Mission Mission

[pic from @PhilBronstein]

The former Chronicle editor paints a dark picture of The Mission in his new column on SFGate, saying about violence allegedly perpetrated by local MS-13 members, “If they don’t shoot straight, though, the next news story might be about you.” He goes through the current MS-13 trial, commenting on their Disney-esque nicknames, Tweety, Spooky, Goofy and Droopy, while just two months ago he patrolled our streets on a serious mission with Guardian Angels like Scorpion, Puma, Robo Cop and Maverick.

We all know there is a violence problem in our neighborhood. A lot of us just live with it, hoping we don’t get caught in the above mentioned crossfire. But like I said before, it’s our neighborhood, we do have a responsibility to look out for each other. I can appreciate that Mr. Bronstein wants us to understand the gravity of the situation, but I feel like the harshness of the language (like the title, right out the gate, The murderous gangs that stalk the Mission) creates a sense of a divide, when in fact we’re all living with it, those of us that live here. The divide is real, I don’t pretend to think that MS-13 members meet up in Bar Bambino or stop by Self Edge for some new jeans. I guess I just tend to think that it’s more helpful when speaking to a broad audience to speak in a way that seems to head towards a better understanding, rather than fear.

I agree that people who perpetuate violence aren’t “charming and colorful piece[s] of the neighborhood tapestry, like the murals on Balmy Alley”, but separating them from the rest of the people who live here, and preventing more people from turning to violence, isn’t as easy as any of us would like to think. No matter where we want to draw the divide, the fact is that we all influence each other, and solving these problems is an ongoing process.

It’s official — from here on out, Dirty Thieves will be known as the Blind Cat. As Ariel wrote back in March, the owner lost a bet and had to change its name, and the proof is in the new signage.

I don’t know about you, but the sign is more reminiscent of a dead cat. But I don’t draw cats, I only train them, so what do I know.

Previously:

• Like a Thief in the Day

I mean, the wind nearly took down a whole theater marquee on Mission the other day, so I guess it’s not out of the question that it could’ve done this damage too. We Built This City offers up another explanation too:

Victim of yesterday’s wind? Or a drunken Saturday brouhaha? [link]

Okay, maybe some brawlers could’ve had a hand in this. OR, seeing as how this is right outside Bender’s, maybe bike parking was especially tough last night and it was a pile of bikes that felled this little sapling.

How do you lock your car when your car door doesn’t quite fit on the frame?  Ingeniously, that’s how.

Think you’re gettin’ this Garmin?  Think again, sucka.

Doctor Dex wrote in to share a fun little story:

Thought you might be interested to hear about this crazy little scene I ran into yesterday on Mission St.  while headed to  Taqueria Cancun.  Walking down Mission, I noticed this woman in front of a produce stand kick something into the street.  Upon further inspection, I realize it is some sort of a vibrator.  I think it was an older model perhaps, one with the battery pack and control connecting via wire to the egg like vibrator.  After snapping a couple of pictures and deciding what to do next, the thing turns on as if possessed by some sort of sex ghost and starts bouncing back and forth against the curb.  I manage to capture a short video before an FJ Cruiser decides he wants to park right on top of the little devil and kill the mood.

Watch the brief video here.

They’re pulling them out of the oven now during Sunday Streets! (Sunday Streets is right now!)

Parallel parking a lo-rider actually looks like a lot of fun!

[Photo by Aaron Mitchell, local badass and Lady Gaga tipster]

It seems as though not everyone’s on board with the this whole recycling thing.  I’d hate to see what they think of our city’s mandatory composting program.

[Photo by Matt Hill]

I have no idea what this means. Is this a Debaser reference? A Minnesotan pining for home? Warning of a pending heat wave? A Tibetan or Burmese sympathizer? Just barely obtuse?

From our buddy Brock:

Breaking: Ribity spotted across from Castro Theater atop blue Victorian. Camera won’t take clear pic. Anyway, Ribity is out of the closet, clearly.

The pic looks fine to me, baby. Congrats, Ribity!