(The funny thing about Twitter is that lots and lots of its employees would prefer having the HQ in northern San Mateo County anyway. Oh well, bygones.)
As seen on Golden Gate Avenue in the 94102:
Click to expand
Posts Tagged ‘bay area’
Corrupt Twitterloin Update: Using a Rubber Duck to Show Off How Wide Your Car Tires Are
Friday, March 7th, 2014Unexpected: The LA Times Hires Girly-Girl Sarah Hashim-Waris to Read the News in 60-Second Video Nuggets
Friday, March 7th, 2014Hey look, it’s “Girly-Girl“ Sarah Hashim-Waris reading the news from the (an?) LA Times newsroom:
This kind of short snippet is cheesy, and yet not cheesy.
Anyway, it’s surprising to see this from the LAT
SFO Update: Old Air Traffic Control Tower, New Air Traffic Control Tower, Under Construction, Telephoto
Thursday, March 6th, 2014In my day, ATC towers were symmetrical, AND THAT WAS THE WAY WE LIKED IT!
These days, IJDK, IJDK:
Click to expand
OMG, from Ukraine with Love, It’s a Nuclear-Capable Soviet Tu-95 Bear Bomber on eBay! Just $3 Mil. – Or “Buy It Now” for $5 Mil.
Thursday, March 6th, 2014Here’s the news of the day:
Check out TU-95MS – Soviet Bomber, yours for $5,000,000 (plus shipping) http://r.ebay.com/tQ5kOQ via @eBay Kyle Mizokami Matthew Doye @MatthewDoye
Click to expand
Basically, the Tu-95 is the Soviet version of Boeing’s iconic B-52 bomber, except it has turboprops (instead of jet engines)and it’s a narrowbody, you know, for speed.
One wonders why our Ukrainian comrades don’t offer to just fly the thing to the highest bidder. Oh, what, it’s not in flying condition? Uh oh.
Anyway, have at it, buy it and see just how big of a drain this обтяжливе майно (l’oliphant blanc) will be on your finances.
”Dear Bidders,
We are a company with locations in Switzerland , Germany and the Ukraine. Our field of activity includes the production and distribution of goods and raw materials from Ukraine and the rest of the world, headquartered in Lucerne, Switzerland.
Our partner in the Ukraine have acquired an aircraft of type the
TU- 95MS
A Soviet Era strategic bomber (demilitarized with all documents in order and ready for shipment).
Which we would like to offer you for sale.
All the shipping costs to the Harbour of Nikolaiev or Odessa are included in the final sell price.
If there are any more questions, you can reach us at any time at the following phone number:
Germany
+49178 / 3330077
We can therefore dissamble the Plane so u can get one or all of the turbines exclusively. Or the Plane without the Turbines sperate.
Just write a message or call us about further information or the price.
Please only serious bids
Have Fun bidding”
Aboriginal flavor packet in pocket of the Raider jacket, Soviet issue
Potato basket, sadomasochistic, lipstick thespian
Jada Pinkett Smith versus Wesleyan
Wealthy friends, failed Marxists, stale heartless
Hailed artists, frail, sensitive, pale sales targets
Here’s the Proof that the Real Estate Interests of the 94117 Have Given Up on the Mickinley Statue Fence in the Panhandle
Thursday, March 6th, 2014I’ll tell you, I don’t know why local real estate interests have such sway over what goes on in the Golden Gate Park Panhandle, but that’s the way things are.
And I’ll tell you further, I don’t know why local real estate interests ganged up on the mostly harmless Panhandle Bandshell, but they did, oh well. So that’s the background.
These days, the Eye of Sauron has fixed its gaze upon the east end, upon the McKinley Statue. It wants “period-appropriate fencing” around the whole deal, like this:
As you might remember, there was a big push for The Fence last year, detailed here.
But if you’re trying to get popular support for an iron fence, you have to leave the graffiti on and not even try to clean things up until you get your goddam fence, right?
So the above shows how things looked in the autumn of 2013. I allege that the people who wanted (and still want!) the fence decided to not clean things up in order to better make the case for the fence.
Anywho, the fence concept got put on the back burner late last year, obvs, so this is how the statue looks these days, more or less:
On It Goes…
Evanescent Evidence: Rose Pak Spanked by the Fair Political Practices Commission Over Travel to China a Half-Decade Ago
Wednesday, March 5th, 2014Gaia bless state and federal investigators in their efforts to clean up this town.
(If Rose Pak had a gift for me, I’d turn her down…)
Anyway, here’s the pdf from two point something years ago.
And here’s the OCR (but as you can see from the link, this evidence of wrongdoing is fading from the Web, at least in OCR form).
“Contents : FAIR POLITICAL PRACTICES COMMISSION 428 J Street Suite 620 Sacramento CA 958I4 2329 !916 322 5660 Fax t9!b) 322 0886 August 22 2011
Ms. Rose Pak o/b/o Chinese New Year Festival Committee REDACTED Letter Re: FPPC No. 11/081 Carmen Chu, David Chiu and Eric Mar
Dear Ms. Pak: The Fair Political Practices Commission (the “FPPC”) enforces the provisions of the Political Reform Act (the “Act”) found in Government Code section 81000 et seq. As you may be aware the Commission has undertaken an investigation into gifts of travel to southern China from November Ii. 2009 through November 16 2009 provided by the Chinese New Year Festival Committee to Supervisors Carmen Chu David Chiu and Eric Mar.
The Act places limitations on the acceptance of gifts by certain public officials including city supervisors. Section 89503(a) prohibits these public officials from accepting gifts from any single source in any calendar year with a total value of more than the applicable gift limit. The $250 gift limit is adjusted biennially to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index pursuant to Section 89503 subdivision (t). The gift limit in 2009 was $420. (Regulation 18940.2.)
Under specific circumstances payments for transportation lodging and subsistence may be exempt from the definition of “gift.” Section 89506(a)(2) provides that travel expenses reasonably related to a legislative or governmental purpose or to an issue of state national or international policy are not prohibited or limited if they are provided by certain specified sources such as governmental agencies bona fide public or private educational institutions or non-profit 50 I (c)(3) organizations. During the course of our investigation we reviewed documents obtained from the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) concerning the Chinese New YearFestival Committee’s tax exempt status.
According to these documents which included copies of IRS filings and The Political Reform Act is contained in Government Code sections 81000 through 91014. All statutory references are to the Government Code unless otherwise indicated. The regulations of the Fair Political Practices Commission are contained in sections 18110 through 18997 of Title 2 of the California Code of Regulations. All regulatory references are to Title 2 Division 6 of the California Code of Regulations unless otherwise indicated. FPPC Case No. 11/081 Page 2 01’2 Articles of incorporation originally filed with theCalifornia Secretary of State the Chinese New Year Festival Committee is registered as a 501 (c)(6) chamber of commerce organization. It has never been registered as a 50J(c)(3) organization. Therefore the requirements under Section 89506(a)(2) for an exception to the gift limit are not met and any gift including those of travel are subject to gift limits. Please be advised that since the Chinese New Year Festival Committee is not an organization that falls under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code no public official may accept gifts of any type from this organization valued in excess of the applicable limit. Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have regarding this letter. Sincerely REDACTED ‘-iachary ‘ II. Norton Commission Counsel Enforcement Division”
Area Religious Organization Claims Not to be Religious on a Big Billboard: “NOT RELIGIOUS? NEITHER ARE WE”
Wednesday, March 5th, 2014
This San Francisco Taxi Cab “Knows” That It’s Raining, So Why Aren’t Its Headlights On Per California Law?
Wednesday, March 5th, 2014Seems that this would be easy to wire up, you know, wipers on = headlights on.
(My aging Toyota has Daytime Running Lights but they don’t cut the mustard in CA when it’s raining.)
Anyway, just asking, beleaguered SF cab industry…
V C Section 24400 Headlamps on Motor Vehicles
Headlamps on Motor Vehicles
24400. (a) A motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, shall be equipped with at least two headlamps, with at least one on each side of the front of the vehicle, and, except as to vehicles registered prior to January 1, 1930, they shall be located directly above or in advance of the front axle of the vehicle. The headlamps and every light source in any headlamp unit shall be located at a height of not more than 54 inches nor less than 22 inches.
(b) A motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, shall be operated during darkness, or inclement weather, or both, with at least two lighted headlamps that comply with subdivision (a).
(c) As used in subdivision (b), “inclement weather” is a weather condition that is either of the following:
(1) A condition that prevents a driver of a motor vehicle from clearly discerning a person or another motor vehicle on the highway from a distance of 1,000 feet.
(2) A condition requiring the windshield wipers to be in continuous use due to rain, mist, snow, fog, or other precipitation or atmospheric moisture.
Added Sec. 2, Ch. 415, Stats. 2004. Effectve January 1, 2005. Operative July 1, 2005.
Say What You Will About Poorly-Designed Octavia Boulevard, At Least It Easily Handled Mardis Gras 2014
Wednesday, March 5th, 2014See? This is just one section of the big parade:
Click to expand
I didn’t know this was a thing. The deets from Jared Schwartz of HayesWire:
In honor of Mardi Gras (translation: Fat Tuesday), Hayes Valley is the starting line of the annual parade (translation: trombones in motion). Beginning at Place Pigalle (Octavia + Hayes), the parade will feature Brass Mafia, North Beach Brass Band, Brass Band Mission, Fillmore Wax, and few other guest musicians as they march a few blocks toward Market Street.
I’ll leave you with this:
What is the Legacy of Octavia Boulevard?
“Octavia has severely impacted traffic on Laguna at all times, not just peak.”
“Octavia is a mess for bicyclists and there are tons of vehicle accidents.”
“What has Octavia taught us? Stopped cars/slow idling cars seem to pollute more.”
And what do the Yelpers have to say?
Who’s the dip-shit that designed this Octavia Street nightmare between Market St and Fell St?”
1) It’s a freeway offramp – slash – playground. Kids and cars!! Who’s the genius??
2) It doesn’t take you across Market Street but rather has you wait at the light — filling the above-mentioned park with your exhaust as you idle along.
3) The “local access” road is a perfect place to die while crossing the street, as some confused driver makes a right hand turn.
4) It got voted in after at least three failed initiatives. During the boom. When the population was more passionate than informed and theHayes Valley Merchant’s Association could sweet talk them with this park bullshit. ”I like parks not freeways! I’ll vote yes!” The old Fell Street offramp was ugly and the dark sidewalks underneath were full of pee. It’s been replaced by a classic San Francisco compromise that essentiallyworks well for no one but makes some smug mofos feel like they discouraged driving when all they really did was put more smog on the street. And now the sidewalks are sunny, but they’re still full of pee. I wonder why an offramp didn’t solve homelessness…?”
“The poster child for stupidity in San Francisco. STILL not finished after 25 or so years???
“Unsafe at any speed for:
1.pedestrians
2.bicycles
3.scooters
4.motorcycles
5.marmosets”
“OHMiGOD are you kidding?? Wow, I looked up this review expecting to see half a star and a lovely littering of ‘fuckity fuck motherFUCKER,’ wowwweee…everyone i talk to in person HATES this addition…
Why we hate the new Octavia Blvd:
1. It is confusing. What is with the extra mini-side lane next to the regular lane? Are you allowed to switch back and forth at liberty? What is the purpose of this mini lane?
2. Why are there traffic lights AND stop signs in front of the mini-lane? When there’s a traffic light and a stop sign, which one wins?
3. The traffic on Octavia Blvd, coming from the freeway, is always atrocious. It doesn’t matter what time of day it is. Something about it’s ingenious design allows it to remain backed up 24 hours a day.
4. If you don’t play your cards right, you WILL get forced onto the freeway. You just think you’re along for an innocent ride, and then , BAM, Octa-Nazi Blvd has you marching along in its gigantic oppressive middle lane and it wil NOT let you out, no matter how much you beg.
I don’t get it, I don’t get it! What’s going on with this street monster?”
“This is NOT the haven for cyclists and pedestrians the city touts it as being. Whose idea was it to build the off ramp at street level? It should be RAISED and go over Market or they should build some kind of blockade so that people coming east on Market absolutely can’t try to make a right onto the highway and clip pedestrians and cyclists. That single spot is a death trap.
It’s pretty and it’s great that it’s not a shithole anymore but this is seriously some urban planning gone awry. The shared bike/car lanes on the outside would be great if the cars that drove in them weren’t complete idiots. Sharrows mean it’s my lane too, buddy, so don’t honk at me and tell me to get on the sidewalk, don’t rev your engine behind me, and don’t speed up to 20 to squeeze by me. The middle lane is for fast driving of cars, not the outer lanes. Unfortunately people are unable to grasp this concept and choose to terrorize pedestrians and cyclists who are trying to enjoy the sections of the project supposedly designed to make things better for us.
And the light/stop sign combo… what the hell? It’s maddening. If this is supposed to benefit cyclists, why make it so difficult to make a left onto Market? One must cross Octavia and go onto the sidewalk then cross Market and make the left there, or cross Market then cross the on/off ramp via Market. That second option wouldn’t be so bad except for the fucktards coming down Market who don’t understand what NO RIGHT TURN means and repeatedly take out cyclists at the same spot as they try to turn onto the highway.”
WikiLeaks on How Gavin Newsom Handled the 2008 Olympic Torch Relay: “It’s Not Chaotic Leadership, It’s Actively Avoiding Hippies”
Tuesday, March 4th, 2014I’ll tell you, the number of people (outside of select parts of SF Gov and the People’s Republic of China) who knew what was going on when the disastrous Olympic Torch Relay came to town in 2008 was small. But Stratfor seemed pretty well clued-in.
See how its employees mocked CNN and defended man-child Gavin Newsom in real-time during the hunt for the hidden torch back in aught eight:
“Athena Bryce-Rogers wrote:
By the way, CNN has no clue exactly where it is –and they have cameramen all over the place. Authorities are remaining tight-lipped.”
“Athena Bryce-Rogers wrote:
Vehicles leaving warehouse by back. They may have the torch. They’re not going on original route — they’re going around back of SF AT&T parking lot. They’re moving in a unit.”
“Thomas Davison wrote:
Authorities are deciding on the fly where the route is so that protestors can’t prepare. It’s not chaotic leadership, it’s actively avoiding hippies.”
That’s your Wikileaks of the day.
