Kudos to Roshambo’s graphic designer, Richard Miller of Calyx Designs, for his spread in the June issue of SF’s 7×7 Magazine. The story is about SPARKLETACK, his popular podcast on San Francisco history. Now since a) there’s no link to it online, b) the copy is too small to read here, and c) you probably don’t have a subscription to 7×7 (though you should subscribe now), I will painstakingly retype this brilliant piece by Leilani Labong - a USF grad school classmate of mine and rising star magazine editor.
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Ask Richard Miller why his popular podcast on SF history is called Sparkletack - the subject matter has nothing to do with sparkles or tacks, after all - and the Oroville, CA, native will tell you he simply liked the sound of the words. “I wanted something that sounded cool but wouldn’t tie me down to any particular subject,” says Miller, who began broadcasting his weekly history lessons on the Internet in May of 2005 with a short, off-the-cuff chat about the abandoned household castoffs found on streets all over the city.

“When I did that story, I just picked up a microphone and started speculating about all the leftover desks and couches,” says the 40-year-old graphic designer, who recently resumed his podcast after taking a six-month hiatus. “I quickly realized that working without a script and having no solid facts to back up my words wasn’t going to work.”

Since that first broadcast, Miller has spent an average of 30 hours carefully researching each of his aural essays, whether it’s on the Japanese origins of the fortune cookie or the legend of Lefty O’Doul. “It really bothers me when stories have been altered or embellished. That’s the biggest difference between me and Mark Twain,” says Miller of the legendary raconteur, whose colloquial writing style is evident in the podcaster’s stories. “He never let the truth get in the way of a good story.

Discovering, for instance, that Levi Strauss was not the originator of the blue jean - that honor goes to a Nevada tailor named Jacob Davis - came as a big surprise to Miller. “I thought I knew the story, but I did the research and found some historic letters that proved I was wrong. It motivated me to start getting the facts straight.”

Currently, the amateur historian is working on a Sparkletack essay book, and ultimately hopes to hang up his graphic-design hat to podcast full-time. (He’s now turning out two segments per month.) Which may help to explain his recent move to Sacramento, after 17 years in SF - the cost of living is lower there, and the Internet hasn’t made him rich yet. Still, when he’s overseas and people ask him where he’s from, “I always say San Francisco,” says Miller. “Eyes light up. They say, ‘I’ve been there,’ or ‘My aunt lives there.’ Everyone is connected to the city. Its stories resonate all over the world.”

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UPDATE: Richard has also recently been interviewed by Travel & Leisure!!! So more to come on this man of the moment. But in the meantime, check out Sparkletack and brush up on your SF history!

Ten years ago today the world lost one of its most insanely talented musicians when a 30-year-old Jeff Buckley drown in a Memphis harbor. Though he only released one studio album, Grace, his music and ethereal voice has influenced a generation of artists. (Not just fellow singers, but writers as well. Hell, our good friend Tiffanie Debartolo even wrote a brilliant novel called God Shaped Hole which is modeled after an ill-fated character like Jeff Buckley). Fortunately, ever since Jeff’s untimely death several albums have been posthumously released, giving us more music to sink our teeth into. But still, that’s small consolation. We miss you, Jeff.

A little while back I wrote that the “people upstairs” thought my Roshamblog should have more “central messaging” to help “drive sales.” I shuddered at the thought of being a sales guy, shamelessly pitching things like our AWESOME DEAL on a 6-bottle white wine sampler!!! I cannot be such a man, I thought. Especially since I much prefer plugging myself.

But alas, I came to my senses. You probably aren’t here to read about me. I mean, who cares that Scott Keneally is a (semi-) famous bedwetter, right? That’s why I have a website of my own. The Roshamblog should be about selling wine!!! I mean, where else are you going to hear about the 6-bottle Rose’ sampler for only $60!!! That’s only ten bucks per bottle and quite the steal considering the fact that our Rose’ is RFG!!! (Really Fucking Good).

Let’s call it Roshambo’s Summer of Love Sale.

It’s our gift to you.

So… what are you waiting for?

Get the party started in time for the holiday weekend!

Much of what makes Roshambo such an exciting experience (besides the incredible tasting wine) is the relationships we have developed with YOU, the people. Roshambo has always been about bringing together a community of fun and interesting people. People who are seeking a new wine culture that’s free from snobbery and elitism. And whether you are new to wine or a seasoned vet, Roshambo offers something for everyone. We want you to wear whichever mask you want, and drink us out of a jelly jar if that’s how you do. We like to think of this as Naomi’s living, breathing art project and as all of you as participants in this Party.

During our transition into the new and improved tasting room, this Roshamblog has been an exciting way for us to continue expressing our personality and playful spirit. And now, I’d like to expand our mission and highlight YOU and the things that make you laugh or cry, think or feel. With that said, I’d like to introduce a new category to the Blog: Roshambuddies. Our hope is that you will write us with your photos, your stories, your links to fun stuff online, or whatever. We want to turn the spotlight on YOU. Let’s show the world who our Roshambuddies are.

Starting with Audrey…

Have you ever played Scrabble with the kind of person who can throw one letter on the board and somehow flip it into a 63-point bonanza? You know, the annoying kind of player who knows “XI” is the fourteenth letter in the Greek alphabet? Well, here’s one of them (caught in clumsiness!). Meet Audrey Sherry Gunshor, one of our best Roshambuddies. She’s a whip-smart geology teacher in Aspen, but her nerdy tendencies are sometimes hard to swallow. Not just because of her facility in the game of Scrabble, but because of all the environmental petitions she forwards to everyone she knows. (Not that there’s anything wrong with environmentalism and activism, but how about a personalized email once an Ice Age? Can you manage that, Audrey?) Normally, her emails are promptly deleted, but for some reason today I felt compelled to click on the unidentified link. What followed was me clumsily flopping off my chair in an apoplectic fit of laughter. If you haven’t already seen this spoof tequila ad, watch and enjoy…

Thank You Audrey for sharing.