Tuesday, December 31, 2019

2019 Summary -- December 31, 2019

www.listal.com
In 2019 I saw a president (so-called) impeached for the second time in my life.  Donald Judas Trump has done horrible things to our country.  I hope we can recover.


In January, I noted the 100th birthdays of author JD Salinger, baseball player and civil rights pioneer Jackie Robinson and test pilot Captain Eric Brown. I noted the 100th anniversary of the death of Theodore Roosevelt.

I wrote about the 125th anniversary of the opening of the California Midwinter International Exposition in Golden Gate Park. I noted the 100th anniversaries of the Boston Molasses Disaster and the ratification of the Eighteenth Amendment, Prohibition.

In January, I started a new series on the unidentified flying object, the Great Airship that appeared all over Northern California in 1896 and 1897. I had a story about the wreck of the steamer San Benito near Point Arena.

I noted that the name of the Giants' ballpark had changed again. I mourned the death of former Giants owner Peter Magowan.

For the first time in this blog, I mentioned the name of our so-called president, who had shut down the government to get funding for his racist wall.


In February, the Washington Post ran a commercial called "Democracy Dies in Darkness" during the Super Bowl. It talked about the importance of a free press.

In February, I wrote about the 125th anniversaries of the birth of painter Norman Rockwell and comedian Jack Benny. I wrote about the 100th birthday of Negro League player and Giants great Monte Irvin.

I wrote about the 100th anniversary of the start of the Seattle General Strike.

I mourned the deaths of the first African American manager in the majors, Frank Robinson, long-time congressman John Dingell, pitcher Don Newcombe, Word Jazz pioneer Ken Nordine, and composer, conductor and pianist André Previn.

I noted the beginning of the Year of the Pig.

The Annals of San Francisco by Frank Soulé, John H. Gihon, James Nisbet. 1855.
In March, Governor Gavin Newsom blocked implementation of the death penalty in California.

I wrote about the 100th birthdays of pianist and singer Nat King Cole and poet and publisher Lawrence Ferlinghetti.

I noted the deaths of singer Andre Williams, guitarist Dick Dale and ska singer Ranking Roger.

I noted the 100th anniversary of Babe Ruth hitting four home runs in an exhibition game.

I wrote about a DVD produced by Fritzi, the proprietor of the wonderful blog Movies Silently.

Washington Times, 01-April-1919
In April, Notre Dame de Paris caught fire.  It suffered great damage.

A podcast used some of my recordings of the Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest.

I began a series of Krazy Kat comic strips, and another of Toonerville Trolley cartoons.

I noted the death of Lt Colonel Richard Cole, the last of Doolittle's Raiders. I noted the 100th anniversaries of the deaths of James Reese Europe and Emiliano Zapata.

New York World, 08-May-1919
In May I posted on the 100th anniversary of the first flight across the Atlantic, some stops along the way, and the final arrival.  I posted on the 150th anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad.

I noted the 125th anniversaries of the birth of novelist Dashiell Hammett and comic writer and performer Fred Allen, and the 100th anniversary of the birth of activist and musician Pete Seeger..

I wrote about the death of musician Leon Redbone.

New York Sun, 15-June-1919
In June I posted on the 100th anniversary of the first non-stop transatlantic flight.

I mourned the death of Dr John.

New York Evening World, 05-July-1919
In July I noted the 100th anniversary of the Dempsey-Willard fight.  I wrote about the 100th anniversaries of dirigibles exploding in Maryland and Chicago.  I wrote about the 100th anniversary of the first lighter-than-air transatlantic flight. I noted the 100th anniversary of the air mile strike.  I noted the 50th anniversary of the Moon landing.  I wrote about the 100th anniversary of the Chicago Race Riot.

I wrote about the 175th anniversary of the birth of poet Gerard Manley Hopkins and the 100th anniversary of the death of fighter pilot Jean Navarre.

I posted on the deaths of João Gilberto and Art Neville.

New York Tribune, 31-August-1919
In August, I marked the 100th anniversary of pilot Charles Godefroy flying under the Arc de Triomphe. I also wrote about the 1919 crash of a huge Italian airliner.  I wrote about the 50th anniversary of Woodstock.

We saw the Preservation Hall Jazz Band at SFJazz.

I wrote about the 200th anniversary of the death of naval hero Oliver Hazard Perry.  I wrote about the 1619 Project, remembering the first arrival of enslaved Africans in the English North American colonies.

I wrote about the 200th anniversary of the birth of writer Herman Melville, the 100th birthday of George Shearing.  I wrote about the 100th anniversary of regular airline flights between London and Paris.

In September, I wrote about the retirement of Giants manager Bruce Bochy.

I wrote about the 400th anniversary of the voyage of the Mayflower. I wrote about the 200th anniversary of the extension of the Transcontinental Railroad to San Francisco Bay.

I noted the deaths of musicians Ric Ocasek and Eddie Money.

At the end of the month, family health issues led me to take another break.  I have continued posting, but at a much slower rate.

In October, PG and E did poorly managed power shutdowns to try to cut down on wildfires during high-wind periods. Our power was out for parts of three days.

I wrote about the 30th anniversary of the Loma Prieta Earthquake.

I noted the deaths of Representative Elijah Cummings, singer Jessye Norman and drummer Ginger Baker.

I marked the 100th anniversary of the death of flying boat designer John Cyril Porte.


In November we went to a game at the new Chase Center.  My last Warriors game had been at the Cow Palace.

I wrote about the 200th anniversary of the birth of George Eliot.

In December, the House of Representatives impeached our so-called president.

I wrote about the death of producer Lee Mendelson.

I marked the 100th anniversary of the death of Captain John Alcock, who had been the pilot for the first non-stop transatlantic flight.

Actress Rochelle Hudson had a long career in movies.

Saturday, December 28, 2019

Lee Mendelson, RIP -- December 28, 2019

I was sad to learn the Lee Mendelson, who produced the Peanuts television shows, had died.  He worked closely with Charles Schulz and Bill Melendez. I remember seeing reruns of Mendelson's documentary about the PPIE, The Innocent Fair.

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Merry Christmas, 2019 -- December 25, 2019


Merry Christmas, everyone. Peace on Earth and goodwill to men (women, and children).

A cartoon from the 25-December-1919 Seattle Star wishes a Merry Christmas and reports "Two Women Slugged."


Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Black and White Christmas -- December 24, 2019

Richmond Times-Dispatch, 25-December-1919
Happy Christmas, everyone. This cartoon from the 25-December-1919 Richmond Times-Dispatch refers to Prohibition and the shortages of coal and sugar during the Christmas season.  The United Mine Workers went on strike on 01-November-1919.  Sugar had been short throughout the war.  Some people blamed the continuing shortage on Prohibition.


Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Impeached -- December 18, 2019

The House of Representatives voted to impeach our so-called president.  He is only the third president to be impeached.

"According to Jane Taylor, 'the central character is notorious for his infantile engagement with his world. Ubu inhabits a domain of greedy self-gratification'. Jarry's metaphor for the modern man, he is an antihero—fat, ugly, vulgar, gluttonous, grandiose, dishonest, stupid, jejune, voracious, greedy, cruel, cowardly and evil..." -- Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubu_Roi

Alcock, Cross-Ocean Flier, Dies in France -- December 18, 2019

Washington Times, 20-December-1919
On 15-June-1919, Captain John Alcock and Lieutenant Arthur Whitten Brown landed their converted Vickers Vimy bomber in Ireland, completing the first successful non-stop transatlantic flight. 100 years ago today, on 18-December-1919, Alcock died flying a Vickers Viking flying boat to a Paris air show.

ALCOCK, CROSS-OCEAN
FLIER, DIES IN FRANCE
First Aviator to Make Non-Stop
Trans-Atlantic Flight Succumbs to Injuries.

ROUEN, France, Dec. 20. -- Capt. Sir John Alcock, the first aviator to make a nonstop airplane flight across the Atlantic, died here yesterday after noon as a result of injuries he received when his plane crashed near Cottevrard, department of Seine-lnferieure, Normandy.

Alcock, who was flying in a water plane, was following the Seine at the time of the accident. Intending to alight on the river opposite the grand palace for an aviation exhibition.

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 20. -- The death of Capt. Sir John Alcock in France was characterized as "a true sacrifice for the sake of humanity" by Lieut. Sir Arthur W. Brown, Captain Alcock's navigator in the nonstop flight across the Atlantic. Lieutenant Brown will depart for Japan, December 27.

"The sad death of Captain Alcock removes one of the most notable names from among those of notable aviators" said Lieutenant Brown. "He has probably spent more time in the air than any other man. His experience in the air with many different types of machines had fitted him for the highly paid and responsible position of test pilot, but rather than accept such a position he joined the royal naval air service at the out break of the war."


Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Impeachment Vote -- December 17, 2019

Tomorrow the full House of Representatives will vote on impeaching our so-called president.

"According to Jane Taylor, 'the central character is notorious for his infantile engagement with his world. Ubu inhabits a domain of greedy self-gratification'. Jarry's metaphor for the modern man, he is an antihero—fat, ugly, vulgar, gluttonous, grandiose, dishonest, stupid, jejune, voracious, greedy, cruel, cowardly and evil..." -- Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubu_Roi

Thursday, December 12, 2019

December, 2019 Version of the Cable Car Home Page -- December 12, 2019


Due to some family medical issues, I am shamefully late in putting out my December updates.

I just put the December, 2019 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/


It includes some new items:
1. Picture of the Month: Big 19 lays over at California and Drumm. November 2019.
2. With Christmas coming, it's a good time to visit the late Joe Lacey's article Christmas on the Cables (22nd anniversary this year), and the Decorated Cable Cars page. Added list of cars decorated for Christmas, 2019.
3. On the More Muni Photos page: Big 19 -- Return to Duty -- 2019
4. On the Cable Trams in the UK page: A ten and twenty year update about London's Highgate Hill Cable Tramway, including a new photo
5. On the Cable Car Lines in Saint Louis page: An update about the Loop Trolley, which may be suspended by the end of the year.


Ten years ago this month (December, 2009):
1. Picture of the Month: The proposed incline and improvements in Griffith Park, Los Angeles. From the Los Angeles Herald, 27-August-1905.
2. On the Los Angeles area funiculars page: Roll out a new article about the proposed Griffith Park Incline Railway, including newspaper articles:
- Griffth Park Incline Proposed (Los Angeles Herald, Sunday, August 27, 1905)
- Griffth Park Incline Needs More Time (Los Angeles Herald, Thursday, November 28, 1907)
3. Also on the Los Angeles area funiculars page: More about the Industry Hills Incline including its current status
4. On the Cable Trams in the UK, more about London's Highgate Hill Cable Tramway, including an entry from Baedeker's guidebook for 1889. Also an illustrated paper, Cable Tramways, concentrating on Highgate Hill, that engineer William Newby Colam presented to the Society of Engineers in 1885
5. With Christmas coming, it's a good time to visit Joe Lacey's article Christmas on the Cables, and the Decorated Cable Cars page.
6. Added a new photo of Janelle Wang of Channel 7 performing with the 49er Cheerleaders at the 47th Annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest
7. Added News and Bibliography items about Woody Labounty's Carville book
8. Added News and Bibliography items about a sudden stop on Powell Street and the last Carville house


Twenty years ago this month (December, 1999):
1. Picture of the Month: Highgate Hill, London
2. Roll out Highgate Hill Cable Tramway on the Other Cities page. Add thanks to Stuart Jenkins
3. Roll out Los Angeles area funiculars/Industry Hills and Getty Center on the Other California Cities page
4. Add IW Hellman to the Who page
5. Add California/Drumm and old Cal Cable barn photos to the More California Pictures page
6. Add National Geographic Carville article to bibliography

Coming in January, 2020: On the Cable Car Lines in Chicago page: A ten and twenty year update about the Chicago City Railway, one of the most successful companies in the industry

The Cable Car Home Page now has a Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/CableCarHomePage/

Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page (updated 01-December-2019)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-January-2019)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ferry/
Park Trains and Tourist Trains (updated 31-July-2019)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ptrain/
The Pneumatic Rolling-Sphere Carrier Delusion (updated spasmodically)
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com
The Big V Riot Squad (new blog)
http://bigvriotsquad.blogspot.com/









Saturday, December 7, 2019

Pearl Harbor Day, 2019 -- December 7, 2019


78 years ago a sneak attack by forces of the Japanese Empire sank or damaged much of the US Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor in the territory of Hawaii. The Japanese Empire came to regret doing this.

Dreadnought USS Maryland (BB-46) was commissioned in 1921.  She was at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked in 1941. She was damaged, but was repaired. She was at Tarawa, Kwajalein Atoll, Saipan, Leyte Gulf and Okinawa. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Photo #: 80-G-455000.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Thanksgiving 2019 -- November 28, 2019

New Yorker, 29-November-1952
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. I'm grateful for health and life, my family, and my coworkers.

Arthur Getz drew this New Yorker cover showing the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Friday, November 22, 2019

George Eliot 200 -- November 22, 2019

from George Eliot By Mathilde Blind
Mary Ann Evans adopted the name George Eliot when she began writing novels.  She was one of the most successful British authors during the Victorian Era.  She was born 200 years ago today, on 22-November-1819.

www.listal.com
I think all seven of her novels have been adapted for film or television, even Felix Holt, the Radical.


Monday, November 11, 2019

Happy Veterans Day, 2019 -- November 11, 2019

East Oregonian, 11-November-1919
Happy Veterans Day to all the veterans out there. Thank you for your service to your country.

This is the 101st anniversary of Armistice Day. All the men and women who served in World War One are gone, but we can still remember their sacrifices.



Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Warriors -- November 5, 2019

On Friday we went to see the Warriors play at their new home in San Francisco, the Chase Center on Third Street in Mission Bay.  We were standing at a table on the third level when a young lady asked if she could share the table.  Some other people joined her and she asked if I went to a lot of Warriors games.  I said this was my game since the Warriors played at the Cow Palace, about 50 years ago.

The Warriors lost to the San Antonio Spurs, but it was an entertaining game.

Friday, November 1, 2019

November, 2019 Version of the Cable Car Home Page


I just put the November, 2019 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/

It includes some new items:
1. Picture of the Month: The former ticket office and waiting room of the Los Angeles and Mount Washington Railway. Google Maps Streetview Image updated March 2019. Copyright 2019 Google.
2. On the Los Angeles area funiculars page: Ten and twenty year updates about Los Angeles and Mount Washington Railway, including a current image of the former ticket office and waiting room
3. Added News item about a cable car being dedicated to Rey Morante, a conductor who was killed on the job

Ten years ago this month (November, 2009):
1. Picture of the Month: An advertisement for the Playa Del Rey development which mentions the "unique incline railway which will extend to the summit of Del Rey Heights..." From the Los Angeles Herald, 21-July-1905.
2. On the Los Angeles area funiculars page: Roll out a new article about the obscure Playa Del Rey Incline Railway, including newspaper ads and contemporary articles:
-- "The present week also marks the beginning of work upon the inclined railway..." (Los Angeles Herald, Monday, July 17, 1905)
-- "Rails and lumber are already on the ground for the inclined railway..." (Los Angeles Herald, Saturday, July 22, 1905)
-- "Work began today upon the new inclined railway..." (Los Angeles Herald, Saturday, July 29, 1905)
3. Also on the Los Angeles area funiculars page: More about the Los Angeles and Mount Washington Railway including a contemporary newspaper article:
-- Mount Washington Auto Climb (Salt Lake Herald, Sunday, July 11, 1909)
4. Also on the Los Angeles area funiculars page: Three advertisements for Court Flight and an entry from a 1907 Los Angeles guide book.
5. Also on the Los Angeles area funiculars page: More about the Angels Flight, an entry from a 1907 Los Angeles guide book.
6. Also on the Los Angeles area funiculars page: Newspaper ads for the Mount Lowe incline and an entry from a 1907 Los Angeles guide book.
7. Also on the Los Angeles area funiculars page: Contemporary newspaper articles about the Santa Catalina Island Incline Railway:
-- Catalina Inclines Under Construction (Los Angeles Herald, Saturday, July 22, 1905)
-- Catalina Inclines Near Completion (Los Angeles Herald, Saturday, July 29, 1905)
8. Added News and Bibliography items about big rainfalls and the city working out a deal to buy historic cable cars and other artifacts

Twenty years ago this month (November, 1999):
1. Picture of the Month: Mount Washington, Los Angeles
2. Roll out Los Angeles area funiculars/Los Angeles and Mount Washington Railway on the Other California Cities page
3. Add news item and bibliography item about a collision at Washington and Taylor

Coming in December, 2019: On the UK page: A ten and twenty year update about London's Highgate Hill Cable Tramway.

The Cable Car Home Page now has a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CableCarHomePage/

Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page (updated 01-November-2019)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ 
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-January-2019)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ferry/ 
Park Trains and Tourist Trains (updated 31-July-2019)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ptrain/
The Pneumatic Rolling-Sphere Carrier Delusion (updated spasmodically)
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com
The Big V Riot Squad (new blog)
http://bigvriotsquad.blogspot.com/

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Halloween 2019 -- October 31, 2019

Happy Halloween, everyone. The 01-October-1945 cover of The New Yorker shows a group of ghosts wondering whether they should trick or treat at a spooky-looking house.

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Reddy Kilowatt Strikes Again -- October 29,. 2019

PG&E shut down our power at 8:10pm on Saturday.  It came back after 4pm on Monday.  The house was nice and quiet.  Traffic along Highway One was miserable.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

John Cyril Porte 100 Years -- October 22, 2019

New York Tribune, 28-October-1919
British naval officer John Cyril Porte planned to fly a Curitiss Model H flying boat, America, from the United State to Britain in July, 1914. He was competing for the Daily Mail's ₤10,000 prize for the first non-stop fight across the Atlantic. Sponsored by Rodman Wanamaker, Curtiss and Porte developed the Model H. The attempt was cancelled because of approach of war.

Porte designed many flying boats for Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS). He also flew combat patrols so he could learn what was needed.  

Porte was accused of financial improprieties, but was later cleared. He died of tuberculosis 100 years ago today, on 22-October-1919.  

Lieut. Col. John C. Porte,
British Air Pioneer, Dies

Came to America in 1914 to
Help Curtiss Build the America for 'Cross-Sea Trip

BRIGHTON, England, Oct. 27. -- Lieutenant Colonel John Cyril Porte, former wing commander of the Royal Navy Air Service, is dead here of tuberculosis.

Lieutenant Porte came to this country in February, 1914, to cooperate with Glenn H. Curtiss in the construction and navigation of the huge airplane America, which Rodman Wanamaker purposed to send in a transatlantic flight. He returned to England in March, but came back in April with his young wife, announcing his intention of remaining here until he could go across in the airship. He planned to go from Newfoundland by way of the Azores and Spain. The vessel was built at Hammondsport, N. Y.. and was completed by June 20. Two days later it was launched on Keuka Lake, and in trials it more than fulfilled expectations. Delays arose, and at the beginning of August it was announced that Lieutenant Porte was returning to England for army service and that the flight across the Atlantic would be postponed until after the war. A little later the America was purchased by the British government and taken over on a steamship, and with it Porte did noteworthy service over the North Sea.

In the summer of 1915 Porte visited this country in the interest of the British aviation service. In July, 1917, charges of conspiracy and "graft" were preferred against him in England, but the government soon withdrew its case and fully exonerated him. He was at that time suffering from serious lung troubles.

In May last he went to Newfoundland to compete in the transatlantic race for the prize of $50,000 offered by "The Daily Mail" of London, but was recalled by the British Admiralty. He was the inventor of the type of airplane known as the "Felixstowe Fury." The largest aircraft of that type, and indeed the largest airplane of any type, ever built, was about to start from England for Capetown, South Africa, on August 11 last, when on a trial flight off Felixstowe it sideslipped and fell into the sea. The wireless operator was drowned, but the other six passengers were rescued.

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Elijah Cummings, RIP -- October 18, 2019


I was sad to learn that Representative Elijah Cummings of Baltimore has died. He fought for voting rights, civil rights and social justice. Many people have commented on his kindness and many have called him a mentor.

He was very impressive when he chaired the Oversight and Government Reform Committee looking into the crimes of our so-called president. I am sorry that Representative Cummings will not be here to participate in the impeachment.

Loma Prieta Earthquake, 30-- October 17, 2019

[H.G. Wilshire, U.S. Geological Survey]

Thirty years ago today, I was at work in an office building at Fourth and Howard.  I usually left for home at 5pm, but I was debugging a series of programs that I was writing, trying to figure out why the output counter on one program did not agree with the input counter on another.  I was anxious to get home  to see the third game of the World Series between the Giants and the Oakland Athletics.  At 5:04pm, the building began to shake.  Several people ran to look out the windows.  I told them to get away from the windows and find some cover. 

The emergency team would not let us leave the floor.  My sister, who worked in the same office, and I were able to get out after a while.  I needed to catch BART to Daly City, but I figured it was down and I wanted to make sure my sister got home safely.  I later learned that my manager was on the crowded platform at the BART station when it went completely dark.  Eventually the emergency lights came on. 

My sister and I walked to the East Bay Terminal.  We saw a lot of broken glass.  We got on a 38 Geary.  It wasn't dark yet, so we saw damaged stores and terrible traffic.  We got off at Geary and Park Presidio.  I walked with her down to California Street, hoping to catch a 28-Nineteenth Avenue to the Daly City BART station.  I saw that traffic on Park Presidio was virtually stopped, so I decided that the bus was not coming soon. 

I walked out California Street.  It was starting to get dark and lots of people had candles on their stairways.  All lights were out.  The weather was warm and the air had a nice smell.  I walked up to my parents' house.  I knocked and then opened the door with my key.  I said "It's me."  "Who?" said my mother.  I explained.  Their house was not damaged, except for  some glasses leaning against the door of the china hutch.  I tried to call home and couldn't get through.  I asked if I could borrow their car.  I asked my mother to keep trying the phone.  She got through later. 

I drove carefully to the beach because the traffic lights were out.  I drove along the Great Highway, Skyline and Highway One.  The lights were out all the way.  When I got home to Pacifica, the lights had just come on.  My wife and daughter were ok and the house was not damaged.

They had been watching the game and saw the famous interruption before the power went out. 

I don't remember much of that night.  I called my parents to let them know I had made it home. 

The next morning I called my manager and he said we were supposed to stay home.  This was before we had remote access.  We drove to Daly City BART to get my car, then on to my parents' house.  We returned their car and checked to see if they were ok.  My wife was able to rescue most of the glasses leaning against the inside of the china hutch door. 

On Thursday, they let some of us volunteer to clean up the office.  We had to wear hard hats.  The building had big X-shaped beams in the windows.  Huge bolts had popped out of them and were lying on the floor.  I hadn't noticed on Tuesday, but many of the file cabinet drawers were open, especially the ones that contained heavy listings of programs.  I don't remember how long we stayed or what we did. 

On Monday we were able to go back to work, but in cubicles on the other side of the floor.  Many people were nervous about the bolts which had popped out.  I found the answer to my counter problem right away.  All of our batch processes, running in a data center on Fifth Street, had run without problems.  I later learned that the only system that had gone down was an Atalla device that fell over. 

After a few days, Wells Fargo said we were moving out.  Many people speculated that Wells wanted to break the lease and this was a good excuse.  The building continued to be used for years until it was torn down for Moscone West. 

We moved to the top floor of the data center on Fifth Street.  We worked in a big bullpen.  This required adjustments because we were accustomed to working in cubicles.  We didn't have voicemail.  In February, they moved half the team, including me, to a building in Oakland.  We learned that the previous group had moved out because of asbestos  contamination.  The other half of the team moved to a building at Third and Howard. 

Two years later, I transferred to another group in the building at Third and Howard.  I stayed there till 2012, when we moved to a building on Fremont.  This year we moved to a building on Market.

The photo, from the US Geological Survey, shows the collapsed Cypress Structure in Oakland.  One of my coworkers lost his partner there. 

Friday, October 11, 2019

Fires and Power Outages -- October 11, 2019

PG&E did a poorly managed power shutdown this week to try to cut down on wildfires during high-wind periods. I would like to see them spend some money on tree trimming and modernizing their infrastructure.

There are some large fires in Southern California because of the Santa Ana winds.

Sunday, October 6, 2019

Ginger Baker, RIP -- October 6, 2019

www.listal.com
Ginger Baker, drummer for Cream, Blind Faith and other groups, has died. He was influenced by jazz drummers.  He had a bad temper; he once tried to stab Jack Bruce during a performance.












Friday, October 4, 2019

Feast of Saint Francis, 2019 -- October 4, 2019


Today is the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi. I took the photo at Saint Veronica's parish in South San Francisco on 24-February-2019.

"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 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."

With a Big List to Port -- October 4, 2019

San Francisco Call, 19-November-1896
This drawing is from the 19-November-1896 San Francisco Call. William A Coulter did many maritime drawings for the newspaper.

THE AMARAPOORA
IS IN TROUBLE
Although Now on an Even
Keel No One Will
Insure Her.

What will be done with the British tramp steamer Amarapoora is still a matter of doubt. The underwriters refuse to insure her and in consequence the owners of the cargo aboard will not allow the vessel to sail. That the Amarapoora is top heavy there can be no doubt.

All of Monday she lay in the stream with a list to port. Yesterday with the transfer of several tons of cargo from port to starboard she straightened up and is now on an even keel. Every inch of space on the steamer has been utilized and a schooner has been chartered to take away the freight left on Lombard-street wharf which she could not carry. All day she lay with steam up, but no satisfactory understanding could be reached, so the Amarapoora had to remain at anchor. She is one of the longest vessels in port for her beam, being 350 feet long and only 20 feet broad, while her depth of hold is 11 feet. The chances are still that the captain will have to dock her again and take off some of the deck load.

Tuesday, October 1, 2019

Jessye Norman, RIP -- October 1, 2019


I was sad to learn that soprano Jessye Norman has died.  She had a distinctive voice.





October, 2019 Version of the Cable Car Home Page -- October 1, 2019


I just put the October, 2019 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/


It includes some new items:
1. Picture of the Month: A 1918 view of the Court Flight in Los Angeles (Source: Security Pacific National Bank Photo Collection).
2. On the Los Angeles area funiculars page: Ten and twenty year updates about Court Flight, including some newspaper items and a postcard of the Santa Catalina Island Incline Railway
3. Added News item about the return of the cable cars after the Cable Car Gearbox Rehabilitation project.


Ten years ago this month (October, 2009):
1. Picture of the Month: A circa-1930 view of Court Flight, showing the sandwich shop which provided additional revenue to the line.
2. On the Los Angeles area funiculars page: More about the Court Flight including a photo of Court Flight, an entry from a WPA guide, and some contemporary newspaper articles:
- Court Flight Delayed by Rain (Los Angeles Herald, Sunday, January 1, 1905)
- Court Flight Real Estate Ad (Los Angeles Herald, Sunday, January 8, 1905)
- Court Flight Fights A Competitor (Los Angeles Herald, Saturday, January 14, 1905)
- Court Flight Approved (Los Angeles Herald, Sunday, August 13, 1905)
- Court Flight In Progress (Los Angeles Herald, Sunday, August 27, 1905)
- Court Flight to Open Monday (Los Angeles Herald, Sunday, September 24, 1905)
- Court Flight a Success (Los Angeles Herald, Sunday, October 15, 1905)
- Court Flight Tax Plea (Los Angeles Herald, Tuesday, June 26, 1906)
- Court Flight Inspires Hotel (Los Angeles Herald, Sunday, October 21, 1906) Court Flight Losing Money (Los Angeles Herald, Friday, February 8, 1907)
3. Also on the Los Angeles area funiculars page: Another postcard of the Santa Catalina Island Incline Railway
4. Added News item about two new cable car videos, one for kids and one about the bell ringing contest. Created a new section on these and other Cable Car Videos on the San Francisco detail page
5. Also News and Bibliography items about a collision at Washington and Mason


Twenty years ago this month (October, 1999):
1. Picture of the Month: Powell and Mason, 1880's
2. Roll out More Ferries and Cliff House Pictures page
3. Roll out Los Angeles area funiculars/Court Flight and Catalina on the Other California Cities page
4. Add RR Extra to links
5. Add news item and bibliography item about a loose strand
6. Updated SF Roster page

Coming in November, 2019: On the Los Angeles area funiculars page: A ten and twenty year update about the Los Angeles and Mount Washington Railway

The Cable Car Home Page now has a Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/CableCarHomePage/

Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page (updated 01-October-2019)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-January-2019)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ferry/
Park Trains and Tourist Trains (updated 31-July-2019)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ptrain/
The Pneumatic Rolling-Sphere Carrier Delusion (updated spasmodically)
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com
The Big V Riot Squad (new blog)
http://bigvriotsquad.blogspot.com/








Monday, September 30, 2019

Taking a Break. 2019 -- September 30, 2019


I find that I need to take another break. Some regular items like the cat pictures will continue unabated.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Thank You, Boch -- September 29, 2019

Today Bruce Bochy managed his last game for the Giants.  The Dodgers won, but there were wonderful tributes to Bochy at the ballpark and on video.

See Twice as Much of the West -- September 29, 2019

Life, 26-February-1940
The Southern Pacific encouraged people to ride their trains to the second season of San Francisco's Golden Gate International Exposition.

Friday, September 27, 2019

What the High Cost of Living is Bringing Us To -- September 27, 2019

New York Evening Tribune, 14-September-1919
This cartoon complains about the high cost of living in New Orleans, which is a common problem after full employment during a war.  "Remember that our barbers have joined the procession of price-boosters."

Monday, September 23, 2019

Top Liner Rag -- September 23, 2019

sheetmusicplus.com
Scott Joplin, James Scott and Joseph Lamb were the three most important composers of classic ragtime. Joseph Lamb was the only one of the three who was not African-American. "Top Liner Rag" was considered one of his "heavy" rags.

Saturday, September 21, 2019