Mission Mission

In the above video clip, extreme sportsman Travis Pastrana backflips a big wheel over a megaramp. How come nobody did that last week?

[via kottke]

Previously:

Bring Your Own Bring Your Own Big Wheel Video

In case you haven’t seen it already, in honor of the Giants’ home opener later this afternoon, the best cartoon I’ve ever seen about baseball or LSD. (And it’s about both!)

[via busblog]

Previously:

Baseball Warrior in Dolores Park

Baseball in the Mission

Unbeknownst to us, our partnership with VidSF is still going strong, and today it resulted in some coverage of the Bring Your Own Big Wheel party that Andrew mentioned earlier. Watch our very own Sunny Angulo’s report here.

SFist has a video too, here.

(Thanks, Sunny!)

Previously:

Fight Club

Can’t wait! Keep us informed, Mary Ann!

Previously:

Bill Paxton Pinball!!!!!

Today on Brainslip, follow this puck as it sightsees all over the city. Its journey begins right here in the Mission.

Did her pants split? The Tens has the answer.

Previously:

KevMo Loves Potrero del Sol Skatepark

Drunk Skaters Skate Down Grassy Hill in Dolores Park

The Fix-Push Skateboarding Revolution!!!!

Telstar Logistics. Laughing Squid. Burrito Justice. Mission Mission. What happens when they join forces? Mission Blog Force 2010! A veritable historical mapgasm ensues.

Laughing Squid and Telstar Logistics recently exposed us to the historical imagery feature in Google Earth.  San Francisco’s 1946 layer proved irresistible, especially concerning the old SF Seals baseball stadium, now home to the Potrero Safeway and Office Depot.

As is inevitable amongst map wonks, the Telstar Logistics and Burrito Justice mapping teams started to wonder exactly where in the stores the bases were located. The alignment of the 1947 photomap is a little wobbly in Google Earth (it’s off by 30-100 feet) so we turned to another favored source for greater precision, Sanborn maps overlaid in GE. Behold the diamond of history.

In the world’s first blogging simulcast, you can see the raw base photos of the Telstar Logistics Surveying Unit along with painfully detailed overlay maps by the Burrito Justice Research Department. Telstar Logistics historical analysis will be available on Laughing Squid posthaste.

For some perspective (because that’s how we roll) here’s opening day for the Giants in 1959, their first game against LA. That’s 16th on the top and Bryant on the right.

Note that history was made recording history: a blogger ACTUALLY LEFT HIS HOME and went on-site to determine that home plate and 1st are located in Office Depot, while 2nd and 3rd base in Safeway.

Below, blue tape marks third base, looking towards home plate.  (Torillas in front of you, and frozen pizzas behind you, as is so often the case when you’re trying to steal home.)

To make this post even more relevant to the Mission — Seals Stadium was also home to the Mission Reds (aka the Missions) before they moved down to Hollywood in 1938.

And prior to Seal Stadium’s construction in 1930, both teams played at 14th and Valencia at Recreation Park. Think of that next time you’re at Four Barrel.

More photos and maps at TL, LS, and BJ.

Photo by Marijke J.

A handsome color scheme for Halberstadt’s Fencing Club on S. Van Ness. Ever notice how it matches that of the “No Dumping” notices by sewer drains?

I never noticed this place before, but according to Yelp, it’s legit:

This is where I go for a great workout and to blow off some steam.  There’s nothing better than grabbing a sword and stabbing someone to make you forget about the work day.

It’s no secret that I’m a sword owner now. Maybe I should take up fencing? After all what’s more macho than a shrimpy, shirtless, asian man brandishing a foil?

Oh wait: