A RANDOM MOB
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Every now and again, life brings something your way which restores your faith in humanity. Something like that happened to me today. The story that follows is probably not what you expect. No puppies are saved, and no small children have their dreams come true.

I actually worked today, for the first time in months, and afterwards my good pal Alf alerted me to something that really made my day.

Apparently, there is a group of people in downtown San Francisco that help organize what is supposed to look like a "Random Mob". It's all strictly hush-hush and on the QT, starting with an organizational, conspirital email. Apparently they had some problems from the police in the past.

The long and short of it is that you go to a pre-assigned place and get your instructions from someone there. You get your slip of paper and then leave quietly and quickly. You memorize the instructions and follow them.

Our instructions tonight told us to meet outside a BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) exit and treat anyone coming out of the subway as a CELEBRITY. We all became a crazy mob of paparazzi. Alf and I got there and acted casual, like nothing was going to happen, following the instructions. It looked like 250 people were standing around, minding their own business. Then at the appointed time, people ran (I mean they really booked!!!) to the subway exit and started to mob anyone who came out.

Wildness ensued. Digital cameras flashed in quick staccato, women screamed in delirium, men asked for autographs, asked about the latest movie they shot with Russle Crow (instructions were to make up anything we wanted), the mob surged and cheered every time an unsuspecting BART passenger came up the walkway. People standing around waiting for the bus and cable car wondered what the hell was going on. As they stared on in wonder some even got it and joined in on the fun.

The best part was, everyone that came up from the BART evnetually had a huge smile on their face. They didn't know what was going on, but they sure got a kick out of it. I know if I came out of a subway station and a mob of 250 people were cheering wildly for me, I'd love it.

And then, as soon as it started, it ended. The instructions told us that 7 minutes later we had to disband. So someone said, "Times up!". Everyone stopped on queue. The mob was silecned and disperesed. Some went to the pre-arranged post-mob-scene bar. Brilliance! Not only did it keep a good joke from going stale, it kept us from having to deal with the pepper spray and German Sheppards the police surely would have brought to disperse the mob.

If you're interested and in downtown SF on Wednesdays around 6:00, let me know.

I love messing with people.