APP MAKERS = STARVING ARTISTS
Yes, techies are driving rents up. Yes, techies are driving the cost of living up, too. But the next time you meet a techie, or at least, an app developer, they may be poorer than you think. A study titled “Developer Economics: State of the Nation” surveyed more than 10,000 (holy crap!) app developers, and found that more than 50 percent of iOS developers and more than 64 percent of Android developers make less than $500 per app, per month. “The majority of app businesses are not sustainable at current revenue levels,” the study found. We’re not in a tech bubble, no siree. Now pass the Soylent.
BURNING ELEPHANT
Republicans on LSD? It’s about time! The Republican-libertarian puppeteer who has sometimes been called “the most powerful man in Washington,” anti-tax crusader Grover Norquist, is headed to Burning Man. He made the announcement yesterday, via Twitter. “It’s official. Samah and I are off to ‘Burning Man’ this year. Scratch one from the Bucket List,” Norquist tweeted.
MORE MUNI MONEY
Muni buses regularly play a canned audio message: “Please pay your ‘fare share.'” It’s a silly pun, but it’ll be especially grating next month, when Muni fares are set to rise by a quarter. $2.25 is the official Muni fare starting September 1, and monthly passes will jump from $66 to $68. Muni fares rise with inflation. Now, if only Muni cleanliness rose with inflation: those bus seats would be clean enough to eat off.
PINK SATURDAY DEAD?
CastroBiscuit reported startling news: The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are mulling putting the kibosh on Pink Saturday, an annual celebration at Pride. The last few years have seen a spike in violence at the historically inclusive party, and the sisters plan to meet with Supervisor Scott Wiener, the SFPD, and the community to decide next steps. Sister Selma Soul told Castro Biscuit Editor Roy McKenzie: “Once we see how those discussions go the Sisters will be deciding whether we want to produce the event again, transition it to a third party, or recommend that the city cancel the event altogether.”
FETISH FROLIC
Packed gay leather street festival Up Your Alley Fair last Sunday was replete with all the joyous sexual expression and provocative sartorial choices we’ve come to suspect. But the above tropical normcore anti-surveillance fantasy outfit was a new one, even for us. Gay fetish: still thinking out of the box. PHOTO BY DARWIN BELL
JAILERS, POLITICIANS UNITE
Sup. Malia Cohen last week joined Board of Supervisors colleagues friendly with law enforcement and the Mayor’s Office — which still haven’t gotten over Ross Mirkarimi being elected Sheriff and surviving Lee’s attempt to remove him from office — in killing a proposal to let the Sheriff’s Department to have a little more say in letting poor, low-risk inmates out on electronic monitoring pending their trials. In Cohen’s District 10, with high poverty and incarceration rates, her question might have been: Why should only those who can afford bail be free? Instead, despite backing for the reform from the Probation Department and Public Defenders Office, she said, “All I’m hearing from are in opposition.” And then a few days later, she was feted and funded at a re-election event by the San Francisco Deputy Sheriff’s Association, whose job security relies on having more San Franciscans behind bars. Hmm.
ALL SHIPSHAPE
One of our favorite newish bars in the Mission, Virgil’s Sea Room, co-owned by Harvey Milk Democratic Club co-president Tom Temprano, is celebrating one year of great drinks, drag bingo, progressive politics, and naught cal puns (Fri/1, 9pm, free. 3152 Mission, SF. www.virgilssf.com). DJs Jamie Jams and Miss Pop, food by Wes Burger, and drink special will float anybody’s boat.
YOU WIN SOME
Members of the Arcade Fire, who hit the Shoreline Wed/30 with their Reflektor tour, were spotted earlier this week just chillin’ outside the Zetta hotel (just around the corner from the Bay Guardian‘s new mall-topping offices). Our tipster confirms: Win Butler is tall.
ROBESON REVISTED
The always enriching AfroSolo Arts Festival celebrates its 20th year Sat/2, 1pm-3pm, free at Yerba Buena Gardens in SF. This year, renowned baritone Anthony Brown, accompanied by pianist Dr. Carl Blake, present A Tribute to Paul Robeson, feting the legendary singer, activist, lawyer, and artist. Ring a picnic and listen to some spectacular singing. www.YBGFestival.org