YOUNG AND BEAUTIFUL

Lana Del Ray's Young and Beautiful, from The Great Gatsby.

I'm totally feeling it, Lana.

DEEP NIGHT

A longtime favorite of mine, Sonny Clark's Deep Night.

DIG IF YOU WILL THE PICTURE

Golden Gate Bridge from Vista Point

Alcatraz Island and the Golden Gate Bridge

San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge

This is some of what I saw during my bike ride this morning. I pedaled my narrow brown ass up to the Larkspur Ferry Terminal and caught a boat ride back into downtown San Francisco.

CREATURE FEATURES

Perhaps I have no one to blame but myself for my chronic sleep deprivation issues. After all, they probably began when I was a wee-young laddie in Petaluma, staying up till all hours every Saturday night to catch KTVU's Creature Features.

Hosted by the late, great Bob Wilkins, Creature Features shined a bright light on the finest camp horror films of the 50's and 60's. Seriously, the weekly show specialized in some of the amusingly worst of the worst.

However, Wilkins was able to book some pretty awesome guests on the show, including Ray Harryhausen, who passed away last night at 94. Harryhausen was responsible for the special effects of such films as Jason and the Argonauts, The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, Mighty Joe Young, etc. Below are some clips that may look primitive by today's standards, but this was before CGI. Each of these action scenes was painstakingly created via a process called Stop Motion Animation.

There is no denying his place in Hollywood history and his influence on such directors as George Lucas, Peter Jackson, and Steven Spielberg, to name a few.

So long, Ray, you did good. Reel good.

SHOWGIRLS

So I read on SFGATE this morning about the latest nonsensical controversy to hit a neighborhood not far from me, the possible opening of a strip club on Castro Street.

If opened, the Randy Rooster will according to the owners, be classy, clean and represent everything gay in San Francisco - complete with beautiful cocktails and dinners with “local sustainable-source fare.”

Oh brother.

Says district supervisor Scott Wiener: I have been receiving quite a bit of feedback. People have concerns about the location, and at this point there is not a lot of clarity of exactly what the club will be.

Concerns about the location? So people who felt it was perfectly acceptable for men walk around the neighborhood sans clothing (until it was once again made illegal earlier this year), now seem to have an issue with a club in the same neighborhood where there will be no nudity, just guys dancing around in Thongs?

Stop the world, I wanna get off.

FRANCIS THE TALKING MULE

Via his Twitter account last week, Pope Francis had this to say:

My thoughts turn to all who are unemployed, often as a result of a self-centered mindset bent on profit at any cost.

Oh brother.

Considering how much wealth The Vatican has accumulated over the last several hundred years, I find the comment incredibly hollow and ironic.

Hey Francis, perhaps you should put your money where your mouth is, and start helping all who are unemployed by spreading some of that cash around like it was manure.

DIG IF YOU WILL THE PICTURE

Rodeo Valley Trail, Marin Headlands

I've always loved the California Poppy

Rodeo Valley Trail, Marin Headlands

Rodeo Valley Trail, Marin Headlands

Yeah, you know where this is

You know where this one is, too

Marshall Beach - Hmmmm

I've been spending some more time outside since the weather has been so cooperative. Sometimes with a friend and sometimes alone, these are a few of the awesome shots I've taken over the last few days.

BRIDGE OUT

San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, around 1954-55

So, not only are a third of the bolts holding up the new portion of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge failing, but word on the street is that at least 20 welds (so far) are now failing as well. And they're saying they still plan to open the bridge to traffic Labor Day weekend, as scheduled?

Thanks, but I think I'll stick with the San Mateo Bridge.

YO LA TENGO

I was first introduced to Yo La Tengo by way of an NPR podcast a few months back.

The Point of It is currently enjoying some heavy rotation on the iPod right now.

MY OZ

Oh New York City, you sexy bitch!