Happy New Year 2025 -- January 1, 2025

San Francisco Examiner, 01-January-1925

I hope everyone has a happy, peaceful, healthy (especially healthy) and prosperous new year.

As the clock on the Ferry Building hits Midnight, Father Time hands off to 1925.

Happy New Year 2024 -- January 1, 2024

San Francisco Examiner, 01-January-1924

I hope everyone has a happy, peaceful, healthy (especially healthy) and prosperous new year.

Let's work on peace. "Health, Happiness and Prosperity" would be good, too. 

On a Pink Elephant -- December 30, 2023

listal.com

New Year's Day is coming. 

On the cover of the 31-December-1938 New Yorker, Baby New Year rides in on a pink elephant. 

Krazy Kat -- Heppy New Year Everybody -- January 2, 2023

Washington Times, 01-January-1923

I love George Herriman's Krazy Kat. Krazy wishes "Heppy New Year Everybody.' Click on the image to see a larger version.

Washington Times, 30-June-1918

Happy New Year 2023 -- January 1, 2023

San Francisco Examiner, 01-January-1923

I hope everyone has a happy, peaceful, healthy (especially healthy) and prosperous new year. That sure is a funny-looking "9". 

2022 Summary -- December 31, 2022

listal.com

2022 was an interesting year. In January, I started teaching technology and coding to kids in Kindergarten through Fourth Grade at Good Shepherd School in Pacifica. COVID-19 carried on.

New York Evening World, 23-January-1922

In January, Russia moved masses of troops to the borders of Ukraine. 

I started a new series on radio, mostly looking back 100 years. I started a new series about Sherlock Holmes films released 100 years ago in the US.

I wrote about the 175th anniversary of the town of Yerba Buena becoming San Francisco, the 150th anniversary of the murder of Jim Fisk, Jr, and the 100th anniversary of the collapse of the roof of the Knickerbocker Theater in Washington, DC. I wrote about the 100th anniversary of Will Hays becoming Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America.

I noted what would have been the 150th birthdays of Julia Morgan and Zane Grey, the 100th birthdays of Betty White and Alvin Dark and the 75th birthdays of David Bowie and Warren Zevon. 

I posted about the 100th anniversary of the death of Nellie Bly and the 75th anniversaries of the deaths of Josh Gibson and Al Capone. 

I wrote about the passing of Ronnie Spector. 

In February, Russia invaded Ukraine. They expected a quick victory, but the Ukrainians have slowed them down. The Russians have committed many war crimes. 

The Omicron variant of the TrumpVirus appeared to have peaked. Most of the counties in California were revising their mask mandates.

The baseball owners locked out the players, resulting in a late start for Spring Training. 

I became an employee at Good Shepherd School in Pacifica. 

We watched the 2022 Winter Olympics from Beijing. It felt odd watching a Winter Olympics without snow.

I posted about Intenational Polar Bear Day. 

I had appendicitis. 

For some reason I started a new series about mules. I posted an ad for an appearance by Anna Pavlova in Arizona. I started a new series of Kodak ads. I noted the Lunar New Year, the Year of the Tiger. I wrote about the 100th anniversary of the destruction of the semi-rigid airship Roma.

I noted what would have been Thomas Edison's 175th birthday. I wrote about the 150th birthday of pitcher Old Hoss Radbourne. I noted the 125th birthday of singer Marian Anderson. I wrote about the 75th birthday of Dave Davies.  

I wrote about the death of Richard Hadlock, musician, author and disc jockey.

In March, the Ukrainians continued to stand up to the Russian invaders. In the past, I would have assumed that some of the stories of Russian atrocities were propaganda, but there are many videos and other pieces of evidence. 

Congress passed the Emmett Till Anti-lynching Act and President Joe Biden signed it.

Many public transit agencies repealed their mask mandates. BART continues to require masks. 

The baseball players remained locked out by the owners. 

Gas prices rose to over $6 a gallon. 

We saw the Saint Patrick's Day parade for the first time in years. We cheered for a group from Good Shepherd School in Pacifica. 

I wrote about the 175th anniversary of Alexander Graham Bell's birth, the 100th anniversaries of the births of Jack Kerouac and King Pleasure and the 75th birthdays of Ry Cooder and Elton John. 

I noted the 100th anniversary of the deaths of comedian Bert Williams and magician Harry Kellar. 

I wrote about the death of Madeline Albright. 

Minneapolis Star, 29-April-1922

In April the Russians continued to lose personnel and material in Ukraine.

The owners settled with the players and the baseball season began one week late.

I wrote about the 100th anniversaries of the publication of F Scott Fitzgerald's second novel and the first mid-air collision of two airliners and the 75th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the major league color line. I wrote about the 75th anniversary of Babe Ruth Day at Yankee Stadium.

I wrote about the 100th anniversary of the births of Charles Mingus and Toots Thielemans and the 75th birthdays of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Iggy Pop.

I wrote about the 100th anniversary of the death of flier Ross Smith.

abc news

In May, a white supremacist, with the help of the National Rifle Association, Texas Governor Gregg Abbott, the Republican Party and Russia used an AR-15 style weapon to slaughter 19 students and 2 teachers at a school in Uvalde Texas.

The Ukranians continued to hold out against the Russian invasion. 

I received my second COVID-19 booster. 

The Giants held Buster Posey Day to celebrate their recently retired catcher.

On International Workers' Day, I congratulated Starbuck's workers for starting a union. Starbuck's is still fighting against them .

I wrote about the 125th anniversary of the first publication of Bram Stoker's Dracula. 

I wrote about the 100th anniversary of the first broadcast of radio station KPO, which became KNBR.

I wrote about the 125th anniversary of the birth of Sidney Bechet and the 100th birthday of Christopher Lee.

I noted the 50th anniversary of Willie Mays being traded to the Mets.

I wrote about the deaths of Naomi Judd and Neal Adams.

abc7ny.com

In June a cabal of conservative Supreme Court justices, three of whom were appointed by our former so-called president, overturned Roe v Wade, allowing the states to decide if they wanted to ban abortion. Many people worry that next they will go after marriage equality and contraception. I haven't seen anyone mention it, but I am also worried about the ADA and Obamacare. 

The House January 6 Committee began its public hearings. Very interesting. 

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson was sworn in as the first black female Supreme Court justice. 

I wrote about the celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee.

Russia directed its focus on the eastern part of Ukraine. 

I finished the school year teaching technology and coding to grades K-4 at Good Shepherd School in Pacifica. 

The Golden State Warriors won their fourth NBA championship in eight years. 

In June I noted what would have been the 125th birthday of Memphis Minnie. I wrote about what would have been the 100th birthdays of Judy Garland and Jake LaMotta. They were born on the same day. 

I expressed my approval of the 75th anniversary of the death of gangster Bugsy Siegal. 

sfgiants.com

In July, the Giants retired Will Clark's jersey, number 22. There was a nice ceremony before the game and Clark gave an inspiring speech.

I wrote about the 125th anniversary of the start of the Yukon Gold Rush. 

I wrote about the 100th anniversary of the first sailing of coastwise liner H. F. Alexander. 

I wrote about the 75th anniversary of the second fight between Rocky Graziano and Tony Zale.

I wrote about what would have been the 200th birthday of poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. 

I noted what would have been the 125th birthday of aviatrix (great word) Amelia Earhart.

I wrote about the 100th birthdays of George McGovern, Hoyt Wilhelm and pianist Al Haig. 

I noted the 75th birthdays of Arlo Guthrie, Carlos Santana, and Roky Erickson. 

I wrote about the death of Bill Russell. 

August was an exciting month. Our former so-called president got his tiny, doll-like fingers stomped on. An FBI team with a search warrant found a large collection of documents, many with high security ratings, in his Florida flophouse. I am worried that he and his crime family may have sold secrets to foreign governments. 

Congress passed the first national gun control law in many years. Despite heavy Republican opposition, they passed a law improving health care for veterans. The CHIPS act will pour money into the domestic processor chip manufacturing sector to keep it competitive with overseas makers. The Inflation Reduction Act provided a wide range of help to people. 

Someone attacked author Salman Rushdie with a knife. He survived but was gravely wounded. 

The current leader of al Qaida died in a drone strike. 

I wrote about the 125th anniversary of the founding of the Olds Motor Vehicle Company. I wrote about the 100th anniversary of a wild game between the Cubs and the Phillies. 

I wrote about the 75th anniversary of the independence of India and Pakistan. 

I noted what would have been the 100th birthday of novelist Alain Robbe-Grillet. 

I wrote about the 100th anniversary of the death of Alexander Graham Bell. I noted the 100th anniversary of the murder of Irish patriot Michael Collins. 

Vin Scully died, as did historian David McCullough. Singers Olivia Newton-John and Judith Durham died. San Francisco photographer Fred Lyon died. Musician Joey DeFrancesco passed on. 

Mikhail Gorbachev died. He helped to end the Soviet Union. I did not write about him.

listal.com

In September, Queen Elizabeth II died. She was the longest-lived and longest-reigning British monarch. I'm not a fan of monarchy, but I don't see how anyone could have done a better job than she did. She led a life of service.

Ukraine made an effective counterattack against Russian occupiers.

We had a heat wave that broke new records every day. We had a short period of heavy rain.

I noted the 125th anniversary of the opening of Boston's Tremont Street subway, the oldest surviving subway in the United States. I wrote about the celebration of the San Francisco Opera's 100th season. I noted the 75th anniversaries of the USAF and the finding of the first actual computer bug. I wrote about BART's 50th anniversary.

I wrote about the 100th anniversary of Jimmy Doolittle's flight from Florida to California with only one stop and in less than 24 hours. I wrote about the 100th anniversary of the publication of F Scott Fitzgerald's second collection of short stories, Tales of the Jazz Age.

I wrote about the 125th anniversaries of the births of Jimmy Rodgers, the Blue Yodeler, the Singing Brakeman and novelist William Faulkner. I wrote about the 100th anniversaries of the births of musical comedy star Janis Paige and bassist Oscar Pettiford. I noted what would have been the 75th birthday of singer Wesla Whitfield. I mentioned the 75th birthday of author Stepen King.

I wrote about the 100th anniversary of the death of Sarah Winchester, builder of the famous Winchester Mystery House.

Ramsey Lewis died.

pelosi.house.gov

In October, a right-wing conspiracy theorist broke into the home of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her husband Paul. He wanted to kidnap and torture the Speaker, but she was not at home. He seriously wounded Paul Pelosi with a hammer. The Republicans found all of this to be hilarious and spread all sorts of weird rumors. Paul Pelosi is starting on a long recovery. I always find it interesting that Republicans are so frightened of the Speaker. 

I wrote about the 175th anniversary of the publication of Charlotte Brontë's novel, Jane Eyre. I noted the 100th anniversary of United States Army Air Service Lieutenants John A Macready and Oakley G Kelly setting an endurance record, Godfrey Chevalier making the first landing on a moving US aircraft carrier and Lillian Gatlin becoming the first woman to fly across the US, although she did it as a passenger. I wrote about the 100th anniversary of oil tanker Lyman Stewart running aground at Land's End. I wrote about the 75th anniversaries of Chuck Yeager breaking the sound barrier and the Chicago Transit Authority starting operations. We celebrated the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

Hillary Clinton and Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead turned 75.

I wrote about the 50th anniversary of the death of Jackie Robinson.

Loretta Lynn and Jerry Lee Lewis died.

nasa.gov/Bill Ingalls photo

In November, I spent a week in the Kaiser Hospital in Santa Clara. I have had shortness of breath with strong exertion for a while. In April I also developed a violent cough. Doctors assumed both problems were lung related. I don't know how many chest x-rays I have had this year. It took until about September to figure out that the problem was caused by a leaky mitral valve.

I had an internal sonogram to give them a better view of my heart. They did two cardiac catheterizations to get the lay of the land and see if the valve could be repaired, or if it would have to be replaced. Then in November, they repaired the valve.

I decided to take break, perhaps until the end of the year. I am still gradually improving. I have been frustrated because I could not start teaching in the new school year.

Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Jack Smith to be special counsel in charge of investigations of our former so-called president.

I was excited to see NASA successfully launch the Artemis I project, an unmanned test of the Space Launch System (SLS), the most powerful rocket in the world, and the Orion spacecraft.

Ukraine continued to hold off the Russian invasion. 

I wrote about the 75th anniversaries of the first and only flight of the Hughes H-4 Hercules, popularly called the Spruce Goose, and of San Francisco voters passing Proposition Q, which required the city to continue to operate cable cars.

I noted the 125th anniversary of Dorothy Day's birth. I wrote about the 100th anniversary of the death of naval aviator Godfrey Chevalier. 

During my break, I missed several important anniversaries, including the 100th anniversary of the birth of Charles Schultz, the 75th anniversary of the birth of playwright David Mamet. I missed the 125th anniversary of the death of Willie the Lion Smith. I missed the death of Christine McVie.

During December I continued to recuperate from my operation. I don't heal as quickly as I used to, but the cardiologist said I am progressing well. I am continuing my break. 

My Uncle Sonny died. He was a real character. He worked as a waiter at the Fly Trap, where his father was chef and partner, then at Westlake Joe's for many years. He was always running into old customers who missed him greatly. Westlake Joe's was always his favorite place to eat. He had a big heart and a bad temper. Jack Daniels stock is likely to lose value. 

Russia is bombarding infrastructure in Ukraine, hoping to leave people without heat, light and water during the winter. Some sources claim that the Russians are running out of artillery shells. 

The January 6 Committee recommended that the Department of Justice make criminal charges against Donald Trump and others. 

The Giants almost signed Carlos Correia to a 13-year contract, but the deal fell apart at the last moment.

The Artemis I project finished successfully when the unmanned Orion capsule splashed down in the Pacific. 

Scientists at Lawrence Livermore created a fusion reaction that output more energy than was input. 

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI died. 

I missed more anniversaries, including the 100th anniversary of the births of Stan Lee and Ava Garner. I missed the 50th anniversary of the death of Roberto Clemente. I missed the death of newscaster Barbara Walters. 

====================================================

Updated 01-January-2023: New Year's Eve was said to be the second wettest day in San Francisco history. There was a landslide across the road from the Cliff House. I couldn't make any updates yesterday because our Comcast service was down from the time we got up yesterday to around noon today. 

====================================================

At the top of the page, we see Gloria DeHaven, who acted and sang in many movies and television shows. She made her debut in Charlie Chaplin's Modern Times. Her parents, Carter and Flora Parker DeHaven were vaudeville performers. They appeared in many silent comedies.

Happy New Year Krazy -- January 1, 2022

Washington Times, 01-January-1922

I hope everyone has a happy, peaceful, healthy (especially healthy) and prosperous new year.

 

I love George Herriman's Krazy Kat. Ignatz delivers the last brick of the old year and the first brick of the new. Be sure to click on the image to see a larger version.

Washington Times, 30-June-1918

Happy New Year, 2021 -- January 1, 2021

 

Washington Evening Star, 31-December-1920

I hope everyone has a happy, peaceful, healthy (especially healthy) and prosperous new year.

Father Time reviews the events of 1920. The wounded donkey represents the Democrats, who were defeated in the presidential election. The roll of paper represents the Versailles Treaty, which was rejected the US Senate. The bottle of whiskey represents Prohibition. 

Review of the Year -- January 1, 2019

South Bend News-Times, 31-December-1919

I hope everyone has a happy, peaceful, healthy and prosperous new year.

The South Bend News-Times remembered some of the events of 1919.  Click on the image to see a larger view.

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.

Extry! All About the Great New Year of Prosperity -- January 1, 2019

Bisbee Daily Review, 01-January-1919

I wish everyone a happy and prosperous new year.

Baby New Year sells the first edition of the Peace Extra for 1919.

2018 Summary -- December 31, 2018

www.listal.com

We spent the year learning more and more about the misfeasances, malfeasances and nonfeasances of our so-called President and his corrupt cronies. In May, they announced a zero-tolerance immigration policy, which involved arresting anyone who crossed the border without authorization, taking their children away and locking the children up in cages in concentration camps.  By June, there were huge demonstrations against this government child abuse.  Even though a judge ordered that families be reunified, the haphazard methods used by ICE left many children stuck in concentration camps.

In January, I wrote about the 100th anniversary of President Woodrow Wilson stating his Fourteen Points, a peace proposal. I wrote about the 50th anniversary of the recording of Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison.

I wrote about the 200th birthday of Norton I, Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico.  I wrote about the 100th birthday of slide guitarist Elmore James.  I wrote about the 75th birthday of singer Janis Joplin.

In January, Astronaut John Young died, but I did not write about him. Gospel singer Edwin Hawkins died.  Trumpeter and anti-apartheid activist Hugh Masakela died.  Cartoonist Mort Walker died.

mutoscope.listal.com

In February, another school shooting in Florida drove the survivors to fight against the NRA and the craven politicians who kowtow to them.  I like these kids.

In February I wrote about the 50th anniversary of the debut of Penn Central.  I wrote about the 100th anniversary of the death of heavyweight champ John L Sullivan.  I wrote about the 100th anniversary of the opening of San Francisco's Twin Peaks Tunnel.  I wrote about the 100th anniversary of Lieutenant Stephen W Thompson (no relation) scoring the first aerial victory by a member of the US armed forces. I wrote about the 100th anniversary of the Lafayette Escadrille disbanding and its members joining the US Army Air Service.

I wrote about the 150th birthday of scholar and activist WEB DuBois.  I wrote about the 75th birthday of Beatle George Harrison.

Billy Graham died in February; I didn't write about him.

In honor of the beginning of the Lunar New Year, the Year of the Dog, I posted an image of Strongheart. On the day of the Chinese New Year parade, I posted an image of Rin-Tin-Tin.

facebook.com/OccupyDemocrats

In March, kids led the March for Our Lives, calling for gun control.

In March, we observed the 100th anniversary of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, which allowed Russia to make a  separate peace with Germany. We observed the 100th anniversary of the start of the German Spring Offensive, Operation Michael.

I wrote about the 100th anniversary of the death of magician Chung Ling Soo, who was mortally wounded onstage performing the Bullet Catch.

I wrote about the 50th anniversary of the death of Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space.

I wrote about the 150th birthdays of writer Booth Tarkington and historian Henry Adams.  I wrote about the 125th birthdays of poet Wilfrid Owen and writer Wanda Gág.  I wrote about the 100th birthdays of writer Mickey Spillane and singer Pearl Bailey.  I wrote about the 75th birthdays of Sly Stone and George Benson.

Stephen Hawking died.

Easter Sunday fell on April 1.  In April, the Giants celebrated the 60th anniversary of their first game in San Francisco. I wrote about a Facebook challenge for which I listed my ten favorite record albums.  We marked the 100th anniversary of Paul Baer becoming the first person to become an ace while flying for the US military, and the 100th anniversary of Eddie Rickenbacker scoring his first victory.  We celebrated International Jazz Day.

In April, we marked the 50th anniversary of the murder of Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. We marked the 100th anniversary of the death of the Red Baron, Manfred von Richtofen.

In April, Cecil Taylor, Bob Dorough and Harry Anderson died.  Former First Lady Barbara Bush and former San Francisco Supervisor Doris Ward died, but I did not write about them.

In May, we celebrated the 125th anniversary of the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago.  I posted an interesting article about "How to Pronounce War Words."  We marked the 100th anniversary of René Fonck shooting down six German planes in one day.  We marked the 100th anniversary of the first scheduled airmail service flown by the United States Postal Service.  We marked the 100th birthday of the death of fighter pilot Raoul Lufbery. We marked the 100th birthday of George Welch, one the two Army aviators who was able to get his fighter plane into the air during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. 

I wrote about the 300th birthday of New Orleans. I posted a photo of California Poppies in bloom.

I made a variation in my Coulter series, posting his obituary from 1936.

Authors Tom Wolfe and Phillip Roth died.

In June I wrote about child abuse by ICE agents and our government.  I wrote about the new aerial tram at the Transbay Transit Center.

In June, I wrote about the 125th anniversary of the collision of two Italian battleships, the Victoria and the Camperdown.  I wrote about the 100th anniversary of the death of Australian ace Roderic Stanley Dallas. I wrote about the 50th anniversary of the death of Robert Kennedy.  I wrote about the 100th anniversary of American Douglas Campbell becoming an ace.  I wrote about the 100th anniversary of the death of Italian ace Francesco Baracca.

We noted the 125th birthday of author Dorothy L Sayers. We noted the 125th anniversary of the death of Leland Stanford.

In June, Red Schoendienst of the Cardinals died, but I didn't write about him. I wrote about the death of author Harlan Ellison.

I wrote about a blog challenge that I did on my other blog.

New York Tribune, 20-July-1918

In July I wrote about a train ride at Ardenwood Farm.  I wrote about the Twin Peaks tunnel being closed for refurbishment.

In July, I got tired of writing about young aviators who got killed, so I wrote about one who survived, William Thaw II.  I wrote about the death of British ace William McCudden.  I wrote about the death of Quentin Roosevelt in a dogfight.  I wrote about the death of ace Mick Mannock.  I wrote about the death of Austro-Hungarian ace Frank Linke-Crawford.

For my monthly Coulter item, I posted an image of the HMS Formidable.  Coulter subject usually centered around San Francisco Bay or the coast of California.

I wrote about the 100th anniversary of the sinking of RMS Carpathia.  I wrote about the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the USS San Diego.

I wrote about Nelson Mandela's 100th birthday.

I was finally driven to write something about our so-called president when he openly committed treason in Helsinki.

San Francisco Call, 08-December-1912

In August, I wrote about the continued disgraceful performance of our so-called president.

I wrote about how actor Actor James O'Neill, father of playwright Eugene O'Neill, spent a significant portion of his career playing Edmond Dantes, The Count of Monte Cristo.

I wrote about the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Ambos Nogales.

I wrote about the 100th anniversary of the  last German Zeppelin raid on Britain.  I wrote about the 100th anniversary of the day that French ace René Fonck shot down three airplanes in less than a minute. I wrote about the 100th anniversaries of the deaths of balloon busters Louis Bennett and x.

We celebrated the the 175th birthday of Firebelle Lil, Lillie Hitchcock Coit, 150th birthday of Zeppelin skipper Dr Hugo Eckener, the 125th birthday of writer Dorothy Parker, the 100th birthdays of vocalese master Eddie Jefferson and composer Leonard Bernstein and the 75th birthday of boxer Ken Norton.  . On the same day, we observed the 150th birthday of Huey Long, the Kingfish, the 100th birthday of Ted Williams, and the 75th anniversary of artist R Crumb. 

The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin died.  Senator John McCain died.  Author VS Naipaul died.

Arizona Republican, 12-December-1918

In September and October we went through a hellish process which wound up installing a deeply unworthy person on the Supreme Court.  He and his buddies reminded me of the people who used to pick on me in school.

I used to avoid using this blog to promote my website about cable cars, but in September I decided to start posting a monthly notice of updates to the website.  I have been posting it for many years on a Yahoo email group, but membership in the group is shrinking away.

In September, I wrote about the annual Railroad Fair at Ardenwood Farm in Fremont.  The National Museum of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro was almost completely destroyed by a fire. I talked to junior high kids about the campaign for Women's Suffrage.

I posted a newspaper report about the great feat of Private Henry Johnson.

We celebrated the 125th birthdays of Claire Chennault and Blind Lemon Jefferson and the 75th birthday of Maria Muldaur.

I wrote about the death of Marty Balin.

I wrote about the 100th anniversary of the deaths of aviators Maurice Boyau and Frank Luke.

Daily Alta California, 22-October-1868

In October, in one awful week, we had three terrible developments.  A man tried to attack a black church so he could shoot people.  He couldn't get in, so he shot two black people at a grocery store.  The MAGA Bomber, a domestic terrorist, sent mail bombs to many people who have been demonized by our so-called president, including Hillary and Bill Clinton and the Obamas.  Then a man attacked a synagogue on Shabbat, killing at least 11 people.

I was happy to see the Dodgers lose the World Series. We visited the Museum of Ice Cream.

100 years ago, World War One was rushing to a climax.  On the same day, we marked the 100th anniversary of Alvin C York's remarkable feat and the relief of the Lost Battalion.  We also marked the 100th anniversaries of the death of pioneering fighter pilot Roland Garros and of former Major Leaguer Eddie Grant.  We observed the 100th anniversary of the Gillespie Shell Loading Plant.

We marked the 150th anniversary of the Hayward Earthquake of 1868.  We marked the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Princess Sophia.

In October, Giants' great Willie McCovey died.  Giants' announcer Hank Greenwald also died. French singer, songwriter and activist Charles Aznavour and trumpeter and band leader Jerry González both died on the same day.

I did a bunch of "Halloween is coming" posts.

In November, a huge fire destroyed the town of Paradise. Heavy smoke hung in the Bay Area for ten days. At the end of the month, it began to rain.  There was a major earthquake in Alaska.

I revived the ragtime series.

The Democrats make a good showing the mid-term elections, winning back the House and doing well in the states.

Our ICE goons shot tear gas at small children and women who tried to cross the border from Mexico.

We marked the 100th anniversary of the death of poet Wilfrid Owen.  

We observed the 100th birthdays of Bob Feller and Madeline L'Engle and the 75th birthday of Joni Mitchell.  

In November, Stan Lee and Ricky Jay died.  President George Bush died.  

San Francisco Call, 16-June-1900

In December, the walls began to cave in on our so-called President, who was the subject of 17 separate investigations on both the Federal and state levels. Two of the kidnapped children died in ICE custody.

We marked the 100th birthdays of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, Professor Longhair and Joe Williams  and the 75th birthdays of Jim Morrison, Grover Washington, Jr and Keith Richards.

We marked the 75th anniversary of the death of Fats Waller and the 50th anniversary of the death of John Steinbeck.

Pete Shelley of the Buzzcocks, Penny Marshall and Nancy Wilson died.