What the hell is wrong with people in the United States? Why is it acceptable
to throw trash on the ground at all?

Last weekend I was in Berkeley and a guy
was crossing the street opening a pack of cigarettes. First he removes the
wrapper and then tosses it on the ground. Then he removes the inner foil and
throws it on the ground. All this as he’s crossing the street and walking
right at a trash can. Why dump it when he could have just put it in the
rubbish bin. I actually felt like taking a bat and beating him until he
learned not to litter, but that would make me no better than him.

Today a woman walking down the street finished a drink and tossed the
container against a building. Huh? Just carry it until you get to throw it
out. It’s not that hard.

The cap of all of this was at the taco truck.
They not only are parked right next to a city provided trash can, but they
also provide their own trash can to make sure there isn’t an overflow. A guy
gets his food, squeezes some lime on top and then tosses the lime half on the
ground. He was standing right next to the trash can. When I asked him why
he did that he told me to mind my own business and started stuffing his face
with his tacos. When his back was turned I picked up the lime half and slipped
it into his backpack. We’ll see how he likes my own business.

I’ve already mentioned
that New Zealand was clean. It was damn clean where I went. Now on my return
to the US I’m finding I am totally disgusted by the litter and trash and
disregard for society. I don’t know what has caused it, but it makes me
sick to think about it. What is it? Race? Economic status? Upbringing? Some
combination of the three? Do people feel slighted and like they’re rebelling
against the authority rather than slowly destroying their own homes? I hate
to say this, but trying to find a job in New Zealand is looking better and
better. I’m sure society in NZ isn’t ideal or perfect and has its share of
problems too, but it sure seems like a great place to live.

In the last week I’ve had the pleasure of my roommate hooking me up (meaning
he got the tickets or found out about the event and sent me an email. It
couldn’t be easier) twice with great entertainment.

The first event was last Saturday at the

Empire Plush Room. We went to see a vaudeville and burlesque show titled
The Va Va Voom Room. That was
one of the best shows I’ve seen in a long time. I was laughing the entire
time. The hostess was dead on acting as a Austrian starlet with one eye
from about the 40′s. The three-piece jazz band was tight and dead on. The
acts were all very good at what they did. My favorite performer was a singer
that came out and did two songs, but wish she had done more though. Not only
was she a knockout with read hair and a gorgeous body. She was wearing an
evening gown and above the elbow gloves, but that’s not why I was captivated by
her. Her singing was amazing. I’m just getting goose bumps thinking about it.
I will go back in the future if only to see her.

The second event was last night. On Monday my roommate sent me an email saying
he had gotten two tickets (the most one person could buy) to a show at href="http://www.bimbos365club.com/">Bimbo’s 365 in North Beach. The show
was stand up comedy by Robin Williams and had just been announced. Since it
was him working on new material I jumped at the chance to go.

I will say that he was really funny. Funnier than I even expected him to be
(I know, what was I thinking). There was a part where I had to just not laugh
for a bit because I was worn out from laughing. He did about an hour of
material and then an hour or so of improv. His stream of consciousness is
amazing. He can move from subject to subject with such easy and he’s so fast
at it you don’t really have time to think, only laugh.

All in all it was great. I look forward to being able to do both things again
in the future.

src="/SenorTaco/images/seattle-library.jpg" alt="Seattle's New Library" />


Photo by Benjamin Benschneider/The Seattle Times

Seattle has opened a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/news/local/library/" title="News on
Seattle's New Public Library">new Central Public Library. The 11 story
steel and glass building was designed by architect Rem Koolhaas. From looking
at the href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/news/local/library/photogalleries/spl1.html"
title="Seattle's New Library">photo gallery I’d say Mr. Koolhass has
successfully designed a space that is open, functional, and inviting.

I love to read, but I have been very bad about frequenting my public libraries.
I’m glad to see Seattle wasn’t shy about building such a magnificent structure
to house the public’s books and knowledge. That will be one more attractor for me to visit Seattle. I will have to make sure I schedule time to visit such a
great piece of architecture.

I will leave you with this quote from Andrew Carnegie that appears in the
library:

"There is not such a cradle of democracy upon the earth as the Free Public
Library, this republic of letters, where neither rank, office, nor wealth
receives the slightest consideration."

As it’s the end of the year and that tends to have some religious significance
for a lot of people they give gifts to celebrate. This year I went along with
it (not in a religious manner mind you, just the gift giving) and gave gifts
to my friends and family, although I am going to change that this next year
(due to issues beyond my control my bank account took a beating this last
month, which would have been lessened had I done gifts during the year. Oh
well, laugh at me if you must). At any rate, I also got good swag this year.

• One Flew Over the Cookoo’s Nest DVD (2 disc edition)
• Brazil DVD (Criterion Collection edition)
• The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes
• Gift Certificates to Amazon.com, Amoeba Music, Land’s End, and Target

By far the oddest thing I got (and not a holiday gift, but swag and a gift
none the less) is one of these:

class="divImg" />

I’m not sure what to make of it being given to me, but I think it’s cool
regardless. It definitely has great craftsmanship. The engraving on top is
from Evil
Bikes and is a skull with flames and gothic lettering ( href="http://www.evilbikes.com/images/gear/hat_flexfit.jpg"
alt="evil bikes hat with logo example">as you can see pictured on this hat).
That I love. The skull is so perfect (although the skull and flames a bit
larger would have been even better :)

So, Saturday was a busy day for me. In the afternoon I braved the Bay Bridge
traffic to make my way over to the Potrero Hill area for a house warming
party at Jamie’s new apartment (he moved out here not too long ago). He has
a great apartment and he’s put a lot of himself into it. It was very
comfortable to be in.

After the house warming I went back over to Berkeley to meet several people
from work for dinner at href="http://www.elmwoodshop.com/pages/stores/shenhua.html" title="Shen Hua">
Shen Hua in Berkeley. After dinner and dessert we headed over to the
CalShakes
amphitheater for the one man show, title="MacHomer">MacHomer. Not only was it well done, it was hilarious
and I laughed my butt off. The cast of characters fit perfectly. While there
are far too many to name here some of the best were: The Sea Captain, Moe, and
Principal Skinner as the witches/weird sisters; Homer as MacHomer (rather than
MacBeth); Marge as Lady MacHomer; Barney as MacDuff; Mr. Burns and Smithers
as the king and Malcom respectively; and Flanders as Banquo. At the end of the
show Rick Miller, the one man, performed Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody as 25
different performers. The hi-lights include Mick Jagger, Tom Waits, Meatloaf,
and Ozzy. I forgot some of them because I was laughing so hard.

If you ever get a chance to see this show do it. Pay attention to the puppet
show he does if you see it…well, if you’re not laughing too hard.

Hmmm, I think I saw this web site a while back (but that was long ago in a place called New York :) but I thank my friend KP for reminding me about the Illegal Art Exhibit.

It’s actually here at the SFMOMA through July 26. I may have to go and check it out.

wow, the things that Japanese culture has come up with always amaze me. I’m also surprised at the well behaved look on the cats throughout the pictures.

I must admit, they’re cute looking, but I know my cats would freak out with them on.
[via boinboing]