Friday,

December 31

from Aguirre to Zarqawi — City Beat’s Winners & Losers of 2004

our favorite winner: Donna Frye—San Diego’s beloved surf-populist became national news, waging a war against the city’s establishment and actually getting more votes in the mayoral election—as a write in—than the incumbent mayor. Though she needs a judge’s intervention if she’s actually going to become mayor, regardless of what happens in early 2005, Frye’s public stock skyrocketed in 2004 as she became a shining light of righteousness and warmth in a (figuratively) cold, dark city.

and loser: Fahrenheit San Diego—Peppy San Diego weekly beaten into the ground by an advertising market that hasn’t yet realized behemoth San Diego Reader is the product of ultra-Catholic, homophobic editor who spends his free time protesting places like Planned Parenthood and F Street.

Thursday,

December 30

The Holiday Bowl’s balloon Parade was held this morning along the Embarcadero.

Thursday,

December 30

It’s enough to make Kate Sessions cry. This week’s storm caused many of the grand old trees planted under the watchful eye of San Diego’s first City Gardener (and the “Mother of Balboa Park”) well over a hundred years old to be felled in the high winds.

Wednesday,

December 29

Cypress Canyon prior to last night’s storm and again this morning. The flattened grass along the creek bed clearly shows the path of the rushing water. Many short-rooted trees, brought down in the heavy winds, block the trails leading to Balboa Park. Pioneer Park in Mission Hills lost many of their hundred+ year old giants.

Tuesday,

December 28

Monday,

December 27

Dave Gorman’s Googlewhack Adventure

Fox 6’s Kris Van Cleave reported from Hillcrest’s Red Cross headquarters this morning letting us know what we can do to help those devastated by yesterday’s tidal waves resulting from Indonesia’s 9.0 earthquake. The answer: give ca$h.

Tsunami deaths now top 23,000 in nine countries.

Sunday,

December 26