H.P. Mendoza has a little ditty about Muni
Unlike most native San Franciscans, though, his dad drove Muni buses during H.P.’s childhood and adolescence. Naturally, H.P.’s relationship with our beloved transit is unique.
Colma: The Musical or Fruitfly really showcase H.P.’s uncanny ability to capture many aspects of our gritty urban existence, in playful melodies and hilarious rhyme.
The above clip is H.P. performing “Public Transit,” a song he wrote for Fruitfly. Here’s a taste of the lyrics:
As far as cities like this go.
There are none like San Francisco.
You can take it all apart by section.
Seven miles in any direction.I’ll never be stuck in gridlock.
I’m fine with walking on the sidewalk.
If you need to get somewhere faster.
Sing along with the working-class bastards.Public transit, every destination sits upon a track.
Put your faith in public transit, there’s enough of it to go around and back.
Have a listen, and we dare you not to get this one stuck in your head for the rest of today.
Ready to Meet the Lord
Photo by Troy Holden
I’m on the 47 on my way to work and had been listening to the mutterings of the man across the aisle from me. He was carrying a garbage bag of his belongings and a paper bag with unspecified booze; and he was getting louder and louder.
“Lord Jesus, I’m ready to die,” he said. “I have no job, I have no money,” (the girl next to him gets up to stand somewhere away from him), “I have my momma’s debt, my daddy’s debt, and I’m ready to die because I don’t want to be nobody’s bother.” Everyone looks away awkwardly, including me. The man starts laughing about something else. Then I realize that we weren’t moving.
I looked up and a cleanly dressed younger guy in the front of the bus was talking to the driver, pointing at the drunkard. “He’s drinking alcohol…openly…” I overhear him telling the drivers.
Really?
The drunk wasn’t really bothering anybody except for our guilty conscience, and he didn’t even smell. How are you trying to kick the drunk guy off the bus after he said he’s ready to meet his death because he has nothing? And isn’t a drunk man muttering to himself a regular sight on Muni? The driver got up and glanced at the drunkard, who said, “Don’t mind me, I’m just waking up.” The driver sat back down and started driving again.
Because of the “good Samaritan,” I missed the connecting train I was trying to catch, which is just one of my many first-world problems. I guess it’s just another Monday.
Bay to Breakers, Muni Edition: Denim Kings
The next two here are also @Grahamcrackersf‘s.
And with that, we draw Bay to Breakers 2011 to a close.
Original post:
Photo by @nicolecwong
What else happened when thousands of costumed (or completely naked) runners take over the city and public transit? Take a look. And once you’re sobered and rested, send us your photos of where Muni and Bay to Breakers intersected.
Photo by James Welcher
Photo by Lorcan Keating
Photo by Anthony Brown
What’s Johnny Depp Doing on Muni?
Photo by Brian
On Friday we posted a photo by Brian of Johnny Depp I mean Jack Sparrow on the 27. Who is this man? We asked Brian and here’s what he had to say:
This is a cellphone picture I took on Wednesday of my new friend, Sebastian Michellod, who stayed with me this week via couchsurfing.org. He is originally from Switzerland, but has been living in Central and South America for the past four years, traveling, making videos and documentaries. More recently, he has been dressing as Jack Sparrow, working his way north to try and meet Johnny Depp (who has been “impersonating him”). He just left for LA to catch the Los Angeles premiere of Pirates 4, and will also be in Las Vegas for another event. He is an amazingly kind and talented person, and I recommend that anyone meet him if provided the opportunity.
According to Sebastian’s Facebook page, his goal is to meet Johnny Depp in Los Angeles. I approve of that goal, Sebastian.
And if you’re at Bay to Breakers, be sure to send us stories and photos of any interesting characters — Jack Sparrow included — that you see on and around the bus today.
Weekend Photos: All By Myself
Photo by Troy Holden
I’m still undecided on my own B2B costume: who’s with me in wearing brown and orange sequin running shorts?
Enjoy the photos and have a great weekend!
Oh, and check out which celebrity also rides Muni! We’ll have details on this most interesting Muni rider for you tomorrow.
photo by Brian, via Bernalwood
Photo by Bhautik Joshi
Photo by Jack Bool
Photo by Pete Rosos