against development or just an old stubborn woman...

ballard, a neighborhood in seattle, has a trader joes and a LA fitness. in between the two new structures is a little bungalow owned, until her death in june, by a mysterious old lady who refused a million dollars for her home. NYTIMES ARTICLE

modern uses for phone books

1. phillip seymour hoffman in happiness masturbating to randomly called women selected from the phone book.

2. testing your strength by ripping the phone book in half. as they become more obsolete and less used, therefore skinnier due to less advertising, this will become easier.

3. furniture

4. child seat

any more ideas?

with google on your iphone

who needs phone books? unless all the power in your world is down from an airstrike, i can't think of any reason to use a good old fashioned phone book. SFCITIZEN

erections against terror

appears that a failed war can always be propped up by sex. READ HERE about the US's new strategy against the Taliban.

i miss muni

muni diaries will make anyone who rode, or rides, muni smile.

READ HERE FUNNY TIME CRAZY LADY ON 1 CALIFORNIA

I hope a bus runs you over and you DIE!

my favorite arsonist

the porta potty arsonist has struck again. the seventh attack in the past two months. the police are unsure of his, or her, motives and SFFD has asked russian hill neighbors to "keep a closer eye on porta potties and report any suspicious activity to 911."

during the recession keeping an eye on portable toilets could be a refreshing break.

full story here

musica

i love emeryville

but the shopping mecca is hurting. anyone who grew up in the bay remembers when all those great stores likes sports authority popped up. driving over there with moms for new shoes was always a monthly highlight. now they are hurting. even the nytimes is noticing.

my first barbie

would be this. amazing.

it's a wonderful life

i want an old film projector and a screen. recession relieved by shameless 50s cinematic optimism.

musica

social graces

at dinner tonight a young man told a story. an interesting, although slightly standard, tale of cops and drugs. the typical elements were present: associate taking a rap, someone getting off, random family connections. the problem with the story was the length. dinner service was postponed as the young man continually repeated the itemized lists of illicit substances in the back of the datsun pickup. the intermission occurred while everyone sat down. as the story bled into dinner entire plates, possibly seconds, were consumed as he continued. the young man finished, but left out a obviously dangling part of the tale - what happened to the guy who was led off in handcuffs. once asked to clarify, he said "oh, the story gets really good from there." most of us shuddered thinking coffee would be cold by the time the second part of the second movement would finish. as he finally wrapped up he glanced around, paused for the moral of the story and said "to make a long story short."

humankind

on california street around 6pm a woman was parking her car. parallel parking. the street sloped downward and a car attempting to drive down california street honked at the parking car as it pulled around. i thought to myself, "why would this person, who assumedly parallel parks on occasion" find it at all appropriate to honk. probably not reasonable to expect people to treat others as they would like to be treated, but nevertheless i just hope that obama invests in green energy, international diplomacy and a little kindness.

hours later after crying through Milk, feeling great pride in San Francisco and enjoying the life of cabs and no parking i came home to this wonderful story:
Supermarket Defends Itself over Adolf Hitler Cake

fast pass beauty

2008 in fast pass.

chatting about san francisco with cara

me: do you know what kmel is?
Cara:no
me: 106.1 radio station
urban music
something you should know
just because you live here
now
Cara: ok, because I have a car with a radio?
me: no
just because you should know these things
Cara: not too much radio happens in my life
me: like the local radio stations
because such things are local and important
and foster community and mutual understanding
and someday when you meet some cute guy who is from san francisco
and he talks to you about
growing up
listneing to chuey gomez and renel on kmel
and the wake up show with sway and king tech
you will know what he is talking about
Cara: ok I get it
already
me: and he will be impressed
Cara: will he?
me: yes