Jana Saastad · Storify

USS Nimitz enters the Golden Gate Bridge

Jana Saastad — Mon, 28 May 2012 06:00:24 GMT

May 27, 2012

Storified by Jana Saastad · Sun, May 27 2012 23:00:24

Photos:

Maritimequest

120510-N-RX668-027 · USS NIMITZ (CVN 68)

USS Nimitz in SF going under the Bay Bridge · gpvz

120510-N-RX668-019 · USS NIMITZ (CVN 68)

Staticflickr

USS Nimitz CVN68 · Brian Menges

Twimg

Staticflickr

The USS Nimitz: a whole lotta whoop-ass. · abhiously

News stories:

PHOTO: The USS Nimitz passed through the Golden Gate today as part of the Golden Gate Bridge celebrations. http://yfrog.com/mkdj00j · abc7newsBayArea

Bay Area News, Local News, Weather, Traffic, Entertainment, Breaking News

Get the latest Bay Area news, weather, traffic, entertainment and health. Get local Bay Area new, breaking news, and national news from N...

Crowds gather for Golden Gate Bridge celebration

With sailors on deck, the USS Nimitz passes beneath the Golden Gate Bridge during a celebration of the bridge's 75th anniversary on S...

Best pictures from the past 24 hours

With sailors on deck, the USS Nimitz passes beneath the Golden Gate Bridge during a celebration of the bridge's 75th anniversary on S...

Various Tweets and Facebook postings:

Anchored, Shift Colors. Hello, San Francisco!
— USS NIMITZ (CVN 68) · Sun, May 27 2012 14:12:30

Welcome to the USS Nimitz CVN-68 for the Celebration of the GG Bridges 75th Birthday. Thank you for your sevice!
— John Britt · Sun, May 27 2012 17:07:18

@BenJerrysWest KTVU channel 2 news just said the USS Nimitz is docked at Piers 30-32 in the city. You should hang out for the military.
— Teena P · Sun, May 27 2012 22:23:20

Big shouts out 2 all of our VETS IN THE BUILDING ....BIG SHOUTS OUT USS NIMITZ CVN 68 THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER THAT DOES THE DAYUM THANG
— Bobby Perkano · Sun, May 27 2012 15:21:45

History of Chinatowns

Jana Saastad — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 02:45:14 GMT

Storified by Jana Saastad · Wed, Aug 08 2012 19:48:55

Chinatowns are vibrant, bustling neighborhoods that cater to Asian community and tourists alike. Commonly, Chinatown offers a good deal on fresh produce, ginseng, novelty gifts and toys and wonton soup. Shops are adorned with red Chinese lanterns; dead ducks hang in Chinese deli windows; Hello Kitty is everywhere. Every Chinatown is the same and each one is different.

Chinatownology

But it wasn't always this picture of gaiety and freedom. Sadly, the early Chinatowns in America were the result of ignorance and racism. Hated by a majority of American citizens, Chinese-Americans were ghettoized into small neighborhoods. These Asian enclaves persisted mostly in urban regions like San Francisco, New York and Chicago. In later years, and well past the time when anti-Chinese laws had been revoked, Chinatowns began appearing in suburban neighborhoods.

But it all started when gold and the promise of riches ushered in the the first influx of Chinese emigrants, mostly Cantonese, to California's foothills. The Chinese man's quest for a better and freer life was quelled by hateful Americans who drove the Chinese gold miners out of the mines and into cities were Chinese founded ramshackle neighborhoods, to become known as Chinatowns.

In California, the first Chinatowns was in San Francisco. Other smaller Chinatowns cropped up in Sacramento, Marysville and the Delta town, Locke. Later, Chinatowns were established in Los Angeles, Fresno, Stockton and Bakersfield.

The intrepid and unstoppable Chinese-Americans made the most out of their squalor by turning their ghettos into profitable commerce centers, although crudely at first. Soon, Chinatown became a beacon for gambling, drinking, prostitution and general carousing. Here is a detailed account of San Francisco's Chinatown in its early days by former Police Chief Jesse Cook, as published by the San Francisco Museum website.

The lure of income, excitement and adventure on the Transcontinental Railroad inspired the second influx of Chinese immigration to America, again particularly in California. California's Chinatowns grew as a result.

The Treaty of Peking in 1860 increased Chinese travel around the world, giving birth to Chinatowns in European nations, including London and Liverpool. In later years, Chinatowns were established in India, South America, South Africa, several Australian cities, Paris, and more.

Among all the American Chinatowns, San Francisco's Chinese community is the oldest, largest, and most visually recognizable urban Chinese American enclave. While New York boasts the largest Chinese-American community.

Living-in-washingtondc

Destination-southern-california

Neatorama

Igougo

The History of New York City's Chinatown

The History of New York's Chinatown. by Sarah Waxman. New York City's Chinatown, the largest Chinatown in the United States and...

San Francisco Chinatown: Chinese in California

Jan 31, 2005 ... Chinatown in the early days -- San Francisco, California Historical Society. The streets teemed with life as residents...

History of Old Chinatown Los Angeles

The Golden Years of Los Angeles Chinatown: The Beginning by Suellen Cheng and Munson Kwok Chinese Historical Society of Southern Califo...

American Chinatown: A People's History of Five Neighborhoods · aaaricuny

Boston Chinatown Banquet - It Dates Back that Far · asiancdcorg

Eating seaweed

Jana Saastad — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 02:48:52 GMT

It's what's for dinner... and lunch and snacks...

Storified by Jana Saastad · Mon, Feb 27 2012 18:48:52

Seaweed

Seaweed is an important food in the Asian diet, including Chinese cuisine. But with the exception of "nori" seaweed -- the stuff used in sushi rolls -- not too many Westerners relish the sea vegetable. That's too bad. Seaweed packs a nutritional wallop and is naturally low in calories.

If you are curious about how to use seaweed, take a walk through most Chinatowns and look for the roasted salty, crunchy snacks that come in 3-packs or 12-packs. These snacks are a great alternative to fattening potato chips.

BlogSpot

Spicy seaweed strips are magnificent. I was gonna say to die for but I think that seemed a little extreme #butstill #yum
— Peyton Johnson · Tue, Feb 21 2012 17:52:24

There's also Agar, Dulse, Hijiki, Irish Moss (which saved thousands of people from starvation during the potato famine of 19th century Ireland), Kelp, Kombu, Laver, Nori, Sloke, and Wakame.

Nutrition Facts and Analysis for Seaweed, agar, raw

Nutrition facts and Information for Seaweed, agar, raw.

Dulse Seaweed

Dulse Seaweed is a Pristine Raw Super Food and powerful energy source. Rich levels of salt, iodine and purple pigments reboot thyroid a...

Seaweed: Hijiki, wakame, kombu, nori, kanten | Just Hungry

Jan 17, 2007 ... Then there is hijiki, which may be the most versatile seaweed of all. It's also extremely high in fiber - about 40...

Cooking with Fresh Seaweed

Wash Irish moss several times in fresh water. Heat milk and seaweed in a double boiler. Cook over boiling water for about 30 minutes (n...

BC Kelp- Kelp / Seaweed Recipes British Columbia Kelp/Canada ...

BC KELP, The World's best Kelp, is a small family business, specialized in ... Premium Quality Kelp, Bladderwrack, Fucus and Seawee...

Wakame Seaweed Profile

Wakame is a seaweed that looks and tastes like a slippery spinach. Wakame can be used in the same ways as many other seaweeds including...

Kikkoman Instant Wakame (Seaweed) Soup (9 Pockets in 3 Packs ...

Product Description. Kikkoman has created single servings of authentic wakame soup from the finest flavor essences. Product Details. Pr...

Thinking outside the (lunch)box

Stir in two teaspoons of miso paste, chop up some tofu and wakame seaweed, cutting up nori sheets. Pour into a vacuum flask. One of my di...

Your shopping list for Thursday's recipe: dried wakame seaweed tamari olive and sesame oils lemon maple syrup... http://fb.me/1IhYOeSTP
— Jennifer Crain · Tue, Feb 21 2012 13:21:09

Made the yummiest seaweed salad and veggie burger on a toasted sprouted sesame seed bun dressed with hummus and... http://fb.me/19fBg4wwq
— AI 808 · Tue, Feb 21 2012 17:48:14

Lunch: Homemade 'Bukkake' Udon (Hot Udon-noodle topped with egg, scallions, ginger and wakame seaweed) http://lockerz.com/s/185371017 · panda07

Check out this great article on the 10 Ways to Boost your Energy with Seaweed:

How to Eat Seaweed: 10 Ways to Boost Your Energy with Sea ...

Curious about Seaweed? Learn about the benefits of seaweed and the many ways you can add seaweed to your diet.

Livestrong lists some of the health benefits of eating seaweed, like controlling weight.

Pinterest: Is This Social Media Site Worth Pinning Our Interest On?

Jana Saastad — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:37:40 GMT

Pinterest is all the rage and its membership is growing by the thousands every day. But what is Pinterest and who uses this geo-location based platform?

Storified by Jana Saastad · Tue, Feb 21 2012 12:37:40

Foodieregistry

What is Pinterest?

Pinterest: Beyond 'crack for women' (#Pinterested)

(Pinterest.com/Washingtonpost) This morning, columnist Petula Dvorak cleverly touched on a commonly held view of photo social network sit...

What is Pinterest, anyway?

By Dream Local | Feb 20, 2012 At Dream Local Digital, we've received a lot of questions about a new social network called Pinterest.c...

What Is Pinterest?

In today's edition, Greg takes a look at a new player on the social media scene, Pinterest, that is growing rapidly from unexpected d...

Pinterest has been described as "fastest Growing Social Network" in 2012. Time will tell.

Are you on this year's fastest growing social network?

Pinterest is one of 2012's fastest growing social startups—reaching 10 million unique visitors faster than any other independent webs...

Who uses Pinterest?

Mrs. Mitt Romney's wife, for one:

Mitt Romney reveals his wife Ann uses Pinterest

Although new media services such as Facebook and Twitter have become essential tools in modern politics, the Romney campaign would be amo...

Hooyah! The US Army uses Pinterest:

The U.S. Army Uses Pinterest? Sir, Yes Sir!

Pinterest, the social image-sharing site that has exploded in popularity over the past few months, has found itself with a strange bedfel...

Travelers use Pinterest, too:

Pinterest for travelers: 5 practical uses

But does Pinterest have any practical uses for travelers? Although it seems mostly geared toward of the armchair set, there are a few way...

How about scrapbookers? Check out this video:

How to use Pinterest for Scrapbook Layouts · 2tinytreasures

Expecting mothers found an interest in Pinterest:

I pin baby stuff on Pinterest like I'm having one tomorrow. #BabyLove
— Lauren Marie · Tue, Feb 21 2012 12:25:46

Wanna learn more about pinning. Herea are five ways to use Pinterest, courtesy of ABC:

CEQA in the news, February 2012

Jana Saastad — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 19:51:50 GMT

News stories, facts and findings on CEQA

Storified by Jana Saastad · Tue, Mar 06 2012 11:51:50

www.buildersbooksource.com

Legislation: Senate Bill 226 (Simitian)

New CEQA Changes Could Streamline Infill Projects - capradio.org

(Sacramento, CA) Wednesday, January 25, 2012 Ken Alex is a senior policy advisor to Governor Brown and the head of the state agency that'...

Workshop seeks input on streamlining CEQA

A piece of legislation that seeks to streamline the environmental review of urban buildings will get some input during a special workshop...

More legislation from the San Diego coalition of Assembly members:

Bill Introduced to Protect Events From Environment Reviews

Coalition Backs Vargas, Garrick Bill A coalition of San Diego-based organizations Friday backed state legislation that would exempt certa...

Editorials that involve CEQA:

Sensible CEQA reform

AEG 's proposed football stadium in downtown Los Angeles was the kind of job-creating development that needed to move forward, even if th...

State to get messages about workforce and other economic issues - Oroville Mercury Register

CHICO - What conclusions came from Friday's Economic Stewardship Forum in Chico, along with the 13 other forums, will hopefully help stat...

EDITORIAL: Think global, act goofy

The jarring disconnect between how politicians in Sacramento see their job, and how ordinary folks would like the state to do its job, wa...

CEQA and Los Angeles:

Laws That Shaped L.A.: How the California Environmental Quality Act Allows Anyone to Thwart Development | Laws That Shaped LA | Land of Sunshine | KCET

Launched last month and posted every Monday (see archives), the Laws That Shaped L.A. spotlights regulations that have played a significa...

CEQA and Berkeley

CEQA Categorical Exemptions Defeated by Mere “Fair Argument” of Impact, First ...

In a CEQA challenge to the City of Berkeley's approvals to demolish an existing single-family home and replace it with a larger one a...

FROM AEP, Bay Area:

The AEP Spring Advanced CEQA workshops are coming up! We'll have four locations in the Bay Area and North Coast:... http://fb.me/17vJBYAA8
— AEP · Wed, Feb 15 2012 22:02:19

San Francisco sued over upcoming America's Cup event. Litigants claim CEQA was violated during EIR process:

America's Cup, San Francisco, and an Armada of Yachting Teams are Sued

It continues, "The City prejudicially abused its discretion by violating the procedural and substantive requirements of CEQA, the CE...

BlogSpot

Reaction:

"Kisses on the Bottom" reviews and comments

Jana Saastad — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:44:21 GMT

Reviews, comments and news on Paul McCartney's latest album release.

Storified by Jana Saastad · Wed, Feb 22 2012 13:44:21

Americansongwriter

Positive reviews:

Kisses on the Bottom | Album Reviews | Rolling Stone

6 days ago ... Whatrsquo;s most surprising about Paul McCartneyrsquo;s new LP is not that itrsquo;s full of pre-rock pop standards, but...

Quick spin: Paul McCartney's 'Kisses on the Bottom' - The ...

Feb 6, 2012 ... The ex-Beatle's vocal jazz record is an affecting exercise in insinuating nostalgia.

Jim Farber's top ten in music

2. Paul McCartney “Kisses on the Bottom” An album of American standards from the ex-Beatle promises to dive straight into his dreaded sen...

Bangers are forever

Kisses on the Bottom is a beauty. On A Different Kind of Truth, the first studio album from Van Halen to feature original lead singer Dav...

Paul McCartney: Kisses On The Bottom

By Ryan Reed February 13th, 2012 at 11:11 am Kisses On The Bottom, Sir Paul McCartney's new album of reworked jazz-pop standards, fea...

'Kisses on the Bottom' from Paul McCartney

The good news is, “Kisses” rarely indulges it. Paul's versions of standards like “It's Only a Paper Moon” and “The Glory of Love”...

Paul McCartney – Kisses On The Bottom (2012) » download by ...

New Album Releases – download full albums, daily updates!

Album Review—Paul McCartney Kisses on the Bottom ...

6 days ago ... Here's a story my father likes to tell: It's 1967 in Jackson, Mississippi and he's 18 years old, riding in t...

and the less positive critiques:

Sir Paul covers classics without consistency

But with “Kisses On The Bottom,” this is hardly true. In his new album, McCartney is covering the classic crooner-style American hits fro...

Paul McCartney album review; Kisses on the Bottom reviewed ...

Feb 6, 2012 ... On his first album since 2007, ¿Kisses on the Bottom¿ (Hear Music), Paul McCartney tosses his dinner jacket over his sh...

Album: Kisses on the Bottom

It takes about 10 seconds — and a glance at the album's title — to recognize that Kisses on the Bottom (out Feb. 7) is not going to r...

Album Review: Paul McCartney – Kisses on the Bottom ...

3 days ago ... Consequence of Sound is a New York- and Chicago-based, worldly influenced music blog that seeks to cover the music world...

Review: Paul McCartney's 'Kisses on the Bottom'

After listening to McCartney's new quaint little dalliance with the Great American Songbook, "Kisses on the Bottom" (Hear M...

Sir Paul's 'Kisses On The Bottom'

But give the soft-hearted still-cute Beatle a break: his new 14 song Kisses On The Bottom (Concord ** 1/2) set of mostly pre-rock swing t...

The tracks:

Rocknycliveandrecorded

Assorted "Kisses" news:

Part-time Legislature: The California Initiative

Jana Saastad — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:04:37 GMT

A statewide ballot initiative is circulating to gather signatures to create a part-time Legislature in California and reduce the legislator's pay to $1500 per month. This is a round-up of the unfolding story, which began in late January.

Storified by Jana Saastad · Wed, Feb 22 2012 13:04:37

The ballot measure is introduced:

Flashreport

Part-time Legislature proposed for California | abc7.com

Jan 23, 2012 ... California has a full-time legislature. Now there's a proposal to switch the state legislature to a part-time body.

Assemblywoman Grove: Send full-time legislators 'packing'

BY DIANNE HARDISTY Contributing writer | Friday, Feb 03 2012 02:22 PM Bakersfield Assemblywoman Shannon Grove highlighted the following f...

Shannon Grove releases video pitch for part-time CA Legislature

Making a personal pitch for donations and help, Assemblywoman Shannon Grove has posted an online video designed to bolster her campaign t...

Californians respond:

A part time legislature may not be the answer to all of our problems but it is a start in the right direction. Add term limits to that would be another step, and I think we should lead the nation to no longer allowing the legislatures to exempt them selves from anything that the rest of are liable for, such as insider tradeing. See Nancy Pelosi... and since they have found in their hearts to act retroactivly against us I think that we should respond in kind.
— Troy Lee Williams · Sun, Feb 12 2012 12:26:05

Citizen legislature; something CA needs! http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2012/02/california-democratic-strategist-steve-maviglio-opposition-part-time-legislature.html @shannongrove #CentralValley #CA
— The CV Watchdogs · Wed, Feb 08 2012 21:23:57

If you live in California ... make sure you sign the initiative to require a part-time legislature !!! Saves tens of millions of $$$
— blriggs · Wed, Feb 22 2012 12:29:18

I for one welcome the idea of a part-time legislature. Not that they do a good job any ways...
— Will Sani Gregorian · Wed, Feb 08 2012 18:00:51

To preface that previous post, I actually do support Asm Shannon Grove's initiative for a part-time legislature.
— Ryan Trabuco · Tue, Feb 07 2012 16:31:54

RT @shannongrove: Tune in now to hear Assemblywoman Shannon Grove speak about Citizen Legislature Initiative. http://fb.me/1zXxwEiK8
— FlashReport.Org · Tue, Feb 07 2012 13:39:28

I hope CA realizes what a good idea PT legislature is & votes yes. RT @CapitolAlert Grove pitch for #part-time CA Leg http://scnct.us/1CYMzG
— Michael Mortenson · Thu, Feb 16 2012 10:17:34

@commonpatriot part time legislature? if Congress had 90 days to do our Nation's business,think of the trillions saved,pass budget go home
— Meredith Marshall · Thu, Feb 16 2012 19:09:34

I hope CA realizes what a good idea PT legislature is & votes yes. RT @CapitolAlert Grove pitch for #part-time CA Leg http://scnct.us/1CYMzG
— Michael Mortenson · Thu, Feb 16 2012 10:17:34

Columnist and bloggers have their say:

WALTERS: Is part-time legislature the cure?

Shannon Grove, a Republican assemblywoman from Bakersfield, is sponsoring an embryonic ballot measure to return the Legislature to a part...

It still should be a full-time job

Rio de Janeiro's elite samba schools paraded in the city's newly renovated Samba... Rio de Janeiro's elite samba schools paraded in the c...

Part-time legislature not likely to end political gridlock

Republican Assemblywoman Shannon Grove of Bakersfield thinks the solution is to return to a part-time legislature, like California had be...

Some full-timers who should go part time

What's needed is a return to a part-time Legislature that replaces the professional hacks in the Capitol with citizen-legislators. Th...

Prop 8 Ruling: Reactions (and Background Info)

Jana Saastad — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:22:34 GMT

News, thoughts and opinions about the US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling on California's Prop 8, which banned same-sex marriage.

Storified by Jana Saastad · Wed, Feb 22 2012 13:22:34

The appeal is announced:

Appeals court rejects California's Proposition 8 - CNN.com

1 day ago ... A federal appeals court ruled against California's voter-approved ban on same- sex marriage Tuesday, arguing the ban u...

Reactions:

From the Mormon Church, which strongly supported Prop 8:

Mormon Church reacts to Prop. 8 ruling http://bit.ly/yycGK7
— Bruce Robbins · Wed, Feb 08 2012 19:05:04

From celebrities such as Ellen DeGeneres:

Celebs React to Proposition 8 Ruling · CelebTV

From PFLAG:

Read @PFLAG Executive Director @jodyhuckaby 's statement on today's historic #Prop8 decision http://pfl.ag/AFr4tj
— PFLAG National · Tue, Feb 07 2012 16:44:49

From Bill O'Reilly

Bill O'Reilly Rips Prop. 8 Ruling As 'Judicial Activism' · dosswndwd

Other reactions:

Proposition 8 ruling confirms 'judgocracy'

I worked for the passage of Proposition 8 by donating money, calling people, placing door hangers, yard signs, standing on Mooney Bouleva...

Latimes

Proposition 8 'may not reach Supreme Court': In a 2-1 vote, a panel of the Ninth US Circuit Court of Appeals sai... http://bit.ly/xMoE1r
— slashbucks · Wed, Feb 08 2012 08:38:54

Prop 8 / Queerty

All posts about prop 8 on the gay & lesbian news blog Queerty.

The making of gay marriage's top foe

If that sophomore cad had married Gallagher, she might never have become a writer. “I don't know what I would have done,” she tells m...

Gallup

I want my brother to get married. Prop 8 needs to go.
— Jitin S. · Wed, Feb 08 2012 19:06:28

Prop 8: Back on the Fast Track · AmericanEqualRights