Parents paying rent?

Crap. New neighbor leaves television on all night and in the morning I'm awakened by police because "he hasn't answered calls from his parents for days." This is a guy living alone in an apartment bigger than mine,  and I rented mine for TWO people. The guy answers his door,  seems ok. I hope this isn't another situation like my Cow Hollow apartment,  spoiled brats whose parents are paying rent.  At least his television wasn't too loud.

Dress differently and rule of law

Stepping out of San Francisco to a place where there's more conformity,  and ruminating on my preferences.  Some people dress outlandishly or in a stylized unique way to bring attention to themselves.  Though there may be very rare occasions where that is me,  what I am more about is freedom.  When there is a huge spectrum of acceptability,  everyone is more able to find their comfortable niche without sticking out as someone trying to bring attention to themselves.  It is not about LOOK AT ME,  but more about "this is who I am. "  The outlandish "look at me" people are required to provide a social buffer for the slightly off center "this is me" without the shy "this is me" bringing undue attention to themselves.

This is a subtlety lost on many, in the same vein as the "rule of law." The same people who don't understand freedom of dress are likely to not understand that rule of law means that even people branded as criminals deserve a fair trial.  In the world of the conformist,  the non-conformist is labeled criminal,  while those who honor the appearance of conformity can walk away from murder.

Goats in San Francisco?

Well, I've seen goats brought in to clean out weeds on various properties, but I haven't seen this... (video)

Scooter pain

Damn... another relatively new scooter - not even mine, but I heard the noise and didn't think anything - now looking out my window I see the pieces of plastic on the pavement and think, Hey, do scooter drivers go around with a sledgehammer smashing cars? What is the answer to giant negligent metal beasts roaming the city?

Pancho Parks & Rec

I often dine under the watchful eye of Pancho Villa.

San Pancho Villa de Don Juan Swanson’s

Tourists vs Homeless

It's tough when tourists and the homeless are competing for the same rooms!
Illegal Hotel Conversions Sweep San Francisco

Election guide?

I've received a truckload of sensationalist political crap in my mailbox. Day of election, I get an email link to a "non-partisan guide to mayoral candidates." Mind you - ELECTION DAY I'm receiving this email. And the guide? It doesn't have two candidates on it. "Responses unavailable at time of printing." Is it because the candidates didn't respond? Or more likely, considering that I'm receiving this announcement on election day, these people started their process way too late. San Francisco politics... it would be like a high school election, except the stakes are a little higher.

The Big Apple

Now knowing several people who have moved to New York, I pick up my neighbor's old New York Times,  and it solidifies in my mind: There are some things that New York really is better at.  There are things that make enterprises or attempts in other places look like wannabe amateurs. But not everything. The Sunday Magazine might as well be a Pottery Barn flyer. The Travel Section has a caption referring to "stand-up paddle surfing on Lake Parano'a."  There is not a wave in the picture,  and New York is too far from Hawaii to call it paddle boarding?  Or maybe in Brazil it goes by a different name or there's a translation problem.  But I like to think it's because there's a snooty travel editor who got their job by knowing someone and would choose immersion in a good book over immersion in the waters of a lake in Brazil. Yes,  that house in Connecticut looks lovely,  if only slightly more scenic than my brother's place in the Midwest which is the same size but maybe a fifth the cost. I will retain my exaggerated sense of self importance,  and let them have theirs.