experienced technology users, but i am recognizing that most of us are, if you will pardon my saying this, a little on the older side. how can i get you all to understand what it is like to use a computer for our parents and for seniors who have never done it? i have a great way. go home and find a 14-year-old boy and ask him to play a video game. i have done this with both of my sons when they were younger, and it is an amazing experience. my kids will be playing a game, which i am total in not understanding at all, and my kids say, "jump," and i go, " how?" everything that is intuitive to them is completely foreign to me. the good news is i am at no risk of becoming addicted to video games. the last point i would like to make is that the environment is really changing rapidly. 10 years ago, if we had sat down and talk about seniors and

technology, a lot of people would have wondered why seniors would want to use computers, but that has shifted. over the next few years, as all of us move toward being seniors, we will not be wanting technology. we will be demanding it. the field is going to change, and more and more people are going to be here. so the ability to make technology accessible is there. those of us charged with doing this have a really important role. we have to be able to provide the tools for the technology in ways that the people can hear. i am happy to be your speaking with you because i think this is an incredibly important topic. this afternoon, there is a workshop on addressing multiple barriers for accessing technology, and it will be a brainstorming session where someone from my office and a couple of other people will be leading a discussion of what issues people run into and how you deal with them. i think it is a really important topic and i think it is probably one of the most important things people could be talking about

now. for all of us, technology is here and going to be here, and we all need it. thank you very much. [applause] >> thank you. thank you. thank you. i am really pleased to be up here -- well, not really, but you're so pleased to be able to tell you about two things before lunch -- i am pleased to be able to tell you about two things before lunch. as you know, this is the middle of a process to train and teach more people how to use computers. we wanted to showcase a little bit of what folks are learning out there. first, we will show a video, and then wind up -- linda will explain about lunch. i know a few people have slipped over there, but i ask everyone

to be quiet for a few minutes. there is plenty to go around. the video we're going to show right now -- i got a feeling this morning at 4:00 a.m. that tells you how dedicated people were to be able to produce it and have it here today. i wanted to thank paul grant, who has worked with the project with the family services agency senior community services employment program. you will see his good work here also john boswell, who came in at the last minute and help us pull this together. he did it in exchange for tyne bank hours with the bay area community exchange time bank. if you want to know about that, you can learn about that across the hall after lunch. finally, from the broadband technology opportunity program, which provides opportunities for seniors and people with disabilities to teach each other, to learn from each other, and create more connections across all of our communities. please q the video, and after that, we will dismiss for lunch

after a little explanation. >> we want people to come into the center and learn how to use all the different social media so they are not left behind. we do not want the whole community to be left behind. >> i have always been intimidated by computers. afraid that i would break anything. i wanted to learn. i wanted to see if i could, you know? but i was not sure, because of my age. i have grandkids i did not get to see as often as i would like, but my son post pictures all the time. >> i thought it would be important to bring my mom and my sister to learn basic computer skills so that they are not isolated. even the medical community wants to send her notes and things via e-mail. so it is important for her to be

able to learn how use the computer, at least for those simple things. >> we are part of the social media team. we will be teaching twitter, facebook, skype so the seniors in our community will not be isolated. >> there is no dumb question. we tried to make this an easygoing environment for everyone to learn here. >> they understand what you're talking about. i want to get on the internet and, like, if i need to, call the social security office or any other business. that i would know how to get in touch with them. >> people like us who are in wheelchairs in rehabilitation situations, in hospitals -- it opens the windows of the world to us. to be able to put your eyes anywhere in the world that you

want to at a moment's notice. i paid acrylics. sometimes i search the internet or put images on the internet through cameras, through different pictures that i take of the subject matter. -- i paint acrylics. >> all my life, i did not use this, but i had to learn how to tight and everything, so i tied to find, and moved the mouse fine on my computer, so it was not a real problem -- i typed fine. everything is on the computer, and easy to find. it is like a road map. all these blogs, etc., and so on, because i have all this time. i concentrate on a few at a

time. >> i never expected to have a computer. i am 96. as they say, it is hard to teach an old dog new tricks. and as you say, we do have this resistance to it. my daughter taught me how to play games. i am really hooked on that now to exercise my brain, and i started doing other things more quickly. i find that it really helps me. i can see pictures either that i have taken or that other people have taken if they are on a digital camera. i put them into my computer, and then i can crop the picture, enhance it. find out what safeway has on sale, and then michaels. they have their ads. i do use people who advertise, e-mail, so it is a very

important part of my life. i love to e-mail, and i like to hear from people. i have trouble hearing from people on the phone, so if you send an e-mail and one in answer to a question, they can find it, or if they do not know the answer, they call you back again. it has been a big help with the family in many ways. now, i cannot be without my computer. i would be lost. >> it becomes second nature, and it becomes easier. it becomes a tool in your hand. >> it is so wonderful. memaw is on the computer. i would recommend coming here to learn the computer. it is not as hard as you think it is.

>> do not be afraid. it really is kind of easy once you get the hang of it. >> go at your own face. do not get frustrated. >> do not be afraid of the computer. the only thing to be afraid of is that you will get addicted to it. [applause] >> you will see some of the stars are around. please thank them for being so brave and consider signing up to be one of them yourself. i wanted to invite dave up again to say how much we really appreciate him being part of today's program, helping shepherd it and share his own experiences. so thank you so much. >> thank you. thank you all. thank you. you are very, very kind. can i just be selfish and say that you inspired me? i am so happy.

even if i do not see you again for regularly, i am taking pictures of your faces and thinking of all the successes you will make technologically, even when i do not see you, so feel good about it. do not be afraid of it. tackle it. it is yours, and congratulations. thank you for being a wonderful, wonderful audience. thank you. [applause] 0, and happy birthday.

>> in keeping with the university of san francisco tradition to invite the mayor to speak, we are honored to have in our presence today, the mayor of the city and county of san francisco, the honorable edwin m. lee. mayor lee received his law degree from the university of california-berkeley. for more than 20 years, he has contributed to san francisco in numerous capacities, including as director of public works and the director of the public rights commission.

in january 2007, mayor lee answered the call to complete the remaining year of former mayor gavin newsome. during that time, a groundswell of support in the boisterous campaign, and he was finally persuaded to pursue elected office. in november, he was overwhelmingly elected mayor of san francisco. he is the first asian-american to serve as mayor of san francisco. please join me in welcoming the honorable edwin m. lee. [applause] mayor lee: thank you.

members of the board of trustees, faculty and staff of the university of san francisco, family and friends -- good morning class of 2012. [cheering] thank you for that very kind introduction. also, thank you -- alex, you are valedictorian. something tells me we might see alex later. and perhaps he will be running for office some day. we could lose it -- we could use your leadership in government today. a man of a wonderful sense of humor never fails to reflect.

i'm going to try to avoid controversy today. many of you may not realize, i, too, and quite a comedian. just ask my daughters and my wife. they'll laugh at every single one of my jokes. really. and then there is that entertaining reality tv show i am a part of, that brings to help the -- healthy dose of comedy, sometimes trauma -- drama on a regular basis. it is called city hall. being mayor is a job i love. they have given me the opportunity. it is a privilege to wake up each morning and work for you, the people of san francisco, and

do everything i can to help you succeed and grow in your lives. class of 2012, that is what your date is about. it is growing in your lives for yourselves, your family, and as your mayor, i will selfishly say, for your city. in whatever community you go to from here. i have been thinking lately -- you know, i have done some good things in my generation. here in san francisco, we raised our voices against war, whether the it, or elsewhere -- whether vietnam or elsewhere. we have blazed trails in social justice. so that all of our people -- women, african-americans, asian- americans, gay, lesbian, latino

-- but have equal rights. we were the first city in america ought to have universal health care for all residents. when i was not much older than you, when i graduated from bowdoin college, i wanted to raise all little heck to make the world a better place. i work to prevent the eviction of elderly chinese and filipino residents. we sued the san francisco fire department to give women and people of color a chance to be a firefighter. and i think we made a difference. today, the city hired a woman to lead our fire department. i could never have imagined in my lifetime, the city would --

the country and the city would elect an african-american president or an asian american mayor. we also screwed up a few things along the way, from the economy to the environment and social justice. and now, class of 2012, the challenges and the promise of the world are your challenges and promises. your next assignment -- your homework for the rest of your life -- i can do that because i am mayor -- is to run the ball a little further down the field and get us to a better place. i know, many of you are thinking "mayor, i have got to get a job. i have to repay my student loans. i have to prepare for my family." yes, you do. i know going out into the world

to fend for yourself in this economy is difficult. it is survival of the fittest, like something out of "the hunter games." -- "the hunger games." but you are not on your own. is more like -- it is more like "the avengers." while it may not always be evident and while you may face many challenges throughout your life, always remember you are surrounded by a not so secret society of people who want to help you. these are people in business, and governments, sports, entertainment, health care, education. people who have achieved some measure of success or wisdom in

there own lives. the greatest gift they can ever give is to pass on a little bit of that wisdom to you and help you succeed to an even greater degree. don't get me wrong. you and you alone decide what you were going to do with that education and this opportunity and do not waste it. don't ever be afraid to ask for help. whether it is your boss, your family, your mayor. look to your own communities and ask yourself "how can i give back? how can i use my education to help my community and add to the valuable work within my neighborhood or my city?" because if there's one thing i see in this economy that is emerging, clean tech and

biotech that are adding some new jobs to our city, is that success does not come from going it alone. success comes from collaboration. bringing diverse backgrounds together to a common goal. new companies, out incubators in the market. they do not offices. they have a big open tables. they have whiteboards everywhere. the building is built around the notion of collaboration, the idea that success comes from sharing ideas and goals. because that is how we get innovation. that is how you, class of 2012, will lead the world a better place and fix things my

generation did not quite get to. that is not just innovation in technology and our economy, but innovative approaches in the health field, curing diseases, cleaning the air and water, and dealing with social justice. there is no better start than here. we are the gateway to the pacific rim and asia. to the west, the booming economies of latin america and brazil. we are the international destination are rhumba world -- around the world. you, class of 2012, are part of what makes san francisco brand. you represent new ideas, new frontiers, new beginnings. that innovation is perfected in

your university's new marketing campaign. "change the world from here." some of them definitely make you smile. academics covering the world from north beach? funny. the one that struck me the most -- "there is no moral compass app." so, i say to you as well, don't lose yourself and your values. don't forget where you came from, even amid the success you may achieve. some of you know the chinese zodiac for 2012 is the year of the dragon. dragon is the only mythical animal in the chinese zodiac and the most powerful.

the year of the dragon is fittingly a time for risk- taking, bold decision, and innovation. class of 2012, san francisco and the world need your risk-taking. sees the year of the dragon for yourselves, your families, for the rest of us. -- seize the year of the dragon. you are graduating at a time of immense promise. i know i am a little biased, but there is no better place to spend the rest of your lives. we are so proud to you. we are counting on you and we are here to help you realize your greatest objectives. thank you and congratulations, class of 2012. [applause]

>> when the new california academy of sciences opened in 2008, it quickly became one of the top tourist magnets in the city. part of the cal academies' astronomical success is the weekly nightlife party. >> i am joined by helen, who is here to school me on all the nocturnal activities that are getting ready to take place here. tell us a little about what we can expect to see at nightlife. >> we open up the doors every thursday night at the california academy of sciences. there are certain things you can see every week you can go to the museum, visit the planetarium,

and we bring in bars and a deejay or band. it is a different feel from during the day, something different every week. tonight , we have beer and music. -- tonight we have great beer and music. it is beer week. we have a dozen local brewers in african hall. we have a deejays to set up throughout the museum and a live performance at 9:00 p.m. tonight. >> what has been your favorite part as a participant or as an observer? >> my favorite part is to walk around the aquarium in to see people with a drink in their hands, getting to know maybe somebody new, may be looking for a day, or chatting with friends. there jellyfish. i mean, they are beautiful. >> the culmination of the animals. >> it is very impressive. we do not have this at home. >> tell us a little about some

of the spider's we see here on display. >> at the california academy of sciences, there is a very large collection of preserved and live specimens, which are the evidence about evolution. we have the assassin spiders, which are spiders that exclusively kill and eat other spiders. they are under the microscope here. research done and the california academy's i rhinology lab suggests that the assassin spiders have been doing this for over 150 million years. this glassed in room is a real scientific laboratory, and the people in that room are preparing specimens of vertebrate, that is mammals and birds. the way they do this is to remove the skin, sew it together

in a relatively lifelike pose, and ensure that it does not decompose. >> i am a really big class actress fan, so i am here to see them, and beer week. >> i wanted to learn something and have fun. >> i always enjoy it. i am not all is well -- always working as i am tonight. sometimes i come to enjoy the music and to dance. ♪ >> culturewire covers the arts in san francisco, and one of my favorite culture artists is here tonight. jason, thank you for being on culturewire. tell us about some of your posters that we have here today. >> most of the posters here are four specific shows or tours. i am hired by the bands or the venue. >> what is the inspiration behind these posters?

>> no, disease of the related to the bay and, of course. music -- it is related to the band, of course the musical content or isn't related to the bed. album covers can come from anywhere. ♪ ♪ >> class actress was great. we have been having so much fun. i did not realize how beautiful the cal academy looks than that. what other events take place here? >> we do corporate events that

night on a regular basis. but nightlife is your best bet to come in as a regular person pharmacy the academy at night, and visit with friends. calacademy.org/nightlife. we have details for the next few weeks. you can get tickets online in advance or at the door. >> thank you so much. thank you for watching culturewire on sf gov tv.