WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE - ON SECOND THOUGHT, NEVER MIND

The war in Afghanistan is nicknamed "Operation Enduring Freedom" and I can't think of a more perfectly named war. Well, perfect for Osama Bin Laden, as he is still at large eight years after we were attacked.

Talk about enduring freedom!

A recently released Senate report says that the terrorist responsible for the 9/11 attacks on the United States was within reach of U.S. troops fighting in the Tora Bora Mountains but American military leaders made the decision to not pursue him with the massive force required to capture this murderer.

So here we are, eight years later and now it's being debated whether or not we should even be in Afghanistan anymore. What a waste of time, money AND lives. Let's not forget the 928 American troops who have died in this war (the total number of military lives lost is 1530 because this started out as a coalition effort. Also, these numbers are as of November 29, 2009).

I don't believe for a single minute that the Cheney/Bush regime ever had ANY interest in capturing this asshole and I doubt very much that he will be captured. Everyone seems to have moved on and feels there are more important issues to be dealt with.

MISTY WATER COLORED MEMORIES - VERY MISTY

Speaking at the George Moscone/Harvey Milk Memorial last night, former city supervisor Carol Ruth Silver talked of having a meeting at the home of famed San Francisco Attorney Melvin Belli, along with Harvey Milk, George Moscone and various members of the Board of Health regarding the fight against AIDS. This meeting was to have taken place sometime in 1978. Both Moscone and Milk were gunned down by former colleague Dan White in November of that same year.

Problem is, the meeting couldn't have happened.

AIDS was first reported on by the Centers for Disease Control in June of 1981. The disease wasn't even know as AIDS until September 1982 (it was originally called GRID, for Gay Related Immune Deficiency).

I don't want to take anything away from Ms. Silver. She certainly wasn't being malicious or anything. I just thought it was strange that she would tell a story that was an obvious attempt to place both Moscone and Milk even higher on the worship alter than they already are by placing them on the frontline of a battle that hadn't even started yet.

SEXIEST MOVIE EVER

Yes, it is.

I'D LIKE TO SEE THE KEEBLER ELVES TOP THIS

My officemate, Ryan, lives on a gluten-free diet, so today we had a gluten-free potluck (sort of). He brought in a homemade Pumpkin Pie and I brought in my almost world-famous Banana Nut Blueberry Bread (pictured above).

Both tasted pretty damn good.

PICTURE THIS

The old AT&T Building at 140 New Montgomery Street.

One of the nicer-looking buildings in downtown San Francisco, it was designed by local architect Timothy Pfleuger, who also designed the long-shuttered New Mission Theatre on Mission Street and the Castro Theatre on Castro Street.

Just something for your view pleasure today.

MAMA DON'T TAKE MY KODACHROME AWAY

I came across an article on MSNBC this afternoon about the demise of Kodak Kodachrome film development. Seems that there is only one guy in the ENTIRE world that still develops this film and even he is ending that service in 2010.

Dwayne's Photo is located in Kansas and is being swamped with people sending in old film negatives to be developed, receiving 1000 rolls a day from all over the world.

What a sad "development" this is.

(rimshot)

'TIS THE SEASON

I stopped off at the Westfield San Francisco Centre this morning and dropped of a new coat, that I bought and never wore, for the yearly One Warm Coat drive. It's a terrific organization that collects new and like-new jackets and coats for distribution to the homeless and poor.

It's a great idea that I'm happy to not only be apart of (at least this year), but I encourage everyone here to think about giving away that old coat that still looks good but isn't being worn anymore.

I'M SO DISAPPOINTED IN MYSELF BUT SO WHAT - IT WAS FUN!

This was my Thanksgiving ride, courtesy of Alamo. It was an upgrade from the car I had originally rented (the gas gauge was broken). I was a bit disappointed as this vehicle stands for everything I am against.

These cars are big, wasteful, gas-guzzlers and whenever I see someone in something like this (or bigger), I always scream: "it's because of you and your car that we got into that stupid war!!"

However, with all that said, it was so much fun, cruising along 101 at 75mph with "Sanctuary" by The Cult blasting from the speakers.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

The staff of The Steaming Poop blog are taking a few days of to enjoy the holiday.

Have fun and don't eat too much.

OK, LET'S JUST STRIKE THE SET AND CALL IT A DAY

So apparently, CO2 levels are at the highest they've ever been with no end in sight. The article I read on MSNBC basically says we're screwed.

It was a real pick-me-up article (sigh).

So sad.

JUST IN TIME FOR RAMADAN

This is no joke, folks.

Actually, it sort of is if you think about it.

More than 500 black Barbies have been dressed up in unique garments by Italian designer Eliana Lorena — in a project backed by makers Mattel on the iconic doll's 50th anniversary.

The Burka clad dolls will be auctioned off in Florence, Italy, for the Save the Children charity.

BOLINAS, MARIN'S BEST KEPT SECRET

If you can find your way there, Bolinas is worth the drive. It's a very small and well hidden coastal town in Marin County that the locals work very hard to keep hidden. It seems that any of the signs the county puts up pointing the way to this charming little seaside village go missing, usually within a day or two.

The beach pics are of the San Andreas Faultline. During lowtide, you can walk out along it (unfortunately, these pics were taken as the hightide was in full swing.

Picture one is of the Halibut Sandwich I enjoyed with Joe (who had the same thing) at The Coast Cafe. The cole slaw was fresh and crunchy, the fries perfectly delicious and the pan-seared Halibut was light, flakey and tasted as if it was just caught before we came in.

THE NANNY

Fran Drescher's first line in her first movie Saturday Night Fever. I'm watching it right now and highly recommend that you check it out if you haven't,  it's a damn good film.

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT CARRIE PREJEAN WAS IN TOWN?

A very amusing lost and found posting I saw this morning. I'm betting right now these DVD'd have be uploaded onto YouTube, XTube, RedTube, GayTube, etc, etc, etc.

EH, I HEAR YOUR WAFERS ARE STALE, ANYWAY

Representative Patrick Kennedy (D) of Rhode Island has been barred by the bishop of his local catholic church from taking communion because of his support for abortion rights. He was told that because of the positions he took as a public official, he was not a good practicing catholic and that communion would be withheld.

This is wrong and this is bad enforcement of religous teaching. If churches are going to continue to force their way into politics, then it's time to repeal the tax-exempt status they all enjoy.

Can you imagine the windfall that would come from the taxation of churches and their properties?

STORMS NOT COMIN'

So much for the half-inch of rain that San Francisco was supposed to get today. It only seemed to rain while Ryan, Jason, and I were running to the taco truck. The rain did make for a short line, however.

I want to know how do you become a "meteorologist?" They seem to get it wrong so often but still get to keep their jobs!

STORMS COMIN'

Moderate storm is due later this morning in the Bay Area.

PLEASE STEP ASIDE AND LET THE PASSENGERS OFF FIRST

My absolute favorite part of New York City is it's loved AND hated subway system.

It wasn't the first subway in the U.S. (Boston has that distinction), but it was redefined and improved on in NYC (where all good things come from).

I came across these pictures and thought I'd share.

TRIBUTE

Jeanne-Claude, wife of artist Christo, passed away yesterday in New York City. She was 74.

The pictures above are of Christo's Running Fence, which ran through Sonoma and Marin Counties in September of 1976. For my 9th birthday, my family and a friend of mine drove along the entire 40-kilometer route from Petaluma to Dillon's Beach, where the fence continued into the ocean.

So cool.

Thanks, Jeanne-Claude AND Christo for a terrific piece of art (for all your art, in fact) and for a fondly remembered birthday.

OH CHRISTMAS TREE, OH CHRISTMAS TREE, HOW LOVELY ARE YOUR BRANCHES

Walking home last night, I noticed that the grass had been cut and the trash removed from the empty lot across the street from my apartment. My suspicions were happily confirmed this morning as I saw workers getting the site ready for the return of last years Christmas tree lot.

I loved walking by there with the smell of fresh-cut trees in the crisp, late-autumn cold air and can't wait for the arrival of the trees and wreaths.

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS MY SWINE FLU SHOT

Word on the street is that not only are "Mall Santas" clamoring for H1N1 vaccinations, but that his "elves" are going to be screening kids in line for possible signs of illness.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. But you've got a runny nose, so you're gonna have to suck it up and wait 'til next year for your present.

So stupid.

DRINK UP

Venerable North Beach watering hole TOSCA turns 90 today. I'm thinking Cookie and Irving may stop in for the local speciality: the House Cappucino. It's Ghiradelli Chocolate with steamed milk and a shot of Brandy.

Sounds like the perfect winter drink to me and a perfect way to pass the evening.

Happy Anniversary, Tosca.

ORIGINAL PEPSI AND JOAN CRAWFORD - BACK FROM THE DEAD

Over the summer, Pepsi began selling PEPSI THROWBACK, made with cane sugar, like it was before the introduction of that awful and unhealthy High Fructose Corn Syrup. I managed to find a case and figured it must have been a flop because I never did see it anywhere again. Too bad, I thought, because it was just as good as I had remembered.

Seems I was (thankfully) wrong because it's coming back December 28th and I can't wait. It would be kinda fun if they would use some of the old Joan Crawford television commercials from the 60's.

SOMETHING FOR NOTHING

I came across an article on SFGATE this morning about how people in California are concerned (and rightfully so) with it's overcrowed public universities and the ever-rising tuitions and student fees. Yet, with those concerns, they overwhelmingly do NOT want to pay higher taxes that would help solve those issues.

You can't have it both ways, people!

BUT ARE THEY SMILING?

My friend Christian sent me this picture and I just couldn't resist posting it here. His question was "what's the point of taking this picture?"

CIRCLE JERKS

You must, must, MUST take a look at the Shake Weight For Men and see how this hot new excercise "tool" works.

It does leave me with one question, however: if this is the kind of motion it takes to build muscle, then shouldn't I be looking more like Arnold Schwarzenegger by now?

SALUTE

Just taking a moment to remember the men and women who serve (and served) in the military.

Thanks everyone, job well done.

LUNCHABLES

It's a $6 sandwich that's worth $12 and if you ever find yourself in Half Moon Bay, you MUST swing by the Garden Deli Cafe and get one!

It's located at 356 Main Street, just a quarter mile south of Highway 92.

'ANGELS' ON MY SHOULDER

"Angels in America" is currently running again on HBO.

See it! See this movie! You must see this movie!

Aside from the fact that it's a brilliant production, it's the emmy-winning performance of Jeffrey Wright that does it for me. He redefines what GREAT acting really is.

SIX DEGREES OF BARBRA JOAN STREISAND

Her first and second husband share top billing in this dandy little tale of a faked Mars landing.

I know it's not really six degrees, but I'm just saying, is all.

27 TITLES

Not a bad way to end the first year in their new home.

Congratulations to my beloved YANKEES on a record 27th World Series title and to Hideki "GODZILLA" Matsui for his MVP award.

COOKIE AND IRVING IN 25 YEARS

Actually, this was us last week at that liquor store in the Mission.

"IT'S DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN"

Is this really going to happen again?

The Democrats won the 2008 Presidential election. They also hold the majority in both the House and the Senate, yet have managed to do so little that voters are beginning to vote the Republicans back into office.

I can do nothing but shake my head in sadness. The Democratic Party has no balls.

GAME OVER

If we work for the same company, then I'm sure you know what this is all about.

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS . . .

Debra Winger?

What's it going to take to get her back on the screen because I love her!!!

CRAPPLE UPDATE

I stood next to some loser using an IPHONE that was looking pretty beat up yesterday.

HEH!

SNO-MORE

A report funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has confirmed that 85 percent of the ice that made up the mountaintop glaciers in 1912 was gone by 2007. Also, as if that news wasn't bad enough, more than 25 percent of the ice that was there in 2000, was also gone by 2007.

It's so sad to be sitting here, watching the earth slowly come to an end.

IT WAS CAMELOT

I once stood next to John F. Kennedy, Jr. at the corner of 9th Avenue and 50th Street.

ONE DOWN, ONE TO GO

So Gavin Newsom, the absentee mayor of San Francisco, finally saw the light and announced yesterday that he was dropping out of the race for the Governor of California.

His poll numbers placed him 20 points below Attorney General Jerry Brown as the democratic choice. The Attorney General also has $7.4 Million in his campaign chest versus Newsom's paltry $1.2 Million (even with the endorsement of former President Bill Clinton). The best part of all this was that Brown has yet to declare his candidacy (although an exploratory committee has been formed).

Now all we have to do is complete the win by knocking down the presumed Republican candidate Meg "I didn't vote, I should have -- oh wait, I distinctly remember voting in the 80's" Whitman.

She is such an idiot.

PICTURE THIS

I spent some time at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art this afternoon. The Richard Avedon exhibit ends on November 29th and I HIGHLY recommend that you check it out. His fashion photographs of the 1950's (some of which is above) knock me out everytime I look at them.