THERE GOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD

What surprises me the most about (CR)Apple is their continued alliance with AT&T, a company with infamously BAD service. It is a constant source of amusement that in spite of this notorious reputation, the sheep STILL line up for days at a time to buy the phone and sign up for a two-year contract.

News on the street is that the (CR)Apple iPhone will be made available through Verizon sometime next year.

Maybe by then, (CR)Apple will have figured out their yellowing screen and bad antenna issues.

ROSE TINT MY WORLD

The 80's are to New York City what the 60's were to London.

EAT SHIT AND DIE REDUX

A report released yesterday by the Food and Drug Administration should make all of you frequent fliers out there very happy.

The report on Airline Food Safety says many of the facilities that prepare the meals served on airlines are storing that food at improper temperatures, use equipment that is not clean, and that many of the workers preparing the food have poor hygiene.

The report goes on to say that these facilities are overrun with mice, cockroaches, and have inadequate pest control.

Gross.

I'VE GOT YOUR APP RIGHT HERE!

EAT SHIT AND DIE

CNN reported today that McDonald's Chicken McNuggets are made with the same chemical that is used to make a classic children's toy.

Dimethylpolysiloxane keeps the oil used to cook the "kid friendly" treats from foaming. It is a form of silicone that is found in both cosmetics and Silly Putty.

Gross.

FROM THE STEAMING POOP WEATHER CENTER

The view from Church and 20th Street, where it's a sunny and clear 80 degrees, with a slight breeze blowing in from the west.

JESUS JUICE

I discovered a teriffic wine yesterday, the 2008 Pinot Noir from Rebecca's Vineyard, located in the Russian River Valley.

ΜΕ ΤΑΪΣΤΕ, SEYMOUR

Choir nerds Heidi, Kim, and I met up for Heidi's (don't ask which one) birthday at Papa's Taverna, a truly AUTHENTIC Greek restaurant now owned by fellow choir nerd Glynnis and her husband Ted. The three of us had the Shank of Lamb, which was washed back with several Sapphire and tonics.

Although we did use them, dining utensils were not needed, as the meat was so tender it fell right off the bone and practically melted in our mouths.

So delicious and so HIGHLY recommended.

PICTURE THIS

Taken earlier this evening at Gilardi's Landing, just outside Petaluma.

BAAAAAAAAAAA

Even with the news reporting issues with dropped calls, antennas that don't work correctly if you hold the phone at a certain angle, and display screens that have a yellow tint, the sheep continue to line up for the new (cr)Apple iPhone.

Losers.

(picture taken with a BlackBerry Curve on Stockton St. this afternoon)

THE STEAMING POOP WEATHER CENTER

This picture wasn't taken in January, it was taken this morning.

HUH?

Another summer in San Francisco.

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

. . . and right now, home to me is a late-night Steak Frites, washed down with a couple of Martini's at Balthazar.

I'm going to be coming home real soon.

END OF THE LINE

Earlier this year, members of the Transport Workers Union Local 250-A (Muni operators) voted not once, but twice to not accept some cost-cutting wage concessions (as both state and other city workers have done). Their short-sighted and selfish votes were an insult and a slap in the face of everyone here in the city (as we have all had to make some sort of sacrifice during this severe economic climate).

District 7 Supervisor Sean Elsbernd has managed to collect enough signatures to place an initiative on the local ballot that (if it wins), will amend the City Charter, ending the guarantee that Muni operators be the second-highest paid transit workers in the country. It will also force the salaries of these union members to be negotiated through "collective bargaining," as all union wages should be.

HURRAH!

I plan to VOTE YES on this initiative and urge all my "Poopers" out there (at least the local ones) to do the same.

EAT SHIT AND DIE

Seriously, if you eat this 1,500 calorie pile of shit, you will die.

Available at a Friendly's Restaurant near you.

STUPID STUFF STUPID WHITE PEOPLE LIKE - A TWO-FER

Waiting in lines AND (cr)Apple products.

This shot was taken yesterday outside the (cr)Apple Store on Stockton Street, as these losers were lining up for the new (cr)Apple iPhone.

(photo credit to IAO)

TRIBUTE

It's one of the most iconic images from the 20th Century, taken on V.J. (Victory over Japan) Day in Times Square, 1945. No one was able to identify the sailor, but the nurse, Edith Shain, came forward and identified herself in the 1970's.

She passed away today at age 91

RESPECT "CELEBRITY" PRIVACY

I normally would ignore stuff like this, but it was just too good to pass up.

Last season's "The Bachelor" winner Vienna Girardi and 'the bachelor' Jake Pavelka, announced today that they have split up. The press release making the announcement went on to ask that "everyone respect their privacy during this time . . ."

Reality show contestants/winners asking for "privacy?"

Oh, that is rich.

HERE COMES THE SUN

Happy Summer Solstice from the staff of The Steaming Poop.

STUPID STUFF STUPID WHITE PEOPLE LIKE

Twilight.

PICTURE THIS

The view from Church and 19th Street today.

TODAY IN SPORTS

"Majestic" Mark Teixeira today hit a grand slam, giving the Yankees a 4-0 victory over the New York Mets.

The Bronx Bombers are now one-game ahead of the Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays, who lost against the Florida Marlins yesterday 1-4, and securing the World Series champions (27 times over) their first place status in the AL-East Division.

Note to Ryan - I wear a medium.

REUNITED AND IT FEELS SO GOOD

I had this insanely diabolical need to see Valley of the Dolls this afternoon, and managed to find it at the first store I went to. It also had a lower price sticker on than what the register rang it up for.

HEH!

Obviously, it was meant for me to have this classic back in the collection.

I WILL REMEMBER YOU

I just didn't feel like going to the stock room when Sarah McLachlan walked up and asked if we had more of a particular item in the back (I believe it was glassware).

I lied and told her everything we had was on the floor.

(for those not in the know, I worked at ABC Carpet and Home during the Christmas holiday of 1998).

MOSES REDUX

He'll be parting the oil from the sea.

Bankrolled by Oscar winner Kevin Costner, a centrifuge invented by his brother, Dan, is going to be used to help clean up the gulf oil spill.

BP has purchased 32 of the machines that separate the toxic goo from the water, each one having the capacity to process up to 600,000 gallons a day. With the maximum possibility of 19.2 million gallons being processed everyday, a nice little dent in this environmental calamity is going to be made.

This is such amazing news. I don't know what or how else to say this but, but thank you Dan and Kevin.

SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES

Doctor's who appeared in ad's touting it's health benefits, a Marilyn Monroe-inspired seducer, and a children's cartoon show sponsored by Winston Cigarettes?

No wonder everyone used to smoke. Hell, I could almost go for one right now.

MEAT ME IN ST. LOUIS

The San Francisco Chronicle published their list of the "Ten Best Burgers in the Bay Area" today.

I think I'm going to have a little fun grazing my way through this list.

STUPID STUFF STUPID WHITE PEOPLE LIKE

. . . Complaining about nonsensical stuff and fighting against something that could actually benefit themselves and the community.

Actually, I had planned on posting this entry under the headline "The Most Ridiculous City In The World Is . . . San Francisco," but the city is trying to do something pretty cool. Unfortunately, "neighborhood activists" are standing in the way of progress.

The city wants to demolish the North Beach Branch of the San Francisco Public Library. Built in 1959, this single-story building was set to be replaced with an 8,500 square foot, two-story structure that is more accessible, attractive, and able to better serve the neighborhood's needs. Unfortunately, these "neighborhood activists" are fighting the project because they will lose some parking spots (the building will be expanded onto a stretch of Mason Street) and the project slightly cuts into Joe DiMaggio Park, named after the beloved native son because it's where he learned to play baseball.

Using the ridiculous "Landmark Designation" ploy, these "activists" were able to convince the city planning commission to grant the above mentioned status (final vote was 4-3), temporarily stopping the project in it's tracks. The Board of Supervisors will have the final say, however, and I hope they make the right call on this one and allow the project to continue. The current building is ugly, out-dated and has no architectural significance at all (just look at the picture). I'm just amazed that people would fight AGAINST the expansion of a Library.

But then, this is San Francisco, a city where people consistently waste their time choosing the wrong battles to fight.

POLICE WOMAN

I've decided that if/when I move to Los Angeles, I want to be taught how to play poker by card shark and 70's TV icon Angie Dickinson.

PASSING GAS

It's amazing to me that as outraged as people claim to be, that there are some who are still buying their gasoline, beer, and pork rinds at BP/ARCO stations.

VALLEY OF THE DOLLS

Who says you can't find happiness in a bottle?

TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH IS REQUIRED

I read today that both Warren Buffet and Bill Gates have committed to not only giving away 50 percent of their wealth to charity, they've thrown the gauntlet and have challenged their peers to follow suit.

According to Forbes Magazine, if everyone on their famous "Forbes 400" list of the richest Americans was to participate, it is estimated that a total of $600 Billion could be raised for charity.

Sounds pretty cool to me.

THE BEST OF THE CLASS OF 2010?

Meg Whitman -

• Served on the Board of Directors of Goldman Sachs
• Shoved an employee (while working for Ebay, an incident that cost the company a $200,00 out-of-court settlement)
• Spent $86 Million Dollars for the Republican nomination for Governor of California ($76 Million, of which, came from her own bank account)
• Has never voted

Carly Fiorina -

• Had to be paid to leave Hewlett-Packard after nearly running the company out of business
• Shipped jobs overseas
• Spent $5.5 Million of her own money for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate
• Has never voted

Just so you know.

"ALGERIA? YEAH, SURE!"

Not only can I NOT get enough of DOG DAY AFTERNOON, but I can NOT get enough of Penelope Harris (the head teller).

I have never seen anyone portray a "True New Yorker" as accurately as Penelope does (well, her and Gena Rowlands in GLORIA). She absolutely hits it out of the park and should have received an Oscar nomination.

BACK TO THE FUTURE

I don't think we'll see something as dramatic as this scene, but it's good to have read that a plan to bring something like it to "The City" is in the works.

Called the "Daylight Plan," the California Public Utilities Commission plans to bring long-buried creeks and riverbeds in San Francisco back to the surface, some of which were moved underground in the mid-1800's, as San Francisco was being developed.

Very nice.

SAY WHAT?

"True friends stab you in the front"

- - Oscar Wilde

FEED ME, SEYMOUR

So I enjoyed a little "me time" this afternoon at Neiman-Marcus. I bought a new Paul Smith suit and followed that up with a Blackened Pepper Turkey and Avocado Club, washed down with a Voss Spring Water.

Nice way to spend the afternoon.

ARS GRATIA ARTIS

Facebook friend Greg introduced me to "Writers with Drinks" last night at the Make Out Room, on 22nd Street (btwn. Mission and Valencia). I'm not sure how much of a writer I am, but I was certainly happy to throw back a drink. In this case, it was a Pabst Blue Ribbon, pictured above.

Hosted by Charlie Anders, this event was a showcase of some great local writing talent, including Andrew Lam, and Taylor Mali, whom I found particularly brilliant. His poem "What Teachers Make" brought the house down.

It would be easy to dismiss something like this event (and it's locale) as a typically "Douchey Mission-Hipster" thing (and Greg did catch one of those 'Douchey Mission-Hipsters' wearing a messenger bag who kept eyes glued to his iPhone all night -- good eye, Greg), but I thought it was pretty cool and I look forward to their next event in August.

"GLORIOUS, GLAMOUROUS, WONDERLAND . . .

. . . New York"

OUT OF SERVICE

I wasn't surprised at the outcome of this vote but I'm surprised how infuriated I am, considering I no longer ride San Francisco Muni.

Muni operators overwhelming voted AGAINST a proposed list of labor concessions that would have help San Francisco save $19 Million dollars over two years and could have helped in the restoration of service cuts throughout the city.

In a time when state and city government workers have had their work days and benefits cut (and in some cases, voluntarily), it is absolutely insulting and a severe slap in the face of EVERYONE. Some how, Muni operators think they are above making sacrifices and are entitled to get everything they think they have coming to them.

Although they haven't qualified for the November ballot yet, there are two separate city charter amendment proposals that see to undo an automatic pay guarantee. This is a provision that Muni operators always remain the second-highest paid transit operators in the country. Not only do I plan to vote for this amendment, I don't think goes far enough.

Muni operators not only have unlimited sick leave, they don't even have to call in sick. They can just take as many days off, use them as sick leave and come back to work as if nothing happened. Operators also receive free gym memberships and have a convoluted overtime pay system that allows them to collect overtime pay - even if they don't work 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week.

I'd like to see those benefits eliminated as well.

STUPID STUFF STUPID WHITE PEOPLE LIKE

Being ridiculously overcharged for stuff, all in the name of organic and locally-sustainable eating.

I was at Bi-Rite Market today on 18th Street and saw that they were selling a quart of Organic Vanilla Bean Ice Cream for $14.99.

WTF?

It's milk, cream, egg yokes, sugar and whatever flavouring (sigh). Now don't get me wrong, I'm all for organic and locally-sustainable eating, but $14.99 a quart? For ice cream?

Come on, gimme a break.

SILENCE IS GOLDEN

Isn't it funny that our former supreme leader (and former oil executive) had so much trouble keeping his trap shut, as far as the current government policy was concerned (i.e. Iraq and Afghanistan), yet has been as silent as the dead sea life that has washed ashore since the BP Gulf disaster began?

I'm just saying, is all.

FILM THEORY 101 - FRITZ LANG

Films directed by Fritz Lang that I have seen:

Metropolis (1927)
M (1931)
Fury (1936)
Clash By Night (1952)

Ok, Iliana, your turn. ; )

SUNDAY MORNING

Sunday morning, praise the dawning
It's just a restless feeling by my side
Early dawning, sunday morning
It's just the wasted years so close behind

Watch out, the world's behind you
There's always someone around you who will call
It's nothing at all

Sunday morning and I'm falling
I've got a feeling I don't want to know
Early dawning, sunday morning
It's all the streets you crossed, not so long ago

Watch out, the world's behind you
There's always someone around you who will call
It's nothing at all

Watch out, the world's behind you
There's always someone around you who will call
It's nothing at all

- - The Velvet Underground

I'm soooo in love with this song right now.

SI USTED LO CONSTRUYE, VENDRÁN

So, there's this guy up in Santa Rosa who has started building "TACO BIKES" and one is soon to be set up outside San Francisco eatery Weird Fish. It even comes with separate grills for meat, vegetarian, AND gluten-free tacos.

If you want one for your very own, kits start at around $5,000.

I'LL HAVE A BLT ON LIGHT RYE NOT TOASTED, AN ORDER OF FRIES WITH RUSSIAN DRESSING ON THE SIDE, AND A 7-UP OR SPRITE, THANK YOU -- REDUX

So a few days back, I posted about one of my favourite New York City diners. I suppose I was in one of my melancholy "MISSING IT" moments, something that's been happening frequently.

Anyway, one of my more faithful "Poopers," Raymond, informed me (by way of comment), that he heard that the Empire Diner had recently shut down. I looked into it and sure enough, it had closed down about 3 weeks ago.

OH MAN! Break it to me like that, why don't ya?

I'm not sure if the plan to franchise the name is such a great idea (as the owners have planned), but I was really bummed to hear of it's closing.