Thursday, July 23, 2009

Life in San Francisco, where it's impossible to write satire.

"Singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" in church is something I will never forget."

From the Most Holy Redeemer parish bulletin of July 19:

"My daughter and I were visiting from southern California last weekend (pride weekend). I am a cradle Catholic and belong to a wonderful church in Yorba Linda- St. Martin de Porres. I just wanted you to know what a wonderful experience we had in your church. Although we goofed up the time and came late to mass, we were made to feel welcome by the friendly greeter at the door who showed us where to enter and not feel disruptive. Three separate people came up to us and spoke to us, welcomed us, invited us to fellowship downstairs after mass. The beautiful feeling of inclusion and spiritual peace is palpable in your church. The music was incredible. Singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" in church is something I will never forget...."

It's too perfect--couldn't make it up in a million years.
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And at the (Jesuit) University of San Francisco, an Art Professor tries "urine capture" as art.

"Creative Capital for USF Artists

Two University of San Francisco art professors have been chosen as 2009 Creative Capital grant winners for their work breaking down barriers and raising awareness.

Amy Franceschini, assistant professor of visual arts, and Roberto Gutierrez Varea, associate professor and chair of performing arts, have each been award multi-year grants from Creative Capital, a national nonprofit that supports and funds adventurous and imaginative artists in the performing and visual arts, film or video, innovative literature, and other emerging fields.

'The Creative Capital award is much more than the financial support. This group offers professional support and access to a network of other funders, publishers, fellowships, and publicity,' said Franceschini. 'This is something that is priceless.' "

Priceless indeed:

"Franceschini is working with San Francisco’s Exploratorium on a plan to install urine-capturing receptacles in the museum’s bathrooms, for the first of a three-part art series titled 'Local Landscape Campus.' The captured urine will be used to water and fertilize a garden installation at the museum to illustrate the possibilities of recycling.

'It is a cross-disciplinary research and social critique, focusing on how humans create, interact with, and impact the world they inhabit,' Franceschini said."
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And a San Francisco City Supervisor is moving his family out of the city for the sake of his children.

From today's San Francisco Chronicle:

"District 6 Supervisor Chris Daly, who has often mocked his critics who do not live in San Francisco, announced today that he and his wife have purchased a house in Fairfield and that she and their two children moved there a month ago. Public records show that Daly and his wife, Sarah Low, purchased the home on a suburban cul de sac in Fairfield in April.

Writing in the Fog City Journal blog, Daly said the home is "two doors away from Sarah's childhood home, where her parents still live." He said the decision to move was made because, 'Sarah and I are determined to do what is best for our kids - which means moving them closer to multi-generational family support.'"

Supervisor Daly is clownish , in a nasty way, even by San Francisco standards. But we applaud his effort to do what is best for his kids--and admire his insight that any place that would elect him to public office is probably not the best place to raise kids.

Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney

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