SF Film Society

The documentary about James Baldwin  I Am Not Your Negro showing 3 pm, November 6, at the Vogue Theatre.

American Indian Film Festival

American Indian Film Festival

San Francisco

Nov 4-11
Film Schedule

Matson building on Market

When we bred Borzoi thirty years ago, we had the renowned Duncan line, which we crossed with a lineage from the Russian Tsar. A Matson Navigation heir from San Francisco purchased a pup from our last litter, and went horseback riding with us at our small 'ranch'. When I moved to SF, I was surprised to see the Matson building, as I walked from Noah's Bagels at Battery & Bush to the Montgomery Street BART station, on my commute to New College 2001-2002.

1962

In 1962, when I was ten years old, I wondered how life could possibly get better.

Willie Mays and the San Francisco Giants were in the World Series, JFK and Jackie were in the White House, the Beatles released their first hit single, and Lawrence of Arabia was showing at the cinema.

What a year.

Dubious Statistics

The Social Security Administration reports that the cost-of-living adjustment for 2017 will be a whopping 0.3%. That translates into a monthly increase of less than $4 a month for the average Social Security recipient. The cost-of-living adjustment is based on the Consumer Price Index, generated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which measures price changes for food, housing, clothing, transportation, energy, medical care, recreation and education.

Meanwhile, the American Community Survey, part of the U.S. Census Bureau, reports that ten thousand low and middle income households leave San Francisco every year, replaced by new high income residents that can afford the skyrocketing rents. Anecdotally, a one-bedroom apartment in 2010 cost $1,000 a month. In 2012, it cost $2,000 a month. Today, it goes for $3,000 a month.

Three of the years since 2008 showed no cost-of-living increase for Social Security. Only once was it above 2%. Something doesn't add up.

Update on U.S. government screwing the elderly and disabled by cooking the books.

Consequences of Prohibition

California voters have it in their power to take crime out of marijuana, including the exploitation of industry workers at the mercy of wealthy and powerful black market growers, some of whom abuse this power to rape and mistreat young women.

Lyon at the Leica

The Leica Gallery exhibits Fred Lyon through October 21.

Better than Nothing

Counseling for anxiety and depression, "often exacerbated by poverty and inadequate housing," is less costly than emergency rooms. While the Affordable Care Act provides for counseling by licensed clinical social workers and psychologists, licensed marriage and family therapists were excluded from reimbursement by Medi-Cal. Under the new law signed by Governor Brown, Medi-Cal patients at federally-funded clinics will have expanded access to mental health services.

While the quality of mental health care under Medi-Cal--like all health services for the poor--is lower than that of those who have private insurance, it is arguably better than nothing.

Backpage Sex Trade

Backpage CEO Carl Ferrer and controlling shareholders Michael Lacey and James Larkin were charged with conspiracy to commit pimping using classified ads. The investigation, prompted by reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, “found that many of the ads for prostitution services involved victims of sex trafficking, including children under the age of 18.” California Attorney General Kamala Harris said that Backpage was designed as an online brothel.

A Bit Quirky

'Sisters' who wear nuns' habits and grow pot but aren't really nuns. Yes, I'd say they are "a bit quirky".

Bad Habits, a short doc about the Merced marijuana entrepreneurs, screens at the Mill Valley Film Festival October 8 & 13.