Vote Early for Change

Dear Friends,

As we approach an historic election here in the states, I'd like you to meditate on something; what you are going to feel like waking up on Wednesday November 5th, 2008 a John McCain victory in an historic upset and a refutation of nearly every poll.

How will you feel not having done everything within your means whether that is voting, contributing or volunteering?

Now, John McCain, at least in his previous incarnation in the 2000 primaries, wouldn't have been something to be so scared of in and of himself (though I still would have voted for Obama). But with the help of his advisors, he has thrown his previous self under the Straight Talk Express, embracing (and even employing) the agents of intolerance he once decried.

A president has a 1 in 4 chance of being succeeded in office. The odds become something of a greater gambit for the septuagenarian senator from Arizona if we do not give him the benefit of the doubt regarding the significant holes in his undisclosed medical records.

Which brings us to his first and, thus far, most telltale executive decision: the selection of Governor Sarah Palin to be "a malignant melanoma away" from the Presidency.

The smartly-dressed Alaskan hockey mom, plucked from obscurity as though from a bad Disney movie, supports the shooting wolves from airplanes when she is not field dressing the moose she kills herself. She's received an anti-witchcraft benediction from a pastor and spiritual warrior who once rid his village of a witch, she's supported banning books and is against abortion in cases of rape and incest . Her foreign policy experience is derived from Alaska's proximity to Russia and she has kept a vigilant eye on Putin waiting for him to "rear his head". She's all but incited the local racists at her rallies. I am convinced that a Palin Presidency would be, at best, the death-knell for democracy in the United States and at worst, well I just don't even want to meditate on that one.

I do want to meditate on the positive news in the polls and in the nation that the Obama campaign has appealed to a broad array of voters across states, income levels, classes and even parties. In a refreshing antidote to the to divisive vitriol heaped upon the electorate in SUV-sized portions, Obama's killer-strategy has been a) a strategy and b) a calm and cool manner married to an appeal to our better angels.

From his unlikely insurgent primary victory, to his immanently competent campaign that now makes him competitive in states like Arizona(!), Georgia(!), Virginia(!) and North Carolina(!). He has shattered all previous records for fundraising mostly through small contributions (Sept. '08 average donation: $86, 3.1 million contributors to date) and participation, Barack Obama has shown he has the vision, temperament and intellect to be the next president of the United States.

Now please meditate on the jubilation when polls close Tuesday night and Americans (and indeed, people the world over) rejoice spontaneously in the streets to the historic election of Senator Obama!

But first, we still need to make that happen:

Vote Early

Lines will be shorter, you'll free up the polling booths on election day for others and if there is an intentional or other glitch then you will at least have second chance to go (on election day).
http://election411.com/
http://maps.google.com/vote/

Contribute

I've helped raise nearly $10,000. Your contribution of even $5 is a small but symbolic stake in this race.

Volunteer

Volunteering is fun. You might meet a neighbor you didn't know or reconnect with a friend. You will most definitely will have claimed your own small piece of history in this campaign which will be one that history will look back on in ways that we can only begin to foresee.

How?

Travel to a swing state: this weekend I am going for the third time to Nevada, the only swing state in the Pacific time zone. If the election is close, this will be the last firewall.

You're most needed in the swing states: Ohio, Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Nevada, Georgia (hard to believe but true), Colorado, and get this; McCain's own state of ARIZONA!

Please consider taking off work and making this a long weekend to canvass or do voter protection through the end of election day.

If you don't want to travel you can always make calls from your own home; all you need is a computer and a telephone.

To my friends abroad, I just wanted to give you an insight into what exciting times we have here in the USA. You are represented by the "world electoral map" here:

http://www.economist.com/vote2008/

Warm regards,

Brian

Skyline Interrupted

My Skyline commute was punctuated by a puncture on 35 by the Olympic Golf Course. Unfortunately, my cry "flat" fell on deaf ears ahead of me, thus stranding me sans pump. I remembered my spare tubular tire, but in switching bikes, I forgot to take my little repair bag.

Minutes later another cyclist stopped with C02 while I struggle to remove my tubular which was so tightly glued to the rim it seemed welded on. The good samaritan didn't want to wait, but did graciously leave his C02 behind allowing me to inflate my spare after spending a half an hour wrestling with the tubie. I made it to Daly City where the lovely and fabulous GF picked me up, whisked me home and then lent me her car to allow me to drive in.

The photos show the casing still attached to the rim as well as the new "step technique" developed on the fly allowing me to put on the spare tubie in record time.

F*&^%$#@!! I can't update my iphone

It looks like the iTunes store is down! An unknown error has occurred (-4) ! Here's an image of mine. Looks like I will be out of a phone for at least a few hours!

Hillary! Stop the attacks! Love, Obama Girl

Firecracker Restuarant's Last Evening

Before I lived in San Francisco, I traveled here for work on a regular basis from the east coast. One of my favorite discoveries was Firecracker Restuarant on Valencia Street in the Mission. It became my haunt when I visited and it was one of the many delicious reasons I wanted to live in San Francisco.

Fast forward to moving back to the states and landing fresh in the Mission, it was a familiar place in an unfamiliar city. It became my restaurant of choice, especially when I was dining by myself, something I did quite often in my first year here. I loved the delicious pan seared tofu, fujian rolls of spinish and tofu salad. The wait staff knew me and my orders. I talked with the owner, with Erin and Gliza. They became friendly faces to me while I made my transition from Mexico.

Unfortunately, Firecracker's heyday was probably when I was visiting San Francisco and it was next to impossible to get in. I guess what I liked about my time there was there was never a problem finding table. Mission restaurants have gone decidedly upmarket. Bar Tartine, Bambino, Farina and Delfina just to name a few are the restaurants du jour. They're all delicious, but upscale enough as to not warrant a solo visit on a Tuesday night.

Firecracker, while always healthy, tasty and fun just doesn't have the see-and-be-seen factor that the aforementioned places do. What Firecracker did have, and while I will sorely miss, is a small, affordable and friendly place where I can go and get friendly service on a week night.

Sadly, Firecracker is closing down after something like ten years in business. Tonight, nine of my friends joined me in a farewell dinner to the restaurant I found so homey.

Photos http://picasaweb.google.com/brian.kemler/FirecrackerSClosingEvening/

Dearborn Street in the Mission

Another Fiat this time welcoming me to the Marina

Portland

View from the Bars

Sunrise over the East Bay on the ride to Work