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From an unseasonably warm East Coast. Details and pictures to follow, but here's one for tonight.
Last night, the San Francisco Police Commission unanimously adopted an order governing language access to police services. A huge win for newcomers and others who need language assistance.
Thanks to all who responded to my pleas for help by signing petitions or sending letters.
On a personal note, this means I will not longer be traveling to the SFPD and reading articles like, "Why You Need a Pump Action Shotgun.
I caved. I am weak. I joined Facebook. Despite Debbie’s plug that it is SOOOO much better than Friendster, until last week, I lived in the “that’s SOOOO 1999” Friendster realm. Even though I had a Friendster page and even dutifully filled out profile information, I could never quite make the full plunge to just click “add as friend” the former roommate of an acquaintance I ran into at DMV. I do not want to you add as friend. You are not my friend. Then again I was even reluctant to add people who actually are my friends. The whole thing was just weird. Given my ambivalence, my “friends” list hovered in the 20 range for years. As of last week, I’m SO over that (ok, I’ll stop with the caps). To riff off Stephen Colbert, I Am Web 2.0 (And So Can You). So if you’re reading this and are on Facebook, find me and “add as friend” even if I am the crazy person you were standing behind when the line at Berkeley Bowl stretched all the way to the olive bar. I am registered with my full name and gmail account.
I curse/praise Adam for crushing my resistance to Facebook. Curses for the time I’ve spent ignoring the 10th request to become a vampire slayer rock star. Then again, maybe I secretly want to be a vampire rock star…Praises to Adam for reconnecting me with some dear friends from high school and for creating one space (albeit cyber) in my life where I can hadouken anyone with impunity.

I agree with Debbie that Facebook is better than Friendster. The designers must have decided there’s no such thing as Too Much Information Available On A Single Web Page and ignored any design sensibilities that call for negative space. In a queer twist, (I've always wanted to use the word in that context), it actually engenders a feeling of anonymity even as I post all kinds of personal social network-y type information up there. I figure no one’s going to read this; folks are too busy creating only-online communities such as the Meiji Tofu Group, or buying each other imaginary drinks. Now that they’ve opened it up to other developers, I think we’ll be seeing even more hadouken enabling apps. We even may see some useful ones.
Gentle reader, do not think I am a Luddite, the next post will be fully tech embracing. Coming soon, Lunamania reviews random Web 2.0 apps: Twitter, Joost, Flickr, Picasa, Gallery2 and more...
A very late notice that I'll be doing my DJ thang at Dream EZ @Kingman's Lucky Lounge this Wednesday. It crept up on me and I didn't get to send an email out. No one reads this thing, but somehow I feel like I have to do something to promote. Doors open at 8PM. I'll be on around 9/9:30. Drop in if you're free--there's no cover.
An amendment to the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) that excludes protections based on gender identity and expression has led LGBT advocates, with the notable exception of HRC, to pull their support for the legislation. HRC's only trans board member has resigned in protest.
ENDA would theoretically protect me from being fired for sleeping with a woman. But really, my concerns at work are less about who I sleep with and more about my inability to pass. Supporters of ENDA as amended are saying it's ok to be a homo or even a heterosexual, just make sure you look and act straight. So, if all you lesbians could start looking like Beyonce that'd be great, but too bad so sad if you're a purportedly straight Janet Reno. Ugh.
The BBC and others are reporting in a decidedly resigned manner about the "failed regime change" in Burma and how residents of Rangoon seem to be "getting on with their lives." Given the junta doesn't have a problem gunning down residents and "sending away" thousands of monks, I'm not sure what an online petition will do, but nonetheless here's one that's trying to reach 500,000. Brought to you in part by the folks at moveon and therespublica .
For all the wrong reasons. "Collapse" seems to be the sports writer's word of choice in this situation, but it really doesn't capture a fan's incredulous disbelief, outrage and well, Roz put it best--"we're protecting Stella from the Gory details."