nthmost = Naomi Theora Most - Latest Comments

Re: Mugged and Pepper Sprayed in Downtown Oakland

nthmost — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 20:14:54 -0000

I'm not sure why, but neither the EMTs nor the police had *anything* for me (not decontamination wipes, not milk, not soap) other than the saline water. And none of those things were suggested either.

Logistically, it would have been hard to acquire milk or shampoo in the moment. Midnight in Oakland is a dead zone. That's a large part of why it's so crime-ridden.

...not to mention the fact that when you've been attacked with pepper spray, it's pretty hard to accomplish *anything*, much less grocery shopping.

I ended up using Bronner's to get it all out. Milk was suggested to me, but by the time I was in any position to clean myself up, it was 1am... in Oakland. And I could barely see.

Re: Mugged and Pepper Sprayed in Downtown Oakland

creekside408 — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 19:33:16 -0000

Glad you had a good outcome -- you weren't seriously hurt. Next time, baby shampoo or milk will help cut the pepper spray if you don't have decontamination wipes. (Yes, I've been sprayed numerous times -- I'm a pepper spray instructor.) Bad guys know that the consequences of strong-arm robbery in Oakland are minor, both legally and practically. Use caution accordingly.

Re: Mugged and Pepper Sprayed in Downtown Oakland

Debbi — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 02:27:54 -0000

I had my iPhone taken out of my hand by a teenager riding by on a bike at the bus stop for the 12 at the corner of 12th and Broadway the night before in Oakland. Across the street from the just conference I just left, plenty of people around, 7pm total daylight. I had taken it out to check the bus time. It was in my hand, and then it wasn't. I similarly started to loudly, clearly shout "stop, thief, green hoodie on the bike, stole my phone STOP HIM!" But at least a dozen people on the sidewalk just moved aside as he rode his bike thought them. There were three kids together, one about ten, the others older. I chased about three blocks before a helpful neighborhood association young man saw me and was on the phone with the police calling it in. A couple of his colleagues chased the suspects a few more blocks on foot but lost them on the bikes. They also tried find my iPhone but the thieves had turned it off already. I am very fortunate that I was not sprayed or hurt (that sucks I'm so sorry!) but not so lucky that my phone, which is essential to my livelihood and was only a few months old, was not recovered. This was clearly something they do regularly, the police were familiar with them, and they laughed as they pulled it off and people just watched. On the plus side, both the Oakland police and the neighborhood association were as helpful as they could be.

Re: Mugged and Pepper Sprayed in Downtown Oakland

Terry Floyd — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 22:30:10 -0000

Damn! That's so harsh. In my experience, that's generally one of the safer areas in Oakland. Granted, I'm usually not there that late waiting for a bus, because I just take BART in and out of there, but I'm at Noisebridge and 20Mission fairly often these days, and I never feel threatened.

I have a close friend who was mugged on 35th in Oakland outside a Taco Truck twelve years ago and ended up in a coma for 2 months and is now permanently disabled. The jerks who attacked him only got the $45 he had in his pocket, and perhaps the burrito he'd just bought, but he hasn't been able to work in construction since that day. I guess you can say pepper spray might have been preferable to a wrench on the skull.

So glad you're okay and dealing with this in such a forthright and honest way. You know you have friends with cars who would gladly help with transport when needed. You've got my number, right? Have you used Uber, Lyft or SideCar? Apps can be your friends, too!

Re: Mugged and Pepper Sprayed in Downtown Oakland

nthmost — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 18:33:31 -0000

Ugh, horrible and fascinating. Thanks for that.

Re: Mugged and Pepper Sprayed in Downtown Oakland

Paul Makepeace — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 18:21:13 -0000

You have to be pragmatic. Here is a crime heat map of DTO: http://www.trulia.com/crime/#!... Zoom out for perspective.

Really sorry to hear this :(

Re: Mugged and Pepper Sprayed in Downtown Oakland

nthmost — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 17:15:41 -0000

Wow. Thank you for sharing all of that.

The cops who handled me had a lot to say about quantity of robberies going up in Oakland and believed that expensive gadgets were a major driver of this trend. I believe them. I also believe that the OPD getting massively defunded has a lot to do with this as well.

I still think it's fascinating that they left my purse and backpack alone, although it contributes to my theory (not mentioned in my story) that these kids had done this before. Their attack was very well coordinated, from my perspective. They didn't say a single word and they were very fast.

Yours is the second "robbed on my bike" story I have now heard, which saddens me greatly, because I was considering riding my bike more as a remedy for having to take the bus for the "last mile" transit ride home.

All in all, I'm majorly depressed about my ability to have a social life in the face of what I have access to, transit-wise. The 72 is basically the only bus that goes near my house after 9pm. If that's not a safe route, I have to think about getting a car, which I don't want...

Re: Mugged and Pepper Sprayed in Downtown Oakland

AK — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 16:53:18 -0000

I got mugged a year ago in Oakland, on Mandela Parkway, an even less central place than 20th and Broadway. I had been talking on my phone when I got off bart at West Oakland, then i put it in my pocket, got on my bike, and rode off. Someone had been watching me on the phone, and watching when I put it in my pocket. They too, got on their bike, and followed me, eventually riding up next to me, grabbing the phone out of my pocket, and pushing me into the street, giving me facial abrasions, and a very bad concussion, but luckily... VERY luckily, no brain damage. I feel for you, I feel so terribly bad about what happened to you. I understand the confusion, helplessness, and obvious pain and bewilderment about how to process that kind of attack.

In addition, my best friend got mugged at gunpoint on night while walking home with headphones in. "Give me your iPhone"... He didn't even have an iPhone. Luckily they didn't shoot him, but they took everything he had.

When I filed my police report for my incident, the police told me that phones are the #1 targeted theft item, stolen more than wallets. While I understand that it should be 'normal' to use these devices in public, to listen to the headphones, to even just transfer the iPad, or check the time on our cell phones... I think it is more important to understand the surroundings of downtown Oakland, at night, especially when alone. I think it is more important to understand that the reality is people ARE watching, and if you have something they want, it's a very real possibility that they will come and take it by whatever means necessary. Crimes of opportunity like this are not planned, not thought out, but a reaction when someone sees me with that phone and immediately just decides they want it. They don't plan to knock me off my bike, or maybe they didn't plan to pepper spray you, but in the craziness of getting what they want, there is no rationality.

HELL NO I don't think it's your responsibility for getting attacked. It's not your fault! It's easy to say we 'should' be able to use these things how and where we like, however, given the reality of the place we live, I think it's more important to roll with erring on the safe side. It sucks! I no longer have any trace of a phone, a headphone, anything visible while out in Oakland at night. It's victimizing to be afraid all the time... but i'm more vigilant, more aware of myself and others. Hopefully 'safer'? I hope nothing like this ever happens to you, or I, again, or anyone else for that matter. But we all know it will continue. To find a shred of positivity in this is difficult, but hopefully it sheds light on this reality for more people. For my safety's sake I keep the devices, wallets, headphones, out of site.... and hopefully these horrific attacks can let people know that they are REAL and looming and can most certainly happen to anyone.

Re: Mugged and Pepper Sprayed in Downtown Oakland

nthmost — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 16:04:28 -0000

Thanks, interesting. Yeah with regards to the saline, I think it mostly soothed due to its composition being closer to that of tears. I found that the more I cried, the better off I was.

In retrospect, I probably should have drunk the salt water. I was mega dehydrated at the end of all that.

Re: Mugged and Pepper Sprayed in Downtown Oakland

nthmost — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 16:02:37 -0000

Intellectually I agree. Emotionally, that's a difficult concept.

Re: Mugged and Pepper Sprayed in Downtown Oakland

Kiki Jewell — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 15:50:58 -0000

Hey Buffy thanks for that comment! I totally agree.

I will also add that a friend of mine says, "tempt not thy brother and thy sister." :) I like that sentiment as well.

Re: Mugged and Pepper Sprayed in Downtown Oakland

Kiki Jewell — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 15:49:36 -0000

Thank you so much for posting this adn the reminder to be safe. I passed it to my Ingress (game) player/friends. Many of them play in DTO (downtown Oakland) starting intently on their phones, sometimes wearing headphones. I already know of one player who had his phone snatched out of his hands...

Re: Mugged and Pepper Sprayed in Downtown Oakland

aaronco36 — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 15:03:41 -0000

~~~~~ extensively quoting ~~~~~~~~
...
Then, fiery hot pain.
Oh wow, pepper spray. Finally happened to me.
Eek! Can’t open my eyes!
Holy crap this hurts. WOW.
...
...
The pain grew and spread. Tears emerged and sinuses swelled. I started making noises to mitigate the pain.
....
I glared (as much as one can glare with capsaicin in one’s eyes) and considered getting in.
...
“And they sprayed her with pepper spray.”
...
(Dear pedants: I don’t care that pepper spray and mace are two
separate things. I used them interchangeably. Go get pepper-sprayed and
then see how well your brain works.)
...
A taxi driver came over to me with a bottle of water. He advised me
to pour it over my eyes. I did, gratefully, but then wished I hadn’t.
The burning sensations all reignited, and I felt more areas of my face
and neck light up in hot pain.
...
Me: “And I can’t breathe!!” My airways were continuing to inflame and fill with mucous.
...
At T+8 minutes, a fire engine arrived on the scene carrying a handful
of EMTs. They looked concerned but didn’t feel they could help much.
However they poured saline water on my eyes, and that
did help and soothe. However, the voluminous mucous and wild
inflammation in my sinuses combined with having water poured over my
breathing apparatus felt, well, torturous. I had to take it slow.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

FWIW, some helpful things I found on my own related to this are

1. The active agent in pepper-spray, capsaicin, is apparently an alkaline chemical (a.k.a. a "base") with a pH measurably higher than 7.0.

2. Tapwater, bottled spring water, and distilled water all have a pH fairly close to the neutral pH 7.0, so they probably cannot easily counteract the higher pH "burning" resulting from the alkaline capsaicin.

3. Commonly available and weaker acids of pH's lower than 7.0, OTOH, are probably much better than water and even saline to counteract the higher pH "burning" resulting from the capsaicin.

4. Such commonly available weaker acids are in foodstuffs such as vinegar and citrus fruits; acetic acid and citric acid respectively.

5. While it's certainly inconvenient to always carry around a bottle of vinegar or a bottle of lemon juice or an actual lemon/lime wherever one goes, there is something to be said about carrying a small & portable cannister of apple-cider vinegar in one's backpack or satchel. AAMOF, someone at the original Berkeley Bowl on Adeline St in Berkeley even recommended to me that a little bit (1-2 tbsp) of organic apple-cider vinegar added to filtered water and/or springwater does double-duty as a nice and refreshing tonic drink!

And well-fermented kombucha tea is also noticeably acidic, not that one would wish to constantly schlep around a bottle of kombucha for self-defense or as a diluted refreshment(!)

Just mentioned here as an FYI...

-A

Re: Mugged and Pepper Sprayed in Downtown Oakland

Buffy Sparks — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 05:08:38 -0000

It wasn't stupid to take out your ipad and read while you were waiting for the bus. It was normal. That's what they're made for. I reject the idea that having things and using them should make you responsible for being attacked.

Re: Mugged and Pepper Sprayed in Downtown Oakland

Henry — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 04:34:34 -0000

holy fucking shit

Re: Why The Interstate Battery Warranty is Worthless

Gaige — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 23:49:01 -0000

We are a shop that replaces batteries... #1 Battery that fails early in our experience is Interstate.. Next Napa.. although I have heard they have a new supplier now.
From what we have seen, I would never buy Interstate..

Re: Red Wine: An Analysis of Health’s Red Herring

nthmostfit — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 23:21:06 -0000

Wow, Mercola is buying blog commenting flunkies. Why am I not surprised.

Re: Why The Interstate Battery Warranty is Worthless

nthmost — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 23:35:01 -0000

You probably meant "presence" of mind. "Prescience" wouldn't exactly support your point.

Re: Why The Interstate Battery Warranty is Worthless

Mansgame — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 09:35:02 -0000

you sound like you work at firestone or interstate

Re: Why The Interstate Battery Warranty is Worthless

Mansgame — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 09:33:31 -0000

Sorry that's just ignorant. If the battery is healthy, all it needs is a jump and it will be back to normal. Besides, how long do you think the batteries at Autozone sit there without losing their charge? Nice strawman though. The original point is that there is no way to cover their warranty and that is why sadly I've had to get my batteries from a chain store as well. They are the only ones who sell that brand so they can't deny warranty even if you lost your receipt which happens given that it's on a piece of thermal paper that fades.

Re: Why The Interstate Battery Warranty is Worthless

Andyret — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 20:04:56 -0000

Thanks for the heads up... am in need of two Group 65 batteries for my 2000 Ford superduty..... was a bit put off several days ago that I would have to travel some 90 miles for getting an internet price quote.. the catch is that I would have to bay 24 dollar installation fee.... it was not clear if that was for both batteries or 24 dollars for each one... now in light of this report of their fraudulent warranty claim procedure... I think I will research an alternative battery replacement. Thanks.

Re: Why The Interstate Battery Warranty is Worthless

Tiredofidiots — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 14:19:33 -0000

buffoons i say...

Re: Why The Interstate Battery Warranty is Worthless

Tiredofidiots — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 14:09:46 -0000

you are not in the here & now. if you had the prescience of mind and a morsel of common sense, you might not have belabored us with too much fukin' info.. wake up.

Re: Why The Interstate Battery Warranty is Worthless

Minorkle — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 18:43:56 -0000

SOP = standard operating procedure

Re: Why The Interstate Battery Warranty is Worthless

nthmost — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 21:43:17 -0000

As a matter of fact, Josh HAD gone through the process of recharging the battery from his handy-dandy car battery charger, with disappointing results.

But the workingness of the battery itself really isn't all that relevant to my article. We're assuming a broken battery and then looking at the business process around having the warranty on that battery actually honored.

Why didn't he take it back where he bought it? Because he lives in San Francisco, no longer in North Carolina.

I don't know what SOP means, but thanks for the insightful comment pointing out a couple of holes in my story.