The Nick and Gus Diner

When I worked in Oakland in the 80s, the Nick and Gus diner was the best and cheapest place to grab eggs and toast or a cheeseburger with fries. The Greek family run diner had been a fixture in downtown Oakland since 1909 and featured a line cook who remembered every patron's name. In a time when most businesses were fleeing Oakland for the the suburbs, the Nick and Gus diner held steady, dishing out the fries and sandwiches with Hellenic flair and tenacity. The city of Oakland showed its appreciation towards this small, old time business in a very predictable way: the city wanted the restaurant out.

Nick and Gus fell victim to a grandiose re-development plan. The restaurant was to be evicted, the building demolished, and a new hotel built, across the street from a new underused hotel. Even the Oakland Tourist Board could find only one reason for a tourist to stay in downtown Oakland: there was a BART station to San Francisco.

So, the "Save Nick and Gus" movement was born. Their argument was that Oakland had plenty of re-development projects that only resulted in a hole in the ground for 20 years, but "Nick and Gus" was a one of a kind diner (at least in Oakland, this line of reasoning would've been a tough sell in Chicago). I proudly sported a "Save Nick and Gus" bumper sticker on the side of my computer terminal, and we signed endless petitions at work to save this old Oakland landmark.

So what eventually happened? Nick and Gus were forced out (they moved to the suburbs) and their restaurant, formally known as the "Nick and Gus Hole in the Wall Diner" became a hole in the ground re-development project. The latest plan now involves the construction of a University of California office building.

How Hollywood Portrays Male Criminals

This is picture of the infamous gangster John Dillinger:




Properly speaking, he was a member of Harry Pierpont's gang, but the newspapers called it Dillinger's gang, and Harry Pierpont decided that Dillinger sounded better and had better brand value because it evoked the Derringer firearm.

This is a head shot of Warren Oates who portrayed Dillinger in the 1973 film of the same name:



As a matter of weird irony, the FBI killed Dillinger was when he was leaving a movie house after having seen Manhattan Melodrama, a gangster film starring Clark Gable:




Though he was American's most wanted criminal, his face known to millions of newspaper readers, Dillinger couldn't pass on seeing a popular movie.

The Legend of Ma Barker

I was watching "Public Enemies" last night, a two fisted portrayal of the Barker gang.
This is Theresa Russell who portrayed Ma Barker:






This is a photo of the real Arizona Clark, aka Kate "Ma" Barker:

The Barker gang even robbed a train, which would seem anachronistic, except that Ma Barker has been born in 1872 in Missouri, the hey day of the James-Younger gang.

The real story of Ma Barker is less colorful and while she did go on the run to take care of her boys, by some accounts some of the most vicious, ruthless killers who ever lived, while her sons were out robbing and killing, Ma Berker liked to spend her free time at the movies. Kate Barker would've been tickled at the idea of becoming a Hollywood myth.

By the way, Alvin "creepy" Karpis, portrayed in Public Enemies as being near middle age, was actually in his 20s at the time, and in real life would later serve a long stretch in federal prisons, becoming a mentor and guitar teacher to a young, impressionable Charlie Manson. Karpis later was paroled and deported back to Canada, and retired and died in Spain.

East Coast Ports to Be Run by Dubai Company

Apparently, the British company running the ports was bought out by a Middle Eastern company. So when did the British buy the Mafia? CNN.com - Bush backs Dubai port deal, vows veto - Feb 21, 2006: "The administration has faced a wave of criticism this week over its decision to let a subsidiary of maritime management firm Dubai Ports World run ports in New York and New Jersey; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Baltimore, Maryland; Miami, Florida; and New Orleans, Louisiana. "

PCU

The triumph of cultural sensitivity!

NY Times 02/17/2006: University of Illinois student newspaper, the Daily Illini, publishes the controversial Danish cartoons. University chancellor decides the political cartoons are on the same level as porno: "I believe that the D.I. could have engaged its readers in legitimate debate about the issues surrounding the cartoons' publication in Denmark without publishing them. It is possible, for instance, to editorialize about pornography without publishing pornographic pictures." Editor in chief and opinions page editor are suspended.

The Seattle PI on 02/16/2006 reported that University of Washington student senate failed, by one vote, to pass a resolution to create a memorial to honor Col. Gregory "Pappy" Boyington, the WWII Marine Medal of Honor winner, fighter pilot ace, and survivor of a Japanese POW camp. It seems the students wondered:
"...why the university should honor a person who killed others or honor a Marine. One student leader questioned why another rich white man should be honored on campus.
The students say their comments in last week's student senate meeting were taken out of context.."

An just exactly what was the context of this 45 minute discussion? "UW senior Ashley Miller has also been derided for her comment, according to the minutes, that the university already has monuments that commemorate rich white men. She said her comments were made as part of a general discussion about memorials on campus, not about Boyington specifically."

So there seemed to have been a question about a race-based quota of memorials, rather than the accomplishment of the individual in question. Obviously this debate did not center on Col. Boyington's contribution in defeating a formidable fascist power. The UW students would be well advised to research how freedom of the press was furthered by the Imperial Japanese occupation of Korea and China.

Doggie Diner

In the Bay Area the Doggie Diner sign is a designated landmark: MisterSF.com

The Doggie Diners faded away decades ago, and yes, they actually sold hot dogs in a diner. Their links were considered to be very good, though this may have been urban myth.
While many people had a sentimental attachment to the Doggie Diner, this did not actually translate into actually going there to eat. The diners had a seedy appearance, and were often located in rough neighborhoods.

Doggie Diners were open until the early morning and featured a rogue's gallery of customers who were busy formulating their latest scam over a quick bite and soft drink. The Doggie Diner still lives on in the Zippy the Pinhead cartoons (see http://www.doggiediner.com/).

PETA Attacks Paris Hilton

Sort of like Hitler and Stalin, can't choose sides on this one: Paris pelted with flour This is London

Your Brain at Work

Oh well, at least there's hope for the young: Why the Aging Mind Is Driven to Distraction - Los Angeles Times: "Scientists from King's College at the University of London, for example, recently determined that people trying to juggle phone calls, e-mail and other routine office distractions suffered a greater loss of IQ than someone smoking marijuana. Grady, however, suggested that people in their 20s today their brains molded by instant messaging and all of the other high-technology of the short attention span may be better able to manage unwarranted interruptions when they reach old age.'If you are a 20-year-old today,' Grady said, 'you may find it easier to deal with distraction when you are 60 because you have had so much practice.' "

This of course raise an interesting questioning: what is the total drop in IQ points of someone smoking weed at work? Or does one lead to the other?

Frank R. Paul Gallery

Old Amazing Stories cover art collection: Frank R. Paul Gallery

These were the worlds that were meant to be!