Pro-Legalization, Anti-Hood

I'm totally for legalization, but I also emphatically second the statement of James Anthony, who represents legal medical marijuana dispensaries: "Lemon Drop was illegal, it was dangerous and it was undermining the medical cannabis movement. There's no place for that kind of activity in Oakland." What I don't get is why you would start an illegitimate dispensary?

What's interesting about legitimate pot clubs is that even frequent marijuana users, especially ones with families, have a major NIMBY problem with them. Granted, I wouldn't want pot smoke drifting into my backyard or open window, but I also don't think there's any data showing that crime is associated with them. If there is, please bring it to my attention.

In the meantime, support Tom Ammiano's bill: legalize marijuana, wipe out part of the state's fiscal problems, lower crime.

Shooting Suspects in SF Go To Oakland to Escape

Isn't this a little embarrassing? Someone dropped the ball here. I can't help but immediately think it went like this: SF cops chase suspects across bridge, call OPD ahead of time to tell them the suspects are coming, and the understaffed and demoralized OPD doesn't have units in place in time and the suspects get away in downtown Oakland. That's speculation, and it's unfair, but unfortunately that's the automatic assumption that OPD will have to combat.

Ichiro is Good. You Should Eat There

How's that for a plug? Except it really was good. Eat there. I command thee!

And the Trappist the other night was packed and a lot of fun, but the chocolate-and-beer tasting looked to be sold out, so I was forced to do the unthinkable and just drink beer. Now that I'm a Respected Member of the Oakland Blogging Community, I should start remembering what I eat and drink so I can write about it later. Suffice it to say a friend introduced me at the Trappist to a "beer" that was at once hoppy and sweet and vinegary, and maybe the strangest beer I ever had, and I liked it. And it was only the third one of the night. Ask for it in there. I'm sure they'll know which one you mean.

Beer Week in Oakland

SF Beer Week is having events all over the Bay the week of 6-15 Feb, with events at The Trappist, Cato's Ale House, Oliveto, Miss Pearl's Jamhouse, and culminating the events all over the Bay at the Oakland Convention Center. Check out the East Bay events here. I'll probably head down to the Trappist on Wednesday for the beer and chocolate event on Wednesday the 11th.

The Nice People Who Organized the Protests

Interesting information about the organizers of some of the earlier Oscar-Grant inspired protests that turned violent. Keep in mind when you leave links outside the site like this one that I have no way of verifying if the names mentioned are legitimately implicated.

Call the Mayor's Office - They'll Actually Call Back

I just read on a neighborhood forum where a private citizen called in with her recommendation for Police Chief, and someone from Dellums' office called her back to ask about it. Encouraging.

More Fun Hyperlocal Rockridge Stuff: Pugs and Hummingbirds

I'm thrilled by all the readers who've dropped in and commented so early in my blog's history. I really want to make this more of a local casual blog instead of putting on my Serious Writing Face every time I post, and include more local Rockridge stuff. There's no point in my recycling political news, especially because I'm new to Oakland and I often don't have much to add to the conversation. When I do have something about local politics to say I'll say it here. In the meantime:

I've developed a hummingbird obsession. Fish are to Frank Gehry as hummingbirds are to me. Fascinating that something which today fills the same niche as insects and is occasionally eaten by them is descended from theropods (dinosaurs) and that the evolution of their speed and metabolism has a ceiling based on the limits of kidney filtration (though there's some argument that it's mitochondrial function too). They're a biochemical swiss watch. They're an evolutionary treasure - something I would be proud to show an alien if I met one, as proof of the awesomeness of my biosphere. I've often wondered how close we are to building an RC plane the size of a hummingbird. Put a little camera on it. Fly it down to the corner on Sunday morning before you go to see if there's a line at the breakfast place.

This time of year they don't have many flowers to drink from. The other day one was flying along the edge of my balcony, methodically searching every square inch for sugar. He got quite close to me in the process and seemed desperate. Given their metabolism, they can go from well-fed to death by starvation in literally an hour. So I made a little feeder for them and hung it in the courtyard of my building with some fake red flowers to draw them. I hope they find it.

Equally randomly, there are two pugs next door that, when they let themselves out through the dog door into their yard, scream and cry until they've been let back in. They sound for all the world like they're dying slow and agonizing deaths. Once you realize it's just these two dummies wallowing in their separation anxiety the performance becomes not only tolerable, but progressively more hilarious every time.