Video

Global Film Initiative Robbed Of Everything But Their Security Cameras

— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |

The Global Film Initiative, a small Ninth Street-based non-profit whose mission it is to “[promote] cross-cultural understanding through the medium of cinema,” was CLEANED THE FUCK OUT on Sunday night.  Santosh fills us in:

[The thief] entered the building around 12:00 am, went into our office, packed up all the computers, and left with a first load.  And then, came back a few hours later to finish the job.  The second time he came back, he returned with a different outfit and another set of tools—and tried to dismantle the elevator control panel, so he could gain access to the second floor of the building.  Total duration of the burglary was about 5 hours. 

The guy knew what he was doing.  He didn't have a key, but used a homemade tool to open the door in a manner that would not reflect a forced entry, and not draw attention.  We did cut that part out [of the video], because many of the buildings in SOMA have similar doors, and we didn't want to give anyone tips on how to break into other buildings.  Our loss was close to $15K, and with the damage to the elevator, the overall loss from the burglary is about $20K. 

Give the video a quick scan and be sure to check out the end for a key shot of crackhead roll up to the door and not rob the place.  Also, I highly recommend bumping some hot ragtime jams while watching.

Now a Bunch of Brits Know the Tenderloin is Hella Sketch

— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |

Blouz alerts us to this month-old clip from BBC's The Joy of Stats, which focuses on the city's open data efforts, particularly the Crimespotting project.  The short has some solid visualizations of the data mixed with video of the city, plus a fine interview with the Crimespotting founders.  And of course, what piece on crime stats would be complete without a SUV ride down Jones, gawking at cops, cholos, and crackheads?  Perhaps not the most flattering view of the city, but a well-produced and generally interesting one, to say the least.

Check it.

Sky Rat Hunter Tests New Laser-Based Weapon; Misses

— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |

The man behind Bluoz—a blog about homelessness, local music from the mid-90s, and San Francisco's bird population—recently had the brilliant idea/was sufficiently bored enough to experiment with a laser pointer and birds.  Turns out our SOMA sky rat population falls for the same tricks that dogs and cats fall for, generating an endless series of YouTubes and countless hours of productivity lost.

All that's left to do now is for someone to camp atop of Carlos Club at 24th and Mission with a laser pointer and camera and make the magic happen.

[Bluoz]

Previously on Uptown Almanac: 

In San Francisco, Even Death Metal Concerts Are Exactly Like Burning Man

— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |

I made my way to the epic Blood, Bath & Beyond Day at Potrero del Sol on Saturday.  For those of you unfamiliar with Potrero del Sol, it's the park at the corner of Potrero and 25th in which you can drink beer and listen to metal just a few yards away from a playground and a child's birthday party without any neighbors calling the cops.  Coexistence in its purest form.

Well this particular weekend, the park was not only host to bands such as “Zombie Death Stench” and “Feral Depravity,” but also some Burning Man pregame picnic.  As the video shows, the two groups got along just fine…

Bonus shot at 1:50 of children rolling down the hill while some dude from Modesto screamed about society falling apart or some shit.

[video shot by Steve Rude]

Taiwanese News's Take on the Twitter Tax Break

— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |

Mayor Moustache getting on his knees and begging Twitter to stay in SF, Biz Stone worried about getting mugged on his way to work, a cowboy on fire, Twitter climbing the ladder to Heaven and high-fiving tax evading companies like Google and GE, and vegan food?  This clip has it all.

This is What Happens When 'Bloggers'/Failed Musical Theatre Kids from Michigan Invade Your Coastal City

— By Jenny Wilson |

When Broadway kids Andrew Keenan-Bolger and Dani Spieler won some Lonely Planet contest, they were asked to create a travel video documenting their trip to San Francisco.  After watching this gem about 5 times I can attest that these musical theatre kids have a seriously distroted view of what a video with a “campy twist” means, what comedy is all about, and how to act in a production outside of “Perez Hilton Saves the Universe.”  I mean, isn't musical theatre the definition of campy? Hey musical kids, I know this might be a stretch for you, but can you make this vid campy, k?  You guys would have been far more successful doing a Glee meets High School Musical tour of the Tenderloin. And I'm sorry guys, if you're renting your trendy single-speed bikes from Blazing Saddles, you've already lost the game.

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