Spanjian Exits District 8 Race – Who Benefits?
by Paul Hogarth‚
Mar. 12‚ 2010
The most competitive and expensive race in San Francisco just got a little less crowded, after PUC general manager Laura Spanjian dropped out of the District 8 Supervisor race yesterday. Spanjian is moving to Houston, Texas – where she’s taking a job as Sustainability Director for Mayor Annise Parker, the first openly gay Mayor of a major American city. It’s also a good personal move for the Bay Area native (who has never resided outside of California), as her longtime partner lives in Houston and also works for the city there. But for local political junkies, the big question now is what Spanjian’s departure means for the race to succeed Bevan Dufty – and which of the three remaining candidates now stands to benefit the most.
[more]->
Cinequest 20 Wrapup—“Cooking History,” “Complaints Choir,” “Oil Rocks,” “Road to Sangam,” “The Exploding Girl”
by Peter Wong‚
Mar. 12‚ 2010
Peter Kerekes’ amazing documentary “Cooking History” brings half a dozen 20th century wars down from abstraction to human comprehension through an unusual lens. Cooking meals may seem trivial. Yet in hearing these men and women talk about preparing dishes for the German troops in World War II, the French troops fighting the Algerians, or even both sides in the Serbian/Croatian conflict, they reveal some human truths about war.
[more]->
John Scofield Comes to Yoshi's
by E. "Doc" Smith‚
Mar. 12‚ 2010
I first saw guitarist John Scofield back in the late '70s, replacing guitarist John Abercrombie in Billy Cobham's band, featuring the Brecker Brothers and again later with the incredible "Billy Cobham-George Duke Band" with bassist Alphonso Johnson of Weather Report. It was one of the most brilliant fusion quartets I'd ever seen, with searing solos and ridiculous prestidigitations; Scofield more than held his own. I would next see Scofield touring with the legendary Miles Davis at the Newport Jazz Festival in '84 and actually had the pleasure of working with him during his tour in support of his "Bump" album in 2000. Scofield returns to Yoshi's in Oakland this weekend for a series of shows along with Mulgrew Miller (piano), Ben Street (bass), Kendrick Scott (drums).
[more]->
O Lovely Glowworm – “A Cool Fantasy”; The Sugar Witch – “Darkly Hilarious!”; Buzzin’s Musings
by Buzzin' Lee Hartgrave‚
Mar. 12‚ 2010
O LOVELY GLOWWORM AT ZEUM THEATRE or Scenes of Great Beauty
The Master of Fine Arts Program at A.C.T. wanted to put on a show that will really bring out the talents of this Fine Arts Program. By choosing O Lovely Glowworm they have exceeded with the inventive script by Glen Berger, which is hilarious, puzzling and beautiful all at the same time. This is a story about a Lad that wants to invent the toilet, a man who likes his trousers so much that he takes them off to admire them, and a man who falls in love with a Mermaid. So much so – that he will swim through raging waters to get to her.
[more]->
New Historic Plaques Sprout in the Tenderloin
by Paul Hogarth‚
Mar. 11‚ 2010
“I’ve never been more enthusiastic about where the neighborhood is going,” said Randy Shaw at yesterday’s ceremony to install new plaques for the Uptown Tenderloin district. With an historic designation for the neighborhood and extensive plans underway for a Tenderloin History Museum, 73 properties in the area that are “contributing structures” have ordered bronze plaques to place on the buildings’ exterior. Beyond giving the Uptown Tenderloin a visible identity, these plaques can instill pride in a neighborhood where too many low-income residents have felt trapped – often embarrassed – to call home. Over 100 people gathered at the Ambassador Hotel for the installation ceremony yesterday, with an enthusiastic Mayor Gavin Newsom who was on hand to announce his Office’s financial support.
[more]->
School Beat: Supporting Teacher Development
by Lisa Schiff‚
Mar. 11‚ 2010
The centrality of knowledgeable, skilled teachers to providing a quality education is a common truism held up by all sectors weighing in on education. Helping teachers maintain and strengthen their abilities is an obviously wise investment, but is nonetheless is now jeopardized by the huge budget deficits schools are facing, including the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD). In fact, among the strategies being considered to bridge the SFUSD’s $113 million two-year deficit are reducing the number of professional development days and eliminating sabbaticals, opportunities which allow teachers to take off a year to refresh themselves, pursue new avenues within teaching, and return with an entirely new framework.
[more]->
The Political Underpinnings of Film Noir
by Randy Shaw‚
Mar. 11‚ 2010
Since film noir was rediscovered in the 1960’s, there have been many books analyzing the genre. One could understandably ask what Dennis Broe’s new work, Film Noir, American Workers, and Postwar Hollywood could possibly add to the subject. The answer is: quite a bit. Broe brings a political and class analysis to film noirs that contextualizes them by the political environment in which they were made. From 1940-44, the films focused on someone investigating a crime that gets in conflict with the law over the investigation (e.g. The Maltese Falcon). This trend continued from 1945-50, where films depicted working class fugitives and others outside the law, and are critical of American institutions. The films of 1950-55 showed a shift consistent with management attacks on unions, and the rise of anti-communism and the Cold War. Now working class fugitives were portrayed not as sympathetic victims of an unfair system, but as dangerous outcasts. Police departments and the legal system were now portrayed as vital protectors of the broader society. This pro-authority shift was finally weakened by Roy Huggins’ television series, The Fugitive, whose lead character lives in a world where justice is irrelevant and an arbitrary and often unjust legal system controls.
[more]->
The Marriage Ref: Jerry Seinfeld Strikes Out
by Lainey Feingold‚
Mar. 11‚ 2010
Flying across the country on Jet Blue this week, I stumbled upon Jerry Seinfeld’s new show, The Marriage Ref. Jerry, Tina Fey and Eva Longhoria were, not surprisingly, fun to watch. Much to my embarrassment, I even laughed several times throughout the show. Why was I embarassed? Because this is a show where Jerry, Tina and Eva sit around and make fun of ordinary people.
That’s it. The entire show. Three wealthy celebrities – liberal ones at that – making fun of middle class husbands and wives who bring their marital disputes, the large and the small, real or imagined, to national television for the thrill of 5 minutes of fame and a free cruise. Really – all the couples get an all-expense-paid cruise for revealing their marital spats on national television.
[more]->
Supes Move on Pro-Tenant Measures; Garage Legislation Postponed
by Paul Hogarth‚
Mar. 10‚ 2010
The Board of Supervisors unanimously passed two pro-tenant ordinances yesterday, but a measure to block Ellis Act evictions still sits in limbo. John Avalos’ extension of “just cause” to non-rent controlled units finally passed (amended to only apply to units subject to foreclosure), which will make a huge difference for tenants that need it the most. Ross Mirkarimi’s amendment to the SRO Visitor Policy to include Census workers also passed, helping to count San Francisco’s hardest-to-reach renters. But David Chiu’s ordinance to regulate interior garages in North Beach has again been continued, due to concerns that swing-vote Supervisor Bevan Dufty has about the legislation. The Board passed a technical fix at yesterday’s meeting, but it remains to be seen whether the final product will be in its current form. The measure would go a long way to stopping Ellis Act evictions before they start, because catching speculators when they apply for a garage permit can affect whether they go through with their plans. Dufty says he’s concerned that requiring a conditional use permit would be onerous on property owners who are not “bad actors,” and the question may come down to what level of scrutiny can get a veto-proof majority. Stay tuned …
Cinequest Review — “Slovenian Girl,” “Cleanflix,” “The Real Revolutionaries”
by Peter Wong‚
Mar. 10‚ 2010
Does Damjan Kozole’s “Slovenian Girl” bring anything new to the idea of an amoral 20-ish prostitute as a national everywoman? Not really. Any political content seems limited at best to the frequent sight of EU official caravans zipping through the Ljubljana streets. The anonymous foreign men protagonist Aleksandra services don’t serve as even half-hearted attempts at metaphor. The stalker ex-boyfriend and the vicious pimps offer nothing more than familiarity.
March 12, 2010
