Rambling observations on books, history, movies, transit, obsolete technology, baseball, and anything else that crosses my mind.
The image is from the 07-November-1903 San Francisco Call.
Today we went to Half Moon Bay to do some shopping. It got windy in the afternoon. The Advent Wreath was up in church.
Today the family came downtown with me when I went to work. They shopped, met me for lunch at Chevys, and then went to see A Christmas Carol. There was a burst of heavy rain while they were at the movie. By the time they were done, I was able to leave. We walked up to Macy's so I could see the animals in the windows. Then we decided to head home.
I took the photo on 22-November-2009.We got to watch cars being unloaded for the International Auto Show.
I took this on 18-July-2009.
The Spider was a pulp character who debuted in 1933. Millionaire Richard Wentworth became a masked crimefighter like The Batman, but unlike The Batman, The Spider did not hesitate to kill his opponents. The Spider hates criminals and considers himself a criminal because he murders criminals, so he -- it gets complicated. In his The Spider Returns website (http://www.spiderreturns.com/), Rafael DeSoto says "If I was pitching The Spider franchise in Hollywood I might say: He's a superhero. Trapped in a horror film. Directed by John Woo." The Spider stories had some wonderful titles including The Corpse Cargo, Death's Crimson Juggernaut, The Pain Emperor, Reign of the Death Fiddler, Green Globes of Death, The Cholera King, and Satan's Sightless Legion.
I took the photo on 01-July-2007. It shows Lincecum on the mound, with second baseman Ray Durham and first baseman Ryan Klesko.
Robb Nenn was a brilliant closer who helped the Giants reach the playoffs regularly.
Kirk Reuter, Woody, was a smart left-handed pitcher who was loved by fans and teammates.
I took the photo on 29-September-2008 (3075).
It started raining while I was on my way home today.
It was clear and cold today. I saw a blimp over downtown.
Looking up Gold Street towards Balance. I orignally said this was Osgood Place. Then I looked at a big version. I took the photo on 30-October-2009.
Happy Veterans Day to all the veterans out there. Thank you for your service to your country.
Yesterday was the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. I remember that no more than two years before, someone had offerred "The end of communism" as an intention at Mass. I thought, sure, after a nuclear war. Then Solidarity became part of the government in Poland, then the wall fell, and eventually communism pretty well died in eastern Europe.The East German poster is from the German Historical Museum in Berlin (http://www.dhm.de/sammlungen/plakate/bestand.html).
Doctor Peter Henri Van Der Weyde was born in Nymegen, Holland in 1813. He went on to live a remarkable life of achievement in the sciences and the arts. He died in America in 1895.While serving as editor of Manufacturer and Builder Magazine, he wrote many articles, including the ones which gave this blog its name. In 1893 and 1894, he published a 23-part (!) memoir in the same periodical. Here is the twenty-second part. He continues to talk about his experiences with the calliope.
The steam-powered calliope was the high-tech musical instrument of its day.
The image shows a record album, "On Board the Armenia", recorded by a group called Calliope Fair. I wonder if the album name was inspired by the North River steamer on which the doctor performed.
When he refers to the "The Echo Waltz," I wonder if he means "The Mountain Echo Waltz" by T. Bricher, which was published in 1847.
9. Career as a Musician.-- My performances on the calliope made it very popular, resulting in one of the North River steamers -- the Armenia -- being provided with such an instrument. It was placed on the upper deck, while the key-board and performer were placed below on the main deck, which was a good arrangement, as he then was under shelter, and was not so near to the strong, loud steam whistles, which could be heard for miles around along the river shore and hills of the romantic Hudson. It made the boat very popular, and a regular daily performer was engaged, who, unfortunately, did not understand the correct style of performance, above referred to. As I had neither the desire nor the time to sail daily up and down the river, I let him have his position, and only occasionally took a trip, when I always received a welcome, especially from the crew of the boat, who soon became tired of the limited repertoire of the regular performer, while the captain of the boat asked me to bring a few friends with me, when he would give us dinners and lodging for the trip up and down the river, all free of charge, for the pleasure of hearing me play.
I need not say that I made a free use of this privilege for the benefit of my friends, especially some newly-arrived artists who had never seen the noble Hudson river, and appreciated very much the privilege I could occasionally give them without cost to myself, and also for the benefit of our health.
I noticed with pleasure the joy I created among the crew of the boat when they noticed my coming on board in the morning.
I might add that I discovered some very fine echos (sic – JT) from the rocks at several places along the river, and made liberal use of them. Among the musical novelties of the day was a waltz called “The Echo Waltz,” in which I did not imitate the echo, as was intended by the composer, but let the echo itself do its duty naturally, to the great delight of the people on board. Of course, those on shore heard nothing of the echo.
(To be Continued.)
I was worried when it rained yesterday, but today was clear and a bit cold. Good weather for walking.
We were eucharistic ministers at mass.
It rained today.
The signboard on the San Carlos Caltrain station, which was built in 1888 by the Southern Pacifc. I took the photo on 27-December-2008.
Aviator Thomas A. Baldwin Jr sits in his airplane during the 1911 International Aviation Meet in Chicago's Grant Park. Baldwin was a popular name among early aviators, but I can't find anything about Thomas A. Baldwin Jr.The photo comes from the Library of Congress' wonderful American Memory site (http://memory.loc.gov/). DN-0057541, Chicago Daily News negatives collection, Chicago Historical Society.
Last night we had pizza at Goodfellas, a new place in the Park Mall. It was cold with all the people going in and out, but the pizza was good. If we had gotten a table over by the fireplace, it would have been warmer. We'll do it again.
On a large television, they were showing Night of the Living Dead with closed captioning on. I liked "Aaaaargh."
When we got back, we did not get many trick-or-treaters.
