Oakland's Room 389 A "Dry-Humping Friendly" Bar

Oakland's Room 389 Bar's at 389 Grand Avenue, near Lake Merritt, is becoming a popular place.

It's combination of warm decor, diverse local patronage, and good bartenders make it the first real hit since The Golden Bear occupied that space until 1992.

And Room 389's gaining a rep: for a cushy backroom so nice patrons to do things like make-out and dry hump.

At least according to this Yelp post by Vandana M of Oakland, who wrote:

I had stopped by for a bit early on in the evening and hung out in the back "lounge" area -- at the time, all seemed normal. Then I returned a few hours later, around 12:30. Suddenly the back room seemed to have turned into a 7th grade rec room party filled with couples making out. One duo was full-on dry humping in the presence of everyone. Meanwhile, the front of the bar was totally normal. My friend and I were highly confused -- is it a "business in the front, party in the back" sort of situation? One part sports bar, two parts Power Exchange? WTF is going on at this place after the clock strikes midnight?


I wanted to ask someone but they were all busy stuffing their tongues down each others' faces.

Wasn't me.  Sorry to say.

But what Vandana M should have done was either (1) grabbed someone and joined in the fun, or (2) made a video of the action!  From what she wrote, no one would have noticed.

But this officially makes Room 389 The Best Place To Make Out With Or Dry Hump Your Date in Oakland. Oh, and what's with Vandana M just checking out the folks kissing and dry-humping, anyway?

The Social Network's Golden Globe Success Enjoyed By Randi Zuckerberg

While The Social Network - the movie about the founding of Facebook and the emergence of a person who's name's become a household word, Mark Zuckerberg - was collecting awards for Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Original Score, and Best Picture, at least one Zuckerberg was present to enjoy the event: Randi Zuckerberg.

If you don't know, Randi Zuckerberg is Mark Zuckerberg's sister, and the newly-pregnant Director of Marketing for Facebook. She's also one of the 50 top "Digital Power Players" in Hollywood according to The Hollywood Reporter via Gawker.

Unlike Mark, who's not tweeted at his Twitter page finkd since March 13th of 2010 (as of this writing), Randi's a major league active tweeter, and has 21,428 followers as of this writing.

Her latest tweets report her great time at The Golden Globes with her husband , and have a photo, too. Here they are, in reverse chronological order (in other words, backwards):

randizuckerberg Randi Zuckerberg
@natalielent thanks so much, love! Definitely an evening to remember - Miss you!
11 hours ago Favorite Retweet Reply

randizuckerberg Randi Zuckerberg
It's been an awesome, but loooong evening. Really looking forward to sitting down and taking my heels off! http://yfrog.com/h2jy3wj
14 hours ago

randizuckerberg Randi Zuckerberg
Thank you so much @renttherunway for the gorgeous gown, jewelry & clutch for tonight!!! http://yfrog.com/h0vx8cej
18 hours ago

randizuckerberg Randi Zuckerberg
Love you! RT @Aubs: In the battle for hottest pregnant woman on the Red Carpet, @randizuckerberg is trumping Natalie Portman. By a landslide
18 hours ago

randizuckerberg Randi Zuckerberg
If you tune into NBC for the Golden Globes pre-show in the next few minutes, you may see a certain someone familiar.... ;)
20 hours ago

randizuckerberg Randi Zuckerberg
With my hubby at the Golden Globes - Family red carpet photo! http://yfrog.com/h066sjj
20 hours ago

You gotta love a woman who tweets that she's hotter than Natalie Portman!

In case you're wondering, Randi didn't get into the Golden Globes because of The Social Network, it's because she's a player in Hollywood.

KNBR's Gary Radnich Classless Handling Of MLK Day Talk

Richard Liberman, who listens to San Francisco Bay Area radio so I don't have to, sent an email explaining that KNBR's Gary Radnich was making comments that, put together, add up to a classless discussion of the Martin Luther King Holiday.

This is what Richard (who's no friend of KNBR by the way) explains via email and on his blog:

Gary Radnich made a comment about it "not feeling like a 'holiday today'" on his KNBR show. Of course, Radnich was referring to the fact that today is Martin Luther King, Jr day, a national holiday. Many media people are working and the stores are open, but the banks and schools are closed, noted Radnich.


Fair enough.


But then a caller, (a regular, who happened to be black,) chastised Radnich and his cohorts for making light of the remarks. Radnich, predictably, mocked the caller and promptly cut the call.


I don't think Radnich intentionally tried to de-ligitimize the MLK holiday. In fact, he's married to an African-American woman.


But he clearly crossed the line by making fun of the caller's legitimate questions.

I'd like to know more about what Gary said, exactly. But for me, why not take time to remind listeners of the importance of remembering Martin Luther King? Yes, Gary's wife is African American, and he has a lovely family (in the photo above), but that doesn't mean he's going to rubber-stamp the MLK Holiday.  

But that's just the point: if Gary can't get behind it, then he should explain why and allow others to talk about it on the air.

We can't forget how the USA has evolved and how fast, just over the last 40 years, and really over the last 10 years too.    Martin Luther King Day should be a day we celebrate what's right with America, not lament what's wrong with it.

We have a great country.  Only in America could a society of people come so far, so fast.   Just six years ago many said America would never have a black president.    Then, that year, a young Senator Barack Obama spoke at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, and the talk started.

Amazing.

Gary Radnich should talk about that; I think he'd agree.

ABC World News Perpetuates WRONG 99er Numbers - WHY?

Last night, ABC World News continued to perpetuate the WRONG 99er Numbers (quoting that 1.5 million spun by the DOL in June 2010) and I must ask - WHY?

One might think that any publicity for our 99er cause is a good thing and I would agree up to a point. There is the old adage that: “Sometimes bad help is WORSE than NO HELP at all.” This to me rings true in this instance.

So why can’t the media get it right? Do they even want to reveal the correct number and further embarrass the current administration? Is risking the embarrassment of Obama’s inept cronies and the Sub-Par Congress more important than saving millions of American lives?

Perhaps there is confusion in the term “99ers” as most UI exhaustees average 67.33 weeks of benefits.

99ers like Dawn Rayner in the video below are heros to the 99er Nation. They selflessly put their personal pain out for public display (and often ridicule) in order to further inform America about what Washington’s indifference and incompetence is doing to the many millions among our ranks.

About the interview Dawn said:

Before the ABC interview Dawn says:

"They came to the house. The producer, a cameraman and a lighting guy. They set up the cameras and made sure the light was good, and the producer and I just sat and talked for a while, which was really helpful cuz my heart was in my throat. Then they got a couple shots of me at the computer, they were really interested in the fb pages where we all go for support and to share information.

Then the interview began and the producer just asked me a bunch of questions. Lasted about 1/2 hour. They all told me I did a really good job, so I'm really hoping a lot of it doesn't end up on the cutting room floor. Then we went outside and got a couple shots of my property and stuff. I had told them that we used to have horses with the barn and corrals and the turnout and round pen and everything, but that I'd had to sell off everything and find homes for the horses and all I have left is one little goat, and lots of weeds.....

They were here for just over 2 hours total. Really nice people! They tried really hard to put me at ease and it worked. The producer even told me if he was a 99er he would want me as his advocate, so I am really hoping I come off well on tv."

Then after seeing her interview air on TV she writes:

"I talked about so many important things and they all got cut - the bills in senate, the stereotyping, the lack of accuracy in the unemployment numbers, age discrimination, the "unemployed need not apply", even what I would like to say to Obama. All cut! Gotta wonder why they even bothered to come out here and interview me!"

I know that I should be glad that the networks are finally starting to at least recognize the 99ers...But Shit, they still cut out all of the important facts like under reported numbers, age and other unemployed discrimination and under employment. I hope you have better luck in having most of what you say not ending up on the cutting room floor...So discouraging! Only a few minutes spent on unemployment and the rest of the news focused on the Az. shootings. How much more is there to talk about for God sake. Talking about dumbing down America. No wonder why most people in this country are clueless!"

It is insulting that ABC would be so irresponsible as to under report the true numbers within the 99er Nation at about one third of the true figure. Thing is that the 99er Nation already has an uphill battle educating the general public about the fact Obama’s big Tax deal 13 month UI extension did NOT HELP 99ers AT ALL! Now by ABC broadcasting that 1.5 million “exhaustees” figure - thus insulting our intelligence - they continue the myth that it is somehow OK to screw over 1.5 million Americans when that number is three times higher.

No matter what the true number of “UI exhaustees” truly is, it is an outrageous sin of omission by Washington that condones the “blind eye” approach to this issue and permits the massive suffering of the 99ers to continue unabated. History will record this moment as a dark and evil time in America’s evolution to be sure. How can anyone ever believe in America as that “shining beacon of a city on the hill” when Washington intentionally permits millions of 99ers to suffer - but makes sure it’s richest citizens get a bigger slice of the pie?



BUD MEYERS appears on the Nicole Sandler Show 1-17-11 See it here:



HEY ABC - Ali Velshi GETS IT - WHY DON'T YOU??????




[The donation button below is for Paladinette. If you like what I write please donate so I can keep on fighting for the 99ers! Thank You!]

Golden Globes 2011 A Twitter Hit That Will Translate To TV Ratings

While it's too early to tell how the Golden Globes 2011 did in the TV ratings, it was a hit on Twitter.com. According to Trendistic.com, 9 of the top 10 topics were related to the Golden Globes, and 18 of the top 20, as well.

 While "Jets" was number one, all of the other topics concerned the Golden Globes, with the number topic two being "golden," and number three "goldenglobes."  And that was for starters.

(In terms of meaning, "top topics" refers to how long a topic stayed on the Top Twitter Trends board.  For example, "Jets" was up for 18 hours and Golden was up for 34 hours.)

The dominate topics related to The Golden Globes and a specific TV or movie were for The Social Network, and for Glee, which were the only award winners to show up among the top Twitter topics in various combinations.

What all of this means is The Golden Globes was watched by an audience that was engaged enough to go to Twitter and tweet.

It also means that the Twitter Demographic fits with the same one that is drawn to the shows The Golden Globes is featuring for awards.   The median age of the Twitter user is 31 years old.  The dominate demographic that watches Glee is between 18 and 34 years old.  That means Glee fans are more likely to tweet, and to watch the Golden Globes to see if their favorite shows won.

But does this mean the Golden Globes was a TV ratings draw? It's hard to find a definitive study, but my own anecdotal evidence reveals that when a TV show dominates Twitter topics in multiple categories for a day, that does translate into good ratings for that TV show. Remember, the rule is "multiple topic categories" and not just one topic name.

According to Mashable's Jolie O'Dell, great TV ratings don't equal great online / Twitter exchanges, but what the article's data reveals, but O'Dell does not, is that reality-based TV shows, where the audience renders an opinion on how contestants did, have a much better rate of online / Twitter exchanges. The Golden Globes falls into that category.

With that, it's fair to say this Golden Globes show's going to score well over 20 million viewers.  My prediction is that the 2011 version will set a record for TV viewers.   That's based on the observation that the Golden Globes all but took over Twitter for all of the evening.   When that happens, you've got a ratings hit.

But what about the Twitter Tweets?  When they were good, they were classic. Here's a sample:

EsqWearsPrada: Angelina Jolie carrying on the green dress trend. I really think no one does long sleeves like she does #goldenglobes

laurhilary: #carsondaly asks why #justinbieber is at #goldenglobes. well actually, carson, the same could be asked of you. #gg

HyunJoongie: Golden Globe Awards now!! - SO I’M EXPECTING INCEPTION TO WIN A LOT. lolol THAT MOVIE IS JUST GENIUS. I’m... http://tumblr.com/xmz1a2rsl7

RRice27927: RT @USATODAY: Christian Bale grabs Golden Globe for 'The Fighter' http://usat.ly/fJr1bl

emanuelflores: RT @goldenglobes: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical - Paul Giamatti - Barney's Version #GoldenGlobes

andyandyfleming: You guys, this bit where Matt Damon is pretending to not know who Robert Deniro is is KILLING! #goldenglobes

Touwe: RT @100WordsorLess: Robert DeNiro was forced to start his own applause. #po#pooraudienceparticipation #GoldenGlobes #GG

Golden Globes 2011: Twitter Live Stream

The Golden Globes 2011 is going on, with some good speeches and a lot of speeches where it's obvious the award winner had something to drink.   Overall, this show is totally funny.  Seriously.

And when that wasn't the case, Halle Berry's body was driving many to drink.  Wow.

(Did you catch Robert DeNiro?  What about Natalie Portman?)

 At any rate, here's the Twitter Stream for the Golden Globes 2011:

Golden Globes 2011: Robert DeNiro Goes Off On Foreign Press

As I blog this I'm sitting in one of the rooms of the Balboa Theater watching The Golden Globes. It's a great turnout of people who are obviously fans of film.

The great actor Robert DeNiro is accepting a special Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award for a lifetime of amazing work in film. He told Matt Damon that he loved him in The Fighter, a playful jab at Damon's intensional mistaking of characters he played in films.

DeNiro thanked the Hollywood Foreign Press and then went off on a weird rant that wasn't taken so well by the audience. DeNiro said many of the members of The Hollywood Foreign Press, saying that many of them should be deported, along with the waiters serving the actors and actresses at the event.

I'm not making this up.

I'm waiting for the YouTube of this whole train wreck of a speech.

Wow.

Play offs

Right now the New England Patriots are playing the New York Jets. The score is three nothing Patriots, but it's only the second quarter. Blog post done via windows mobile.

Green Bay Packers Favored To Beat Chicago Bears In NFC Championship

Yep. As of now, the Green Bay Packers are favored to beat the Chicago Bears in next Sunday's NFC Championship. That, even though the game's played in snowy Chicago.

Odds makers have the Packers giving 3 to the Chicago Bears, which means some think the Pack will win by more than that much. Personally, I can't see that.

The Chicago Bears just beat the Seattle Seahawks 35 to 24 in a game which saw the Bears ahead by as much as 27 points and for more most of the game. But a furious Seahawks rally made the final score closer than the game really was.

While the Packers blew out the Falcons, it was in perfect indoor conditions for a track meet. I don't think the Packers are going to have the same fortune in the cold at Soldiers Field against a team that knows them, playing for all the marbles.

Take the Bears.

Plus, you know the Bears are going to be fired up to learn they're the underdog in the game!

Stay tuned.

Pork Loin at Plum in Oakland Good, Overpriced

Pork Loin at Plum in Oakland, originally uploaded by zennie62.

Last night, I paid a visit to the new Plum Restaurant on Franklin near Broadway. It's a new addition to the Uptown Oakland food scene, joining Luka's, Osumo, Pican, Vo's, and Bakesale Beattie's, as well as Farley's Cafe and forming a nexus of food places at Broadway and Grand.

Now, I'm not a restaurant reviewer. In fact, I was spurred to try Plum because of Michael Bauer's review at SFGate.com. Plus, living in Oakland, I think its important to support Oakland business whenever I can.

Now, I've got to put this in perspective. The Pan-Roasted Half Chicken at The Wood Tavern is the best in the SF Bay Area. It's a 23 dollar meal that will more than fill you up; you'll have to take some of it home.

I asked what the most filling dish at Plum would be and the patron next to me recommended the Pork. So I ordered it. I inhaled it. It's $18 and yet is the size of a small salad. For the money, not far from the Wood Tavern's Chicken, it was too small a dish.

Good, yes. Awesome. But too small a dish, and that impacts its overall value. Sorry to say.

But here's the weird thing: the meals that have the best price / quantify relationship at Plum are in its late night menu. The Plum version of a Reuben Sandwich is one example, and at $12 is reasonably priced and will fill you up.

Plum's a lovely place, but it seems like the menu's upside down. Hopefully, they'll correct that, soon.

Oh, That Service Charge Thing

Also, Plum has a 16.5 percent service charge that the waiter said "is shared with the kitchen staff," which is fine. I have no problem with that, but it would seem to discourage tipping. I also wondered why they imposed it. Were they afraid that certain Oaklanders wouldn't tip? I commonly leave double the tax as the tip. It was interesting that the waiter pointed directly to the service charge, even though I didn't ask about it.

I gave him an additional $5 because the service charge was less than what the tip would have been. My entire meal, for just me, was $50 with the service charge, which I spent the night before for two people at Miss Saigon Restaurant on Grand next to The Alley.

Plum needs to work that out, and the price / quantity thing, before I can say it's really perfect.

Aaron Rodgers poses for pictures during playoff win, so what?

Yahoo Sports Chris Chase is making a big deal about Green Bay Packers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers posing for pictures "like he was at a high school dance" while backup QB Matt Flynn was at the helm as his team was hammering the Atlanta Falcons 48 to 21 in Saturday's NFC Divisional Playoff Game at The Georgia Dome.

So what?

You know, this whole deal of beat reporters getting after players for doing everything from laughing during a loss, to crying, or taking pictures is a bit much. They're human. Just because communications technology lets us see what they do almost all the time during a game doesn't mean we become judge and jury of what they do.

Heck, I'd like to see more players send tweets during the game, it would heighten the experience of watching it.

After all, sports is entertainment today. But I digress.

One thing about Rodgers is he thinks about winning more than the game. I realized this while listening to him after the contest yesterday, when he remarked that "We're just one more game away from Dallas."

That's the wrong way to think.

Rather than thinking about winning, Aaron should be thinking about football.

Oh, GO BEARS (Aaron went to Cal).

Aaron Rodgers Puts On Clinic: Atlanta Falcons Lose To Green Bay Packers

The Atlanta Falcons loss to the Green Bay Packers revealed a lot about the Falcons, but this blogger would prefer (for this post) to briefly focus on one fact: Aaron Rodgers put on "a clinic." In fact, that word was used so much by Fox Sports announcer Joe Buck, he pissed off the Twitterverse so much his name became a Twitter Trend.

(As an aside, it was far different than the regular season game.)

But Packers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was brilliant, and so was the Packers game plan.

Let's get this out of the way: Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy is light years ahead of the person who was the terrible offensive coordinator for The San Francisco 49ers in 2005, Alex Smith's first year in the NFL. (And in 2006, McCarthy was selected as the Packers coach in yet another obvious flaunting of The Rooney Rule)  And consider that had the 49ers drafted Aaron Rodgers number one rather than Alex Smith, Mike McCarthy would have coached Rodgers and not Smith, but he's now coaching Rodgers anyway.

And what McCarthy and his staff is doing are developing plays that don't have Rodgers holding the ball very long, throwing into windows to his receivers, rather than waiting for them to break open on long routes.  In many ways, the Packers are the classic Bill Walsh Offense team, an approach the San Francisco 49ers should take note of.

Rodgers was not only 31 of 36 for 366 yards and 3 touchdowns (a lot of 3s) but continued a pattern of passing brillance that this space took note of during the NFL Preseason.

Now, they wait the winner of the Chicago Bears vs. Seattle Seahawks NFC Divisional Playoff game, and as of this writing, Chicago's ahead 21 to zip, and with the snow it may stay that way.

Stay tuned.