The San Francisco Citizen

Of course Apple really wants you to buy their new iPhone3G, but are you game? Last year’s debut of the 1st generation iPhone (oddly refered to as the “2G” in this leaked memo) went well enough. But that was then and this is now.

You gots to get iReady before Good Friday, July 11, 2008, right? That’s what this gal from New Orleans thought, but she recently found a decided lack of southern hospitality at her local AT&T store (despite the fact that Central Pennsylvania is the Alabama of the North).

Unfortunately, this Southern belle’s experience is not unusual.

This is what it looked like year on the Streets of San Francisco:

From the Flickrstream of Jen SFO-BCN,mmmm…SFO bacon

Of course last year, the lines moved swiftly. So swiftly that employees were commanded to hit the sidewalks to start hawking the goods. This year? Not so much. And because of the expected hassles, you’ll be able to activate and buy just one iPhone on Opening Day at AT&T stores.   

All you can do at this point is to just be prepared.

So people get ready to spend a lot of time iWaiting in line on iFriday. If you want.

$700? Yep, that’s what the 16GB model will run you if you don’t want to get the two-year contract from AT&T. But let’s say you play it safe and sign up for AT&T service - some people think that the second-generation iPhone will end up costing you more money. Or maybe you already signed up for the first iPhone - will you be able to easily upgrade? It’s hard to say. (At least you don’t live in Canada, where Rogers rules.)

So much for Twice as Fast, Half the Price. Consult your phone guru for advice here. Some people might actually stick with their existing brick. Good for them.

But not you. You want the latest details on the 3G models from a fake Steve Jobs who gesticulates as if he’s one-quarter Italian. Right? You’re in luck.

Check out the new 3G here.

And if you’re already familiar with the existing iPhone, find out what’s new right here.

Excited? See you in line on July 11, 2008. Let’s hope we’ll get a greeting like this at opening time. But uh oh, are you iReady?  

 You bring the coffee, and I’ll bring the cupcakes.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture called it quits today on the issue of spraying for the Light Brown Apple Moth. All of a sudden like.

The family that Stops the Spray together, stays together (or something like that).

This should be gratifying to Senator Carole Migden, who thinks, “Bay Area residents ought not to serve as guinea pigs and have their health jeopardized for an ill-conceived program and an unproven approach.” 

The same with San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera, who says he’s, “glad CDFA appears to have accepted the inevitable.”

So after all these months, that is that.

Apple retail stores are offering four free workshops that are recommended for kids ages 8 to 12 this summer. Sign them up today! But hurry, as spaces are filling up right now.

Is this how they will greet your tweens when they arrive at the three-hour workshops in July? We can only hope.

Talk with your young ‘uns and pick two of the following:

Apple is the new Borg - the sooner your kids realize that, the better. Give in.

See you there!

Here was Senator Carole Migden over the weekend, braving the cold along with about 150 folks who are dead set against the planned spraying against the Light Brown Apple Moth and the people of the bay area.

Read all about it.

So, the state of California won’t allow lower milk prices? Sure seems that way. Here’s how it looked at a San Francisco Lucky Supermarket the other day:

The Soviets over at the California Department of Food and Agriculture regulate milk prices? Yes, srsly.

You see, dairy farmers and the state of California like high milk prices. This cabal works together thusly: 

California Dairy farmers want state to raise milk prices

Record milk price provides relief for dairies

Read the news and turn the pages:

Dairy Industry Crushed Innovator Who Bested Price-Control System

THE LAND OF MILK AND MONEY:

15-farm empire bucks industry

Not only does Food and Ag play a role in keeping milk prices high, they seem to relish offering excuses for their behaviour.

So, by the numbers:

4. Q: Why are milk prices regulated?
A: Another way to ask the same question is, “To what extent is governmental intervention still needed to achieve orderly marketing of dairy products?”

No, the way to ask the question is “why are milk prices regulated?” Or, why are milk prices so damn high? Or, why the hell is there a minimum price on milk? Answer: To please Big Dairy.

Next question:

5. Q: How do California’s milk standards differ from other states?
From the nutritionist’s standpoint, California’s fluid milk standard is healthier

No, the proper answer is “in a trivial fashion.” Why would California have such a minor difference in milk standards? To segment the market in order to please Big Dairy, that’s why.

Next question:

11. Q: How much does it cost to produce a gallon of milk?
Input costs, such as processing labor, delivery and raw product costs vary considerably.

Why on earth should the Kalifornia Kommisars even care about this issue?

Dairy Division on patrol, looking for illegal sales of low priced milk. (CalTrans made them switch the metal tracks on their tanks to rubber back in ‘82.)

The final outrage:

16. Q: Can outsourcing milk to other states reduce the retail price of milk?

“Outsourcing“? Don’t they mean importing? Yes they do, but the word importing has a neutral point of view.

Thankfully, we’ve made it to the bottom of the FAQ page.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture is required to comply with the wishes of the Legislature and the Governor, of course. The mystery is why Food and Ag feels it necessary to defend the wishes of the Legislature and the Governor with this extremely bogus and self-serving FAQ page. The World Wonders.

(And if you like high milk prices, you’re going to love getting sprayed with crop dusters over your house this summer. BAM! Is Gaia acting through Senator Carole Migden to fight against Food and Ag? Signs point to yes.)

The bandwagon opposing aerial spraying for light brown apple moth eradication is gaining momentum.

Last night, San Francisco Supervisors Carmen Chu, Gerardo Sandoval, and Ross Mirkarimi, along with scientists, physicians and organic farmers, all addressed a standing-room-only crowd of hundreds at the Hall of Flowers in Strybing Arboretum.

Senator Carole Migden praises the efforts of the assembled experts.

In related news, the “twist-tie” approach is under new scrutiny in San Mateo County. 

On it goes. Per the Chronicle:

On Saturday, Stop the Spray Marin is holding a march and rally from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the southwest end of the Corte Madera Town Center. More information about the events is at www.sfspraytownhall.org and www.stopthespraymarin.org.

It’s hard to imagine light aircraft buzzing the city with spray canisters firing after seeing all this agitation, but who knows…

Some people think purchasing an iPod out of a vending machine “could probably be categorized as an impulse buy.”

Well that’s certainly true in San Francisco’s Union Square, which has a Zoom Systems iPod vending machine inside the “women’s Macy’s” but also a full-fledged Apple Store a scant 299 feet away.  

You’re probably better off suppressing your impulses for the two minutes it takes to walk a block (downhill, bonus!) on Stockton.

Just saying.

San Francisco had a large rally yesterday on the steps of City Hall, sponsored by Play Not Spray. Kids and their parents aren’t satisfied with Governor Arnold Schwazenegger’s delay of Light Brown Apple Moth spraying in the Bay Area - they want the whole shebang cancelled.

It seems the majority of people in San Francisco would prefer to deal with the LBAM itself rather than with the effects of eradication. Many feel the cure is worse than the disease.

(Another benefit of cancelling eradication is that indescribable videos like this will stop getting made.)

To Be Continued…

You don’t need to Say Anything to get your point across about LBAM spraying:

Stephan Gary “Woz” Wozniak means a lot to San Jose. So much so, that they named a street after the famous Apple founder.

Of course, they didn’t call it Wozniak Way - that would be too formal for the Capital of Silicon Valley. So, Woz Way it is.