Rick, Author at Hamell.net

Portland’s Freeway Names, Interstate Highway

Posted by Rick on January 10, 2013 in History 0 Comment

Portland’s Freeway Names, Interstate Highway

Before I-5 was built through Portland, and opened to traffic on December 2, 1964,Interstate Avenue was “the” main Freeway through Portland as part of both the Pacific Highway Route, and the Highway 99W route. This road connected Portland and Vancouver Washington, via the newly built Interstate Bridge over the Columbia River. This bridge is now the east bridge of the I-5 Columbia River Crossing. Future plans will likely remove or replace both existing bridges with a new modern crossing.

Interstate was renamed by then Portland Mayor George L. Baker in 1916 to commemorate the opening of the bridge across the river. From 1909 to 1916, portions of Patton (now Massachusetts) and Maryland Avenue were condemned and repaved to form Interstate which at that time ran through empty land and were essentially dirt roads.

In 1928, Interstate was extended south over the bluff, (Kaiser hospital is at the top of the bluff now,) Delay and Larabee streets were renamed and connected to Interstate.

As the car became more and more a fixture of American Culture, Interstate shifted to serve the need of the driver directly. Gas Stations, Dining and Lodging in the form of Auto Camps popped up along the street. As a designated part of West Side Pacific Highway #3 it became a popular drive for the long distance traveler.

1939 saw a huge change though, as the street was lit with street lights, causing many people to gush about it’s beauty. After WWII Neon lights were added, among these are some of Portland’s most iconic signs such as the Alibi and the Palms Hotel. As part of the plan for the Interstate Urban Renewal Zone, these neon signs are considered public art and are celebrated as such.

May 1, 2004 saw the hugest change to Interstate in decades. The Yellow Line of Trimet’s MAX was opened to the public. The above mentioned Urban Renewal Zone had to be created to allow the light rail train to be built, but doing so also spurned development along the street.

In 2007 a movement started to push to rename Interstate to Caesar Chavez Avenue, but was scrapped because Interstate was already a historic name. According to City of Portland City Code, existing names can not be renamed if the original name is of historical significance. This was eventually dropped in favor of renaming 39th to honor Chavez.

On Gun Control

Posted by Rick on December 18, 2012 in Observances 0 Comment

On Gun Control

Criminals have guns because it’s a convenient tool that does the job. No other reason at all. You can drive a nail with a wrench, but you really want to use a hammer. You can saw wood with a pocket knife, but you’d really prefer a Circular Saw.

Even if we somehow managed to get rid of every gun in the world, and there was no way to get another one, “criminals,” would simply find another weapon. There are hundreds of instances in history where certain types of weapons were banned, yet that didn’t stop criminals from finding tools just as effective at ending a person’s life. Just look at Feudal Japan as a (repeated) example, swords are banned, so what did bandits use? Staffs, cudgels, sticks, and rocks. And they still managed to terrorize the country side, leaving hundreds of thousands terrified to leave the safety of their homes, and forcing leaders to band together to wipe out the scourge.

Humans are going to keep killing humans, that is the sad fact of our stupid species. Short of mind chipping everyone and pumping us full of mood altering drugs, it’s going to continue to happen no matter what. Gun Control, whatever form new laws take, will only salve the emotional torture that the victims families are going through right now for so long.

The even more unfortunate truth, and one that many people in this forum seem to forget, is that old saying “If guns are outlawed, only criminals will have guns.” Restrictive laws like Japan’s will only create a huge black market, and “DIY” gun culture. You’ll see zip guns being built in home garages and sold on street corners alongside meth and cocaine. We’ll see news stories “Feds seize 15,000 guns at border crossing. Estimate .001% reduction in the number of weapons!”

What you will not see is any reduction in unfortunate tragedies like this, and many fear, you will in fact see a drastic INCREASE in such.

That is why the Pro-gun crowd and the anti-gun crowd disagree. Both sides are combatting an unknown fear – both of which are rooted in reality.

Unintentionally Scary Song by They Might Be Giants

Posted by Rick on November 26, 2012 in Analysis 0 Comment

Unintentionally Scary Song

I have been a fan of They Might Be Giants for quite some time, actually since before college. But until today, for some reason, the actual words to this song titled “Sleepwalkers,” on their “No!” album have escaped me.

If you listen to the original version, which was only available on the original “Dial-A-Song” not the “new” Internet enabled version (which is also down!)

Compare this to some of their more lighthearted songs such as “Particle Man” from “Flood” which is still one of my most favorite albums.

or Birdhouse in your Soul, from the same album.

If you really listen to the lyrics of this song, it’s actually very comforting.

Even for fans of TMBG like myself, I still find surprises. Like this even MORE scary song they did for ABC’s Nightline.

Yeah… I’m not going to be sleeping tonight.

Sleepwalker Lyrics:
See them over there
See them moving down the road
Their arms held out ahead
And their eyes, their eyes are closed

Don’t make any noise
Cry out loud or stamp your feet
You’ll wake the girls and boys
Who are walking in their sleep

Every night they throw aside their blankets
Swing their feet down, stand up and move out to the street
Like they’re under a spell and together
They roam across the country and they’re walking in their sleep

You’ll recognize them when you see
Their rumpled hair and stocking feet
It seems like they want something
But we don’t know what it is
But here they come again
Yes, here they come again

Move aside and let the people go by
They don’t see you thinking that they’re home in their beds
They must not be disturbed when they’re wandering
All across the country and they’re walking in their sleep

Perhaps when they awake
They’ll remember everything
They’ll think it was a dream
It will be forgotten then

But don’t make any noise
Cry out loud or stamp your feet
You’ll wake the girls and boys
Who are walking in their sleep

Particle Man Lyrics:
Particle man, particle man
Doin’ the things a particle can
What’s he like, it’s not important
Particle man

Is he a dot, or is he a speck?
When he’s underwater does he get wet?
Or does the water get him instead?
Nobody knows, particle man

Triangle man, triangle man
Triangle man hates particle man
They have a fight, triangle wins
Triangle man

Universe man, universe man
Size of the entire universe man
Usually kind to smaller man
Universe man

He’s got a watch with a minute hand
Millennium hand and an eon hand
When they meet it’s a happy land
[Inaudible] man, universe man

Person man, person man
Hit on the head with a frying pan
Lives his life in a garbage can
Person man

Is he depressed or is he a mess?
Does he feel totally worthless?
Who came up with person man?
Degraded man, person man

Triangle man, triangle man
Triangle man hates person man
They have a fight, triangle wins
Triangle man

Birdhouse in Your Soul Lyrics:
I’m your only friend
I’m not your only friend
But I’m a little glowing friend
But really I’m not actually your friend, but I am

Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch
Who watches over you?
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
Not to put too fine a point on it
Say I’m the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul

I have a secret to tell from my electrical well
It’s a simple message and I’m leaving out the whistles and bells
So the room must listen to me filibuster vigilantly
My name is Blue Canary one note spelled L I T E
My story’s infinite like the Longines Symphonette it doesn’t rest

I’m your only friend
I’m not your only friend
But I’m a little glowing friend
But really I’m not actually your friend, but I am

There’s a picture opposite me of my primitive ancestry
Which stood on rocky shores and kept the beaches shipwreck free
Though I respect that a lot I’d be fired if that were my job
After killing Jason off and countless screaming Argonauts
Bluebird of friendliness like guardian Angels its always near

While you’re at it
Keep the nightlight on inside
The birdhouse in your soul

Not to put too fine a point on it
Say I’m the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul

Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch
(And while you’re at it)
Who watches over you?
(Keep the nightlight on inside the)
(Birdhouse in your soul)
Make a little birdhouse in your soul

Not to put too fine a point on it
Say I’m the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul

Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch
(And while you’re at it)
Who watches over you?
(Keep the nightlight on inside the)
(Birdhouse in your soul)
Make a little birdhouse in your soul

Not to put too fine a point on it
Say I’m the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul

Black and White Grapes

Posted by Rick on November 23, 2012 in Pictures 0 Comment

Black and White Grapes

Taken during the summer while at my brother’s house for his daughter’s second birthday. It’s interesting how a random snap shot can turn out so good.

Buy a print of this picture here.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art – New York City

Posted by Rick on November 18, 2012 in Pictures, Travel 0 Comment

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Back in April of 2012, I had my first chance to go to New York City for work. Among the many things I did while I was there, was to go through Central Park, and to The Metropolitan Museum of Art right next door.

I can honestly say that right up until that moment I did not really “get” art at all. I could look at a piece and go “that’s nice, but it doesn’t invoke any emotion in me.” Or “what a ugly piece of junk. Who would want that around?” But going into The Met changed all of that. The piece that started it for some reason was this one.

I did not think to get much information about it at the time unfortunately. In fact I really enjoyed the Greek Art section a lot. This next piece though changed my thoughts around art of any kind instantly.

Titled “Ugolino and His Sons.” This piece by Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux portrays Ugolino (who was a real person) in Dante’s Inferno.

In addition to the hundreds of paintings that I viewed, not to mention tons of sculptures, entire rooms from different eras, armor and weapons, an Egyptian Temple stood inside the museum. Surprisingly, it’s not quite as large as one would really think it should be considering some of the Egyptian peoples other works.

But I did find the hieroglyphics on the side to be interesting. Wish I could read them!