This account of being attacked was passed onto the Mission Dolores Safe Clean Green email list (the author was not attributed).  While the person's advice is 'fucking lame', it's still pretty alarming that people are being beat unconscious that close to Valencia.  Stay safe, everyone:

I was attacked yesterday while walking home on 19th street between Valencia and Guerrero around 2:30 pm, about half a block from my home. I was apparently followed, snuck up on from behind and beaten in the side of the head, then dragged down the sidewalk by my legs. I have a concussion and some bruises and scrapes, but no permanent damage (of the physical kind, at least). The attacker then went through my pockets and took my iphone before running away. It was broad daylight and there were people everywhere. I had not taken any alleys or side streets on my way home from the 16th street BART station. The suspect was apprehended (rare for this kind of crime) but I can't really discuss too many other details because the case is evolving.
I just wanted to pass on some information that the detective shared with me about street crime in the Mission as of late:

There has been a rash of street robberies in the past month or so, usually involving one or two men, some with handguns. They usually target people walking alone and rob them of their smart phones and wallets. Usually they strike late at night to early in the morning, especially on weekends when people often walk home inebriated and thus easier prey. Women walking alone are particularly vulnerable.

My case was unusual in that it happened in the middle of a workday with people around, but the police told me the criminals are getting more brazen.

Please, be mindful of your surroundings, even if you live in the “safest” part of the Mission, even during the day. Don't walk with your smartphone in your hand. Have your bags around your body. Don't walk home alone from the bars. If someone accosts you, scream like hell, but don't fight them- give them what they want and call the police. If you witness something happening to someone else, make yourself available to the police as a witness.

I'm not going to lie, I love the fact I now live a city with this much hand gesture diversity as San Francisco.  What a nice contrast to a place like Boston, where every 'hood shares the same sign:

(via generic, who might have made this but I have no idea)

Reader Beej Weir spotted this over on Irving.  The bottom of the sticker reads: “ASSAULTING A PARKING CONTROL OFFICER IS A CRIME. SO DON'T GET CAUGHT.”- WACKO 1

Also, don't get caught tagging Interceptors.

(link.  Thanks Beej!)

No, not really.  But when a field reporter's opening line is “…Cops and kids say just one can of 4 Loko can make you do some crazy things…” you have to wonder what the hell the producer was thinking when they approved the script.  

However sensationalized and fear based News 12's coverage may be ('NIMBY WATCH: FOUR LOKO NAZI RAPE JUICE NOW EVERYWHERE; WILL FIND YOUR KIDS AND SODOMIZE THEM; MORE AT ELEVEN'), I'd say that the statements made in this segment are fairly accurate.  After downing a whole can myself in a span of 20 or 30 minutes I was in fact “way gone”, as underage diabetic lame-o Morgan Rowland so aptly puts it.

Rowland seems like the ideal candidate to be a spokesman for anti-alcohol watchdog group, Marin Institute, who in August of last year issued a video 'warning' concerning Joose and 4 Loko.  Their anti-Loko campaign doesn't seem to have had the intended effect.  Loko is more popular than ever, and since the video was produced Loko's alcohol content seems to have risen from 11 to 12% (Thanks Marin Institute!)

I wonder what these San Rafael based NIMLS (Not In My Liquor Store) would think of the News 12 segment. Personally, every time I watch it makes me want go down the street to the 24 Hour Market (open Monday through Saturday, 11am to 2am) to cop me a cranberry lemonade and get Loko'd.