Digital Journalism here at USF, and the useful tips, Cohen’s blog is a great point of reference for those who are digitally savvy and for those who are just beginning to learn…definitely feevy worthy.

Jeff Jarvis; A Prime Candidate for Rare Feevy Grant?

2007-04-01T03:17:00.000-07:00

Jeff Jarvis is an engaging blogger that writes on issues that are largely political and involve journalism. A professional in the News Media industry he is essentially a modern sensei of media and an independent defender of the Journalism industry.
BuzzMachine is Jarvis’s boasted blog with over a million daily viewers. His links are supportive of his blogs and provide background on the information that he is giving. As fresh online journalists, we need to consider what initially attracts readers to certain blogs. There is most definitely an aspect to Jarvis’s blog that is undeniably well liked by many bloggers, it is up to us to discover what that secret is.
Most importantly, Jarvis has a distinguished tone to his blog. “I laughed which was more polite than scoffing with scorn…” his cynical humor entertains the audience with wit and intelligence. Read a few of his articles and you will be addicted to his smooth flow of words and inspirational outlook on journalism.
Seriously, fellow aspiring journalists this is a blog to read for feel good reasons (amongst many other equally excellent reasons). In a fairly pessimistic area of study (in regards to income and job opp.’s) it’s refreshing to read a blogger with a solid voice and well-rounded outlook on Media today (+ positive spin on things).

Kiwi for Dessert

2007-03-29T13:51:00.000-07:00

Blogs for digital journalism students, I’ve realized after rummaging through countless blogs trying to find one that is not only helpful to me as a student, but interesting enough for me to keep reading, are like dessert after a good meal. The meal, of course is reading credible sources like Time Magazine or National Geographic and newspapers, actually writing, and perhaps even listening to our professor once in a while. I hear they know some stuff.

The blog I found most interesting is called “My year of getting published” about a writer who is proactively trying to get published. The “Kiwi writer” (she's obviously from New Zealand) wants to become a travel writer, which I myself would love to do one day. She interviews other travel writers, her latest, Rudy Maxa from National Geographic Traveler. "Write, write, write and then write some more," Maxa explained. "Read travel magazines you want to write for so you can learn what kinds of articles they want. Read writers you like. Then look at how they structured their stories. Figure out what they had to do to get the stories and quotes."

This blog also has many resources for people who are trying to learn to write better, as we are in this class, and those who want to get published and quit their day jobs. Her blog offers other blogs for writers as well. There is a weekly five top blog posts for writers. “Writers block, unblocking the blank screen” is bound to offer some potential advice to just about anyone.

Another feature in this blog is information on different journalism conferences. She offers writing tips, travel writing contests so we can get involved if we want, photojournalism tips, and all the different writing blogs she visits daily. I found this interesting because of titles like "the six figure writer," "the write path," "writer in the making," and "mad young thing" (seriously, the greatest title ever).

Now, the reason this blog is deserving of our very exclusive feevy is because this "kiwi writer" talks about something we all go through, especially in a journalism class. She is going through a process. Just as Ira Glass explained in his video, creativity and success happens over time. We have to make mistakes, try, get out there, try, and most of all, write. I like that "The Kiwi" is learning and trying and we can do this with her. She is also interviewing some pretty interesting people with valid advice to give, and we can all learn from them.

Now, get your dessert forks ready, because this blog is bound to be an irresistible icing on the cake.

The Root of the Problem

2007-03-28T19:44:00.000-07:00

When local residents set up a garden in an open space on Fulton and Stanyan opposite famed Golden Gate Park, they set off a firestorm of controversy that reverberated throughout the urban gardening community. This gardening group did not have the one thing that scores of other community gardens have, and it's not potatoes. The crucial ingredient lacking in this latest attempt at city farming was the legal right to use the land.

The small patch of land adjacent to the apartments on the corner of Fulton and Stanyan is owned by the same out-of-state landlord who also owns the apartment complex. The landlord is not interested in having a community garden on the site, never gave permission to place a garden there, and is actively attempting to have it removed. In the city of San Francisco, the landowner is well within the law to kick the gardeners off the property. Indeed, this is the only regulation on starting a community garden in San Francisco, said Jude Koski of SFGro, a major community gardening organization in the City.

"It would be one thing if it were public land and it weren't being used for anything," said Koski. "But if the owner decides they don't want them [the community gardeners] on that land, that's it."

Koski said his group has offered to broker a deal between the gardeners and the landowner, but such an agreement looks unlikely given the owner's present disposition. Koski said that SFGro is ready and willing to step in if both sides are ready to negotiate, but won't force the issue.

"The site has a lot of question marks," said Koski.

It seems those questions may be answered with a resounding, "No." If the landowner refuses to participate in negotiations, residents at the garden may have to get their vegetables at the local grocery store instead.

The Invisible Hand

2007-03-28T09:51:00.000-07:00

Strawberries, lettuce, mustard greens, strap peas, fava beans, potatoes, green onions, and one ‘unidentified’ lonely little tree! This array of fruit and vegetables can be found at the bustling corner of Fulton and Stanyan, on the fringe of world renowned Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Ca. The garden is a mere 90 x 20 ft, smashed between apartment buildings and polluted city streets, as a result it is no surprise that after four months this ‘community garden’ does not exactly jump out at you.

San Francisco, which is located in the Pacific Northwest, challenges any kind of growth with its marine air. Marine air that once ate away the $39,000 tin roof of USF’s St. Ignatius church in less than one year. However, our ‘community gardeners’ clearly did their research on the “What Do I Plant, Where Do I Plant It” question, and as a result choose a pack of resilient seeds to plant.

The question of the ‘unidentified’ little tree remains unanswered right along with basic questions about the plant selection process. Questions that could have easily been answered by the gardeners themselves. However, after nearly 48 hours, an unanswered note, and about 15 ‘drive-bys’, I began to really wonder! Either A. These alleged gardeners were nocturnal, invisible, or possibly nonexistent, or B. The volunteer gardeners and I had polar opposite schedules. As a rational being I will assume the latter; however, unfortunately because of this I was unable to speak with the green thumbs themselves.

After doing a bit of online research I found a few basic gardening tips for the unknowing:
1. Garden Essentials- water, nutrients, good soil, good drainage, and Sun!
2. Vegetables need to be planted where they can recieve at least 6 hours of sunlight each day!
3. Lettuce, onions, peas, potatoes, ect. are best grown from February-March! ( Each of the aforementioned vegetables can be found in our very own Fulton & Stanyan garden)

Although, the gardeners were a bit M.I.A. a ‘community garden’ is a fabulous idea, and something that every person that walks, drives, or rides by can enjoy!

Community Garden

2007-03-28T09:36:00.000-07:00

Along the busy intersection of Fulton and Stanyan Street, a block from USF, lies a 4-month old garden teeming with rows of fruits and vegetables. Green onions, strawberries, mustard greens, lettuce, snap peas, and potatoes are just some of the produce one can find planted there. Amidst the bustling cars, tall buildings, and fast paced life of the city, the garden, although only taking up a small space, has become a place where city dwellers with a green thumb can use their talent, as well as eat healthier. With the carefully laid out rows and walkways, one can assume that the residents who contribute to this small “garden of eden,” treasure it. This can be seen when a male resident of the building adjacent to the garden yells out of his window to a dog walker, whose dog is lurking among the crop, “That’s there to eat!”

Gardens are minimal in a place where space is limited. Two major gardens that can be found in San Francisco are located at Yerba Buena and the Golden Gate Park, which boasts a botanical garden and a Japanese tea garden.

Paint the City in Green

2007-03-28T08:21:00.000-07:00

From renowned gardens like the Japanese Tea Garden and The San Francisco Botanical Garden to humble backyard plantings, gardens have a long and influential history in San Francisco. One of the most inspiring aspects of the city’s botanical history is the legacy of Victory gardens in San Francisco.

Jesse Drew writes about the significance of these gardens in his article Call Any Vegetable: The Politics of Food in San Francisco in the Reclaiming San Francisco anthology by City Lights Books. According to Drew, “World War II caused a momentary lapse in corporate food production for the consumer market, leading to the popularization of Victory gardens, small home vegetable plots intended to aid the war effort. In San Francisco alone, there were as many a 70,000 such home gardens.” Drew illustrates in his article that the Victory gardens were just one integral piece of a long-term sustainable food production movement in the Bay Area that continues to this day.

After the war, the popularity of these gardens diminished. But, the appetite for organic and locally grown produce has sustained. Drew writes, “San Francisco takes its food seriously. After all, this is the city that has more restaurants per capita than any other city in the United States. In the quest for nutritious food and equitable distribution, thousands of San Franciscans have mobilized to develop creative and alternative ways of procuring this most basic human need.”

One San Francisco Artist/Activist believes that Victory gardens are an alternative we she seriously reconsider. Amy Franceschini, is the winner of the (SFMOMA) San Francisco Museum of Modern Art’s 2006 (SECA) Society for the Encouragement of Contemporary Art, for her garden renewal project, which is on view at the SFMOMA until April 22.

In a recent article on SFGate.com, Franceshini talked about her idea of reinstating the thousands of private and public Victory gardens that were once found in the city. Franceshini added, “that 8 billion tons of food were produced in Victory gardens around the country.” In San Francisco, Victory Gardens were such a success they were even found in places like the front lawn of City Hall and the Strybing Arboretum.
Franceshini is not alone in her quest. Recently, in an unused plot next to the apartment complex on the corner of Stanyan and Fulton Street, residents and citizens have reclaimed the dirt and planted a Victory garden. The 20 by 90ft. plot, has potatoes, fava beans, snap peas, garlic, mustard greens, strawberries, and more. According to the SFGate.com article, “All the open space in San Francisco, including backyards, amounts to a sizable 1,823 acres.” This is one less backyard Franceshini has to worry about.

Mural Mashup a Picasso Reiteration?

2007-03-27T22:34:00.000-07:00

“Rise to The Top on the Backs of Others”
It may seem inconceivable to draw parallels between Pablo Picassos renowned “Guernica” and the mural mash up created by USF’s drawing and painting students. However, the relationship exists in a desire to unsettle the emotions and thoughts of a community while spurning on the growth of reflection and a desire for awareness.

In 1937, Picasso’s masterpiece was one of the first blatant antiwar statements rolled out upon a large surface and displayed with the intent to spark controversy. Now, almost exactly seventy years later, students at the University of San Francisco have begun to paint a work of their own, representing the concerns that America faces in a culture twisted many directions.

“Rise to The Top on the Backs of Others”, read a statement blaring out of an electric radio on one of the walls. And that is what we do as a country, incredibly motivated towards money and instant gratification. Little is achieved in America alone and unfortunately many are downtrodden under the powerful in the process.

A fairly young nation driven by success lies painted on our hallway walls, naked in its truth and harsh in its judgment but nonetheless entirely American. Cheney stares at his spectators with his head flayed open and a striking phrase beside his portrait. Up and down the hallway political statements are laid bare. Halliburton is called out on their corruption, and the separation between church and state is punctuated with a question mark? Because… if theretruly is a separation then why is our motto “In God We Trust”?

The incorrigible truth lies in the lack of knowledge our Culture boasts. In a sense, USF students are attempting to do what Picasso did years ago, to implore the public to open their eyes and see what is occurring in the world today.

Art for Change

2007-03-26T11:48:00.000-07:00

It's no longer a hurried, tunnel vision walk through the lower level of the UC building. Now, vibrant colors and images pop out at passersby to capture their attention and slow their pace. On the walls, big white sheets of paper serve as the canvas for the second level painting and drawing classes taught by Visual Arts Assistant Professors Eric Hongisto and Sharon Siskin. The major attraction seems to be the two biggest canvases that deal with politics and consumerism/greed, but the others, which have no theme, are also worth looking at. Sarina Dean, a senior fine arts minor who is painting flowers on one of the smaller pieces, said she started with one flower on the canvas and others followed suit, contributing another flower with petals falling off and writing, "I love to watch you fall apart".

It's a collaborative endeavor for these art students who are using their creativity to fashion images that evoke our spirits, whether it's the army tank running over babies or the words, "These colors don't run. But they bleed." Long has art been used as a means to garner attention to social and political issues. This can be seen in ArtPolitic, where artists have banded together to "promote thought, interest, and passion" for a variety of issues. According to their manifesto, they "seek to inform others and incite change." Another group that uses art for social and political issues is the non profit organization Wise Fools Community Arts, which uses a combination of giant puppetry, wild costumes, music, and theatre “as vehicles for community building, self-determination, social and political change.”

Senior Meiko Kikuta, a psychology and fine arts double major, said that, at first, she didn't like the concept of the project, but after seeing everything put together she has grown to like it. She has painted a gun with a gold chain surrounding it which she says symbolizes the misuse of people in power. She points out that the chain that is controlling the gun is gold which signifies money. With their red plastic cups serving as makeshift palettes and their paint brushes armed at the ready, these students are creating activated art and following in the footsteps of those that used art for change.

USF Mash Up

2007-03-26T09:25:00.000-07:00

"I Love to Watch you Fall Apart"

This quote can be seen outside of Crossroads Cafe at the University of San Francisco on a mural painted by students for a class assignment. On Wednesday, March 21,2007 Painting 2 and Drawing 2 students joined together for a class project called "Mash Up." Professor Hongisto and Professor Siskins gave their art students a chance to express themselves in a project a little outside of the norm.

Five blank white murals were hung in a highly-populated campus hallway, and students were given the chance to draw, paint, and write about any issues felt were important. Consumerism, the Iraq War, President Bush, Dick Cheney, guns, bombs, SUV's, "crack", and "aids": were just a few of the issues the students chose to address with their 'freestyle' and 'freehand' assignment.

Serina Dean, a USF senior, double majoring in Communications and Business Administration with a minor in Fine Arts, shed some light on why the "Mash Up" is very different from their day to day assignments. "This project is great because it is not so focused on artistic detail, and it is more focused on students getting the point across through art," said Dean. As Dean worked diligently on painting flowers she explained that her piece did not have a specific theme and was more freestyle, as opposed to for example the political piece's. However, Dean said that because it was an ongoing project and many different students would end up working together that, "it was important to correlate each part as we go, so that the artwork flowed together in the end."

Provocative Painting Puts Pressure on Politicians

2007-03-26T08:22:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday, March 21st, students from first-year Professor Eric Hongisto's second semester painting class took on the task of painting a mural in the space reserved for such artistic projects outside Crossroads Café. The artwork began with classroom brainstorming on the heady topic of political and social unrest in the United States, and what could be represented symbolically on a canvas to convey the students' sense of the current political climate. The mural now displayed on the first floor of the University Center is a first for many of the students involved, and the first time Hongisto, 33, has worked on a mural at USF.

The mural is a collaborative effort to visually arrest onlookers with striking words and images, like the bloodied head of Vice President Dick Cheney under the words, "These Colors Don't Run. But They Bleed." Other students chose to highlight the connection between war and the relentless drive of consumer capitalism represented by hamburgers and Hummers. Students on one side of the hallway painted a young child in a tank running over other children, possibly symbolizing the way young people are taught to glorify the same violence that can ultimately kill them.

One member of the artistic troupe, Fiamma Giger, found the group effort both interesting and challenging. Giger, a 21 year-old Visual Arts major, said she was looking forward to seeing what other students will do with the mural. Professor Sharon Siskin's second semester drawing class will take over the mural and do work in response to the initial painting her class has done. Giger spent her mural time painting an assembly line of t-shirts reminiscent of a sweatshop.

These forms of artistic expression provide students with a chance to exercise their first amendment rights to free speech, however provocative. It will be interesting to see in the current climate of fear and repression whether the students will come under criticism, or even legal pressure, for depicting the Vice President with a gaping, mortal head wound. With the opportunity to speak one's mind fast diminishing, protest murals like this might soon become a thing of the past, unless the idealism of student activism can be met with the full support of those in a position to end the march toward tyranny. That spark of idealistic fervor is at the heart of American culture, ingrained from the founding of a rebellious and free nation, through the abolitionist movement and the horrific war it ignited, on up to the present day, when concerned citizens throughout this nation are banding together against the installation of a police state on our own shores.

The Art of War

2007-03-25T20:46:00.000-07:00

How can I describe American Culture to someone who isn’t familiar with it?

The other day, I was in a friend’s living room, as their neighbor’s six year-old son sat in a trance in front of a 50-inch widescreen TV. His parents were nowhere to be seen. The child was completely oblivious to everything around him. His entire focus was dedicated to navigating his digital self through the mean-streets of the latest Grand Theft Auto videogame. The object of this game is to steal lots of cars and to commit as many acts of violence as possible. His character ran the streets beating people to the brink of death, robbing them of their possessions, and running over innocent pedestrians in stolen vehicles. He played for an hour or so until he became bored. He got up from his seat on the couch, he didn’t say any goodbyes, and he wondered out the door. Nobody seemed to notice him leave.

I thought of this boy, as I came across USF Art students working on a mural outside of Crossroads café last Wednesday. The piece was in its early stages, but its strong political themes were already becoming clear. What particularly brought the boy to my mind was a section of the mural where the artist painted a military tank in a harmless shade of pink. Using cut out photos from magazines, the artist has an ecstatic young boy driving the tank over the heads of babies, all of them smiling. The tank becomes a toy and its victims are happy. War is now a game.

The U.S. has fought a lot of wars in the mass media age, but none of them have been on U.S. soil. Instead they have been fought on our TV and computer screens and in the pages of newspapers and magazines. The average American comes into contact with war through images and words. We fight communists, Nazis, terrorists, enemy combatants, insurgents, or simply put “bad guys.” Thousands of Americans have died fighting these “bad guys” and they are recognized as heroes who died for their country. Many, many more “bad guys”, “bad guys” family members, and innocent bystanders who happened to be in the area of perceived “bad guys” have died as well. They remain nameless, and become statistics that are tallied during the nightly news in between commercials.

As technology improves, and our appetite for reality-based entertainment continues to grow, it becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish between fact and fiction. I think of that little boy playing his videogame, and I wonder if he can still tell the difference between the digital people dying in his game and the real people dying on TV.

Two earthquakes, 93 years, and more than a million dollars later....USF's 5th St. Ignatius Church stands strong!

2007-03-21T10:11:00.000-07:00

The University of San Francisco is home to one of the most beautiful churches in the country, and I venture to say one of the most beautiful churches in the world. The St. Ignatius church, which stands on the corner of Fulton and Parker in San Francisco, California is the universities 5th church. After spending nearly two hours in the universitie's archive room speaking with USF's archivist, Father Michael Kotlanger, S.J., the incredible history and importance of the church was crystal clear. The 1st and 2nd St. Ignatius (SI) churches were built on Market Street in the late 1800’s, and were basically 12x20 wooden shacks. The 3rd SI, known as ‘Old St. Ignatius’ was built on Hayes and Van Ness, but was ruined by the 1906 earthquake. The ‘shirt factory’ was the nickname of the 4th SI, was merely a relief church put up in a matter of weeks to get the university back in operation after the devastating earthquake.

In 1911, the priests at the University of San Francisco began building the ‘mother church’ St. Ignatius that still stands after 93 years. From 1911 to 1914 architect, Charles Devlin, was the mastermind behind the steel frame and Italian renaissance design of the church that put USF on the map. The University spent $850,000 building the 5th SI, which will end up being chump change compared to the expenses of the church over the next 93 years.

The $38,000 tin roof, brought in from an east coast company, rotted after only one year because of San Francisco’s marine air, and was soon replaced with a Terra Cotta roof (pressed brick) from a local company in Alameda, California. In the late 1980’s, SI’s dome, which was modeled after the Duomo in Florence, Italy, began to rust away and the ceiling quickly began to leak. It is rumored by USF’s archivist (which you can easily compare to the Rain Man, because he knows just about everything about USF) that replacing the SI dome cost more than the entire church cost when it was built in 1911. Thankfully, when USF replaced the frame of the dome they used led coated zinc, which is expected to last for 80-85 years. Do not think for one second that the damages stopped with the roof or the dome, the bell towers also needed replacing. And the 1989 earthquake cost USF $85,000 to replace the churches little cupola, because the iron rod inside snapped. In short, although St. Ignatius is a beautiful church, the money spent on upkeep is astronomical. (Hm…ever wonder where your tuition is actually going?)

The beautiful stained-glass that is seen inside SI today started to replace the churches original yellow glass in the 1940’s. In fact, each different window was privately donated by parishioners to USF. This sounds like a good thing right? Free stained-glass! Not so quick, there is undoubtedly a Catch 22. The brand new windows resulted in nothing short of a lighting nightmare. To perfectly light up the stunning new windows as well as the intricate new paint job inside the church, SI quickly installed a cutting-edge lighting system. A lighting system that costs USF $10,000 a month! That just scratches the surface on the incredible history of USF’s St. Ignatius church.

And here are a few quick, interesting facts….

1. The 2 bell towers used to be on all navigation maps for ships, because they helped to lead boats directly into the bay.
2. The bell that rings today is the same bell that has rung since 1862, and followed SI and USF through all five churches. Even after falling 5 stories during the 1906 earthquake, the bell was uncracked and undamaged.
3. Prior to 1994, only 2 weddings were held in SI, because the church was a ‘university chapel’ as opposed to a ‘parish church,’ and was forbidden to hold weddings or baptisms.
4. In the 1930’s San Francisco used to add 5 street cars during St. Ignatius services, because of enormous amount of people attending church!
5. The bell towers stand 180 ft tall, and to walk down the isle is an exhausting 190 ft. (Which you can imagine would seem endless on your wedding day in 4 inch stilettos!)

Benedetti Diamond

2007-03-21T09:26:00.000-07:00

It fills the air every spring at USF, the distinct ping of aluminum during afternoon batting practice. It comes from a forgotten corner of campus, behind the dorms, before Masonic, on Benedetti Diamond at Ulrich Field, the home of the USF Dons Baseball team. The field was built in 1953 and named after Max Ulrich, a transplant to San Francisco neither affiliated with Jesuits nor the University of San Francisco in any capacity, but who named USF as a significant beneficiary in his will. This was due entirely to the USF Credo, a statement written by then-USF president, and noted anti-Communist Fr. Raymond Feely, SJ. The credo espoused belief in God, personal dignity, natural rights, sanctity of the home, stated an opposition to all forms of racism, and was inspirational enough to secure $358,000 from the estate of Mr. Ulrich.

The fortunes of the team in the years following the building of the field were largely in the hands of a San Francisco restauranteur named Dante Benedetti, native to the city, who coached USF baseball for 29 years for the princely sum of one dollar per year. While 29 dollars (before taxes) isn't much of a windfall, when Benedetti called it a career in 1980 he saw his name given to the baseball diamond at Ulrich Field as part of retirement ceremonies which were attended by Joe DiMaggio.

The team itself began with the 1907 season. A photograph here shows the original nine on a lot which is the current location of St. Ignatius Church. In the background, you can see the blue house which still stands at the northwest corner of Golden Gate and Parker. The program was loosely organized at the time, produced about a dozen major league players who had careers of little distinction and was interuppted by military drafts. In 1946, however, the University of San Francisco was named the best college team on the West Coast before resuming its status as a respectable team, but certainly no powerhouse.

With only a handful of highlights in the 100 years of Dons baseball, it is no surprise the team has taken a backseat to other more successful sports like basketball, soccer, and the famed 1951 football team. That said, it's no rifle team. The program is very healthy and is enjoying what is probably the best run in the school's history. Manager Nino Giarrantano is in his ninth season with the team and the 2005 and 2006 seasons saw the team set a school record for wins and secure a berth in the college world series, respectively. In addition, players from USF are being drafted by pro teams every year and recent USF alumni are on the fringes of the major leagues. Tagg Bozied, now part of the St. Louis Cardinals organization, is best known for his unusual name (Tagg Bozied) and an unusual injury (blowing out his knee celebrating a game-winning home run). Other former players worthy of mention include Jesse Foppert, recently a pitching prospect with the San Francisco Giants, Gil McDougal, the American League Rookie of the Year in 1951, and Joseph Giannini, a member of the 1911 team and son of Bank of America co-founder Amedeo Giannini.

In spite of its placement on a quiet corner of The Hilltop, Benedetti Diamond and the Dons baseball team has secured a more prominent position in the annals of USF's athletic tradition which only figures to grow.

“Some of these nuns look real cute hefting those big steins of beer…”*

2007-03-21T09:20:00.000-07:00

Tucked away in a corner of the bottom floor of the UC Building, the bare, plain room of the Fog 'n Grog, with its yellowish walls and red variations of checkered flooring, does not give a hint of its glory days as "The Place" on campus that students, faculty, staff, Jesuits, and neighbors went to kick back, enjoy a cold beer, and mingle with one another. Opened on July 6, 1973, led by USF and then-food services ARA-Slater (now ARAMARK), it was the first on-sale beer hall on a college campus in California. The campus beer license was approved in May, ending a five year negotiation with the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission. The campus bar opened its doors as a trial run during summer with the name "Fog 'n Grog”, a winner in a campus contest. It fast became popular among the students attending summer school, faculty members and conference guests- 550 Sisters and Jesuits attending a Symposium on Ignatian Spirituality.

In a San Mateo Times article dated August 7, 1973, John F. Marshall, then USF's vice president for student development said that the campus bar was a great way for students and faculty to get together and converse. "I think the Fog 'n Grog will be an incentive for them to stick around and enjoy some of the extras that go with a good education- meeting more people, getting to know them better, a chance to get in on campus activities," he said. With its dark wood panels, low lighting, and L-shaped bar, not to mention seating for at least 120 people, open hours from 7 to 11 each night, and .30 cent beers, people from the USF community, as well as those outside, greatly took advantage of the space. The university and food services struck gold; according to Fr. Michael Kotlanger, S.J., archivist at Gleeson Library, in its first week the bar had a profit of approximately $2,000. Aside from ample lounging areas, the bar also provided entertainment. It had a dart board, a television, music streaming from KUSF, and musical and dramatic productions. Kotlanger recalls, "We had a great time."

It wasn’t all fun and games; the campus bar’s beer license had strict rules to follow. Only beer could be served, no wine or hard liquor were permitted. No beverages were allowed to leave the premises. Only persons 21 years of age and older could enter the bar. An adult was to remain at the entrance each night and require two IDs from patrons, one with a photo.

Unfortunately, the bar was closed down in the 80s. There was no information in archives about the closing of the bar and the people I spoke with don't recall the exact date or why it closed. Kotlanger mentioned that it was shut down because of the school’s concern about binge drinking among students and the liability issues involved if there were any mishaps. Fr. Vernon Ruland, S.J., said it had something to do with the drug culture of the time overlapping with the drinking culture. Whatever the reason, the next time you find yourself in the Fog ‘n Grog, whether it's for some club meeting or if you just happen to wander in, don’t let the drab fool you. Take a moment to reflect that at our very campus, over 30 years ago, the first campus pub in California was opened and in the very walls you are standing in, people came together to share good beer, good laughs, and good times.
*James W. Kelly Jr., Director at Office of Public Information at USF (1973) – quoted many times in numerous articles on USF’s bar

A Run Through of Koret

2007-03-21T09:03:00.000-07:00

We rush in with our ipod and Us weekly, battle through leg cramps and exhaustion for an hour or so, and then, we are off on our way. But next time you make the routine visit to the Koret Health and Recreation Center take note of the “sprinter,” an eight foot bronze statue situated outside in the front of Koret that was originally created on a smaller scale in celebration of the 1984 Olympic games. Take note of the futuristic design of Koret, who’s initially production cost was estimated at 10 million and later grew to 22 million. And lastly, take note of the Olympic pool that holds the distinction as the largest pool in northern California. For the University of San Francisco, the Koret Health and Recreation Center is a jewel of the campus that is constantly used yet rarely appreciated.

The need for a university sports center was established in the early 1970s, when a detailed survey revealed the lack of facilities available for community recreation. The Memorial and Loyola gymnasium and the limited outdoor fields were simply inadequate in meeting all the needs of the University community. Father Michael Kotlanger, S.J., who oversees the USF archives, adds that amongst these reasons, the university’s basketball team woes in the early 1980s also drove the need for a new health center as the board of trustees said to the university, ‘build us a new facility’ in exchange for supporting the team that was receiving such bad publicity. And so, the university and Pflueger Architects began designing.

Ground broke for the Koret center when Loyola Hall, formerly St. Ignatius High School, was demolished in 1987. “Construction was massive,” said Father Kotlanger. The construction was put on hold for 83 days when OSEA came in for inspection, which was one of the reasons for the price spike. Koret was able to go into production with many large contributions from San Francisco community members and corporate businesses. Joseph and Susan Koret, who the center is named after, were a part of the Koret of California, a successful sportswear line, that late evolved into the Koret Foundation that supports numerous projects around the city.

The Koret Health and Recreation Center was completed in September of 1989. “I feel pride and awe when I walk through Koret center. We have given USF the finest recreational center anywhere,” said Ricky J. Curotto, a board of trustees member, who commented in the Koret Campaign Chronicle's final issue, in September of 1989. Today, thousands of USF students and an estimated 15,000 non-student members enjoy all aspects of Koret. And if the pool, state of the art equipment, student lounge, numerous courts, etc… aren’t enough for you, at the very least you might have a celebrity sighting...Danny Glover has a current membership.

"Rock, Rock, Rock and Roll Jesuit School"

2007-03-21T08:56:00.000-07:00

It’s funny to think of all the students at USF diligently studying the day away, while in a non-descript bottom floor room in McLaren Hall, some of the most radical noise around is being broadcasted to the world. The culprit of this rebellious activity as you may have already guessed is our very own KUSF.

KUSF is widely known for its radical and diverse programming but it came from very humble beginnings. KUSF originally started as an AM station with a very narrow broadcast spectrum. In 1977, under the guidance of current station manager Steve Runyon, KUSF moved over to 90.3 FM to expand their reach in the Bay Area. Initially KUSF focused solely on community programming and fine arts and it was broadcasted for only five hours a day in the evenings.

The station continued to grow eventually incorporating pop and rock music into its programming and extending its airtime to 24 hours a day. KUSF quickly became one of the best sources for new music. Heavily supportive of the local scene, KUSF broke San Francisco icons like Metallica and Primus before they were signed to major record deals. The station has been rewarded with numerous gold and platinum records from appreciative bands like R.E.M., The Red Hot Chili Peppers, and The B-52’s. Amid all this popular success KUSF has never lost its sights on providing, “unique and distinctive programming as a service to San Francisco and the Bay Area.”

Today, along with the vast selection of independent and experimental music you can find longstanding cultural and fine arts programs from Chinese Star Radio and the Turkish Cultural Program to the Metropolitan Opera. KUSF has garnered a wide array of awards recognizing their quality programming including the 2005 SF Weekly Readers Poll, Gavin’s College Station of the Year (1988,1989,1990,1994), and in 1998, April 25th was named "KUSF 90.3 FM Stereo Day In San Francisco" by Mayor Willie Brown.

USF's Ghostly Past

2007-03-21T08:25:00.000-07:00

One might never have guessed that the grounds upon which we devoutly study and pursue our developing futures were once catacombs of tombstones and a myriad of skeletons. During the visit with USF’S archivist Father Kotlanger, the haunted past of the University slowly began to unravel, revealing the somewhat startling truth that our University is built on top of very old and large burial grounds dating back to the 1800's.

In the 1800’s four massive cemeteries spanned over the entire distance of what is now the campus of USF. They were called Calvary, Masonic, Lauryl Hill, and Odd Fellows cemeteries. Nearing the 1900’s all four fell into tremendous disrepair, creeping ivy and shrubbery slowly consumed grave plots and homeless inhabitants haunted the tombs, looking for a warm place to sleep. The Jesuits bought these cemeteries in the mid 1800’s and in 1855 St. Ignatius Academy became the first building to be established for the University. However, the cemeteries continued to lie near by and the founding fathers of USF began to evaluate the grounds during a time where the University and city itself needed expansion.

In 1900 the Board of Supervisors prohibited further burials in any of the four cemeteries and just twelve years later, the board ordered a mandate to have them vacated.

But according to Father Kotlinger, “these bodies stayed on and on and finally the fathers ordered that they be removed by the state.”

The final resting grounds of the adventurous souls and skeletons of Lauryl, Masonic, Calvary, and Odd Fellows cemeteries came to be Colma (a small city located just miles out of San Francisco). Colma, also referred to as “The City of The Dead” does the ancient bodies justice with its beautiful white marble and 18th century setting. The tombstones were broken up and reused as founding stones for some of San Francisco’s sea walls. Today one can still go down to Sloat on Ocean Beach and when the tide is sucked out, grave stone debris become visible, allowing a brief glimpse of our past.

Roughly forty years later, the growth of USF became imminent and in 1940, excavations for further buildings began to occur. In that time, just a young ROTC student, Kotlanger can recall the day a memorabilia was dug up from the past by construction workers who were forging Gillson Hall. “They suddenly threw down their shovels and picks,” reminisced Kotlanger, “they walked straight up to the foreman and said, “we’ll work for you anywhere and anytime but we don’t do cemeteries.”
You see, the workers had stumbled across an old corpse, one that had perhaps rotted through its wooden casket, swallowed by the earth until recently.
Supposedly, all the bodies from the four cemeteries were successfully extracted from USF’s land years ago. But there is still a chance that to this day, we walk on the final resting grounds of many dead who were left behind. Who knows, perhaps in the digging for Kalmanovitz hall there remains a corpse or two to be turned over and maybe, just maybe we will be lucky enough to find yet another departed.

Gleeson Library - A Storied Journey

2007-03-21T07:13:00.000-07:00

The University of San Francisco has a long history of scholarship dating back to the 1800s, but its library, traditionally thought of as the heart of the school, was only built in 1950. The first site occupied by the school that would come to be known as USF was at Market and 5th Street, now occupied by the Westfield Shopping Center. During this early period, the school had no formal library, as the entire institute centered on one school room. The school stayed for five years, after which it moved because of the tax burden imposed on schools and churches.

The new school at Hayes St and Van Ness grew from humble beginnings to become one of the premier centers of learning on the West Coast, said library archivist Father Michael Kotlanger. Kotlanger explained that the old library consisted in large part of donated books, most of which were either science related or spiritual in nature. The books were not located in one central library, but rather in many individual collections organized by subject matter and scattered around the university. At that time, the books were strictly for use at the school, and could not be checked out by students.

As with the rest of the city, 1906 marked a turning point for USF. The massive quake and fire on April 18th, 1906 gutted the school and obliterated nearly everything in it, including all the books collected over the previous half century. The few records that survive from before 1906 were housed in separate locations downtown and in Los Gatos, said Kotlanger. After the tragic events of that day, the school moved to a location near the present day southern entrance to St. Mary's hospital at Hayes and Shrader, a few blocks from its present day location. School officials tried to build up the library's collection after the devastating loss of all its books, but at that time they had to rely on the generosity of donors. The law school opened in 1912, necessitating further book acquisitions, all of which were donated by jurists and legal scholars who had an interest in helping future legal minds.

In 1927, the school moved to its current address at Fulton and Parker. The burgeoning library collection was housed on the fourth floor of Campion Hall, the original university building that served as the entire university for many years. Finally, in 1950, the collection became large enough that university officials agreed a separate library would be both necessary and good for the school. The library is named after Father Richard Gleeson, who spent 46 years in service to the university. Kotlanger said Gleeson died the day it was announced that the library would bare his name.

Under the direction of Father William Monihan, the new library initially housed the relatively small collection from Campion Hall, and had administrative offices and classrooms on the upper floors. This condition was not to last, as Monihan aggressively sought out books for the new library, including many rare books now housed in the Donihue Rare Book Room. These include a fragment of the Gutenberg Bible dating from the 1450s, medieval illuminated manuscripts, the works of Sir Thomas Moore and a collection of letters from the English Catholic novelist and film-writer, Graham Greene. Kotlanger stumbled upon these letters when looking through files in the university's possession. The letters were appraised for $250,000.

As Monihan and his successors continued to build the library's collection, classroom and office space had to move to other locations on campus. In addition to its own collection, Kotlanger said the library once held the extensive personal collection of Adolph Sutro, who was mayor of San Francisco from 1895 until 1897. Space was leased in the library's basement by the Sutro estate until Gleeson library's own collection could no longer be housed solely in the upper floors. The lease was allowed to expire for a nominal rate, and Sutro's collection moved to its current location at San Francisco State University.

In 1997, the library opened the Geschke Learning Resource Center, named after Charles and Nancy Geschke, two university patrons and parents of a former student. The Geschke Center houses the circulation desk, reference stacks, and dozens of computers, both Apple and PC. The center also includes Thacher Gallery, an art exhibition room with rotating exhibits throughout the year. On the east wing of Geschke Center is the Monihan Atrium, a large study area named after the aforementioned Jesuit priest and library director.

The library's collection continues to grow at the rate of 13,000 volumes per year, according to its website, in an effort to maintain its status as a world class center for learning and scholarship. Located at the geographic heart of the university, Gleeson Library truly is at the heart of the school's dedication to learning and service.

My Campus Space

2007-03-20T23:57:00.000-07:00

One of the greatest aspects of USF is its beauty. Set on a hill in San Francisco, the campus is uniquely beautiful on a day to day basis. The mixture of foggy to sunny weather patterns, hills that seem to climb for miles, and the skyscrapers of downtown are all parts of a remarkable campus setting. Unfortunately, studying a lot is a major part of college life, but we are lucky enough to have many study areas in which to choose. The Lone Mountain Library is one of my favorite places to get my work done.

USF bought Lone Mountain in the 1970’s for 5 million dollars when the San Francisco College for Women closed down. That was quite a bargain considering the use we get out of that campus, not mention its incredible views of the city. The library located on the second floor in the east wing, has become a place for studying and is so quiet even pulling out a chair seems to create a racket.

The Joseph A. Gleason (of no relation to Gleeson whom the library on main campus was named) library was originally part of the women’s college. This was a place the wealthy families from around Northern California would send their daughters to get only the best education. According to Father Kotlanger in charge of the USF archives, everything was top of the line. All the woodwork that is in the room now is original and was hand painted and artists were brought from all over the world to contribute. Even the light fixtures had special sheep skin covers, the chairs were hand carved in Europe, and the flooring was brought in from all over the world.

There is a storage room in the far right of the library, under the floor. It goes down three stories. In the late 1980’s, someone was cleaning it out when they came upon some Salvador Dahli prints. They were original lithographs.

When the school closed down, all the books, 100,000 of them brought in from all over Europe, were sold and sent to other libraries. The books in there now are old encyclopedias, simply there to fill in the space.

Gleason Library boasts a regal and classy setting unlike anywhere else on campus. It has hosted many students and their books over the years and I have enjoyed being part of its history.

early adventures in geomapping

2007-03-19T10:45:00.001-07:00

ira glass on storytelling

2007-03-09T11:54:00.000-08:00

ira glass on having good taste, overcoming the gap between your own good taste and your own not so good output, and doing lots and lots of work. five minutes and nineteen seconds of smart advice. [crossposted from usf journalism blog]

In Memoriam Paula Gmelch

2007-03-07T11:09:00.000-08:00

On March 1st, 2007, Paula Gmelch’s life was tragically cut short in an accident on Turk and Chabot at the University of San Francisco. We at USFblogtastic, have reported on and shared our stories and thoughts about this accident that has shocked and saddened our entire community.

USFblogtastic would like to provide the entire USF community, family and friends of Paula Gmelch, and anyone else who knew her with a place to reflect. Although, none of the students in our class personally knew Paula, this tragedy has opened our eyes to just how delicate life can be.

A memorial service for Paula Gmelch is being held on Friday, March 9, at 2:00 p.m. in Saint Ignatius Church, at the University of San Francisco. There will also be a reception following the service in Fromm Hall.

In light of this tragedy, donations can be made to the Paula Gmelch Scholarship Fund. So far there has been tremendous support for the fund. Checks can be made payable to the University of San Francisco, noting the Gmelch scholarship and can be mailed to the School of education. For more information please contact Jim Brennan, the School of Education director of budget and planning.

Please use this space to add your thoughts, tell your stories, and share your memories of Paula.

The Ethics of Wikipedia

2007-03-07T10:45:00.000-08:00

Note: Of course I learned the hard way, how quickly information travels and situations change in the digital age. I wrote this entry last night about the scandal surrounding Wikipedia contributor Essjay (Ryan Jordan). I made the mistake of not looking on the Wikipedia site before writing this entry. If I had the foresight to do so, I would have seen that Essjay has been asked to resign following the uproar of bloggers and Wikipedians. My original post follows:

The Wikipedia phenomenon is difficult to ignore. Wikipedia is an online user created encyclopedia, and its popularity has grown exponentially over the last few years. For many people (particularly students) it has become a vital tool for their online research. For some, Wikipedia has come to represent the great potential for online communities to drastically shift the dynamic between content provider and content user, or to even some extent between citizen and government. Wikipedia makes it (hypothetically) possible for everyone to create content on the site, allowing for the potential of an unprecedented accumulation of information.
We recently discussed Wikipedia in our digital journalism class using Stacy Schiff’s New Yorker article, “Know it all,” as the starting point for our discussion. Shiff’s article outlines the sites explosive popularity and growth and its increased concern with accuracy and legitimacy.
One of the main subjects of the piece is a Wikipedia contributor named Essjay. Essjay was an example of all that is good about the site. According to the article Essjay claimed to be “a tenured professor of religion at a private university” and held “a Ph.D. in theology and a degree in canon law.” He is a poster-child for the site; an educated and qualified regular contributor.
Well…In the March 5, 2007 issue of the New Yorker there is an “Editors’ Note” about Essjay’s professional claims. It turns out that, “Essjay now says that his real name is Ryan Jordan, that he is twenty-four, and holds no advanced degrees and that he has never taught.”
Is most walks-of-life, fraud makes for professional ruin, legal trouble, or worse. In wikiworld it means job opportunity. Jordan “was recently hired by Wikia- a for-profit company affiliated with Wikipedia as a ‘community manager’; he continues to hold his Wikipedia positions.” Asked about the whole ordeal, “Jimmy Wales, the co-founder of Wikia and of Wikipedia, said of Essjay’s invented persona, ‘I regard it as a pseudonym and I don’t really have a problem with it.’”
Is this what we should come to expect from the web2.0 revolution? A revolution, where dishonesty is masked by anonymity and people like Essjay deceive their way to the top. Having a pseudonym on the Internet is nothing new. But, for a site like Wikipedia that strives to provide factual information it seems quite hypocritical to reward such blatant and unnecessary fraudulence.

USF Community Left Reeling by Fatal Accident

2007-03-07T09:17:00.000-08:00

The USF community was left reeling after last Thursday's accident which took the life of Paula Gmelch, whose husband, Walter, is the Dean of the School of Education at USF.

As is often the case at the site of a fatal accident, mourners have erected a makeshift memorial as an outlet for their grief. At the corner of Turk and Chabot where Gmelch was unfortunately standing when according to multiple sources, a Cadillac Escalade made a u-turn forcing a Nissan Pathfinder off the road into two pedestrians, the other identified here by one resourceful reporter as Yansen Setiawan.

The memorial contains a wall of messages which range from ee cummings to offerings of thoughts and prayers to a note from Gmelch's nieces. Also included are a benediction, a photo of Paula and Walter Gmelch and no less than two dozen floral arrangements. All of which reflect the profound loss endured by this community in the past week.

Students Should Learn Lesson from Tragedy

2007-03-07T06:47:00.000-08:00

The tragic death of Paula Gmelch on March 1st has brought home the reality of the world in which we live. Pedestrians face dangers every day, and though students, faculty and the wider USF community may be focused on our classes and our social lives as we pass from one part of campus to another, the truth is our school is located directly adjacent to some of the busiest streets in San Francisco.

While it is unclear at this time the exact cause of the accident, it is clear that conditions at that intersection can make for a treacherous crossing, especially when coupled with the scarcity of parking and the distractions of modern driving. This terrible event should give us all pause when we are driving, so that we are careful to pay attention not just to our immediate goal of reaching our destination, but also to others on the road who have a right to get to their destination unharmed.

I did not know Paula Gmelch, but it is impossible not to empathize with those who did. The deep sadness and lost they feel must be hard to bear, especially for Paula's husband Walter Gmelch, who lives just a few doors down from where his wife was killed. My most heartfelt condolences go out to him and all of Paula's friends and family, some of whom have had the opportunity to express their sorrow at the memorial on Turk and Chabot.

A death so sudden and unexpected leaves us all shaken and wondering what to do next. I hope and pray that at the very least, USF students will take this as a sign to drive safely. Paula Gmelch's passing should be a cautionary tale that being late to class is not the end of the world.

Bloggers Reporting

2007-03-06T22:28:00.000-08:00

By now the USF community knows most of the details about the tragic accident on Turk and Chabot last Thursday. Word spread among students before anything was found in print or heard on the news. I heard about it in my 5:30 communications law a policy class where one of my classmates said that a woman died and she was the wife of the school of education. I thought most of what I was hearing was gossip and I’d get the real story the next day in the paper.

Interestingly enough, what I heard in class was accurate. I have grown so accustomed to dismissing word of mouth information as gossip until I can check the facts that I did not even think that maybe someone in the USF student body had been out there at the site of the accident recording these facts. In fact, Huner Patterson of the Foghorn broke the story in his blog, "The Bicycle Diaries," two hours before the SF Chronicle. The picture below was taken by Patterson and gives me a very vivid idea of what the scene must have looked like.

It's important to realize that the technologies we have at our disposal are important and necessary tools, not only in journalism, but in recording important events. A USF student was able to hop over to the scene of the accident with a camera and tape recorder to chronicle the facts before any professionals. The importance of this act is so critical in today’s journalism. I learned of the details of the accident through our blog, USFBlogtastic, on Thursday night from the postings of Sam and Professor Silver. I then went to the news online to verify what had happened. The fact that we can not only gather information the instant it happens but post it to blogs so it can be shared is a whole new way of expanding the use of our technologies.

Crowd sourcing, once again, is receiving information from the crowd, and is actually a much smarter way to handle spreading the news. Patterson's story had two hours on the Chronicle's story, just think how much more information we can receive over time if each person involved in an event or tradgedy catalogued thier experiences through a blog or pictures and posted them in real time. We can begin to live through these experiences as they're happening.

Word of mouth can lose the reputation of being mindless gossip because everyone is now an essential part in spreading the news.

The Dangers of Driving: Statistically Speaking

2007-03-06T18:07:00.000-08:00

The devastating car accident at the intersection of Turk and Chabot Terrace on March 1st has effected the entire University of San Francisco community. From the site of the accident (middle of USF campus) to 75% of the people involved (faculty member’s wife and two students), every aspect of the accident seems to only hit the USF community harder. As a student driver at USF, it is impossible to ignore the fact that the two drivers involved were both students.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimate that 1.2 million (3242 every day) people are killed worldwide each year as a result of car accidents, and another 50 million are injured. Years and days may be easy to look past, but imagine this: every 13 minutes one person dies as the result of a car accident in the United States. To bring those statistics closer to home California also has the highest rate of traffic fatalities in the country as of 2004. Pedestrians, as in the case of the USF accident are also in danger and should be very aware of what is going on around them. Some 4,207 pedestrians were killed and 65,000 were injured by motor vehicles.

If you look further into auto accidents, WHO’s statistical reports explain the ‘estimated mortality rate’ people from the ages of 15-29 (Us!) ranks above most other age groups (Males in that age group ranked first; however, females have a much lower rank: fourth out of six). Car accidents are the leading cause of death for people ages 16-24.

Those are astonishing numbers, and it seems that people who drive everyday, get in their cars in some kind of ‘auto-mode’—forgetting all of the risks that come along with driving. Multi-tasking only makes the situation worse. From personal experience, I can admit that at any given time during my ‘ride’ I am: changing the music, talking on my cell phone, drinking my Starbucks, and or putting on make-up. With statistics of auto accidents in the millions, I imagine I am not alone.

The car accident at USF was a huge reality check for me. Driving is Dangerous! The point of this blog was not to bore or frighten you with big numbers and statistics; moreover, to try and shed some light on the enormous number of people injured/killed and the even larger number of people who are affected by car accidents.

Other Pedestrian Identified in Tragic USF Accident

2007-03-05T23:38:00.000-08:00

Yansen Setiawan, was the other pedestrian who was hit by an SUV on Thursday, March 1st at the University of San Francisco (to my knowledge news stories have not yet identified Setiawan). Setiawan works as a private contractor for The Warehouse Sale and was passing out fliers around campus on the day of the accident. In an email exchange, Kenneth Atman, a colleague of Setiawan, said, "he is a very hard worker and we are lucky to have him on our team." "He has a very positive attitude towards this whole situation, he was even joking and smiling when I visited him a couple of days ago," said Atman. Currently, Setiawan is at SF General Hospital and should be released within a week. "He had some surgery done on Friday for a dislocated hip and some broken bones," said Atman. "The doctor said he should be able to walk again in about a month."

bloggers aren't reporters...

2007-03-02T14:55:00.000-08:00

Read what Lia has to say about bloggers. Frankly I'm a little hurt (this is my blog for journalism ethics with Prof. Robertson), because she's talking about what we are trying to do, somewhat saying that bloggers aren't reporters...

Blogger Pride people!

Tremors

2007-03-02T00:15:00.000-08:00

San Francisco seems to be on trial for tragedy left and right these days. Recent landslides in North beach have displaced over 120 residents and caused four buildings to crumble, entirely destroyed. And now, a heart breaking calamity in our own U.S.F. community, the death of Paula Gmelch is a fresh wound. However, as a hectic day winds down to a somber evening, San Francisco is once again, quite literally, shaken up.
At approximately 8:40 this evening the bay area experienced a tremor, the epicenter was located a mile northeast of Lafayette. It was measured to be a 4.2 quake and the majority of descriptions made it out to be two halting jolts. A minute amount of damage was rendered on the bay area community but it was enough to remind us of past earthquakes and those predicted for the future.
In the past week there have been around 200 small earthquakes in the California Nevada area, which scientists have begun to speculate, COULD signify a larger quake to come. San Francisco is one of those rare cities perched directly atop a massive fault line that has a massive eruption every 100 years.
We have already surpassed that anniversary and can expect a quake measuring anywhere from a 7.5-10.5 in the near future. Can you picture a 10.5 earthquake? To put it into perspective, the devastating quake in 1906 (which destroyed the city) was placed to be around 7.7 based on seismic waves. An earthquake of 10.5 magnitude could potentially decimate our city and its surrounding area. Another addition to the collection of catastrophes we have unwillingly born witness to.

news of the accident via usf connect

2007-03-01T19:02:00.000-08:00

this is a mighty blow to the whole community. let's make sure we support one another.

i am posting two messages that arrived via usf connect.

Subject: Message to the USF Community
Dear Member of the University Community:

This afternoon, Paula Gmelch, the wife of Dean Walt Gmelch of the School of Education, was tragically hit and killed in an automobile accident on Turk Blvd. At this moment of profound loss, our hearts go out to Walt and his children. For those of us who knew Paula, she was fresh, energetic and very much a part of campus life -- from athletic events to University functions. I know that you will join with me in keeping Walt and his family in your thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.

Sincerely,

Stephen A. Privett, SJ

***

Subject: Accident at Turk and Chabot on March 1

Dear USF Community,

On Thursday, March 1, 2007, there was an automobile accident at the corner of Chabot Terrace and Turk Boulevard. Members of the USF community may have witnessed or heard about the incident.

If you are a residential student and you would like to speak with someone, please contact your Resident Adviser (RA). He or she can get you in touch with an on-call staff member.

If you are a non-residential student and you would like to speak with someone, please contact Public Safety Dispatch at (415) 422-4201. They can get you in touch with an on-call staff member.

If you have any information about the accident, please contact the Department of Public Safety at (415) 422-4201.

Accident on Turk and Chabot (?)

2007-03-01T16:01:00.000-08:00

Does anybody know about the accident on Turk and Chabot? I heard that a car hit two people and one of them died. If anyone has information, let me know. Thanks. And be careful crossing the street!

Sweet Home Chicago...

2007-02-28T16:57:00.000-08:00

'Citizen journalism' is currently sweeping the internet, and do not think that an on-line 'personal experience' and 'knowledge' based Travel Guide has been left out. WikiTravel.com claims that it is a "complete, up-to-date, and reliable world wide travel guide." From the 'destination of the month' to 'off the beaten path' cities: this free consumer information web site was created to share knowledge about cities around the world (13,787 cities so far!) with travellers. WikiTravel is a Web site where anyone with Internet access can create, update, edit, and illustrate and article.

This all seems so fantastical on the surface! It is a travel guide constantly being updated. However, as with any "work in progress," there are going to be some glitches. I am going to confess it would be untruthful to claim my issues with WikiTravel are not 100% Subjective.

As a newcomer to WikiTravel, naturally the first thing I did was Search: Chicago. Although I currently live in San Francisco, I was born and raised in Chicago. Rumor has it that Chicagoan's are extremely passionate about their city, and I am a Prime example of that! So while I was scrolling through the WikiTravel: Chicago page, I was not surprised to find a few things that "pushed my buttons."

WikiTravel paints detailed pictures of these different cities for the curious traveler. How to get there (airports, train-stations, ect), how to get around while your there (public transportation, rental cars, taxi cabs), museums, parks, zoo's, tourist attractions, suburbs, events that happen in the city, where to shop and eat, bars/clubs, hotels. I think you get the drift, and can clearly see that WikiTravel has not left much out.

Personally, quantity and quality are two completely different things! Moreover, some of the random information given was quite a surprise, as well as some of the best things Chicago has to offer were under-represented and even left out.

Here are a few examples that caught my eye: Chicago is known for having fabulous food; there are endless amounts of restaurants and cafés at your fingertips. So the fact that Leona's was on this website is ridiculous “Good all-around Italian far, multiple locations.” That was the description of this mediocre chain restaurant, which deserves little if any recognition in a city with so many options. Fabulous, one of a kind, family owned, hidden gem restaurants like Mario’s Tacos, which is a well kept secret, can be found in Blue Island, a neighborhood on Chicago’s far south side.

Another prime example of blatant under/misrepresentation was under the ‘events’ section of the website. As the third largest city in the United States, it is hard to believe that there are only three yearly events, but that is not the worst part. WikiTravel: Chicago travel guide explains to readers that there is an annual Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, that takes place on Columbus Drive the weekend before March 17th and that the Chicago River is dyed green. That is all true; however, if you have ever been to Chicago for the weekend preceding St. Patricks Day you would be fully aware that the real celebration takes place on the south side of the city in the Irish Catholic dominated neighborhood known as Beverly! “Today, the South Side Irish Parade is considered the largest neighborhood-based St. Patrick’s Day parade outside of Dublin. It grew from 17 children marching around the block 27 years ago to an event that hosts over 15,000 marchers and 250,000+ spectators each year.” More history about Chicago's South Side Irish Parade can be found on their very own website.

Well I officially got carried away with this post, but I guess I found something I was passionate about and honestly, I could keep going for days. However, as an Internet-savvy student, I know that sitting here and complaining on the blog is not going to help anything! So off I go to create, update, and edit WikiTravel’s Chicago travel guide page, and here is my suggestions check your hometown’s guide and see if anything gets you riled up!

Fooled

2007-02-28T13:51:00.000-08:00

What am I doing here? This is the question I kept asking myself as I sat in the dark, cold McLaren Complex room watching a slideshow presentation by Ruby from Wise Fools Community Arts, a "non-profit organization which uses art and theatre as vehicles for community building, self-determintation, social and political change."

According to their website, the organization was officially birthed in the Spring of 1990 and became recognized as a non-profit organization in July of 1993. Wise Fools "combines giant puppetry, mask, stiltdancing, wild costumes, eclectic sculpture, music, movement, fire and song to create highly participatory, issue-oriented, outdoor theatre..."

Amidst the history of puppetry and the constant shuffle back and forth of an unprepared slideshow, I couldn't help but think I got duped. The flyer I received about the presentation had colorful pictures of the different puppets that the organization used to make people aware of social and political injustices. It would have been interesting to see, in person, some of the puppets (or even a performance of some kind), not just look at pictures. I think the organization's use of art to bring people together and make a change in society is great. But the presentation left much to be desired.

I would definitely attend another presentation by Wise Fools, because they deserve another chance to showcase the vibrant organization they really are. Just as long as they bring the stilts, wild costumes, and do some dancing. And they promise to bring on the puppets!

Egyptian Blogger is Unjustly Incarcerated

2007-02-28T09:03:00.000-08:00

Tolerating how blatantly ignorant and ape-like our president is can be a challenge, as is noting the fact that he is a mere puppet for someone I personally believe is the devil incarnate (Cheney). As Hugo Chavez once said in reference to Bush, “Huelo el Diablo” (I smell the devil) and there he reigns, positively reeking of the Bush Administration. However, I am at least able to express my disgust-laden sentiments to the world and expect some sympathy in return.
Imagine being thrown in jail for posting that small but opinion-laden paragraph. In a country where anything goes and complaining about our government has become habit, we often forget that indeed, there are people much worse off.
Abdel Kareem Nabil Suleiman has been incarcerated for writing blogs of essentially the same nature as my opening paragraph, although his convictions are exceptionally thought out and informative. He is now facing four years in jail for making the fatal (but entirely necessary) mistake of critiquing his overly watchful government. This being his second arrest, Kareem will spend three years in jail for “insulting Islam”, insurrection towards the Egyptian government and a fourth year for insulting the president.
On a blog, Kareem referred to president Hosni Mubarak as “a symbol of dictatorship”, while also noting the extremity of some of the highest religious institutions in Egypt. A portion of Kareems indictment states that he was “spreading rumors liable to disturb the peace”, leaving us with the terrifying notion that speaking ones mind constitutes as public disruption.
One of the more frightening aspects of Kareems case is the hypocrisy of the Egyptian governments policies. In an article by reporters without borders, it states that president Mubarak had “formally undertaken to abolish prison sentences for journalists in connection with their work”. And what a commendable job the latest Egyptian president is doing. Clearly, incarcerating a young man for his thoughts and opinions is paving the way to a just and well-rounded media.
Take a minute to look at, and potentially sign the petition asking for Abdel Kareems awaited freedom. As a globalizing world hopefully aspiring to equality and justice, it is immensely underhanded to incarcerate a man/woman for his or her beliefs.

OhmyNews: news "that's fit to share with you"

2007-02-28T08:25:00.001-08:00

Now in its 7th year of operation, OhmyNews, a Korean online newspaper, has become a fast growing online participatory journalism site. It was launched on February 22, 2000 by Mr. Oh Yeon-ho, founder and CEO, as a place where citizens of a community can report on news for the citizens. According to Yeon-ho every citizen is a reporter and “only those citizen reporters who are passionately committed to social change and reporting” make the online newspaper(s) possible. In 2005, OhmyNews International was formed, an online newspaper for world news in English also written by citizen journalists.

Since starting in 2000 and harvesting around 727 reporters, OhmyNews now has approximately 50,000 citizen journalists from all over the world. These reporters are able to submit their stories on the OhmyNews.com website by opening a citizen reporter account free of charge. There they can also keep track of their readers, their reactions, and the amount of money they have earned. After the submission of their stories, OhmyNews editors read, edit, and check facts. They also give feedback to the reporters to help them improve their reporting and writing skills. The articles that don't make it unto the main page of the site, it is still in the database and is viewable to all as a "Saengnamu" article.

In an article posted on February 26, Yeon-ho lists 10 preconditions for the value of user-generated content. It focused on four main points which are; credibility, responsibility, influence, and sustainability. “More information does not mean better information. By the same token, more participation does not automatically ensure a better society for us. Valuable information and valuable participation are needed,” Yeon-ho said.

Masimba Biriwasha, a citizen journalist for OhmyNews puts it best. "As a citizen journalist, I am not a mere conveyer of information. I am more that just a cog in the wheel of information. I am a citizen first, with a sincere desire to see freedom, fairness and justice prevail."

iCan: Covering Communities by Crowdsourcing

2007-02-28T02:55:00.000-08:00

Crowdsourcing, a journalistic technique wherein the reporter relies on the numbers and collective wisdom of crowds to gather truth on a scale impossible to match with dwindling news staffs and fading coverage. One new and innovative form of crowdsourcing, namely the BBC's iCan program. Founded in 2003, iCan seeks to empower community activists and even citizens not normally engaged in the political process to join together in so-called "action networks" to effect change on a local level. Journalists then monitor the results and cover any stories that arise out of the work of local activists.

This new way of reporting community activism, by encouraging it and providing the tools necessary to implement it, shows a great deal of ingenuity and foresight on the part of the BBC. In their efforts to get the best news coverage, they utilize the tools of community activism. The program aims to draw together people behind the banner of uplifting their own communities in various online networks to effect change on the local level.

The danger inherent in this model should be clear, namely that the reporters who cover the news are, at least in some sense, creating it. This can lead to a wag the dog scenario in which the journalists shape the very same events about which they are reporting. Such a tactic calls to mind the famed case of William Randolph Hearst, who is said to have inflamed tensions during the Spanish American War in order to sell papers. Journalists always run the risk of a conflict of interest when they get involved in the very stories they cover.

At the same time, some writers, like Spiked.com's Martyn Perks, believe the efforts do not go far enough. The rules prohibit campaigning directly before an election and fund raising, both of which might be considered part and parcel of community activism and both of which can be newsworthy. Because the BBC is promoting iCan, the journalists must be careful not to break any election laws or to encourage others to do so. Given that many of the most controversial, and therefore potentially the most newsworthy types of protests and activist efforts might fall outside the purview of iCan. BBC therefore runs the risk of having its iCan networks labeled inefficient and ineffective compared to other efforts without the restrictions necessary to get national funding for a project.

This delicate balancing act may be exceedingly difficult to maintain, and its relatively short history leaves little track record to show whether the scales are tipped one way or the other. Ultimately, it may take several years to shake out the exact impact this service will have on the public at large. In the mean time, the British can expect to continue to see the results of iCan action networks. Crowdsourcing is here to stay.

Burning to be part of the action

2007-02-27T21:34:00.000-08:00

In 2003 San Diego was caught on camera showing a different face to the Pacific Coast’s sunny beach town we tend to associate with Southern California. A massive wild fire burned over 300,000 acres and 1,500 homes when the city became ablaze; becoming the second worst fire in California’s history.

The interesting thing about this incident was that many pictures of the fire were taken by the locals being affected. Instead of the local newspaper sending a few reporters out to the site to cover the story, we got the information from the very people being driven
from their homes.

“Sign On San Diego,” an online discussion forum as part of the San Diego Tribune’s website, was host to a message board and photo sharing by local citizens to show the fire from their perspectives. The local news became a conversation between the victims living in the area as they shared their pictures and personal accounts with each other and the rest of the world.

“Crowd sourcing” is the latest way in which to

obtain news, where the crowd is doing the work. When the technology of digital cameras, cell phones with cameras, and websites offering message boards and blogs is accessible to most people, it seems that allowing the public to participate is a more effective way to gather and share information.

Let’s hope this continues to spread like a wild fire.

I figured it out!

2007-02-27T15:31:00.000-08:00

I was having continued troubles with the post tools not showing up. I looked into the help section, and found out that the post tools work better with Mozilla Firefox web browser. Now that I have downloaded the new web browser, all the blog tools are at my disposal. Yeah!

Graphic novels, Gleeson Library, and Hollywood?

2007-02-21T09:37:00.000-08:00

Before Tobey Maguire was bit by a spider and had a steamy upside down lip lock with Kirsten Dunst. Before Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, and Christian Bale bravely donned the skintight black leather that left little to the imagination. And even before Jessica Alba defied physics by making herself invisible, there was the printed version, the original version…the comic book. Some might argue that the original genius of graphic novels has been overshadowed by Hollywood’s box office blockbusters, but at the University of San Francisco in the forefront of the Gleeson Library, librarians created a graphic novel display that draws attention to the creativity, social relevance and impression that graphic novels leave on a variety of cultural industries (i.e. films!).

Created by librarians Kathy Woo and Debbie Benrubi the display, which was a way “to highlight the library’s great collection,” said Benrubi, began showing on January 23 and will continue to the end of February of this year. The display allows an interactive element as students can freely check out a comic book right off of the display. “Fifty or so books have been checked out,” said Benrubi, out of the 91 graphic novels that have been used. At present date the display features a case that holds 16 comics, which are owned by USF faculty members and include volume one additions of Superman and Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder (these comics are not available for check out), one shelf of graphic novels, two carts worth of half empty graphic novels, and a comment box. “We have gotten a lot of great feedback,” said Benrubi. “We have already ordered 15-20 more comic books to expand on the library’s collection.”

So whether you are mindlessly whizzing about the library with tests protruding, dreadfully trudging along to read yet another essay, or on your way to the Sacramental Light exhibit in the Thacher Gallery, stop and take notice of the small yet visible graphic novel display. Whether it’s the “Rabbi’s Cat (Benrubi’s favorite)” or “Roadstrips,” a beautiful and breezy flip through of “a graphic journey across America,” take notice of the graphic novels which tell creative stories and feature wonderful illustrations. And if you check out a graphic novel, where an original price usually averages around three dollars, you might just be holding the next idea for a Hollywood script that could rack in 821.6 million dollars worldwide, just as Spidy did!

2007-02-21T09:18:00.000-08:00

Despite being our shortest month, February has managed to cultivate a number of popular events: Black History Month, Groundhog's, Valentine's and President's Days, and depending on the vicissitudes of the lunar calendar, Mardi Gras and Carnaval. And if we can believe that melting pot of lies Wikipedia this once, there are a number of other celebrations occurring throughout the month. We are (or ought to be and shame on you if you aren't) enjoying a hot breakfast, counting birds in our backyards and shaking our booties.

Display organizers at Gleeson Library seem to have no idea. Instead of going with one of these traditional February events as a theme to their monthly display, they have opted to feature graphic novels. They are well stocked with work by all the favorites: DC, Marvel, Dan Clowes, Art Spiegelman, the 9/11 Commission. Ah, 9/11 Commission? This little surprise is just one of the many books which serve to remind us these aren't the comics we remember from childhood. The Gleeson display itself is yet another reminder that comics are branching out. Lloyd Affholter, a librarian at Gleeson whose desk post has a tremendous view of the display has called this the most popular exhibit he's seen in a while.

Whether most students are already interested in the books when they come in is difficult to gauge, but I can say I had minimal to no interest in graphic novels when I checked out a copy of Dan Clowes's Like a Velvet Glove Cast in Iron. I was aware that the same author was responsible for the graphic novel Ghost World which was adapted into the movie of the same name and friends had insisted I read his other work. Like with many things (such as class assignments) I dragged my feet on making it happen but when I finally sat down to read it (as a class assignment), I was halfway through in less than an hour. The artwork, story and writing all combined very nicely to create a quickly paced read and an experience which isn't quite like any other medium; it's as close to cinematic as print can get. So in this month already packed with distractions, credit goes to Dan Clowes for grabbing my interest with something relatively exciting and new.

Comics as Examples of Literary Genius? Who Would Have Thought…

2007-02-21T09:12:00.000-08:00

Archie and Donald Duck are for many, a reminder of childhood years and the first bits of literature ever to be read. Comics take up a small portion of the Sunday paper and for the most part, aside from the snippet of political satire, the material content has almost always been something of a joke. However, in Jason Lutes’s Jar of Fools, one of many graphic novels put on exhibit in Gleeson Library, a deeper meaning lies harbored in the text.

Although the sketched depictions of the characters in the novel are fake, the reality of life is left intact. A main Character in Jar of Fools begins rambling on with some fairly profound thoughts regarding life, “but as I understand it, any action, good or bad, is like a ripple you make in the world… and the real goal is not to make any ripples. To begin and end with a subtotal of zero”. The twisted story goes through a segment in the life of a few; a lovesick and destitute magician, the object of his affection, a crazy old man, and a homeless father with his young bright daughter in tow. The author walks us through heavy concepts such as suicide, poverty, and the complications of love, all of which are illustrated beautifully.

Graphic Novels such as Jar of Fools have become somewhat of a literary phenomenon in the past six years. In 2001 graphic novel sales were hardly 75,000 a year, by 2006 this number shot up to 250,000. A website loaded with stories for adults and information on comic authors is www.fleen.com, a thriving example of the growing interest placed in adult comics. Where did this popularity spurn from you might ask? It is possible, and probably likely that film productions such as Sin City are a key factor to their newfound popularity.

There is really nothing in many of these novels directed towards young children, it is entirely made for adults and the content is anything but light and comical. So comics have now moved into a new era, one designed to take them sincerely. Laden with meaning, graphic novels are being taken more and more seriously and substance is becoming a good deal heavier. Comics will no longer be written off as fluff used to fill extra space in the paper but rather as a new form of literary genius, the days of Donald and Archie are slowly evolving into something much heavier. Through this exhibit, Gleeson Library has successfully pioneered its way into a realm with very little public knowledge but a steadily growing fascination.

2007-02-21T08:45:00.000-08:00

Gleeson Library the Purveyor of Cool?

The graphic novel is by no means new but it has found new serge in popularity that is taking many people by surprise. Currently, Gleeson Library of the University of San Francisco has an exhibit that runs through the month of February celebrating the graphic novel.
The impetus behind the exhibit was to not only to honor the genre but for the librarians to have a better understanding of what young people are reading today. Kathy Woo Head of Acquisitions and director of the exhibit got the idea for the exhibit visiting local bookstores. Woo said, “I was noticing all the kids lined up at the bookstores in the graphic novel section…its really a generational thing.”
Woo discussed this new trend with her fellow librarians and found many of them interested in the genre as well. The Dean of the library just happened to be a collector of graphic novels. Woo looked at the University’s own collection of graphic novels and found that it was decent. “I was surprised at what we did have, but we really want to build the collection,” said Woo.
One of the most exciting features of the exhibit is the suggestion box. Students and faculty are encouraged to suggest graphic novels that aren’t currently in the collection. Woo said, “the main purpose of the exhibit was to have the suggestion box.” As of last week there were several dozen suggestions for new graphic novels.
I have only read one graphic novel in my life, Art Spiegelman’s Maus, which I thoroughly enjoyed. So I was excited to have another graphic novel experience. I checked out Osamu Tezuka’s Buddha Vol.1 the first of six volumes. This novel is a fascinating take on the life of the Buddha and Tezuka weaves historical fact with fictional characters of his own.
I loved it; I read the nearly 400-page book in one sitting. I immediately went on to the library’s website
http://www.usfca.edu/library to see if the rest of the series was available. To my dismay, they were not in the collection. My disappointment did not last long as I remembered the suggestion box. I ran to the library and gave them my two cents.

Serious lessons from The Simpsons

2007-02-21T08:14:00.000-08:00

University students study serious stuff. They leave campus and go on to become doctors, lawyers, writers, and teachers. USF’s Gleeson Library had a graphic novel display for the month of February. Hundreds of titles from Budda to Adult Comics to the one I picked up, Simpsons Comics Royal.

Everyone knows about Bart and Homer. The favorite cartoon family we’ve all known over the past 20 years. Drinking beer, ringing his son’s neck, and the man who brought the world the phrase, “Doh!” Homer Simpson is not your typical father figure. Creator, Matt Groening has made a comic book of pure entertainment. In the middle of the book, however, is a letter from Matt to the young aspiring cartoonist. He gives advice on becoming what a young boy or girl may dream of becoming one day.

“Just be sure to pay attention, observe people’s behavior, and remember everything you can. Keep a journal if you dare. (This is general advice, not just for cartoonists).” As journalism students, this is sound advice. We observe and write. We don’t draw pictures, but this advice extends far beyond a young child dreaming of being the next Matt Groening.

“You may very well be stuck in some crummy little down in a crummy little school with a bunch of snobs and jerks and bullies tormenting you all the time. Ok, I sympathize with your personal hell-I’ve been there man- and it’s not much consolation. All the cartoonists you dig went through what you’re going through right now.” This is a lesson about growing up, getting through the hard stuff, and sticking it out. This is what a lot of the college experience can be like.

Whether we leave USF and become something serious; doctors, lawyers, journalists, or teachers, there is something to be learned in a comic book or graphic novel. It is serious, but masked in a non-serious way.

Yes, I Read Comic Books

2007-02-21T08:13:00.000-08:00

I first got interested in comic books in 1992 when I was ten years old. I had been a fan of Superman from a very young age, and even used to wear a Superman shirt underneath the suits I wore to kindergarten. So, it was natural for me to delve further into the character by reading his adventures in the comics. The initial stories I read involved the Death of Superman saga, a story that captivated my young imagination and hooked me on comic books.

I continued collecting almost exclusively DC comics until around 1998, when I stopped reading because I could no longer afford to buy them regularly. In 2003, after several years of watching the television show Smallville, I picked up the comic book adaptation of the series. It felt great to have a new comic book in my hands, so I decided to start collecting again. With the advent of eBay in the intervening years, I was able to pick up large runs of back issues for much less than I would have paid had I bought them on the newsstand. Since returning to comics, I have amassed a collection of somewhere around 4,000 comics, including nearly every appearance of Superman since 1985.

When I tell people I am a comic book collector, I get varying reactions. Mostly, people do not understand the appeal of a comic book story, relegating comics to a children's medium that no intelligent person has any business following. The truth is that while comic books started out with children as their primary audience, today's typical comic book reader is older and has a desire to read stories that are more complex and realistic. Even superhero comics, with their outlandish premises and plots, have matured to the point where the stories behind the capes and powers involve real-life human drama. Comics deal with violence against women, deep philosophical and religious debates, and even heated political issues and current events.

One of the creators most responsible for this shift in tone was the late Will Eisner. Eisner began his work in the early days of comics, when material published in the new comic book format was typically reprints of newspaper comic strips. He went on to create The Spirit, a masked crime fighter who deals with the real life struggles of the inner city, and the landmark A Contract with God, one of the first graphic novels. Eisner also created the graphic novel Fagin the Jew, an attempt to create a backstory for the famous Jewish caricature in Charles Dickens' novel Oliver Twist. Shortly before his death in 2005, Eisner published The Plot, a graphic novel detailing the sordid history of The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, a forged document that anti-Semites, most notably the Nazis, used to "prove" a worldwide Jewish conspiracy aimed at controlling the world.

Eisner's literary forbears carry on his tradition of using the graphic novel to tell stories of surprising scope and grandeur. These include Frank Miller, whose taste for gritty realism and violence garnered critical acclaim for works like Sin City, The Dark Knight Returns, and Ronin, and Alan Moore, whose storytelling genius gave us works like Watchmen, V for Vendetta and From Hell. Writer Brian K. Vaughan, one of the medium's popular new voices, keeps the torch lit with high concept comics including ongoing series Ex Machina, a political thriller about a superhero turned mayor of New York, and Y: the Last Man, a post-apocalyptic tale about a world where all the men on earth die save the series protagonist, Yorick Brown.

Comics have certainly matured from the early four color days, and it is gratifying to see that USF's own Gleeson Library has recognized this by creating a prominent display of comics and graphic novels. Hopefully the interest generated by this display will introduce more people to the medium, and showcase the fact that it is not just for kids anymore.

Unlike Trix: Comic Books... Are Not Just For Kids

2007-02-21T08:07:00.000-08:00

Contrary to popular belief: Comic Books are not just for kids. That is exactly what Debbie Benrubi and Kathy Woo, who work in USF's library, were trying to prove when they decided to highlight the University of San Francisco’s extensive graphic novel collection during the month of February. In the foyer of Gleeson Library on main campus, there is a fabulous exhibit including both rare collectors item comics as well as over one hundred comics that students can check out. A Gleeson desk worker explained to our DJ class that this colorful exhibit is said to be one of the libraries most popular one in a long time.

In my knowledge of comic books, (which doesn’t necessarily matter) I imagine the classics like Superman, Batman, and other superhero type stories. With detailed colorful pictures and few words: comic books seem on the surface to be geared toward a younger and often male audience. However, in recent years, more serious topics, which include for example the Iraq War, have been translated into graphic novel stories.

Political, social, religious, economical, racial. These are just of few of the very serious and much more mature issues that comic books address today. Some comics even addressed romance, which seems a stretch if you are trying to reach adolescent boys. As Roger Sabin described in his book, "Adult Comics: An Introduction", british writer Peter Bagge’s comic "Hate" (1990), which was about a mans “quest for beer and true love.” As a result, these books grab a much larger audience and have the ability to spread messages and influence people. This can happen much quicker and also easier by using humor, wit, and bit of lightheartedness, then say a 300-page textbook about Palestine, Jewish religion, or perhaps even weapons of mass destruction.

USF is smack dab in the middle of one the nations most liberal, outspoken, and accepting cities (San Francisco that is!). This graphic novel exhibit has the ability to open the eyes of college students, and anyone else who strolls through USF’s library during February, who otherwise might have never picked up a comic book in their life. Because like me they are under the false assumption that Comic Books are For Kids. If this exhibit (or blog entry) has caught your eye and sparked an interest in comic books, you might want to check out San Francisco’s very own cartoon art museum. The museum is located at 655 Mission Street, and is proud to be the only museum in the United States dedicated to graphic novel and comic exhibition.
http://www.cartoonart.org/

weird in a cool way

2007-02-15T18:01:00.000-08:00

i was looking up the websites Dan Gillmor mentioned in we the media and found that he is a contributor for the san mateo section of backfence.com.

Total Information Awareness: Terrorist Monitor or Big Brother?

2007-02-14T09:55:00.000-08:00

Under the Bush administration, we have entered into what some might say constitutes George Orwells nightmarish society portrayed in 1984. Big Brother IS watching, and it is through the disguise of the Total Information Awareness (TIA) program, a program recognized in 2002 as an attempt to “stop” and “seek out” all acts of terrorism and suspicious terrorist activities.

TIA was created under the guidance of John Poindexter and its purpose was to monitor and sift through the public. A massive database composed of every detail of every registered citizen, Total Information Awareness rests in the hands of the government, a loaded gun pointed at our very freedom. Anything found in the database can and will be used against you legally in the court of law.

When citizens began to realize that there was a severe infringement on personal space and their very constitution occurring, they were quick to bring TIA to attention. Facing the heat, the Total Information Awareness program morphed into the Terrorist Information Awareness Program, under the pretense that its sole existence was to eradicate all acts of potential terrorism. In 2003, TIA was defunded by congress because of the controversial attention brought to it but was then picked up by several other “counterterrorism intelligence” programs.

Total Information Awareness and its fathers in the political world (such as the Patriot Act) have become the new cornerstones to American security, or what many deem American surveillance, a vigil maintained by an overbearing government. Or should I say… a big brother?

Debugged

2007-02-14T09:43:00.000-08:00

In 1994, Usenet, a system of Internet message boards wherein users from all over the world can discuss issues, first spread news about a faulty version of Pentium processors. Users caused so much commotion about the "Pentium bug" that journalists and CNN used the message boards as a channel of information during the chip problem. Because of the massive attention, Intel was forced to compensate for their error by replacing the damaged chips. Sean Maloney, then senior vice president of Intel and director of the Sales and Marketing Group, said in a 1994 CNET interview that he was surprised at how quickly the Internet "was a critical factor in forming opinions and spreading information...this medium was full of opinions, one order, two orders of magnitude faster than any medium had done before."

<-- Sean Maloney

I did a Yahoo! Search on "pentium bug" and the first link that came up was in Wikipedia, titled Pentium FDIV bug. FDIV stands for floating point division which is the assembly language used in the writing of computer programs. The Wikipedia entry said that Thomas Nicely, then a professor of mathematics at Lynchburg College discovered the bug in October of 1994 and reported it to Intel. He also sent an email to his contacts asking them to test their processors. There is no mention of Usenet, but the entry does state that the flaw was "quickly verified by other people around the Internet..." The entry provided external links, one of which was to Nicely's website, which contained an account of how the news of the damaged chip spread through the internet.

Pentium bug jokes