I want to believe that when we talk about drones — also known as unmanned aerial vehicles or unmanned aerial systems — whose bodies vary from pterodactyl-big to mosquito-small (the Robobee, a robotic insect, weighs …
February 5, 2014
Podcasts
News & Stories
Contrary to popular wisdom, drones are already among — or above — San Diegans
Lincoln Club mailers protested…at wrong location
A small but vocal group of activists organized by Presente.org and the Courage Campaign may have taken a wrong turn Tuesday afternoon, February 4, while attempting to deliver a pair of petitions. In a two-week …
February 5, 2014
Castle Park Middle School principal punches back!!
Throughout 2013, the Reader reported on Castle Park Middle School’s extracurricular priorities: recruiting Sweetwater students to Alliant, a costly private university; extending the Steven Hawking charter school into the Castle Park Middle site; questionable spending …
February 5, 2014
Pop fell away from the heart
Asked how San Diego treats his now-L.A.–based band Xiu Xiu, singer Jamie Stewart tells the Reader via email: “It has been mixed. There have been shows that were totally sold out and the people were …
February 5, 2014
Brush up on your Shakespeare at Reading Cinemas Gaslamp 15
It's being billed as "Love and agony, Shakespeare style," when National Theatre Live! and Broadway HD bring the Bard to the big screen at Reading Cinemas Gaslamp 15. Based on the life of legendary Roman …
February 5, 2014
Philip Seymour Hoffman to be digitally inserted into final Hunger Games sequel
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Philip Seymour Hoffman died leaving behind only one crucial scene to film in order to tie up his character's plot thread in the final Hunger Games sequel. It was today …
February 5, 2014
Michael Shames owes more than $100,000
Superior-court judge Ronald S. Prager has ruled that Michael Shames, former head of Utility Consumers' Action Network (UCAN), owes $104,609 in fees and costs to the parties he unsuccessfully sued for defamation and related transgressions. …
February 5, 2014
Say bye to 1927 railroad bridge near Camp Pendleton
Motorists traveling northbound on I-5 through Camp Pendleton have probably noticed the slow disappearance of the old, rusty, white railroad bridge over the Santa Margarita River. The Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Company built …
February 5, 2014
O’ahu on a plate
A culinary expedition: journalist resolves to achieve edible incapacitation in the Aloha state. Let us resolve to gain weight this new year! Known as the melting pot of the Pacific, Hawaii is home to hundreds …
February 5, 2014
God’s sense of humor
“I know that, when with Fleetwood Mac, we played San Diego back in the late ’60s, but I don’t remember much about it, except it was in a large hall of some kind,” says Jeremy …
February 5, 2014
Just the right amount of South Pacific kitsch
In 1949, Tahitian artist Felix Lynch opened up what is now San Diego’s oldest tattoo shop, at 317 F Street, catering to sailors who landed in port just blocks away. Six location changes and two …
February 5, 2014
D.A. Dumanis rakes in $21,000 from used-car interests
San Diego district attorney Bonnie Dumanis, under scrutiny in part as a result of a trove of campaign cash she got from employees of La Jolla luxury-car dealer Marc Chase in 2011, has accepted at …
February 5, 2014
Fresh and fluffy
“It’s Hook’s cheddar. Costs $40 a pound. That would come to about $15 per sandwich.”
February 5, 2014
Record-release roundup
Schitzophonics have a record-release party set for February 8 at the Casbah, on a bill that includes Neighbors to the North, Amerikan Bear, and Gloomsday. “It’s a three-song seven-inch that Munster Records is putting out,” …
February 5, 2014
Downsized dreams
Bethany, by Laura Marks Old Globe Theatre, Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, Balboa Park Directed by Gaye Taylor Upchurch; cast: Carlo Alban, DeAnna Driscoll, Jennifer Ferrin, Amanda Naughton, James Shanklin, Sylvia M’Lafi Thompson; scenic design …
February 5, 2014
Democrat Aguirre endorses Republican Faulconer
Former city attorney Michael Aguirre was scheduled to hold a press conference at the park at Harbor Island at 11 a.m. this morning (Feb. 5) to endorse Kevin Faulconer for mayor. In an interview earlier …
February 5, 2014
Photographs for Valentines' Day
“Curves are in, and I am going to work on making those curves look delicious.”
February 5, 2014
NBC and Facebook won’t skimp on the Winter Olympics
We’re talking real money. The 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City cost $2 billion to produce. The 2006 edition in Turin, Italy, cost $4.1 billion. Four years later, in Vancouver, the bill was $8 …
February 5, 2014
Jewish film fest faves
The San Diego Jewish Film Festival ushers in its 24th year with a showcase of 60 shorts, documentaries, and features chosen from across the globe. With this year’s film festival comes two fresh faces: publicist …
February 5, 2014
Extremes: The Life and Times of Father José Maria Zalvidea
Part One Herbert Howe Bancroft: “There is no evidence that Father José Maria de Zalvidea ever had an enemy or said an unkind word to any man…. He was doubtless a model missionary, and then …
February 5, 2014
Enough space for your 20 vehicles
Current Owner: Rita Gregory Listing Price: $5,750,000 Beds: 8 | Baths: 10 The small, mostly agricultural town of Rainbow, population 1832, sits at the northernmost point of San Diego County along the border of Riverside. …
February 5, 2014
Triple bogey
Democratic freshman congressman Juan Vargas, who has found himself uncomfortably caught up in San Diego’s latest political-corruption scandal, has scheduled his latest big-money fundraiser, this one to feature House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland. …
February 5, 2014
International influx of sound
Anything but a newcomer to electronic music, Aaron Hastings (aka Arkon) has hosted local late nights such as Ajna After Hours, Bordello Breaks, Trance Mission, and — starting in 2007 — began working alongside Gage …
February 5, 2014
San Diego County Office of Education loves to pay lawyers
Nestled in the hills of Linda Vista, inside a spacious building overlooking San Diego Bay and the downtown skyline, is the headquarters to the San Diego County Office of Education. The government agency is responsible …
February 5, 2014
Handout-getting 101
Money demands seem never to stop growing at San Diego State University, despite 2012’s voter approval of Jerry Brown’s massive state-tax increase. So the venerable institution — led by president Elliot Hirshman, who famously makes …
February 5, 2014
Sunset Mountain, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Sunset Mountain takes its name from the last rays of sunshine that enshroud the top with the setting sun. The 3657-foot peak is located south of SR-78 between Pinyon Wash and Harper Canyon. From the …
February 5, 2014
Straight from the Sea Lion's Mouth
Judging by the Cover Just seeing the January 30 cover, “I Only Date Vegans,” was enough for me to decide I did not want to read the article. Al Stanko Alpine That’s Weird You guys …
February 5, 2014
Cinder blocks: clean ’em, paint ’em, stack ’em!
Post Title: Concrete Thinking: How to Make Mod, Stackable Sculptures with Cinder Blocks Post Date: November 27, 2013 “What is garden art to you?” That was the theme of the night during this week’s #GardenChat, …
February 5, 2014
Shiloh Spiritual Center
Contact: 3288 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego 619-640-2020; shilohspiritualcenter.com Membership: 50 Pastor: Reverend Roxie Hart Age: “Young enough to enjoy life and old enough to know I really want to.” Born: Oakland Formation: Holmes Institute, …
February 5, 2014
Magic in the movies
My life is all about magic these days, but I love Practical Magic because it’s really about sisters and how powerful that bond can be. Some very grounded performances from Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman …
February 5, 2014
Wax on, wax off
The Karate Kid. No, I don’t mean The Karate Kid with Will Smith’s baby boy and Jackie Chan — I mean the only real Karate Kid with Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita! I have great …
February 5, 2014
Fascinating but disturbing
Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Mark Caro opened up a whole new world of cinema for me with Delicatessen. The film is set in a post-apocalyptic future where food is scarce. A landlord of an apartment building, …
February 5, 2014