Via Andrew Alderson of The New Zealand Herald comes this quote from an America’s Cup 2013 competitor:
“I hope like hell that whoever survives this thing and wins it changes the boat class to anything safer than these God-forsaken death traps.”
That’s not a vote of confidence, Larry Ellison.
Larry Ellison giving the finger to the world with one hand whilst steering his yacht with the other:
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Larry Ellison knows that the AC72 standard is too large for the 2013 America’s Cup, yet on we go.
Perhaps, under the circumstances, the teams could all use the AC45 design this go-around?
As she looked last year, before the wreck of May 9, 2013 near Treasure Island:
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Well the announcement is officially coming this AM, but Messrs. Matier und Ross already have the skivvy on the brand-new, slightly-more-NIMBY-friendly proposal.
And, here, check the latest illustrations.
From the former proposal, a silvery looming UFO with kayak access…
…to the new proposal, a slightly lower silvery looming UFO without kayak access:
So Warriors, take that 13% rate down to 3% and then you might have something, you might have a privately-financed stadium deal.
Now let’s review our waterfront proposals.
The America’s Cup deal was poorly-negotiated on purpose so we could pay for Larry Ellison’s ego trip. It’s an ongoing travesty.
And 8 Washington is corruption.
But this here arena proposal seems OK fine to me, more or less.
I’ll now invite the rich, property-owning NIMBYs of SoMA to move to Fairfield, where 15% of the houses are in foreclosure.
Of course, the solution to all of the problems associated with Larry Ellison’s boat race is to have Larry Ellison pay for Larry Ellison’s boat race, don’t you think? I’d say about $40,000,000 would cover it, and thousands of people agree – just check out one of the petitions.
But CW Nevius is cheerleading for Larry full-tilt NO MATTER WHAT – let’s have a look:
“The financial landscape has changed. As reported this week, fundraising efforts have fallen well short of a projected $32 million.”
OH LORD. SO, WHEN DID OUR GREAT RECESSION BEGIN, SHALL WE SAY 2008 OR SO? ALL RIGHT, SO WHEN DID SFGOV / AMERICA’S CUP LACKEY KYRI McCLELLAN LAST COMMIT TO RAISING $40 MILLION FOR SAN FRANCISCO? LATE 2011, RIGHT? (SEE BELOW*) SO HOW DOES THAT WORK? ISN’T THE “FINANCIAL LANDSCAPE” ACTUALLY BETTER NOW IN 2013? I THINK SO. MAYBE PEOPLE WERE LYING? I THINK SO. OR MAYBE NEVIUS IS SAYING THAT THE FINANCIAL LANDSCAPE OF THE CUP ITSELF HAS CHANGED? BUT, CW, THERE WAS NO MONEY TO BEGIN WITH, THERE WAS NO $10 BILLION IN “FINANCIAL IMPACT,” THERE WAS NO “FLEET OF SUPER YACHTS” THAT WAS GOING TO COME IN AND RAIN DOWN MONEY ON US. IT WAS ALL MADE UP.
“…this will still basically be a break-even prospect for the city and a boost for the Bay Area’s economy.”
WELL THAT’S WHAT _YOU_ THINK, THAT’S WHAT YOU SAY. SOME WILL BENEFIT, SOME WILL LOSE. BUT IS IT REALLY SUCH A NOVEL IDEA TO HAVE LARRY ELLISON PAY FOR LARRY ELLISON’S BOAT RACE? DID WE EVEN ASK HIM?
“The anticipated windfall may not materialize, but the money won’t be taken from the general fund.”
WELL THAT’S WHAT _YOU_ THINK, NEVIUS.
“Instead of the mandated $64 an hour (yikes!), some contractors were paying as little as $27 an hour.”
COUNT THESE PEOPLE, THOSE UNSKILLED LABORERS MAKING 700% MORE THAN MARKET WAGES, AMONG THE WINNERS.
“However, Barkley had a good comeback. The Event Authority has arranged to reimburse the workers who were underpaid.”
UH NO, THAT’S _NOT_ A GOOD COMEBACK. WHY WOULD THEY AGREE TO PAY PREVAILING WAGE AND THEN NOT PAY PREVAILING WAGE? MAYBE THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY’RE DOING?
“As deadlines approach, you can expect more sniping at the event – some reasonable, some pure political posturing, and some that is simply absurd.”
UH, SNIPING AT THE POOR DEAL THE CITY HAS STRUCK? SNIPING AT ALL THE CORRUPTION AND LIES THAT WE’RE DISCOVERING? ARE YOU ALLOWING THAT THAT’S REASONABLE THING TO DO, NEVIUS? ACTUALLY, I THINK YOU’D PREFER A WELL-NEGOTIATED AMERICA’S CUP DEAL OVER WHAT WE HAVE BUT YOU’RE PRETTY MUCH INDIFFERENT. IT’S NOT YOUR MONEY THAT’S BEING WASTED AND YOU, THE SHARP-AS-A-MARBLE, EX-JOCK, EVERYMAN NEWS COLUMNIST/QUASI SPORTSWRITER, PROBABLY LOOK FORWARD TO ANY SPORTING-TYPE EVENT COMING TO TOWN, NO MATTER WHAT THE COST, NO MATTER HOW MUCH CORRUPTION.
“Those who complain that the Cup is taking place in a wealthy neighborhood that doesn’t need the benefit are an example of the latter. It’s a sailboat race. It pretty much has to be near the water.”
OH YOU SO FUNNY, NEVIUS! ACTUALLY, I THINK AVALOS WAS LOOKING FOR THE AC34 PEOPLE TO THROW A BONE TO THE OUTER DISTRICTS. SO THAT’S NOT SO “ABSURD,” IN FACT.
“It all boils down to a single question: Would you rather have this event here or not?”
OOH, THAT’S EASY! LET’S NOT HAVE THIS POORLY-NEGOTIATED EVENT HERE UNLESS LARRY ELLISON WANTS TO PAY FOR IT.
“In fact, Farrell put it very nicely at the end of the hearing.”The bottom line is this is going to be a great event at zero cost to the city,” he said.”
THAT WHAT HE SAYS. WE’LL SEE HOW IT GOES. THE FACT IS THAT DEAL WAS POORLY NEGOTIATED BY OUR SHORT-SIGHTED POLITICIANS. AND WHAT IF IT TURNS OUT TO BE NOT A GREAT EVENT. WHAT THEN?
“We’re talking about (an estimated) $900 million in economic activity and (a potential) 6,500 jobs. A lot of cities would pay a lot for that.”
UH, THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE WAS 9.9 BILLION. THEN 1.4, THEN .7-SOMETHING AND NOW, APPARENTLY, $.9 BILLION IN “ECONOMIC IMPACT,” WHATEVER THE HELL THAT MEANS. ALL THESE ESTIMATES ARE NOTHING BUT HOCUS-POCUS FROM PEOPLE WHO REALLY, REALLY WANT AC34 TO BE PUT ON IN SF, NO MATTER WHAT THE COST. AND OH, HERE’S A QUERY: WOULD MARK FARRELL BE SUPERVISOR WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF THOMAS COATES? OH NO, LORD NO. WITHOUT TOM COATES, FARRELL WOULD BE JUST ANOTHER ANONYMOUS WHITE MILLIONAIRE DUDE WHO GREW UP A RICH KID IN THE MARINA. HERE’S THE THING: COATES LIKES BOATS. OH, AND WHAT YOU MEAN IS GIGS, NOT “JOBS,” MR. FARRELL. AND IF A LOT OF CITIES WOULD PAY FOR AC34, WHY NOT LET THEM?
“Then he went for the big finish. ”World-class cities put on world-class events,” he said. “And I think our city is going to shine.”
WORLD-CLASS CORRUPTION, FROM WORLD-CLASS LIARS, YEP.
“Sing it, Mr. Supervisor.”
YOU’RE SUCH A FUCKING BROWN-NOSING, OBSEQUIOUS KISS-ASS LICKSPITTLE TOADIE, YOU KNOW THAT, CW NEVIUS? (OH, AND YOU DIDN’T HAVE FARRELL’S PHONE NUMBER UNTIL TWO WEEKS _AFTER_ HE GOT ELECTED? YEP. HEH. YOU BELIEVED IN HIM _THAT_ MUCH, HUH?)
IN MITIGATION, I DIDN’T SEE THE PHRASE ‘NATURAL AMPHITHEATRE” ANYWHERE IN YOUR ESSAY, NEVIUS, SO THANKS FOR THAT.
IN AGGRAVATION, THE ABHORRENT PHRASE “WORLD-CLASS” APPEARED TWICE. (AND “WIN-WIN,” WELL, YOU DIDN’T SAY IT, BUT YOU WERE THINKING IT SO WE’LL CALL THAT A WASH.)
DIAL-A-CLICHE SCORECARD:
*Here it is, America’s Cup Project Update from September 2011. Now I’ll tell you, the “commitment” that Organizing Committee “CEO” Kyle McClellan (she actually was on both sides of this deal – it’s kind of a scandal) is talking about is “endeavoring” to raise $32 million or $40 million or whatever. What she actually says is a bit different though. It seems as if she thinks (or thought, back in 2011) that her commitment was to actually raise the promised money as opposed to just trying to raise the promised money.
“I think we are on track to meet the commitments of the host city agreement at the end of this year. We are out in the marketplace raising those funds and we have a great operational model with the event authority on — we provide corporate sponsor introductions and they help facilitate our outreach to philanthropists whether individuals or families and are providing us with the assets that are necessary.
“So when you ask someone for a seven figure gift, we can articulate the benefits that are coming to the city for that, helping us pay for environmental review and pay for the transit and doing it the San Francisco Way. The folks who made early commitments to us before we had our tax exempt status are really proud of the way it is unfolding. as more definition comes to the plan and people have a better understanding of the community benefits, what are the youth opportunities, what are the workforce and job plans and that is unfolding the next three months so we are going out to sell those opportunities for folks to help us facilitate our obligations.
“Generally I say I’m raising $40 million if you count the $32 million specified in the host city agreement. There is a bond provision and other obligations, whether taxes or utilities, garbage. Then I have the operational expenses. So if you roll it all up, a little bit of contingency, I think we are generally comfortable saying we are raising $40 million.”
This Press Conference held at San Francisco City Hall unveils schedules for America’s Cup racing around the world for the next three years, culminating in the ultimate America’s Cup held in San Francisco in 2013.”
Oh, no no no no no. The original estimate of the “economic benefits” (whatever the Hell that amorphous amorphism means) of the 34th America’s Cup was $9.9 B-as-in-boy billion.
So that means that the supposed “benefits” of AC34 have dropped more than 90% as the costs continue to rise.
This mounting scandal is the talk of the town - it’ll be on Forum at 9:00 AM:
“America’s Cup organizers are falling short in their efforts to raise private donations to help pay for the cost of bringing the America’s Cup sailing competition to San Francisco — and that could leave the city on the hook for about $20 million. The Board of Supervisors holds hearings Wednesday to discuss the shortfall. Supporters say even without all of the promised private funds, the city still benefits financially from hosting the America’s Cup.
Host: Michael Krasny
Guests:
In closing, fuck you, you deadbeat Larry Ellison.
And here’s the news from last year:
I understand that Mayor Ed Lee has a cheerleading function as a part of his job. Fine.
But what’s this? What the Hell?
“We expect to have some 500,000 people on a daily basis…”
Just take a look on the YouTube, at around 9:30 and, mind you, this is AFTER everything blew up and people started realizing that the 2013 America’s Cup won’t be anywhere near as popular as advertised:
So, does Ed Lee actually believe that there’s a chance that the America’s Cup will attract anything close to a half million people “on a daily basis?”
No he does not.
So why does he say it?
Mmmm…
Now, speaking of cheerleading, @olivaglobal is the dude who was hired by the San Francisco Chronicle to promote the America’s Cup over the next 1.5 years. Here he goes:
“That est was only for final match wknd. Rainy Tues est is 10K-20K LOL. Srsly look at plan.”
So what’s the estimate, for real, for the crowd size on a off day during the AC? Appears as if these two AC34 cheerleaders are out of sync.
Now, speaking of studies, what the Hell is “The America’s Cup: Economic Impacts of a Match on San Francisco Bay?” Is it the “Independent Study” what everybody cites as proof of how great the AC is going to be?
I think it is!
Let’s take a look at the first line:
“The America’s Cup is the world’s third-largest sporting competition, after the Olympics and soccer’s World Cup.”
Here it is in the flesh:
So, let’s think about this here. I guess the bullshit Bay Area Council Economic Institute (BACEI) organization is allowing that the Summer Olympics and the World Cup just might possibly be bigger than an America’s Cup. But what about the Winter Olympics? Oh, and what about the Super Bowl?
Who actually believes that the America’s Cup, that thing where half the staff just got laid off and NBC needs to be paid in order to broadcast, is actually going to be bigger than a Super Bowl?
Nobody.
Not even the cheerleaders.
So why do they say these kinds of things?
All right here’s one more from the messed-up study what’s going to cost the taxpayers of San Francisco tens of millions of dollars. It discusses, and I’m srlsy, the “fleet of super yachts” what are going to be attracted to the bay area due to the America’s Cup, and then it talks about how much money we’re going to make by gassing them up and Windexing the shiny parts and stuff like that.
I’m srsly.
These cheerleaders are members of a modern day Cargo Cult and we’re all along for the ride.
And oh, we’re going to get the Golden State Warriors without funding the stadium at Piers 30-32? All right, so why then are we funding Larry Ellison’s ego trip of a boat race? Why are we allowing Him to get away with this?
I know not.
Screw the America’s Cup.
“The world’s most popular sport may be soccer, but in cold, hard dollars, nobody throws a party like the National Football League.
• 1. Super Bowl
• 2. Summer Olympics
• 3. FIFA World Cup
• 4. Daytona 500
• 5. Rose Bowl
• 6. NCAA Men’s Final Four
• 7. Winter Olympics Games
• 8. Kentucky Derby
• 9. World Series
• 10. NBA Finals”
Marc Benioff > Larry Ellison.
Marc Benioff > Republican Ron Conway.
Am I right, people?
So who’s left?
Anyway, this is becoming an annual tradition for Lynne and Marc Benioff – deets below.
Standing in front of the half-billion UCSF Mission Bay children’s hospital with their name on the front:
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All the deets, released this AM:
“Marc and Lynne Benioff are making the following donations:
· $250,000 to Catholic Charities CYO’s Star Community Home to provide temporary housing and assistance to families in need. This will be executed as a challenge grant, whereby contributions by the public to support Star Community Home will be matched dollar for dollar by the Benioffs, up to the amount of their gift.
· $230,000 to Hamilton Family Center’s First Avenues program to provide temporary rental subsidies to help at-risk families from becoming homeless.
· $70,000 to the San Francisco Chronicle’s Season of Sharing Fund to provide one-time temporary assistance to families experiencing unexpected crisis.
“Marc and I want to further our partnership with the City to break the cycle of homelessness for children and families in San Francisco,” said Lynne Benioff. “We hope that others will join us this holiday season to ensure the health and safety of every child in the City.”
For more information about the Catholic Charities CYO’s Star Community Home, go to: www.cccyo.org.
For more information about the Hamilton Family Services’ First Avenues program, go to:www.hamiltonfamilycenter.org.
Keep on keeping on, Marc and Lynne Benioff
So there I was feeding Pendragon and Tatsu yesterday (Veteran’s Day 2012) when I get a robocall at 7:07 PM* from Your Golden State Warriors basketball team, Caller ID 888 479 4667.
Appears that I’ll need to opt out to avoid getting another call at 7:00 PM tonight (a national holiday, Veterans Day 2012, observed) that’s going to turn into some big conference deal where I, yr obdt srvnt, will get to ask Management “any question” I want!
1. My first question will be this:
You motherfuckers want to charge us a 13% rate of return, guaranteed, on the new taxpayer-subsidized waterfront stadium deal? WTF? Isn’t that nuts? Isn’t that kind of shady?
“As presented in the Conceptual Framework, no public monies will be used to fund any portion of the multi-purpose venue or any other structure. The rehabilitation of Piers 30-32 will also be privately financed by GSW. The City will reimburse GSW for the infrastructure improvements to the Pier, which will remain in City ownership, up to $120 million with a 13 percent annual return on costs.”
Follow-up: What other Easter Eggs do you have hidden inside this deal, SFGov / Golden State Warriors? And does Willie Brown get a piece of the action, like with the wasteful and expensive Central Subway? Or like with Rose Pak and 8 Washington? Or like with Thomas (“Coates Likes Boats”) Coates and the America’s Cup financing boondoggle? Or like with Ron Conway and the corrupt Twitterloin? I mean, who’s profiting off of this public private partnership?
2. My second question will be this:
Do you promise not to allow Larry Ellison to ever ever ever be involved with the new stadium deal?
Let’s get that in writing, why not. I mean, I think we’ve had enough of that deadbeat wanting us to fund his hobbies, am I right Warriors Fans? That America’s Cup is costing us eight figures, which is money that Larry Ellison should reimburse us for, like right now, the deadbeat.
3. My third question will be this:
Is Casey on the line?
Or Karlee or Amira? You know, somebody who’s a veteran Warriors Girl. No rookies please. And then I’ll have a bunch more inquiries about what it’s like to be a WG in the 510.
Oh, wait a second, I’ll be at the office,** so your call just might go to VM, Warriors.
Oh well.
*The 20th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Do you make all your spam calls on national holidays, GSW? Do you pay your robocallers, you know, a little extra for working evenings on a Sunday / national holiday? I hope so.
**Do I have the day off? No. Do I get paid extra for working on a national holiday. No. Oh well. Poor Pendragon. Poor Tatsu.
This is the scene at the end of Dreamforce 2012, one of San Francisco’s largest events in recent memory.
89,999 registrants had moved on at this point last night – here’s the last one:
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Yes, the fifth biggest classical dome in the world and first biggest in the New World.
Yes, bigger than the U.S. Capitol. On purpose.
Here’s the big news from Kenneth Baker yesterday.
More deets:
“Called “In the Moment: Japanese Art from the Larry Ellison Collection,” the exhibit will include works by noted artists of the Momoyama (1573—1615) and Edo (1615—1868) periods along a 13th—14th century wooden sculpture of Shotoku Taishi; six-panel folding screens dating to the 17th century by Kano Sansetsu; and 18th century paintings by acclaimed masters Maruyama Okyo and Ito Jakuchu.”
This should be an excellent show.
All photos courtesy of the Asian Art Museum:
Shotoku Taishi as an Infant, Unknown, Kamakura period (1249-1335). Wood with polychromy. Larry Ellison Collection
Tigers (detail), 1779. By Maruyama Okyo (Japanese, 1733-1795). One of a pair of hanging scrolls; ink and light colors on paper. Larry Ellison Collection.
Auspicious Pine, Bamboo, Plum, Crane and Turtles, Edo period (1615-1868),ca. 1630-1650. By Kano Sansetsu (Japanese, 1590-1651,By Sansetsu, Kano 1590-1651. One of a pair of six panel folding screens. Ink and colors on gold. Larry Ellison Collection
Oh, and don’t forget about Korean Culture Day this Sunday, September 23, 2012. It’s free!
“IN THE MOMENT: JAPANESE ART FROM THE LARRY ELLISON COLLECTION
Asian Art Museum debuts Ellison’s Japanese art collection, coinciding with 2013 America’s Cup
SAN FRANCISCO, September 20, 2012—Next summer, as the America’s Cup Challenger Series takes to San Francisco Bay, the Asian Art Museum will feature an exhibition of Japanese art from the rarely seen collection of Larry Ellison, Oracle CEO and owner of ORACLE TEAM USA, defender of the 2013 America’s Cup.
In the Moment: Japanese Art from the Larry Ellison Collection will introduce approximately 80 exceptional artworks spanning 1,300 years. The exhibition explores the dynamic nature of art selection and display in traditional Japanese settings, where artworks are often temporarily presented in response to a special occasion or to reflect the change of seasons. In the Moment also considers Mr. Ellison’s active involvement in displaying art in his Japanese-style home, shedding light on his appreciation for Japan’s art and culture.
Included in the exhibition are significant works by noted artists of the Momoyama (1573–1615) and Edo (1615–1868) periods along with other important examples of religious art, lacquer, woodwork, and metalwork. Highlights include a 13th–14th century wooden sculpture of Shotoku Taishi; six-panel folding screens dating to the 17th century by Kano Sansetsu; and 18th century paintings by acclaimed masters Maruyama Okyo and Ito Jakuchu.
“This exhibition offers a rare glimpse of an extraordinary collection,” said Jay Xu, director of the Asian Art Museum. “We aim to present it in a fresh and original way that explores traditional Japanese principles governing the relationship of art to our surroundings and social relationships.”
The exhibition is organized by the Asian Art Museum and curated by Dr. Laura Allen, the museum’s curator of Japanese art, and Melissa Rinne, associate curator of Japanese art, in consultation with Mr. Ellison’s curator, Dr. Emily Sano.
The exhibition is on view June 28, 2013 through September 22, 2013. The Asian Art Museum will serve as the only venue for the exhibition.
For more information visit: www.asianart.org
This is what the 2012 Dreamforce Gala will look like. Deets here and below:
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“Salesforce.com Welcomes 90,000 Registered Attendees to Dreamforce 2012, the World’s Largest Vendor Technology Conference
10th annual Dreamforce grows a record-breaking 96 percent year-over-year — 90,000 registered to attend, including more than 3,000 C-level executives
Additional 100,000 people expected to view Salesforce Live on Facebook
Global leaders Sir Richard Branson, General Colin Powell, Jeff Immelt and Tony Robbins to join Marc Benioff in keynote sessions
Sponsorships rise by 40 percent as Dreamforce partner ecosystem grows to more than 350 companies with a combined market cap of more than $1.3 trillion
Red Hot Chili Peppers to rock Dreamforce Gala
Dreamforce integrates philanthropy with 3rd annual benefit concert for UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, featuring Lady Antebellum, Dana Carvey and an after-party featuring DJ MC Hammer
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 18, 2012 – DREAMFORCE 2012 — Salesforce.com (NYSE: CRM), the enterprise cloud computing company, will welcome more than 90,000 registered attendees to Dreamforce2012, now the world’s largest vendor technology conference, taking place from Sept. 18-21, 2012.
Dreamforce Gala is Red, Hot and Social
For the first time in Dreamforce history, the Dreamforce Gala will be held in San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza with seven-time Grammy award-winning and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees the Red Hot Chili Peppers performing on the steps of City Hall.
The Concert for UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital
Continuing the tradition of integrated philanthropy at Dreamforce, the Salesforce.com Foundation is thrilled to announce the third annual Concert for UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium on Thursday, September 20(th) at 6:30 p.m. PDT. The benefit concert will feature Lady Antebellum, Dana Carvey, and an after-party featuring DJ MC Hammer. To purchase tickets or for more information, please visit http://www.
About salesforce.com: Founded in 1999, salesforce.com is the enterprise cloud computing leader. Using salesforce.com‘s social and mobile cloud technologies, companies can connect with customers, partners and employees in entirely new ways. Based on salesforce.com‘s real-time, multitenant architecture, the company’s platform and apps give customers the tools to create a social front office and revolutionize the way they sell, service, market, collaborate, work and innovate.”
And thank Gaia that this event has nothing to do with Larry Ellison, cause, you know, the 415 is sick of that dude.
