FARK.com: (6936533) Totally cool picture, totally bizarre "journalism:" "It's a sight of San Francisco fortunate to today's residents to have yet to be seen again, especially from the eyes of a simple high-flying kite"

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		Totally cool picture, totally bizarre "journalism:" "It's a sight of San Francisco fortunate to today's residents to have yet to be seen again, especially from the eyes of a simple high-flying kite" (dailymail.co.uk)		58
		More: Weird, San Francisco, San Francisco Bay

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DontMakeMeComeBackThere

2012-02-11 10:24:55 PM

Was that English?

konigsforst

2012-02-11 10:26:35 PM

Was that written during the earthquake?

GoldSpider

2012-02-11 10:31:05 PM

The_Philosopher_King

2012-02-11 10:35:21 PM

I am amazed how the photos are clear and in focus. People with camera phones today should take lessons.

I was surprised to learn the death toll is just an estimate. Back then they only counted the deaths of white people. If you were Asian or of color then you didn't count.

donnielove

2012-02-11 10:38:40 PM

DontMakeMeComeBackThere: Was that English?

British

plumbicon

2012-02-11 10:40:57 PM

...British via Eastern Europe, with perhaps a bit of Chinese in for good measure.

Lsherm

2012-02-11 10:41:12 PM

Left in a state of havoc, the city's mayor at the time authorized his police force to shoot 'to kill any and all persons found engaged in Looting or in the Commission of Any Other Crime,' according to a proclamation published the day of the disaster.

Can you even imagine someone getting away with that today?

Easy Reader

2012-02-11 10:45:19 PM

GoldSpider

2012-02-11 10:45:58 PM

Lsherm: Can you even imagine someone getting away with that today?

I bet there wasn't much looting.

LeilaK

2012-02-11 10:47:39 PM

Amazing the camera would even work, "souring" at 2000' and all.

Enigmamf

2012-02-11 10:53:26 PM

Anyone have a link to the full resolution version?

Easy Reader

2012-02-11 10:53:29 PM

And interestingly, it worked out well enough.

GORDON

2012-02-11 10:53:41 PM

"From the eyes of a kite?"

That is just terrible.

Veritas

2012-02-11 10:55:13 PM

Jeebus, has the Daily Mail been laying off all its subeditors like NewsLtd? That story is an embarrassment.

Souring? SOURING? Fark, really?

/but cool photo, bro

Wizard Drongo

2012-02-11 10:55:19 PM

Lsherm: Left in a state of havoc, the city's mayor at the time authorized his police force to shoot 'to kill any and all persons found engaged in Looting or in the Commission of Any Other Crime,' according to a proclamation published the day of the disaster.

Can you even imagine someone getting away with that today?

See Hurricane Katrina and the acts committed by the NOPD. Thankfully nowhere near as extreme or as bad as a full-on shoot-on-sight policy, but a definite breakdown in how things are supposed to be done, with officers storming peoples homes because they were licensed gun-owners, reports of people actually being shot etc.

Although admittedly 5 of the rogue cops were eventually prosecuted, I'm sure a few more escaped Lady Justicia's long arms...

Enigmamf

2012-02-11 10:56:46 PM

Just answered my own question: Full size photo on Wikipedia, or some guy's zoom/pan widget

Enigmamf

2012-02-11 11:01:54 PM

Also, the photograph itself says that it was a "captive airship", AKA a blimp - not "a simple kite"

GoldSpider

2012-02-11 11:06:18 PM

Enigmamf: Just answered my own question: Full size photo on Wikipedia, or some guy's zoom/pan widget

"This image was selected as picture of the day on the English Wikipedia for August 22, 2006."

old_news_is_exciting.jpg

numbone

2012-02-11 11:11:15 PM

English, it is the hard.

plasticuser

2012-02-11 11:21:01 PM

I'm confused by something... If the photo was taken in 1906, how can it possibly still be under copyright?

Did some new copyright term extension get passed that I didn't hear about?

DeltaPunch

2012-02-11 11:24:40 PM

Anyone have a link to a version of the article NOT written by someone who was obviously clenching the pen with their asshole?

Ima4nic8or

2012-02-11 11:27:04 PM

Great picture. shiatty city. If it burnt to the ground again it would be a better place than it is today.

minnkat

2012-02-11 11:33:45 PM

The Lawrence Captive Airship is actually a series of linked kites, not a blimp.

Lawrence Captive Airship

Lsherm

2012-02-11 11:34:16 PM

Wizard Drongo: Lsherm: Left in a state of havoc, the city's mayor at the time authorized his police force to shoot 'to kill any and all persons found engaged in Looting or in the Commission of Any Other Crime,' according to a proclamation published the day of the disaster.

Can you even imagine someone getting away with that today?

See Hurricane Katrina and the acts committed by the NOPD. Thankfully nowhere near as extreme or as bad as a full-on shoot-on-sight policy, but a definite breakdown in how things are supposed to be done, with officers storming peoples homes because they were licensed gun-owners, reports of people actually being shot etc.

Although admittedly 5 of the rogue cops were eventually prosecuted, I'm sure a few more escaped Lady Justicia's long arms...

I thought the five cops who were prosecuted in New Orleans just mowed down people on a bridge in response to a bogus call. They were also found guilty, which is almost unheard of for NOPD cops (granted, the feds had to prosecute).

My point wasn't that cops can act badly today, it was that the mayor gave a direct order for them to shoot on sight. THAT was the unusual part. Cops can still pretty much shoot people on a whim and get away with it.

Krieghund

2012-02-11 11:35:51 PM

Koreatown during the 1992 LA riots.

Not quite the same thing, still a cool picture.

Gyrfalcon

2012-02-11 11:50:42 PM

That's an awesome picture, especially given the limitations of cameras back in 1906.

And, given the limitations of weekend copywriters at the Daily Mail in 2012, I guess we should be glad the article isn't in Cyrillic and translated from Arabic by a hydrocephalic Tutsi tribeman.

mc_madness

2012-02-11 11:57:58 PM

It still looks nicer than Detroit and Flint combined...

Enigmamf

2012-02-11 11:58:35 PM

minnkat: The Lawrence Captive Airship is actually a series of linked kites, not a blimp.

Lawrence Captive Airship

Interesting... but it's still not a simple kite by any stretch.

Enigmamf

2012-02-11 11:59:13 PM

GoldSpider: Enigmamf: Just answered my own question: Full size photo on Wikipedia, or some guy's zoom/pan widget

"This image was selected as picture of the day on the English Wikipedia for August 22, 2006."

old_news_is_exciting.jpg

You have seen every picture-of-the-day on Wikipedia for the last 6 years? Get a life!

gibbon1

2012-02-12 12:07:25 AM

Lsherm: My point wasn't that cops can act badly today, it was that the mayor gave a direct order for them to shoot on sight. THAT was the unusual part. Cops can still pretty much shoot people on a whim and get away with it.

I read a paper that claims that sort of thinking is a typical dynamic. Politicians, police and the military (but not the coast guard) assume that after a disaster members of the underclass will descend into barbarism. We saw that after Katrina with the police terrified of the people who stayed behind.

What always happens is people pull together and attempt to rescue each other. Witness the small time druggie after Katrina 'stealing' a school bus to rescue a bunch old people. Gang members after 911 carrying a elderly suit down the street away from danger. In the LA riots gang members in Compton protect homes and businesses from rioters and looters.

Interesting is that after 1906 authorities made efforts protect the Chinese which is the reverse of what usually happens.

PleaseHamletDon'tHurtEm

2012-02-12 12:23:28 AM

So, it looks about the same today?

/I keed

itwasabright

2012-02-12 12:25:24 AM

As Mr. Kite flies through the earthquake don't be late
Messrs. K. and H. assure the public
Their production will be second to none
And of course Henry The Horse dances the waltz!

Sylvia_Bandersnatch

2012-02-12 12:32:39 AM

plasticuser: I'm confused by something... If the photo was taken in 1906, how can it possibly still be under copyright?

Did some new copyright term extension get passed that I didn't hear about?

"This media file is in the public domain in the United States."

It's not under copyright. The copyright badge over the lower left corner of the image is from the original photographer, George Lawrence, and I'd guess it's an artifact from whatever source the Daily Mail got it from. The Wikipedia version of the image has no such notice.

croesius

2012-02-12 12:42:49 AM

Wizard Drongo: Lsherm: Left in a state of havoc, the city's mayor at the time authorized his police force to shoot 'to kill any and all persons found engaged in Looting or in the Commission of Any Other Crime,' according to a proclamation published the day of the disaster.

Can you even imagine someone getting away with that today?

See Hurricane Katrina and the acts committed by the NOPD. Thankfully nowhere near as extreme or as bad as a full-on shoot-on-sight policy, but a definite breakdown in how things are supposed to be done, with officers storming peoples homes because they were licensed gun-owners, reports of people actually being shot etc.

Although admittedly 5 of the rogue cops were eventually prosecuted, I'm sure a few more escaped Lady Justicia's long arms...

I lived down there for 5 years following the storm, and I never once heard about police breaking in due to a gun license registry. Is there a citation I am missing?

Lsherm

2012-02-12 12:53:23 AM

gibbon1: Lsherm: My point wasn't that cops can act badly today, it was that the mayor gave a direct order for them to shoot on sight. THAT was the unusual part. Cops can still pretty much shoot people on a whim and get away with it.

I read a paper that claims that sort of thinking is a typical dynamic. Politicians, police and the military (but not the coast guard) assume that after a disaster members of the underclass will descend into barbarism. We saw that after Katrina with the police terrified of the people who stayed behind.

What always happens is people pull together and attempt to rescue each other. Witness the small time druggie after Katrina 'stealing' a school bus to rescue a bunch old people. Gang members after 911 carrying a elderly suit down the street away from danger. In the LA riots gang members in Compton protect homes and businesses from rioters and looters.

Interesting is that after 1906 authorities made efforts protect the Chinese which is the reverse of what usually happens.

Well, during the LA riots gang members in Compton only protected their own very limited neighborhoods, and they didn't protect businesses that were in their neighborhoods but owned by "others". Which is why we have the photo of Koreatown snipers.

The LA riots are not a good example of "people pulling together", they are a good example of existing gangs using the confusion for their own profit while protecting property they used to store their loot.

Chinchillazilla

2012-02-12 12:55:17 AM

plumbicon: ...British via Eastern Europe, with perhaps a bit of Chinese in for good measure.

I tried Googling Nina Golgowski to figure out where she's from. Didn't find it yet, but most things she's written have at least one mangled sentence. None as bad as the one in the headline, though.

Sylvia_Bandersnatch

2012-02-12 12:59:00 AM

Chinchillazilla: Nina Golgowski

She's a communications major at UTenn.

brykmantra

2012-02-12 01:08:14 AM

o_O Impossiburu Ingrish!

StopLurkListen

2012-02-12 01:08:15 AM

Nice. Back when there was an inlet where the Marina District is now. (Fast forward to 1989 for the punchline to that one)

i72.photobucket.com

I lived near the golden fire hydrant (near Dolores Park). Yeah, gold spray paint -- it's about as tacky and ill-advised as it sounds. Other than the odd color, there's no other marking that it was The Last Working Fire Hydrant in San Francisco during the Great Earthquake And Fire.

i1263.photobucket.com

As for shooting looters -- what the Mayor did was pretty much a post-hoc "yeah, we're doing whatever the Army is doing" because San Francisco was put under Martial Law by US Army General Funston.

Funston's soldiers not only shot many people suspected of looting, they clumsily (but with their hearts in the right place) tried to create fire breaks by dynamiting blocks of houses. Unfortunately, until they learned through trial-and-error, they tended to start new fires with the explosions... They eventually got control (or the fire died down on it's own).

As some conservatives today may say that misfortune is God's punishment for social sins, so they did claim about San Francisco in 1906 (if anything, it was even more notorious then - drugs, prostitution, gambling, alcohol). To which someone responded:

'If, as they say, God spanked the town
For being over frisky,
Why did He burn the churches down
And save Hotaling's whiskey?'"

Chinchillazilla

2012-02-12 01:12:45 AM

Just realized what it reminded me of.

"Has anyone really been far even as decided to use even go want to do look more like?"

Danger Avoid Death

2012-02-12 01:47:15 AM

gibbon1: Interesting is that after 1906 authorities made efforts protect the Chinese which is the reverse of what usually happens.

Well, it's not like they're an endangered species.

soupwizard

2012-02-12 02:24:38 AM

I used to live downtown in SF. I downloaded the highres image that Enigmamf - what's amazing to me from a "growth of the city" perspective is how much of the bay has been filled in - panning left from the ferry building counting streets: Ok, Market, Mission, Howard, Folsom, Harrison... then wtf? where'd the rest of the soma waterfront go? The AT&T ballpack should be sitting out in the bay! Looks like the dogpatch and hunter's point is mostly landfill! And in the background - there actually used to be a mission bay with water! Am I reading the photograph correctly?

cedarpark

2012-02-12 03:27:03 AM

I love how they took his photo prize award, compensated for today's inflation, and then used that figure to state the damage done to the city in today's dollars. $300,000 doesn't even buy you a plot of land in SF.

/math fail

ThighsofGlory

2012-02-12 03:37:48 AM

Sylvia_Bandersnatch: Chinchillazilla: Nina Golgowski

She's a communications major at UTenn.

She's Al Sharpton's speechwriter.

ThighsofGlory

2012-02-12 03:42:05 AM

soupwizard: I used to live downtown in SF. I downloaded the highres image that Enigmamf - what's amazing to me from a "growth of the city" perspective is how much of the bay has been filled in - panning left from the ferry building counting streets: Ok, Market, Mission, Howard, Folsom, Harrison... then wtf? where'd the rest of the soma waterfront go? The AT&T ballpack should be sitting out in the bay! Looks like the dogpatch and hunter's point is mostly landfill! And in the background - there actually used to be a mission bay with water! Am I reading the photograph correctly?

You are. After the earthquake they bulldozed the rubble into the bay and built on top of it. Jenius.

brianbankerus

2012-02-12 03:46:50 AM

DontMakeMeComeBackThere: Was that English?

Thank god I'm not alone. I thought I had a stroke or something.

Paris1127

2012-02-12 04:28:27 AM

StopLurkListen: Nice. Back when there was an inlet where the Marina District is now. (Fast forward to 1989 for the punchline to that one)

They had to dump the remains of the city somewhere... Who back then would have thought that the ashes of 1906 would kill people in 1989? I don't think they knew about liquefaction then...

Amishrabbit

2012-02-12 06:03:02 AM

brianbankerus: DontMakeMeComeBackThere: Was that English?

Thank god I'm not alone. I thought I had a stroke or something.

Nope, that was the author of that mangled garbage.

flucto

2012-02-12 07:39:13 AM

I guess somebody sobered up enough to edit the copy. Too bad.

JustGetItRight

2012-02-12 08:10:21 AM

croesius: Wizard Drongo: Lsherm: Left in a state of havoc, the city's mayor at the time authorized his police force to shoot 'to kill any and all persons found engaged in Looting or in the Commission of Any Other Crime,' according to a proclamation published the day of the disaster.

Can you even imagine someone getting away with that today?

See Hurricane Katrina and the acts committed by the NOPD. Thankfully nowhere near as extreme or as bad as a full-on shoot-on-sight policy, but a definite breakdown in how things are supposed to be done, with officers storming peoples homes because they were licensed gun-owners, reports of people actually being shot etc.

Although admittedly 5 of the rogue cops were eventually prosecuted, I'm sure a few more escaped Lady Justicia's long arms...

I lived down there for 5 years following the storm, and I never once heard about police breaking in due to a gun license registry. Is there a citation I am missing?

Well, I don't think they used any registry but the force entry and illegal seizures are well documented. Here's wiki: Link (new window)

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