Tag Archives: San Francisco

Entertainment, Film and TV, Law Enforcement

SAN FRANCISCO BANS WILD AND EXOTIC ANIMALS FROM CIRCUSES, FILMS AND TV

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A scene from the Hollywood film, 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes'
A scene from the Hollywood film, ‘Rise of the Planet of the Apes’

SAN FRANCISCO, California (The Adobo Chronicles) – For the longest time, it has been the ‘elephant in the room’ in circuses, films and television shows: wild and exotic animals used commercially for public amusement.

This week, the ultra radical San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an ordinance banning performances by these animals in circuses and on film. It takes effect in 30 days.

Passage of the measure, opposed by the circus and motion picture industries, makes San Francisco the largest city to adopt such a sweeping prohibition on the commercial use of wild animals for public amusement.

The ordinance does not apply to domesticated animals, such as dogs, cats, horses and other livestock or pets. Educational activities or exhibitions accredited by certain zoological and museum organizations are also exempt.

It does bar any public showing, carnival, fair, parade, petting zoo, ride, race, film shoot or other undertaking in which wild or exotic animals “are required to perform tricks, fight or participate as accompaniments for the entertainment, amusement or benefit of an audience.”

Wild and exotic animals are defined as any nondomestic or hybrid creature, whether or not it was bred in captivity. That means elephants, tigers, lions, apes, monkeys, snakes, deer, politicians and right-wing conservatives.

It wasn’t clear whether films like ‘Planet of the Apes,’ filmed in the San Francisco Bay Area (including the Golden Gate Bridge) will be banned from being shown in local theaters and television, or rented out through Netflix.

Economy

SAN FRANCISCO HOUSING RENTS, CAR OWNERSHIP HIT ALL-TIME LOW!

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imageSAN FRANCISCO, California (The Adobo Chronicles) – If you left your heart in San Francisco, now is the best time to go back. What was once among the most expensive major U.S. cities to live in is becoming a haven for low to middle-income earners.

Until recently, the average rent for a one-bedroom and one-bath apartment was $2, 500 a month, garage extra. Now, the same size apartments are going for $1,000 to $1,500 a month. Studios are now renting for an average of $600 per month. The rents also include two bike racks.

Speaking of bikes, a new city-wide survey shows that car ownership is shrinking, down by almost 60%, thanks to the ever-increasing number of bike-only lanes in major thoroughfares throughout The City by the Bay.

Ex-car owners interviewed by The Adobo Chronicles said that it no longer makes sense to own a car in the city, since most streets and roadways have been painted green, indicating bike-only lanes. “Between the bike lanes and red-painted buse and taxi-only lanes, private cars have practically been booted out,”  said San Francisco resident Mike Bello who sold his Range Rover and purchased a mountain bike.

Craigslist and other social media sites have seen a significant increase in the number of ads for surprisingly affordable apartment rentals, like this one:

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Festivals, International, Religion, Tourism, Travel

FOLSOM STREET FAIR MAKES ITS PHILIPPINES DEBUT

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imageMABALACAT, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Next to the LGBT Pride Parade, San Francisco’s annual Folsom Street Fair is the most attended festival in the City by the Bay.

It is not for the bashful or the faint of heart. There is a lot of nudity and ‘BDSM.’ On Friday, the world-famous festival launched its Asian version in the town of Mabalacat, Pampanga, a few miles north of Manila.

Folsom Street Fair San Francisco (Photo credit: pBase.com)
Folsom Street Fair San Francisco (Photo credit: pBase.com)

Unlike its San Francisco counterpart, the Philippine Folsom Festival was participated in by men only, although women and children were among the spectators.

There was a lot of flagellation, bloodied bodies, piercing, bondage, nailing — but no frontal or full nudity.  Men were tied up, and tied down. But, unlike in San Francisco, there was no entrance fee or donation buckets to gain access to the festival.

The Philippines Catholic Church, as expected, frowned on the festival and urged its followers to stick to the traditional, church-sanctioned Holy Week activities and ceremonies.

The Philippine Folsom Festival coincided with  Good Friday, the most solemn  time in the Catholic Church’s calendar.