Politics
How much of an impact are short term rentals on the SF housing crisis?
(click on the image to get a larger version with more details) (click the image to get a larger version with more details) Something about the discussion of the housing crisis has always bothered me. We’ve had a housing crisis for years. How can Airbnb be a factor in the housing crisis when it…
Read MoreJune 3rd SF ballot
In the interest of provoking a thoughtful decision about my own votes (and yours) I’m posting my thoughts and recommendations for the upcoming election. Because I live in a precinct with too few voters to have a poll, I vote by mail usually, so I have my ballot for weeks before the actual election. That…
Read MoreTurning the web black
Many years ago I ran an online grassroots group called the Voters Telecommunications Watch and was part of the "Turn The Web Black Day" protest. The folks at Old Wide Web have done a bit of history of that day with an interview of me. I'm happy to have had some small role in the…
Read MoreI fucking draw the line at nudity.
A few weeks ago I had to fly to DC for some business. I flew Virgin America. If Virgin America was a woman, I’d cheat on my wife. They understand the psychology of what frustrates people on planes so well, and have architected the experience so perfectly, that I’m in love. Anyway, I flew SFO…
Read MoreConsider Larry Lessig for the long list for the Supreme Court
I’m sure that since the transition, President Obama’s team has been thinking about nominees for the Supreme Court. A democratic president means that some of the justices that weren’t comfortable with an imbalance on the court could finally get to retire. And now we have one. I don’t know if they’ve considered it, and I…
Read MoreThe cost of the inauguration
On Inauguration Day one of my oldest friends asked on Facebook quite innocently "[I] just read that this inauguration cost 170 MILLION dollars… Wow… Don't care who's going in to office… did we really need to spend that much at this time?" With all the respect that's due someone I've known for 20+ years, I…
Read MoreShenanigans in Reno, NV
My Obama partner and I have two red staters assigned to watch us. We all sit here in the observer pen. They complain about everything we do, and have the McCain palin lawyers on speed dial. My friend in sparks brought me a coat and hat since it's snowing and the McCain volunteer stood…
Read MoreRandom phone banking conversations about gay marriage
I phonebank two or three times a week now for the Barack Obama presidential campaign and the No on Proposition 8 campaign here in California. I did a three hour stint last night with Stefani and Shannon at the headquarters in the Castro. Honestly, California, as a state, is a political mess. Legislative gridlock, dedicated…
Read More“Hillary for you and me, bring back our democracy”
Yes Hillary let’s bring back democracy, starting with letting the courts enforce our Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable search and seizure. Perhaps you’ll get a chance to vote on it? FAIL
Read MoreHillary Clinton skips telecomm immunity vote, Obama stands up for our Fourth Amendment rights
One of the major casualties of the war on terror, along with my optimism and my trust, has been American civil liberties. We have given away so much in such little time against an enemy that has become a rhetorical device. “There is a very important choice and a big difference between the candidates in…
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