Only in San Francisco

Sometimes I think that it's like no other place on earth. I was watching a special Mythbusters episode they did for The Discovery Channel's Shark Week (which I know several people disappear each year for), in which they're testing some of the shark stuff from the movie "Jaws."

This would not be so post-worthy, even to me, except that one of the myths being tested is about whether or not a shark will be stunned/scared away if you hit it in the snout. Since no one was willing to put life and limb on the line for this, they decided to make something to test this theory. But where to get fake fists? Well, as the voiceover said, this is San Francisco.

They just strapped two black, fist-shaped dildos to hydraulics! And the thing is, I loved how they showed them being bought. One of the female engineers was sent to go buy them, and you saw her walking into the store--which had no indication of what it was (no name or anything shown) and in the store holding them, and the store is shot so that unless you really know what it is, you would have no idea what it is. And they were refered to as "novelty fists." (She asked the clerk there and he admitted, "We've never had these bought for shark punching.")

I'm finding this hilarious, since they did this so well. Because, seriously, I never expected to see this, and even if someone was inclined to complain about them showing these things on TV, they'd then have to turn around and admit they recognized what they were actually for. (Hm, should I feel a little pervy for knowing myself? Or, at least, admiting it?)

gacked from m_michelle

The earlier part of my day was mega-busy -- lots of xeroxing for flyers and info for the neighborhood group about the press conference tomorrow morning and meeting with the supervisors. But my knees are aching from climbing up and down so many stairs to put flyers under door mats, etc. However, I am woman. I am strong. And hopefully, we will overcome the indifference of City Hall and the inertia of Caltrans!


NOTICE OF PRESS CONFERENCE

NEIGHBORS TO STOP THE ELGIN PARK THOROUGHFARE

TUESDAY, JULY 19, 2005

10:50 AM

CITY HALL, OUTSIDE CONFERENCE ROOM 263

Former San Francisco Supervisor Carol Ruth Silver is leading a good old-fashioned neighborhood rebellion.

The Market / Octavia Freeway-to-Boulevard plan cuts off part of Elgin Park (a very narrow one-block street where Silver resides) and will allow it to be a thoroughfare shortcut, from Market to Duboce, when the freeway opens in August.

Elgin Park residents are proposing two plans, (1) that Elgin Park be permanently closed with a plaza on Market, or (2) that it be retained as a cul de sac with a turnaround. The city's plan for Elgin Park (3) is for a one-way shortcut from Market to Duboce. (See attached drawings.)

Along with petitions, letters have already been sent to local and state officials such as Senator Carole Migden (attached). The Transportation Authority is the planning agency responsible for the Octavia Freeway project.

Said Silver, "This is a bad plan. It's dangerous. We have seniors and little kids on our block, which is so narrow that parking is allowed on only one side. We are an orphan neighborhood because we are so tiny and the freeway makes us smaller." And, she added, "None of the City's planners paid any attention to us until we started circulating these petitions."

namaste!