Posts Tagged ‘beijing’
Friday, February 20th, 2009
Of course last year‘s Olympic protests around the Chinese Consulate at 1450 Laguna near Geary really livlied up the Western Addition / Japantown area in 2008. Let’s review and then see what’s coming up for 2009.
Did this really happen last year? Yes it did. It’s U.C. Davis grad / protest artist Nyendak Wangden hanging off the side of the gosh darn building. It’s supposed to look like she was hung by the neck, but she was safe under the robes in her climbing harness. Safe until somebody on the roof hacked at the red rope causing her to fall. Ouch. Click to expand:
Source unknown This could be a one-of-a-kind photo
How long a fall to the balcony would you say that was? 15 feet or so? Note the absence of the flagpoles in this later photo – those poles got nubbed shortly after the rope cutting incident.
The mise-en-scene from before the rope thang. (NB: The next time you illegally suspend yourself from a building to make a political point, do it above a balcony – it can be a long way to sidewalk otherwise:
But that was then, this is now. More recently, “serial package thrower” Aaron Bassler made the news by throwing items containing wacky stuff (something to do with the “Martian military”) over the fence of the consulate. These objects were treated as bombs by the SFPD. Thusly:
That crime wave is over. What’s coming up in 2009? Well, stuff to do with Tibet – read on after the jump.
And of course, the 20th anniversary of Tiananmen Square is coming up on June 4, 2009 as well. Just saying.
Concertina wire up on the roof and a decrease in flagpoles are two of the more obvious changes the past year. A recent photo:
(more…)
Tags: 2008, 2009, Add new tag, beijing, california, China, chinese, consulate, cut, free, Kendra Zanotto, Nyendak Wangden, Olympics, protest, rope, San Francisco, Square, team, Tiananmen, Tibet
Posted in politics | Comments Off
Tuesday, September 9th, 2008
Are you ready for this? It’s the “AVP Crocs Tour San Francisco presented by Fuze Beverage, Part of the AVP Crocs Cup Shootout presented by Bud Light“!
Per the AVP, Piers 30 and 32 “will be rocking” Friday Through Sunday, courtesy to the sponsorship of those Crocs shoes. Check out this earth-toned pair recently abandoned in Golden Gate Park during Power to the Peaceful 2008. Click for the full horror:
Anywho, check the schedule and then get your tickets.
Of course they hit you with a $23.50 ”order processing fee” for a pair of three-session Front Row Courtside tickets, but you’re rich because you live in San Francisco. Right?
C’mon you richers, you want to see Kerri Walsh, Misty May-Treanor, Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser, fresh from winning gold at the Genocide Olympics in Beijing, China, don’t you? Watching this is probably much better than playing Hooverball with a medicine ball in the park.
Schedule:
Friday, September 12th: SESSION 1 10:30 AM – 8:30 PM (12 total matches on 2 courts)
Saturday, September 13th: SESSION 2 8:30 AM – 8:30 PM (12 total matches on 2 courts)
Sunday, September 14th: SESSION 3 11:15 AM – 5:00 PM (4 total matches on center court: men’s and women’s finals)
Will this sport’s “Perv Factor” (its popularity due to the competitor’s sex appeal) fill the stands in San Francisco? Only Time Will Tell.
See you there!
Tags: 2008, 30-32 piers, appeal, association of volleyball professionals, avp, beach, beijing, crocs, gold, Kerri Walsh, Misty May-Treanor, Olympics, perv factor, Phil Dalhausser, pier 32, pier30, San Francisco, sex, shoes, Todd Rogers, tour, volleyball
Posted in sports | Comments Off
Sunday, August 24th, 2008
This was the scene yesterday in the Western Addition, where hundreds of protesters blocked traffic in front of the Chinese Consulate. Drivers on the Geary Expressway, already wary of dangerous all-electric supercars, should experience a similar gauntlet today.
And then the action heads over to the East Bay.
This was yesterday’s schedule from Team Tibet SF:
In San Francisco
11:30-12:00 PRESS CONFERENCE
12:00-1:30 Peace Rally, Concert at Union Square
March to City hall
2:00-2:30 Rally at City Hall
March to Chinese Consulate
3:30-4:30 Protest at Chinese Consulate
4:30-5:15 Walk back to Union Sqaure
5:15-7:00pm Break. Food and Beverages provided by SF TEAM TIBET
7:00-9:00pm Candle Light Vigil w/ Cultural Show at Union Square
Here is today’s
August 24
12:00-3:00pm Protest at the Chinese Consulate
Evening event at Finnish Brotherhood Church in Berkeley on University Ave and cross
street at Chestnut Ave.
Program: 6:00-10:00pm Dinner, Annual Report, Film, Short Presentation
Tags: 2008, Add new tag, beijing, Berkeley, brotherhood, China, chinese, church, City Hall, civic center, consulate, finish, finnish, march, Olympics, protest, San Francisco, SF, SFPD, team, Tibet
Posted in protests | Comments Off
Monday, August 11th, 2008
As promised, the Beijing Olympics has cheerleaders, and plenty. But sadly, the expected “sunshine boys” are nowhere to be seen, per the Huffington Post’s Ph.D on the scene:
What is interesting is that in last year’s test events, there were boy cheerleaders who were called yangguang nanhai (sunshine boys). They were received well by the audiences. This year, for whatever reason, only girl cheerleaders will be there.
HuffPo’s Dr. Hongmei Li has all the deets here. However, Tanya Enberg is not onboard this train:
What is unnecessary and rather bizarre is that women’s volleyball has scantily dressed female cheerleaders excitedly hopping about and wiggling…
Unnecessary? Bizarre? As always, you make the call. Click to expand:
They wouldn’t leave poor Kobe alone:
Kobe Bryant was there Monday morning. Famous as an NBA star and infamous as a womanizer, Bryant was pursued by a flock of barefoot, bikini-wearing, off-duty cheerleaders as he left the stadium.
Is this some kind of hoedown on the basketball court?
Via the awesome photostream of kk+
Extended coverage, after the jump
(more…)
Tags: basketball, beach, beijing, cheer, cheerleaders, China, Hongmei Li, kobe bryant, leaders, Olympics, volleyball
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off
Saturday, August 9th, 2008
Or Gumball Rally, or whatever. After starting up yesterday, there was a huge crowd today atop Nob Hill today. Was Willie Brown on the scene? Yes, he was. People came to check out Gumball 3000.
Driving 3000 miles over an intense eight days, incorporating the cultural diversities of East and West civilisations; flying all cars and participants between Continents; witnessing the Mass Games in North Korea, the Olympic Games in Beijing; and partying each night fuelled only by adrenaline, amusement and amity, the 2008 route will undoubtedly be a real once in a lifetime adventure!
There was nothing politically correct about this event today. People saw all manner of products from Ferrari, Porsche, Bentley, etc… Check these photos from BERDERP / kap$hure / kapsure, why don’t you?
Let’s begin.
Good clean fun in San Francisco. A Ford Mustang, click to enlarge:
Taylor Street in Nob Hill:
Pirelli Scorpion Zero Asimmetrico 30 inch wheels. Yes, they’re 30″ in diameter. Each 315/30 tire (just the rubber) costs $2200. You want.
Irina Slutsky of Geek Entertainment TV talks about “Saudi slippers” with one competitor. Fortunately, nobody attacked her.
This Porsche Carrera GT was obscenely loud even before getting amplified with a bullhorn.
A Camaro RS entertains the crowd. Sargeant Colla of the SFPD put an end to this kind of smoky burnout right quick.
An all-electric Tesla Roadster just before it crashed. Oops, just kidding. The driver of this car carefully put it into position. But seriously, the kinds of drivers this car attracts are prone to go too fast so they have more than their fair share of accidents. Who will be the first to die in a Tesla Roadster?
It’s dreamy David Hasselhoff . Knight Rider’s KITT was there also. “Don’t hassel ‘the Hoff,’” or something, that’s his catchphrase.
Isn’t illegal to have flashing red and blue lights on your car? Anywho, this SFPD officer turned away from the scene.
Baby’s first Gumball Rally:
More after the jump!
(more…)
Tags: 2008, 3000, Baywatch, beijing, China, david, gumball, hasselhoff, Knight Rider, nob hill, north korea, Olympics, rally, San Francisco, willie brown
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off
Friday, August 8th, 2008
The Opening Ceremonies are going on right now in China, but this is how it looked on the Streets of San Francisco yesterday as a couple hundred marchers made their way to the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco’s Western Addition area.
Read all about it.
Tags: 2008, beijing, China, chinese, City Hall, civic center, consulate, march, Olympics, protest, San Francisco, Tibet
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off
Wednesday, August 6th, 2008
You can read about what happened today at the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco here – did somebody cut the rope of dangling trespasser Nyendak Wangden causing her to fall 15 feet or so? Well, it could have been worse of course.
But maybe these gentlemen here saw what happened and could help clear things up. You see, they like to hang out on the roof of the consulate when protests are going on. The State Department is looking into things right now. Click to enlarge:
Perhaps they just hang out there to enjoy San Francisco’s excellent air quality?
No matter. These are the same people who recently denied Bay Arean medal-winner Kendra Zanotto a visa to go to Beijing. Why? It seems her interest in Team Darfur played a role.
Sorry Kendra, no soup for you!
Oh well.
Tags: beijing, california, China, chinese, consulate, cut, Darfur, free, Janjaweed, Kendra Zanotto, Nyendak Wangden, Olympics, rope, San Francisco, Sudan, team, Tibet
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off
Thursday, July 3rd, 2008
Be afraid. Be very afraid.
Look ma, the optional tummy paddle let’s me drive around hands-free! Photo of “Anti-Terror Assault Vehicles” via knife tricks
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!
Tags: 2008, beijing, China, guns, i2, Olympics, scooters, security, segway, terrorism
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Thursday, July 3rd, 2008
Reports of the rise in China’s cheerleading prowess have been circulating for a while, but now it’s official – Western-style cheerleading is coming to the Beijing Olympics. No, not as a medal sport itself, despite the efforts of Beijing’s hardworking ”Olympic Sport Demonstration Cheerleading Volunteer Performance Demonstration Team.” But just as leaders of cheers, continuing the recent trend.
For example, check out this scene from 2004, when cheerleaders in Salt Lake City had a decidedly non-NCAA, “pro” look. (Oops, too many of you clicked over and wore out that link, try this instead) And in 2006, spectators in Turin, Italy saw moonbooted cheerleaders who looked like this.
Now, last year, people thought the 2008 Olympic cheerleaders would appear like this, or like these athletes in Beijing from a recent photo:
From Micah Sittig’s Flickrstream
However, it now appears that BOCOG has selected uniforms like this for the 585 cheerleaders. That’s right, they’re in blue jeans. But hey, do you notice somebody in the background, behind the “lion-like character” Dongdong?
Isn’t that Jin Jing, everybody’s favorite torchbearing “angel in a wheelchair”? The very same Jin Jing who followed orders from the Sacred Flame Protection Squad to not give away her torch to anybody, and the very same sentinent adult who claims she never heard of the Tibet independence movement until participating in the torch relay? Signs point to yes.
And hey, speaking of torchbearers in wheelchairs, what about this guy, Andrew Michael, from this bit: Chinese Paramilitary Police Operating on the Streets of San Francisco. Shouldn’t he be famous too?
His actions on the streets of San Francisco are something to think about when you’re rah-rahing next month.
Just saying.
Tags: 2008, Andrew Michael, angel, beijing, bocog, boycott, california, cheer, cheerleaders, cheerleders, China, dongdong, flame protection, jin jing, Olympics, sacred, San Francisco, squad, Tibet, wheelchair
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Tuesday, April 29th, 2008
Normally, teens never sit around on sidewalks in the Haight, but today was special so these kids made themselves right at home on Ashbury Street.
The favorite flavor of the thousands of patrons? That would have to be Cake Batter, one of the best ever. And almost definitely salmonella-free.
Check the video of Ben and Jerry’s recent visit to the Bay Area. Why not?
Happy 30th birfday, B&J!
Tags: "china's disgrace", 1 800 genocide, 2008, beijing, ben, China, Coca Cola, Coke, cone, Darfur, day, free, genocide, haight, ice cream, jerry, Olympics, San Francisco, scoop, sponsor, Sudan, Torch
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
