#old san Francisco department store

[hidelias]

A bend in space-time S2 || a TUA fanfiction

What if, through the whole story of The Umbrella Academy, Klaus had had someone to have his back? I chose to insert an OC - Rin - into the plot of the series, appearing almost only in deleted scenes. This fic is not a self-insert nor a OC-centric fic : Rin exists to flesh out the canon characters, and the fic is mostly focusing on Klaus. Please read the introduction for more details ♡ You can find the table of contents for season 1 here.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

🎧 Music is a major part of The Umbrella Academy, and so it is in this fic. You can find the full playlist of this season here : AO3 - Wattpad - Spotify.

Chapter 1: Are you lonesome tonight? AO3 - Wattpad - FFN

With a crash, Rin is released by the time vortex. After escaping the 2019 Apocalypse, she soon realizes she's alone… in Dallas… in 1961.

Chapter 2: Hello, Goodbye AO3 - Wattpad - FFN

Rin has taken refuge in an abandoned house and is looking for something to eat. Thanks to Mark, a homeless man, she discovers… that the house she's been squatting in is haunted.

Chapter 3: A jumble of hair, leathers and linen AO3 - Wattpad - FFN

Thanks to the ghost of old gardener Wayne Wilson, Rin has been able to reach Klaus, who's coming to pick her up. And he seems… to have changed a lot.

Chapter 4: Shiny, happy people AO3 - Wattpad - FFN

Klaus takes Rin to the 'Destiny's Children' mansion, where he has established a proto-hippie community. Rin discovers that they are about to set off on a road-trip to Mexico and South America.

Chapter 5: On the Road AO3 - Wattpad - FFN

Aboard the painted bus that Klaus calls Priscilla, the 'Destiny's Children' travel through Baja California. Rin begins to realize just how much these journeys will change her.

Chapter 6: Snippets of Destiny AO3 - Wattpad - FFN

At the end of 1961, the 'Destiny's Children' make a stopover in Reykjavik, Iceland, and celebrate the passing of the New Year with an unusual ceremony.

Chapter 7: Marigolds on the Ganges AO3 - Wattpad - FFN

In 1962, Klaus takes the 'Destiny's Children' to India, on a journey of great importance to him, between meditation and yoga. Their trip takes them to Varanasi, where the spirits of the dead peacefully depart.

Chapter 8: Come hell or high water AO3 - Wattpad - FFN

Rin did not follow Klaus and the Destiny's Children to San Francisco. Back on Dallas' often harsh streets, she's now looking for a job… against the obstacles of 1963 society.

Chapter 9: Childhood's end AO3 - Wattpad - FFN

Rin started working for Merelec, a small electronics repair business on Glen Oaks street. On the back balcony, she meets David, the nephew of the owner of the hardware store next door.

Chapter 10: Snippets of Memory AO3 - Wattpad - FFN

At the end of summer, David returns from a military camp, full of ideals that worry Rin a lot. Suddenly, a phone call brings sad news, prompting a discussion with Klaus that turns everything around.

Chapter 11: The machinery of the universe AO3 - Wattpad - FFN

Exhausted by a rush of work and TV repairs due to JFK's forthcoming visit to Dallas, Rin receives Five's unexpected visit to the store.

Chapter 12: Heavy handfuls of curls AO3 - Wattpad - FFN

Thanks to the Destiny Children's connections, Rin got Klaus out of prison after he was arrested for stealing a vehicle. At nightfall, she heads to Kitty's Manor in the hope of finding him there.

Chapter 13: Lemonade by the pool AO3 - Wattpad - FFN

Rin spent the night at Kitty's mansion, where Klaus is resting in a pool improvised in the ornamental basins. Suddenly, she hears a woman's voice she recognizes at once: Allison's.

Chapter 14: Jailhouse Rock AO3 - Wattpad - FFN

Based on a plan carefully masterminded by a very enthusiastic Ben, he, Klaus and Rin proceed to… the spectacular liberation of Raymond Chestnut.

Chapter 15: The Scorpion and the Frog AO3 - Wattpad - FFN

In the evening, following Klaus's visit to Dave at the hardware store, Allison calls Rin to come and give him advice.

Chapter 16: The crossroads of our lives AO3 - Wattpad - FFN

After anxiously awaiting Dave's return from Stadler's, Rin tries to spend some time with Lloyd. Of course, this is the moment Klaus chooses to come crashing to the door.

Chapter 17: Oikade AO3 - Wattpad - FFN

After the incident between Klaus and Lloyd, Rin takes refuge in the alleyway where she had arrived in 1961. There, Five finds her and talks to her about… "going home".

Chapter 18: The ache for what never was AO3 - Wattpad - FFN

After spending the night at ghost Wayne Wilson's house, Rin returns to Glen Oaks… and meets Dave again.

Chapter 19: A river flowing through infinity AO3 - Wattpad - FFN

Rin has finally decided to return to the Destiny Children's Mansion. There, she's gardening with Jill… while Klaus receives an unexpected visit from Dave.

Chapter 20: A light supper AO3 - Wattpad - FFN

With a clear feeling of anticipation, Rin attends Reginald Hargreeves's invitation to 'A Light Supper'.

Chapter 21: The lone wolf from Team Zero AO3 - Wattpad - FFN

After their "light supper", Rin reviews the evening's events with Diego, while Klaus laments about Ben taking over his body.

Chapter 22: At the threshold of nirvana AO3 - Wattpad - FFN

Just as she's about to leave to do some gardening, Rin runs into Klaus, who is coming down from the ' Destiny's Children' Mansion, and who turns out to actually be… Ben.

Chapter 23: Azure dust into the Void AO3 - Wattpad - FFN

Rin goes to old ghost Wayne Wilson's house to complete her part of the deal that allowed her to find Klaus back in '61.

Chapter 24: Dedicated against all odds AO3 - Wattpad - FFN

Returning to the Destiny Children's Mansion, Rin meets Luther. She realizes how lonely he is, and has an important conversion with him.

Chapter 25: Ethereal whirlwinds AO3 - Wattpad - FFN

Rin was called urgently by Klaus to Allison's house to help her get rid of a 'bulky waste'. But Diego returns to announce Viktor's imminent involvement… in the threat of a new apocalypse.

Chapter 26: A conflict of interest AO3 - Wattpad - FFN

Viktor's deflagration has been devastating, and Rin blacked out. She wakes up in a place outside space-time, where she remembers having been before… once.

Chapter 27: Children ride in the back AO3 - Wattpad - FFN

In Eliott's little room, Klaus is slumped on the bed. He's lost Ben, he's lost Rin. But Rin's ghost… seems to have been successfully summoned.

Chapter 28: There were only seven of us AO3 - Wattpad - FFN

At the Cooper farm, young Harlan struggles to control his emotions and the bits of power passed on by Viktor. Rin, too, strives to regain her vital energy and materiality. But suddenly…

Chapter 29: Qué será será AO3 - Wattpad - FFN

While struggling to regain her materiality, Rin tries to comfort young Harlan, terrified in the barn's basement. But suddenly, gunfire breaks out upstairs…

Chapter 30: The end of something AO3 - Wattpad - FFN

Time resumed its course, and night is falling on the Umbrella Academy's last day in 1963 Texas. For Five has obtained a briefcase… and soon, he'll bring everyone back to 2019.

---

<< Prequel || Season 1 || Season 3 coming soon >>

[literallymechanical]

Hi. Please write the solarpunk dystopia book. I’d read that in a heartbeat. However, if you don’t have the time, could I bother you for some book recommendations?? I’ve been on a sci-fi space semi-body horror alien kick (children of time, children of ruin, to sleep in a sea of stars) and I’m needing a new one to sink my teeth into. I think I’d like to move a little closer to the horror genera without reading an actual horror book, but anything dystopian, sci-fi, and plant/space/alien related would be cool! Any thoughts?

Space horror isn't my usual genre, nor is horror in general, but here are a few that come close. It can be hard to judge where the line sits between "horror" and "horror-adjacent," so I'm going to err on the side of just recommending a few horrifying things I've enjoyed:

Roadside Picnic, by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, 1972. Old-school soviet scifi alien horror, and the inspiration for an entire genre of fiction – "people go and explore a Weird Zone where reality is borked and bad things happen." Stalker is a direct homage, the Southern Reach trilogy, etc. I read a translation by Antonia Bouis.

The Laundry Files, by Charles Stross, 2004 – present. This one is a longer series, the first book is the Atrocity Archives. A very modern twist on Lovecraft — bureaucratic horror. The "Laundry" is the unofficial name for the British secret service that handles the occult. Necromancy is a field of theoretical computer science pioneered by Alan Turing, and you can summon Nyarlathotep with a well-crafted raytracing algorithm. The protagonist is the department IT guy, Bob Oliver Francis Howard. If you get the pun in the name you're older than me. Later books deal with the occult implications of Brexit.

There Is No Antimemetics Division, by qntm, 2020. Originally published as a serial on the SCP Wiki, later re-edited and compiled it into a standalone novel. Requires no prior knowledge of the SCP Foundation to enjoy. This is the cosmic horror that Lovecraft wishes he could have written. Can be read for free on the SCP Wiki, but I recommend buying a copy to support the author. Bonkers amazing, pedal-to-the-metal, goes from "quirky high-concept scifi" to "oh god what are they going to do to him with that chisel" real fast.

American Elsewhere, by Robert Jackson Bennet, 2013. It's a bit obscure and might be harder to find, but it's one of the best books I've read in years. Scifi horror-thriller that gets both splashily cosmic and laser-tight. Our protagonist comes to a small town in New Mexico that doesn't appear on any maps to find closure after her abusive father's death, and gets tangled up in horrifying secrets. Nasty, achingly heartbreaking, grand, and takes its time in the most delicious way. The author writes mediocre YA fantasy now, and that's a damn shame.

John Dies At The End (and its sequels), by David Wong, 2007 – 2022. Comedy-horror about shitty paranormal investigators. The comedy is genuinely hilarious and the horror is genuinely horrifying – closer to the cosmic- than body-horror, though it does get up-close and personal. One of the few comedy-horror stories I've read that convincingly pulls off both.

Bloodsucking Fiends: A Love Story, by Christopher Moore, 1995. A raunchy vampire story, set against the sobering backdrop of the AIDS epidemic in San Francisco. I have no idea if this actually counts as horror but I think more people should read Christopher Moore. The tonal whiplash between goofy vampire sex, night-shift convenience store workers bowling with frozen turkeys in the aisles, and the trauma of young men dying from love and dirty needles, is expertly crafted.

I could keep going but this list is already getting a bit long. Hey followers et al., you should add more recommendations, especially ones that are actual space horror!

[leveragehunters]

Holy shit haha.

[Picture is of two tweets. The first is from T(w)itter Daily News, which reads:

News: Twitter has sued Watchell, the law firm that represented the company in the Delaware case that sought to force Elon to his complete his purchase. "Watchell exploited a corporate client left unprotected by lame duck fiduciaries," Twitter said in a statement.

The second tweet is a reply from Elon Musk, which reads:

Watchell brags about how many former Delaware judges work at their firm. They specialize in institutionalized corruption.]

Text of a paywalled Wall Street Journal article with the details under the cut.

Twitter Sues Wachtell Over $90 Million Payout for Musk’s Buyout Deal

Company alleges it was left unprotected by ‘lame duck’ fiduciaries pending sale to Musk

By Alexa Corse

Updated July 7, 2023 7:28 pm ET

Twitter sued Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, the law firm it hired under previous management to enforce Elon Musk’s agreement to acquire the company, accusing it of improperly obtaining a $90 million payout as the deal-closing loomed.

Twitter alleged in a complaint filed Wednesday in California Superior Court in San Francisco that Wachtell and its litigation department, led by William Savitt, were at the center of a spending spree by Twitter’s departing executives. Twitter is asking for full restitution of the $90 million paid to Wachtell. Twitter says in the complaint that the amount includes an unspecified “success fee” that it describes as extraordinary and unconscionable.

Savitt, an attorney for Wachtell in the Twitter case, didn’t respond to a request for comment.

Musk completed his takeover in October in a deal valued at $44 billion. Twitter is accusing Wachtell of an 11th-hour adjustment to its fee structure the day of the closing, despite directions from the new ownership to suspend payment to third parties ahead of the imminent merger.

“Fully aware that nobody with an economic interest in Twitter’s financial well-being was minding the store, Wachtell arranged to effectively line its pockets with funds from the company cash register while the keys were being handed over to the Musk parties,” Twitter says in the complaint.

Twitter’s board signed off on the payment with Wachtell the day the deal closed, according to the complaint. Bret Taylor, chairman of Twitter’s board of directors at the time, didn’t respond to a request for comment.

Wachtell spent months defending Twitter’s interests after Musk said he was walking away from the deal. Ultimately, Musk decided to complete his takeover, shortly before a trial scheduled in Delaware, in which a judge would have determined whether he could abandon the acquisition.

Mark Zuckerberg’s Threads launched to compete with Elon Musk’s Twitter. And as WSJ’s Dan Gallagher explains how successful Threads is may come down to timing and scale. Photo: Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

Bruce MacEwen, a legal consultant, said a $90 million payment didn’t seem like a lot given that the acquisition deal was valued at $44 billion. “This does not strike me as out of line,” said MacEwen, president of consulting firm Adam Smith, Esq.

If Wachtell was instrumental in getting Twitter the $44 billion price after Musk tried to get out of the deal, he said, that provided value. “Did old Twitter get its money’s worth or what?” he said.

A $90 million payment isn’t unusual for such a consequential case, said law-firm consultant Kent Zimmermann from Zeughauser Group. “I’d be surprised if Wachtell was faulted for the amount they charged, considering the stakes and the outcome,” he said.

Wachtell is known to be a leading law firm for cases like the Twitter one, he added. “There’s a limited supply of firms like Wachtell and a lot of demand for them, which drives the price up,” he said.

The suit also names Vijaya Gadde, Twitter’s chief legal officer at the time. “Immediately following the Twitter board’s rubber-stamp approval, Gadde signed Wachtell’s letter agreement,” the complaint says. Gadde didn’t respond to a request for comment.

Twitter headquarters in downtown San Francisco. Elon Musk completed his takeover of Twitter last October in a deal valued at $44 billion.

Twitter filed the complaint under the corporate name X Corp., which the company adopted after Musk took over. Twitter is being represented by Reid Collins & Tsai in the suit filed this week, the complaint shows.

The complaint includes attachments of emails and memos regarding Wachtell’s representation of Twitter. In one memo by Wachtell that Twitter included as part of the filing, the firm said its fees in other comparable litigation had ranged from approximately $33 million to $134 million.

Musk first agreed to buy Twitter in April 2022 for $44 billion, then threatened to walk away from the deal, before reversing course several months later and committing to see through the acquisition.

Musk’s decision to go through with the deal averted a high-stakes trial in Delaware Chancery Court. Twitter initially sued Musk in Delaware, seeking to enforce the terms of the merger agreement, and Musk later countersued, accusing Twitter of misrepresenting its business.

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 10.29 (after 1950)

1953 – BCPA Flight 304 DC-6 crashes near San Francisco. 1955 – The Soviet battleship Novorossiysk strikes a World War II mine in the harbor at Sevastopol. 1956 – Suez Crisis begins: Israeli forces invade the Sinai Peninsula and push Egyptian forces back toward the Suez Canal. 1957 – Israel's prime minister David Ben-Gurion and five of his ministers are injured when Moshe Dwek throws a grenade into the Knesset. 1960 – An airplane carrying the Cal Poly football team crashes on takeoff in Toledo, Ohio. 1964 – The United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar is renamed to the United Republic of Tanzania. 1964 – Biggest jewel heist; involving the Star of India (gem) in the American Museum of Natural History in New York City by Murph the Surf and gang. 1967 – Montreal's World Fair, Expo 67, closes with over 50 million visitors. 1969 – The first-ever computer-to-computer link is established on ARPANET, the precursor to the Internet. 1972 – The three surviving perpetrators of the Munich massacre are released from prison in exchange for the hostages of the hijacked Lufthansa Flight 615. 1980 – Demonstration flight of a secretly modified C-130 for an Iran hostage crisis rescue attempt ends in a crash landing at Eglin Air Force Base's Duke Field, Florida, leading to the cancellation of Operation Credible Sport. 1985 – Major General Samuel K. Doe is announced as the winner of the first multi-party election in Liberia. 1986 – British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher opens the last stretch of the M25 motorway. 1991 – The American Galileo spacecraft makes its closest approach to 951 Gaspra, becoming the first probe to visit an asteroid. 1994 – Francisco Martin Duran fires over two dozen shots at the White House; he is later convicted of trying to kill U.S. President Bill Clinton. 1998 – In South Africa, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission presents its report, which condemns both sides for committing atrocities. 1998 – Space Shuttle Discovery blasts off on STS-95 with 77-year-old John Glenn on board, making him the oldest person to go into space at that time. 1998 – ATSC HDTV broadcasting in the United States is inaugurated with the launch of the STS-95 space shuttle mission. 1998 – While en route from Adana to Ankara, a Turkish Airlines flight with a crew of six and 33 passengers is hijacked by a Kurdish militant who orders the pilot to fly to Switzerland. The plane instead lands in Ankara after the pilot tricked the hijacker into thinking that he is landing in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia to refuel. 1998 – Hurricane Mitch, the second deadliest Atlantic hurricane in history, makes landfall in Honduras. 1998 – The Gothenburg discothèque fire in Sweden kills 63 and injures 200. 1999 – A large cyclone devastates Odisha, India. 2002 – A fire destroys a luxurious department store in Ho Chi Minh City, where 1,500 people are shopping. More than 60 people die and over 100 are unaccounted for in the deadliest peacetime disaster in Vietnam. 2004 – The Arabic-language news network Al Jazeera broadcasts an excerpt from a 2004 Osama bin Laden video in which the terrorist leader first admits direct responsibility for the September 11, 2001 attacks and references the 2004 U.S. presidential election. 2005 – Bombings in Delhi, India kill more than 60. 2008 – Delta Air Lines merges with Northwest Airlines, creating the world's largest airline and reducing the number of US legacy carriers to five. 2008 – A pair of deadly earthquakes hits Baluchistan, Pakistan, killing 215. 2012 – Hurricane Sandy hits the east coast of the United States, killing 148 directly and 138 indirectly, while leaving nearly $70 billion in damages and causing major power outages. 2014 – A mud slide; the 2014 Badulla landslide, in south-central Sri Lanka, kills at least 16 people, and leaves hundreds of people missing. 2015 – China announces the end of its one-child policy after 35 years. 2018 – A Boeing 737 MAX plane crashes after taking off from Jakarta, Indonesia killing 189 people on board.

[beardedmrbean]

Over the past month, a group of San Francisco police officers have been installed at various grocery stores, pharmacies and clothing outlets across the city in an effort to crack down on retail theft as it happens, officials said Friday.

While police officials offered few details on how the operation worked in order to keep details of the ongoing theft-abatement effort concealed, a spokesperson for the San Francisco Police Department said officers made 60 arrests since late November.

“These operations have resulted in 13 felony bookings, over 47 misdemeanor citations, and they will continue,” SFPD said in a statement.

The operation, according to SFPD Deputy Chief Raj Vaswani, began in late November, and said it would last until at least next month, with the department planning on continuing it into January 2023.

“We’re going to assess it and see how successful it is,” Vaswani said. “Of course, we also have to look at the overall resources and how sustainable it is.”

Spokespersons for Safeway and Gap Inc. confirmed that their respective stores participated in the anti-theft operations. It was not immediately clear what specific locations of those stores were involved.

Vaswani said the operation also included Old Navy, Target, Whole Foods, CVS, Walgreens and Macy’s locations.

“Operations like this not only yield results in arrests and prosecutions, they also send a message that there will be consequences when you cross the line in San Francisco,” San Francisco Mayor London Breed said in a statement. “There has to be accountability in this city and we will keep building on the strong partnerships with our retailers to address theft in their stores so we can create a safer space for both residents and workers.”

Of the 60 arrests, about half were offered diversion, and the rest are being prosecuted for various retail theft crimes including commercial shoplifting, petty theft and grand theft, police said.

What initially began as a concerted effort in downtown San Francisco has now expanded to retail stores throughout the city, Vaswani added.

“Retail theft is not a victimless crime. It hurts our local business. It hurts our workers who are getting their hours cut or losing their jobs. It hurts people who are shopping to feed their families and it hurts our seniors who depend on neighborhood pharmacies that are forced to shutter,” SFPD spokesperson Adam Lobsinger said in a statement.

According to SFPD’s crime dashboard, burglary — defined as “the unlawful entry of a structure to commit a felony or a theft” — is down 20% since last year. Larceny, which included shoplifting as well as things like bicycle theft and stealing of car parts, is up 9.6%.

“Addressing retail theft is a priority for my office and we have been working closely with the San Francisco police to ensure that there is accountability and appropriate consequences in all cases,” San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said in a statement.

Safeway spokesperson Wendy Gutshall said in statement that the company — which has changed store hours and added safety barriers in some stores in response to theft — will continue to work with SFPD on the operation.

“Safeway is looking forward to continue partnering with San Francisco law enforcement leaders to ensure the safety of our customers and employees,” Gutshall said. “Maintaining a safe and welcoming shopping experience at our stores is critical for us to remain operating in the city.”

Chris Nelson, head of asset protection for Gap Inc., said in a statement that the company continues to “struggle with organized retail crime in the Bay Area.” Partnership with law enforcement, Nelson said, was “critical.”

Shoplifting and retail theft has been notoriously difficult for police to track down, as many stores do not report all incidents of shoplifting to police, and employees are often told not to physically engage with shoplifters.

Still, in a city where stores have items like shampoo and toothpaste behind lock and key, retail theft remains a flash point in debates about public safety in San Francisco.

[thenuclearmallard]

Alaskan asylum seeker from Russia Indigenous to Siberia

October 23, 2022by abhaykumar1165

STATION, Alaska — Two Siberian Native Russians are so nervous about fighting the war in Ukraine, all they have to do is take a boat trip across the treacherous Bering Sea to reach American soil, a senior U.S. senator from Alaska said after speaking with the couple.

The two, identified as male residents, landed earlier this month on Gambell, Alaska’s St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Strait, where they applied for asylum.

“They are afraid for their lives of Russians, who are a minority of the population, to be drafted into service in Ukraine,” Republican US Sen. Lisa Murkowski said Saturday at a candidate forum at the Alaska Confederation of Native Conference in Anchorage.

“It’s clear to me that these people are in fear, so in fear of their government, that they would risk their lives and take a 15-foot boat across open water,” Murkowski said when asked about the Arctic plan.

“It’s clear that Putin (Russian President Vladimir) is focused on the military victory at the expense of his own citizens,” Murkowski said.

Murkowski said he had recently met with the two Siberians, but would not provide further details on when or where the meeting took place or where the asylum process stood. He was not available after the forum to answer questions.

Murkowski announced his asylum request on October 6, saying the men had taken refuge in one of the coastal communities on Russia’s eastern coast.

Village elder Bruce Boolowon, 87 years old in Gambell, is believed to be the last living member of the Alaska National Guard who helped rescue 11 US Navy men who were shot down by Russian MIGs over the Bering Sea in a 1955 plane crash on the island of St. Lawrence.

Gambell, an Alaska Native community of about 600 people, is about 36 miles (58 kilometers) from Russia’s Chukotka Peninsula in Siberia.

Although one of the Russians spoke English well, two Russian women were brought from Gambell to transfer. Both women married local husbands and became naturalized U.S. citizens, said Boolowon, who is Siberian Yupik.

Russians landing in Gambell was common during the Cold War, but the visits were not nefarious, Boolowon said. Since St. Lawrence Island is so close to Russia, people routinely travel there to visit relatives.

But these two asylum-seekers were unknown to the people of Gambello.

“They were foreigners and they didn’t have any passports, so they put them in jail,” he told The Press Partner last week.

The two men spent the night in a prison, but the townspeople in Gambell brought them food, and the Alaska Native bought dishes and utensils at the grocery store.

“They were full of beauty; they ate a lot,” said Boolowon.

“The next day he came with some Coast Guard officials in a C-130 and picked them up,” he said, adding that was the last he heard from Rutenis.

Since then, the officials have been silent.

“Individuals are transported to an inspection station, which includes a screening and vetting process, and then processed in accordance with applicable US immigration laws and national laws,” a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said in an email. last week when he asked for an update on the asylum process and if and where the men were being held.

Margaret Stock, an immigration attorney in Anchorage, said it is highly unlikely that the information about the Russians was ever released.

“The U.S. government is supposed to keep all of this secret, so I don’t know why they’re going to tell anybody anything,” he told the AP.

Indeed, it would be up to two Russians to publicize their situation, which could put their families in Russia at risk. “I don’t know why they would want to do that,” Stock said.

Thousands of Russians fled the country after Putin announced in September the call-up of about 300,000 people with military experience to bolster forces in Ukraine.

Messages sent last week and again on Saturday to the Russian consular office in San Francisco were not returned.

[onioneyez]

My favorite possessions in life are ones that just turn up, like cats do. And probably these possessions are like cats in some other narratively satisfying way that would bring this whole post together at the end but there’s no time for that I have to tell you about my prized possession!

So, the item. I found it at my old work. On first glance it’s a mug with cute bears prancing along the sides.

But oh ho ho look what they’re doing.

Horny scamps.

I love their toothy grins and their zest for life and how they constantly look thrilled to the point of mania.

Apparently the mugs were designed and sold by Win Ng and Spaulding Taylor, a gay couple who started a department store in San Francisco in the 60’s that would eventually be called Taylor&Ng. Their goods got wildly popular in the 70s and 80s and were sold across the country at big department stores like Macy’s. Wikipedia even says Ng is credited with popularizing the wok in America, but citation needed on that one. Ng died of AIDS-related-complications at age 55.

The store still sells stuff online to this very day. You can even buy the bears, as long as you promise to send me pics.

[strawberryclothing]

What Happens in the Shanty T Shirt

Official Frank Ocean Album Blonde Shirt I don’t leave everything up, but I do leave our tree up. All the Official Frank Ocean Album Blonde Shirt have a special meaning, and we like to look at them, talk about them, and remember the times associated with each one. Having that glittery, softly lit beauty in the front room just gives our house some cheer in the bleak days of winter. Also, we always get a live tree, and I can’t bear to trash it until it completely dries out. It takes a long time to decorate, so all that work seems more worth it if the tree stays up a long time. One year, I left it up until St. Patrick’s Day. Usually, though, it stays up until mid- to late February. As long as it looks fresh and healthy, I leave it up. I started this tradition about 6 years ago when we had an especially beautiful tree. The day after New Year’s Day as I was about to start the take-down, I remarked that I hated to do it because the tree was so pretty. My husband said, “Just leave it up, then, if it makes you happy.” So I did. We have three sons, and I like to think they will have memories of this tradition.

Best The breeders sep 26 2024 mission ballroom in denver co shirt Christmas decorations are a Best The breeders sep 26 2024 mission ballroom in denver co shirt affectation. Whether one puts them up or doesn’t put them up, whether one leaves them up or takes them down, whether they are put up in January or any other time before December, has no impact on the superstition defined as luck. Good luck and bad luck are merely characterizations of serendipitous occurrences that are random in nature but which leave us either going hooray (good luck) or lamenting the vagaries of uncaring nature (bad luck). But worrying about or praying about or hoping for either as the case may be, like astrology for example, is simply superstitious dreck. As a native yo the city I must say there are three a places that I would suggest to visitors to really get the best holiday scene amd spirit. My first pick is going to be Westfield Mall’s extended outdoor shopping area Union Square. Located at the corner of Powell and Geary in the heart of downtown San Francisco the Christmas spirit is reminiscent of the movie “A Miracle on 24th Street”. That is minus the snow.

Official Soja jul 31 2024 old national centre indianapolis in shirt You know what almost all Christmas ornaments are made in China. However, I will say there are different qualities within that. Not saying the Official Soja jul 31 2024 old national centre indianapolis in shirt ones won’t be decent however you will get what you paid for- they won’t last forever that’s for sure. I bought a bunch of decorations last year from a store in Australia along the same line as Walmart. I bought them for a DIY pool noodle wreath I decided to give a go (not crafty at all btw lol) anyway they were pretty ordinary some of them I had to throw away, very cheaply made but I got what I paid for. Every year we go to Pottery Barn to buy a couple of new special ornaments, it’s become a tradition. They are gorgeous and the quality is very good, still made in China. Bottom line is if you want something that’s going to last forever and look the same each year, pay a higher price point at either higher end department stores, one off boutique stores etc. My ornaments from places like Costco and Cracker Barrel etc still look good too. If how long they last doesn’t matter so much then go for the cheaper stuff. Thanks for the A2A.

Official Allezlesrouges Liverpool Not England Tee Shirt I would suggest that spending more often than not leads to the Official Allezlesrouges Liverpool Not England Tee Shirt of wealth, either by paying for goods expected to be sold right away, or in anticipation of sales in the future Either way, for the most part those things sold will not be produced or cared for if someone wasn’t going to buy them. Whether perishable items, most of which help preserve some more durable form of wealth, like human capital, for instance. Or durable forms of wealth are produced that will last beyond the current time period. It is the “spending” that encourages the increased production and preservation of wealth. So whether you spend it or not, in terms of money you will have the same amount of money at the end of the given time period. which we can refer to as savings.

Nice Smoke meat not drugs natural shirt No! It’s much too early for Nice Smoke meat not drugs natural shirt . I want to enjoy this fall (although it seems that fall has decided not to visit us this year) and each holiday as it comes. One year, ages ago, I put up the Christmas tree on Thanksgiving weekend and by the time Christmas came around, all the decorations were dusty and I was sick of looking at it..lol. That was a good lesson. Christmas, for me, is sparkling snow, pine trees (not maples turning gold and red) and a very special time, especially if you have family (cherish them because some day they will be gone). It’s a time of selflessness and love and that “Christmas spirit” which is incredible which takes hold of you.

Penkmatters Oi Shirt So not only did they actually have their homes both have Hanukkah and Christmas decorations, but these very different families they happily and joyously hosted celebrations for Penkmatters Oi Shirt. What’s key here though is that what is meant by “Christmas.” Many people associate this holiday as a traditional Christian-themed, religious holiday with various Christian themes, decor, etc.. But many other people associate the holiday with snowmen, winter weather, reindeer, hot chocolate, egg nog (often with rum), various evergreen trees (artificial or real) festooned with glittering ornaments, pretty gift boxes under the tree, etc., or a secular (with Pagan roots in Saturnalia) winter holiday just a few days after the annual winter solstice. In fact, it seems to be a holiday that many non-Christians and even non-theists celebrate.

[mybookplacenet]

Author Interview: Peggi Davis

Tell us about yourself.: Hello! I am Peggi Davis, 77 years old, a widow, and living my best life this very minute. I was raised in New York City by an eccentric British father and sometime-model mother, in an untethered, unusual home filled with fashion, formality, and a few friendly ghosts. After graduating from Texas A&M University, I entered the wacky world of retail advertising as a fashion art director and creative director. This painfully shy and quiet young girl was introduced to a world she never knew existed. There, I developed a cadre of creative colleagues with whom I shared decades of outrageous experiences and escapades. My career took me all over the country, from New York to San Francisco as I worked for Macy’s, Saks Department Stores, and AGA Design, New York. I settled in Birmingham, Alabama, which I love. Cool restaurants, warm biscuits, and gentle people. There is something to be said for Southern hospitality. Plus it is beautiful, an assault on the eyes. My little piece of paradise. Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?: I grew up in Queens Village, New York and was fortunate to attend The Webster Day School. It was tiny, with only 99 kids in grades 1-8. I was so lucky to have teachers who encouraged my writing and artistic abilities. In the fourth grade, my teacher read "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" to my class and it changed my life. I discovered fantasy and the ability to create new worlds through words. It was magical. I also have a deep respect for New York authors Dorothy Parker, Nora Ephron, James Baldwin, and Joan Didion. Do you have any unusual writing habits? I have a design background and am a very visual person. Once I can "see" my book I begin to write it. I design the cover and title first. It grounds me and makes my project real. What authors have influenced you? I grew up in Queens Village, New York and was fortunate to attend The Webster Day School. It was tiny, with only 99 kids in grades 1-8. I was so lucky to have teachers who encouraged my writing and artistic abilities. In the fourth grade, my teacher read "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" to my class and it changed my life. I discovered fantasy and the ability to create new worlds through words. It was magical. I also have a deep respect for New York authors Dorothy Parker, Nora Ephron, James Baldwin, and Joan Didion. Do you have any advice for new authors? I have often heard the saying, “It’s a journey, not a destination” And that is what I would say to new authors. Most of you are not going to get rich or be interviewed on NPR or CBS Sunday Morning. Chances are you will never be mentioned in the New York Times book section or hounded by Hollywood producers. Write because you have something to say. Write because you absolutely love it. Write because it feeds your soul like nothing else. Just write. What is the best advice you have ever been given? Always be open to possibilities. I am the most unlikely author. Sometimes I look at my printed books in total disbelief. My writing has given me a sense of accomplishment and pride. I know I won’t be accepting the Pulitzer Prize anytime soon, but to see my books on a shelf next to Joan Didion makes me feel like I have left a mark on our crazy world. It’s like saying, I am here. What are you reading now? I just finished "The Great Believers" by Rebecca Makkai and loved it, partly because I lived it working in New York all through the 1980s. I had so many friends and colleagues who were tragically impacted at that time. I am just beginning "North Woods" by Daniel Mason. What's your biggest weakness? Online shopping! I am addicted and feel terrible about wasting all those boxes and contributing to the demise of the traditional retail stores. I'm disgusted with myself! What is your favorite book of all time? I am always hesitant to answer this question but "The Glass Castle" by Jeanette Walls always comes to mind. When you're not writing, how do you like to spend your time? I love to cook and entertain my friends. I love to decorate, travel, music, make collages and greeting cards, paint, and of course read. I have a sweet doodle dog named Dylan (for Bob) that is my constant companion. Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you? I think my first memories consist of Babe, Alice in Wonderland and Eloise. Going to the Plaza Hotel for tea was always a treat for me and my sister growing up. And to this day, we remember shrieking at the mushroom-induced, tall Alice illustration as kids. I found a darling store in London last year that was all Alice in Wonderland products in Cecil Court. I found a mug with that same illustration on it and that was the best Christmas gift ever! What has inspired you and your writing style? My favorite boss in advertising told me once to "write the way I talk." And so I do. I tend to follow long paragraphs with one-liners and use alliteration which probably is influenced by writing advertising headlines and copy. What are you working on now? My efforts right now are helping to promote my latest book, "Rewind Ranch." It is not the fun part of being an author for me as it is just like working again! What is your favorite method for promoting your work? Promoting my work feels like self-promotion to me. I am a great number two person and therefore hire professionals to do the heavy load. I do great launch parties though, and had over 100 people show up for "Rewind Ranch." And, the bookstore sold out! What's next for you as a writer? I am considering a sequel to "Rewind Ranch" as so many readers have asked for one. The characters seemed to resonate with them, and I am fascinated with my villain Dr. Wendy Wu, and how she became so evil. How well do you work under pressure? Working under pressure is my strong suit. Again, my career in advertising, with all the craziness, changes, and deadlines was a great training ground for being able to produce under time restraints. How do you decide what tone to use with a particular piece of writing? My tone reflects the subject which is so different in my memoir "Funny Face" than my contemporary thriller "Rewind Ranch." If you could share one thing with your fans, what would that be? Gratitude. Thank you for even caring what I have to say. It is such a privilege to put myself out there and be greeted with open arms. It means the world to me. Peggi Davis's Author Websites and Profiles Website Amazon Profile Goodreads Profile Peggi Davis's Social Media Links Facebook Page Read the full article

[cybermoonmoon]

I opened my sentient dark matter pocket watch and portaled. Algiers Street Oakland March 8th 2:43pm 1962. I was wearing my old 2008 Obama “Hope” sweatshirt. Post-industrial folks don't care what you wear. The 16th and 23rd centuries dangerously different matters. The air was a stew of car exhausts cigarette smoke with background radiations from A-Bomb tests. It was what it was I ain't judging...much. I wandered into a Woolworths.

This being San Francisco it wasn’t segregated. As a lad I got my pencils, and comic books there. Wandered about aisles of mid-century items that in 2024 would be in expensive antique shops. Here it was just the usual dollar store crap.

Saw my treasure. “Fantastic Four” #3. Twelve cents fresh from the printers. I picked up my prize plus some Hershey bars at twice the size, and a first pressing 45rpm copy of the Beatles “I Want to Hold your Hand”. Paid with a 21st century five-dollar bill. I later bought back from Ebay. The Timeline is nothing if not tidy.

Just to make a point. I sat at the Woolworth’s lunch counter. Down South in 1962 doing this might be a death sentence for a Negro. Rogue cops Kluxers everywhere. I ordered hot dog fries, and an orange drink. The main food groups. Tasted as good as I remembered them. Sat watching souls going about their lives. Good eras or harsh 800 B.C. or 2640 folks is folks.

I was in a Woolworths at the height of the American Empire. Told da Klan to bleep themselves had a hot dog and read “Fantastic Four”. What a time we had. I retired to the men’s department. Behind a row of Stetson hats I shifted. Neon shimmer …Poof!

(FB Memory from my Time Portal series.)

[things-to-do-francisco-ca]

San Francisco, CA, weather and climate

San Francisco has a typical Mediterranean climate with warm summers and mild, wet winters, commonly observed in coastal northern California cities. The western part of the city is mainly known for fog. San Francisco's unique geographical features, including its sharp hills and seaside location, create numerous microclimates, resulting in a 20% difference in rainfall in high-hill neighborhoods. The temperatures in San Francisco generally do not exceed 80°F, with only around 20 days per year being that hot. The warm season is from May to October, while the rainy season is from November to April, with an average of 73 rainy days per year and 24 inches of annual precipitation.

San Francisco apartment rentals

The Quinn is a luxurious San Francisco apartment rental designed with the residents' well-being in mind, offering a peaceful living experience through organic courtyards and rooftop retreats. The building features a captivating collection of commissioned artwork by renowned artist KFiSH, enhancing the overall ambiance. The spacious outdoor area includes a state-of-the-art grill, pizza oven, and plush seating options, perfect for hosting a weekend barbecue or enjoying a book while taking in the stunning view of the sun setting on the horizon. Residents can enjoy heightened security and convenience with a cutting-edge virtual intercom system and a state-of-the-art bicycle storage room securely controlled by fobs. For more information about the floor plans available, call (415) 237-2535.

Pier 39

The PIER 39 in San Francisco is a popular tourist destination due to its stunning Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, and San Francisco Bay views. The area has various attractions, such as the Aquarium of the Bay, Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, and the San Francisco 7D Experience. There are also different shopping options, including souvenirs, clothing, and candy stores. It also houses various restaurants, including seafood, casual dining, and fast food. The lively atmosphere of Pier 39 is perfect for people-watching and enjoying the scenery. It's the home to a colony of sea lions, which can be observed sunbathing, playing, and swimming in the bay. It also hosts street performers, including magicians, musicians, and comedians, and hosts special events throughout the year, such as concerts, festivals, and holiday celebrations.

San Francisco coroner identified a man struck by a Muni bus.

A man, who was identified as 61-year-old Thomas Duba, was fatally struck by a Muni bus in San Francisco last week. The incident occurred near Van Ness Avenue and O'Farrell Street on Muni's 49-Van Ness/Mission line. The bus had to be raised to remove Duba, who was dead at the scene. Both directions of Van Ness were closed for hours during the investigation, but the roadway reopened at 5:20 a.m. San Francisco police are investigating the collision and have not released any details about the case. Anyone with information is asked to contact the San Francisco Police Department at 415-575-4444 or text TIP411.

Link to maps

PIER 39 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94133, United States Take Jones St to Pine St 12 min (1.6 mi) Take Hyde St to 8th St 8 min (1.4 mi) The Quinn SF 345 8th St, San Francisco, CA 94103, United States

[recentlyheardcom]

'San Francisco is like a failed state': Joe Rogan hammers the 'next level' crime in the Golden Gate City — which is fast 'becoming a ghost town.' Is he right?Podcaster Joe Rogan has taken a shot at San Francisco, calling out the California city for its “next level” lawlessness and disorder.In conversation with stand-up comedian and actor Gabriel Iglesias on a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, Rogan said: “San Francisco is like a failed state."Don't missThe two men agreed that crime in the city is “next level.”“No one’s stopping anybody from doing anything,” Rogan added. “It’s crazy how quick San Francisco has [declined]. Everyone’s pulling out of there. Hotels are pulling out. Chains like Walgreens are pulling out.”Businesses have been fleeing downtown San Francisco to the extent that “it’s becoming a ghost town,” according to Iglesias, who added: “And they’re not pumping the breaks on it.”Now, the pair did make these comments from the comfort of Rogan’s podcast studio in Austin, Texas. But is San Francisco as bad as they make it out to be?Retail crimeOne type of crime that has apparently been on the rise in San Francisco is retail crime.In a brazen example, CNN Senior National Correspondent Kyung Lah claimed to witness three thefts in 30 minutes while filming a television report on July 24 at the Walgreens in San Francisco’s Richmond neighborhood. News cameras captured at least one individual walking out of the pharmacy without paying for any items. Many products at the store are kept under lock and key.Read more: Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now use $100 to cash in on prime real estate — without the headache of being a landlord. Here's howStory continuesIn recent months, several retail giants — including Nordstrom, H&M, Marshall's, Gap, Banana Republic, Anthropologie and Office Depot — have announced they’re pulling out of some San Francisco locations. Crime levels were cited as playing a role in some of these decisions.Rising concern over retail crime is not isolated to the Golden Gate City. According to a report from the National Retail Federation, a majority of retailers surveyed between 2020 and 2022 reported annual increases in organized retail crime activity at their stores.To combat the problem, Home Depot CEO Ted Decker announced in June that the home improvement company would be “investing in more security guards” to protect the safety of its employees and customers. This decision sadly followed the deaths of two Home Depot employees during theft incidents.'A ghost town'To call downtown San Francisco a “ghost town” may be a bit of an exaggeration, but there are several factors playing into this perception.When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the city’s tech-heavy workforce embraced remote work and its return to the office has been slow. According to real estate company Savills, San Francisco had one of the lowest office availability rates in the U.S. before the pandemic at 9.5%; however, vacancy is now 30%, a 30-year high.This major drop in in-office workers has contributed to the diminishment of the city’s once-buzzing downtown core. Even hotels are cutting their losses and bidding farewell to the city.John Chachas, the CEO of Gump’s, a 166-year-old department store in San Francisco, recently penned a chilling review of the current state of play.“As we prepare for our 166th holiday season at 250 Post Street, we fear this may be our last,” Chacas wrote in an open letter to California Governor Gavin Newsom, Mayor London Breed, and the city’s Board of Supervisors, published as a paid advertisement in the San Francisco Chronicle.“San Francisco now suffers from a ‘tyranny of the minority’ — behavior and actions of the few that jeopardize the livelihood of the many.“The ramifications of COVID policies advising people to abandon their offices are only beginning to be understood. Equally devastating have been a litany of destructive San Francisco strategies, including allowing the homeless to occupy our sidewalks, to

openly distribute and use illegal drugs, to harass the public and to defile the city’s streets.”What to read nextThis article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

[joekellyotcglobalholdings]

A 166-Year-Old Luxury Retailer Says This Might Be Its 'Last' Holiday Season Due to the 'Profound Erosion' of San Francisco

A 166-Year-Old Luxury Retailer Says This Might Be Its 'Last' Holiday Season Due to the 'Profound Erosion' of San Francisco https://www.entrepreneur.com/business-news/166-year-old-store-gumps-holiday-season-may-be-our-last/457564 The owner of San Francisco luxury department store Gumps took out a full-page ad in "The San Francisco Chronicle" to express concern over the city's current state and call on city officials to clean up the streets. via Entrepreneur: Latest Articles https://www.entrepreneur.com/latest August 16, 2023 at 12:56PM

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“St. Louis Alley – Chinatown San Francisco,” 1898.  (Painting by J.H.E. Partington from a private collection).  

St. Louis Alley and Chinatown’s Colorful Past

To the Chinese of old San Francisco Chinatown, St. Louis Alley or Place was known as 聖路易巷 (canto:  “Sing Low Yick Hong”).  The origin of its alternate name, 火燒巷  (canto: “Faw Siu Hong”; lit. “Fire Lane”) may have been coined because of the occurrence of numerous fires in the alley.  

“Court in Chinatown San Francisco,” 1886.  Painting by Edwin Deakin (from the collection of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Bequest of Edith Clark Mau).  This painting has been identified elsewhere as St. Louis Alley, and its general features appear to match an illustration by J.H.E. Partington made a dozen years later.  Partington’s image depicted a steeper street incline, consistent with Jackson Street’s east-to-west slope.  

Theresa Salazar of The Bancroft Alley wrote about St. Louis Alley as follows:

“One of the most fascinating collections at The Bancroft Library are the scrapbooks compiled by Jesse Brown Cook, who served in the San Francisco Police Department from the late 1880s to the 1930s. Before the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire he was the sergeant of the "Chinatown Squad," which patrolled Chinatown. His scrapbooks document life there, from the everyday activities of its immigrant inhabitants to the more exotic and forbidden conduct behind its hidden, secretive inner walls. Cook went on to serve as Chief of Police after the 1906 earthquake and was later appointed to the Police Commission. In his reminiscences about San Francisco's Chinatown before the earthquake, he provides descriptions and anecdotes about the names given by the Chinese community, including St. Louis Alley:  ‘Duncan [Duncombe] Alley is off Jackson Street, below Stockton, and is known as Fay Chie Hong, or ‘Fat Boy Alley.’  This was named after a young boy living on the street who, at fifteen years, weighed about 240 pounds. A little way below, on the opposite side of the street, was St. Louis Alley. In the early days of Chinatown there was a large fire in the alley which burned up quite a number of houses. The Chinese, therefore, called it ‘fire alley,’ or ‘Fo Sue Hong’" (San Francisco Police and Peace Officers'’ Journal, June 1931).

Prior to the quake and fire of 1906, St. Louis Alley could be accessed from Jackson Street in the heart of San Francisco's Chinatown.  Starting at Jackson Street, St. Louis Alley extended southward, running parallel to Dupont Street and Ross Alley for a portion of its length. In the middle of the city block, the alley made a left turn to the east, becoming narrower while leading towards Dupont Street where it terminated between stores occupying 921 and 923 Dupont. 

“Shop in Chinatown SF Cal.” c. 1892 - 1895. Photographer unknown (from the collection of the San Francisco History Center of the San Francisco Public Library).  A boy stands outside the Tuck On Long & Co. (德安隆; canto: “Duck On Loong”) general merchandise store located at 921 Dupont Street in old San Francisco Chinatown. The history of this shop, situated at the left side of the entrance to St. Louis Alley from Dupont Street, has been lost to historical memory.  However, the identification of the business (a.k.a. “Tuck On Lung”) is made possible by the appearance of the three-character Chinese signage seen above the boy standing in the entrance to the store. The Chinese name was traced to the Horn Hong & Co. directory of 1892 with cross-referencing to the San Francisco Municipal Reports of 1892 (p. 172) and the 1895 Langley directory’s Chinese business listings. Barely visible along the right edge of the frame is a partial view of the corner and northern side of the building facing the narrow passageway of St. Louis Alley which ran east to west from Dupont Street between the buildings located at 921 and 923 Dupont (before a 90-degree turn right in the mid-block to the north toward Jackson Street.

Detail from the Official Map of Chinatown from July 1885 commissioned by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors (from the Cooper Chow collection of the Chinese Historical Society of America).

“A High Binder, San Luis Alley, San Francisco, Cal.” c. 1902.   Photographer unknown (from the Cooper Chow collection at the Chinese Historical Society of America).  The photo’s title was derived from its appearance on page 17 of the January 1902 issue of the Railroad Trainmen's Journal, a union publication. (see here)  Given the narrowness of the alleyway shown in the photo, one can surmise that the photo was taken with an easterly view from the alleyway toward its terminus on the 900-block of  Dupont Street, with a lookout man posted at an entrance to a longtime gambling den on the south side of the alleyway or the right of the photo.  

This configuration of St. Louis Alley placed it strategically in close proximity to the bustling main thoroughfare of Chinatown, allowing easy access to the various shops, businesses, and other establishments that populated the area.  

As the city’s 1885 map depicts, those other establishments on St. Louis Alley included at least several gambling operations which figured prominently in the life of the alley, as well as in other parts of Chinatown.  The gambling houses offered to a largely bachelor society a variety of games such as fan-tan, poker, and mahjong as places of entertainment and recreation.  

“Gambling Den at San Francisco,” no date.  Illustrator unknown (from a private collection).  Fan-Tan, or fantan (traditional Chinese: 番攤; pinyin: fāntān; Jyutping: faan1 taan1; lit. 'repeated divisions') is a gambling game long played in China. It is a game of pure chance.  The game is played by placing two handfuls of small objects on a board and guessing the remaining count when divided by four. After players have cast bets on values of 1 through 4, the dealer or croupier repeatedly removes four objects from the board until only one, two, three or four beans remain, determining the winner.  The name "fantan" emerged in the mid-nineteenth century, prior to which the game was referred to as "掩錢" (yǎnqián) meaning "covering coins," "攤戲" (tānxì), "攤錢" (tānqián), or "意錢" (yìqián). It gained prominence during the Late Qing and Republican period in Canton and the Pearl River Delta region. Following 1850, due to substantial Cantonese emigration, fantan found its way overseas, including America, where it became particularly popular among Chinese migrants, primarily of Cantonese origin.

Jacob Riis, in his famous book about the underbelly of New York, How the Other Half Lives (1890), wrote of entering a Chinatown fan-tan parlor: 

"At the first foot-fall of leather soles on the steps the hum of talk ceases, and the group of celestials, crouching over their game of fan tan, stop playing and watch the comer with ugly looks. Fan tan is their ruling passion." The large Chinatown in San Francisco was also home to dozens of fan-tan houses in the 19th century. The city's former police commissioner Jesse B. Cook wrote that in 1889 Chinatown had 50 fan-tan games, and that "in the 50 fan tan gambling houses the tables numbered from one to 24, according to the size of the room."

“Tan Gamblers Surprised” no date. Photograph by Sam Cheney Partridge. 

The San Francisco Call newspaper on July 25, 1899, described one well-known gambling parlor as follows:

“On St. Louis alley, six doors from the corner of Jackson street, is a tall building with heavily barred windows and massive doors.  This is the home of the Fook Tai lottery and so certain is this company that it can violate the law with impunity that its doors are wide open and throngs of Chinamen pass in and out, buying tickets and watching the daily drawings.  St. Louis alley is a narrow runway which winds around from Jackson to Dupont street – so narrow that four people can scarcely walk abreast through it.  Go there between 9 and 10 o’clock in the evening and the alley will be found so crowded with Chinamen that it is almost impossible to force a passage way through.  These Chinamen are there for the purpose of purchasing tickets to the drawing which takes place at 10 o’clock.  There is no attempt to disguise the nature of the place, and while white men are barred by the man at the head of the stairs it is not a difficult matter for a white man to so disguise himself that he will be admitted.”  

“Fook Tai Lottery Office,” as drawn for a news article in the San Francisco Call newspaper of July 25, 1899.  

Prostitution was another unfortunate reality in St. Louis Alley and the broader Chinatown district. Chinese immigrant women, often lured or forced into the trade, worked in brothels or as street prostitutes. They faced exploitation and lived in deplorable conditions, driven by economic hardships and limited opportunities for respectable employment. The presence of brothels and the commercial sex trade underscored the difficult circumstances faced by Chinese women and the social inequalities prevalent during that time.

A report from the July 25, 1897, edition of the San Francisco Call was typical for this era in Chinatown’s history:

Two Chinese girls under 16 “Kept as slaves in a vile house on St. Louis alley”  The Society for the Protection of Children

“St. Louis alley is one of those blind alleys so numerous in Chinatown, and is especially adapted to the hiding of girls.  It runs in from Jackson street toward Washington, but stops half way and joins a cross alley, known as Nun Kuk alley, which runs in from Dupont street.  These two alleys are a various levels, and it is necessary to ascend and descend several short flights of steps in traversing them.  At the junction are piles of lumber and debris of various kinds. The entire alley is lined with dens of different kinds, and communication by electric bells is had from house to house.  When the raid was made these bells could be distinctly heard ringing in the other houses and lights went out as if shut off by an electric switch-board.”

Fortunately, artist Charles Albert Rogers captured a pair of scenes of everyday life in the small L-shaped street.

“Chinese Carpenter at Work, St. Louis Alley, 1901.”  Painting by Charles Albert Rogers (from the collection of the Bancroft Library).  Based on newspaper descriptions, the carpentry shop in St. Louis Alley was located at the junction of St. Louis Alley with the narrow east-west passageway which connected the alley with Dupont Street.  Theresa Salazar, a curator for The Bancroft Library, has written about this painting as follows:  “Charles Albert Rogers chooses a more serene moment for his painting, depicting a sole Chinese artisan at work. The view of the alley accurately captures Chinatown's makeshift buildings, which were typical of structures predating the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, reflecting not only quick rebuilding after the numerous fires that plagued the city, but the rapid growth of the area in the second half of the nineteenth century.” 

“Chinese Kitchen, St. Louis Alley,”  1902.  Painting by Charles Albert Rogers (from the collection of the Bancroft Library).  The kitchen shown in Rogers’ painting might have been the same kitchen shown on the city’s 1885 map at the west end of the alleyway from Dupont Street before the small street turned north toward Jackson Street. The 1901 telephone directory for the Chinese phone exchange shows at least one Chinese restaurant located in St. Louis Alley.

“No Likee” c. 1896 -1906.  Photograph by Arnold Genthe (from the Genthe photograph collection, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division).  According to historian Jack Tchen, this photo supposedly is “looking north toward Jackson Street.  Many migrant workers lodged here during the off seasons.  The man in the foreground is shielding his face from the camera, obviously uncomfortable with a stranger taking his picture.”    

The devastating earthquake and subsequent fire that struck San Francisco on April 18, 1906, brought widespread destruction to Chinatown, including St. Louis Alley. The neighborhood was ravaged, and much of its infrastructure was reduced to rubble.  However, the short stretch of north-south alleyway was rebuilt at its original location in the community’s rush to reestablish itself in the same location before the city could move its Chinese population elsewhere. When entered from its northern end on Jackson Street, the alley dead-ends in the middle of the block, as its east-west passageway to Grant Avenue was built over.  

St. Louis Place as viewed from its northern “end” at Jackson Street, June 8, 2023.  Photography by Doug Chan

Today, St. Louis Alley is known as the home of Leung’s White Crane Dragon and Lion Dance Association at 32 St. Louis Place and the Lim family association. 

One of the operational lion heads used by Leung’s White Crane Dragon and Lion Dance Association at 32 St. Louis Place in San Francisco Chinatown, July 23, 2021.  Photograph by Doug Chan.

St. Louis Alley appears to hit a dead end at the southern end of the alleyway where the entrance to one of San Francisco Chinatown’s many clan association buildings. (Photograph by Doug Chan, December 26, 2023). However . . . 

 The easterly view and passageway from the southern end of St. Louis Alley in San Francisco Chinatown. (Photograph by Doug Chan, December 26, 2023.)  When Chinatown was rebuilt after the disaster of 1906, the reconstruction of the buildings fronting on St. Louis apparently preserved a portion of the west-east alleyway that formerly provided an egress onto what is now Grant Avenue.  The alleyway appears to run into the west-facing rear of the building at 915 - 925 Grant Avenue are occupied (at its uppermost floors), and presumably owned, by the Suey Sing Chamber of labor and commerce” (formerly the Suey Sing Tong).  

  As its street sign attests, its Chinese name 聖路易巷 (canto: “Sing Low Yick Hong”) survives to this day.  The operations of the lion dance troupe assure that St. Louis Place remains a part of Chinatown’s present as a vibrant cultural enclave, showcasing the resilience and contributions of the Chinese community in San Francisco.

[updated:  2023-12-12]

[strongitsalifestyle]

Northern California Trip

Baby’s first trip 3 days

San Francisco, Yosemite & Napa Valley

My son was 7 months on his first plane trip. Here’s what we did on the trip. We took a light stroller and a car seat that we were worrying about getting damaged. I carried him on my lap since he was only 7 months old. We took the car seat for the limo ride to Napa Valley. We took the stroller on the hop on and off bus it was very easy to manage. I took the carrier to the Yosemite trip.

July 9-13 2015

Checked in to our hotel, Hotel G San Francisco 4 star hotel located just steps away from union square best shopping and dinning. Today, this one-block plaza and surrounding area is one of the largest collections of department stores, upscale boutiques, gift shops, art galleries, and beauty salons

Day 1 July 10

San Francisco: Winery Tour with Champagne

We took a private limo for a 6 hour trip to Napa valley pickup 10am from Hotel G.

Here were our stops:

Sterling: Perched over 300 feet above the historic town of Calistoga, Sterling Vineyards offers the best views of Napa Valley. Long regarded as one of Napa Valley's “must see”.

Trefethen: Trefethen Family Vineyards is a winery in Napa Valley. It was established in 1968.

Lunch stop: V. Sattui Winery has everything you need to create the perfect picnic. Grab your favorite wine & food and enjoy the picnic grounds at our St. Helena winery.

Day 2 July 11 Yosemite National Park

Full Day tour from San Francisco

We merry at pier 39 and board a charter bus to take us to Yosemite.

Baby’s first hike was Vernal Fall Footbridge. The best part was he fell asleep in his carrier as I walked up the steep hill pulling my mom behind me.

Distance: 1.6 mi (2.6 km) round trip

Elevation gain: 400 ft (120 m)

Difficulty: Moderate

Time: 1-1.5 hours

Vernal Fall footbridge: A mile from the trailhead, the Mist Trail crosses a footbridge from the north to the south bank of the Merced River. You'll get your first sight of Vernal Fall here, as well as pleasant views of the river both up and downstream. There are also bathrooms and potable water on the far side of the bridge. It's generally the first breath-catching point for hikers on their way to the top of the Mist Trail or Half Dome.

You'll find an excellent view of Vernal Fall from the footbridge at 0.8 miles (1.3 km). About 0.2 miles (0.3 km) beyond the bridge, the Mist Trail and the John Muir Trail diverge.

Difficulty: It's a short hike, but it's still a stretch to call it easy. There's enough climbing here to make you sweat.

Day 3 July 12

Hop on/off bus, Alcatraz & Pier 39

Hop on Hop off bus

Fisherman’s Wharf, on the northern waterfront, is one of the city's busiest tourist areas. Souvenir shops.

Chinatown: The oldest Chinatown in North America

PIER 39 is a 45-acre waterfront complex that is a gathering place for millions of San Francisco locals and visitors. In addition to its 12 full-service restaurants, 90+ shops and popular attractions, PIER 39 is home to a five-acre waterfront park and a 300-berth marina. PIER 39 is known for its spectacular views of San Francisco Bay, including the Golden Gate Bridge, Bay Bridge and Alcatraz, as well as the world-famous California sea lions hauled out on K-Dock.

Golden Gate Park: Explore the four-level Rainforest, the Steinhart Aquarium, and state-of-the-art Planetarium.

The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the one-mile-wide strait connecting San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean.

The Painted Ladies

Colorful Victorian and Edwardian houses, many of which feature three or more colors. The most famous ones—there are hundreds of houses—can be found in NoPa, the Lower Haight, Haight-Ashbury, and Cole Valley neighborhoods. But there’s one row, in particular, so iconic that it’s simply referred to as “the Painted Ladies” (or sometimes “Postcard Row”): the houses of 710-720 Steiner Street at the corner of Hayes Street. These gals have appeared in an estimated 70 movies, ads, and TV shows including, yes, Full House. You can’t enter the Painted Ladies (real people live there), but you can get a great view and a photo of your own from the east-facing hillside of Alamo Square across the street. 

Palace of Fine Art

Local architect Bernard Maybeck's pièce de résistance, this Greco-Roman rotunda is one of the only surviving structures from the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition.

You will feel like you have stepped onto a movie set watching the swans skim across the reflections of the Greco-Roman columns and rotunda of the Palace of Fine Arts. Originally constructed of wood and burlap for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exhibition, the structures were so beloved they were preserved and rebuilt in the 1960s. Bonus: The Palace is an easy, descending walk from the also-picturesque Lyon Street Steps.

We took a ferry to get a view of Alcatraz, we were unable get tickets. All sold out. Alcatraz is a small island was once a fort, a military prison, and a maximum security federal penitentiary.

We grabbed a bite to eat in Little Italy: Nestled between Fisherman's Wharf and Chinatown is a neighborhood known as North Beach. The neighborhood is San Francisco's “Little Italy,”.

The San Francisco cable car system is the world's last manually operated cable car system and an icon of the city of San Francisco

We did not make it to the redwood forest, I do recommend you add this to your trip!

July 13 back to NY

[goldenpoppyschool]

Safe And Secure Environment For Infants Care

At the base of Mount Tamalpais, between Mill Valley, Larkspur, and the marshlands of San Francisco Bay, is the charming town of Corte Madera. Corte Madera is known for its laid-back, outdoor lifestyle and lively community. It is also home to two of Marin County's best shopping centers, The Town Center and The Village at Corte Madera, which have major department stores, boutiques, and restaurants that make it a great place for people of all ages to visit. Every Wednesday from 1 to 5 p.m., the Corte Madera Certified Farmers' Market fills the courtyard of the Corte Madera Town Center with California-grown food and hand-made items. Corte Madera is the ideal mix of a relaxed way of life and a busy community. Golden poppy is a very prominent preschool in California. Our pre k Corte Madera includes programs for 1 to 6 years old kids. 

Parents shouldn't make their kids read, write, talk clearly, or learn grammar against their will. Children are innocent and need someone to make them feel safe and help them understand the theory. At Golden Poppy School, we have the best staff in the world. They are all professionals who love what they do and have years of experience. They are gentle with children and take full care of them. Our main goal is to teach your kids to be smart and confident. They also learn to be smart and independent. We can also help your child get ready for kindergarten. As a parent, your top priorities would be to teach your child basic manners and etiquette, help them improve their language skills, and give them some basic material knowledge so they can go to kindergarten. Our Infant Care in San Diego will help you through it all. We have different teachers for different ages of children with different needs. If you sign your child up for Leaps and Bounds, we will take care of him or her. Leaps and Bounds takes care of everything, from getting them into kindergarten to improving their physical and emotional skills.

At Golden Poppy Preschool Corte Madera, we think it's important to help kids develop their creativity. Children in our preschool and kindergarten are encouraged to be creative. We value creativity a lot, whether it's in arts and crafts, singing, dancing, sports, etc. And we give you everything you need to fully enjoy these activities. There's no point to being a child if you can't be creative, and we think kids should have room to use their imaginations. We keep a good balance between their school work and their creative work.

The most important thing is to make these things based on how old the child is. All of our activities and programs are based on age and keep people from getting hurt in any way, both physically and mentally. Our schools don't make their students do or do things that are hard for them to understand. Their jobs depend on how old their kids are. For example, our infant care Corte Madera doesn't start with writing the alphabet or reading books. Instead, we teach the shapes and how to talk. We also help them build social skills and learn how to get along with others. In this way, kids don't have to deal with any physical or mental stress, which keeps them happy and makes them more likely to like school.

The most important job of Golden Poppy is to help kids make friends and be happy. We also have huge grounds, fun and appropriate classrooms, the best and most experienced teachers, and all the other things that kids need. When you leave your child with us, you can feel at ease. We are in charge of your child's safety, hygiene, education, and food, among other things. You are welcome to join our Golden Poppy family.