READ OUR RECAP OF THE FIRST EPISODE OF THE FRANCHISE.
In its brief existence as a genre, reality television has jumped the shark so many times, and in so many different ways, that they're scarcely worth mentioning. (Okay, okay: Our personal favorite was "The Littlest Groom," which aired only twice before Fox pulled the plug.) But if ever there was a group of human beings worthy of having their everyday lives recorded and edited into a semblance of "reality," it's the San Francisco Giants' championship team.
The problem is that the claim is based on a seriously flawed methodology -- the numbers presented to news outlets as hard statistics are actually based on guesses. The researchers look at photographs posted to online classifieds sites like Craigslist and Backpage and guess who looks under 18.
Beth Schapiro, president of The Schapiro Group, sent us a letter today defending her study. Here's her letter in its entirety:
For 27 years, The Schapiro Group has been carefully and meticulously conducting strategic research for a variety of government, corporate, and non-profit clients - distinguished organizations that profoundly influence how communities work and thrive.In a subject area where most research involves educated guesswork, The Schapiro Group has pioneered empirical, replicable research methodologies for studying the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC).
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The Schapiro Group's research has documented a major shift toward the Internet and escort services, and away from street solicitation, for procurement of underage girls. So it would come as no surprise that those with a commercial interest in this marketplace might seek to try and undermine the research.
Maybe it's the last thing you could imagine doing -- spending one-on-one time with your city supervisors. Imagine lunching with Supervisor Malia Cohen (what would you talk about?), or taking a trip to the Academy of Sciences with the perennially overwhelmed Supervisor Eric Mar.
Even more bizarre -- consider pedaling through San Francisco in tandem with Supervisor David Chiu.
But hey, it's for charity so why not? If there is any good time to set aside your political differences, it's now.
The Board of Supervisors is asking people to join them and the Japanese Consulate, General Hiroshi Inomata, at a benefit tonight where they hope to rake in lots and lots of cash for tsunami victims in Japan.
You would think a novelty store catering to the needs of left-handers would be the sacrificial goat left before the tyrannosaurus of the Great Recession. Well, you'd be wrong. San Francisco has proven itself not just a left-wing city, but also most amenable to left-wingers of the literal variety.
The folks at Lefty's on Pier 39 -- the real-world equivalent of Ned Flanders' Leftorium of Simpsons fame -- have announced a move to a new shop on the pier three times the size of the previous iteration. It seems left-handers have not only left their hearts in San Francisco -- but also their money.
Britney Spears has reportedly decided not to perform her outdoor concert this weekend in the Castro because of the expected rain, according to SFist.
Well, she doesn't want to get her hair wet.
SFist is reporting that the pop princess today scrapped plans to stage her concert in the Castro on Sunday -- the same day her new album will be released.
There will be no white weddings for gay couples -- at least not yet.
A San Francisco federal court ruled today that same-sex marriages would not be allowed while courts decide whether Proposition 8 -- the state's ban on gay marriage -- is constitutional or not.
It's another blow for same-sex couples who have been fighting for the right to marry since voters passed Prop. 8 in 2008.
Earlier this month, the couples had asked the courts to permit the
weddings while the civil case wends its way through the appeals court.
Today's ruling is a major setback for same-sex couples and their families who must continue living everyday in legal limbo," said Geoff Kors, executive director for Equality California.
There are some jobs that are just plain dangerous -- being a cab driver, a cop, and refereeing sports matches.
A recreational soccer game at Crocker Amazon Park on Monday turned violent after the ref made a call that didn't sit well with one competitive player.
At about 9:45 a.m., the game came to a halt when the referee blew his whistle, calling a foul against one player.
The athlete became extremely angry by the call and took his rage out on the ref with a "martial-arts kick" right to his face, according to police.
Apple on Wednesday quietly removed the controversial "gay-cure" app created by a religious group with the goal of helping people resist their unwanted homosexual desires.
Media outlets are reporting that while the company has not made any comments, the iPhone app is no longer available at Apple's app store.
Just last month, Bevan Dufty admitted that his mayoral campaign was foundering; he dropped his pledge to hit-up only local donors and has since been taking red-eye flights back-and-forth to the nation's capital.
And now we know why.
In his effort to reboot his collapsing campaign, which he is now calling Dufty 2.0., the former supervisor zeroed-in on just the right target.
Yesterday, he picked up the endorsement of the Victory Fund, a national gay and lesbian organization that helped get the first openly gay mayor elected in Houston, Texas.
What this really means for Dufty is that he just might be back in the race -- financially speaking.
