I don't think before I type's Posts

Pic via hunter1828.

I don't think anyone could have initially complained when BART announced a "Buy American" policy for bids on their new fleet of future rail cars.  But as disappointed as we all were to find out this futuristic fleet didn't include hover trains with robot conductors, I think we were even more disappointed to find out that the "Buy American" policy was really just rhetoric. Granted, our nation's crumbling industrial capacity and our general cultural disdain for public transportation systems are really to blame; there simply just aren't any US companies that currently build rail cars.

So with no US companies to step up, BART instead took bids from three foreign companies who each committed to meeting the guidelines of their "Buy American" policy. Turns out that this policy only really requires that just 60% of the materials used in the new BART fleet be manufactured in the United States. On top of that, every single one of the foreign bidders plans to do their American manufacturing on the East Coast, ensuring that virtually none of the $2.5 billion dollars will be spent creating jobs in California.

Last month, BART officials declared their findings after an extensive study of each of the three bids. South Korean Rotem (a Hyundai subsidiary) was by far the least favored. Instead, it came down to a pretty close finish between French Canadian Bombardier and France's Alstom.  On April 23rd, BART declared their support for Bombardier (which for obvious reasons, they like to refer to as a "North American" company instead of just calling them Canadian), which BART will likely vote in as the winner at a public meeting tomorrow morning at 9am (yeah, that's in 12 hours, cause I know you're totes gonna read this tonight and change your morning plans). 

Critics are crying foul because the "North America" Bombadier has apparently struggled to come up with a BART plan that will use just 66% US sourced parts. Also, Chicago's Bombadier built fleet of rail cars were apparently made with defective Chinese parts that recently forced replacements in all 775 of Chicago's trains and a complete recall and loss of 54 of those trains. 

By now, you've probably heard that really annoying, cheesy radio ad advocating for a "BART for America". These ads are being funded by interests supporting the Alstom bid, who apprently submitted a plan to use 95% of US sourced materials for only about 12% more cost than Bombardier's bid, which still below the total project price tag of $2.5 billion. Unions are backing the last ditch effort to push BART towards the Alstom bid, and if you care enough to make a fuss and maybe create a few more manufacturing jobs in South Carolina or whatever, you too can show to the BART Board of Directors Hearing at 9am tomorrow morning and yell at people who aren't listening and have already made up their mind!

'MERICA! 

Tomorrow, May 10th @ 9am: BART Board Room in Kaiser Center, 20th Street Mall, Third Floor, 344 20th St., Oakland, CA.

Future trains brought to you by the metric system and French Fries. Pic via BART.

This actually took longer to appear than I had expected. Over the weekend, a bunch of lazy graffiti imploring Mission residents to 'STOP KONY 2012' popped up along the 24th St corridor. But the intended message of this graffiti is as confused as it is ugly. Forgive my semantic anal retentiveness, but Invisible Children's campaign to bring Joseph Kony to justice is called 'KONY 2012', not 'STOP KONY 2012'. And considering the high degree criticism and scrutiny IC's campaign has received, you can't help but ask who is actually behind this graffiti and what their message really is.

• Was it elitist San Francisco pessimists who want to discredit Invisible Children and the 'KONY 2012' campaign's call to perpetuate the cycles of regional violence and neocolonialism in Africa? Because they literally want to 'STOP [the] KONY 2012 [campaign]'? The kind of people who can't appreciate the sincerity of an awareness campaign that has fostered more involvement, however cursory, from apathetic American youth than ever before?
• Or is this just the work of misinformed armchair activists? Kids who watched a viral YouTube video, had a good cry, and then let some advertising campaign shape their worldview for them? People who bought a 'hella swag' t-shirt for $30, which is enough to buy an Ugandan Army soldier/rapist a new Kalashnikov so he can 'kill Joseph Kony/commit his own atrocities'? 

Either way, whether you're for or against Invisible Children's KONY2012 campaign, its methods or its message, it doesn't matter what you think. Read about the history of the conflict. Read about the state of current affairs. Read about the background of Invisible Children. Most importantly, read about what Ugandans themselves think of KONY2012 before you decide that you, and the San Diego-based Invisible Children, know what's best for Africa. Do this, and then make an informed decision about who to send your money to, and how you can most effectively and directly help Uganda, even if it's not the trendy choice.

POPCORN CHICKEN: COMING TO A FINE DINING EXPERIENCE NEAR YOU.

So if Brenda's is French Soul Food, could this 'critically acclaimed' Guerrero St combination KFC/Taco Bell be considered Mexican Soul Food? It's a rhetorical question, smart ass. 

Previously on Uptown Almanac

• Former KFC Space to Become Pop-up Rice Bowl Joint
• Today my friends and I pieced out a KFC Double Down

The SFPD is currently seeking the public's assistance in a manhunt for an attempted kidnapping suspect. The horrific creep and self-inflicted fashion victim attempted to kidnapp a young girl on Monday, Feb 13th, at Oakdale Ave and Keith St.  The eight year old victim was walking to school at Carver Elementary, when the suspect grabbed her behind, put his hand over her mouth and told her that he liked to attack kids. She was able to wriggle out his clutches and make it to the safety of her nearby school. 

The suspect is described as an African American male in his 30s, with a heavy build and distinctive short dreadlock style braids.  He has a scar on his upper right cheek.  He was wearing a blue shirt and blue jeans.  He had a square-shaped earring in his left ear lobe.  He was also wearing a handkerchief covering his lower face.
...
Anyone with information is urged to contact Inspector Vince Repetto of the Sexual Assault Detail at 415-553-9117 or 415-553-1361.  Citizens may also contact the SFPD Anonymous Tip Line, 415-575-4444, or the text tip line, TIP411, referencing SFPD in the subject line.

Representatives of the local Juggalo community were not available for comment.

Will his albino cousin of silver screen fame appear next??

(SFPD Press Release)