Just The News

The FCC Digital Demo Fizzled In Oakland

As part of the FCC’s grand tour, FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein stopped by Oakland this evening to explain next February’s transition from analog to digital TV.

Of course, technology will always glitch during demos and tonight was no exception.  “God darn it – it keeps pixelating,” muttered Adelstein as he tried to demo a new digital channel.

Outside the Oakland Asian Cultural Center (map), where the tour made a pit stop, it’s possible to tune channels 9, 11, 14 and 54 successfully.  Inside this concrete building, only channels 14 and 54 worked but there were a few problems.

As the FCC Commissioner explained the transition, his digital demo fizzled.  Adelstein noted the pixelated channel with blocky images, and shifted over to the channel that worked better.  He also mentioned that each current analog channel will be able to deliver four digital channels in its place.

Because the FCC is requiring this transition, it impacts everybody who still relies on broadcast TV without cable or satellite service.  They will need to attach a digital converter box to each TV, as the cheapest option.  This still presents a hurdle, especially for the elderly and low-income Oaklanders.

Thus the Media Alliance sponsored this event, to “get all the facts on the upcoming transition and learn how to help the elderly, disabled or english-limited members of your community” with the transition next February.

Willie Brown Disses Oakland, Thanks

Willie Brown, retired San Francisco mayor and political major domo, pens a weekly column at the SF Chronicle and decided to diss Oakland today about its restaurant heists.

Hey, don’t rub salt into a wound that’s healing, Willie.

While Willie cracked a joke, it was a pot-shot over the Bay to Oakland:  “By the way, there’s a new dining tip for people going out in Oakland.  Be sure to order soup.  That way when the robbery starts, you can slip off your jewelry and drop it into soup so the robbers won’t see it.”

Willie’s a little late to the party.  A few days ago, the Oakland Police nabbed the two guys (and one gal) whom they believe are linked to four of the restaurant heists.  The robbers decided to expand their scope to a nail salon, and the cops caught them afterwards.

Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums made a press appearance when the suspects’ capture was announced.  He declared, “We cannot allow a few people to capture the espirit-de-corps of the community.”  He meant well.

However Dellums uttered a classic double entendre.  Were these robbers able to emulate and follow the bad mojo here?  Or were they effectively bringing community spirit down?  Now that’s funny, or maybe it’s just me!

Take Care Of Reiser Kids

We thought the Montclarion saga was over.  Hans Reiser has been officially locked up 15-plus years, for the murder of his estranged wife Nina.

Well the saga continues for the Reiser kids, who now live with their maternal grandmother in St. Petersburg, Russia.  Last week, a pro-bono suit was filed, which attempts to extract financial support for Rory and Niorline.  The wrongful death suit, filed on their behalf, is hardly a reach.

While this suit was reported by the Oakland Tribune and SF Chronicle today, I wanted to record the sorry tale of the Reiser children here.  It’s the least we can do to honor this local Montclarion mom, who was strangled to death by her husband – while their kids were around.

Older son Rory was quite clear-headed at the trial, even testifying that he saw his father carrying a black bag down the stairs.  This bag was Nina’s burial shroud, unearthed when Hans led cops to her hillside grave this summer.

The suit clearly states that both children “were in the house when the Defendant murdered Nina, which has resulted in severe emotional distress and psychological damage.”  No kidding.

At his sentencing hearing last week, Hans insisted the kids did not witness the crime and “never even knew what happened.”  He expressed remorse and actually seemed sad for them.  This delusional, alternate universe of Hans Reiser continues to make me sick.

As part of his sympathy campaign, Reiser also set up a token trust fund which will accept donations for his kids.  Around Montclair, the scuttlebutt says to ignore this request because funds won’t ever make it to the offspring.

Here’s hoping the kids’ lawyers prevail instead, and they receive some compensation for their radically altered and irrevocably harmed lives.   It can’t be an easy life over in Russia, instead of Montclair.

Oakland Wins On Restaurant Heists

Check out this robbery map from the San Francisco Chronicle.   You can locate some 22 restaurant heists throughout the Bay Area this year, and read specific details about each one.

Oakland is disproportionately represented, which is a bit humiliating.  There were 15 hold-ups in Oakland, including one at Cybelle’s in Montclair.

Although the newest handful of robberies hit up patrons as well as restaurant tills, there’s really no reason to curtail visits to your favorite dining spots.  Clearing of the throat:  “All we have to fear is fear itself.”

As a percentage of all restaurants, these hits are a rounding error.  I recognize we’re experiencing a new crime that’s particularly depressing, but it’s a little like getting struck by lightning.

Still, you have to wonder why most of these robberies are around here.  I’ll attribute this to copy-catting but want to know your theories!

Our Own Guardian Angels

Did you know that Oakland’s Guardian Angels chapter is led by someone with deep ties to Montclair?   Christina Fernandez worked for 17 years as a pharmacy technician at Longs Drugs, until last year.  She then signed up for the Angels and became their first Oakland chapter leader.

“To me, the Guardian Angels were like superheroes, out there to protect you, fighting crime.  I used to look up to them,” explained Fernandez to Inside Bay Area.  “Once people see them, they walk away.  I believe our presence in Oakland is starting to have an effect.”

The Guardian Angels have received a lot of attention by Oaklanders lately, as a group that can help protect citizens and keep things calm.  They are seen by Oakland government as a positive force, to fill in policing gaps.  They are also looking for patrol volunteers now.

(Sorry, that recruitment video is no longer on YouTube, as of December 2008)

Angels were first deployed to Grand Lake last year, at the request of shopkeepers.  With the recent spate of restaurant heists on Piedmont, Rockridge and elsewhere, they have been asked to expand their patrols.  Most recently, the Angels have begun weekend duty in Rockridge.

The Montclair Village Association (MVA) has invited them to patrol during Montclair’s Jazz & Wine Festival on September 7th.  Roger Vickery, MVA Director, said “when you see them at the Jazz Festival, you’ll be impressed with how they conduct themselves, both as helpful ambassadors for the Festival and as maintainers of order.”

Vickery noted “how dedicated and sincere [Christina] and her Angels are in trying to bring order to our City.  Her husband is on duty in Iraq and when she says she is ‘beginning to take it personally’ she speaks from the frustration of seeing crime and disorder here while her family is making sacrifices on our behalf.”

Since the Angels are a volunteer organization, they need help to buy sleeping bags, uniforms and other basic items.  Donations can be made by reaching Christina and her group:  5375 Walnut St, Oakland, 94619 or 510-459-9566.