I also asked if they had Emperor Norton charms - they didn't and had never heard of him.

Then they're imposters. Emperor Norton is a founding block of the City's mythos.

Oh, cool! I should have known he was a real guy. (There's a Sandman story about him.)

P-C, my memory is a bit hazy, but IIRC, having declared himself Emperor of San Francisco - and make no mistake, the locals not only humoured him, they let him run with it - he then took on the Treasury. There was no mint in SF in those days, and so he started making coins with his picture on them - and the locals accepted it as legal tender.

Of course, the Treasury flipped its shit entirely, but we ignored them. And in the end, probably calling us names similar to the ones the NeoCons are calling us these days - they built a local Mint.

We love our freaks and crazies, we do.

Also, just posted in Press. Northeasternistas? Please to ping me?

According to Wikipedia, the few remaining items of Norton's currency have sold for thousands of dollars at auction.

Oh, cool! I should have known he was a real guy.

Oh, P-C. Please go google Emperor Joshua Norton the First, Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico RIGHT NOW. That's one of my favorite Sandman issues precisely because he was very real. He's also the highest saint in Discordianism.

Emperor Norton is fascinating! And I loved Dianne Day's Fremont Jones mystery, Emperor Norton's Ghost.

Please go google Emperor Joshua Norton the First, Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico RIGHT NOW.

Heh. I skimmed the Wikipedia entry. Fun stuff.

SF Weekly article on Fernet (which, btw, amyth has been hunting fruitlesslessly across the state):

"I say to San Francisco: I give you my baby! Enjoy! Take the good care!"

When you hold a shot glass of Fernet-Branca to your nose, the first thing that strikes you is the physicality of the smell, which, if such a thing existed, is like black licorice-flavored Listerine.

Next time I'll have to try sticking to Fernet and omitting the bourbon & gingers and mojitos and see if I avoid a hangover.

eta also, I should be able to upload my photos this weekend, since it's June.

etaa Fernet poster contest

Smonster - I believe (and I could be wrong) that I had only Fernet Friday night of the F2F and I did not have a hangover the next morning. I was a tad groggy due to lack of sleep - 4 hours just isn't enough, but functional.

Saturday, I know I had other alcohol in addition to the Fernet, but Sunday morning I was just worn out - no hangover.

If that is a coincidence, I don't care.

He's also the highest saint in Discordianism.

I'm not a Discoridian, but Emperor Norton is pretty high up there in my personal pantheon, not to mention one of my role models.

I *really* need to find a charm of him for the charm bracelet o' doom.