Mission Mission

Many Machines identifies this find by local blogger S. Pigeon as a rope swing atop Billy Goat Hill in the outer reaches of Da Noe. (Or is it Lower DH?)

Anyway, who wants to run up there and risk grim death with me? Link.

“If god told me to shit on the moon, I’d shit on the moon!”    
- Wild dude eating McDonald’s and preaching to some gutter punk kids.

Quinn DeVeaux and the Bluebeat Revue bring you back to the time when no one would take your seriously unless you had three hot chicks with long gloves singing backup and pantomiming lyrics. Singer Viola Viola, in particular, has a serious case of high-on-life. You’ll know exactly who I’m talking about when you see her. Revolution Cafe, 22nd and Bartlett. 9pm, no cover, tip lots.

The Nice Guy Trio will be playing their own arrangements of tunes by local composers and songwriters of all genres, including Marcus Shelby, Meklit Hadero, Aaron Novik, Dina Maccabee, and Dave Ricketts. The Red Poppy Art House on 23rd and Folsom. 8pm, $10-15 cover.

Everyone’s favorite yodelin’ Japanese-immigrant cowboy Toshio Hirano will be performing his monthly gig at the Rite Spot Cafe on 17th and Folsom. Ask him about how much he loves Jimmie Rodgers, and be prepared to have your ass charmed off. 9-12am, no cover, tip the man.

Aw hell, why am I even bothering to post today? You are all probably on your way to the park with a Rhea’s sandwich and a six pack of blue-ribbon-winning beer.

Our blogosphere comrade generic1 was held up by gunpoint a couple of days ago, and couldn’t get the police to show up to take his report. So the next day he walked right up to an Oakland Police Officer in the same area he was assaulted, and this guy flat out refused to take his report.

If you read the full story, the officer in question probably wasn’t trying to be a dick; it’s just policy. But still, if someone says, “hey, I was held up by gunpoint here,” shouldn’t that take priority?

Full scoop here, which includes interesting details like the fact that apparently cops are as addicted to their iPhones as I am.

Mission-based, Ethiopian-born, singer-songwriter Meklit Hadero‘s new video for “Leaving Soon” debuted yesterday:

Between this and her recent NPR appearance, Meklit has been kicking ass lately. Her new album will be released on Porto Franco on April 10. Stay tuned for a record release party in the area. I was fortunate enough to get an advance copy and not only is the music fantastic and excellently produced, it features an all-star cast musicians that I see kicking around the Mission scene. In many ways, it serves as a culmination of those talents that I feel grateful for here every day.

I don’t know Meklit personally but that’s not because we haven’t run into each other. She stays closely involved the local arts and music scene through her performance space the Red Poppy Art House and is one of those intimidatingly talented and multi-faceted people that makes you immediately want to run home to re-think your life.

I just noticed these bike lockers by the 19th / Broadway BART Stop in Oakland:

The way this system works is you get some kind of smart card similar to Translink or FastPass. It maintains a balance of funds (like $20) which you use to gain access to the locker. The rates are an arbitrarily low 3-5 cents per hour.

I’m not sure I get the point. Sure it may be superficially more secure for long term parking, but it’s also a waste of space (only 4 bikes fit in the lockers seen above), nowhere near ubiquitous, expensive to maintain, and seems to encourage people to not carry a real lock. According to BART these are available in mostly east bay cities.

Has anyone used one of these and find it to be more practical or secure than hitching up next to a parking meter?

Fair warning: you might have to deal with drunk zombies tonight. Zombie Steve F. sends us word of a last-minute Zombie Bar Crawl. They are meeting at Dirty Thieves at 24th & Treat and will supply the blood.

If you’re into totally trolling the unsuspecting public, then Zombie Bar Crawls (Limps?) are probably as good as it gets. I’m personally no so into this stuff since I find it offensive towards zombies. Haven’t they been through enough?

Previously:

I’m Gonna Fuck You, Man by Tomi Laine Clark

Medjool Something Something Douche by Tomi Laine Clark

Time to check in with my sister’s blog about her trip to Okinawa again. Go for this rad picture of her rad bowling shoes; stay for the audio clip of the HIGHLY INAPPROPRIATE exclamation some English speakers taught some locals to say when they bowl a strike. LINK.

Previously:

Japanese Pizza Rules!

See Andrew W.K. in concert if you haven’t already. It is fuuun!

(This concludes Mission Mission’s SXSW coverage. You’re welcome!)