Halloween 2017 -- October 31, 2017

www.coverbrowser.com

Happy Halloween, everyone.  The 23-October-1931 cover of Life Magazine features a dog who is alarmed by a jack o'lantern.  The original Life Magazine was a humorous weekly that was published from 1883 to 1936. 

A Conspiracy Against the United States -- October 30, 2017

This morning, I hope, the dominoes started to fall.  Two of our so-called president's closest advisors during the campaign, Paul Manafort and Rick Gates were indicted by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.  They were indicted for "a conspiracy against the United States."  This is shameful.  The White House just had time to announce that this had nothing to do with them when Robert Mueller announced that George Papadopolous had plead guilty to making false statements to the FBI. He was directly involved in putting the Trump campaign in contact with the Russian government to influence the election.  I will be interested to see what happens next. 

Just Three Makes of Cars --- Dodge Brothers, Nash and Packard -- October 29, 2017

Arizona Republican, 15-November-1917

The McArthur Brothers, auto dealers in Arizona, sold an interesting variety of vehicles, including the Nash "Quad", an early four wheel drive truck. 

Parish Mergers? -- October 28, 2017

Father Lu returned to Good Shepherd after a pilgrimage to Lourdes and Fatima and then a retreat for all the priests of the Archdiocese at Asilomar.  He said they talked about combining parishes because of the decline in attendance and the shortage of priests.  He said we might have to merge with Saint Peters, but it would take ten years to figure it out.

I took the photo on 05-April-2015, Easter. 

Update 05-December-2017
I didn't realize until December, but this may have been my 3000th post in this blog.

The Ursuline Convent -- October 27, 2017

New Orleans; the Place and the People, Grace Elizabeth King

The Old Ursuline Convent in New Orleans is supposed to be the oldest building in the Mississippi Valley.  This is the second building on the site.  The building was completed in 1751.  After the convent and girls' school moved to other sites, the building served as the home of the Bishop and then the Archbishop of New Orleans.

New Orleans; the Place and the People, Grace Elizabeth King

Here is a photo I took when we visited New Orleans in 2014. 

Fats Domino, RIP -- October 26, 2017

www.listal.com

Fats Domino has died.  He and his songwriting partner, Dave Bartholomew, wrote many classic R and B songs. Fats stayed in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans until he had to be rescued after Hurricane Katrina.  Then he moved right back. He sure could play the piano.

New Cat #47 -- October 25, 2017

I took the photo on 07-October-2017. 

Summer of Love Trading Cards -- Sonny Barger -- October 23, 2017

The San Francisco Arts Commission (http://www.sfartscommission.org/) has set up a series of posters by artists Kate Haug and Ivan Uranga called Summer of Love Trading Cards.  Number 38 of 50 is Sonny Barger, who was a founder of the Oakland chapter of the Hell's Angels Motorcycle Club.  The Hell's Angels were there during the Summer of Love, sometimes serving as security during concerts.  It didn't work well at Altamont. 

Dizzy Gillespie 100 -- October 21, 2017

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Dizzy Gillespie, trumpeter, teacher, composer, arranger and beautiful human being was born 100 years ago today on 21-October-1917.  Dizzy and his friend Charlie Parker were two of the founding fathers of bebop.  Dizzy influenced everyone. 

1961 Jaguar/Cunningham XK-E Factory Lightweight Race Car -- October 19, 2017

We visited the Blackhawk Museum in June, 2013 to drool over their collection of classic autos.

The Jaguar/Cunningham XK-E Factory Lightweight Race Car was owned by American rich guy and race car builder Briggs Cunningham. It ran in the 1963 Le Mans, but dropped out early because of mechanical issues.  (051/dsc_0156)

1954 World Series -- October 17, 2017

In 1954, I would have rooted for the New York Giants, who swept the Cleveland Indians.  This year, depending how the playoffs turn out, I will probably root for the Indians.  My dad was a big fan.  He got to see Bob Feller and Satchel Paige pitch in Municipal Stadium.  Willie Mays made The Catch off of Vic Wertz during the first game at the Polo Grounds. 

Jumbo -- October 15, 2017

Theatrical and Circus Life by John Joseph Jennings, 1883

Jumbo was an African elephant, born in Sudan and displayed in France and Britain.  PT Barnum brought him to America in 1882 to appear in the Barnum and Bailey circus.  Jumbo was popular everywhere he went.  In 1885, Jumbo was being walked through a train yard in Toronto when he tripped and fell on his tusk, which killed him.  Shortly after, a locomotive ran him over.  Barnum had sections of him preserved so he could show them at different places. 

Sunset at Rockaway -- October 13, 2017

We had a nice picnic dinner at Rockaway Beach and watched the sun go down through the smoke.

San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose Consolidated Railway -- October 13, 2017

Official Guide, 1910

The San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose Consolidated Railway used the symbol of a key.  The teeth were the ferry pier and the loops of the handle represented the major routes, to Berkeley, Piedmont and Oakland.  Itlater changed its name to Key System.

The ad is from the 1910 The Official Guide of the Railways and Steam Navigation Lines of the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico and Cuba, National Railway Publication Company.

Where There is Smoke -- October 12, 2017

Big wildfires have torn through Napa, Sonoma and Solano Counties since Sunday night.  Mendocino and Lake Counties also have big fires.  Santa Rosa got hit hard.  Relatives have had to evacuate.  The air in San Francisco is full of smoke.  We could smell it in Pacifica when we left the house this morning.  Kids are being kept in the classroom at recess and lunch time. 

I took the shot looking down Fremont towards the new Transbay Terminal.  

Happy Columbus Day, 2017 -- October 12, 2017

Happy Columbus Day to those of you who still remember it.

Liberty's Light -- October 11, 2017

Life, 26-June-1944

The cover of the 26-June-1944 Life Magazine has a beautiful image of the Statue of Liberty.  Some people seem to feel that images of Lady Liberty are insulting to our so-called president. 

Thelonious Monk 100 -- October 10, 2017

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Thelonious Sphere Monk, Jr was born 100 years ago today, on 10-October-1917.  He came out of the stride piano tradition and was one of the wellsprings of bebop.  Up until early high school, I didn't get his music.  I worked at it after I found an album of his records with Coleman Hawkins.  I kept going with other albums.  Then I got it.

I wonder what he thought about Sun Ra.  

Production of the Fairy Flowers From a Paper Coin -- October 9, 2017

From The Book of Magic: Being a Simple Description of Some Good Tricks and How to Do Them, with Patter by Archie Frederick Collins, 1916.  

Planet Comics -- October 7, 2017

www.coverbrowser.com

Fiction House comics were famous for having lovely women on the covers. The contents were not always so creative.  Planet Comics was the first science fiction comic book.

Tom Petty, RIP -- October 6, 2017

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Tom Petty has died far too young.  I had given up on contemporary rock at the time he came around, but I enjoyed his stuff.  The Heartbreakers stayed remarkably stable.

Spicy Western -- October 5, 2017

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The Spicy pulps from Culture Publications, Spicy Mystery , Spicy Detective, Spicy Adventure and Spicy Western, were too intellectual for some people, but they remained popular for several years. 

Feast of Saint Francis, 2017 -- October 4, 2017

Today is the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi.  

“Lord make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
And where there is sadness, joy.

"O divine master grant that I may
Not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love
For it is in giving that we receive-
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.
And its in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.” 

Francesco Ribalta created "Francis of Assisi With Angel Music" around 1620.

Four Naval Vessels Will Illuminate Tonight in President McKinley's Honor -- October 3, 2017

The drawing is from the 14-May-1901 San Francisco Call. William A Coulter did many maritime drawings for the newspaper. 

USS Iowa (BB-4) and USS Wisconsin (BB-9) were pre-dreadnought battleships. Iowa served in the American squadron during the Battle of Santiago de Cuba during the Spanish-American War. In 1901, Iowa was the flagship of the Pacific Station. Wisconsin was launched at San Francisco's Union Iron Works on 27-November-1898.

USS Philadelphia (C-4) was a protected cruiser. USS Farragut (TB-11) was a torpedo boat. Farragut was launched at San Francisco's Union Iron Works on 16-July-1898.

President William McKinley and First Lady Ida McKinley were on a transcontinental tour that would end In Buffalo, New York when McKinley was assassinated on 06-September-1901.  On 23-May-1901, McKinley broke ground for the Dewey Monument in San Francisco's Union Square.  

FOUR NAVAL VESSELS WILL ILLUMINATE TO-NIGHT IN PRESIDENT McKINLEY'S HONOR

Battleships Iowa and Wisconsin, Cruiser Philadelphia and .Torpedo-Boat Farragut Will Make a Magnificent Showing on the Bay During the Presidential Reception in the Grand Nave of
the Ferry Building — Each Man-of- War Will Be Decorated With Bunting and Electric Lights 

THE warships now in port are all in readiness for the grand display to-night. The Farragut came over from Sausalito yesterday and during the afternoon her captain went aboard the flagship. The captains of the Wisconsin and Philadelphia also went aboard the Iowa and all three received their final instructions from Admiral Casey. The Farragut did not remain in the stream, but went back to her anchorage at Sausalito. She will be on hand to-night, however, and will help in the display to be made by the big vessels. Everything for the illuminating of the Iowa, Wisconsin and Philadelphia is ready and a few hours' work will see all in place. Each vessel will have her name spelled out in lights along her side, while the fighting masts and superstructures will be one mass of fiery designs. During the afternoon every man that can be spared will be landed at the foot of Folsom street. Both marines and bluejackets will then march to Fourth and Townsend streets, where they will take part in the parade in honor of the President. On their return to their respective ships they will proceed to get ready for the illumination of the evening.

The Aerial "Tank" of the Future -- October 1, 2017

Flight, 01-February-1917

"By an inventor who should be interned." 

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The Giants won their last game of the season, on a walk-off home run by Pablo Sandoval.  This was a bad season, with 98 losses.  Matt Cain had a nice send-off after the game.