Steampunk convention tinkers mightily

03.10.10 - 7:36 am | Caitlin Donohue |

(0)

Steampunk has been described as a “step sideways in time.” It’s certainly not a regressive subculture- one peek at the kinds of clockwork corsetry and hydraulics operated moving machines that steampunk tinkerers fashion will convince you of that- but rather, a rethinking of where technology could have led us. It’s a topic that’s figuring prominently in the minds of many these days, which means this year’s New Albion Steampunk Exhibition (begins Fri/12) promises to be more whiz-bang than ever.

Picture, if you will, a mass of punks and nonconventional individuals in Victorian garb and laboriously created wings, monocles, wrist weaponry and whatnot, all milling about to waltz music in a very conventional hotel convention space. Surely, unsuspecting squares of Emeryville will be freaked.

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politics

Oil company profits vs. education

03.09.10 - 1:35 pm | Tim Redmond |

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I like Darrell Steinberg's idea: The people protesting cuts in education should sign on to the oil-severance tax bill, and then force the Republicans to decide whether they want to protect the oil companies or fund public education.Read more »

politics

Great piece on the fate of public education

03.09.10 - 1:16 pm | Tim Redmond |

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There's a great piece on Calitics about the fate of public education. It's not alarminst or conspiratorial, just an accurate assessment of how the radical right wants to destroy public schools (and has ever since the 1950s and the era of desegregation) and how the other arm of the Republican Party, big business, is playing its role. A key passage:Read more »

politics

Guardian, ACLU, Asian Law Caucus seeks FBI surveillance records

03.09.10 - 1:06 pm | Tim Redmond |

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The Guardian is joining the Northern California ACLU and the Asian Law Caucus in seeking records of the FBI’s investigation of Muslim communities.

We’re asking the federal government to turn over documents related to the FBI’s use of informants and infiltrators (reportedly used in gyms, community centers and mosques, investigations of Muslim leaders and imams in Northern California and attempts to recruit Muslim and Arab American children.

From a press release announcing our FOIA request:Read more »

noise

iPod Voyeur: Holly Miranda’s top 10 most-played artists

03.09.10 - 10:23 am | Amber Schadewald |

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A single moment of Holly Miranda’s voice has the capacity to freeze each and every muscle in your body for a good three to 35 minutes, causing your current plan of action to come to a furious halt, steering your concentration solely toward contemplating how on earth you haven’t been listening to Miranda’s music Monday to Sunday and back again.

The New York solo artist is currently on tour with Canadian sisters Tegan and Sara, but will be making a solo stop at the Café du Nord tonight (Tue/9), a perfect opportunity to have your mind blown by beauty. Formerly of the band The Jealous Girlfriends, Miranda is bringing her solo project The Magician’s Private Library (XL) to eager listeners, reminding them of the butterflies anxiously fluttering in their stomachs the first time they heard Nina Simone or Cat Power.

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politics

Guardian reporter's inside story on arrested protesters

03.08.10 - 6:04 pm |

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Berkeley undergrad Marika Goodrich addresses the Oakland rally.

The march as it made its way down Telegraph Ave.

Members of the Philipino-American Alliance perform at the Berkeley rally.

Members of the "UC Movement for Efficient Privatization" lay out the red carpet for students who want to cross the picket lines.

Blockade in front of Sather Gate, UC Berkeley.

Story and photos by Jobert Poblete

I thought I was keeping a safe distance, observing Day of Action protesters as they went onto Interstate 880 to block traffic rather than participating, until a line of riot cops came barreling towards where I stood by the side of a freeway offramp. But my flight instinct took over, and I found myself running along northbound 880 with my notebook and pen still in my hands. What had been an impressive but otherwise peaceful protest was taking a surreal turn. But maybe I should start from the beginning.

As a recent UC Berkeley grad, I had been on campus many times in the last few months, invited by friends to support the occupations and protests that were fueling an extraordinary movement to defend public education. So I was excited to go out on March 4^th to cover the Day of Action in the East Bay. This was a new experience for me. Like any good Berkeley grad, I've participated in my share of protests, but now I was a Bay Guardian news intern and this was the first time I was going out as a reporter.

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noise

Laura Veirs gets excited for summer

03.08.10 - 5:22 pm | Amber Schadewald |

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Classic finger-picking and Laura Veirs' girly vocals characterize the feather-light songs she's written about sweet summer days on her seventh album, July Flame. The songs explore desire and happiness in stripped-down folk form, caressing questionable emotions with scents of firewood smoke, extended sunshine, and humid mid-summer evenings - all named after a variety of peach Veirs spied at her local farmer's market. After 10 years in the music business, touring is nothing new to the Portland artist, but the trip supporting this album is different for two reasons: first, this album is being called her best; and second, Veirs is eight months pregnant. I caught Veirs on the phone on a Sunday afternoon, when she was taking a break at her parents' place in Colorado, to chat about the album and the experience of touring while expecting. Read more »

politics

Newsom's silly trick

03.08.10 - 2:40 pm | Tim Redmond |

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Gavin Newsom's got a plan: He's going to stop those damn district-elected progressives from appoining a new mayor even if it takes some wacky legal footwork. According to the Chron's Matier and Ross:

For the past two weeks, Newsom's political team has been combing the state Constitution to determine if the mayor, assuming he's elected statewide, could legally push back his Jan. 3 swearing-in for the new job until after Jan. 8.Read more »

pixel_vision

Live Shots: San Francisco Bombers vs. Red Devils, Kezar Pavilion, 03/06/10

03.08.10 - 1:42 pm | Charles Russo |

(1)

Guardian photographer and writer Charles Russo sent over these pics of this Saturday's roller derby match between the San Francisco Bombers and Brooklyn's Red Devils.

Live Shots

politics

Newsom's Orwellian doublespeak on city layoffs

03.08.10 - 1:09 pm | Steven T. Jones |

(1)

One of the things that irritates people most about Mayor Gavin Newsom is his Orwellian doublespeak, in which he makes claims that conflict with his actions, and that was on vivid display with his recent decision to lay off 15,000 city workers and then hire most of them back for shorter workweeks.Read more »

pixel_vision

Appetite: Taking vodka to the next level

03.08.10 - 10:28 am | Virginia Miller |

(1)

On February 22, 42 Below Cocktail Competition at the Regency Center was nicely spread out in two large rooms, plenty of space to taste and view bartenders make New Zealand vodka creations. Some of our best local talent competed to go to nationals, which take place in NYC, then on to finals which happen in 42 Below's native land, New Zealand.

It takes skill to bring layers of flavor out of vodka and this group delivered. Certainly, there were other spirits mixed in and some real creativity set to a rowdy, live rockabilly/punk band. Congrats to the two winners: Michael Callahan of Gitane, created a fresh, aperitif-like concoction using, among other things, lemon and fennel root. Josh Harris, of 15 Romolo, once again pulled a win with his nuanced "Bridge to Terabithia" (loved that book as a kid), which contained everything from his own fennel syrup to 42 Below’s Kiwi Vodka, dusted with masala chai. Read more »

Food and Drink

noise

Sonic Reducer Overage: Holly Miranda, Quasi, SambaDa, and more

03.08.10 - 10:16 am | Kimberly Chun |

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Rain, rain go away -- and gird your damp loins for more music than we could fit into print.

Holly Miranda
The Detroit-bred singer-songwriter sleeps on fire, walks on water, judging from the angelic Magician’s Private Library (XL), produced by her pal Dave Sitek. With Foxtail Somersault and Tortured Genies. Tues/9, 9:30 p.m., $10. Cafe du Nord, 2170 Market, SF. (415) 861-5016.

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
The Bay Area-born band hones a rawer, more rustic sound with a new drummer, Leah Shapiro, and new long-player, Beat the Devil’s Tattoo (Abstract Dragon/Vagrant). With the Whigs (and Cellar Doors Wed/10). Tues/9, 8 p.m., Wed/10, 7:30 p.m., $30. Slim’s, 333 11th St., SF. (415) 522-0333. Wed/10, 6 p.m., free. Amoeba Music, 1855 Haight, SF. (415) 831-1200.

Read more »

pixel_vision

Chelsea Handler bang bangs

03.08.10 - 6:11 am | Caitlin Donohue |

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Witness, if you will, the cast of the Jersey Shore's interview with Chelsea Handler. “I was excited to see what your body looked like in person, and I must admit I’m pleased,” Handler greeted Snookie, MTV's bowling-ball-shaped Guidette. The host immediately progressed to feeling the neo Italian clan's gel heavy coifs and commenting on Snookie's famous roundhouse to the face made famous by the show.

It was an inspired conversation. The Jersey Shore cabal is blessed with a singular sense of humor about the deprecating whirlwind of fame that surrounds them these days, and Handler has built a career on being frank with her party girl lifestyle. After all, one of her three books was titled Are you there Vodka? It’s me, Chelsea. As the only female in the late night television game, lady’s got to be tough. And her show Chelsea Lately, a cross between the standard interview format and entertainment news hash-out, has carved a niche for itself based largely on Handler's biting wit, self awareness and willingness to take it there. It continues to soar in ratings and ad revenue, even from its non traditional nest on the E! network. She’s bringing the noise to Davies Symphony Hall this weekend (Fri/12), so raise your glass to the lady of sass. Read more »

pixel_vision

Zaccho Dance keeps it in the family

03.06.10 - 10:06 am | Rita Felciano |

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Thirty years of surviving and thriving in an area as competitive as dance, and twenty year of community involvement is more than enough of a reason for a party. Let's say a big gala with invited donors who can help balance the budget? A retrospective of what has gone well? Nope. That's not how Joanna Haigood's head works. For her, it's a reason for "Family Day," an open house for the community with classes for the youngest and those a little stiff around the edges. Read more »

Dance

politics

Making the protests count

03.05.10 - 3:10 pm | Tim Redmond |

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It was wonderful to see so many people all over the state taking to the streets to protest cuts in education and public services. The rally at San Francisco’s Civic Center wasn’t just young radical agitators, either -- most of the people there were parents with kids, families, people who are just fed up with the threats to the future of this state and don’t want to take it any more.Read more »