Mission Mission

Hey look at all these professionals walking down Market Street around Van Ness and Civic Center!  It’s finally turning into that mainstream walkable avenue the city was looking for when it closed Market to private vehicular transportation.  That was quick!  All hail our European transformation!

Oh, what’s that?  This is just the epic procession of passengers forced to go above ground due to the latest Muni Fail?  Ah, I should have guessed from the body language of the woman front and center.  You can almost hear her wailing, “Why Muni?  Whyyyyyyyyyyyy?????”  I’m not the only one who’s thinking it’s times like this when I’m happy I ride a bike to work!

Every time I ride BART, I’ve always noticed the sign at the bottom of the escalator that forcefully commands, “No Bikes on Escalator,” and have wondered why that is the case.  A periodic loudspeaker announcement clarifies that it’s for our own safety and that of our fellow BART riders, but this has always seemed like a cop-out to me.

I really can’t tell what’s so dangerous about holding a bike on an escalator while it’s moving upwards.  Surely, you don’t need to monopolize the whole escalator like the person above is doing; there is plenty of space to fit both you and your bicycle while also keeping an avenue open on the left side for others who want to pass.  Moreover, doesn’t it seem even more dangerous for a smallish individual to attempt to lug his or her bicycle up that daunting BART staircase?

Some quick research reveals that while some people are completely against the idea, certain situations sometimes make it a necessity.  So, how do YOU feel about bikes on escalators?  Can anyone provide a cogent reason for why this is a forbidden practice?

[Photo by tinka516]

MM reader Kevin had the opportunity to see what it’s like to look through Brian Wilson’s eyes, or at least during the Giants championship parade this past Wednesday:

My company  sponsored a float at the giants parade and I got to ride on it…  took loads of pics and video.  Thought you might enjoy seeing/posting a video that shows the experience from the perspective of being in it…  it’s pretty insane…

Can’t wait for Lateral Geniculate Nucleus implant technology to reach the point when we can actually look through Brian Wilson’s eyes while he pitches the final strike of the World Series.  Science!

[Link]

You really got to hand it to that Notch fellow.  I mean, this is really excellent viral advertising for that Minecraft game of his!  Or perhaps it’s for TRON?

Regardless, spotted on 23rd between Valencia and Guerrero.

With all the heat Four Loko has been getting lately, it’s obviously only a matter of time before it winds up in court and dies the same death suffered by its spiritual predecessor, Sparks.  Fortunately, back when that former caffienated malt liquor titan was litigiously forced off the scene, our pal Stephen was already on top of a game-changing beverage innovation that has so far escaped public scrutiny. 

Behold, REDWEISER.  One-fourth Red Bull and three-fourths Budweiser, this is one energy alcohol that won’t be banned from stores anytime soon.  Your grandkids will probably be drinking it.  But not Ariel’s.

My budding filmmaker buddy Nico spliced together all the great high def footage he took of the craziness last night and put it over the most appropriate soundtrack imaginable to create the masterpiece shown here.  Although the general consensus seems to be that what occurred in the Mission on Monday night following the Giants’ championship victory was not a riot per se, it’s easy to understand why anyone standing in the vicinity of these shots might be inclined to suggest otherwise.

Take a look and see for yourself to relive the memories over and over again.

Well, they’re really trying with this new Windows Phone.  Maroon 5, Fillmore, free tickets, and this hot new street art stencil medium everyone’s been talking about lately.  Just clear something up for me real quick:  Is it legal to spray paint on sidewalks? 

If Banksy or random taggers are doing it, they usually get away with it too unless caught in the act since they don’t leave any identifiable details.  On the other hand, I’m pretty sure Microsoft is still located somewhere in Washington.  SFDPW, you know where to send the clean-up bill.

[Photo courtesy of the illustrious Broke-Ass Stuart]

Just because you don’t have a Giants jersey doesn’t mean you can’t get in on the fun, as my rad friends Heidi and Ela demonstrate with their deceptively-supportive color schemes!

Bonus points for the DIY marching band (tambourine and a pot with a cooking spoon) to match the DIY outfits.  We had a ukulele too until we gave it to this kid:

PRODIGY.

This was way before things got out of control.

While that’s one way to get a good aerial point of view for shots of all the crowds out tonight, one has to wonder:  How did he get up there while holding a DSLR?