Ms. Connection

The Visitors Have Arrived

2009-11-04T11:35:00.000-08:00

If you haven't been made aware, there's a re-imagination of the 80's cult classic "V", the TV show. I first heard about this a few weeks ago after seeing a trailer and nearly fell off my couch with excitement. It's a show I grew up with and ignited my imagination with the creative possibilities of the human mind.

The Pilot aired last night, unfortunately, I was not able to watch it. Since I cancelled cable, catching it on demand is no longer an option. That it won't be available to view online until Saturday is frustrating. In the meantime, I'll be checking out the recaps and changing the background on my laptop settings.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs

2009-09-11T11:09:00.001-07:00

On a spur of the moment decision, inspired by living in the moment, a friend and I checked out the Yeah Yeah Yeahs at the newly renovated Fox Theatre in Oakland Wednesday night. Fronted by Karen O and her uniquely sounding vocals, it's a band we've both wanted to see for some time. The image was taken with my Palm Treo and it's ok. The image above is Karen O singing Cheated Hearts, a personal favorite, with the all seeing Eye in the background.

Bay Bridge Construction Continues

2009-08-24T13:33:00.000-07:00

I wasn't living here in 1989 when the 6.9 Loma Prieta earthquake rattled the bay area. In fact, I was 250 miles away watching the San Francisco Giants get ready to take on the Oakland A's in the World Series on TV--and I felt the quake.

It's perplexing to realize that 20 years later, the eastern span of the Bay Bridge is still under construction. On the one hand, it's kinda cool to see the bridge rising from beneath the bay waters. On the other hand, it's disturbing to see how political egos (Mayors Willie Brown and Jerry Brown), state budget issues, 2 recessions and dependence on foreign steel have elongated the timeline and costs for completion.

Over the Labor Day holiday, starting Thursday September 3, the Bay Bridge reaches another milestone on its' Evolutionary Path. The eastern span, which connects to Yerba Buena Island, will be replaced with a 4-year temporary S-shaped bridge. This will allow for construction to begin on the self-anchored suspension span (SAS), a critical piece of the new construction.

But this is the part that scares me. As you can see in the second image, commuters will have to slow down in order to safely exit the S-path. And if there's one thing we can count on, it's that some drivers will attempt to cross going at full speed.

What's a commuter to do? This might be the best time to avoid carpool and stick with the transbay buses. I only take BART as a last resort because because the fear of taking a train underwater and getting stuck far outweighs the fear of sharing a bus. What will you do?

Stuck on Repeat

2009-08-07T12:36:00.000-07:00

Have you ever found yourself stuck on repeat? Not on a particular song like Little Boots above, although it is a gem, but in life? Perhaps repeating mistakes, repeating patterns, repeating a cycle you want to get out of? Awareness certainly helps but I think it comes down to acceptance.

Accepting what IS vs. what you wish. Accepting what IS vs. what you hoped. Accepting what IS instead of what is not.

Sometimes, we need to accept things repeatedly in different forms and from different angles. It is only then, that we can truly embrace what is.

Chris Brown Finally Apologizes

2009-07-20T17:10:00.000-07:00

It only took 5 months for Chris Brown to apologize publicly for his assault on Rihanna. I will be the first to admit that I actually liked his "hip-pop" music, until news of this incident first surfaced back in February. However, I'm a bigger fan of Rihanna. If he was genuinely sorry about his behavior, he should've voiced these sentiments 5 months ago--regardless of what his lawyer advised him to do. As such, I'll voice my discontent with my blog and my wallet.

Rihanna herself isn't excused in my eyes. She has to understand that she is a role model for many young women and should have released some statement acknowledging and addressing this situation; even if the words were selected by her attorney.

I can't imagine what it's like to be a celebrity, but it must be challenging to deal with your dirty laundry in front of a national audience.

Domestic violence, for that matter any violence, in a "civilized" society should not be tolerated.

Now back to the music...

Dollars & Nonsense

2009-07-20T15:20:00.001-07:00

Everyone has an opinion--especially on the California state budget. Think you know what cuts and/or tax increases should apply to resolve the ~$23 billion deficit we face? Alright smarty pants, here's your opportunity. Take a crack at it by following the link provided by the LA Times.

Once your done, you can copy the link and paste it in the comments or print your results. Who are you willing to cut services to and/or who are you willing to tax to close the gap?

My thoughts on potential cuts and tax increases are here.

Bart Train Strike

2009-07-16T10:18:00.001-07:00

Bart union contracts expired last week, however, we've been fortunate that thus far no strikes have taken place. This is a relief given that the unions involved have given their leadership authority to call a strike, if warranted.

I've just received news this morning that there is a possibility of a strike Friday morning, which is the deadline for the current extension. I don't ride Bart so this is not something I'm overly concerned about. However, given the lack of a state budget, the current economic conditions of California, the reduction of Bart trains operating and the increased fares, now just seems like a terrible time to have a strike. I'm a firm believer in shared gains and shared sacrifices so if the unions have to compromise, so too should Bart management.

And what happens if there is a strike? Well, there is casual carpool, bike commuter vans and buses are certainly an option. But if history is any indicator, you can be sure that most bay area folks will be taking to their cars. Just what we need in the middle of a hot summer with more "spare the air" days expected.

Civil Disobedience

2009-06-19T09:07:00.000-07:00

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Ayatollah Ali Khameneni's speech this morning was disappointing, but not a surprise. Claiming a "definitive victory" is hard to believe given the 30 million+ votes that were hand counted in a few days time. It's also difficult to believe that the opposition candidates, and Mousavi in particular, received fewer votes in their respective districts than Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. That information, coupled with the huge turnout of protestors, implies something is amiss.

I assumed Khameneni's objective was to calm the masses, persuade them to accept the validity of Ahmadinejad's presidency and continue with the daily tasks of a spiritual leader. His efforts proved fruitless when the protestors grew in number after he proposed a partial recount. When protestors were killed at Tehran University, the voices of change spoke even louder. And now, as he threatens the protestorswith a crackdown, one can only wonder what this effect will have.

Ayatollah Khameneni, the President and others representing the status quo in Iran, need to know that civil disobedience prevails. The people are asking for what Henry David Thoreau wrote about so long ago, not to abolish government, but to improve it. Improvement begins by accepting the will of the people.

As we wait to see what happens in the coming days, I'll show my support for Mousavi by wearing green as well.

Be My Embrace Now

2009-04-29T10:02:00.000-07:00

Starbucks can't measure up to the addiction of this track. Enjoy and I'll be back when the broken bones heal.

pnau - embrace songs
Download free music | Download free mp3

Yo Yo Ma

2009-02-06T09:11:00.000-08:00

One of my resolutions for the new year (in fact, the past few years) has been to give up the addiction that is Starbucks. Specifically them delicious tall, non fat, no whip, extra hot mochas. I've been making great progress until today when I felt the need to reward myself for such great behavior. Plus it's a Friday--why the heck not.

I got my drink, and a heated butter croissant (yummy in my tummy!) and headed to the office. As some of you may know, there are quotes on the cups by various individuals. In the past I've read quotes by Madeline Albright, Andy Roddick and random customers as well. To my delight, this morning, was a quote by Yo Yo Ma. You may recall he performed at the inauguration last month and I've been a fan since he began collaborating on movie soundtracks.

The quote:"What I look for in musicians is generosity. There is so much to learn from each other and about each other's culture. Great creativity begins with tolerance."

I couldn't agree more with this quote. In fact, you could replace the word musicians with any noun and the quote would still be equally true. Well done Ma, well done.

Now back to that tasty cup o' joe.

Hail to the Chief: President Barack Obama

2009-01-20T09:05:00.000-08:00

You can catch Obama taking the Oath of Office (and link to his full inaugural address)

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Greed is Good Isn't It?

2008-12-04T16:29:00.000-08:00

If there's anything we've learned the past few months, it's that Gordon Gekko (aka Michael Douglas) had it wrong when he said "Greed is Good.". The real point, ladies and gentleman, is that smart regulation, competition, risk based pricing, open markets and access to capital are the basics for businesses to thrive responsibly.

What's been missing is smart regulation and risk based pricing within the credit markets, specifically the mortgage and home equity industry. The intent here is not to assign blame, although anyone who had their had in the cookie jar should be held accountable. After all, if we had risk based pricing, one could argue that the present delinquncy and default rates should have been forecasted appropriately by banking analysts.

So is it any real surprise that if such lax standards are witnessed in a highly regulated industry, like home mortgage, that other credit industries would fare worse? I'm no economist so if there's something I'm missing, do share.

President-Elect: Barack Obama

2008-11-05T08:55:00.000-08:00

Victory is sweet...

GO TV!

2008-11-04T10:38:00.000-08:00

It's election day in the USA and it couldn't come soon enough. After 21 months and a primary election, it'll be nice to get past partisan bickering and divisive campaign tactics by McShame and just move forward. Of course, it'll be easier to move forward if my candidate, Barack Obama, should win.

As expected, there were long lines this morning and I can only wonder if these will stretch out further for those after work voters. I cast my ballot this morning after waiting just over an hour. It was nice to connect with folks who were eager to place their votes. You could almost sense those who were voting for the first time or the first time in a really long time. And of course, you will see those who choose to walk away because they don't have "time" to wait in line; nevermind the fact we only do this once every four years.

It's going to be impossible concentrating on anything but the election over the next 12 hours. All I can say is get ready to embrace change. Regardless of your views, just Get Out the Vote today peoples!

As the Markets Crumble

2008-09-18T12:11:00.000-07:00

To say that it's been an interesting week on Wall Street, would be an understatement. The sell off in equities and the flight to safety isn't exactly news, but the sheer volume of activity yesterday was a phenomena. We typically see institutional investors, hedge fund managers, pension planners and others mitigating losses by loading up on Treasuries as quickly as possible before the portfolios they manage deteriorate further. We've known for a while the credit crunch consumers faced would lead to slow down in economic growth, despite the stimulus package sent out by the Bush administration. And because the US consumer drives 2/3 of our economy, that's exactly what happened. But what's happening now is further cause for concern. The Dow Jones was down well over 5% in one trading day--I don't believe we've seen that since the Great Depression. We've got our government interested in protecting the lives of corporations more than consumers. We've got Fannie and Freddie, the staples of the secondary market for mortgages, lacking sufficient capital to cover losses resulting in a takeover by Paulson and the US Treasury.

The only question I have is: what happened to laissez-fair economics? The current administration, the Republican Party and Adam Smith himself said the individual, and thus a corporation itself, will pursue its own gain as if led by an invisible hand. The companies in question took actions that drove their revenues through the roof during the peak of the housing market. And now that the market is contracting, they should deal with it. But we throw this view out the window because what's at risk are companies that have been around for over a 100 years? One could even argue that it's a matter of survival of the fittest and these firms should dissolve or be acquired. As a taxpayer, as a financial consultant and as a progressive democrat, I simply can not support these actions.

Change can't come soon enough.

Beijing Olympics Telecast

2008-08-20T10:44:00.000-07:00

It's been over a week now since the Olympics have been covered by the networks of NBC. And yet again, the West Coast has been getting the short end of the stick when it comes to "live" telecasts. As a fan of the games, I've been deeply disappointed with the events that NBC and its affiliates has broadcast but more importantly, the time that the games have been shown.
Would it really hurt NBC financially, to broadcast events at 5pm Pacific rather than 8pm? Does the network realize that some of the core audience members include school-aged kids who have to be in bed by a certain time? Or for that matter, that a large population of viewers also have to work the next morning? I wanted to stay up to watch the womens gymnastics team finals last week but the caffeine, no-doz and sugar cookies couldn't keep me awake after midnight. Not to mention that it became difficult to wake up the next day to go to work.

As the second week continues, I've decided to watch only those finals that will be televised before 11pm PST and read about the rest the next morning. One less viewer won't hurt NBC but I'm exercising my opinion as best I can.

It's the Economy, Stupid

2008-07-24T09:11:00.000-07:00

You can tell what's happening nationally by simply looking at what's transpiring locally...

For the past two weeks, something has been amiss with casual carpool and it finally became clear this morning. Not only has the line gotten longer, but the number of drivers has noticably decreased. The result, as with this morning, was a one hour commute door-to-door. But more importantly, it means that I've been getting in past 8am for work and that's not a good thing with early morning meetings. The explanation is simple--the price of gas. Given that the bay area has generally had higher fuel prices that the rest of the state, it's become clear the effect this is having on consumers. Couple that with the increase in the price of milk, other basics at Whole Foods or even Safeway, the cost of parking/taking Bart, and it serves as evidence the squeeze many are feeling.

My number finally arrived and I got into the car with the other 'poolers. We had a chatty driver and at some point the conversation turned to housing. He shared with us a story of his friend who was having trouble making the mortgage payment. His friend "John" had an interest only arm that was scheduleded to re-set at the end of the month. John worked with a mortgage broker who didn't properly explain what an I/O ARM was--the broker merely said that it was the type of mortgage John needed to get into his first home. The story didn't have a happy ending. John, like many folks these days, decided to walk away from the house and his mortgage payments all together.

We arrive in San Francisco, exit the car and go our separate ways. After logging onto the network and dialing into the conference call, my cell phone vibrates. Looks like mum was not able to convince Mamaji(uncle)about going to the Bollywood concert. Mamaji has been unemployed for over a year and the last thing he can afford to do is spend discretionary money on a concert--even if its Ash and Amitabh and Abishehk. I decide to take his place and of course, pay for the ticket.

Inflation, unemployment, the housing market, the credit crisis, call it what you will. At the end of the day, Bill Clinton said it best to the older Bush, "It's the Economy, Stupid."

Morcheeba is Back!

2008-07-06T21:17:00.000-07:00

Barack Obama

2008-02-05T16:18:00.000-08:00

I woke up this morning anxious to start the day. After stepping into the warmth of the sun in this new city, in my new neighborhood, the butterflies kicked into high gear. I held firmly onto the confirmation card--proof that I was registered to vote in the California Primary election. As a democrat, I looked forward to mulling over the slate of candidates running on our ticket for the presidential election. What other party, what other country, could you have a Latino, African American, Jewish AND female candidate all on the same ballot? My decision was easy and like most bay area progressives, Obama had won me over. His line at the Democrat National Convention 4 years earlier about, "...there's not a liberal America and a conservative America - there's the United States of America." along with his his views on politics as outlined in his book, "The Audicity of Hope" drew me in. You can read his entire DNC speech here:

As excited as I was voting for Obama, I had to acknowledge the fear of a "wasted vote." After all, Hillary Clinton had much greater name recognition and was considered the candidate to beat. But with politics as with personal choices, I wanted to ensure my decision was NOT based on fear. There were several friends who expressed an interest in Barack but they were afraid (primarily because of race) that he may lose to the Republican candidate in the national election. Basically, they had no faith that our fellow Americans would make a decision based on the best candidate. Pehaps my vote will be "wasted" as my vote for Ross in 1992. But there is something to be said for a candidate who can truly inspire and motivate a generation of young folks. He, along with Benazir, both give me hope for my country.

Benazir Bhutto

2008-01-08T11:08:00.000-08:00

Thursday December 27th, 2007. I remember this date as most of us would birthdays or any national holiday. I woke up some 3.5 hours away from home at 11am shivering from the cold and alone in large house. I headed towards the kitchen to make a pot of tea and turned on the TV as a substitute for company. The gas flames provided such much needed heat to my blue nails and cramping hands. And as my body began to warm up, i began to to hear what was echoing from CNN. Something about an assisination....someone in a hospital and Bhutto. Its funny that your mind can put the pieces together but actually accepting what your mind concludes takes much longer. I ran over towards the set and cranked up the volume because even your ears can play tricks on you. "Benzir Bhutto sucuumbs to her wounds...Benazir Bhutto has been assisinated."

Rewind 19 odd years ago to 1988-1989 in a different setting and I can remember first hearing her name on TV. First hearing of a woman who became prime minister in the country that was once part of India. The woman who was leading a Muslim nation in the same vein that Indira had led a predominatly Hindu India at the start of the decade. Here in the US, sat this young impressionable naive girl thinking to herself, "Wow, if countries like India and Pakistan can elect female leaders, its only a matter of time before my country, the USA will do so too!" I remember how excited I was at the idea. I remember hoping that she was a better woman than Indira, who had massacred thousands of Sikhs at the Golden Temple during her term. I remember wondering if there were any minority communities in Pakistan, wondering if other religions were represented in Pakistan. Wondering and hoping she would unite her country and not divide it as Indira had.

Benazir Bhutto would be in and out of the news many times with her signature chunni covering her head as I grew up. She was not my hero or my role model, she represented something more important. I will always remember that brief moment in time when she gave me hope for my own country. Hope.

Either / Or

2007-08-01T16:03:00.000-07:00

From the M word and originally published on the huffington post....a simple yet beautiful and profound poem that can help us all understand what it feels like for a girl...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kate-bornstein/gender-as-neithernor_b_58397.html

Meat is Murder

2006-04-28T16:18:00.000-07:00

Its always nice to know that in a time of need, The Smiths have always provided company with their song selection. This morning, "meat is murder" has been echoing in my mind. I don't expect you to know the song but it inspired this carnivore to change her ways 10 years ago. Yesterday, this vegetarian was diving into a burrito when I realized that the texture of the food in my mouth felt oddly out of place. It felt like rubber, it was chewy and and by the time I pushed it down my throat, it was too late. I looked down on my plate and saw a square piece of that chicken staring right at me. The convulsions started and while I did my best to control the overwhelming urge to regurgitate, a sliver of it managed to funnel up my throat. Thats a sure fire way to lose ones' appetite. My fellow vegetarian lunch mate looked at my plate, inspected the burrito and after careful prodding, assured me there were no other foreign substances. I was too hungry not to finish the meal so after a long sip of water to cleanse my palette, I picked up where I left off.

Its unfortunate that this happened at La Salsa--second only to Baja Fresh as my food of choice in downtown. Once scorned tho' I can't ever go back. The flesh you so fancifully fryed, was not succulent, tasty or kind. I went home that evening and the convulsions followed.

Hairdresser On Fire

2005-12-30T16:57:00.000-08:00

...or put another way...imma 'bout to fire my hairdresser. Dammit...its always the little battles that can friggin make or break your day! Did y'all hear the words that were coming outta ma mouth? I asked for partial highlights not full highlights nor to be charged for them. I specifically did not want black but you felt compelled to use that color anyway. Do you see the people that work in your salon? Do you see that 99% of them have black hair and yet every single one of them, has different highlights? Can you treat this customer in the same manner that all y'all would wanna be treated and touched?Don't get me wrong here now..loved the 20 minute head massage and the eye candy but that did NOT give you the right to treat me as your pesonal guinea pig. Did you hear me say I wanted to cut my hair? Its only taken 9 months to grow out, but sure what the f*ck...chop it off..chop it all off and go scissor happy why don't ya.I just wanted you to psychologically save me and I had faith in you...but within an hour that power just totally destroyed me. Thank You.

ABCs and 123s

2005-07-19T17:15:00.000-07:00

After settling down from the month long birthday festivities, I've been on a quest for balance, on the hunt for intellectual stimulation that can come by the way of a well written book. The books that capture my attention are usually referrals from friends or personal discoveries based on subject matter and every now and then, I admit to judging them by their covers. So with a few recommendations in hand, I walked down to the local bookstore and began my shopping spree. Bypassing the Harry Potter stand and avoiding the discount section, I came across a circular table with just one book. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a post mortem release by Shel Silverstein titled, "Runny Babbit". Did you get that?? Your eyes did not deceive--it takes about 10 seconds for the brain to process and send you a message that what you read is Bunny Rabbit, regardless of what your eyes actually see. I picked up the book and began flipping through it to see if indeed, the entire book was written in this manner. It was. And it freaked me out. My heart started racing with the fervor of someone watching a horror flick. Reading this book was either going to cure the dyslexia that I've battled over the years, or was it going to exacerbate it. I was too scared to find out so I put it down and walked away. Never one to leave empty handed, I picked up some crossword puzzles and in the effort of self-improvement, "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People." Jackson 5 ....Michael J...wha chu' talking about?? ABC's are not as easy for me as 123's. That's why I stick with numbers baby.

Naked Music

2005-05-15T17:22:00.000-07:00

How many of you were up at the crack of dawn this morning checking out the Bay to Breakers? Better yet, how many of yous were actually running in it?? I was standing above Howard Street in my friends condo looking down at the runners in their birthday suits, running elvis's, the pope and other characters that came out for the annual-only-in-SF marathon from the the SF Bay to the Pacific Ocean. Did y'all see the group who sported the Wendy's contraption? That bowl of chili labeled, "finger lickin' good?" Oh lord, that was knee slapping humor at its best. Where's a camera phone when you need it! With the soundtrack of SF's own Miguel Migs blasting from her condo, it seems fitting that the two words that best describe this annual event are Naked and Music. Maybe next year....i'll give it a shot.