Archive for 'san francisco' Category

2010.03.25

Mudblood Graffiti

Without a doubt, Harry Potter and his world are very popular. But you know you’ve hit the big time when terminology from your books is used in everyday settings. Like “mudblood” in this graffiti found on Valencia Street in San Francisco.

2010.02.25

Cafe Racer in Noe Valley

Spotted last weekend in Noe Valley along 24th Street. Black with gold detail. The engine was Honda, but I didn’t see the size anywhere (though painted on the block was 1100). The seat said, “BEEF,” which I hope was a favorite food…

One of the cool, cool details was the speedometer. It looks like they use lights to indicate the speed; more lights more speed. Very cool!

The plates were from Connecticut (I believe; CON is what they use there?). Hopefully they’re having a blast riding around the Bay Area!

2009.11.03

Halloween Pictures

I wanted to thank everyone for coming to this year’s Halloween Party! It was great fun and I can’t wait to do it again next year. In the meantime I’ve put up some pictures. Here they are!

2009.10.29

Meeting Steven Erikson

I’m not a fanboy. I don’t go stalking celebrities or significant people. I don’t goto events or conventions to brush shoulders with the famous or infamous. It’s just not in my nature. I might think about it sometimes, but I have too much pride.

But I had to say I just met Steven Erikson last night and it was pretty cool to talk to an author I respect. Even if I felt a bit like a fanboy. It happened thus…

The mind and crew of Borderlands Books is opening up a cafe soon and I’ve been excited about it since first hearing about it; even more so now that I live in the neighborhood. I’ve been needing a good cafe to spend time in since my days in Prague and this just seems perfect. They won’t be opening yet (alas!) but yesterday night, in conjunction with this year’s World Fantasy Convention, they opened in order to host a bevy of authors, including Steven Erikson.

For those that do not know, and I admit I didn’t know until about six weeks ago myself, Steven Erikson is the author of a series of fantasy books set around an empire called Malazan. The world was built over a very long period of time with his friend Cameron Esslemont, who also writes books that take place there. (As an aside, I will read his books eventually and will then become a fanboy of his, but not until then). The books are pretty vast in scope, covering a myriad of characters, plot lines, situations and emotions. Honestly, in the five minutes I’m writing this I’m not going to be able to come up with a quick and easy review and that’s not my point. Let’s just say it’s the best fantasy I’ve read in many, many years. For that matter it’s one of the best books I’ve read in a while.

Blah blah blah. I went to the table with Mr. Erikson and Mr. Esslemont and talked with them a bit, asked some questions, got an autograph and moved on in order not to feel like too much of a fanboy. But I was. The only question I forgot to ask but wanted to was if there was, somewhere, a complete map of the world they created. I like maps…

RMCA took a few pictures, bless her, and here’s my two favorites.

Someday, it is my sincere hope to have written something on the scale and scope of the Malazan books and have someone appreciate them the way I appreciate Mr. Erikson and Mr. Esslemont’s work.

2009.10.19

Flooding at Work

Today’s hot news at work was the flood. Yes, I live in San Francisco. We’re known for our earthquakes but not so much for flooding. Ironically it wasn’t even supposed to rain today, so I had ridden my motorcycle. Anyway, rain it did to the point where the storm drains basically EXPLODED. Take a look at this video. If you look carefully in the background you’ll see a brick building; that’s where I work.

The video was shot from where I get my morning coffee almost every day. As a result of that geyser in the middle of the road we got this, which was shot by Courtney from the front of our building. This was after the water receded a bit! The water was coming in all of our doors and even a few places, like a wall window, we never expected it. Courtney also took this picture, which looks out on the intersection of Bay and Powell.

As a result of the water damage and the unsanitary water itself (not to mention the stench) the offices are closed tomorrow. Yay…?

What a day to spend my Mom’s birthday!

2009.10.18

4th Annual Bury These People in a Cemetery Party

As previously mentioned here is the invitation for the Halloween party. Click on the picture for a larger version. It’s a bit busy, but that’s because I cobbled together various pictures I’d previously done to make it work.

Details:

What: Fourth Annual Bury These People in a Cemetery Party
Where: The French Embassy (768 16th Avenue x Fulton in San Francisco)
When: Saturday, October 31st from 8PM until it ends

Now with a Facebook event page.

2009.10.16

The Halloween Party is a Go!

I got the call last night; our (relatively) famous Halloween party is going to happen. This will be our 4th.

What: Fourth Annual Bury These People in a Cemetery Party
Where: The French Embassy (768 16th Avenue x Fulton in San Francisco)
When: Saturday, October 31st from 8PM until it ends

More details to follow, along with a proper invitation. I realize the announcement is coming late but here it is; spread the word! All invited! Meanwhile I’ll be working on A) the invitation picture and B) trying to figure out what to wear. Maybe I could make a costume out of corks?

2009.09.17

All Hail Emperor Norton

All hail Emperor Norton the First, who this day would (if not for pesky mortality) be celebrating his 150th day on the throne.

2009.09.08

Minor Updates

Sorry for the lack of posts. Things have been tailing off because of the business of life. Work I won’t go into here because I don’t want to incriminate myself publicly. However, work has been a huge portion of it, working late and on at least one weekend. Fun (not).

In other news, though, RMCA and I signed the lease for our new place yesterday. I’ve been working on cleaning up and packing my place in preparation for moving. I’ve lived in my current space for 10 years. That’s three times longer than any other single domicile and I’m a little shocked at all the crap I’ve accumulated. I’m going through it and throwing things away. Some stuff will be given away or sold. I’ve been going through my almost 900 books (I’ve read a lot since my last count) and managed to cull a bit over 100 books so far and I’m just about a third of the way through. It’s so hard to let them all go, though…

In cleaning out my desk I’ve found all kinds of scraps of paper. Some of them are friend’s phone numbers, quick ideas or lists, but some are quotes. This is one I particularly liked. “Democracy is four wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch…”

I will try to post more in the near future. They just probably won’t very long or deep. I will at least try to make them interesting.

2009.07.30

Car Arsons

Recently in San Francisco there has been a rash of car arsons. I knew about this, vaguely, but didn’t realize one was right around the corner from where I work.

There wasn’t much left by the time I got there. Just some broken glass and burned debris. Some of the leaves in the tree above were charred, too. I’m guessing this wasn’t the worst one.

But walking around the neighborhood I saw these flags. Dude! Take your flags down! Some people have no respect for the flag.