If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough. - Mario Andretti

From Their Cold, Dead Fingers You’ll Take Their Pillows

by West Virginia Rebel

Only in San Fran Whacko:

It’s not political, ideological or cultural, but San Francisco officials say they are seriously considering cracking down on one of the city’s most popular events in the growing “flash mob” phenomenon.

This year’s Valentine’s Day pillow fight was, quite simply, a mess. Officials, only slightly amused, say the episode left the city holding the bag - or empty pillow case - with thousands of dollars in damage and cleanup costs due to mounds of wet, sticky feathers.

The promoters of the counterculture event, now in its fourth year, must take responsibility for future happenings or “otherwise we are going to have to find a way to shut it down,” said Lisa Seitz Gruwell of the Recreation and Park Department.

San Francisco’s pillow fight is part of an international fad, partly anarchistic, partly absurdist, in which a mob of participants suddenly materializes at a public place, engages in odd behavior and then disperses.

The events range from zombie marches to dances and pie fights, including a shaving-cream-on-paper-plate pie fight staged late Thursday afternoon at the cable car turnaround at Powell and Market streets.
....

Kern said officials want the organizers of such events to follow standard procedure: apply for a permit, pay a use fee (at least $1,750 for the plaza) and supply security, portable toilets and cleanup crews.

But he acknowledged that such conformance would be contrary to the flash mob’s decidedly decentralized, anti-bureaucratic principles. Kern said Rec and Park does not even know how to contact the pillow fight’s anonymous organizers.

A series of e-mail and phone inquiries from The Chronicle seeking comment from pillow fight organizers went unanswered.

So will we see mass protests against the anti-pillow fascists? Or will the flash mob rule in the end?

Comments

Posted by on 03/09/09 at 06:43 PM from

If anyone has the chance to go to Thailand in mid April, GO!!!!  It’s Song Kran (Thai New Year) and it’s the best party ever.  The whole country is in a 5 day water fight.  You walk down the street and you can throw (careful people throw back) water at anyone.  It’s a real drink/puke fest.  It’s one of the best parties I’ve ever gone to.

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