Latest Stories
Concorso Italiano is the world's largest Italian car show and is held in Monterey, CA, every year. A vast collection of classic and contemporary Italian cars, most of them privately owned, is shown to the public during this famous annual event.
Pierre Andre Senizergues, founder and CEO of Sole Technology, with his girlfriend Sara Sheen and their 4 month old son Mateo at their house in Malibu, CA, on January 9, 2009. Sole Technology is the world's largest privately owned action sport footwear and apparel company represented in more than 70 countries. Its seven top brands include etnies, etnies Girl, etnies Plus, eS, Emerica, Altamont Apparel and ThirtyTwo.
Sole Technology is the world’s largest privately owned action sport footwear and apparel company represented in more than 70 countries. Its seven top brands include etnies, etnies Girl, etnies Plus, éS, Emerica, Altamont Apparel and ThirtyTwo.
Making wine is one of mankind’s oldest pastimes. Now you can make wine in your living room thanks to Greg Snell’s new invention, the WinePod. The personal winemaking system allows wine lovers to produce wine at home, without the uncertainty of the traditional winemaking process. Snell’s goal is to bring the lifestyle of a winemaker to the average person – without the mess.
Dozens of dogs participated in the 3rd Annual Loews Coronado Bay Resort Surf Dog Competition in Coronado, CA, on June 28, 2008. The event was attended by hundreds of spectators.
The World' s Ugliest Dog is Gus, a Chinese Crested purebred, with three legs and one eye. A cancer survivor, this pooch is truly ugly by international standards. The award was bestowed upon Gus and his owners Jeanenne and Janey Teed of St. Petersburg, Florida at the 20th annual World' s Ugliest Dog competition at the Sonoma-Marin County Fair, in Petaluma, CA.
While many American suburbs, bastion of tranquility, have been rocked by the mushrooming subprime mortgage crisis, one town has been particularly hit. Stockton, California.
The Wag hotel, a luxury resort for dogs, opened in San Francisco on Saturday, May 12, 2007. It offers over 230 rooms and suites specifically designed for its four-legged guests as well as spa services such as pedicures, facials, massage and grooming.

A stretch of highway melted and collapsed near the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge on April 29, 2007, after a gasoline tanker crashed and burst into flames creating intense heat. The truck's driver walked away from the scene with second-degree burns and no other injuries were reported. Officials predicted a traffic nightmare for the San Francisco Bay Area commuters for weeks to come.
Cheeta, famed for his appearances in the 1930's and 1940's Tarzan movies starring Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O'Sullivan, turned 75 years old and remains the world's oldest living primate. He lives happily at the C.H.E.E.T.A Primate Sanctuary in Palm Springs, California, a home for primates who have retired from the movie industry and the show business.
"KITT", the famous car from the `80s TV show "Knight Rider", is on display for sale for US$149,995 at Kassabian Motors auto dealership in Dublin, CA. The 1982 Pontiac Trans AM muscle car was driven by actor David Hasselhoff who played Michael Knight in the iconic TV series. It is being sold by its owner as the 25th anniversary of the show's debut is coming up. Its owner purchased the car 10 years ago at an auction in San Diego and worked on restoring it since then.
Thousands of people came to see hundreds of tattoo and body artists at work at the Tattoo and Body Art Convention in San Francisco, CA, on April 1, 2007.
The Jet Bettle Car
San Mateo, CA
Mechanical engineer Ron Patrick built his dream car in his home garage in San Mateo, CA. It is a street-legal jet powered car made of a 1,350 HP helicopter jet turbine engine fitted onto a factory Volkswagen Beetle car.
Thousands of protesters marched through the streets of San Francisco on March 18, 2007, on the fourth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq to call for an end to the funding of the Iraq war and the immediate return of U.S. troops.
More than 10,000 people gave a rock-star welcome to US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama in Oakland, CA, on March 17, 2007, on his first campaign stop in California. Obama is campaigning and fundraising throughout the country for the 2008 US Presidential elections
More than 80 protesters posed naked in public for photographer Jack Gescheidt in Berkeley, CA, on Mar 17, 2007, in an attempt to attract attention to save a grove of oaks slated to be cut down on the University of California's Berkeley campus. University administrators want to cut down more than 30 oak trees to make way for a $125 million sports training facility. Gescheidt staged the event as part of an ongoing series called -The Tree Spirit Project-.
A memorial, known as The Crosses of Lafayette and made of thousands of wooden crosses, one for each US soldier killed in Iraq, has become a controversial issue, grabbing national attention because of the reaction from various pro-war groups. The memorial was erected by anti-war volunteers on a privately-owned hillside in Lafayette, CA.
Heavy rain set off a serious landslide of rocks and boulders in a section of Telegraph Hill in San Francisco on February 27, 2007. Seven buildings were severely damaged in the landslide, displacing about 120 people.
French Buddhist monk Matthieu Ricard at a friend's house in Oakland, CA, on February 10, 2007. Ricard, a Ph.D. degree in molecular genetics and the son of renowned French philosopher Jean-Francois Revel, resides at Shechen Tennyi Dargyeling Monastery in Nepal. Ricard has been scientifically assessed through MRI scans as one of the happiest people in the world.
Thousands of protesters marched in the streets of San Francisco, CA, on January 27, 2007, to show their discontent over US President George Bush's plan to send more troops to Iraq. The march was one of several anti-war rallies held around the country.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs presents the new iPhone at Macworld Expo on January 9, 2007 in San Francisco, CA. The iPhone, available in the US in June 2007, is a combination of a mobile phone, a widescreen iPod with touch controls and an internet communications device that supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless technology.
Tens of thousands of people gathered in the Castro District of San Francisco to celebrate Halloween on October 31 2006.
The Blue Angels
San Francisco, CA
The U.S. Navy's Blue Angels above San Francisco on October 8, 2006. The event was part of the annual Fleet Week celebration. The mission of the Blue Angels is to enhance recruiting within the US Navy and represent it in the United States and other countries. They use F/A18 Hornet aircrafts.
The Tarantula Festival
Morgan Hill, CA
The annual Tarantula Festival takes place every October during the mating season at Coe Park in Morgan Hill, CA. Hundreds of visitors come to see, touch and learn more about the largest spiders on earth that usually inspire more fear and disgust than anything else.
Apple Computer CEO Steve Jobs presents in San Francisco Apple's new online movie store, the new iPod Shuffle and new versions of the other models of iPods.
Dogs on Bikes
Oakland, CA
Jesse Lane of Oakland, CA, founded the Biker Dogs Motorcycle Club International in 2000. It is the world’s first motorcycle club for dogs who ride motorcycles. Canines are “Biker Dog” members and humans are either “Guardian” members or “defender” members. Every year, the club sponsors an Annual “Biker Dog Run” with an itinerary fixed in advance.
Space Memorials
Houston, TX
Space Services Inc. offers something unique to those who want to honor the memory of their loved ones in a very different way: they will send their ashes into space.
Netflix is the world's largest online DVD movie rental service, offering more than 4 million members access to more than 60,000 titles.
French skipper Olivier de Kersauson and his eight-man crew broke a new world record by crossing the Pacific Ocean from Yokohama, Japan to San Francisco, USA, under 14 days aboard the world's biggest trimaran, Geronimo.
The Bratz Doll
Van Nuys, CA
For decades, Barbie has been the reigning queen of fashion dolls, but all has changed when the Bratz dolls hit the market in 2001. Their edgy, stylish and “cool” look immediately seduced the pre-teen girls between 8 and 12 years old who saw in them what they want to become.
Legend of Motorcycle: International Concours d' Elegance, was the world's first concours d'elegance exclusively for motorcycles. It was held on the lawns of the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Half-Moon Bay, CA, on May 6, 2006. Close to 200 of the world's finest motorcycles, covering nearly a century of motorcycling history, were judged by an international panel of experts.
The Fertility Institutes uses Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) technology in conjunction with in-vitro fertilization to help couples to choose the sex of their future baby with a 99% success rate.
Cheeta, famed for his appearances in the 1930's and 1940's Tarzan movies starring Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O'Sullivan, turned 74 years old on April 9, 2006, and remains the world's oldest living primate. He lives happily at the C.H.E.E.T.A Primate Foundation in Palm Springs, California, a home for primates who have retired from the movie industry and the show business. . ..View Story.
Craig of Craigslist.org
San Francisco, CA
Craig Newmark started craigslist.org in 1995 as a way to post local information for his friends. Since then, it has grown into one of the world's largest sources of online classified ads, reaching million of people around the world. Read Text By Mimi Rohr ........View Story.
Blind Designer Eric Brun-Sanglard sees what other people can’t even imagine. This inspired him to launch a successful career in home design after becoming blind more than 10 years ago. Among his numerous clients are movie stars such as Virginia Madsen. Read Text By Mimi Rohr .........View Story.
Prince Charles of Wales and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, came on a four-day vsiit to the San Francisco Bay Area. View Story.
Demonstrators gathered for a candlelight vigil in front of the Veterans Building in San Francisco on Oct 26, 2005, to protest silently the deaths of US troops in Iraq after the 2,000th war related death of a US soldier was announced yesterday.View Story.
The state-run Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Laboratory in Richmond, CA, is watching for the first sign of the avian flu disease in California by operating under a program of "enhanced surveillance" for the H5N1 strain of influenza. They test respiratory samples sent in by California doctors from patients who developed flu like symptoms shortly after traveling through regions infected by the avian influenza.View Story.
Apple's CEO Steve Jobs announced during a keynote address in San Jose, CA, on Oct 12, 2005, a new version of the popular iPod that plays videos, a new iMac computer and the new version 6 of iTunes that allows people to purchase videos and television shows online. View Story.
The Red Bull Air Race is a combination of aerobatic, slalom and racing flying. Within a rectangular area of 1400 by 400 meters (4,593 by 1312 feet), are mounted several pairs of 18-meter-high (59 ft), white air-filled pylons, with each pair spaced 10 to 14 meters (32 to 46 ft) apart. These are the gates and the pilots have to fly between them as fast as possible while performing certain figures. The Red Bull Air Race is the epitome of aerobatic flying as the pilot's necessary skills are extreme. The winner of a Red Bull Air Race is the pilot which completes the course in the fastest time while performing the correct figures and gate crossings. View Story.
NASA demonstrated on October 3, 2005, two autonomous "intelligent" robots that they hope will one day work side-by-side with humans in harsh extraterrestrial environments. The robots, named “K-9” and “Gromit”, are able to perform certain tasks without detailed human instructions. This would would allow them to prepare craft landing sites, build structures and mine for resources, and generally behave as astronaut butlers. The demonstration was at the NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California. View Story.
Google Headquarters
Mountain View, CA
SGoogle, Inc. is a public company that provides Web search and online advertising services on the Internet. It offers advertising solutions and global Internet search solutions through its Web site, and Intranet solutions via an enterprise search appliance. Google was co-founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin in 1998, and is headquartered in Mountain View, California. View Story.
Several tons of trucked-in snow were dumped on two blocks of Fillmore Street in San Francisco on September 29, 2005, that transformed it into a ski jump competition organized by Ice Air. Thousands of people watched and cheered Olympic skier Jonny Moseley and 20 other professional skiers and snowboarders as they flew off the jump during this unique and unusual event. View Story.
Former rivals Microsoft and Palm teamed up with Verizon to release a new TREO smart phone that will run on Microsoft’s operating system, marking the first time Palm has employed a platform other than its own. View Story.
Actor Warren Beatty politically attacked California’s Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on September 22, 2005, during a convention of the California Nurses Association, an organization that has emerged in the last year as one of Schwarzenegger's most vociferous critics. Beatty, a Democrat and longtime political activist, has been mentioned as a possible challenger to Schwarzenegger. View Story.
Ghostrider Robot, an autonomous motorcycle developed by Anthony Levandowski and his team of graduate students from the University of California, is getting ready for the 2005 Darpa Grand Challenge. The team’s Ghostrider, The Blue Team, is one of 40 semi-finalists selected for the race, a 150-mile off-road race for autonomous vehicles sponsored by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Administration (DARPA). The first vehicle to successfully complete the 150 mile course in the October 8, 2005, competition will win a $2 million prize. View Story.
A new Wal-Mat store opened in Oakland on August 24, 2005. store opened Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. is the world’s largest retailer, with more than $280 billion in yearly sales. The company employs 1.6 million people through more than 5,000 facilities worldwide and serve more than 138 million customers per week. View Story.
Auditions for the fifth edition of the popular show, American Idol, took place on Aug. 18, at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, CA, before continuing to five other cities across the US. The show offers the opportunity for one talented singer to perform before millions of TV viewers, become a household name and win a major recording contract. View Story.
Wine.com
Oakland, CA
Wine.com is the world’s largest online wine retailer with sales of more than two million bottles of wine per year and a catalogue of more than 14,000 labels. Read Text By Mimi Rohr View Story.
Hundreds of overweight people who proudly describe themselves as fat attended the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) convention in San Mateo, California, Aug 10-14, 2005. They attended seminars and workshops that educate, inform and promote self esteem and acceptance. View Story.
The town of Parkfield, located on the San Andreas Fault in central California, is one of the world’s most seismically active areas. Its inhabitants like to call it the "Earthquake Capital of the World". It has been the site of an intensive earthquake study since the late 1970's and a team of scientists recently reached the fault’s active zone through a 2-mile deep borehole. This project, named SAFOD, is a major step in learning more about earthquakes and maybe predicting them. View Story.
Like every year, thousands of people came to watch the giant kites in action at the Festival in Berkeley, CA, on July 30 and 31, 2005. View Story.
Based in rural Indiana, Goliath Casket specializes in the manufacturing of oversized burial caskets ranging from 29 inch width to 52 inch width (74 to 132 cms), accommodating big human corpses from 300 lbs to over 1000 lbs (136 to over 453 kgs). Read Text By Mimi Rohr View Story.
The Surfing Rabbi
Venice Beach, CA
Rabbi Nachum Shifren - a.k.a. “The Surfing Rabbi”- combines his Hasidic Jewish faith with his love of the surf by teaching both. His goal is to teach youth the lessons of life through surfing.. Read Text By Mimi Rohr View Story.
The US Supreme Court ruled on June 6 that Federal authorities may arrest sick people who use marijuana to ease their pain, even if it was prescribed by their doctors, and prosecute them for violating federal drug laws. This ruling overrides medical marijuana statutes in 10 states, including California, and concludes that state medical marijuana laws don't protect users from a federal ban on the drug. Those who grow the marijuana for medicinal purposes may also face the same fate. In addition to California, the states that permit the use of marijuana for medical purposes are Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nevada, Oregon,Washington and Vermont. View Story.
Arthur Zafiropoulo is a happy man. Owner of a collection of around 20 Ferrari cars, he now co-owns what he claims to be largest Ferrari dealership in the world. With a 10,000-square-foot (929 m²) showroom, a 12,000 -square-foot (1,115 m²) service area, a luxurious client waiting lounge and even an Italian bistro, the new dealership just opened in the Silicon Valley city of Redwood City, nearby some of the richest neighborhoods on the country. View Story.
Police Officers from around the San Francisco Bay Area get their heads shaved during the "Buzz the Fuzz" event in San Francisco on May 13, 2005. The event was organized to raise money for children who have lost their hair as a result of chemotherapy treatments for cancer. For every thousand dollars raised or donated, one policeman gets his head shaved. “Buzz the Fuzz” was originally organized in 1994 by a policeman in Australia to show kids under treatment that they should not be too concerned with their appearance. View Story.
At 75, Pax Beale is still pumping iron some two hours a day and has a body that a lot of younger bodybuilders would envy. Beale started weight lifting in his 50’s, winning the titles of Mr. USA and Mr. Universe despite a serious heart surgery at the age of 61. A millionaire entrepreneur, he now promotes “the Body for the Ages”, a program based on the protein, Pyruvate, that has literally given him a new lease on life. Read Text By Mimi Rohr View Story.
Prostitute and sex activist Carol Leigh opened the world’s first college for prostitutes, the “Whore College”, in San Francisco. It is open to male and female prostitutes who want to learn and improve their safety, business and technical skills. Classes such as “Beauty Standards and Work”, Safer Oral Sex” and “Give Your Sex Business a Make Over” are taught here. Leigh – who goes by the name of “Scarlet Harlot” – claims there has been a demand for such studies since many Silicon Valley employees became sex workers after the dot com bust of the late 1990s. View Story.
John J. Valdez, an ex- Master Gunnery Sergeant (MGySgt ) with the U.S Marine Corps, was the last one to board a CH-46 helicopter from the roof of the American Embassy in Saigon, Vietnam, during its evacuation on the morning of April 30, 1975. He took pictures of the last moments of the US embassy in Vietnam View Story.
VIP Fibers is the the first U.S. enterprise to spin pet fiber or fur into yarn that can be transformed into clothing and other keepsakes.Read Text By Mimi Rohr ........ View Story.
The Rat Festival
San Mateo, CA
The Rat festival, called “The Wonderful World of Rats!”, was the first of what will be an annual event organized by the Rattie Ratz organization. It is intended to promote domestic pet rats as companion animals and inform current and potential guardians about the proper care and maintenance of pet rats. View Story.
More than 1,500 pairs of boots were on display in front of the City Hall in San Francisco on March 26, 2005, to commemorate each US soldier who died in the Iraq war. Eyes Wide Open, the American Friends Service Committee’s exhibition on the human cost of the Iraq War, features a pair of boots honoring each U.S. military casualty from the war in Iraq.. View Story.
Michael Jackson faces trial for child molestation, but cameras are banned from the trial. Therefore, the cable television channel E! broadcasts a daily recreation of the previous day's testimony. Actors work from trial transcripts to present highlights of the action. The show is called "E! News: The Trial of Michael Jackson" and is an E!/Sky News/ Sky One Production. View Story.
Segway Polo
Sunnyvale, CA
The Bay Area Segway Enthusiasts Group (SEG) meet regularly in a park in Sunnyvale, CA, to play a new and unique game, the Segway Polo. Two teams of four players each try to hit a ball into the opposite goal with a homemade mallet made out of PVC pipe, foam and duct tape, while riding their own Segway at a maximum speed of 8 mph. The Segway Human Transporter is a self-balancing, electric-powered transportation device that was released to the public in 2001 by inventor Dean Kamen who hoped to revolutionize public transportation with it. View Story.
Suna Khalaf Salim, an Iraqi-born US citizen, has been blind since the age of six but this did not stop her to create her own collection of leather jackets, “Suna Collection”. She designs them by communicating with her hands and words to describe what she imagines, “sees” and wants. Suna has color memory, a sense of style and a very good sense of color coordination.. View Story.
The Monterey Bay Aquarium put a female Great White Shark on exhibit in a million-gallon aquarium on September 14, 2004, three weeks after she was inadvertently caught in a commercial fishing net off Huntington Beach in Southern California. There are no other Great White Sharks on display in the world today, and no aquarium has ever exhibited a Great White Shark for more than 16 days. View Story.
The Gladiator Challenge is a mixed Martial Arts competition whose popularity is rising in the USA and worldwide. With the spirit of the ancient gladiators, it combines the skills of boxing, kickboxing, wrestling, Ju Jitsu and Judo. Combats are held in a two-ton steel cage surrounded by thousands of screaming fans. Fighters wear little protection and the violence of the punches and kicks makes the combats short and often bloody. Victories are often by knockout. View Story.
The San Francisco 47th International Auto Show opened this week and will exhibit more than 40 international auto manufacturers displaying 2005 models and cars of the future. It is expected to draw about 400,000 people. View Story.
The International Breeders Show is organized by the International Reptile Breeders Association (IRBA) and one of the biggest events where reptile and invertebrate breeders and dealers come to show and sell their production. View Story.
The Auction House Bonhams & Butterfields in San Francisco will offer soon a very rare Ming dish for a pre-sale estimate of one to two million US dollars. The rare and large Ming underglaze copper red dish was recently discovered within the San Francisco Estate of Elinor Majors Carlisle, where it was used for years as a serving dish for family meals of crab The 46-centimeter dish dates from the Hongwu Period (1368-1398) and is one of very few surviving from this era. View Story.
Expecting mothers can now have a glimpse of what their developing child might look like by going to private studios that offer 3D ultrasound imagery like the Prenatal Peek studio in Novato,CA. Relaxing in recliners, with soft music playing in the background, mothers and their families have a chance to meet their babies and walk out with a video or DVD of their experience as well as color photographs. Unlike the classic 2D ultrasound performed by obstetricians to verify the absence of abnormalities, the 3D ultrasounds have no medical value. Read Text By Mimi Rohr .......View Story.
Jurors found Scott Peterson guilty of first-degree murder in the death of his wife, Laci Peterson, and guilty of second-degree murder in the death of the fetus she carried. The verdict came following a five-month trial that was an endless source of fascination to the tabloids and cable networks.. Story.
Gary Doss' Pez Museum in Burlingame, CA, the only one of its kind in the world. Doss, 50, owns every single Pez Dispenser ever produced by the Austrian-based company, Pez Candy Inc. Ten years ago, Doss and Nancy turned their collection of over 500 pieces into a museum open to the public. He also buys sells and trades Pez dispensers through his store inside the museum and the Internet. More than 10,000 visitors from around the world come to the Pez Museum every year. The first Pez dispensers were introduced in 1948 but had the trademark heads four years later only. Pez dispensers are collected worldwide and seven Pez international conventions are held every year. Story.
The Main Place Christian Fellowship”, an evangelical church located in Tustin outside Los Angeles, converted a former photo booth in a nearby parking lot into a drive-though prayer booth. Any driver in need of a prayer can drive through and remain in his car while a pastor on duty prays for him through a window. In addition to free prayers, the booth also gives away free Bibles, bottled water and sometimes flowers. Story.
Jubilee Christian Center is a Pentecostal church in San Jose, CA, that attracts thousands of worshipers every week. It broadcasts its celebration services on television and over the Internet. It was founded by Pastor Dick Bernal and has nearly 12,000 members of all nationalities and backgrounds. . Story.
Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry scored a decisive victory in California, drawing support from a broad spectrum of voters to claim the nation’s largest haul of electoral votes. Story.
When a gang member in Los Angeles decides to leave the streets for a legal life and find a job, he often faces obstacles because of his gang-affiliated tattoos. These tattoos are an obstacle to a smooth return to a normal life so “Jobs For A Future, Homeboy Industries”, a non-profit center in East Los Angeles, created a tattoo removal program for gang members to assist previously gang-involved youth in re-directing their lives. The “Ya ‘Estuvo" Tattoo Removal program provides free tattoo removal services to any gang member requesting them and it gives priority to those clients whose tattoos inhibit their safety or their ability to secure employment. The service is provided on site with a state-of-the-art laser tattoo removal machine and staffed by a number of doctors who donate their time. Story.
The San Francisco Gravity Festival is an extreme downhill race featuring the world's top professional racers in downhill skateboard, streetluge, gravity speed bike, and downhill inline skating. Racers can reach speeds of over 60 miles per hour on the half mile closed course in McLaren Park in San Francisco. The runs last 40 to 50 seconds and very specific rules regarding the equipment used or the way to start have to be respected. Speed is their drug. The event is part of the IGSA (International Gravity Sports Association) Points Series. Story.
Pregnant Belly Masks
Sebastopol, CA
Artist Francine Krause, owner of “Pregnant Belly Masks”, creates belly masks by applying strips of plaster-filled gauze on pregnant women who wish to keep a souvenir of their pregnancy in the form of a beautiful sculpture they can display in their own home. Story.
The Skateboarding Moms
Laguna Beach, CA
When people think of skateboarding, they envision adolescents doing tricks on brightly painted boards but a few are aware of a new trend on the rise: The Skateboarding Moms. Barbara Odanaka, a passionate of skateboarding since the age of 10, is leading a revolution since she founded the International Society of Skateboarding Moms. Through her website, www.skateboardmom.com, and media coverage, the society’s membership has grown to over 100 women coming from across the United . Story.
Inside Technicolor
Camarillo & Burbank, CA
Technicolor Home Entertainment Services (THES) is part of Thomson’s Digital Content Solutions division and the world’s largest global manufacturer of DVDs, Videocassettes and CDs. It is also a leading developer and provider of comprehensive end-to-end cinema distribution technology and services. Story.
In silent protest against the war in Iraq, volunteers from the "Veterans for Peace" group in Santa Barbara, CA, erect white wooden crosses on the beach for every American serviceman killed in Iraq. Since last November, the memorial, fondly dubbed ''Arlington West,'' goes up at sunrise and down at sunset every Sunday to mark the rising death toll in Iraq. Each cross bears the name, rank, age and hometown of a fallen U.S. soldier. There was a total of 894 crosses on the morning of July 18, 2004. Story.
More than 1800 dwarves gathered at the annual convention of the Little People of America (LPA) in Burlingame, CA, for a week of workshops, seminars, sports, parties and sightseeing. The gathering was also an opportunity to forge friendships, meet potential spouses and escape the stares and whispers of the “average-size” world. Little People of America (LPA) is a nonprofit organization that provides support and information to people of short stature and their families. Dwarfism is usually defined as a medical or genetic condition that results in an adult height of 4'10" (125 cms) or shorter. Story.
Biochip Technology
San Francisco Bay Area, CA
Biochip technology, a combination of semiconductor technology with molecular biology, has become a multi-billion dollar industry over the past few years. A biochip is a collection of miniaturized test sites (microarrays) arranged on a solid substrate that can perform thousands of biological reactions, such as decoding genes, in a few seconds. It uses tiny strands of DNA to latch onto and quickly recognize thousands of genes at a time. Biochips helped to dramatically accelerate the identification of the estimated 80,000 genes in human DNA, an ongoing world-wide research collaboration known as the "Human Genome Project". In addition to genetic applications, the biochip is being used in toxicological, protein, and biochemical research as well as to rapidly detect chemical agents used in biological warfare so that defensive measures can be taken. Story.
Dr. Robert J. Lang, a full-time Origami artist, is considered as one of the world’s leading masters of the Origami art. His designs are famous for their incredible realism and include some of the most complex ones ever created. Story.
More than 3,500 people waited hours in line at a local bookstore in San Francisco on June 28, 2004, for former US President Bill Clinton to sign his new memoir "My Life" for them. Story.
Tens of thousands of people came to San Francisco to see the annual Gay Pride parade which focused this year on gay marriages after the city issued more than 4,000 marriage certificates. Story.
SpaceShipOne made history on June 21, 2004, by flying to outer space and becoming the world's first privately funded rocket ship to carry a human into space. The flight marked the first time that a non-government spacecraft reached the altitude of 62 miles which is considered the boundary between earth's atmosphere and outer space. The project is the brainchild of aeronautics entrepreneur Burt Rutan and is funded by billionaire Paul Allen, who co-founded Microsoft. Pilot Mike Melvill, 63, was at the commands of the space ship. Story.
Power Tools Drag Racing
San Francisco, CA
For the third consecutive year, mechanic enthusiasts gathered in a San Francisco junkyard with their modified power tool machines to race side-by-side down a 75-foot wooden track. Most machines, attached to electrical cords, were based on common and-held power tools such as circular saws, grinders, drills and belt sanders fitted with wheels. While most contestants competed for fun, some hoped to win the $1,000 final grand prize. In front of a cheering crowd, the muscle cars race in down the track, sometimes crashing in flames. Some machines reach top speeds and accidents can be a reality. Before entering the junkyard, spectators and participants were asked to sign a waiver of responsibility. Machines are based on hand-held power tools and can run on a variety of power sources, provided by either on board or external sources such as a 40 amps of 120AC per lane and 150psi of air." Story.
Greg “Fossilman” Raymer, a patent attorney from Stonington, Connecticut, won the 2004 World Series of Poker championship in Las Vegas on May 28, 2004, , winning a record prize of 5 million US dollars. With a record participation of over 2,500 entrants from more than 30 countries and a total prize of 26 million US dollars, the 2004 World Series of Poker (WSOP) is the most prestigious poker tournament and one of the richest sporting events in the world. The WSOP has been held annually since 1970 at the Binion's Horseshoe Casino in downtown Las Vegas. Story.
Ferial Masry recently qualified as a Democratic candidate for the California State Assembly elections scheduled to take place this coming fall. If elected, she would become America’s first Saudi-American to hold elective office in the U.S. and California's first Arab American woman to serve in the Legislature. Masry, a Moslem, came to the US in 1979 and now works as a high school US History teacher in Los Angeles, CA. She was born and raised in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest city in Islam. Story.
Frederic Neema spent five days inside The Moonlite Bunny Ranch, America’s best-known legal brothel that is located in Carson City, NV. Story.
Hundreds of computer enthusiasts broughts their own deskptop and laptop computers to the University of San Francisco on Apr 03,2004, to connect them to each other as a single supercomputer hoping to place in the top 500 fastest supercomputers on earth. Story.
The Little White Wedding Chapel on the Las Vegas strip is probably one of the most famous chapels in the world. Located in Las Vegas, Nevada, it is the place where hundreds of couples come every month to get married fast, by necessity or just for the fun of it. The Chapel hit the headlines when celebrities started to flock to it. Its hall of fame list include famous movie stars such as Joan Collins, Paul Newman, Mickey Rooney, Bruce Willis (with Demi Moore),and Frank Sinatra, famous singers such as Britney Spears and Dixie Chicks lead singer Natalie Maines and famous sportsmen like basketball star Michael Jordan. According It is the only one to offer drive-through weddings where a religious minister can marry couples in the privacy of their own car. Story.
The Grand Darpa Challenge
Ontario and Barstow, CA
Amazing robots take part in the Grand Darpa Challenge, an unprecedented 210-mile race organized by the DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) seeking to spur accelerated development of autonomous robotic ground vehicle technology for military applications.. Story.
Hundreds of gay and lesbian couples answered the city's invitation to wed in an unprecedented spree of same-sex marriages that has challenged California law and sent conservative groups scrambling for court intervention. Story.
ASonoma Foie Gras is one of only three foie gras producers in the United States and the only one on the West Coast. Its future is threatened by an anti-foie campaign launched by Senator John Burton of California and some animal rights activists. Story.
Anthony Levandowski's new venture is to design a fully autonomous counterbalanced motorcycle to race from L.A. to Las Vegas in the DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) Grand Challenge. Story.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs at Macworld Conference & Expo in San Francisco on January 6, 2004, where he annonced several new products including the new iLife 4 software and the iPod Mini, a mini version of its best-selling iPod music play Story.
Tyanna Madsen, a first grader who weighs 62 pounds (28 kgs), is believed to be the world’s strongest six-year old girl since she set a world record last month by deadlifting 101 pounds (45 kgs) during her first regional weightlifting competition in Des Moines, Iowa. Story.
McDonald’s opened its first "McCafe" on the US West Coast, a new concept and design that it is modeled after a pilot program in Raleigh, N.C. View story
More than 130 men with facial hair of all styles came from as many as 10 different countries to Carson City, Nevada, to parade down a catwalk in the sixth World Beard and Moustache Championships.This was the first time the 13-year-old contest had been held outside of Europe. Story.
The Red Bull Flugtag is a fun and unique event in which participants launch a handmade, human-powered flying machine off a 25-foot ramp into the water. The flying machines can range from realistic plane replicas to anything imagination can create. Story.
Thousands of people gathered at San Francisco's Exotic Erotic Ball that is considered as the world's largest and sexiest indoor masquerade party. Since 1979, thousands have come from around the globe to live out their fantasies in costumes ranging from bizarre to bare at this event that costs $65 to $175 to get in. At the end of the party, a cash prize is given to the best costume of the night. Story.
Milu Villela
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Milu Villela, is one of Brazil's richest women, yet she devotes the majority of her time flying to the assistance of the most poverty stricken. For within her own homeland, 46 million people live below the poverty line.. Story.
Sergio Vieira de Mello, who was the United Nations Coordinator for Iraq , died on Aug 19 in a suicide bomb attack against the U.N compound in Baghdad. Story.
Jim Reid claims that he has the answer to the homeless problem: build very tiny houses similar to the one he put together and claims to be the Smallest House in America. Story.
The 53rd Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance is the most prestigious classic car event in the world and!exhibits some of the most unique and prestigious prewar and postwar marques along with the latest in concept and design. Story.
Male Chimpanzee Cheeta, famed for his appearance in the 1930's and 1940's Tarzan movies starring Johnny Weissmuller. Cheeta, who is in excellent condition despite a well-controlled diabetes, lives happily with his owner and caretaker, Dan Westfall, in Palm Spring, CA. .Story.
French Racing Car Champion Sebastien Bourdais at home in Miami, Florida. View story.
Las Vegas is likely the only city in the world in which one may arrive in a Hollywood style limousine and make a discreet getaway in the early morning hours on board a Greyhound bus. This is the place where one becomes rich or loses all, especially during the Poker World Series held at the Las Vegas Binion’s Horseshoe casino. View story. View Text by Roberto Alvarez
In a society that is obsessed with loosing weight by any means, some fat women have decided to take the complete opposite approach and proudly accept their bodies. They are joining a growing number of women under the pro-fat acceptance movement that promotes body-acceptance and fitness at any size. These women feel no shame in describing themselves as fat or big and participate in activities that would leave a lot of thinner ladies exhausted. View story. View Text
France's Patricia Meunier-Lebouc made history by winning the Kraft Nabisco Championship against Annika Sorenstam in Rancho Mirage, CA, on March 30, 2003. She became the first Frenchwoman to win an LPGA major since Catherine LaCoste won the 1967 U.S. Women's Open as an amateur. View story
Since the US decision to go to war against Iraq, San Francisco has become the centre of the opposition in the US. View story
AuctionDrop
San Carlos, CA
AuctionDrop is the first outlet dedicated to selling goods on eBay. Customers just drop them off at the counter and AuctionDrop handles photographing the item for online display, processing the listing on eBay, shipping it to the new owner and paying the buyer the price of the auction, minus a 20 to 40 percent commission.. View story
The Prince and Princess of Belgium in California
San Francisco & Los Angeles, CA
IPrince Philippe of Belgium and his beautiful three-month pregnant wife, Mathilde, came to California for a 7-day visit as part of an economic mission to the USA. View story
In a region famous for its expensive real estate , buying a castle for US$159,000 should be considered as an incredible deal unless... it is a play structure. Since 1987, Barbara Butler has built more than 200 play structures that look like coming out of children books. Their design is breath taking and defies the imagination. View story
An entire port fishing village for sale at $.125,000 ?! Yes, but you can't move in. You can just look at it and admire it. The reason is very simple: it is a miniature! James Pridham spent more than 4,000 hours building this imaginary village "Safe Harbor" entirely from scratch with hand made components.View story
Bruce "Scissorhands" Choy
San Francisco, CA
Hairstylist Bruce Choy cuts hair like nobody else in the world. He uses a special technique that involves both hands and up to 14 pairs of scissors at once. This special gift has earned him a place in the Guinness World Records in March 2002 as "Hair Cutting With the Most Scissors At Once". View story
Daphne Ruff is a fashion designer outside the norms. This artist uses recycled materials to create wardrobes, costumes and accessories that are unique in their genre. The materials she uses range from recycled paper to inner tubes of car tires. Her creations vary from a complete costume made of boxes of breakfast cereals to a shower curtain transformed into a lovely dress. She even had a special order for a wedding gown made from recycled paper.View story
More than 40,000 demonstrators marched in San Francisco to protest a potential war against Iraq. The demonstration was part of an international campaign of anti-war actions being held in Washington, London, Berlin, Copenhagen, Mexico City and Rome. View story
Exclusive with Magazine publisher Larry Flynt in his home, office and private casino in Los Angeles, CA. Larry Flynt is known on the one hand as a publisher of adult magazines such as Huslter and on the other as an advocate of Free Speech. View story
Spanking Festival
San Francisco, CA
The annual Folsom Street Festival is an international event that attracts thousands of people from all over the world every year and is the largest gathering of leather, S&M and bondage fetishists in the world. View story
When raw food gets mentioned, people usually think vegetarian and flavorless food but not at Roxanne's, the country's first gourmet raw food restaurant specializing in organic food never cooked above 118 degrees F (48 degrees Celsius).Veteran chef Roxanne Klein, 38, is winning critical acclaim for her new organic living foods restaurant in Larkspur, California. View story
The Big Fitness Instructor
San Francisco, CA
Jennifer Portnick might be considered as a fat aerobics instructor by certain standards but she is definitely fit. Portnick, who weights 240 pounds (108 kgs) and measures 5 feet 8 (176 cms), has been doing high-impact aerobics for 15 years and follows a diet that is mostly vegetarian. She is certified by the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America and teaches six high-energy, low-impact classes a week. She has her own program called "Feeling Good Fitness". View story
International tattoo artists and their followers gathered for "Tattoo the Earth 2002", a festival to promote the art organizers and aficionados proudly don. Tattoos are considered as art pieces and human skin as the canvas. Most people who invest thousands of dollars in tattoos consider it as an investment in art and some even joke that no one can steal it from them. View story
While it is commonly known that art imitates life, the Tableaux Vivants or Living Pictures invert the cliché. Since 1933, Laguna Beach in California has hosted a festival of living art, the Pageant of the Masters. The pageant features tableaus vivants which are a theatrical re-creation of the world's great art masterpieces on various stages using live actors painted into the backgrounds. View story
     
     

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