2019 Summary -- December 31, 2019

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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.