eaarth

Hanzo Is Going For It!!

Dear Friends & Family,
From June 5-11, Hans will be bicycling in AIDS/LifeCycle. It's a 7 day, 545 mile bike ride from SF to LA to make a difference in the lives of people living with HIV & AIDS.
His first goal is to raise $3000, he is asking for your donations to help achieve this. $3000 may seem a lofty goal but if we all pitch in a little we can make it happen and hopefully surpass this goal.

If You've got an extra Lincoln or Hamilton or Jackson send over his way. Click on Your favorite picture of Hans or the banner below to see his progress and kick in a few duckets.

In the United States...

• Since the AIDS epidemic began in 1981, 1.7 million Americans have been infected with HIV and more than 617,025 have died of AIDS-related causes.
• 1.1 million Americans are living with HIV/AIDS, representing a slight increase over time as people are living longer with HIV disease and new infections remain relatively stable.
• An estimated 21% of people living with HIV are undiagnosed.
• Every 9 1/2 minutes, someone in the U.S. is infected with HIV.
• Gay and bisexual men accounted for 53% of new HIV infections in 2006, and are the only group for which new infections are on the rise.
• African-Americans and Latinos are disproportionately affected by HIV and AIDS. Blacks accounted for 45% of new HIV infections in 2006 and 47% of those living with the disease, yet they make up only 12% of the U.S. population. Latinos account for 17% of new infections yet comprise 15% of the U.S. population, while whites represent 35% of new infections and account for 66% of the total population.
• The AIDS diagnosis rate for African-Americans is more than 9 times that of whites, and the HIV rate is 7 times greater among blacks than whites. Survival after an AIDS diagnosis is lower for blacks than any other racial/ethnic group.
• Young adults and teens between 13 and 29 represent 34% of new HIV infections, the largest share of any age group. Black teens are disproportionately affected, representing 68% of reported AIDS cases among 13 to 19-year-olds in 2007.
• Women now account for 27% of HIV infections, with 280,000 women living with HIV and AIDS. Black women accounted for two thirds (64%) of new AIDS diagnoses among women in 2009; Latinas represented 18% and white women, 15%.
• 71% of all AIDS cases reported since the beginning of the epidemic are concentrated in 10 states or territories. While the District of Columbia has the highest AIDS case rate (119.8 per 100,000 in 2009), the states of New York (17.7%), California (14.2%) and Florida (10.7%) have the most cumulative AIDS cases.

In the World...

• Since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, 60 million people have contracted HIV and 25 million have died of AIDS-related causes.
• An estimated 33.3 million people are living with HIV/AIDS.
• In 2009, an estimated 2.6 million people were newly infected with HIV.

That's not enough? Shit, make it about Health Care, make it about being a Responsible World Citizen, just make a small donation. Make a $6 donation and think of it as buying Hans a beer. Do it and I'll buy You a beer next time I see you.

AIDS has directly affected my life.
And it sucks.

PSA

Pliny the Younger Release Date

February 5th - 11am

RRBC

L to the U in the motherfuckin MIX

I have sung the praises of The Panasonic LUMIX Series of Digital Cameras before. <-Read That. I am now on my fourth. This is entirely my fault. I carry my camera everywhere. No matter what I'm wearing I will have a camera on my person.

The first one lasted quite awhile, then I dropped it with the barrel open at a wedding and it was done. I sent it in, under warranty, and they fixed it for free. While it was being fixed I bought a second. I carried it till my first camera came back, then gave it to GG. 

Then I dropped my camera again. From a second story. It bounced, and still kept working. Then I dropped it AGAIN, cracking the monitor. I figured the warranty had expired (1 year) so I carried GG's till I bought the cheaper of the two models available at Co$tco.

I know, maybe I need to hang to my cameras tighter. I just have it out so much, and sometimes it falls from a pocket while I'm scaling the side of a building trying to break into my friends house cause were locked out and it's a long drive back to the city and if one of these doors or windows was unlocked, cause we can see the key inside instead of in the combo lock holder hanging from the doorknob where it's supposed to be.

I wear a camera leash now, especially when leaning out the window while driving across the bay bridge trying to get a shot of an impending storm or dali-esque shot of the bay.

This lesser model really doesn't take as good of pics as the upper models. They make a lot of different models, with different size lenses and different Megapixals, all the way up to Digital SLR models. Sadly there is a difference. Hanzo even noticed the quality in my pics on my blog. Maybe you did too.

So, for my b-day last August, GG bought me the upper model available at Co$tco. These cameras are available all over the place, but we were on a ride out on the Baytrail, with the lesser camera, and there was the store, so GG and I ran in while Hatori fixed MY flat on the Croll. It Was my birthday, kinda.

This camera rocked my world. It took great pics, had a big lens, 10x optical zoom, 16.9 quality digital zoom, and a whopping 67.5 crappy quality zoom (tripod necessary).

Well, we were at another wedding when I noticed sunlight was refracting, reflecting off of something on the lens. I could see it in the monitor and in pics, a yellow spot in the center of the image (just below the center window).

I looked at it up close, and could only figure something was on the inside of the outer lens cover/lens, whatever that piece of glass is. It looked like a small piece of a foxtail.

I kept shooting for awhile, but it was driving me nuts, so I grabbed GG's FS3 (model number) and sent in my sweet camera.

It came back so fast. They, and I quote, "Replaced Lens Unit and Updated Firmware". It's back and it's better than ever.

Fuck, I love this camera. I almost bought a second one while I was waiting, but I heard something about hard times and a Depression, so I waited and it came back to me.

Today, we went to the MLK Jr. Regional Shoreline, "Arrowhead Marsh", and I shot a Juvenile Red Tail.

And a Great Egret, and while these are local regulars, I'm so glad to be carrying this camera again.

Oh, and here's a fine example of some Zoom Shit. This is, basically shot from Oakland Airport.

Regular

10x Optical Zoom

And 67.5 Crazy Zoom, No Tripod. It looses a lot of detail.

Here's a Review of this model.

I'm not getting kickbacks, I just love these cameras.
I have sent two back to the company and they have come back repaired for free. I am going to send in my two broken cameras, even though they are well beyond warranty and see what happens.

I'll let you know.

PSA

I know you are innocent, I am innocent too. I found this very informative and entertaining. As your bartender I advise you to     drive very fast, we'll sort the details out later, um, I mean, watch this. It's 50 minutes, but it goes pretty quick. Takes me back to days when I was younger.

Mr. James Duane, a professor at Regent Law School and a former defense attorney, tells you why you should never agree to be interviewed by the police.

An experienced police officer tells you why you should never agree to be interviewed by the police.

I mean it reminds me of The Wire.

PSA

When I woke up this morning I heard a disturbing sound.
I said, When I Woke Up This Morning I Heard A Disturbing Sound.
What I heard was the jingle jangle of a thousand lost souls.
And I'm talking bout the souls of modern men and women,
Already departed from this world.
Seeking Divine light, they will not find.
Because it's too late.
Tooo Late, Yeah!
Too late for them to ever see again,
The light they once chose not to follow.
Alright, Alright.
Don't be lost when the time comes.
For the day of the bicycle cometh, like a thief in the night.
AAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamen.
Well, Well, Well...

If you read bikeblogs at all, there are only three you Really need. I know there are a lot of really good bikeblogs out there. I could list 10 that I am religious about. That I BELIEVE! Amen. That I BELIEVE you should be/already are reading.

But there are only three, that MUST be read.

I only bring this up because today there was a MashUp of two of them and it's good stuff.

BKW (edit: BKW has let us down, forget him) interviewed Bike Snob NYC.

I know, that of the 12 of you loyal readers, the 3 of you that read bikeblogs definitely read these. But maybe I can convert one or two of you who are new to the religion. Maybe you have questions but are afraid to ask. Maybe you have a beautiful vintage Romani track frame, fully chromed underneath, that you want to get all color matchy with Deep V's and Ourys, and no matter how many times I tell you it's the wrong frame for that style, and that you should dress it in era Campy and ride the shit out of it, but you won't listen, you gotta be cool with your Sacramento friends and shit, maybe if you read these Apostles of Modern Cyclery, maybe you will see the light. Can you see the light? CAN YOU SEE THE LIGHT?

"What the fuck is James talkin bout?"
"I don't know, we gettin paid, keep singin."

So yeah, BKW, BSNYC and Drunk Cyclist. That's all you really need. Great stuff. Regularly updated with entertaining and informative content. Not like the egocentric, ego maniacal, self-interested, self-seeking, self-absorbed, narcissistic, vain, conceited, self-important, boastful dribble you find here.

As for the other 7 bikeblogs you should be reading instead of this.

-All Hail the Black Market
-Velo-Orange
-Prolly Is Not Probably.
-Yehuda Moon (start from the "First", new strip every day)
-Hipster Nascar
-WMD
-The Light of the World
-Church of The Sweet Ride
and
-lockring-not-included
oh, and
-1410 Oakwood
and
-the Island of Misfit Bicycles

and, of course
-The Warlocks

There are others, there are always others, Mr. Burton.

Who are you reading?

OK, What The Fuck? You Gotta See This... (updated)

See more Ron Howard videos at Funny or Die

PSA

You know who you are. We know who you are. Now we know you know.

Today's Photo

Title: PSA: BSM
That's a 510.

PSA

Frontline: The Choice 2008
Tuesday Night at Nine
Check your local listings

Sad But True

Rick Rubin's New Production Drops Today

And yes it's with Metallica. I know, I know, I'm with you, these whiny, filthy rich, old men haven't put out a decent album since Justice, but the shit before that, the early shit was very important to me and to metal. And now Rick Rubin has come down to, hopefully, smack these bitches cross the face and wake them from there mediocre slumber. Only because of this and a great article in the New York Times, have I decided to buy it. I will, of course, massively burn copies, and pass them out to everyone, you guys, people on the street, on BART, at work, the homeless, hippies in trees, hipsters at the ferry building, everyone.

And just as a reminder of rock days gone by, I give you this kid. He nails it.



Let me know if you want ten copies.

PSA

If you've already seen these clips, it will be painful for you to watch. And,

I'm Sorry.

You see, if you haven't seen these already, you've got so much to look forward to. So many moments. And I am jealous. I envy the person who hasn't watched.

But if you have? You've already gone through the whole damn show and now it's over. Done. And these clips will only be a trigger for your Jones. Only stimulate the appetite.

It has been called: THE GREATEST SHOW ON TELEVSION EVER.

The show is recognized for its realistic portrayal of urban life, artistic ambitions, and uncommonly deep exploration of sociological themes.

It's only five seasons. Some powered through the dvds. You can watch 4, maybe 5 episodes nonstop. They are almost an hour long. Fools. Don't power through. Take your time. The best would have been to watch it unfold, week after week. It's so good. You'll learn the song. Gotta keep the devil, way down in the hole. This is the best show of the now. Sure, there's been great shows. But each is tied to it's time. MASH, Next Generation, Seinfeld, Whatever, blah, blah, blah. Five long seasons, an hour each episode. It's a commitment. It's also better than anything you've seen. Better than anything on. Better than Lost, Weeds, Entourage, BSG, whatever you think is great, this is better. Better than all the copshows combined. It has it's slow times. But it recovers. So well written. Take your time, savour it, but please, watch it. People have thanked me. You will thank me.







How's my hair?

Anger. Pain. Fear. Aggresion.

THIS IS NOT SCIENCE FICTION. THIS IS ABOUT A GROUP OF PEOPLE LIVING IN 3 FLATS IN A BUILDING. A BRITISH SITCOM. PLEASE PAY ATTENTION.

Fine. Here's the second episode in parts. If you didn't see episode one, go to the post below this one and watch it first. Really you should just rent/netfllix this and watch it with your friend. It's only 14 twenty-five minute episodes, split onto two discs. Not a big commitment or anything. Your gonna like it, really. Or maybe you won't like it. Maybe I don't quite know you like I thought I did. Or, maybe, you should see for yourself. There are brilliant characters and references here. I laughed, I cried, it was better than Cats. Well, I never cried, and I never saw Cats, but it's definitely better than Friends.





Hello Brian

PSA

Just released in the U.S. on dvd. So Fucking Good. On British TV back in 99-00. This is the crew that brought us Shaun and Hot Fuzz.



Absolutely Brilliant!! Same cast, writers, and director. GG loved it! I started watching it without her and knew almost immediately that she needed to see this. You need to see this. I'm ready to watch the whole thing again. Short episodes and only two seasons.

THIS IS NOT SCIENCE FICTION. THIS IS ABOUT A GROUP OF PEOPLE LIVING IN 3 FLATS IN A BUILDING. A BRITISH SITCOM. PLEASE PAY ATTENTION.

Get this on your Netflix now cause it's probably a long wait. You could borrow mine but it's a long wait.

Shit, have ya got 25 minutes? Here's the entire first episode:



Let me know what you think.

Hello Brian

PSA

PSA

WAR, INC.: Your friendly, full service Disaster Entrepreneurs.

We do the bombing AND the re-building. 

Somebody has to help these poor people!

I know I'm preaching to the choir, Can I get an amen?, but this movie isn't getting any real publicity push, a limited release, with futures based on ticket sales. It is being slammed from the right, and heralded from the left. Probably won't be in theaters too long but who knows. The first vid is a little long at 6 1/2 minutes but it is better than just the preview




Here is a LINK to an interesting article about War, Inc., with a bit of political satire history. I wanted to quote the whole thing here, seemed excessive, but please, check it out.






"Whose top advisers are linked to war profiteers?"

John Cuzak Website
War, Inc. Website

AND FOR DESSERT

Rep. Kucinich introduces Bush impeachment resolution

WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Dennis Kucinich, a former Democratic presidential contender, said Monday he wants the House to consider a resolution to impeach President Bush.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi consistently has said impeachment was "off the table."

Kucinich, D-Ohio, read his proposed impeachment language in a floor speech. He contended Bush deceived the nation and violated his oath of office in leading the country into the Iraq war.

Kucinich introduced a resolution last year to impeach Vice President Dick Cheney. That resolution was killed, but only after Republicans initially voted in favor of taking up the measure to force a debate.

Kucinich won 50 percent of the vote in a five-way House Democratic primary in March, beating back critics who said he ignored business at home to travel the country in his quest to be president.

Kucinich charged GW wih many crimes, such as

• Sp[ied] on American Citizens, Without a Court-Ordered Warrant, in Violation of the Law and the Fourth Amendment
• Direct[ed] Telecommunications Companies to Create an Illegal and Unconstitutional Database of the Private Telephone Numbers and Emails of American Citizens
  
• Tamper[ed] with Free and Fair Elections
  

In case you missed Kucinich standing on the House floor for over four hours, reading 35 Articles of Impeachment against GW, here is small piece that focuses on our buisness plan, sorry, COVERT WAR - already in progress - against Iran.

Have a great weekend Americanos, and remember; when the shit begins to rise, get on the bar.

PSA

I thought their first album was amazing, I like this one even more. HERE they are on Fresh Air.



Remember, way back, when I was a kid? Yeah, me either, back then if you wanted to catch a band on Late Night or SNL you had to plan for it. It would be the only chance to see it. Thank god that's over.



Call me if you want a copy.

PSA

They're Back and They're Better Than Ever!!! No Country and now this!! We're too excited to sleep.

El Tocino

If you know GG you know she loves her some bacon. This is for her. Get your bacon from Roundman's Smoke House. The thick cut pepper bacon, cook it slow. It is truly amazing. They are old school-mom and pop, smoke some killer meats and ship. (bacongraph stolen from SK)

PSA

"I'll build a million of you, baby, and every single one of them will be mine."
Lie Down Here (& Be My Girl)
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!

Who's getting old? Not Me!! And Not Nick Cave!! Granted we've both lost a little hair, but this album is just as sordid, fiendish, and dark as ever.

Do you know the devil, Nick? Can you give him a message? I'm ready to make a deal.