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mardi 30 septembre 2008
La lune sur la baie
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lundi 29 septembre 2008
Le lundi «Odd Shots» - Donnez-moi une embrassé!
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This poor soul wanting a hug is among the Urban Art at Albany Point.
The Beauty Queen
"Lion at the Gate"
"Mona Lisa d'Albany"
"Y" - Yell!
"W" - Wheel of Life!
"V" - Visions of Hell!
"U" - Urban Art
"Q" - Qu'est-ce que c'est?
Parc Jurassique?
A view of the crew
Cavalry!
Keeping Watch
Who are you staring at?
"P" - Praying "Louis" won't take his photo!
dimanche 28 septembre 2008
J.M.W. Turner?
It is not uncommon for readers to comment that the images "Louis" posts remind them of the paintings of J.M.W. Turner. As it happens, Turner is one of "Louis's" favorite artists and it was a thrill for "Louis" to see real Turner paintings for the first time when he visited London while "Louis" was living in France. As "Louis" leaned over his balcony with the new Nikon Mme. la Vache gave him to replace his toy Olympus, Turner came to mind once again. Click to enlarge - note the waterfowl having dinner in the lower right.
samedi 27 septembre 2008
vendredi 26 septembre 2008
Le vendredi «Sky Watch»: Trois modes sur la baie, partie 3
jeudi 25 septembre 2008
Le pont sous le brouillard
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With the fog almost coming in the balcony door at Chez la Vache, the Golden Gate Bridge manages to take a peek at the morning while a ship comes under. Alcatraz Island is on the left.
mercredi 24 septembre 2008
ABC Mercredi - "J" - Jack London
Statue of writer Jack London at Jack London Square at the Port of Oakland. See also Heinold's First and Last Chance Saloon
mardi 23 septembre 2008
lundi 22 septembre 2008
Le lundi "Odd Shots" - La reine de beauté
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This "beauty queen" is among the Urban Art at Albany Point.
"Lion at the Gate"
"Mona Lisa d'Albany"
"Y" - Yell!
"W" - Wheel of Life!
"V" - Visions of Hell!
"U" - Urban Art
"Q" - Qu'est-ce que c'est?
Parc Jurassique?
A view of the crew
Cavalry!
Keeping Watch
Who are you staring at?
"P" - Praying "Louis" won't take his photo!
dimanche 21 septembre 2008
samedi 20 septembre 2008
vendredi 19 septembre 2008
Le Vendredi «Sky Watch»: Trois modes sur la baie, partie 2
Three moods on the Bay - Part 2
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jeudi 18 septembre 2008
Le petit déjeuner est pour les oiseaux
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mercredi 17 septembre 2008
ABC Mercredi - "I" - Isabel
Isabel, as in Point Isabel seen from le balcon de «Louis» et Mme la Vache
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Point Isabel is seen in many of the images "Louis" posts. That's Mount Tamalpais in Marin County in the background.
mardi 16 septembre 2008
lundi 15 septembre 2008
Le lundi «Odd Shots» - Le Pendule de Foucault
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Instead of posting a photo about the San Francisco Bay Area, today "Louis" takes you to le Panthéon in Paris to show you Foucault's Pendulum. Foucault was a 19th century French mathematician who sought to prove by means other than astronomy the orbit of the earth. His research led him to develop a pendulum of a certain length - too long for most existing structures in France. Voila! The dome of le Panthéon was high enough to accommodate his pendulum, and there it was mounted (somehow appropriately enough) in the eye of God painted in the dome. Today we see a reproduction of the pendulum. It registers the orbit of the earth - but it is an optical illusion. The pendulum appears to be moving. In fact it is not - what we are really witnessing is the rotation of the earth!
dimanche 14 septembre 2008
samedi 13 septembre 2008
Going back for more
An outbound container ship heads toward the Golden Gate at 7:30 a.m. on a sparkling, fog-free morning.
vendredi 12 septembre 2008
Le Vendredi «Sky Watch»: Trois modes sur la baie, partie 1
Three moods on the Bay, Part 1
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jeudi 11 septembre 2008
Brillante Weblog Award
"Louis" is honored that Reader Wil in The Netherlands has given him this 'Brillante Weblog' award.
The recipient of this award then nominates seven others. As Reader Wil has just received the award herself, "Louis" assumes he cannot renominate her, but is doing so in spirit, if not in fact. She writes an interesting blog and has fine photographs. Her personal story is quite interesting, too. "Louis" encourages you to visit her blog.
Here are "Louis's" nominees - though he wishes he could nominate more!
• Daryl, who writes Out and About in New York City. Don't miss her "Toonsday Husbandisms" on Tuesdays! Do a search and read her hilarious stories about 'Bridezilla.'
• Dina, who writes Jerusalem Hills Daily Photo. Her blog is always interesting, but "Louis" particularly appreciates her Sabbath posts. Go there for a bit of inspiration on Fridays.
• Bibi, author of A Yankee in Belgrade, who has "kept on Bloggin' even with the tragic and unexpected loss of her beloved husband Ivan. You are an inspiration to us, Bibi!
• John, the Norwegian who publishes such fantastic images on John's Fotoblogg. The Norwegian photobloggers in general seem to have a particular talent for capturing skies, and John is a leading example of this talent.
• Chuck Pefley, "Mr. Vespa," who captures such wonderful images of 'The Emerald City,' Seattle, at One A Day - Mostly Seattle.
• Troy and Martha, whose Ramblings around Texas rambles around much more than Texas with always fabulous photographs and very interesting commentary.
• Last but not least is "Tomate Farcie à San Francisco", "Stuffed Tomato in San Francisco," who inspired "Louis" to begin blogging in the first place before "Louis" moved to France in 2005.
To all of you others who stop by on a regular basis, "Louis" thanks you, too! He appreciates the community of bloggers, enoys the photographs and stories and values very much the camaraderie.
Christopher Columbus's «Niña»
The original Niña, Pinta and Santa Maria used by Columbus on his first voyage across the Atlantic were common trading vessels. The Niña was a caravel, a type commonly used during the Age of Discovery. The Niña came with Columbus on his second voyage and served in the advance guard of Columbus's third voyage. Niña logged at least 25,000 miles under Columbus's command.
In 1988 an American engineer and maritime historian, John Sarsfield, began building what was to become the first truly historically correct replica of a 15th century caravel. He had discovered a group of master shipbuilders in Bahia, Brazil who were still using design and construction techniques dating back to the 15th century. It was in Valenca, Brazil, using only adzes, axes, hand saws and chisels, in addition to naturally-shaped timbers from the local forest that the Sarsfield Niña was built.
Jonathan Nance, a British maritime historian produced a sail plan for the ship.
In December, 1991, the Niña left Brazil and sailed to Costa Rica on a 4,000 mile unescorted maiden voyage to take part in the filming of '1492.' Since then the ship has visited over 250 ports in the U.S.
Niña's overall length is 93.6 feet with a beam of 17.3 feet. The length on deck is only 66 feet and she only draws 7 feet of water. Her displacement is 100 tons (compared to over 40.000 tons of the World War II-era U.S.S. Hornet.) Niña has a sail area of 1,919 feet.
What amazes "Louis" is how small this ship is, leading him to be more amazed that these ships traveled so far. Equally amazing is the very, very spartan living conditions on the ship. Actually, spartan is a luxurious description given the real conditions on these vessels. However, this Niña has three things Columbus's Niña did not: a small diesel engine driving a screw for those times when Niña needs a little extra push, a microwave and a GPS system.
Columbus had a difficult time getting the Spanish court's attention for financing his first voyage: the court was preoccupied with fighting off Islam. Today is 11 September. Let us not forget.
mercredi 10 septembre 2008
ABC Mercredi - "H" - Heinold's "First and Last Chance Saloon
Heinold's "First and Last Chance Saloon"
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Built from the timbers of a whaling ship, this famous bar in Jack London Square in Oakland has operated continuously since 1883. It takes part of its name from its original owner, Johnny Heinold. As a teenager, Jack London sat at the tables in this bar studying. Later, he returned and wrote the notes for "Call of the Wild" and "The Sea Wolf." At age 17, London confided to Johnny Heinold his ambition to go to the University of California and become a writer. Johnny lent London the money for tuition and, although he never got beyond his first year, it was while studying at this saloon and listening to the stories of shipmates and stevedores that he developed his thirst for adventure. The theme of men bravely facing danger appears throughout the best of his works. Indeed Johnny Heinold and The First and Last Chance Saloon are referenced seventeen times in London's novel John Barleycorn. Heinold's saloon was where he met Alexander McLean, known for such cruelty at sea that his boat was nicknamed The Hell Ship. At the time of its writing, McLean became a model for London's Wolf Larsen in The Sea Wolf. With the help of Johnny Heinold, the deals for London's three ships, the Razzle Dazzle, the Snark and the Roamer were struck in this bar.
Jack London is not the only spirit that keeps us company in these walls. Robert Louis Stevenson spent time here while waiting for his ship to be outfitted for his final cruise to Samoa. Other notables to sit at this bar include Joaquin Miller, Erskine Caldwell and Ambrose Bierce.
As a result of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, the floor in the bar tilted.The pilings underneath the saloon settled in the mud and subsequent efforts to shore up the floor proved unsuccessful. You can still note the time of the quake from the clock on the wall that stopped for the occasion.
Today new construction over and behind the bar have it shrouded to protect it, as seen in the photo.
mardi 9 septembre 2008
Le pont dans la distance
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Framed by a cypress tree on the shore at Harbor Bay in Alameda, the San Mateo bridge arches over the San Francisco Bay in the hazy distance.
lundi 8 septembre 2008
Le lundi «Odd Shots»: Tugboat under the bridge!
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A tugboat pushes a barge along the estuary between Alameda and Oakland under the High Street Bridge.
dimanche 7 septembre 2008
The latest "Lurline"
Previously, "Louis" showed you the Maui, a Matson "lolo" freighter. Today you see the Lurline at the same pier at the Port of Oakland. This Lurline is the latest in a series of Matson ships with that name. Lurline is a "roro" freighter. (A "lolo" freighter is designed for cargo containers to be lifted on, lifted off, while a "roro" freighter is designed for vehicles which are rolled on, rolled off.) The Lurline and Maui serve Hawaii from the Port of Oakland.
The Matson line has been linked with Hawaii from its founding in San Francisco in 1882 by Captain William Matson. In 1887, Matson sold his first ship and acquired a brigantine, the Lurline. It was from this first Lurline that the company's tradition of having a Lurline in its fleet was begun. (This is similar to the U.S. Navy tradition of having a Hornet.) The second Lurline, a passenger ship, entered the Hawaii service in 1908. The third Lurline, a true luxury liner began her Hawaii voyages in 1932. The Lurline seen above continues the Matson tradition.
Captain Matson's daughter was named Lurline. In 1914, Lurline Matson married William Roth, who became involved in the Matson Navigation Company and later became its chairman. In 1937, William and Lurline Roth bought the Filoli estate on the peninsula south of San Francisco.
It was the Matson line that introduced containerized shipping. The very first cargo crane for container ships was built at the foot of 7th Street at the Port of Oakland. This crane is still in service.
The concept of containerization grew from a Matson study begun in 1956 when a research department was established. Its first major assignment was to develop the most modern, efficient and economical means of transporting cargo to and from Hawaii. The result was Matson's freight containerization program, which revolutionized Pacific cargo carrying. In 1958, Matson’s S.S. Hawaiian Merchant departed San Francisco Bay carrying 20 containers on deck, inaugurating containerization in the Pacific. When the Hawaiian Citizen entered service in April 1960, with a capacity for 436 24-foot containers, it was the first all-container carrier in the Pacific service. The fleet improvement program continued, with Matson freighters converted to combination container and bulk sugar or to container and automobile carriers.
A major ship construction program was undertaken in the late 1960s. When the S.S. Hawaiian Enterprise (later named Manukai) entered service in March 1970, it carried a record load of 1,165 containers and clipped more than a day from the regular 5 1/2 day run from the mainland to Hawaii. Also in 1970, in line with the decision to concentrate on its Pacific Coast-Hawaii freight service, Matson sold its passenger vessels and suspended its Far East service.
Matson's containerization program was fought bitterly and often violently by the Longshoreman's Union in San Francisco. The upshot of this was that Matson, soon followed by other major shippers, including the American President Line, pulled out of San Francisco altogether, relocating to Oakland. The Port of Oakland boomed, becoming one of the premier West Coast ports. San Francisco has never recovered as a shipping port.
samedi 6 septembre 2008
Une Princesse à l'aube
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Shortly after dawn, the Dawn Princess passes Alcatraz Island, inbound to Pier 35, on one of her frequent visits to San Francisco. "Louis" shot this photo from his balcony.
vendredi 5 septembre 2008
Le Vendredi «Sky Watch» Sans mots (IV)
jeudi 4 septembre 2008
mercredi 3 septembre 2008
ABC Mercredi - "G" - Guns
Guns
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Once again, the U.S.S. Hornet plays a role in "ABC Wednesdays." Today the subject is the 5"/38 calibre dual-purpose Guns mounted below the Hornet's flight deck. These Guns could be used either as an anti-aircraft weapon or used in combat against surface vessels. In rare cases, aircraft-carrier mounted 5"/38 calibre Guns also could be used to bombard shore targets. These Guns are the same type of Gun used as the main battery on World War II-era destroyers and as the secondary battery on cruisers and battleships. Sighting was done by radar.
The Dual Purpose means that it is designed to be effective against both surface and aircraft targets because it can elevate to 85°. The 38 calibre barrel was a mid-length compromise between the previous United States standard 5"/51 low-angle Gun and 5"/25 anti-aircraft gun.
Among naval historians, the 5"/38 gun is considered the best intermediate-caliber, dual purpose naval Gun of World War II. The comparatively high rate of fire for a Gun of its calibre earned it an enviable reputation, particularly as an antiaircraft weapon. These Guns had a nominal rate of fire of 15 rounds per minute per barrel; however, with a well-trained crew, 22 rounds per minute per barrel was possible for short periods.
U.S.S. Hornet
Fantail
Flight Deck
Crane
Apollo Space Capsule
Avenger
All Zipped Up!
mardi 2 septembre 2008
La petite péninsule à l'aube
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Visible on the shore to the right is some of the Urban Art "Louis" frequently shows here at San Francisco Bay Daily Photo.
lundi 1 septembre 2008
Le lundi «Odd Shots»: Un autre feu!
Another fire!
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Last Monday, "Louis" showed you this fire, today you see a fire on Yerba Buena Island between the two spans of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. The temperatures in the Bay Area have been quite high, and the danger of fire corresponds to the temperature as the Bay Area gets most of its rain between Thanksgiving and Easter. The fire on Yerba Buena Island was only a grass fire, but it wreaked havoc with traffic on the Bay Bridge and all the associated arteries feeding traffic onto it or feeding off of it. "Louis" was very happy he wasn't having to commute home from San Francisco today!In the foreground is the Albany Fields Horserace Track.
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