Barney Oldfield -- August 29, 2008

"Motorist, Barney Oldfield, sitting in a parked next to a garage" in Chicago. I like the minimalist racing car. The front end appears to be an attempt at "wind-splitting."

The photo comes from the Library of Congress' wonderful American Memory site (http://memory.loc.gov/). SDN-003390, Chicago Daily News negatives collection, Chicago Historical Society.

Senator Obama finished off the convention with a big speech in a football stadium. Senator McCain chose the governor of Alaska as his running. He announced it today to try to cut into Obama's press. I wonder how the issue about dismissing the Public Safety Commissioner is going to turn out.

Ardenwood Farm Railroad Fair Coming Soon - August 27, 2008

If you are looking for something to do this Labor Day weekend, I can recommend the Eighth Annual Washington Township Railroad Fair at Ardenwood Historic Farm Regional Park in Fremont. Every year, the Society for the Preservation of Carter Railroad Resources brings in a steam locomotive to join their regular horse-drawn rail operation. There are rides on steam- and horse-drawn trains and handcars. There is a large garden railroad display, and all the regular animals and farm equipment and the beautiful Patterson house.It's well worth a visit, and it's just across the Dumbarton Bridge.

I took this photo of a ewe and the new black sheep of the family in March, 2006.

It's Hard Work Being a Cat #14 - August 25, 2008

I took this photo on 08-August-2008, the day the Beijing Olympics opened. Yesterday they closed. I enjoyed many of the events.

Playing Tourist -- August 23, 2008

We went to Fisherman's Wharf and had lunch at the Rainforest Cafe. It was fun. We rode 1059 there. The motorman was very careful to call all stops and explain several times that he was waiting for his leader, 1010, to get ahead. I wonder if that had anything to do with the recent accident. We took Milano car 1804 back.

Senator Obama picked Joe Biden to be his running mate.

Get In the Game -- August 22, 2008

There are globes on display around the city to encourage green living. This one, in front of Pac Bell Park, is entitled "Get in the Game."

Flying -- August 21, 2008

We flew down to Southern California. My first flight this year. Things have not gotten better. Security is intrusive and not particularly useful. On the flight back, my wife mentioned something and said "How stupid do they think we are?" I said "Look at the space between these seats. Look at the people leaning in our faces. Look at the number of people crammed into the plane. How stupid do you think they think we are?"

Mutoscope #1 -- August 20, 2008

The Mutoscope is a hand-cranked entertainment machine that works like a giant flipbook. I tried to build a device like it, but always had trouble getting it to work.

I took the photo at Disneyland in July, 2006.