Happy Birthday! - Andy Wright
After five weeks, testimony concludes in anti-Weekly suit.
By Andy Van De Voorde
The last witness testified Tuesday in the Bay Guardian’s predatory pricing lawsuit against the Weekly, meaning the only thing left is closing arguments.
Those won’t come until Thursday, however, because Superior Court Judge Marla J. Miller is giving attorneys for both sides Wednesday off to prepare final exhibits for inspection by the jury.
As a result, the case should go to the jury late in the day Thursday, meaning a verdict conceivably may not be returned until next week.
Iconic filmmaker Werner Herzog spoke at Stanford last night after a screening of his 2005 documentary Grizzly Man, about a man named Timothy Treadwell who spent part of his life living with Alaskan grizzly bears, one of which eventually killed and ate him. Herzog speaks at Stanford again tonight, after a screening of his 2006 feature film Rescue Dawn. Here's a sampling of choice quotes from Monday. On why he stole his first movie camera:
"It's a practical step. It's easier than a bank job. I stole it because I needed one. And they wouldn't give it to me."(click 'more')
The Republican National Committee has been conducting some research to figure out how to talk to women and African Americans without immediately pissing them off. Wonkette posted a survey sent out to college students today, and it's pretty awesome. And by "awesome" I mean "wildly offensive." The survey consists of statements that takers can agree or disagree with. Innocuous statements like "We should let people control their own retirement; privatize Social Security" are peppered with "Many women are actually seeking special favors, such as hiring policies that favor them over men, under the guise of "equality."" Dammit, they've figured out our strategy, sisters! Back to the Ovo-Cave of Manhatera! Then there's this one: "I feel threatened when interacting with Black people." I'm trying the to picture who read that statement, furrowed their brow, and then dutifully filled in the bubble under "Neither agree nor disagree."–Andy Wright
"I expect this kind of silliness from Hayes Valley and North Beach, neighborhoods where so many of the residents think they're special… But now neighborhood activists have decided that the Mission - which is filled with people who are lower-income and don't consider themselves nearly so special - also needs protection from these horrible chains."You know, because the simple, low-income residents of the Mission are incapable of feeling "special." –Andy Wright
"In "The Signal," a transmission invades cell phones, radios and TVs, turning people into killers.The film was paused Sunday night while police investigated the incidents. When it was restarted…the first scene was a stabbing."To recap, an unamed suspect was driven to stab fellow moviegoers by an evil presence transmitted via celluloid.The Ghosbusters failed to return repeated calls from the AP. -Andy Wright
Contemporary Chinese sculptor Zhan Wang has reinvented the San Francisco cityscape (there seems to be a lot of that going on lately) in his trademark stainless steel/kitchen utensil application. The piece above was created specifically for his current exhibition at the Asian Art Museum, which runs through May 25. (via io9)
Braving the prospect of eternal brimstone and hellfire, the intrepid folks over at Curbed SF bring us a look inside the Richmond District's 6118 California #C, one of three units that now stand on the site of the infamous Black House, the former home and headquarters of Church of Satan founder Anton "The Black Pope" LaVey.
With what looks like a great rooftop patio view of Twin Peaks to one side and the Golden Gate Bridge to the other, Hellish is not the first adjective that comes to mind. But apparently even the Dark Prince himself isn't immune to the perils of the local real estate market: Curbed reports that property's listing price has fallen $100,000 in the past month to $599,000. Check out the full photo gallery.
