Celebrating 40 years of cellphones

Wired decided to mark the 40th anniversary of the first cellphone call with a look back at 12 very influential cellphones. Here’s what they have to say about the Motorola Razr:

The Razr was the first must-have phone. The thin flip phone was stylish and, if the commercials were to believed, would stick like a knife if dropped onto the floor.

While throwing the phone at walls like a knife was a bad idea, the Razr had a great four-year run, selling 130 million units. Is there any wonder why?

The Razr looked like it was straight out of the future. The numerical keyboard was cut from a single piece of metal. Its clamshell aluminum body and colored glass screen were gorgeous. And the damn thing worked like a charm. It was the last dumb phone that truly mattered.

Mission Mission wouldn’t be what it is if it weren’t for my old Razr V3 (pictured above). It took nice photos and browsed the web, and generally got me more in the habit of behaving like a blogger. Miss u bb ;)

(Oh and Hot Faces definitely wouldn’t have happened.)

Read on for the 11 other phones. [via kottke.org]

Out with Blockbuster, in with Smashburger

This is the former Blockbuster at the Potrero Center, by Safeway and Petco (and above the Boston Market from my “Class warfare and McDonald’s” story). It’s gonna be a Smashburger, a slightly fancy burger chain that serves beer and wine! Here’s the deal, according to Wikipedia:

Smashburger is an American chain of fast casual burger restaurants that originated in Denver, Colorado.[1] The name comes from the process used to cook burgers, which entails smashing a ball of ground beef on a grill to “sear in the juices.”[2]

[...]

Smashburger was founded in 2007 by Tom Ryan, a veteran of fast food chains including Quiznos, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, and Long John Silver’s. At Pizza Hut he introduced the company’s thin crust pizza, and while at Mcdonald’s he started the McGriddles, and the McFlurry.[citation needed]

[...]

Smashburger describes its mission as “to be every city’s favorite place for burgers.” In Denver, the alternative-weekly Westword named it the best locally owned chain for 2008.[6] Later that year, Denver Magazine named it “Most Likely to Succeed” and local ABC affiliate KMGH/Channel 7 touted it as the “best burger” on its “A List.”[7]

Sounds alright! Read on for more.

P.S. A few weeks back, Inside Scoop reported that this outpost is just one piece of a big Bay Area takeover.

Bad Blood with Joshua Cobos: Sci-Fi Series

Every week, photographer Joshua Cobos shoots a roll of film just for us. He picks the best 13 photos and we post them here, and it’s called “Bad Blood with Joshua Cobos.” Here’s what Joshua has to say about this week’s installment:

I’ve been working on this sci-fi series for a couple rolls now but this is a more concentrated effort to visualize my idea. I used very little by means of equipment for this series, relying more on natural light, timing & collaboration with the subject’s environment. Requiring the subjects to bring in aspects of their own reality allowed the characters to build a foundation of verisimilitude, purposely obscured for anonymity.

Thanks, Joshua! Ten more shots after the jump:

(more…)

BREAKING: Shooting Tire iron beating onboard MUNI

One person seems to have been injured in the gunfire onboard this 49 MUNI, which occurred at around 10pm on Mission at 22nd St.  According to some shook up witnesses who were also on the bus:

There were a few shots and someone got hit in the stomach.  Then about 6 guys surrounded him and started beating him with little sticks before they all ran off.  I don’t think the guy’s dead though.

Details are still being collected and police are at the scene.

UPDATE!!!

More information has been revealed and apparently our witness was a little more shook up than he thought.  There was no shooting onboard, but rather a savage beating with a tire iron.  Police think maybe the sound of the tire iron hitting a pole or seat led to people thinking they heard a gunshot.  SF Appeal has more details here.

If by chance you damaged your denim onesie at the big wheel race, Self Edge can probably fix it

I saw a lot of crashes and smashes, so there’s a good chance your denim onesie might’ve sustained a hole or rip or a gash. If so, take it to our neighborhood denim outpost and their brand-new repair shop will fix ‘em right up!

Another cute bunny! [NSFW]

A bunch of haters in the comments section (surprise, surprise) didn’t seem to like the pics of cute bunnies we posted on Friday.

Maybe they’ll prefer this one, by our pal The Fog Bender:

Another photo of another long line at F.S.C. Barber

I wonder if these guys are getting tired of having their picture taken all the time.

[via Achy Abby]

In addition to saxophone, DJ Purple now bringing FULL DRUM SET to his dance karaoke nights

Everybody always talks about how DJ Purple‘s saxophone solos really make the show, about how that added punch of serious musicianship make his dance karaoke parties so much more fun and entertaining than just about every other karaoke experience in the world. Well, he’s upped the ante once again, by bringing along a FULL DRUM SET.

He debuted it over the weekend at his new Saturday night show at Polo Grounds down by the ballpark, and it was quite a spectacle! He managed to run the show just like normal, while still inserting sax and harmonica solos like usual, AND adding in various drum solos (and expertly placed cymbal flourishes) throughout the evening. He even drummed along to “Live While We’re Young” by One Direction in its entirety, and it was siiiiiiiick! Dance karaoke will never be the same.

Look forward to many more drum (and sax) solos in the Mission every Thursday night at Slate Bar (and Friday, April 12, at Singin’ & Pingin’ 3).

Debaser team tired of the ’90s, debuting new ’00s night later this month

It’s named after a Strokes song and LCD Soundsystem is featured in the poster art. Last Nite sounds like a winner to me! Here’s what the about page says:

2000′s Indie Dance Party. Opening night, Friday, April 12th at the Elbo Room!

Post Punk, Dance Punk, Freak Folk, Synth Pop, Nu Rave, Chillwave and Garage with DJs Jamie Jams and Emdee.

Can’t wait! RSVP and invite your friends!

Sunset of the century

I mean, come on. That was goin’ off.

The sky is Goin Off right now.

These are just two that I grabbed, not even counting the rainbows, I can’t keep up with all the others people are posting. Add yours in the comments!