guest post by RICK!
Sunday at Toxic Tire Beach Warm Water Cove marked the first of we hope to be many San Francisco Tomatinas. Based on the tomato fight in Buñol, Spain outside of Valencia, the food fight consisted of 15 participants and 15 people who showed up just to document the mess. The SF Weekly even came out to cover the ensuing battle.
Additional Photos:
- RICK!
photos by Stephen Lam
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- San Francisco Pie Fight Photos
{ 73 comments… read them below or add one }
In spain we have the BEST fruit and groceries. Now I'm living in the States and I can't find easily real tomatoes nor good bananas.
that's nice. millions of people starving in the world, many people worrying about groceries in this country, and a bunch of hipster doofus' decide to waste fod by throwing it at each other.
and those look like some tasty tomatoes, too.
what a waste.
Oh noes, we single handily caused world famine with our tomato fight and now million of self-righteous pricks get to stand in judgment of someone's really wonderful day.
Hipster Doofus…seriously…does anyone actually stop by to visit the sad world you live in?
I had a similar reaction: what a tragic waste of food when people are starving. But, that actually makes no sense. People are not starving because other people are wasting food. People are starving for other reasons, most of them having to do with politics and distribution of wealth.
for the record, I brought only 'bad' tomatoes, rejected by a gardener friend and cast out of her garden. Had we not put them to good use, these lonely unusable veggies would have otherwise only been moldering in a landfill. We recycled!
Thank-you for recycling Pastor Fussycat. Rick is right, people don't starve because other people are wasting food, but there are certainly A LOT of people out there like myself who could seriously use a good spaghetti dinner instead of a food fight. In these difficult times it seems like anyone with access to extra food should be using their resources to help others. While I don't condone the attitude of k's post, I do believe it is Rick who is the one being self-righteous. He should at least acknowledge the fact that there are a lot of us who would LOVE to be able to afford to throw food at each other. Let's just try to show a little kindness out there, ok kids?
Romas? OUCH! Those things can be pretty firm.
A single box of tomatoes cost $18, and three of us split 3 boxes. A relatively cheap afternoon compared to what many of you spend on a Friday night. I'm sorry my event is not going to bare the burden of food and poverty injustice.
Should we cancel the soapbox derby because that time is better spent at the soup kitchen? How about Pillow Fight because the homeless could use a soft place to sleep? And no more Salmon running upstream of the Bay to Breakers because it reminds us the fish stock is depleting.
After 7 years of event organizing I've really had it, with all the hard work me and my friends put into these events without the desire for profit, namesake or corporate sponsorship, all built around the idea having fun on the cheap. Its a sad statement when we can look a someone else's wonderful day and feel victimized by it.
I guess some people have too much food and too much time on their hands. I wish I were one of them.
yeah rick! I live in the mission and everyday quite a few people ask me for money for food.
You know, I just LOVE your self righteous indignation at people expressing an opinion which doesn't jive with your own narrow minded scope of what is cool and fun there Rick. I hear you call this “cultural jamming” and take credit for it's invention in San Francisco
Dude, it's better known as flash mobbing and has been around forever and a year (some say the first one took place in 1838 in Australia.) Things like Pillow Fight, International Talk Like a Pirate Day and No Pants day are all MUCH better examples of a flash mob than a bunch of dudes gathering on the beach to waste food in the sake of trying to reclaim the spontaneity of their fading youth.
Politics of world hunger aside, haven't you seen bigger and better dogs than you (Jon Steward, Steven Colbert, Keith Olberman, etc.) openly MOCKING the idiocy of tomatina in past years?
You're so defensive, you'd think you'd never posted anything on the Internet before the way you're taking people's opinion that your event was a dumb wast of time and food… suck it up man and take your lumps when you post stupid shit.
Incidentally – I have to say – I'm somewhat disappointed that Scott Beale got behind this being posted on LS. I normally look to this blog for the cool and interesting; and, this is neither – just more of the same bullshit that makes everyone else in the free world think that San Franciscans are a bunch of idiotic, hipster, trance music loving Burning Man refugees.
Kate, you can be in my club anytime.
Kate – I am super interested in what you have to say – can you let me know when you are down at Glide or St. Anthony's so I can join up with you? I'm sure you are also down at Open Hand a lot too – I never see you on my shifts though!
I'll make sure to tell John Law and Wavy Gravy and Bishop Joey and Louise and Scott B. and Amy Amber and Annie Coulter and Michael Mikel and Chicken and Dr. Hal and everyone that they didn't do anything until the invention of the cell phone and the internet, because otherwise, how the heck would they have been able to do a flash mob? Silly us. . .
You say you don't know who any of those people are? Goodness. . .
Hugs.
Wow, all this over a tomato fight? reminds me of the time my friend Jeanne was the recipient of a “meat is murder” lecture from some stranger in Berkeley, all prompted by the Spam t-shirt she was wearing…
those roma tomatoes look delicious, I want to eat one now.
Someone needs a glass of milk, a graham cracker & a nap.
Kate–
I read your antics here, and on your blog.
I won't bother commenting; instead, let me refer you to this recent article that you might find useful:
http://life.bitchbuzz.com/how-to-decontaminate-...
dude, forgive me for having an opinion… remind me NEVER to speak against the party line ever again… wowza, y'all take this shit too seriously.
and i don't think that either i need to defend my volunteer actions, my bank account and the kids in sf that i've helped can speak for me… not to mention i find it really amusing that you're clever enough to link to my own article. i simply said a tomato fight was stupid and rick was being an over sensitive jerk… read above. frankly, the people who decided to spam my personal blog all day yesterday and today have more issue with being toxic than i do, i actually laughed my ass off at you all for about 20 hours… great fun and great for my ass.
cheers, don't worry i won't comment here again it's clear that the though police rule the roost…
Kiss, Kiss Bitches,
Kate
'
Kate,
It seem you're on a mission that no one understands but you. I'm not sure what you're trying to get out of this but it's getting old. You say that all you did was comment on how stupid a tomato fight was, but we all know that it was a bit more than that.
You insulted a lot of people yesterday, not just Rick. You insulted Scott and a huge population of San Francisco. Now anyone who knows me knows that I am not at all enthralled with Burning Man, but the way you put it out there, you insulted what people hold near and dear in a very callous way in the name of fighting the proverbial man.
Go on and rage against the SF machine if you like. Opinions matter and differing opinions matter morer. That's what makes this city wonderful, but if you're going to be as provocative as you were, be prepared for the response and be prepared to share the response rather than editing comments or publishing then unpublishing a private email thread.
What is your purpose here. Specifically with Laughing Squid. You insulted Scott a number of times yesterday, then wrote a post to him saying how you loved LS, and then another and yet another insult. What did he ever do to you? If you don't like it leave. No one's making you stay. Maybe you should take your own advice and end this toxic relationship.
If you're just hanging around for giggles. Then go. We don't need you hanging around with your circa 1999 grrl name.
LMAO – Laughing Squid was great at a point. I have valued it as a source of information; however, I have been increasingly disappointed at the quality of what is being posted here over the course of the past year. Doesn't change the fact that I respect what Scott Beale used to do on this blog and what this blog has done for blogging in general. I'm sure that I can't be the first person on the face of the planet to be critical of this blog; and, it is very strange to me that considering what a powerhouse writer & influencer Beale is supposed to be that he would a.) allow individuals who are going to be combative with his readers to be guest bloggers, b.) get his knickers in a twist because ONE PERSON said that the blog he is responsible for is lacking, and c.) stir the shit to “take on” that one person…
The facts here are simple: I was being a jerk to Rick Abruzzo – because of personal reasons – it was amusing me. That makes me kind of a bitch and I've admitted it. You obviously cannot see the shitty emails that Rick Abruzzo sent me or my roommate directly about my ONE COMMENT on this blog; and, my ONE POST on my own blog because I took them down out of good taste and at the request of someone who doesn't want this individual to be dragged back into her life.
Let me just tell y'all – it was two sided – and I wouldn't have said a thing past my comment and my opinion post (on my own blog) had Rick Abruzzo not decided to email me personally taking me to task for expressing my opinion and basically calling me a bitch a number of times; and, I wouldn't have pushed it further except that he ALSO decided to email my roommate similar things about me (instead of talking to me directly) and then tried under the guise of “we're trying to be friends” to get her to make me redact my OPINION on Laughing Squid and my own blog. I don't know what you think, but that's pretty shit stirring behavior if you ask me… so don't just look at me here, look at Abruzzo as well.
I am further shocked that Scott Beale was so fucking upset by my criticism of his blogging network that he felt the need to link my blog post to a society of individuals who share his opinion of cacophony/flash mobbing/circle jerking SF BM events and ENCOURAGE them to spam me… that just ain't cool. As much as I don't give a shit about anything that anyone said to me on my OWN BLOG yesterday (or here for that matter) it's uncalled for and a drama tactic to fucking direct readers to attack someone else for the OPINION.
I insulted a lot of people with my opinion that these old antics of SF are tired and I don't like them? Wow, you guys are so oversensitive – WHY DO YOU CARE WHAT I THINK ENOUGH TO GET PISSY WITH ME – seriously, think about it.
I've stated over and over again on my own space that I honestly don't give a fuck if y'all gang up on me – I don't take any of this shit online seriously – I've had way more insulting things than what you've said thrown at me and it's the Internet. My purpose here – at this moment – is to express my utter shock that you guys are all so self-righteous and serious that you can't take someone saying that they don't like what you do. My purpose here – at this moment – is to say that the quality of this blog has declined since I started reading it years ago and that Scott Beale needs to get his guest bloggers in check because rallying the thought police to gang up on someone who expresses an opinion contrary to your own is really counterintuitive to what you – the general you of this community/Burning Man/Cacophony – claim to be about.
And, believe me, I've had enough input from outside sources either via email or comment or phone call that my OPINION was a.) valid & shared by others, b.) my right to express. And, that a.) Rick Abruzzo is a bully who can't take what he dishes out, b.) that he and Scott Beale are so not used to being challenged in their coolness that they both flipped out and c.) that their “rallying the troops” was completely uncalled for and that I had every right to respond to the shit that was being flung my direction for expressing an OPINION.
I'm not raging against anything, I'm simply one person saying what she thinks and taking shit from a bunch of strangers because of it. Does it affect my life? Not really, unless you think it bothers me to know that I'm not welcome at Tomatogate 2 or Santa Con… which it doesn't as I don't want to play your reindeer games in the first place and the hypocrisy of people who claim to be “open and loving and free and about doing” actually being snotty, self-righteous, self-absorbed and cliquish/closed minded only reaffirms what I thought in the first place.
In conclusion: it's the Internet and flash mobs – not foreign policy or world hunger or even legitimate cultural differences that everyone here is getting up in arms about. Have some f-ing perspective. It's not even like I insulted your Mom (which one of you did yesterday, thank you so much for the graphic visuals of what you think my parent should have done in 1973) or said anything beyond I DON'T LIKE THE DIRECTION THIS BLOG IS GOING AND I DON'T LIKE BURNING MAN CULTURE. Perspective. For realzie.
I don't understand how that opinion affects you in any way what-so-ever. Good lord, people say shittier stuff on the Internet everyday that gets ignored – wtf about my one comment (in the midst of other comments critical of Tomatogate) was it that got you people all worked up? Is it my refusal to back down? Is it the fact that I blogged my opinion on my very small, inconsequential personal blog – is it that you are just not confident enough in your own lives to be able to take it when someone says something that you don't like? What?
Though I do realize that continuing to say anything on this topic makes me like Don Quixote and I'm f-ing tilting against windmills. You're a big community, sure; and, I could continue to voice my opinion even though it's clear that no one gives a shit and would rather just insult me with 1999 barbs… My community – as in the people who agree with me – are much higher road people and aren't gonna be taking those same pot shots at you guys – though I will still giggle profusely when y'all wind yourselves up and go AHHHH. In addition to giggling profusely at every f-ing email I get from an ex of Rick Abruzzo saying that they are now my super fan for not taking his bully shit.
Cheers,
The Affront to 20 Years of SF Culture
“Maybe you should take your own advice and end this toxic relationship.”
Badda-bing.
For someone who wrote an article about how to avoid that toxic “person in your life who is always embroiled in drama, the complainer, that friend who goes out of their way to passively aggressively make you feel like a bad friend or person,” she can't help but be toxic herself.
Let me point out: you guys are the ones who flipped the fuck out because I posted an opinion contrary to what you think.
*I* expressed my opinion. It was an unpopular one, sure – but, then Rick Abruzzo and Scott Beale poured fuel onto that opinion and lit a match – you guys continue to add wood… I'm just sitting here laughing around the campfire.
And, you're the ones who continue to send shitty emails and comments here and on my own blog.
I – am not affected by your choices – I make my own choices. And, yes I control my own behavior and am CHOOSING to respond at this point…
And I don't think I've been passive aggressive at any point, I think I've been quite upfront about what I think Weazie.
Cheers,
K
So much for never commenting here again. You're truly a woman of your word.
Either way, you made your bed here. You stirred up the shit by going after Laughing Squid. Not because Scott or anyone else can't take criticism, but because you were talking trash. Don't sit in the outhouse if you don't like the smell of your own shit.
It seems that you're not the one that can take a differing opinion. Any time someone defends against your unending blather, you take issue and call names. That's not taking a stand, that's throwing a tantrum. And if your issue is with Rick, the ex-boyfriend of your roommate, then take it up and keep it with him. Stop dragging everyone else into it.
If you don't like the direction that the blog is going, then go away. Simple enough.
But for fuck's sake, please go quietly.
Rick is kinda a tool tho.
Claiming to be complaining about an event (or “a culture”), when really you are complaining about Rick, is totally, utterly, and completely passive aggressive. (And doing so in a public forum? Claaaaaaaassy!)
Claiming to “respect” Laughing Squid while simultaneously belittling it and its creator is passive-aggressive. (”I'm not saying you're fat; I'm saying you would look even better if you dropped a few pounds.”)
As for creating drama, and complaining (and complaining and complaining…), well, you've got that down in spades.
Holy Freaking Jesus.
This is blowing way out of proportion & sailing the seas of pointless absurdity. How much time have you (Kate) devoted to writing/simmering/losing sleep over this subject on LS as well as your own blog? Is this an attempt to milk more attention, All over a silly little tomato fight?
Please, turn your computer off, step away & go outside & enjoy. Go see a film, go see a music show, go do something fun in this wonderful city you claim to love that doesn’t involve dwelling on this ridiculous little drama you mostly created.
Am I now at fault & deserving of your ridicule for having an opinion about an observation?
A. I thought and still think this specific event was stupid.
B. I don't participate in the culture which encourages this kind of activity BECAUSE I think it's stupid. And, it is my right to say that – you don't have to agree with me – that's fine.
C. Rick was shitty to people disagreeing with him before I ever posted here; and, I just called him on it. And, he flipped the fuck out when I wouldn't back down from my opinion.
D. I have not been passive aggressive at all about voicing my opinion that Rick needs to friggin' grow a thicker skin if he's going to play online. Nor, have I been passive aggressive about voicing my opinion that I think Laughing Squid needs better quality control these days.
E. I can respect Laughing Squid and Scott Beale for their greater contributions to the blogosphere while being critical of the current content.
F. I did not belittle Scott, I initially said I was disappointed in the content he was allowing to be posted and the people who he was allowing to guest blog. I expressed my dissatisfaction with the product he puts out, what you don't get – clearly – is that is NOT personal. When you write a blog and put yourself out there you need to expect people to occasionally be critical. And, in FACT when I was told by a friend that Scott Beale – who's stickers used to cover my laptop, who's been in my RSS for years, who's cool geek shit I repost with props ALL the time was upset at my OPINION I was a.) shocked, b.) compelled to put up a disclaimer saying that I respect him and his blog and was only expressing my opinion.
G. Where this path diverges down into confusing wood for me is that I heard – directly – from Rick Abruzzo and a couple other people that powerhouse blogger Scott Beale was directing individuals participating in a community I've never even been a part of to spam me because of my OPINION.
H. This is where I lose respect completely for Scott Beale – I thought he'd be way better than that kind of drama; and, took down my “dude, nothing but props” post.
And again: y'all are the ones who keep emailing me and commenting on my blog and commenting on my comments here… Scott actually said it best on Twitter a short time ago: another day, another blog drama.
This was never a personal attack against Scott Beale. You might think it was and you might be going apeshit because of that (*coughhiswifecough*) – not the case – have some perspective.
It was a personal attack against Rick Abruzzo and I've already admitted about twenty times that I recognize that makes me a bitchy jerk… but, he's JUST as bad if not worse, so sue me.
LMAO at french7suzi… And, Kevin I happen to be online working at the moment so every time someone makes a comment I see it filter through my in box. I actually don't spend a lot of time responding, I think and type fast. Further I'm not losing any sleep… geezus.
I'm just amazed at how easy some people are to get worked up. And, read my blog – I know I've been a jerk, I've said it out loud, I've also said that I recognize opportunities to be attention whorish – I'm aware of my own flaws and failings and am laughing at myself.
Again: don't care, just expressed my opinion, y'all flipped out and created drama – I only played along – I think fast on my feet, type even faster… this is like playing speed chess to me and HONESTLY doesn't mean a damn thing other than a blip of a break from trying to edit my massive fucking monster of an article that I'm writing on something actually meaningful and emailing back and forth with someone watching this situation with as much amusement as I am.
*rolling eyes*
Again: y'all take this shit too seriously.
I have plenty of perspective and damn straight I'm his wife. I have no need to hide that. Particularly when someone goes after Scott personally.
cough cough
From your blog, regarding this post: “Apparently my intel was wrong and this is all LS hanger on drama and Scott Beale didn’t repost my content telling people to flame me… apparently that was the person who flipped out on me in the first place.
Sorry Scott Beale… another day, another blog drama.”
The depth of your sincerity is so very touching.
Boy you need to learn to let this shit roll off your back better, Lori – you'd think given who your husband is you'd know not to take any of this seriously.
I didn't trash talk, I expressed an opinion – I understand you don't like it and think I'm personally attacking something your husband has worked very hard to create, on the contrary I'm simply offering the perspective of one other reader which could actually help improve LS.
I will eat some humble pie now – I was mis-informed that it was Scott Beale who posted my blog link and encouraged people to flame me – I understand that he did direct Rick Abruzzo to my blog, but that it was someone else entirely who decided to rally the troops. Humble pie, eating it – sorry Scott. I'm actually glad, b/c I was SHOCKED when I was initially told that you did that… seemed very uncharacteristic.
And, Rick is a tool who can't take what he dishes out. Perhaps I should repost those emails he sent me (including the really douchebag reply he sent to me LATE last night after I had sent him a “okay this is silly – I'm sorry for being a bitch and will leave you be, tell your friends to stop spamming me” apology,) then you might understand you are only seeing one side of the story.
And, let's just be VERY CLEAR: I posted a comment and a blog post that he then chose to EMAIL me, my roommate and half of San Francisco about (it would seem.)
I didn't drag anyone into anything – y'all are the ones who decided to flip the fuck out b/c i was critical of Laughing Squid, challenged Rick and said that I was disappointed in the content that Scott was allowing to be posted over here… You didn't have to repost my shit where all your little minions could flip out over it, you didn't have to email me or comment on my blog… I stand by what I've said, admit my jerkiness where it is due and say simply – for the love of god, please gain some perspective and quit taking this all like it's heart surgery or something.
Still over here LMAO.
Lori, “Kate insulted a huge portion of San Francisco.” Really? Wow. She must be very powerful indeed. To insult millions of people in less than 24 hours is pretty impressive and I give her props for that. Seriously, get over yourselves. Strategically posting her blog to a site where it was sure to be received with hostility, so that she would certainly be spammed with hate mail for two days, was there any purpose in that action other than vengence or to “punish” her for posting an unpopular opinion? Hey, maybe we should all form a mod and go burn down her house! Or ban her from attending Burning Man! (even if she doesn' want to go anyway) We could force her to relocate to South San Francisco! Sadly the above attacks on this thread are prime examples of the dog pack mentality that so often forms when a a well spoken voice of dissent (most often a woman) dares to stick up for herself and challenge a group that is clearly not used to being challenged.
Oh, and Lori, your comment about an out house and the smell of your own shit – lovely.
What an eloquent choice of words.
Oh my god – I did not attack your husband personally – for fuck's sake do you really think that?
Lori, I assure you that my ONLY complaint with Scott or Laughing Squid is content and guest blogger related – not personal – NOT PERSONAL. I hear your hubby is very even keeled, unlike you.
/head desk. Doesn't matter what I say, there's more of you than me and regardless of how fast I type I'm out numbered… SURRENDER DORTHY!
k
What do you want me to kiss his ass?
And it wasn't regarding THIS post or threads of comments, it was regarding me taking down my “hey Scott Beale, I'm not attacking you personally and think Laughing Squid is cool, just being critical and expressing an opinion” post on my OWN blog because three people told me that he reposted my shit to another community and then encouraged people to spam me. You can thank one of your friends for finding that out for me after I asked, because I was really befuddled when Rick Abruzzo said that Scott was butthurt at my comment and reposting my shit everywhere to get people to spam me.
I remember why I quit Yelp Talk now, the level of seriousness that everyone attributes to this shit (except me, it seems) gets tiring and ceases to be amusing after about 24 hours.
Oh man I missed the outhouse and shit comment, good catch… though funny.
Sorry I can't play anymore kids, I have shit to do this evening – feel free to continue to over react and tell me what a jerk I am – I'm sure that you can amuse yourselves that way on your own.
Isn't it though? I made it up myself to put into words how disgusted I am with this whole thing. No one said anything about millions (comprehension is key) but she hit a sore spot with some very vocal people and then blamed Scott for it. I see that she's redacted her redacted redaction several times now that she's discovered it wasn't Scott who caused people to respond.
I'm not entirely clear as to why Kate decided to use Laughing Squid as a platform for her (obviously personal) issues with Rick. Why not post to her own blog about it?
I really don't care if anyone is critical of Laughing Squid. It's Scott's blog and he can post what he like he likes, when he likes, how he likes. It's not a service, it's his blog. And my best response to those who are critical of it is “if you don't like it, leave” which is exactly what I told Kate. A real mob for you. Me, myself and I.
It's amazing how those who challenge accuse those those who react to the challenge of having their undies in a wad. Did you or she or anyone think that there wouldn't be a response? Really?
You can burn down houses if you like, I'd just rather stay here.
Wait, though… one last post: did k. or daxie get slammed with the same proportion for expressing their disdain at Tomatogate that I did?
I'm just curious.
“well spoken”
*snork*
Hi there, I'm Bonnie! The roommate of Kate and the exgirlfriend of RICK who has been referenced above. I just have to say this: Kate and RICK spent so much time throwing punches at each other yesterday over email that it can only mean one thing: True Love. Hopefully, by the time the wedding rolls around we'll all be friends again and Scott will feature it right here on LS. Mazeltov kids! and goodnight.
Can't we all just get along?
Daxle had a specific, cogent critique of the event, and lacked any personal animus towards organizer.
Daxle did not troll with flamebait like calling the event “just more of the same bullshit that makes everyone else in the free world think that San Franciscans are a bunch of idiotic, hipster, trance music loving Burning Man refugees” or accuse the participants of “trying to reclaim the spontaneity of their fading youth.”
In other words, it was a well spoken voice of dissent (from a woman, to boot).
“I'm not entirely clear as to why Kate decided to use Laughing Squid as a platform for her (obviously personal) issues with Rick. Why not post to her own blog about it?”
I did. Note – I posted one criticism about this tomato thing YESTERDAY morning, started getting emails from Abruzzo, then was told that your hubby was butthurt and reposting my criticism of the tomato thingie on all sorts of communities then the fucked up comments and emails started rolling in.
You'll note I didn't post again on LS until 3pm (ish) this afternoon, only because I was directed back here by someone else who said that there were some additional comments made about me. Curiosity got the better of me and I posted my GEEZUS REMIND ME NEVER TO HAVE AN OPINION post, which has decimated into people accusing me of personally attacking Scott Beale. Again, I have not personally attacked him. I have responded at length to what people want to say to me about my original comment and subsequent comments and own blog with as much humor as humanly possible. I type and think fast (I'm a fucking blogger) and none of it has been personal.
Let me clarify: one comment here criticizing the tomato thing, one blog post saying about how I don't dig Laughing Squid much anymore EQUALED about 10 emails back and forth between me and Rick Abruzzo where we both took the low road, 50 anon comments on my blog railing against my right to have an opinion that I deleted, three emails telling me that war was being waged against lil' ole' me by your husband in the form of encouraging other people to flame my blog, 45 anon comments insulting me personally, another 50 comments that I actually approved because they had names and emails attached to them and were somewhat constructive and funny, plus this little shit storm over here…
Why did this happen? Because I had the balls – yes, I'll say it, BALLS – to say I didn't like something that's popular or someone who is (for some reason though everyone seems to agree that he's a tool) popular and there was an additional perceived insult against Scott and LS…
I struck a sore spot, huh? I think Twyla has it right, it's that I expressed a unpopular opinion and that people went dog pack one me when I stood up for myself.
And, clearly you do care what people say about Laughing Squid or you wouldn't have flamed up in the first place. Granted I'm not any better for continuing to respond to you – specifically… but, whatever. I still have not taken any of the things people have said to me either here or on my blog personally and hopefully you understand that this is all Internet bullshit.
Best of luck to you,
Kate
Oh you mean that I'm not allowed to use words in a manner that is clever or intelligent?
Okay, I see from now on I'll follow the rules and just say “wow that is a stupid waste of food and an event that make SF look pretty shallow.”
It was not flame bait. And, yeah there was personal animus there – I was offended that the organizer got pissy with people critiquing him – so I threw a little shit back his way.
But fucking semantics, every time… god you'd think I was a WRITER or something. /head desk
If you can't take what you dish out you better STFU, as my Mom would say.
But I'm supposed to marry YOU, Bon…
I don't know about all this here bickering, but I think a tomato fight sounds really fun, and if you guys were able to do it with food that otherwise would have been thrown out, all the better. I don't think we need to get self righteous or mean about this – its an event and if you don't want to go don't. I personally would love to see another tomato fight, though, and the only reason I didn't go to the first one was because I didn't know it was happening. Love to see this happen again with more than 15 people, and I'm more than willing to chip in some money for whatever tomatoes I use up in the process (which would be… what… like $5 or $10?).
“Oh you mean that I'm not allowed to use words in a manner that is clever or intelligent?”
By all means, please use words in a clever or intelligent manner.
It'll be a refreshing change of pace.
No we can't just get along. This is just the kind of crypto fascist preening that kill syndicalist anarchism in the first place. Oh, I feel the worlds pain and want to score some coke.
Right near 16th and Mission no doubt. I hear heroin has a very high nutritional content.
I love you, man.
It annoyed me. So I made it a bet:
I, the almighty and powerful Chicken John, to herby bet that you, Dork-queen of the binary code, can not come up with an implementable culture jam-jam Cacophony-style event. Period. Not to implement one, because that would require you to leave your chair. Leave implementation to me. The wager is that you can not and will not come up with an idea. An original idea for an event. The catch is that this event can’t be slammed by the high and mighty politically correct or the jaded and cynical. And I will be prudent and defer to the will of the people on the judging. If you so engineer this event, I will execute this event of course… but it will be judged on it’s MERITS as an IDEA, not by it’s trial by fire.
This is in response to the slam dunking of a certain pranksters imprudent and wasteful use of tomatoes. It was said that his event was bla bla and bla bla bla… but no matter. The details are un-important. The meat of the matter is that the ration of idea is at an all time low. Not for lack of brains to come up with ideas, but for lack of a vehicle to get the ideas out of people’s brains and onto the pavement, where they belong. I implore you to do just this, and will reward the charity of your choice $1,000 of fundraised money. I have fundraised probably over a million dollars to date, so do not insult me by saying that I will not do exactly as I say. Instead, please insult me for any of the other shortcomings I have and they are plentiful and obvious. Starving people, medical relief, cancer, little children who can’t read so good… $1,000 towards any of these humanitarian efforts, to turn a bich-fest into art. Because that’s what I do.
If you fail to come up with this event by the bong of the new year 2010, you will pay me exactly 1,000 donuts of a varied sort… delivered to the event of my choice.
So I say to you, dear Kate Kotler…. do we have a bet?
Chicken John
And it responds….
Yes, Chicken John we do have a bet. And, I sweeten the pot by saying that if I do not come up with a decent idea in a year’s time I will deliver those donuts to you in a chicken suit and volunteer at your event. Should I win you will write me an essay, to be published on the blog of my choosing, on how people should think more carefully about the image they portray of our City when crafting events/that there are many different ways of “doing” and just because mine is different than yours doesn’t make it any less valid AND you’ll donate $1K (which I’m happy to help you fundraise) to the James Kim Tech Foundation in both our names.
Three ideas which have been submitted for consideration to the Chicken himself are below the cut, enjoy…
We Would Like Whirled Peas, Please!
Date: November 17, 2009
Where: Starts at Lucky 13, ends in Castro Safeway
What: Gather at Lucky 13 dressed in traditional 60’s Summer of Love/Hippy gear, march together to the Safeway Castro chanting “We would like Whirled Peas, please, we would like Whirled Peas!”
Why: International Peace Day is annually held on November 17th. San Francisco is internationally known as one of the epicenters of the peace movement. It would be a small demonstration that the desire for world peace is still alive here, yet silly because the chant would be based off of the famous bumper sticker “Visualize Whirled Peas.” It would end in a grocery store, because where else would you get whirled peas?
Find a Penny, Pick It Up and A Penny For Your Thoughts
Date: Any busy Saturday at noon
Where: Union Square
What: Part 1: Participants gather at Union Square, milling around like nothing’s going on. At noon the organizer of the event – very obviously – scatters $10 of pennies onto the ground and participants say “Find a penny, pick it up and all the day you’ll have good luck!” They then pick up a penny.
Part 2: Participants then approach strangers (tourists, shoppers, families, etc.) and offer them their penny saying “A penny for your thoughts?” If the strangers won’t talk or get sketched participants might say, “We just thought it would be nice to say hello and ask you how your day is.”
Why: Minimal concept of “spreading the wealth,” encouraging people to be positive (ie: lucky) and welcoming to visitors to SF. Also encouraging communication and listening.
Happy Birthday, Winnie the Pooh!
Date: January 18, 2009 at noon (or on a subsequent Saturday if this date falls on a weekday when parents might be working)
Where: Golden Gate Park Children’s Playground
What: Participants gather at the carousel in the Golden Gate Park Children’s Playground. Organizer, in a big Winnie the Pooh costume, brings a big ass Winnie the Pooh cake (or, cupcakes or brownies or some tasty treat, maybe donuts?) At noon the participants sing the Winnie the Pooh song , encouraging parents to bring their children over to sing with them. Once the song is over the organizer leads the crowd in singing “Happy Birthday to You” to A.A. Milne and Winnie the Pooh, then passes out treats.
Why: A.A. Milne’s birthday is January 18th. Winnie the Pooh is one of the most beloved children’s characters of all time. This event would pay tribute to children’s literature, encourage families to participate in wacky-fun San Francisco culture and would involve cake… need I say more?
I will respond with the nuclear assault in a day or so. For now, please enjoy the show. As you can see, comming up with an ORIGINAL idea isn't really easy. Or possible, probably. The 3 events we have on display here are certainly not slam dunk, original or even Cacophony Events, really… I will defer, of course to 'the people'.
What do the people think of Winnie the Poo or Whirled pea? Please, share your thoughts…
The recent silly drama surrounding this Internet tomato fight & a prank bet between two individuals inspired me to dust off that cacophony part of my brain & do an old fashioned event write up.
Event Title: “Critical mAsshole”
Target audience: Critical Mass participants, Motorist & other pedestrian sympathizers
Description:
A Horde of pedestrians (perhaps one hundred or more) on foot, with various noisemaking tools, sandwich boards, picket signs & any other applicable ephemera will gather & descend upon several strategically located intersections to disrupt/interrupt bicycle traffic during the infamous Critical Mass bicycle parade/vehicle protest. Each phalanx will have its own team of 2-5 captains armed with bullhorns to both control & lead the division of pedestrians in absurd chants focused at “caged” bicyclist.
Various “phalanx team” themes will be established to uniform & code each group. Refer to the “How Berkeley Can You Be Parade” Cacophony teams as inspiration. Each “theme” can be an overblown stereotype as parody.
Example starter themes:
1) Fascist meter maid/street beat cops (handing out offence tickets to safety “infractors”)
2) Bridge & tunnel downtown business types (perhaps some missing limbs, clutching miscellaneous bike parts as if in post-collision
3) Homeless “street types” clutching scraps of shrubbery and tree branches to “hide” behind or use as a barrier
4) Mimes (miming an invisible wall to contain oncoming critical mass bike horde)
5) San Francisco stereotypes: Hippies, punks, burners, santas, bunnies, etc.
6) Clowns Gold/Silver street performers
7) Resurrect “Fascist Vegans”
Reference San Francisco (& other) Cacophony events:
“Fantasia Protest”
“How Berkeley Can You Be Parade” Cacophony (PETA) Meat float
“Santarchy & Santacon”
Objective:
The primary objective of this event is to illustrate a point to Critical Mass participants (& by fortunate default via fallout, motorist) the ill effect they (Critical mass) may have on slower, lesser equipped brethren –pedestrians. This objective may be achieved via protesting the prankster protesters with a similar vehicle of disruption. (Doling out a dose of reflective medicine to those that dish it out once every month)
Motivation: On many occasions it has been experienced first hand & witnessed by many pedestrians the sometimes dangerous disregard “rogue” participants of critical Mass have on unwary street denizens and walkers.
The non-violent, absurd & jovial atmosphere established by the San Francisco Cacophony Society must be maintained at all times, carried out & encouraged by the bullhorn wielding phalanx captains.
Both are about as good as the tomato fight.
Penny-for-your-Thoughts at least tries to provoke thought and interaction.
This thread has made me a fan of the concept of disemvoweling. Maybe Scott should outsource his comment moderation needs to BoingBoing.
On the upside, it took 8 years, but somebody finally managed to make the screeds I used to post on SF-CACO seem moderate and restrained.
OK, none of these events qualify as “Cacophony style”, as they each have the same two flaws:
1.) Each one has a reason behind it, they hardly seem stupid and unnecessary at all.
2.) There's no alcohol involved.
Isn't there a “no mimes” rule in the by-laws?
The Anti Colostomy Society Event
Where: Your Warehouse
Why: We don't know.
What: IT! Hundreds of our friends who think like we do show up at the Chicken John house, led in tried & true protest chant by Organizer using a megaphone saying “What do we want?!”
Crowd screams: “IT”
Organizer asks: “When do we want IT?”
Crowd screams back: “WHENEVER!”
Whenever someone asks a member of the crowd what they are protesting they say “IT!” Whenever someone asks what a crowd member believes in they say “Whatever YOU do!” We will have signs saying “we are anti-colostomy” and “meaning means nothing” and “we want IT WHENEVER” and people will hear us. There will be disciples of “whatever” whipping themselves mercilessly with strands of glass and leather for doubting “IT.” And we stay there allllll night. Chanting and playing drum & bass.
This will happen in the name of WHATEVER at your place at an unpublished hour.
Prepare for doom.
Love n' Kisses,
Kate & Bonnie
“Find a Penny, Pick It Up and A Penny For Your Thoughts”
Is this based on or related the Cacophony Society “Penny Parade” (18th year)?
Photos:
http://flickr.com/photos/ari/sets/7215761001662...
Info:
No need to count all the copper coinage in your penny jar – bring it to Haight Street and join us as we throw our money away in this street theater abundance ritual. Sow the seeds of good luck leaving by lucky pennies for people to find. Spare change the passers-by (offering, of course!).
Join us in singing “Pennies From Heaven” and other overly optimistic Depression-era ditties (or rather, ditties from the LAST depression since it’s 1929 all over again!).
Bevies of tap dancing, copper-lamé clad showgirls/boys performing lavish synchronized Busby Berkeley-style production numbers are always encouraged to attend, but somehow never actually materialize.
A fake protest?
How novel.
RE: “Sounds like cacophony” event submission
Event Title: LeperCon™ (Saint Patrick's Day)
Description:
Use the template of Santarchy/Santacon, exchange themes with a differing holiday (Saint Patrick's Day)
Hordes of drunken leprosy infected leprechauns; wrapped in filthy pustulent (green) bandages will invade various cities on Saint Patrick's Day, distributing Irish insults along with prosthetic rubber snakes & engage in xenostereotypical behavior. Zombie “mobs” may be recruited as servants (lore includes the belief that Patrick raised people from the dead)
At some point the group (concealing hidden bottles of green dye) will seek out the nearest water bearing fountain type monument & proceed to bathe, releasing the green dye, “tainting” it with “leprechaun leprosy puss” rendering the water non-potable. Reference the Biological warfare technique of poisoning an enemy’s water supply: “The Roman commander Manius Aquillus poisoned the wells of besieged enemy cities in about 130 BC”
• Wear filthy green puss ridden bandages along with stereotypical “soiled” leprechaun attire
• Pin a shamrock to “naughty” regions
• Speak with a mumbling brogue (Irish, if possible)
• Drink Irish beer and spirits
That has got to be the most boring events suggestion I've heard in all my years of event organizing.
Well now you've actually come up with something interesting. Not original but I might find it entertaining. Be sure and let me know the date so I be there to take pics!
The whole point is surprise.
PREPARE FOR DOOOOOM!
;)
Not fake.
Legit protest of people who are tired of being told what to think or that if they don't think the way you do that it's wrong.
No – I didn't actually find that when I was researching the event.
I'd like to sign up for my ration of “leprechaun leprosy puss” right now!
It gave a few more events:
Crossing Ommm Line
When: During ING Bay to Breakers
What: A line of people in running gear w/B2B numbers on them sitting in the lotus position, “Ommming” across Fell Street at the top of the hill (which is the half way point of B2B, I believe.) They just sit there and “ommm” while people have to navigate around them. They make room if anyone wants to stop and “ommm” with them.
Note: This could probably only last until the actual runners pass and when floats start coming through.
Waiters on Wheels
When: During “rush hour” on a Friday — when people are getting out of work — 5-6pm-ish
What: Like Critical Mass meets Food Not Bombs.
Objective: Feed people en masse and cause a scene.
Logistics of route: Route of this task would start at the Ferry Building in the Embarcadero and end at the Ferry Building in the Embarcadero. The mob route would move up Market Street to Civic Center, then up Hyde Street to O' Farrell. Route continues down O'Farrell to Market, ending where it began.
Description: Participants dressed in full waiter garb (pants, tie, apron, towel over their arm) with a backpack full of food, a tray and a menu of what they are “serving” move en mass through the route on “wheels.” Preferably skateboards or roller skates/roller blades, so it's easier to stop; but, bikes would also work. Even people on foot pulling wagons would be cool. Whenever someone regards them they stop and ask the person “Can I take your order sir/madam?” They then present their menu, let the person choose what they want from their selection and serve it to them on the tray. Participants should make particular effort to stop and ask homeless people if they can take their order, taking particular care to serve them with extreme kindness and formality.
Participants are responsible for providing their own food, etc. Ideally people would prepare things that were pre-packaged and easy to serve. It could be as simple as fruit or a sandwich; as complex as something gourmet and “plated;” as easy as a bunch of take out burritos split up into smaller portions. The idea is that everyone should have at least two options. And, their individual menu should be hand made and pretty. Bonus points if they provide a beverage with the meal.
There is a why, but it's elusive… could be to show that everyone should be able to have elegance and dignity in their lives. Could be to demonstrate how a dedicated group of people with few resources can feed many. It could be just to cause a scene.
There should be some musicians on wheels, too – to provide the proper ambiance of a fancy restaurant.
I'll be back in a minute to recap a bit…
hey, I haven't commented on this thread yet. Awesome!!!
You are going to make this the longest running comment thread on Laughing Squid if you keep posting every idea I send you for the next year here.
Epic. *rolls eyes*
I'm too full of Turkey to think of anything more this week, standby I'll be back with more concepts Monday.
DOOOOOOOOOOM, I say.
“make this the longest running comment thread on Laughing Squid”
nope, the Paul Addis thread is perhaps the longest thread by a mile, this one needs a few hundred post to surpass that one.
Okay Kevin Evans, but imagine a YEAR'S worth of posting ideas and criticism on this thread… it will be REALLLLLLYYYYYY long then.
Read the bet, I'm only getting warmed up. 13 months and 5 days to go until Chicken John has to give the JKTF $1K and me an essay.
Further, to add some words from Audre Lorde: “There are no new ideas. There are only new ways of making them felt.”
*looks up places to rent a chicken suit*
Always be prepared for either outcome, I say…
Hipsters protesting hipsters is the epitome of a fake protest.