Saga of the Robot Who Upset a Rich San Francisco Neighborhood

[Ian David]

Saga of the Robot Who Upset a Rich San Francisco Neighborhood


Goliath is a robot statue by Nemo Gould who stands on a beautiful terrace overlooking Broadway St. at the heart of San Francisco's posh Pacific Heights neighborhood. An impressive nine feet tall, Goliath is owned by Nicola Miner, daughter of an Oracle founder, and novelist Robert Mailer Anderson (Boonville). Just last week, I walked by Goliath and waved hello to this single friendly face in an otherwise frowny, ultra-gated world of neo-palaces. Unfortunately, a few neighbors are a little unhappy about certain of Goliath's parts, such as his gas-pump penis. In fact, he's been the subject of vicious gossip and vandalism for several years, and the poor guy was attacked (nearly fatally) one year ago this month . . .

Last year, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that a wild party across the street from Goliath erupted in violence. Goliath was attacked and suffered a broken head, as well as various other broken parts. By following a trail of robot parts and a Santa hat, investigators surmised that the vandals had to come from party being thrown by Megan Ellison, the daughter of another Oracle founder. Is poor Goliath the victim of a rivalry between the daughers of Oracle? It sounds like a Greek tragedy, but this is all too real:



Luckily, Goliath has been fixed and restored to his former glory -- gas pump and all. But according to San Francisco magazine, it's unlikely neighbors will lift a hand to save this robot if it's menaced again:

"People are horrified," says one local spy. "You're talking about people constantly scrutinized by the city, who can't even get an awning without a permit! And this eyesore makes it up?"

"As far as I know," Anderson says, "the neighbors love it. But it's true you never know what people are saying behind your back." And the higher the society, the less you know. "In any other neighborhood, maybe it would be OK," says our spy. "But here? What's going on at City Hall?"


More:
http://blog.wired.com/tableofmalcontents/2007/01/naked_robot_dis.html

[fasttense]

1. Poor fellow, just not in the right society I guess. n/t

[JohnyCanuck]

2. And it's not like they could just slap a fig leaf on the offending part n/t