While I'm generally taking this election very seriously, there is an amusing measure on the San Francisco ballot: a proposition to rename the local sewage plant after President Bush. I expected the far left San Francisco Bay Guardian to endorse the proposition, but they opposed it on the grounds that it "is a pretty good sewage plant. It's insulting to the plant, and the people who work there, to put the name of an environmental villain on the door".

The argument for the proposition in the official election guide, written by the self-proclaimed Chairman of the Presidential Memorial Commission of San Francisco, includes:

Just as France presented the Statue of Liberty as its gift to the nation, the citizens of San Francisco may now bestow their own special gift to the country by renaming our award winning waste water treatment plant in honor of outgoing President George W Bush. We think this is a fitting memorial for a truly outstanding Commander-in-Chief. On matters ranging from diplomacy to fiscal and environmental stewardship, no other President has had such a dramatic impact on the country and the Constitution in such a short time. Most presidents wait years or decades to receive their memorial airport or highway. We think President Bush deserves immediate recognition for his eight years of public service....

While the argument for the proposition nominally praises Bush, the argument against renaming the sewage plant vilifies him:

I agree that the invasion of Iraq is the worst foreign policy blunder in the history of the US. I also agree that Bush has been the most ignorant man to ever occupy the office of President. To call him the worst President since Warren Harding is to insult the memory of Harding, who at least did not enter this country into any unnecessary wars.

Moreover, the federal debt at the end of this Administration totals over $9 trillion.... Maybe it would be more appropriate to name the local bankruptcy court or a consumer credit counseling center after Bush?

Besides, if we name the local sewage plant after Bush, then what's left to name after Jesse Helms?

[The above photograph was taken by Jamison Wieser and posted on flickr with a Creative Commons license.]

Have a nice election!

Same-sex marriage is much in the thoughts of me and other like-minded Californians excited about its upcoming legalization. Here are some items on that theme.

Defenders of Marriage song

I heard this song on the radio tonight on This Way Out. For those who don't want to listen to it on YouTube, here are some of the lyrics:

Every time we think about same-sex marriage
Makes us sick to our guts
I mean, two people who want to commit to a
stable monogamous life-long relationship
What are they, nuts?
It's unnatural!
Now a man should not lie with a
person who is a guy
He should only lie to his wife,
the bible is clear

Homosexuality is a choice?

Opponents of gay rights often claim that homosexuality is a choice. Let's think about that for a moment...

Anyone who makes that claim is implying that they consciously chose not to be homosexual, presumably due to their moral superiority. If these people were only attracted to members of the opposite sex, however, they wouldn't have needed to make such a choice. Thus, they're unwittingly making a confession about their own sexual orientation.

Flashback to 2004

Here's a reprint of my February 2004 email to family and close friends about my experiences around San Francisco's unilateral (later overturned) decision to allow same-sex marriages:

As you may know, San Francisco has been allowing gay couples to marry over this holiday weekend. As you may also know, Keith and I support gay marriage. I want to share with you how this has touched our lives. I know not all of you support gay marriage, but I know you support hospitality and standing up for what one believes in, even if you choose different causes.

Saturday, which was Valentine's Day, Keith and I stocked up on tchochkes and headed to City Hall in our little electric car. There was a huge line of people waiting for marriage licenses. We went down the line, giving out Hershey's kisses ("A kiss for the bride?"), champagne ("genuine Trader Joe's"), fancy-schmancy picture frames, and our best wishes. I loved Keith more than ever, seeing him heartily congratulating brides and grooms (which, analytical as always, I figured he wouldn't do if he regretted his state of matrimony). We spoke with a reporter from New York Newsday. After giving our names, I told her that Keith and I were married -- that the (temporary and local) legalization of gay marriage hadn't destroyed ours. We weren't quoted in the article; instead, the writer focused on the celebrants, which I think was appropriate.

Sunday morning, I went shopping again for more goodies, including some rainbow candles from the Castro. Unfortunately, the store that sold same-sex cake toppers wasn't open yet. Keith and I went to City Hall in the afternoon. After hearing a bride talk about her Jewish wedding at her grandmother's nursing home, I gave her a pair of big rainbow candles for Shabbos (Sabbath) and mentioned how Keith and I couldn't marry either under strict Jewish law. While we were able to give away all the candles and drinks, there were so many people handing out snacks that we went home with chocolate kisses.

That evening, I read online about people camping out at City Hall so they could be sure of getting married the next day. I made another trip out, with blankets and sweaters, because it was a wet chilly night. When I got home, Keith melted down the leftover chocolate kisses and made us warm chocolate pudding. Yum!

On Monday, I showed up at City Hall at 9:30 to volunteer inside, but they had more than enough people, and I was turned away, despite professing computer expertise. After getting over my disappointment, I assisted people who were handing out coffee, food (bagels and doughnuts), and stickers, and asked people in line what else they needed. I wasn't able to help with the request for a catheter, but I was able to come back later with dry socks and gloves, which were appreciated. By this time, some people in line recognized me, either from previous days or repeated appearances that day.

Everyone expects the courts to issue an injunction today stopping the granting of marriage licenses. We don't know whether this weekend's marriages will be voided. In any case, it will be the start of a state-wide and federal legal battle. For the friends of ours who married this weekend and didn't get a present from us, we'll make a donation to a legal fund in their honor.

I know that several of you participated in the Civil Rights movement. I'm proud and happy that I was able to participate in San Francisco's civil disobedience and civil rights movement.

Historical note: The weddings were halted by court order on March 11, 2004, and legally voided on August 12, 2004 [1].

At a Girls Inc. event last weekend, I had the pleasure of running into someone I knew from college who had read my parking rant and gave me this Order of the Stick cartoon about a thwarted wizard attempting to recover her mount, which I recommend to anyone who has ever been frustrated with a parking lot attendant.

No, I'm not hosting ads on my site. I just found the above amusing.

Star Trek inspirational posters

My mother-in-law Billie and her sister-in-law Judy are visiting from Texas and have been exploring San Francisco while Keith and I have been at work. When I got home, Aunt Judy told me of the following exchange:

Man selling tickets: Are you timeshare-friendly?
Aunt Judy (thinking he meant "funny"): No, we're sister-in-laws.

Any idea what the man could have meant?

I received the following response to my complaint about Pacific Park Management:

Hi Ellen,

I'm the President of Pacific Park Management. Thank you for your letter.

I have been looking into your complaint. I have had one of my senior managers investigate, including interviewing the employee, Adimas. Based on our investigation, the employee is being formally disciplined. I cannot give you more specifics on my actions as that information is confidential.

However, rest assured that your insights were valuable to us and that we are aware of the employees actions. We do not tolerate such employee behavior and circumvention of policies. Should you have further comments, please feel free to call upon me at (XXX) XXX-XXXX. Thank you again for taking the time to write to us.

Robert Stang

Woo hoo! I said during the Kozmo case that I wouldn't have taken it to court if they'd apologized. See? I do know when to stop.

It shouldn't surprise those of you who know me that I always played lawful good characters in Dungeons and Dragons, usually paladins. Of course, in real life, I couldn't be a paladin for the same reason I can't tame a unicorn. (Don't understand why? See comment.)

From New Scientist:

Drivers in three US cities will soon be able to earn a buck or two just for vacating a parking space. SpotScout is a website that matches people about to leave a parking spot with those looking for one. Using a cellphone, drivers tell SpotScout when they will leave their parking spot, where it is, and how much they will sell this information for. The site, to be launched next month in New York, Boston and San Francisco, matches this information with people looking for a space.

On the way back from a movie tonight, we went to the Mission to get crepes at Ti Couz. Unable to find street parking, I went to the Pacific Park Management garage at 42 Hoff St., where I was instructed to leave my keys in the car. Only once we were in the restaurant did I realize that I hadn't gotten any ticket or receipt.

When I returned to the garage...
Ellen: I parked here at 10:45 in a blue-green Prius and wasn't given a ticket.
Attendant 1: We can't give you your car without a ticket.
Ellen: I was never given a ticket.
Attendant 1: You can get your car if you pay the lost ticket charge of $17.
Ellen: I didn't get a ticket. Is the person who was on duty still here?
Attendant 2: I was here. I remember giving you a ticket.
Ellen: I was never near enough to you to get a ticket. You told me to leave the keys in the car, and I was never within a few feet of you.
Attendant 2: I am 100% sure that I gave you a ticket.
Ellen: If you remember that it's my car, then you don't need a ticket.
Attendants 1 & 2: Blah blah $17 lost ticket blah blah.
Ellen (to Keith): How should I handle this? Should I call the police, pay them and dispute the charge,...
Keith (angrily and loudly, which is unlike him): You should pay them and then sue them in Small Claims Court. [I've successfully sued another company.]
[Keith's cousin Jeremy, who was with us, subsequently reported that they started to get nervous at this point.]
[Ellen sees her car and walks to it. The door is locked, and the keys are not in it. She returns to the cashier. She begins loudly telling other customers and potential customers what is going on.]
Unknown person: Report them to the Better Business Bureau! I live near here, and they do this all the time.

After more back and forth...
Attendant 1: Which is your key?
Ellen: It is that one (pointing) on the top row. (I was glad I had removed my house key before leaving my keychain.)
Keith: See! There's no ticket with it, and there wasn't one on the car. [Most of the keys were with ticket stubs.]
Attendant 2: I am 100% sure that I gave you a ticket.
Ellen: There's no ticket.
Attendant 1: Hold on. I will get you a ticket.
Ellen: I don't want a ticket. I want my car keys.
Attendant 1 [taking key down but not handing it to me]: When did you park?
Ellen: I parked an hour ago. Jeremy, check the sign and see what the one-hour rate is.
Jeremy: $2.25.
[When Attendant 1 rings up the charge, Ellen takes the keys and hands them to Keith, asking him to get the car, which he does.]
[Ellen pays $2.25 and gets a receipt.]
Ellen: What is your name?
Attendant 1: I didn't do anything wrong. I'm just doing my job.
Ellen: When I complain, should I say you wouldn't give me your name?
Attendant 1: It's on the receipt.
Ellen (after checking receipt): You're Adimas?
Attendant 1/Adimas: Yes.
[Keith has pulled up. Ellen and Jeremy join him in the car.]
[Attendant 1 tries to keep group from driving away, insisting on clarifying that he has done nothing wrong.]
Ellen: Then you must be very proud of yourself for being such a good person.

Updates

• I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau.
• I wrote a letter to Robert Stang, president of Pacific Park Management.
• I wrote a letter to the head of the Mission Merchants Association.
• I wrote a letter to San Francisco District Attorney’s Office of Neighborhood Programs
• I emailed a reporter I know at the San Francisco Chronicle.
• I emailed the editor of the Mission Dispatch.

More to follow. Suggestions welcome.

It's been a while since I posted anything. Here are some things that amused me around San Francisco.

AAA Battery Delivery and Installation

I saw a truck painted with "AAA Battery Delivery and Installation". I commented to Keith that I thought everyone knew how to install triple-A batteries themselves.

Café Gratitude

A student and friend recently took me to lunch at Café Gratitude, a vegan raw food restaurant whose menu proclaims:

Café Gratitude is our expression of a world of plenty. Our food and people are a celebration of our aliveness. We select the finest organic ingredients to honor the earth and ourselves, as we are one and the same. We support local farmers, sustainable agriculture and environmentally friendly products. Our food is prepared with love.

We invite you to step inside and enjoy being someone who chooses: loving your life, adoring yourself, accepting the world, being generous and grateful everyday, and experiencing being provided for. Have fun and enjoy being nourished. Welcome to Café Gratitude.

The dish names are all inspirational. I ordered "I AM SENSATIONAL" (pesto pizza) and "I AM EFFERVESCENT" (house ginger ale), which were affirmed back to me by the waiter ("You are sensational and effervescent"). The food was delicious, the service warm, and the prices reasonable, and I plan to return, but I also can't help laughing at myself and thinking: "Only in San Francisco".

Systemic Discrimination

I am currently sunburned, despite liberal application of sunscreen before yesterday's Commencement at Mills College. I always joke that the outdoor ceremony is an example of systemic discrimination against faculty not of color.