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!
Government-sponsored? Propaganda? Read on and then you make the call. As has been reported, coming Saturday, April 12, to San Francisco is “‘Beijing, Are You Ready,’ a newly-released series by Oakland’s D3 Production, Inc that’s officially approved by the Beijing Organizing Committee.”
Right now, not many people in San Francisco have seen this production yet, but some are already wondering if it’s going to be just more Olympic propaganda.
As a clue, consider a similar production from D3 Productions from a few years back called Tibet Diary, where some Americans specifically chosen for not knowing much about Tibet are taken there and videotaped.
Take a look at looking at this video starting at 5:24 for about three minutes.
Wow. Those clips are called the money shots. Of course, the opinions expressed might very well be genuine. But after looking at the connections between party run media in China and the people behind Tibet Diary, you could be forgiven for thinking that this video is an example of government-supported propaganda.
Will Beijing, Are You Ready be a similar kind of production? See for yourself at the Main Public Library at 2:00 PM.
This is no mere ribbon cutting ceremony to open a new $429 million section of freeway approaching the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge. Oh no.
The last step to opening this short but vital stretch of superslab involved Governor Schwarzenegger, cowboy boots, sunglasses and a big blow torch.
[Update: or welding torch, or cutting torch (based upon the O2 trigger) - Arnie's tool is an oxy-fuel welder of some kind, as commenter Doc helpfully points out. Arnie's sunglasses actually are sunglasses, but you could say that they were being used as goggles. The light coming from chain didn't seem all that bright compared to arc welding or whatever. FYI]
Enjoy your new freeway, San Francisco!
Higher rez version after the jump.
This is what the Meditative Peace Walk Across the Golden Gate Bridge in support of the monks in Burma looked like yesterday. Some video from ABC 7 is here.
A higher rez shot from CitizenShip One, after the jump.
The Flame Protection Squad was at it again yesterday. Elements of the People’s Armed Police Force (PAP) didn’t cotton to Olympic torchbearer Majora Carter when they saw her express herself, as you can see on this San Francisco Chronicle video here.
Another torchbearer, Andrew Michael, managed to get some attention as well.
Media pool photo, Carlos Avila Gonzalez
It seems the duties of a torch protector are being pretty broadly defined by the PAP.
It was a quite a scene yesterday as thousands turned out for anti-government of China protests preceding the controversial China Olympic torch relay.
Click on to see photos of the day.
Normally, airplanes and fires don’t mix, but this Airbus A330 and the Olympic Flame seem to be making their Journey of Harmony well enough.
Departs tomorrow from SFO
Phonalanji via Flickr
Read all about today’s protest at KPIX / CBS 5 (along with Eye on Blogs from Brittney Gilbert). Are there really two women in this photo, as alleged here? [Update: No, just one, that makes more sense.] See the mise-en-scene from a good angle here.
Local updates as they happen on the -ist network’s San Francisco website. Up-and-coming San Francisco Supervisor Chris Daly has a few thoughts about these Olympics. And sexy train rider Elaine Santore writes in her CrackBerry Chronicles that she is bracing for Wednesday, when the Olympic Torch makes it only visit to North America. It looks like it’s going to be a humdinger of a day.
Beijing, Are You Ready for this? It’s hard to say. Word on the street today is that the planned route for the relay is now history.
Finally, check out hard working Frederic Larson as he once again provides great photos to the San Francisco Chronicle.
The protest people look down as some bridge workers come up:
This dude’s on his cell phone:
Things looked a little shaky at first, before the banners and flags were unfurled:
Helmet-cam? Sure, why not.
See higher resolution photos after the jump!
Coming Saturday, April 12, is “Beijing, Are You Ready,” a newly-released series by Oakland’s D3 Production, Inc.
Officially approved by the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic games, this special series features Chinese athletes in training, the construction of the bird’s nest (Beijing national stadium) and much more behind the scenes with rare access to key people and places. Viewers also will experience the variety of ways that China’s capital city is preparing to host the 2008 Olympic games – the first ever Olympics held on Chinese soil. Film producer Duffy Wang and others will be available for discussion. Cosponsored by the Chinese Center.
Well, if it’s “officially approved by the Beijing Organizing Committee”, it must be good, right?
Let’s get some early reviews, how about from national state television, a sub-ministry of People’s Republic of China’s central government within the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television and as such it does not have any editorial independence from the PRC government.
“Beijing is counting down to the 2008 Olympic Games!”
“And the people of Beijing are busy preparing for this international sports event with great enthusiasm!”
Meanwhile, back on the planet Earth, the authorities in Beijing are “absolutely wetting their pants” over the possibility of protests at torch events around the world. And those corporate sponsors of the torch relay are getting a little nervous, it seems:
“What started off as a small number of organizations threatening to create some disruption has escalated significantly,” said Dan Parr, the head of Asia-Pacific for brandRapport, a marketing consulting agency. “This must be taking some of the gloss off for some of these sponsors.”
Now let’s hear from Steven Spielberg:
“I find that my conscience will not allow me to continue with business as usual. At this point, my time and energy must be spent not on Olympic ceremonies, but on doing all I can to help bring an end to the unspeakable crimes against humanity that continue to be committed in
Darfur .”
Mmm. It’s almost like there’s a chance that the Olympics can backfire on a host nation.
Beijing, are you ready?
Jim Dolan will be one of the scores of people to carry the Olympic torch on the streets of San Francisco.
Check out his Coca Cola red shirt complete with trademark Spencerian script. (His Samsung pennant and IBM/Lenovo baseball cap must have gotten lost in the mail.)
Do you think some people will try to “disrupt” his run by holding up signs and placards that mention Darfur, Tibet, and Burma? Maybe, but he looks like he’ll be able to handle it.
Way for News/NYDailyNews
