New Seats on Board -- May 2, 2012

When the train home pulled into Montgomery Street Monday, I noticed this sticker on the side of the last car.  I didn't write down the number of the car.  The seats were firmer than the old ones, but not uncomfortable.  They still have that new (rail)car smell.  I took a photo of the seat by the door before I got off in Colma.

Yesterday there were several Occupy protests in San Francisco and Oakland for May Day.

Johnny Otis and Etta James, RIP -- January 20, 2012

We have had two great losses.  Johnny Otis was a Greek American from Vallejo who decided to identify as an African American.  We can thank that decision for a lot of good music.  Etta James made her first records with Johnny Otis.  She had a wonderful voice.

It started raining yesterday.  It continued today.  There were Occupy demonstrations around the Financial District.

Occupy SF #2 -- November 21, 2011

Saturday I took a photo of the encampment by the Ferry Building.  Early Sunday morning the police cleared out the encampment by the Federal Reserve.

It's Hard Work Being a Cat #52 -- October 25, 2011

I took the photo on 09-October-2011.

When I was walking to work today, I saw a bunch of police barriers staged along Third and Howard.  There were several police standing around.  The mobile command post was parked in front of the W Hotel.  Around 11, Third and Howard got closed off.  A large group of protesters gathered around the intersection.  I recognized some of them and their signs from Occupy SF.  President Obama spoke at a fundraiser in the W.

Alcatraz -- October 15, 2011

Today we played tourist. We parked at Fifth and Mission and caught a Milan car on the F line. It got to be very full. We got off at Pier 39. It was a warm day, but there was a cold breeze on the pier. We had fried calamari at a seafood place. There was one float covered with sea lions. A few were on the next float. One sea lion slept soundly on the farthest float. A little boy worried that he might be dead.  We assured him that the sea lion was alive.

We walked along the Wharf to Pier 45, where we visted the Musee Mechanique.  The machines had been rearranged since our last visit.  There were two baseball-related games that I had not seen before.  We played the French Execution.  My daughter operated the machine with the baker.  We could not find Peppy the dancing clown.

We went up Fish Alley.  A boat had a radio on and the news said that the Occupy SF people were going to be marching up Market at 3pm.  We headed to the F line terminal and caught the Louisville car.

We got off at Fourth and walked up to Macy's.  There were police barriers set up along the curb on Stockton.  Workers were setting up Holiday Lane.  

We went to Five o'clock mass at Good Shepherd, then had dinner at Subway in Linda Mar.  On the way home, we drove on Cape Breton but didn't see many holiday decorations.

I took the photo of Alcatraz today.

Nickname #7 -- October 14, 2011

Bob Ferguson had a long and distinguished career in the National Association of Base Ball Players and the National League. He played the infield, managed, umpired, and served as Association president. His defensive skill earned him the unique nickname "Death to Flying Things." The only baseball nickname of comparable length that I can think of is Pepper Martin's "The Wild Horse of the Osage."

 It was warm again today. Occupy SF protesters gathered outside the Palace Hotel.

Occupy SF -- October 13, 2011

Yesterday I took a photo of the Occupy SF encampment in front of the Federal Reserve.  Mayor Bloomberg of New York is going to roust the Occupy Wall Street encampment tomorrow morning.

It was very warm today.