Content for Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Blog Entries

News & Stories

Surf Trip to Jalama Beach, CA

We left at 12:00 a.m., Tuesday, October 25, 2011, en route to Jalama Beach County Park from San Diego for a surf trip. Research told us that campers have to arrive at the park's flag ...

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: A Study in Contrasts

Kuala Lumpur is, above all, a city of contrasts. The capital of Malaysia is an interesting mix of the historic, traditional Asia and the modern, hip Asia. Its ethnically diverse population of Malays, Chinese and ...

Shot in Tijuana: Edificio Mexico 1945

Scaffold-leaping laborers chisel off paint from a building façade labeled, in bas relief letters, “Edificio Mexico 1945." They’re preparing to slather the building with cement for the new tenant. The building, located by the grand ...

When in El Salvador...

It was a dark and rainstormy night. Marvel as our hero tramps undaunted through the dripping streets of Grant Hill. Crosses 26th, 27th, 28th, ever searching for his Shangri-La. Aha! Suddenly, lights! Camera! ¡Acción! A ...

Missoula, Montana

“Hey! It’s a red light!” I screamed as Sarah drove into the intersection. “Sorry, I really can’t drive and talk at the same time,” she said, “I’m on antidepressants.” At the next light I gestured ...

333 Pacific’s Pier View Cocktail

One of the newest items on 333 Pacific’s drink menu is bar manager Kevin Kitchen’s Pier View cocktail. Named in honor of the third-of-a-mile-long Oceanside Pier that serves as the restaurant’s nighttime vista, Kitchen’s concoction ...

Tots on the Side at Tobey's 19th Hole

The sun glinted off oak trees. Golf carts waddled down the fairway. A dry, light breeze signaled an impending Santa Ana. I gazed upon this glorious scene, sipping Stella Artois, happy to be alive and ...

Inheritance, by Christopher Paolini

What are you reading? “Inheritance, by Christopher Paolini. This is the last book in his Eragon series, and it just came out today. I started reading the series because my brother read the first one, ...

Work 10 Weeks, Take 10 Months Off, Part 3

I’m at table with Ms. Abby in the tea room of the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco. My current girlfriend has dressed me with care (Harris Tweed sports coat, matching slacks, shoes, and tie), ...

Pumpkin Pies: A Ten-Pie Test

“You’ll have to do without the bourbon-cherry-apple pie,” I told Patrick. “This year, I’m bringing a ready-made pumpkin pie.” A few days later, after making the store rounds, Patrick and I sat down with friend ...

The Only Way to Walk Across the Border in Five Minutes

It is with some reluctance that I write about my recent acquisition of the SENTRI border-crossing card because, well, I got a good thing going. After years of standing for hours in that long, sinuous ...

The Kelsea Little Story, starring Zooey Deschanel

“My music sounds like Joanna Newsom meets Wilco meets Gershwin meets Rilo Kiley,” says Kelsea Little, who first earned widespread attention in 2006 with local teen-trio the Wrong Trousers. Their acoustic performance of the Buggles’ ...

Gross-Out Contest

So, Thanksgiving. I’m guessing I’ll have my son bunking here, and I don’t know how to roast a turkey. Going out to dinner sounds like unnecessary stress. I’ll see if he will go for a ...

Reelin’ in the Years' Profit of the Heart

Music and DVD sales continue their downward spiral, but San Diego–based video archive company Reelin’ in the Years has had a banner 2011. Over the past two months, RITY has released nine DVDs, including titles ...

Super Rare, Super Weird Vinyl

“I was asked to be in a documentary film about Misfits record collecting called ’77–’83,” says Justin Pearson from Europe, where he’s touring with his San Diego/L.A. hardcore band ReTox. “They want to interview me ...

Who Is Chris Isaak?

Who is Chris Isaak? The crooner of heartbreak ballads, a fashion icon, a comic television host, or all of the above? He’s always been a hard target; I’ve never known how to assimilate his act. ...

Owl and Bear

Title: Owl and Bear: A San Diego Music Blog Address: owlandbear.com Author: Chris Maroulakos | From: University Heights | Blogging since: October 2007 Post Title: Album Review: Lou Reed & Metallica — Lulu Post Date: ...

Penn State Is a Plantation, and JoePa Was the Owner

There is a continental stench coming out of Penn State. Step back, consider yourself a neutral observer with no stake in the scandal. Let’s say you knew there was an eyewitness to the (alleged) rape ...

Melt-Banana, with a Spice of Punk

Melt-Banana often sounds like an early ’80s hardcore 45 played at 78 rpm. At other times they sound like a hyperactive five-year-old playing a video game while a badger attacks a drum kit and an ...

Pride and Prejudice: Milk Like Sugar at the La Jolla Playhouse

Playwright Kirsten Greenidge does not use the restroom during intermission when her plays are performed. “I get so wary about what I’m going to overhear,” she admits. “You have no voice in that situation. You ...

Contentious Corner

Ali Nilforshan says he will be taking back 4th&B, the downtown venue he owned from 2003 to 2009. The current owners, Vince and Judy Puma, say that is not going happen. Nilforshan says he sold ...

U-T Probably Went Cheap Again

The market for metropolitan daily newspapers is stone cold. Experts are convinced that daily newspapers, even those with a promising online presence, are becoming obsolete. That suggests that the Union-Tribune, which was sold to hotelier ...

Steve Peace Rakes in $160,000 From Prison Guards

An El Cajon firm headed by former Democratic state senator Steve Peace has been raking in big bucks from the California Correctional Peace Officers Association. According to state campaign finance disclosure records, J.S. Peace & ...

Democrats Ante Up $27,000 to Park and Rec

Rancho Santa Fe–based political fund-raiser Karolyn Dorsee spent the first half of this year collecting cash for the GOP’s New Majority California PAC, which is out to “broaden the appeal of the Republican Party.” Dorsee ...

Andrew Jackson Jihad's Knife Man

While peddling fare such as the burdens of loneliness and self-loathing, Andrew Jackson Jihad also explores the plight of the homeless en route to one of this year's most human releases. Through 16 folk-punk constructions, ...

Pink Martini — Larger than Life

Pink Martini took the stage just after 8 p.m. "Amado Mio" revealed Storm Large, the Martinis interim lead vocalist. She looked as she sounded, tall, blonde, and ready to entice. (The usual singer, China Forbes, ...

"One Day I Wrote Her Name," by Edmund Spenser

One day I wrote her name upon the strand, But came the waves and washed it away: Again I wrote it with a second hand, But came the tide, and made my pains his prey. ...

Letters

Career Counselor I believe Siobhan Braun needs a reality check (“For My Birthday, My Husband Bought Me a House,” Cover Story, November 17). You should be on your knees every night thanking God for a ...

November 17 Sudoku Contenders

Evil Joseph Ciprian, Little Italy, 10. * Richard Hutchings, Santee, 10. I told the policeman my driver's license photo didn't do me justice. He said, I needed mercy not justice! Roy E. Leeper, Chula Vista, ...

November 17 Brainstorm Contenders

Martha Awdziewicz, Clairemont, 9. * Ed Barno, San Diego, 9. Driving along; Saw the sign for falling rock. Twenty miles later, saw it again. Must be a very big town. Joseph Ciprian, Little Italy, 8. ...

November 17 Crossword Contenders

Mary Arana, Encinitas, 9. Martha Awdziewicz, Clairemont, 9. Bob Carlson, Serra Mesa, 9. Leslie Chase, Campo, 9. * Joseph Ciprian, Little Italy, 9. I kept kicking the can down the road until there wasn't any ...