RamblingDyna

My company, Inquirer.net, had a booth at two Asian festivals last month in celebration of Asian Pacific Heritage Month. We baked in record temperature weather in San Francisco Civic Center –Little Saigon and the next day in Sacramento, Old Sacramento district. You can read my complete festival news stories on: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/news/view/20090522-206481/20000-join-Sacramentos-Pacific-Festival http://globalnation.inquirer.net/features/features/view/20090525-207041/Filipinos_join_San_Francisco_Asian_Festival I attended similar cultural events before for fun. Professionally, I managed and worked the Sega of America booth at professional trade shows such as the Licensing Show in New York. Totally (first time typing and saying "totally") two different scenes, environments and subcultures. I definitely found the Asian festivals more fun so it didn’t feel like work. I interviewed two professional athletes, Mark Munoz (“Philippine Wrecking Machine”), an up and c...

Click on above title link for complete news story. See my video on INQUIRER.net VDO - Inquirer.net Video caption should read "Sad Day for Same-Sex Marriage Supporters" It was an eerie moment as I waited for a half hour behind a barricade with hundreds of other people including the media in front of the steps of the California Supreme Courthouse building in San Francisco. Waiting. Waiting. Waiting for 10am, when seven judges announce their decision of whether same-sex marriage is valid in California. About 30 community organizers and representatives had the opportunity to the be first ones to get the news as they lined up on the courtroom steps, cornered off from the masses . Around 10 minutes before the closing bell, they entered the building. 10:02, 10:03, 10:04. Not a word. The crowd and cameras started to get restless jostling for a closer look or ear. Then I saw one of the men who entered the building step out and did a thumbs down as he shaked his head. Within ...

President-elect Barack Obama will board a train in Philadelphia, home of the American Revolution and American Independence. It’s a very fitting start for a man who is making a history as he prepares to pave the way for a renewed and optimistic American independence in the 21st century. His festivities include pit stops in Delaware and Maryland until his destination Washington. Inauguration event organizers predict two million people will attend the start studded event. But what about those who can’t attend like me? The following is a list of San Francisco parties and events that look interesting: SOCK IT TO ME: Free event will be held at the Civic Center Plaza in front of City Hall. They will have live coverage. This will be huge. I'm not sure yet if I'm going to attend since they open the barricades at seven in the morning and traffic will be a bear. Will see. Instead of an entrance fee, organizers are asking the public to donate unused socks to benefit the homeless and un...

I didn’t catch the beginning of the television news report but San Francisco Mayor, Gavin Newsom, held a press conference in a city store. He stressed how important it is for citizens to support local businesses by buying from city shops. A CBS TV reporter asked him why he bought his Chevrolet SUV hybrid in a Colma car dealership instead of a San Francisco shop. Colma is right next door, south west of San Francisco. Newsom was put off guard by what he appropriately described as the “gotcha question” and said he didn't know why because he didn’t buy the vehicle. Someone else did. Then he attempted to ignore the unrelenting reporter who asked him why he’s promoting buying local when he’s not following his own words. Newsom this time was obviously annoyed and said that since he didn’t buy the car, he can’t answer the question and will find out about it and get back to the reporter. Isn’t that just lovely. The “I didn’t do it” excuse simply absolves Newsom of any accountabili...