San Francisco Film Festival screening "1000 Journals"

1000 Journals Film Intro (still)

Ruth and Someguy

Ruth with writer, producer, and director, Andrea Kreuzhage

Someguy

1000journalsfilm.com

Thoughts on Human Superiority and Cruelty...

I am re-posting my friends recent blog in regards to rescuing three newborn kittens in Perpignan, France. I too often find myself in peculiar situations saving animals, of which I have saved dozens. Friends often say that I go looking for these situations, but I do not. Like Margot, perhaps we are more acutely aware to seeing and hearing things that others do not see or don't want to see. I'm grateful to Margot for her endless love and devotion to making a difference in this world, one creature at a time (or in this case, three)...--Eve
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"I'm sorry in advance for the following words, but I really need to spit them out.People really are cowardly jerks sometimes. I was at my mother's today, we were sitting in the garden when we heard a painful, desperate and very little "meow". I went to search in the little natural "gutter" behind the house and found a plastic bag containing three one-week old kittens, completely wet because the bag had been filled with water that - thank God - flowed away through a tiny hole in it.They were scared, cold and underfed.I brought them home and gave them special kitten milk, it's one o-clock now and they're sleeping with their bellies full of five two hour appart feedings...I honestly don't get : how can you do something like that?If one really wants to get rid of them, at least do it correctly, in a fast way, not this barbarous treatment...I hope I will be able to get them through it all.Being a foster mum really seems to be something I'll have to get used to..." --Margot

http://margot-pandorasbox.blogspot.com/

http://everglades.fiu.edu/fiu/idh4007/burleson.html

David Martin, killed by a shark in the waters off Solana Beach, California

By Jamie Reno Newsweek Web Exclusive
Apr 29, 2008 Updated: 12:44 p.m. ET Apr 29, 2008

"...Just how rare are shark attacks off the Pacific Coast of the United States?

Very rare. From 1900 to the present we've had total of 147 shark attacks along the Pacific Coast of North America, including California, Oregon and Washington, and there have been 11 fatalities confirmed, including this latest one."

"David Martin's son and his family, who grew up in and around these local waters, went surfing again in the spot where Martin was killed just days after the attack. What was your reaction when you heard this?

My thoughts and prayers go out to Dr. Martin's family. I think that going back out there is a very intelligent thing to do. If you've grown up in a family that has enjoyed the water your whole life, if this is part of your life, you should not close that off because of this tragic event. Frankly, you are at greater risk driving from your home to the beach than you are in the water....."

--Ralph Collier, shark attack expert and founder of the Shark Research Council and author of "Shark Attacks of the Twentieth Century: From the Pacific Coast of North America."

http://www.newsweek.com/id/134709

The Library Loft: adventures in design efficiency

AT Europe: Paris Close-Up - The Library Loft Véronique has exceptionally high ceilings in her house in the 15th arrondissement. So she and her husband decided to take advantage and go vertical, building a suspended library high in the sky above their spacious living room. Now what would have been dead space is a book loft, accessible by ladder, high up enough so that it doesn't loom. If you have the ceilings, it's a smart solution for housing a substantial collection of books without visual clutter on the ground. For the full house tour, go to the link. Kristin Hohenadel blogging from rue Vieille du Temple, Paris, France. She can be reached at kristinh@apartmenttherapy.com
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/at-europe/at-europe-paris-closeup-the-library-loft-048060

Gregory Crewdson: Jeff Wall meets David Lynch

Walking

To my college Philosophy professor who encouraged us to push back against the heavy doors of society, and who invited us to his cabin in the woods to read Thoreau around a bonfire and to find the rhythm of his verse in hand drums, and to Charley Epperson, wherever he is, who had the courage to live permanently off the grid. --Eve

..."We should go forth on the shortest walk, perchance, in the spirit of undying adventure, never to return-- prepared to send back our embalmed hearts only as relics to our desolate kingdoms. If you are ready to leave father and mother, and brother and sister, and wife and child and friends, and never see them again--if you have paid your debts, and made your will, and settled all your affairs, and are a free man--then you are ready for a walk...."
--Henry David Thoreau

"I wish to speak a word for Nature, for absolute freedom and wildness, as contrasted with a freedom and culture merely civil--to regard man as an inhabitant, or a part and parcel of Nature, rather than a member of society. I wish to make an extreme statement, if so I may make an emphatic one, for there are enough champions of civilization: the minister and the school committee and every one of you will take care of that. I have met with but one or two persons in the course of my life who understood the art of Walking, that is, of taking walks--who had a genius, so to speak, for sauntering...."
http://www.readprint.com/work-1430/Henry-David-Thoreau
http://www.mensjournal.com/feature/M162/M162_TheCultofChrisMcCandless.html

Annie Leibovitz at the Legion

Going into the show I knew I would have reservations about her work, but I tried to go in with an open mind and an artistic perspective, and not see her strictly as a commercial photographer, which I have to admit was very difficult. The most compelling photographs were those personal moments in the hospital with Susan Sontag, at Susan's burial, the photos of her family and of the rocks and shells that Susan collected. No doubt, Leibovitz is able to capture an intensity that other commercial photographers lack, which is in part due likely to her rapid and young success with Rolling Stone (whose work was sadly absent), as well as a talent and vision for the dramatic.
The celebrity photographs were so contrived and over-structured; their outrageous opulence was repulsive and I often wondered if Leibovitz herself exaggerated this in an insubordinate and defiant way, as to secretly mock and ridicule her subjects in their own narcissism. The photograph of Susan in Jordan walking between the canyons to Petra show Leibovitz’s talent for using natural light in highly contrasting ways, and her affection for Japanese perspectives in nature, placing her subjects in baffling and devouring environments. I’m still digesting the show and I still have revelations of things that I saw in her work and I wonder how intentional they were. She is either a genius or someone with a good eye and a better publicist. --Eve

http://www.famsf.org/legion/exhibitions/exhibition.asp?exhibitionkey=818

Wine Lovers Paradise: Spruce Restaurant and Bar

Last Saturday night I was fortunate enough to be escorted to Spruce, a new hot spot on Sacramento Street by my favorite metro-sexual friend who understands the subtle complexities of mineral content, humidity levels and clay based soil in the cultivation of wine; and ultimately, the scrupulous and sometimes tedious task of impressing me with a wine list in San Francisco.
Upon arrival, not only was I impressed with the facade of Spruce, but the entire interior design was everything delightful. It was designed by Stephen Brady for Owner Tim Stannard. From the soft amber lighting, the warm mahogany wood and chocolate mohair walls to the cool marble bar, the design was polished and appropriate. Although we debated intensely on whether the large format impasto oil paintings, by contemporary Japanese artist Shiraga could in any way be inspired by Franz Klein or not (I say not!) and whether the photograph in the dining room is the third triptych by Annie Liebovitz of Architect Philip Johnson, is still up for debate.

The wine list is so impressive I found myself unable to finish perusing it without completely neglecting my friend and my glass of 2006 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, which would be a shame indeed. German Rieslings from Kabinetts, Spatlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese and Trockenbeerenauslese to a huge selection of Spanish reds including an entire page devoted exclusively to Rioja's. They have 15 different Barolo's, several Chataeuneaf du Pape's (ranging from $68-$700 a bottle), and a whole section of Oregon Pinot Noir's as well as Pinot Noir's from New Zealand and South Africa.

I love the lists of Red and White "bottles under $50" of which I recommend, the Cote de Brouilly, Chateau Thivin, 2006 for $38 (what a steal!), Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2006 for $50, or the Chinon, Les Granges, 2006 for $50. They even have a rare 1989 Chateau Mouton Rothschild for the bargain price of $722, and if things couldn't get any more exciting, they offer a bottle of 1955 Ferreira port for $660 to compliment their beignets (with sugar granules, not powdered sugar) avec crème anglaise and orange compote, which we happily devoured along with an ultra dark Costa Rican coffee from their extensive coffee selection.
Although my friend had a Sazarac, which complimented the bartenders black and white suit and his 1930's slicked back hair and the tasteful selection of jazz swinging through the bar, I couldn't imagine coming to this place and having anything but wine. It's so rare to find a wine list of this delicate compilation and magnitude, it would be a disservice to not partake in its splendor. --Eve

Spruce Restaurant and Bar
3640 Sacramento Street
San Francisco, CA 94118
info@sprucesf.com
415.931.5100
http://www.sprucesf.com/menus/Spruce-Wine-List.pdf

Valley of the Moon, Chile

Can Great White Sharks express emotion?

SAN FRANCISCO Art Institute halts exhibition showing killing of animals

Although I am vehemently against all unnecessary pain and fear in the killing of animals for consumption, I do believe that community dialogues and public forums for discussion are absolutely essential in not only the artistic and contemporary art field, but more importantly, in the support of complete and absolute academic freedom of expression. Unfortunately, the exhibition is currently being deinstalled, however I have requested permission to view the exhibition by appointment and to support a letter to Mayor Gavin Newsom as well as joining other academic and museum institutions in providing a future venue for a safe symposium for the community to express themselves. I am shocked and appalled that some of the protesting groups have resorted to sexual and physical threats on staff and students, which is not only irrational, but ironical and degrading to the group and their mission. --Eve

SAN FRANCISCO Art Institute halts exhibition showing killing of animals
Workers threatened; video unclear about why deaths filmed
Ilana DeBare, Chronicle Staff Writer
Sunday, March 30, 2008

"Citing threats of violence by animal rights activists, the San Francisco Art Institute said Saturday that it is canceling a controversial exhibition that included video clips of animals being bludgeoned to death, as well as a public forum it had scheduled to address the controversy.
"We've gotten dozens of threatening phone calls that targeted specific staff people with death threats, threats of violence and threats of sexual assaults," said Art Institute President Chris Bratton. "We remain committed to freedom of speech as fundamental to this institution, but we have to take people's safety very seriously."
The exhibit that sparked the controversy was a one-person show by Paris artist Adel Abdessemed called "Don't Trust Me," which opened March 19.
Along with a variety of other elements, the show included a series of video loops of animals being bludgeoned to death with a sledgehammer in front of a brick wall. The animals killed included a pig, goat, deer, ox, horse and sheep...."

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/03/29/BAGNVSRME.DTL
Artist Adel Abdessemed: http://www.artnet.com/artist/424893688/adel-abdessemed.html