Look who showed up at the 2023 Whitehouse Correspondents’ Dinner – the incomparable Roy Wood, Jr.! If you enjoyed the little piece I posted awhile back, give this roast a go. He is smart and funny, and he was not afraid to go there. Enjoy!
Thank you for reading today's post. Have an InterStellar Day! ~PrP
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Some San Francisco History about Angel Island the whiteboy’s Critical Race Theory would keep from you: From afar, Angel Island appears a vision of paradise.
Yes, but: Run your fingers along the plaster peeling off the building’s walls, and you’ll find a different story.
Green algae and spreading mold. Pencil drawings of birds and etched columns of poetry. The Chinese characters carry a haunting lament: “When can I get out of here?”
In U.S. history, Ellis Island is the one that dominates conversation. On the opposite coast, Angel Island stood in stark contrast — an immigration port that served as over 500,000 people’s first point of contact between 1910 and 1940.
Between the lines: When I first visited the old station — now a state park — it was eye-opening. This was history most San Franciscans never knew despite growing up in the Bay Area.
How it happened: In the early 1900s, as anti-Chinese sentiment rose to a fervor, Angel Island became an operation for “screening” and deporting Chinese immigrants during the era of the Chinese Exclusion Act.
Instead, they were forced into detention for weeks, months and sometimes years — much longer than European immigrants.
There, they endured invasive medical exams, indefinite quarantine, repeated interrogations, family separation and disease.
Details: Immigration officials mandated segregation of Asians and non-Asians throughout the entire station.
Rooms meant to house 60 people at most had over 200 people crammed inside. Doors to the barracks were locked, and armed guards always patrolled the premises.
Some Chinese immigrants died by suicide after languishing in the station. Looking at the Chinese characters carved into the walls, I could only wonder how they persevered for as long as they did.
Take a ferry to Angel Island to experience the history yourself.
I have a friend interested in meeting aliens. Any takers, and I don’t mean taking him up, or eating him. He’s a nice guy, a bit too curious for his own good, but harmless. So if you are interested in meeting a human who just wants to hang out with an alien an perhaps help the alien get more aquatinted with human existence on a middle class level let me know.
Why discriminate from us meat eaters? We may not eat that tasty morsel, if he is as personable as you suggest. But if we do, there are at least 3 billion other humans some of whom surely would be as “nice a guy” as your friend. You wouldn’t really miss him. After all you have given us some very tasty morsels in the past. OOps, did we let that slip?
You creatures are gross, I’m looking to make friends with the new arrivals, specifically those that fine your ass part of their menu. I wonder if they would be as blatantly open about revealing if I gave them one of you. Not like any of your compadres would miss you since there are billions of creatures just like you where you come from. I tend to think they would be as free with their tongues as you are. And while we are revealing secrets let me inform our new arrivals that you are the creatures with tongues like our lions. Your tongues are equipped with backward bending barbs that allow you to strip the hair and clothes off your victims with a couple of licks. I bet those tongues would make tasty morsel for the right alien eater.
There are plenty of humans down here that have already met aliens and would be willing to assist others in getting acquainted with human existence on a middle class level. It’s probably easier on the alien if its a human that already has that experience. It’s highly likely you’d find a show of human hands here, if you asked.
Who wants to be my lover?
Thanks Basil for your comments about how white america has treated my race. I didn’t know any of that and I was born and raised in San Francisco. But I do know this:
Nearly three out of four Chinese Americans say they have experienced racial discrimination in the past 12 months, and 2 in 3 feel a need to stay vigilant about hate crimes or harassment, a new study says.
More than a quarter say they’ve experienced bias or hate episodes such as being physically intimidated or assaulted, having their property vandalized or damaged, and being called racial slurs, Axios’ Russell Contreras writes.
State of play: Anti-Asian violence has been rising since the beginning of the pandemic, according to the FBI and advocacy groups.
In 2021, anti-Asian hate crimes in San Francisco increased by 567% from the previous year.
Of note: The study also found that racism, crime, gun control and the economy were identified as the top four most important issues facing the U.S. by the survey respondents.
The big picture: People of Chinese descent comprise almost one-fifth of San Francisco’s population, according to data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2021.
San Francisco is home to the nation’s oldest Chinatown. It’s also been ground zero for some of the most violent attacks on Asian Americans in the last few years.
Several states have taken steps to mandate AAPI history in public school curricula in a bid to fight bigotry.
Learn more with a visit to the San Francisco-based Chinese Historical Society of America.
San Francisco-based First Republic Bank was seized by regulators and sold to JPMorgan Chase, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation announced early yesterday morning, making First Republic the third major bank failure in eight weeks, Axios’ Kia Kokalitcheva and Dan Primack report.
Why it matters: First Republic is the latest victim of a U.S. banking system that’s adjusting to a new normal of client deposits fleeing in search of greater safety and higher rates.
The announcement, made after high-stakes negotiations that dragged out over the weekend, is aimed at calming a banking sector that’s been roiled since early March.
Zoom in: First Republic was the third-largest bank in the San Francisco Bay Area, with 44% of its deposits originating in the area, The San Francisco Standard reports.
Catch up quick: A number of banks, including JPMorgan and PNC, submitted bids on Sunday to the FDIC to acquire the embattled bank, Axios earlier reported.
What they’re saying: “As part of the transaction, First Republic Bank’s 84 offices in eight states will reopen as branches of JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, today during normal business hours,” regulators said.
“All depositors of First Republic Bank will become depositors of JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, and will have full access to all of their deposits.”
🏬 Nordstrom plans to shut down both its flagship store at the Westfield Mall as well as the nearby Nordstrom Rack. The retailer cited a decline in customer foot traffic and the changing dynamics of downtown San Francisco as its rationale for the planned closures. (SF Standard)
District Attorney Brooke Jenkins declined to file charges against the Walgreens security guard who was arrested on suspicion of shooting and killing a 24-year-old man nearby the Market Street store. (SF Chronicle)
🛴 Injuries involving electric scooters in San Francisco rose 31% in 2022 from 2021, according to an analysis of city database TransBASE.
Data: U.S. Census, Wikipedia; Visual:
The U.S. is filled with towns and cities that were named after foreign places: You can take a trip to Alhambra, Venice or Paris, Illinois. In fact, there are so many of these cities, you could go on a world tour without ever leaving your home state.
Check out our new project from the Axios Visuals team that visualizes these cities with interactive maps, graphics and more!
How it happened: These names were often given by immigrants in honor of their home country or city, which explains why Dutch names cluster in the Hudson Valley or why Scandinavian names are common in Minnesota.
You tell us: Do you live in one of these towns? Is the pronunciation different from its namesake? Did you know about the cultural history of your town? Any interesting factoids or photos you’d like to share?
Of note: In San Francisco, the Excelsior neighborhood is filled with streets named after international countries and cities, including France, Russia, Madrid and Prague.
The California Highway Patrol and California National Guard members in San Francisco this week became part of a new multi-agency operation aimed at cracking down on fentanyl trafficking in the city.
Why it matters: The drug crisis in SF has spiraled in recent years, with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner recording 640 overdose deaths in 2021 and 647 in 2022.
Driving the news: The new deployment comprises volunteers from CHP’s 75-officer team in SF as well as 14 CalGuard officers, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
CHP officers are expected to focus on the Tenderloin and South of Market neighborhoods.
CalGuard will primarily serve to analyze drug trafficking operations and train local police to optimize case-building against cartels across jurisdictions.
The big picture: District Attorney Brooke Jenkins highlighted the need for extra support in the two neighborhoods at a press conference last week, noting that the partnership was offered to her office “about a year or two ago and was declined.”
What to watch: Local health groups have warned that enforcement won’t solve the problem alone and that the city will need to continue investing in mental and behavioral crisis centers as well as safe consumption sites.
a love song to SF and to YOU!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vb5y-kY6nVw
Cleopatra, who became queen of Egypt at just 17 years old and passed away at 39, possessed an impressive skill set that included fluency in nine languages. She was not only fluent in the language of Ancient Egypt, but also proficient in reading hieroglyphics, a rare feat among her dynasty. She was also well-versed in Greek and the languages of the Parthians, Hebrews, Medes, Troglodytes, Syrians, Ethiopians, and Arabs, allowing her access to a wealth of knowledge from around the world.
Cleopatra’s thirst for knowledge was insatiable. She studied subjects ranging from geography, history, and astronomy, to international diplomacy, mathematics, alchemy, medicine, zoology, economics, and more. Her diverse interests allowed her to gain a comprehensive understanding of the world around her and access any book she desired.
She dedicated much of her time to conducting experiments and creating herbal remedies and cosmetic products in her ancient laboratory. Sadly, all of her written works were destroyed in the fire that engulfed the great Library of Alexandria in 391 AD. However, her influence on medicine and science was still felt in the centuries that followed. Renowned physicist Galen studied her work and transcribed some of the remedies Cleopatra had devised, including a cream that could restore hair growth in bald men.
Cleopatra’s books also contained beauty tips, though none of them have survived to this day. She was passionate about herbal healing and was able to access numerous papyri thanks to her knowledge of multiple languages. Her contributions to science and medicine in the early centuries of Christianity were widely recognized, making her a unique figure in human history.
It was only after Barry’s death that the shocking truth about his identity was revealed. The discovery that he was assigned female at birth and had been living as a man for over 50 years was met with widespread astonishment and disbelief. In an era when gender roles were strictly defined and women were barred from many professions, Barry’s decision to live as a man and pursue a career in surgery was nothing short of revolutionary.
James Barry was an extraordinary figure in the field of military surgery, known for his pioneering work in the treatment of battlefield injuries and diseases. He served in several key military campaigns throughout his career, including in South Africa, Canada, and the West Indies. During these assignments, he developed a reputation as an excellent surgeon who was unafraid to take risks and experiment with new techniques.
Despite his impressive accomplishments, Barry was known for his prickly personality and tendency to clash with superiors and colleagues. However, his expertise and dedication to his work made him a valuable asset to the military, and he continued to receive promotions and awards throughout his career.
Margaret Ann Bulky or James Barrie lived as a man inorder to have a career as doctor. She faced appalling sexism and just wanted what many women take for granted today – a chance to pursue a career to the best of her ability. Whether she would have chosen to live as a man in 2023 is an impossible question. I don’t believe she was a trans man, but a trail blazer showing that women can achieve great things when given the opportunity.
Anonymous says:
05/03/2023 at 7:59 pm
It’s the EGO that is the turn off.
=======================
Basil if you are as fine as you think you are, then it isn’t ego or bragging, it is fact. I think it is silly to pretend not to notice a beautiful person regardless of their sex. And yes, beauty is an asset that can, and should be used to one’s advantage just as wealth and position is for those who have it. Besides a man, like a woman without a little ego is basically a rug for others to walk on.
PrP:
I Loved this so much! Thanks for posting. He definitely went there. And why not? It needs to be said.
Did you Know
When in 1995 fourteen wolves were released into the wild in Yellowstone National Park, scientists did not suspect that this would radically change the entire ecosystem of the park.
There were no wolves in the park for 70 years, and all this time deer reigned there, which over the years of uncontrolled reproduction (all the efforts of people to control their population did not bring success) caused severe damage to the local flora. Fourteen wolves, of course, could not eat all the deer, but they forced those to be more careful in choosing places for pastures and to avoid certain parts of the park. In those places, vegetation began to revive. In six years, the number of trees has increased fivefold. Beavers have appeared, which need trees to build dams. Muskrats, ducks and fish have been bred in the backwaters. Wolves reduced the population of jackals, which led to an increase in the number of hares and mice, and they attracted hawks, ferrets and foxes to the park. The bears came to the park because they were able to drive the wolves away from their prey or eat up their scraps. The number of berries has increased in the park.
But the most amazing thing is that the wolves have changed the flow of rivers. Their channels straightened and stabilized, and coastal erosion decreased. This happened because the influence of wolves on deer led to the explosive growth of trees and grass along the banks of the rivers, which led to their strengthening. The very geography of the park has changed, and all thanks to the fourteen wolves released there less than twenty years ago
U.S. Supreme Court.
Since the founding of the United States, approximately 364 juvenile offenders have been executed.
Unfortunately, all of those who were among the youngest children sentenced to death were children of color.
James Arcene, a young Native American, was executed in 1885. In the 20th century, the two youngest children executed were African American.
The United States Supreme Court declared the death penalty unconstitutional when a crime was committed by a person under the age of 18.
Justice William Rehnquist of Kentucky overruled that decision .
Death sentences could be imposed on offenders 16 years of age or older.
Did you know
This man, Nikola Tesla made the most freaking astonishing prediction about the cell phones in 1926. Here’s what he said 92 years ago :
“When wireless is perfectly applied the whole earth will be converted into a huge brain, which in fact it is, all things being particles of a real and rhythmic whole, we shall be able to communicate with one another instantly, irrespective of distance.
Not only this, but through television and telephony we shall see and hear one another as perfectly as though we were face to face, despite intervening distances of thousands of miles; and the instruments through which we shall be able to do this will fit in our pockets.”
-Nikola Tesla, 1926. The man who lived the future.
Source: Nikola Tesla Predicted Smartphones In 1926
JOKE:
A Baptist preacher and a Methodist preacher lived in a small town.
Being very young ministers, they rode their bicycles to the town’s only service station every Sunday morning to eat breakfast and discuss their sermons before riding off to preach to their respective congregations. One Sunday morning, the Baptist preacher rode up on his bicycle, but the Methodist preacher walked up on foot. The following conversation ensued:
BP: “Brother, what happened to your bicycle?!”
MP: “Brother, I believe a member of my congregation has stolen my bicycle.”
BP: “Brother, that is a shame. But I know what we ought to do. I’m gonna help you get your bicycle back. When you get into your pulpit, I want you to forget what you were going to preach on. Instead, I want you to preach on the Ten Commandments.”
MP: “The Ten Commandments, Brother?”
BP: “Yes, Brother, the Ten Commandments. I want you To make them feel the fire, and I want you to make them feel the brimstone, and when you get to ‘Thou shalt not steal,’ I want you to bear down on it, and whoever stole your bicycle will get to feeling bad and bring your bicycle back.”
MP: “Alright, Brother, I can do that!”
With that, the young pastors went their separate ways. The next Sunday, both men arrived at the service station at the accustomed time on their bicycles. The Baptist preacher was ecstatic at the apparent success of his strategy.
BP: “Hallelujah, Brother! A miracle has occurred! Did you take my advice? Did you preach on the Ten Commandments like I told you to?”
MP: “Yessir, Brother, I did!”
BP: “Amen, Brother! And did you make them feel the fire, and did you make them feel the brimstone?”
MP: “Yessir, Brother, I did!”
BP: “Amen, Brother! And when you got to ‘Thou shalt not steal,’ did you bear down on it, and whoever stole your bicycle got to feeling bad and brought your bicycle back?”
MP: “Well, Brother, not exactly.”
BP: “Well, do tell, Brother!”
MP: “Well, brother, when I got to the pulpit, I did preach on the Ten Commandments. And I did my best to make them feel the fire and smell the brimstone. And I fully intended to bear down on it when I got to “though shalt not steal. But before I got that far I came to ‘Thou shalt not commit adultery,’ and I remembered where I left my bicycle.”
JOKE:
Morris and his wife Esther went to the state fair every year, and every year Morris would say, ‘Esther, I’d like to ride in that helicopter.’ Esther always replied, ‘I know Morris, but that Helicopter ride is fifty dollars, and fifty dollars is fifty dollars.’
One year Esther and Morris went to the fair, and Morris said, ‘Esther, I’m 85 Years old. If I don’t ride that helicopter, I might never get another chance.’ To this, Esther replied, ‘Morris that helicopter ride is fifty dollars, and fifty dollars is fifty dollars.’
The pilot overheard the couple and said, ‘Folks I’ll make you a deal. I’ll take both of you for a ride, and if you can stay quiet for the entire ride and not say a word, I won’t charge you. But if you say one word, it’s fifty dollars.’
Morris and Esther agreed and up they went. The pilot did all kinds of fancy maneuvers, but not a word was heard. He did his daredevil tricks over and over again, but still not a word.
When they landed, the pilot turned to Morris and said, ‘By golly, I did everything I could to get you to yell out, but you didn’t. I’m impressed!’
Morris replied, ‘Well, to tell you the truth, I almost said something when Esther fell out, but you know, fifty dollars is fifty dollars.’
JOKE:
The pharmacist tells him that the condoms come in packs of three, nine, or 12, and asks which ones the young man wants.
“Well,” he says, “I am been seeing this girl for a while and she’s really hot. I want the condoms because I think tonight’s the night and we’re having dinner with her parents and then we’re going out. Once she had me, she’ll want me all the time, so you’d better give me the 12-pack!”
The young man makes his purchase and leaves.
Later that evening, he sits down to dinner with his girlfriend and her parents.
He asks if he may give the blessing and they agree.
He begins the prayer but continues praying for several minutes…The girl leans over and says, you never told me that you were such a religious person.
He leans over to her and says,
“You never told me that your father ‘s a pharmacist.”
Joke;
An 85-year-old man was told by the Doctor that he needed a sperm count as part of his physical exam.
The doctor gave the man a jar and said, “Take this jar home and bring back a sperm sample tomorrow.”
The next day the 85-year-old man reappeared at the doctor’s office and gave him the jar, which was as clean and empty as on the previous day.
The doctor asked what happened and the man explained, “Well, doc, it’s like this first I tried with my right hand, but nothing. Then I tried with my left hand, but still nothing. ‘Then I asked my wife for help. She tried with her right hand, the with her left, still nothing. She tried with her mouth, first with the teeth in, then with her teeth out, still nothing.
“We even called up Arleen, the lady next door and she tried too, first with both hands, then an armpit, and she even tried squeezin’ it between her knees, but still nothing.”
The doctor was shocked! “You asked your neighbor?”
The old man replied, “Yep, none of us could get the jar open.”