But one problem with that is that name of the islands is Senkaku. Check it and see. And another problem is that Japan “took over” these isles in the 1800′s.
So, it’s like Yuan legislation, O.K., and then cloud computing, O.K., and then Key people in the 1911 Revolution, WTF?
Look for a copy of China Daily to appear on your San Francisco stoop someday.
Hurray?
“I for one welcome our new _____ overlords. I’d like to remind them that as a trusted media personality, I can be helpful in rounding up others to toil in their underground sugar caves…”
Get up to speed on professional volleyball’s recent four-day visit to San Francisco right here. And read on to see what it was like yesterday during the Finals.
Pro beach volleyball with gold medal Olympians under the golden Sun - what better use could you have for the old Piers of San Francisco? Click to expand:
Let’s pass by the sponsor’s tent to see the rainbow of Crocs shoes…
…and here’s the mise en scene at Centre Court in the mini-stadium. This is a pretty good transformation of Piers 30-32. You don’t get the total SoCal experience as you might in counties Los Angeles, Orange (yes, The O.C.) 0r Fun Diego, but it isn’t bad at all:
First the Women’s Final. (Results here and better photos here.) Nicole Branagh and Elaine Youngs took on Jen Kessy and April Ross. See how high above the net they can get?
You don’t know where the spike is going to go. Will the ball go to the left or the right…
And on to the Men’s Final, with John Hyden and Sean Scott taking on recent gold medalists Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser. Here’s Phil the Thrillhissself:
These fellows are a little tall. See? Todd Rogers injured finger didn’t seem to slow him down too much:
And here’s the “Beast of Beijing” flying along above the sand:
So there you have it – an accessible, world-class sporting event that doesn’t cost and arm and a leg, right here in our little town. That’s the AVP San Francisco Open.
Competition in the Barefoot Wine AVPNext Championship Cup yesterday. The finals on Sunday will be in the temporary stadium.
Hunter/House and Kaslow/Wooliver Win Inagural Barefoot Wine AVPNext Championship Cup and Break into Main Draw of AVP Crocs Tour San Francisco Open presented by Barefoot Wine Main Draw play begins 8 a.m. FRIDAY
SAN FRANCISCO (August 13, 2009) – Two beach volleyball teams have earned their shot at professional beach volleyball stardom Thursday at the inaugural Barefoot Wine AVPNext Championship Cup. Colleen Hunter and Meghan House (St. Louis), and Colin Kaslow and Tim Wooliver (Austin) have played into the Main Draw of the AVP Crocs Tour San Francisco Open presented by Barefoot Wine, professional beach volleyball’s only stop in the Bay Area.
The Barefoot Wine AVPNext Championship Cup featured the best players from sixteen volleyball leagues around the nation, each of whom qualified to play in San Francisco in the hopes of getting their chance to make it into the main event, the AVP Crocs Tour San Francisco Open presented by Barefoot Wine.
On the women’s side, Hunter and House defeated New York’s Dana Fiume and Ginger Schuster 18-21, 21-17, 16-14 to take home the first-ever women’s Barefoot Wine AVPNext Championship Cup title.
“We’re in shock,” House said. “As soon as the ball hit that net, we just started bawling.”
Hunter and House, now seeded 24th in the Main Draw, will take on ninth-seeded Angie Akers and Tyra Turner at 8 a.m. on Friday.
On the men’s side, Kaslow and Wooliver defeated St. Louis’ Phil Goedecker and Wayne Scott 13-21, 25-23, 15-10 in the final.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” Wooliver said. “That’s why we play, to eventually make it to the AVP.”
Kaslow and Wooliver, also now seeded 24th, will attempt to upset ninth-seeded Billy Allen and Braidy Halverson.
Friday marks the start of Main Draw action at the AVP Crocs Tour San Francisco Open presented by Barefoot wine. Athletes set to play include Santa Clara native, Stanford graduate and two-time Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh and 2008 gold medalists Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers, as well as Beijing Olympian and Orinda native Nicole Branagh. Stanford graduates Matt Fuerbringer and Ashley Ivy will also take to the sand Friday.
The AVP Crocs Tour San Francisco Open presented by Bud Light continues Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Piers 30/32 in San Francisco. Sunday’s men’s and women’s finals will be broadcast live on Comcast Sports Net Bay Area, starting at 2 p.m. PDT.
AVP CROCS TOUR SAN FRANCISCO OPEN TO TAKE PLACE AUGUST 13-16 AT PIERS 30/32
Professional beach volleyball’s only stop in the Bay Area to feature return of two-time gold medalist , Santa Clara native and Stanford grad
WHAT: AVP Crocs Tour San Francisco Open, professional beach volleyball’s only stop in the San Francisco Area, features world-class beach volleyball on the shores of the Bay. High-level athletic competition combines with a beach party atmosphere to make the tournament a perfect summer event.
WHO: Two-time Olympic gold medalist, Santa Clara native and Stanford graduate Kerri Walsh, fellow Beijing Olympian and Orinda native Nicole Branagh, 2008 Olympic gold medalists Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers, AVP Crocs Tour stars and Stanford graduates Matt Fuerbringer and Ashley Ivy.
WHEN: This weekend – August 13-16, 2009
WHERE: Piers 30/32, San Francisco, CA
TICKETS: Please visit www.avp.com or www.sfgiants.com for tickets. Tickets are also available at the onsite box office throughout the tournament.
From this, as seen on Monday…
…to this, as it looked last year:
Click to expand
And are they still looking for volunteers?
“To ensure a successful event, we are looking for volunteers to assist as ball shaggers, score keepers, ticket takers, hospitality assistants and more. To volunteer in San Francisco, please click here.”
Or if you just want to check things out, try it for free this Thursday:
Barefoot Wine AVPNext Championship Cup
Gates open when play begins at 8:00 AM – Free Admission
Start time 8:00 AM. End Time (Approx) 6:00 PM.
There doesn’t appear to be a whole lot going on to mark the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre (aka June 4 Incident, aka “6-4“) around San Francisco today so far.
Here she is, the GoD, being ignored last year by Mayor Gavin Newsom in all the excitement leading up to the international Olympic Torch Relay fiasco of 2008. (Don’t look forward to any more of those international relays – they’re cancelled forever by the International Olympic Committee due to actions from the Sacred Flame Protection Squad, etc.)
June 4th is being remembered in San Francisco, but it doesn’t seem to be that big a deal at this point. Here’s one account from Tiananmen, in the virtual pages of SFGate:
“Our eyes locked. He was attractive in a stern sort of way, with wide-set eyes and a strong, dimpled chin. He was probably four or five years my junior. We looked into one another’s eyes for a few seconds, our limbs locked in this aggressive parody of a dance. I had an absurd memory of senior prom…” On it goes.
Anyway, it looks like Chinatown will be the venue for the biggest 6-4 observation in town today.
“The I.O.C. hopes to avoid the ugly scenes that erupted in San Francisco, Paris and London last year.”
O.K. then. Here’s how the torch relay on the Streets of San Francisco looked last year, when official torch bearer Andrew Michael, seen seated in a wheelchair below, managed to get some attention by displaying a Tibetan flag:
But, OMG, he signed a contract saying he wouldn’t express hisself like that. OMG, HE SIGNED A CONTRACT with Coca Cola or somebody and then when against it. Can you imagine? If only the Sacred Flame Protection Squad had been at full force that day, they could have pushed over his wheelchair, or given him a beatdown, or manhandled him the way they did with fellow torchbearer Majora Carter…
