San Diego Free Press

Grassroots News & Progressive Views

Thank You From the San Diego Free Press

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Posted in: #ResistanceSD, Activism

And other important info

Dear friends,

The day has come to dim the lights at the San Diego Free Press. We could not have had such a successful six and a half year run without you. Each one of you invested something essential in this endeavor, whether it was through your thought-provoking submissions, committed readership, or crucial financial support. We are so grateful for the opportunities we have had as editors to get to know so many of you personally.

We have some important good news to convey. We were able to renew our server contract, which keeps the site live, through June 2021! That means that even though we will no longer be publishing new content, our archives, comprised of more than 9,000 posts, will be accessible on the site through that date. To those of you who recently donated, you helped to make that extension possible – thank you so very much.

There are a few other details that we would like to leave you with.   [Read more…]

Last Call. Last Column.

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Posted in: Culture, The Starting Line

Well, this is it folks.

It’s time to move on to whatever the next chapter in my life is going to be. A lot has happened since the SDFP site went live on June 4, 2012, and I have a few closing (and personal) thoughts to express.   [Read more…]

Dear San Diego Free Press …

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Posted in: Activism, Media

Amidst the slick, coiffed, ambitious and self-possessed multitude responsible for filling the pipelines of our society with relevant, accurate information, you are the plumbers in overalls, the guys with dirty fingernails, overtired from double shifts, trying to figure out how to finish each new job with too few workers. But unlike plumbers, you are the unpaid, the unprofitable, the squeaking-by artisans of heartfelt truth lodged in the souls of people seeking some way of expressing their deepest concerns in a letter, comment, story, critique or poem.   [Read more…]

Microplastics Are Everywhere – In Us Too

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Posted in: Environment

What do beer, oysters, table salt, air & tap water have in common? They’re all ways humans are ingesting microplastics, tiny bits of plastic waste ubiquitous in oceans, lakes and rivers and even soil and air.

Wildlife as diverse as whales, seabirds, fish and zooplankton are polluted by ingesting plastic debris. It’s naïve to assume that humans, sharing the same global environment and eating at the top of the food chain, are magically spared contamination from plastics.

Though no one has yet measured how much plastic pollution humans actually carry around, there’s plenty of evidence we’re taking the stuff in, by eating, drinking and just breathing.   [Read more…]

Word’s Out | Geo-Poetic Spaces

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Posted in: Books & Poetry, Geo-Poetic Spaces

Where drought hasn’t melted men
into three seasons

A shuffle of footsteps
in discarded leaves
warns

Winter is coming   [Read more…]

Movin’ on with style and grace … | Video Worth Watching

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Posted in: Film & Theater, Music, Video Worth Watching

Old Movie Stars Dance to Uptown Funk
(Turn on captions to see movie titles)   [Read more…]

Which Presidential Candidate Will You Support in 2020?

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Posted in: The Starting Line

Ugh. The next presidential sweepstakes has already started. They’ve barely finished counting votes from the midterms and already there are [stupid] political rants on social media about the Democratic headliners for next election. It’s almost as bad as hearing “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” in September.

Once upon a time these discussions were along the lines of “my candidate is better than yours;” now it’s you’re not a true progressive if you don’t support [fill-in-the-blank]. Pffft. The argument for ending that argument amounts to two words: Donald Trump.

The activist group MoveOn has asked subscribers on its out sized email list who’d they like to see as the Democratic candidate in 2020. I suspect this straw poll is more about engagement and fundraising than it is about flexing political muscle.   [Read more…]

And Then They Came for the Vietnamese…

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Posted in: Immigration, Race and Racism

By Abby Zimet / Common Dreams

What fresh hell is this? In yet another mindlessly cruel, deeply racist, utterly pointless move aimed at – what?! distracting the masses from the dumpster fire engulfing him? flexing his psychotic muscle by trying to find more people of color he can traumatize? – the Trump administration (sic) wants to deport certain Vietnamese refugees who may or may not have committed any crimes but they’re not quite white so really does it matter?   [Read more…]

Amazon’s Disturbing Plan to Add Face Surveillance to Your Front Door

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Posted in: Courts, Justice, Government

By Jacob Snow, Technology & Civil Liberties Attorney, ACLU of Northern California / ACLU Speak Freely

Recently, a patent application from Amazon became public that would pair face surveillance — like Rekognition, the product that the company is aggressively marketing to police and Immigration and Customs Enforcement — with Ring, a doorbell camera company that Amazon bought earlier this year.

While the details are sketchy, the application describes a system that the police can use to match the faces of people walking by a doorbell camera with a photo database of persons they deem “suspicious.” Likewise, homeowners can also add photos of “suspicious” people into the system and then the doorbell’s facial recognition program will scan anyone passing their home. In either case, if a match occurs, the person’s face can be automatically sent to law enforcement, and the police could arrive in minutes.

As a former patent litigator, I’ve spent a lot of time reading patents. It’s rare for patent applications to lay out, in such nightmarish detail, the world a company wants to bring about. Amazon is dreaming of a dangerous future, with its technology at the center of a massive decentralized surveillance network, running real-time facial recognition on members of the public using cameras installed in people’s doorbells.   [Read more…]

Future of Journalism is in Our Hands

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Posted in: Media

The never ending hunt for truth is a turbulent journey

By Olivia Tai and Ebony Estrada

The future of journalism is in our hands, the younger generation. As young, aspiring journalists, we strive to bring awareness to the industry. With all the talk of fake news and slandering of journalism, people may see journalism in a negative light. We want to change this perception.

Journalism is one of the most essential elements of having a functioning, educated society. However, with the all the chaos and disarray of the modern day, journalism has been met with much skepticism. Cries of “fake news” run rampant, and faith in the integrity of journalism is in decline. The objective of journalism is to inform and educate. It is our goal to bring back the passion for truth in journalism and remember that it is a tool that can truly help the underrepresented, underprivileged, and those without a voice.   [Read more…]

Paul Ryan’s Cowardly Act On Yemen | Video Worth Watching

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Posted in: Government, Politics, Video Worth Watching, War and Peace

Chris Hayes of MSNBC’s All In reports that one of the last acts of the current Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, has been to block any vote on the U.S. involvement in Yemen by inserting a rule into the farm bill with language that achieves that purpose. The HuffPost notes that five Democrats joined Republicans in adding that language to the farm bill. The U.S. currently provides many support functions for the Saudi War in Yemen which has starved tens of thousands and threatens to starve 14 million people.   [Read more…]

Mounting the Assault on Big Gay and Other Drivel From SDSU’s Minimum Wage Scrooge

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Posted in: Economy, LGBT, Politics, The Starting Line

A congressional hearing on the economic consequences of a $15 hourly minimum wage was cancelled this week due to revelations about bigotry penned under the guise of satire by one of its primary witnesses, San Diego State University economist Joseph Sabia.

The House Education and Workforce Committee was ready to feature testimony asserting poverty wages are in the national interest.

Sabia, an economist who penned a paper titled Minimum Wages: A Poor Way to Reduce Poverty, was to be their star witness until his past came back to haunt him.   [Read more…]

Warm-Weather Christmas | A Photographic Look

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Posted in: Arts, Culture

Like many San Diegans, I came from elsewhere. Both other places I had lived are in colder climes, so when I first came here (on a short winter vacation that became permanent) I was fascinated with the way Christmas is celebrated in warm latitudes. Like flocking of Christmas trees to simulate snow. What? I never even heard of that until I got to SoCal.

But what I really like is not ways that cold-weather traditions are mutated, but rather the original ways that a holiday associated with winter and being indoors is celebrated in warm weather.   [Read more…]

From One Worthless Immigrant to the American People: Don’t Say I Never Gave You Anything

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Posted in: Culture

Dear Ohio – The Last Installment
From my new place in the soul of the universe, where I have resided only days, I look down at my worthless life as an immigrant.

Who am I, Hermelinda Barbachano, to say my life was of value to my fellow Americans?

I leave behind useful but few belongings – minimal furniture, used clothing, some old small kitchen appliances, extra medical supplies, a wheelchair, a portable commode and a walker. Beyond that, I fear you might be blind to the gifts I have given you. After all, we live in a time when material things are the only gifts that matter.   [Read more…]

Don’t Believe Trump Is an Idiot? Don’t Take Our Word For It. Ask Google Images … | Video Worth Watching

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Posted in: Culture, Satire, Video Worth Watching

Don’t believe that Trump is an idiot? Don’t take our word for it. Ask Google Images … Go ahead, try it.   [Read more…]

With a Democratic SuperMajority on the San Diego City Council, It’s Time to Go Bold on the Environment

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Posted in: City Planning, Environment, The Starting Line

I remember a time not so long ago when the very idea of Georgette Gomez sitting on the City Council (let alone being President and setting the agenda), would have been considered wishful thinking in local political circles.

Gomez ran for the District 9 Council seat as the outsider, the person with progressive principles and a background in environmental activism. She persisted, made it through the primary and, despite the not-so-covert maneuvering of the usual propertied suspects, won in the November 2016 general election.

The vote to confirm Gomez as City Council President was unanimous, with both Republicans singing her praises. Go figure–having principles and being honest can foster real progress.   [Read more…]

140+ Arrested as Youth-Led Protests Demand Green New Deal on Capitol Hill

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Posted in: Activism, Culture, Environment

By Julia Conley / Common Dreams

Before presumptive House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) even appeared at her office to hear from young Americans who had traveled from all over the country to urge her to back a Green New Deal, Capitol police arrived Monday and arrested more than 60 of the protesters. As of this writing, at least 143 demonstrators had been arrested as they lobbied in 50 congressional offices.

More than 1,000 young people and allies flooded the Capitol Hill hallways and offices of Democratic representatives to demand that elected officials listen to their youngest constituents—as well as some of the world’s top scientists—and back the bold proposal to shift the U.S. to a zero-carbon energy system by 2050 in order to save the planet from an irreversible climate catastrophe. Thanks to efforts spearheaded by the youth-led Sunrise Movement, the number of Democratic lawmakers now supporting a Select Committee on a Green New deal has now swelled to 23.   [Read more…]

30 Arrested at Border for Nonviolent Action in Support of Migrant Caravans

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Posted in: Activism, Immigration

Border Patrol agents in riot gear stop faith leaders in Border Field State Park

By American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)

On the afternoon of December 10th, dozens of faith leaders were arrested in an act of nonviolent civil disobedience at the U.S.-Mexico border. More than 400 people of faith and supporters gathered in Border Field State Park in San Diego in support of migrants seeking refuge in the U.S. Faith leaders guided the group in a solemn procession to the border. When they reached the enforcement zone, they were stopped by a line of Border Patrol agents in riot gear. Leaders moved forward to offer a ceremonial blessing. Thirty people were taken into custody.   [Read more…]

Obama Once Again Getting the Word Out on Health Insurance Enrollment and This Year’s Deadline of December 15 | Video Worth Watching

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Posted in: Government, Health, Video Worth Watching

The deadline this year for enrolling in an ACA health plan is December 15th. President Barack Obama is back to remind potential enrollees of the need to sign up for health insurance coverage at HealthCare.gov by that date.   [Read more…]

Saudi Arabia – Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj | More Video Worth Watching

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Posted in: Government, Politics, Video Worth Watching, War and Peace

Still looking for a good explanation of the current dynamics of the U.S. relationship with Saudi Arabia? Hasan Minhaj has you covered; facts and biting humor make it real. [NSFW: language]   [Read more…]

Hate Crimes in San Diego Don’t Just Happen in a Void

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Posted in: Courts, Justice, Culture, Race and Racism, The Starting Line

Today’s Union-Tribune has a front page article about hate crimes in San Diego County. There are lots of details about criminal/hate-inspired actions and almost no acknowledgement as to what motivates them.

Hate crimes are up, we’re told. While local prosecutions have increased in the past year, most hate crimes aren’t reported.

A majority (60%) of hate crimes are directed at people based on their race or ethnicity, followed by religion (20%) and LGBTQ (16%) orientation.   [Read more…]

The San Diego Free Press Was a Gift

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Posted in: Media, Politics, Under the Perfect Sun

The San Diego Free Press will soon be gone. And with its departure, San Diego will be losing a precious space—the only unapologetically progressive outlet in the city.

We had a good run through some incredibly challenging times locally and nationally and did enough excellent work to irritate a fair number of politicians and local power brokers.

That’s worth celebrating.   [Read more…]

Should Democrats, like Superman, Seek ‘Truth, Justice and the American Way’?

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Posted in: Culture, From the Soul, Politics

I had a moment a little while ago when I was thinking about the notion that democrats, in spite of recent political victories (Yes!!!) need to come up with a message or at least a snappy meme, that resonates with voters (and more and more people are becoming so designated).

In that same moment I happened to turn the TV on and a man on C-SPAN was discussing superheroes, how they are mostly about creating a better world, citing Superman’s pursuit of “Truth, Justice and the American Way.”

That triggered in my mind, right away, long ago days, when I was all caught up in the excitement of “Look! Up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane!” feigning flying, with a croker sack or a pillow case or half a sheet tied to my neck, rescuing dames in distress and going upside the head of evil geniuses and tricksters and anyone daring to challenge my super powers – seeking, basically, “Truth, Justice, and the American Way.”   [Read more…]

Ode to California and The San Diego Free Press

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Posted in: Culture

It was 1975. My parents got the bright idea to escape the Philadelphia winter by taking the kids on a two-week California trip. This vacation wasn’t well-planned and cushy like the times we stayed at the Greenbriar, the Waldorf, or those hotels in Italy. The California vacation was an impromptu, free-wheeling, down-and-dirty road trip. Maybe that’s why I liked it so much.

It was an ambitious, almost insane, venture. Parents and five kids, ages toddler through pre-teen, crammed ourselves into a rented station wagon and winged a sight-seeing tour in which we drove from San Francisco all the way down into Tijuana. We stayed at whatever cheap hotel would have us.

The front seat of the car featured constant bickering, mostly about maps. The middle seat offered lots of crying and an overpowering stench of dirty diapers. Rip-roaring, hair-pulling fights were common in that section too. They erupted whenever one of the kids overstayed his or her time on the coveted floor hump.   [Read more…]

U.S. Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey reads ‘Incident’ | Video Worth Watching

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Posted in: Books & Poetry, Race and Racism, Video Worth Watching

Natasha Trethewey, U.S. Poet Laureate of 2012-2104, was born in Gulfport, Mississippi on April 26, 1966. I suspect that the incident described in this poem was a lived experience and not mere literary invention. There was something chilling about reading, at this time of year, the line describing “the cross trussed like a Christmas tree”.   [Read more…]

Lavinia Meijer Plays Philip Glass’ Metamorphosis Two, Flowing on Harp | Video Worth Watching

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Posted in: Music, Video Worth Watching

During the holiday season the harp seems to stand out a bit more in the orchestral landscape than usual, although its repertoire tends to be limited to the traditional holiday fare. I find it regrettable that it doesn’t seem to get as much attention during the rest of the year, and I appreciate works outside of the holiday canon that demonstrate the versatility of the instrument. Here is a performance by Lavinia Meijer playing Philip Glass’ Metamorphosis Two, Flowing. It was recorded in the church of the Reformed Gemeente Kortenhoef for the Dutch radio station NPO 4’s program NTR Podium.   [Read more…]

night cap – Charles Bukowski | Video Worth Watching

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Posted in: Books & Poetry, Video Worth Watching

night cap

there is no avenging angel or red burning devil
there is only me sitting here
at the age of 70
playing with the word.   [Read more…]

Amping Up the War on Christmas

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Posted in: Politics, The Starting Line

It’s the most wonderful time of the year for the town criers at Fox News, when reality intrudes on their dreams of a White (Evangelical) Christmas.

This year the outrage was triggered by a church nativity scene referencing hypocracy about attitudes toward immigrants and an asssertion about The Left opting for child pornography over Rudolf the Red Nose Reinder for holiday entertainment.

San Diego’s Mike Slater got the call from Fox and Friends this morning to bemoan a statanic statue in Illinois, and the banning of candy Christmas canes in a Nebraska classroom.

Last year it was the #MeToo movement spoiling office holiday parties as companies limit alcohol consumption. And who could forget the 2015 uproar over Starbucks cups with “no Christmas designs?”   [Read more…]

Bob Dorn: Requiem for a Renaissance Man

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Posted in: Books & Poetry, Culture

There’s a funeral toast, “Here’s to a man whose like won’t come this way again.” That’s Bob Dorn. Writer, jazz man, stone mason, gardener, cook, and maker of carnival masks; he was also a warm, witty, and constant friend. About that last semi-colon, Bob and I had two caffeine-fueled discussions on the semi-colon, which he put to bed with these words,

“I think the notion that language usage should (or could) be proper is
‘… a hobgoblin of small minds’ (Emerson). Communication is the proper aim of writing.”

When I met Bob early in 2013 he had been playing the trumpet for many years, and for me jazz informed his writing in ways wonderful and a little mysterious. After asking him about the process in a couple of different ways, Bob emailed on his 74th birthday,

“Music’s even more mysterious to me than
language but the comparison isn’t fair because language …. ? I was
gonna say it’s more like rocks fitted together and music has structure,
but that’s not good enough because there are musicians who can
can explain the system but they often can’t play as well as others who
nevertheless can’t explain the system. There’s a so-what in there,
someplace. One thing that comes to mind is
that there are alternative phrases in jazz and writing. A phrase like,
“dawn came a little slowly…” might be jazzy, but “he waited for a dawn
that never seemed to arrive” is more like writing.”

Updated Jan. 5, 2019: to include memorial service info   [Read more…]

Political Love Affair | Geo-Poetic Spaces

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Posted in: Books & Poetry, Geo-Poetic Spaces

I tried to leave
because she
can be cruel
to women and children
unkind to the strangers
she once was herself

Round corners
in a remote countries
and there she was
looking out of starry eyes
waving wind

Stowed in my suitcase
carried over seas of clouds   [Read more…]

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