So I’ve opened a store – T-shirts, hoodies, accessories…called tenderloinconcrete. Tenderloin Concrete is a culmination of many years spent in living and working in the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco. Despite its often negative reputation, it’s a unique 40 square blocks of beating hearts wedged between the government buildings of Civic Center and the skyscrapers of the Financial District. Along with petty crime, the drug … Continue reading tenderloinconcrete.com
I’ve been a social worker for many years and you don’t put in that kind of time without seeing a few things: unexpected moments of community, bodies, genuine concern for others, handguns, random acts of kindness, and swords, so many swords, but two years ago I came into a hard scene that occupies my head more than most, finding the remains of a tenant I … Continue reading Secondary Trauma…
I took three days away from reading the news over this 4th of July weekend. I hadn’t done anything like this in awhile and I legitimately have no idea what’s going on in the world, not that I don’t care. I do, but it will be waiting for me tomorrow. I had a dream last night that Elon Musk died in a rocket-ship and nobody … Continue reading The Three Day Dream…
The march was a week ago now. I am hopeful it made a difference for the people involved, attending, chanting…etc. A week later, I can’t say it made all of that much a difference to me personally, but that is of no real import. A number of things I could say here but I don’t wish to add to the noise. The only thing I’d … Continue reading Protested Thoughts – 3
Protests to me have always felt like funerals. It’s not that I think they make no difference, for some they do. People who are being oppressed, hurt or disregarded, even eliminated often need to feel a part of a larger group, for reinforcement, for encouragement, for enthusiasm and energy. I am happy for people to have these feelings, but it is not why I attend. … Continue reading Protested Thoughts – 2
I may have been in attendance at the No Kings protest in San Francisco, or maybe I wasn’t. It’s difficult or dangerous to say where one is these days…with Meta, with Twitter, with Amazon supporting the birthday parade of he who would be king, people should be everywhere, and nowhere. I might have been out by the Pacific Ocean clearing my head amongst the ceaseless … Continue reading Protested Thoughts – 1
I woke up this morning in San Francisco, stumbled to the coffeemaker and then to my desk…and after turning on the computer, I put on the latest release by GoatWhore, one of New Orleans finest metal bands and leaned back in my chair. Coffee was good, not chicory good, but certainly Peet’s good. I heard shouting from the street, then police sirens and I turned the … Continue reading It’s a love/hate thing…now featuring GoatWhore!
By the time any of you read this, I will have left my comfy confines in the Midwest for a far more uncertain future on the West Coast…San Francisco to be exact. Got some money saved, a lot of social work experience, several contacts and possibilities and a 2nd job interview already scheduled for three days after my arrival… Oh, and did I mention the … Continue reading Today would be that day…westward.
It’s time… For the Vancouver Canucks, the Chicago Blackhawks, Phoenix Coyotes and those boarding bastards of the LA Kings… Korn… It’s On – – The Stanley Cup… Here come the San Jose Sharks and the entire Bay Area… Have a nice day… Continue reading Let the games begin…San Jose Sharks begin their pursuit of the Stanley Cup…
Oh wait… Not banks, marijuana dispensaries…my bad. But you can of course understand my confusion, considering Melinda’s most recent statement: “Marijuana dispensaries are full of cash and they’re full of marijuana, and everybody knows that…they are at risk of being robbed, and many of them are robbed…people in the community may be supportive of the dispensary until there’s an armed robbery and people come running … Continue reading Melinda Haag, US Attorney for Northern California warns banks to shut down, or be closed down…
Drake Toulouse: Photography and Words 