michaelD: the bay area buzz report

Life outside the bubble: Haiti - Never give up

Why is the Bay Area Buzz Report writing about Haiti? BABR is mostly about lifestyle, and you can't address lifestyle without considering the human condition. The human condition in Haiti is something that needs both thought and action. The reality is that what we see in Haiti is a magnification of conditions that exist throughout the world in areas that aren't under the world's microscope every day.

This 5 year old boy beats the odds, generating both feelings of hope and despair.

Life outside the bubble: Haiti is not Katrina. It’s much worse.

My second post of the year, a slow start. I find myself riveted to the news channels as this story of devastation unfolds. I've started to learn more about Haiti, and initially I made the same mistake that I hear a lot of people making, comparing Haiti to Katrina. Not even in the same league.


More Photos - Time | Red Cross | CNN | Huffington Post 

Country & Population

• Population a little over 9 million.
• Nearly 40 percent of the country's population is under the age of 14.
• Haiti ranks as the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with 80 percent of its people living below the poverty line and 54 percent existing in abject poverty.
• Most Haitians live on less than $2 a day.
• Haiti has one of the world's lowest life expectancy rates (181st out of 190 countries ranked by the CIA World Factsheet). The average Haitian lives only 60 years.
• Eighty percent of the country is Roman Catholic and 16 percent is Protestant; nearly half the population also practices voodoo.
• Approximately half of Haiti's population cannot read or write.
• The Haiti telecommunications infrastructure is among the least developed in Latin America and the Caribbean.
  

HBO's Revealing Obama Film Goes Behind Campaign Scenes

By the People: The Election of Barack Obama, airing Tuesday November 3 on HBO at 9 (repeated all month) is full of never-before-seen footage behind the scenes during the Illinois U.S. Senator's improbable run for the White House.

After having previewed this upbeat and interesting doc, I give a lot of credit to filmmakers Amy Rice and Alicia Sams for producing a film that captures the elusive - the spirit and passion of the young Obama volunteers who added much of the energy to the campaign of the high-energy Obama.

 (huffington post)

The cable channel describes the film, produced by Edward Norton, asa moving record of the Obama campaign's history-making odyssey to the White House. Interwoven with the drama of the campaign is never-before-seen footage of Obama behind the scenes, as well as interviews and candid moments with wife Michelle Obama, the couple's young daughters, Malia and Sasha, and senior campaign staff, volunteers, reporters, supporters and opponents.

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/27/hbo-obama-documentary-by_n_335164.html

 (huffington post)

Perspective - Sun Oct 28 07

San Diego Wildfires. Amazing what a difference a week can make. I never imagined that I would find myself deep in the throes of a disaster situation, helping manage the communications of an evacuation center. It's times like these that make one really appreciate the small things in life - like a bed, a fresh cup of coffee, photos, running water and a change of underwear. Most of all you think about family, friends, love, helping people ... and God.

More of the usual next week. Right now, count your blessings.

Put it on your radar - Oct 2 07

Believe the hype! Oakland is coming on strong. Don't believe me? Read below for the short story, and then read San Francisco magazine's October feature story>

 

EAST BAY...

 

Watch for the Shop Oakland Passport campaign, consisting of discount offers from retailers throughout the city. 100k copies will hit the streets in November.

 

Downtown: Franklin Square Wine Bar - coming to Broadway and West Grand. Following in the steps of Levende, Ozumo will soon open in the same area. Awaken Cafe, a coffee and tea house/art gallery may already be open. And here's a twist, it becomes a wine bar with music in the evening. Sankofa moved into new digs on Frank Ogawa Plaza in April.

 

Old Oakland: Trappist Cafe, a belgian ale house will soon join the scene in Old Oakland. Verse, a stylish athletic footwear shop on 9th has moved in. FiveTen Studios brings custom furniture and home accessories to the corner of Broadway and 9th. In case you missed it, Levende appears to be doing well after 3 months of operations.

 

Lake Merritt: Whole Foods just opened a beautiful store on September 26 near St. Paul's Church. I thought Trader Joe's was under construction at the old Lucky's site on Lakeshore, but the other day I saw a Walgreen's sign? Zza's Enoteca wine bar is now open on Grand, adjacent to Zza Tratoria of course. Looks like they're still plugging away at the old boat house site which is supposed to become the Beach Chalet (like the one in SF) on the lake near 14th street. But it's taking so long!

 

Rockridge: Wood Tavern has been getting much love since it opened its doors a couple of months ago. This may be Oakland's hottest ticket right now.

 

Piedmont: Watch for McMullen, coming in November to 4395 Piedmont Avenue. The word is that you'll see "chic and savvy women's clothing, jewelry, handbags and accessories." Tell Sherri that Michael D sent ya!

 

AND ACROSS the Bay...

 

San Francisco: Barney's New York opened its doors last weeK. SF will never be the same. Blues in the Night is rocking the house at the Post Street Theatre. According to Dr. Vicki L. Hughes, "What a great evening!  Walter and I met the cast afterwards and really enjoyed the whole show.  Some folk in the theater really got into it. A few people were shouting like they were in church! They got the spirit!!" The Color Purple opens next week...as if you haven't heard!

 

San Mateo: Gator's Neo-Soul Cafe - Put this one high on your radar screen All reports are very good. According to one reader, "The chef is cool. The food is great. He has a good thing in the works."

 

New Stuff | Editor's Choice Events | Dine/Lounge | Shop Around | Young Adults

Cool Technology

Now this is cool..courtesy of Blinkx.com. In the example below, I did a video search for "Barack Obama." Then I followed the directions to "Wall it," and created the videos below. You can make the wall as large or small as you want it. Roll your cursor over a video that you're interested in, and then click on it to view.