So Guided By History marks its second anniversary today. That's right, two years of bringing History to The People!

Frankly, I deserve all the credit, but I want to share it because that's just the kind of guy I am — a sharer.  I choose to share credit with:

• Valerie, our best buddy in Minneapolis.

• Joel and Ed, who do more things for the production of this blog than they're actually allowed to do.

• Henrik, who pushes 3 accurate buttons for every 12 wrong ones I push. (And who really oughta consider a safer sport...)

• Tim, who thought it was a pretty good idea and probably wonders if he made the right decision.

• All my colleagues in the History world of Wells Fargo who write so well.

And of course I share credit with all of you who drop by every day and check in with us. No YOU, no Guided By History. Period.

Thanks, Everyone!!

Posted by Charles at 11:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Found in Experts, Get Involved, Holidays, Misc, Participate, Remember, Wells Fargo Bank

It's February (already?!) and that means Black History Month . Black History Month acknowledges the contributions to American life made by African Americans: yesterday, today and in days to come. Wells Fargo History.com has a series of short videos that give a brief overview of Wells Fargo's heritage and the part diversity plays  in that heritage.

Throughout Black History Month , Guided By History will feature stories of African American contributions to this heritage, in the past and today.

Posted by Charles at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Found in African American History, At Work, Holidays, Misc, Participate, Perspective, Remember, Wells Fargo Bank

Posted by Charles at 09:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Found in Artifacts, At Work, Events, Holidays, Misc, New Year's Day, Participate, Perspective, Remember, San Francisco, Wells Fargo Bank

Wells Fargo's Minneapolis History Museum has a program this month commemorating the 1982 Thanksgiving Day Fire. The Fire and people's memories are also featured on Wells Fargo's History site.

That blaze in downtown Minneapolis destroyed the Northwestern National bank headquarters, the company that rebuilt itself as Norwest and later merged with Wells Fargo.

The fire took everyone by surprise and the event was seared in the community's memory.

This year marked the 25th anniversary of the Fire. Minneapolis Curator Megan Schaack blogged about the fire, developed exhibits and hosted events that culled memories of the disaster, good and bad.

WellsFargoHistory.com has video memories from employees, including today's CEO John Stumpf, who began work immediately to get business back on track. The fire occured on Thanksgiving Thursday and burned through the weekend, but the Company opened first thing the following Monday morning. Rock stars!

The fire is a big deal in the Twin Cities. The Museum's events got a lot of attention from the media, in print from the Downtown Journal  and on TV at KARE  (Channel 11) and Fox 9 

(Check out how Channel 5   uses WellsFargoHistory.com as their content — that darn media!)

Posted by Charles at 02:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Found in At Work, Events, Experts, Fires, First-hand Accounts, Minneapolis, Misc, Museums, Natural Disasters, Participate, Perspective, Prepare, Remember, Thanksgiving, Wells Fargo Bank

Check out this blurb from the January, 1915 Wells Fargo Messenger. Priceless.

I wish one and all the best of Days, ever!

Posted by Charles at 03:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Found in Agriculture, Animals, First-hand Accounts, Get Involved, Holidays, Misc, Participate, Prepare, Remember, Thanksgiving, Wells Fargo Bank

The 25th anniversary of the Thanksgiving Day fire that destroyed Northwestern National Bank  (now Wells Fargo) in downtown Minneapolis is fast approaching. The fire was, at the time, the largest office fire in US history and caused an estimated $100 million in damages. The flames burned for four days and demanded the efforts of 180 firefighters. Amazingly, the first five floors of the bank building were untouched by fire. Charles Lindberg’s first plane, a "Jenny" , on display in the lobby was unscathed (Lucky Lindy lives on), as were the safe deposit boxes and vault.

A new emergency plan — quickly put into place along with computer backup files stored four blocks away (new technology in those days) — allowed the bank to continue business the next day. By the following Monday, 1,500 team members were working from new office spaces throughout town.

The empty shell of a building stood for two years until it was demolished in 1984. The city block stood empty for another four years until the construction of the Norwest Center (now called the Wells Fargo Center ). Designed by Cesar Pelli , the 57-story bank tower opened in 1989. Pelli salvaged and reused many architectural parts from the demolished 1930 bank building. “These elements," Pelli declared, "help make the connection between past and present, old and new, to strengthen the continuity through time that is the hallmark of all great cities.”

Join us in remembering the fire. Contribute your stories online at our history website. And visit the museum on Tuesday, November 20, for a reception from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. CST. Objects on display at the Wells Fargo History Museum in Minneapolis include a melted telephone retrieved from the charred office remains.

Posted by Megan at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Found in At Work, Fires, Get Involved, Minneapolis, Misc, Museums, Natural Disasters, Participate, Perspective, Prepare, Remember, Thanksgiving, Wells Fargo Bank

Chris Terzich, with our Incident Management Team in Minnesota, noted my post from last October, "How Do You Prepare For Crime?" In it, I wrote:

I could use a little help. My neighborhood is being infiltrated by criminals, and I honestly don't know how to "prepare" for crime ... I want to have the right pieces in place to prevent it from happening, or to lessen the impact on my property and my peace of mind ...

How do you prepare for crime? What does the Preparedness Kit consist of?

Chris dropped me a line with some advice that sounds like the surest bet—people getting together to protect the neighborhood. To have each other's back, so to speak.

"Hi Charles," Chris wrote:

"Locks, maybe alarms and a good habit of using them are important, but the most effective, if not most efficient, way to prevent crime is to know your neighbors. National Night Out  looks to accomplish that. It seems odd that a little grillin' and chattin'  will do anything meaningful to reduce crime, but it can. After eight years in our neighborhood, I know my neighbors and they know me. They may not be home all the time, but if I leave my garage door open, or someone comes to my house when I am out of town, I can expect a call.

"It takes time, and one National Night Out may not change a whole lot, but it is a good start."

Well, that sounds pretty good to me. Grillin' and chattin'  itself is motivation enough to get to know the neighbors, even the odd ones. If it adds to the "insurance" we all need against harsh reality, so much the better. An added note—the neighborhood organized a meeting with police shortly after the original post. The cops said pretty much what Chris said. Strong neighborhoods are the surest bet to discourage crime.

And start gettin' the word out! 

Posted by Charles at 09:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Found in At Home, At Work, Barbecue, Crime, First-hand Accounts, Get Involved, Misc, Neighborhood watch, Participate, Perspective, Prepare, Wells Fargo Bank

In May 1976, Wells Fargo Bank's Corporate Responsibility Committee found vanpools  "offer significant potential energy savings." The committee recognized the energy conservation that could be realized by such a program and referred it to the appropriate departments in the bank for implementation.

Environmental consciousness  developed quickly in the 1970s, thanks to the protest movements of the '60s and to the overwhelming pollution scourging the nation. In 1973, the gas crisis  raised prices at the pump and caused a major upheaval in the way Americans thought about their cars. (Check this outstanding report  on it.) Conservation became an important method for balancing supply with demand. People were looking for ways to save gas.

One method was to carpool, to find others who were going the same place and double up. In time, casual carpools  emerged as a way to commute. But vanpooling was the big idea that bridged business support with individual commuter habits. Businesses sponsor the vans and their maintenance, while rider-workers pay a reasonable fare and drive. The vans have dedicated routes, from a neighborhood to a business location.

The whole thing has worked pretty well, considering the long list  of vanpool and ride-sharing programs that exist. And the United States Environmental Protection Agency  actually rates the best programs and models the best areas for these programs.

But back in those halcyon '70s , when all this was the juncture of critical problem and forward thinking, the concept of riding together with people who were not family was new. But for Wells Fargo, the idea wasn't so new. From the beginning, the company supported the idea of taking as many passengers as the vehicle could handle!

Posted by Charles at 08:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Found in At Work, Environment, Get Involved, Misc, Participate, Perspective, Prepare, Remember, Ride sharing, Stagecoach, Vanpools, Wells Fargo Bank

Today—July 13, 2007—marks 155 years to the date that Wells, Fargo, and Co. opened for business on Montgomery Street in San Francisco. The Corporate Archives is lucky enough to have a picture that documents the event. Ten gentlemen posed in front of a two-story building.

Many are surprised to learn Henry Wells and William G. Fargo are not in the first office picture; they remained back in New York and only received updates via letters and rare visits. We know the names of two gentlemen who worked in that office on opening day, Reuben W. Washburn and Samuel W. Carter. The rest are critical contributors to the story of July 13, but unknown to later generations.

Check out the "Wells Fargo Through the Decades" slide show, and watch for three of my favorite images:

• Five women agents smiling in front of a San Diego office in 1917
• Members of the Wells Fargo Nevada National Bank Club, enjoying a day at Spring Valley Lakes in June of 1921
• The Wells Belles of 1973; ready to defend the name of Wells Fargo through baseball.

They are all part of the fabric of the larger Wells Fargo story and, if not for a remaining image in our archives, nearly lost to posterity.

That brings me to today. We are having festivities in many Wells Fargo locations, including the San Francisco History Museum. Most of the everyday activities of life will not make it into the history books. But, just like those unknown faces in the first office picture, what you do today is making history.

Posted by Anne at 12:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)
Found in Artifacts, At Work, Baseball, Events, Films, Holidays, Movies, Museums, Participate, Photographs, Remember, San Francisco, Wells Fargo Bank

Posted by Charles at 03:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Found in Fourth of July, Holidays, Independence Day, Participate, Photographs, Remember, Wells Fargo Bank

Old Sacramento  will be bustling with excitement tomorrow. The Pony Express Re-ride  is scheduled to arrive at 11:30 a.m. After a 10-day journey from St. Joseph, Mo. , the final rider will bring mail to the corner of Second and J streets—right across from the Wells Fargo History Museum. The National Pony Express Association  has been putting on the Re-ride for 30 years, and this year marks the 147th anniversary of the Pony Express.

The Pony Express  is the most widely known short-lived piece of Americana. It lasted only 18 months, from April 3, 1860, to Oct. 25, 1861. Established by the Kansas express firm of Russell, Majors, and Waddell , the Pony Express was in its time the fastest way to get mail to California. It was also the most expensive. In 10 days, riding across 1,966 miles, smallish young men (usually in their early teens) would bring 20 pounds of mail from St. Joseph to Sacramento. The cost to send a letter via Pony Express in those days was five dollars per half ounce, which to the average person was a lot of money. (That’s approximately 120 dollars today.) Due to high expenses and the lack of government subsidies, the Pony Express was going broke a year after its creation.

In April 1861, Wells Fargo took control of the Western portion of the Pony Express. Wells Fargo carried letters from Salt Lake City to Sacramento and San Francisco for the last six months of the Pony Express' existence. Wells Fargo helped reduce the cost of postage from the hefty five dollars to just two dollars a half ounce, then reduced the cost even lower, to one dollar, in July 1861. At these prices the Pony Express became more affordable to people and businesses.

Even with the low rates that Wells Fargo offered, the Pony Express would last only a few more months. Technology would put an end to the legend: The telegraph delivered messages faster than anyone on horseback and for a very low cost. On Oct. 25, 1861, Wells Fargo ended its involvement in the Pony Express, marking the end of the 18-month adventure.

Yet the Pony Express lives on in American lore . And for 10 days each year, riders bring letters from St. Joseph to Sacramento, just as they did 147 years ago. All of us here at the Wells Fargo Museum in Old Sacramento are awaiting the Re-ride  and will let everyone know the legacy that Wells Fargo has shared with such a great piece of American history.

Posted by Greg at 08:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Found in Animals, Events, Museums, Participate, Pony Express, Remember, Sacramento, San Francisco, Wells Fargo Bank

Did you feel the excitement in the air this week? No? Well, this wasn’t broadcast live on television.  It wasn’t made into a musical.  The winners probably won’t throw the first pitch  at a major league baseball game. But, for a select few, this week was the highlight of months of effort, and a time they’ll likely remember for years to come. I won’t keep you in suspense any longer—it’s National History Day! 

For lack of a better comparison, think of a science fair only starring young historians doing original historical research and interpretation. Students choose topics relating to a broader theme, conduct research through libraries, archives, museums, oral history interviews and historic sites. After organizing the research and drawing conclusions, students present their work through categories such as original paper, exhibit, and performance. Students proceed through local and state competitions, hoping to make it all the way to national. The National Contest just finished this week. Even Ken Burns—a historical interpretation celebrity(!)—was there.

I had the pleasure of judging history day for the first time a number of years ago, and look forward to it every year. (I am proud to support a home team, and mention Sacramento County  has two contestants at nationals this year.) Considering our company history, it is no surprise that other Wells Fargo employees enjoy supporting National History Day in some way. Some of the Wells Fargo History Museum  curators have judged and recruited large numbers of other employees to participate at local or state competitions. Wells Fargo has sponsored local and national prizes for special topics. And, the Wells Fargo History Museums serve as teaching environments to support parents and students.

So if this has piqued your interest, or you can think of a young aspiring historian or curator to share this information  with, find out more and be part of the excitement  next year!

Posted by Anne at 07:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Found in Events, Experts, First-hand Accounts, Get Involved, Holidays, Misc, Museums, Participate, Perspective, Sacramento, San Francisco, Wells Fargo Bank

I know you kids will find this hard to believe, but PONG® was once the only game in town. You know, back in the Jurassic Age  when mom was growing up. This first wildly popular video game of the early 1970s consisted of knocking a computer-controlled "blip"  back and forth across a cathode ray  screen (another dinosaur).

PONG was made by Atari , a company founded in 1972 by 29-year-old computer whiz Nolan Bushnell . Wells Fargo's Special Industries Group in Palo Alto helped the fledgling firm get ponging by providing a $50,000 line of credit so that Atari could begin manufacturing its product. Atari parlayed this credit into sales of over $3 million in its first year. And the "PONG" rest is "PONG" history  ...

Posted by Marianne at 10:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Found in Misc, Museums, Participate, Pong, Wells Fargo Bank

Old Sacramento  comes alive at the end of May. Aside from the droves of fourth graders on their end-of-the-school-year field trips, there are two huge festivals that bring a variety of people into Old Town. The recent Pacific Rim Street Festival , an annual one-day event that consumes the entire Old Town area, celebrates the cultures and peoples from the Pacific Rim.

One of the biggest sponsors of this event is Wells Fargo, which has been involved in the festival since 1993. By sponsoring this festival, Wells Fargo helps increase awareness and understanding of Asian Pacific heritage. This year, Wells Fargo had a stage near the waterfront boardwalk, hosting a variety of musicians, artists and dancers. Sponsoring the festival is just another step in the long history of Wells Fargo promoting diversity in the community.

The other huge festival that happens in May is the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee , a four-day event starting tomorrow and lasting through Memorial Day. Every year since 1974, Old Sacramento has hosted the jubilee. Looking over the roster of sponsors on the jubilee website , I was not surprised to see the red and gold Wells Fargo logo. Every year, Old Town's Wells Fargo History Museum is packed with jazz enthusiasts; the sounds of every variety of jazz music fill the air. Old Town is closed to automobiles, and bands set up on every street corner. Being a pseudo-musician and Wells Fargo team member, I appreciate seeing Wells Fargo give back to the community—especially to music events that promote a culturally diverse genre of music that has had a huge impact on American culture.

Both of these festivals are fun for the whole family. All of us here at the Old Sacramento History Museum will gladly remind anyone of the 155-year history of one of the proud sponsors of these two great festivals: Wells Fargo.

Posted by Greg at 03:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Found in Events, Museums, Participate, Sacramento, Wells Fargo Bank

Posted by Charles at 12:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Found in Participate, Remember, Wells Fargo Bank

From the Wells Fargo's Archives, a check brochure from 1972:

If you're concerned about our environment, you know there are many ecology organizations who need and deserve support. It was this kind of concern that prompted what we call our Ecology Donation Program. The way it works could hardly be simpler.

Every time you purchase a supply of Wells Fargo checks during 1972, we'll give you the opportunity to have us contribute 25 cents out of the purchase price to an ecology group of your choice.

As the project managers understood, Wells Fargo's stagecoach checks and Western-themed checks would be popular. The 25-cent donations generated about $75,000 during the campaign, for worthwhile ecology organizations  in California, like the National Audubon Society  and The Nature Conservancy .

"It's another case," the brochure added, "where 'little things mean a lot.'"

Go Green!  Go Wells Fargo!

There is more about Wells Fargo's commitment to improving the environment here.

Posted by Keri at 12:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Found in Artifacts, At Work, Get Involved, Participate, Remember, Wells Fargo Bank

In 1979, Wells Fargo opened its first solar-powered branch in Culver City, Calif.  The novel project underscored the company's expanding involvement in solar energy. At the time, solar air conditioning  systems were unique—and way more expensive than solar heating  systems. Wells Fargo's Culver City office was the first financial institution in Southern California to use this novel cooling technique.

The Alten Co.  designed and engineered the solar energy system for the building. The drive-up canopy was topped with 840 square feet of solar collectors to provide energy to heat or cool the building. Customers and other curious people were able to see how the system functioned by peering through a glass wall inside the lobby.

Customers were able to do their banking outside at the two walk-up windows and three drive-up windows. Looking back, walk-up seems the most natural solar way to do business, especially in sunny Southern California. On the other hand, doing drive-up business at a solar-powered building is totally contradictory. But hey, it was the innocent '70s! 

Click here to learn more about Wells Fargo's commitment to improving the environment.

Posted by Keri at 09:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Found in At Work, Get Involved, Participate, Remember, Wells Fargo Bank

My posts on Wells Fargo and the environment continue ...

Wells Fargo's response to environmental affairs began in 1970 , the year Earth Day was officially begun. Yet Wells Fargo had been involved with helping the environment and environmental agencies for much longer.

Forty years after Wells Fargo was established, the Sierra Club  was co-founded in 1892 by John Muir, who was also its first president. During Muir's presidency, the Sierra Club corresponded with John J. Valentine, Wells Fargo's president. John Muir the environmentalist was a Wells Fargo customer who depended on his local agency to assist with his banking and express needs.

In 1908, Muir sent Wells Fargo money orders to his daughter Helen in the Southern California town of Daggett . He also shipped the bounties of his beloved Martinez, Calif. , ranch via Wells Fargo & Co. Express: "I sent you today by (Wells Fargo) Express the jasmine you wanted," he wrote in 1908.

Later that year, he sent Helen some wine: "I sent by express today a crate of Muscat ... gleaned from the young vines on the Rodgers place. I paid a dollar Express [to] Mr. Shaw (Muir's local Wells Fargo agent). ... " And: "I have just sent you by Express a box of cherries Royal Anns , good raw or cooked. [We] picked them this morning and delivered them to the Ex Agent at Muir Station about 9 A.M."

Click here to learn more about Wells Fargo's commitment to improving the environment.

(My thanks to Historian John Keibel for his research assistance on this post!)

Posted by Keri at 08:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Found in Get Involved, Participate, Prepare, Remember, Wells Fargo Bank

Colleague Keri is correct on Wells Fargo’s paper-saving efforts. The bank has been recycling for more than a century. In 1886, for instance, Wells Fargo sold its accumulated waybills, prior to January 1, 1885, for old paper. The rag content in the waste paper  meant it could be reused.

Similarly, one agent might reuse the records of a previous agent. For instance, Benjamin F. Richtmyer was Wells Fargo’s Express agent in Drytown (Amador County), Calif. , from 1860 to 1875. His general store was busy constantly, for Richtmyer was also postmaster and telegrapher as well as express agent.

In 1875, Richtmyer became county clerk, moved to the county seat of Jackson, and continued to serve as a Wells Fargo agent until 1899. Of course, he left the Drytown office records for incoming Agent William Jennings (1875-1894). In 1884, general store keeper Jennings used Richtmyer’s 1860s money receipt books as scrapbooks to preserve bills for merchandise received.

In more recent times, I would find Hawaiian beaches strewn at the high water line with chopped debris  from sugar cane milling. Bagasse, as this refuse is called, is about a quarter-inch wide, four inches long, and in great abundance. In 1972, Wells Fargo proposed to keep this problem in check by making checks out of it.

We do our part.

Posted by Bob at 10:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Found in Artifacts, At Work, Get Involved, Participate, Remember, Wells Fargo Bank

Wells Fargo was one of the first banks in the industry to offer checks printed on recycled paper. A green stagecoach, signifying Wells Fargo's ecological efforts, appeared on the cover of the Wells Fargo Banker in 1972.

On February 1 that year, Wells Fargo began printing checks on paper that was produced from 86% bagasse  (pronounced buh-GAS') instead of wood pulp. Bagasse is the crushed, juiceless residue  of sugar cane as it comes from the mill, which would simply become industrial waste if not recycled for paper. News of Wells Fargo's “bagasse checks” prompted postcards, letters and phone calls praising the bank's effort at ecology .

Wells Fargo chose bagasse in place of recycled paper  because the latter could not, at that time, meet check-printing requirements. Foreign material in recycled paper could detract from the magnetic readings checks require. Plus, the quality of recycled paper was unsuitable for printing the four-color stagecoach checks.

In 1991, recycled paper had improved for use as checks. Wells Fargo introduced new check designs printed on recycled paper.

"Wells Fargo is committed to using recycled paper in all areas of our business, from stationery to computer paper to loan applications. As a checking customer you see that commitment in monthly account statements and envelope made from recycled paper, as well as in teller receipts and deposit envelopes. Recycling is important to us and our communities and our goal is to do our part to make it work."

It's still a goal today.

Click here to learn more about Wells Fargo's commitment to improving the environment.

Posted by Keri at 10:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Found in Artifacts, At Work, Get Involved, Participate, Wells Fargo Bank

Working in the Archives at Wells Fargo, I have discovered many instances in which Wells Fargo has supported environmental affairs throughout its 155-year history. This is the first of several blog contributions to share information about two of my favorite topics.

April 22, 1970 , is when the Earth Day  celebration movement officially began. That same year, in its Annual Report, Wells Fargo wrote a letter to its stockholders which stated,

"A basic trend on American life in the Seventies will be acceleration of concern with the quality of all facets of our existence. It will be accompanied by a growing need for capital to improve our environment, rebuild our cities, improve transportation, and eliminate air and water pollution. Wells Fargo is committed to do its share in providing capital and expertise in these areas."

And Wells Fargo did. During the 1970s (and since), Wells Fargo has ramped up its ecological focus on operations by introducing everything from recycled paper use to solar-powered branches. Over the next couple weeks I will share with you moments of Wells Fargo's ecological history.

Check this out to learn more about Wells Fargo's commitment to improving the environment.

Posted by Keri at 02:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Found in At Home, At Work, Events, First-hand Accounts, Get Involved, Participate, Prepare, Remember, Wells Fargo Bank

I got my monthly dose of Road and Track magazine the other day. I have been a car nut for as long as I can remember, and while in these days of worry about carbon emissions it might not be something to be proud of, I accept my weakness for what it is.

What caught my eye was an article that mentioned Kyle Petty and the foundation he supports. His son Aaron was killed in a racing accident. Unfortunately, I have some idea what that is like, having lost an infant son. What Kyle Petty does is make it possible for children with terminal diseases to get the financial support that they need to make their fondest dreams come true.

Since Wells Fargo has started sponsoring the number 45 car that Petty drives, I have found myself pulled back to watching the races and remembering the days when I was little, watching David Pearson battle Kyle’s dad, Richard Petty. Back in those days I rooted for Pearson, the underdog. Kyle Petty is no threat to qualify for the Nextel Cup. But you can bet that I’ll be rooting for him and his foundation.

Posted by Allan at 02:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Found in Get Involved, Misc, Museums, Participate, Wells Fargo Bank

USA Today tells us about the 100 best communities for young people. Kalamazoo, Mich., gives scholarships to every high school graduate (jeepers!). Louisville, Ky., is also on the list.

Then there's a story about how cities are worried that crime will stifle their attempts to make that list. Louisville gets a nod for having the energy and skill to be proactive about it.

I got to wondering about Louisvilleand how it has enjoyed success where other cities are still challenged. I chatted with people in the Economic Development Department about the city's improvement, and they offered several reasons for Louisville's resurgence.

The mayor is very determined and has a real vision. Louisville has refurbished its downtown over the last decade, and people are moving in. The city and county merged governments to streamline services. Law enforcement is dedicated to outreach and proactive solutions. Louisville recently signed a deal with two other cities to pool emergency resources in the event one or all three faced a disaster. Taking advance action, in other words, instead of waiting around for federal assistance.

Louisville is home to several leading-edge industries, including pharmaceuticals ("health enterprises") and transportation (or "logistics"). This might very well be the difference between success and failure for cities. One can have a vision and rebuild the crumbling downtown, but if there is no work for people to move to ... Well, the gleaming skyline is just a gleaming ghost town.

So there's an element of luck. But luck is one of those intangible things that has real impact. Another is attitude. The Louisvillians I spoke with were adamant that the city has a real vibe, a positive sense of itself that began at the time the city rebuilt. Business that contributed to growth and created jobs in the process were as attracted to the vibe as they were to tax breaks.

If you're superstitious and believe in luck, you can also believe in vibe. Call me crazy if you want—you can reach me in The Ville.

Posted by Charles at 02:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Found in Participate, Prepare, Wells Fargo Bank

This from the AP: A high school senior from Eugene, Ore. won $100,000 at the nation's top high school science competition . Dmitry Vaintrob, from South Eugene High School , submitted his project in a new area of mathematics called string topology . This mathematical field  applies to electricity, magnetism and gravity.

Also winning a $100,000 scholarship was a team of students from Oakridge High School  in Oakridge, Tenn.—Scott Molony, Steven Arcangeli and Scott Horton. Their project is concerned with engineering biofuel from plants .

The march of science can never be halted, as long as curiosity beats in the human heart. And as long as $100,000 is available in an era of soaring college costs. Good work, scholars!

Posted by Charles at 01:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Found in Events, Experts, Participate, Prepare, Wells Fargo Bank

Posted by Charles at 08:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Found in Artifacts, At Home, Participate, Wells Fargo Bank

According to the news , they barely felt the 'quake in Japan on Wednesday (Thursday there—no, wait ...) before tsunami warnings got everyone to safety. Then, the tsunami traveled all the way from Asia to California and —WHAM!—struck Crescent City , wrecking docks and sinking a boat. One local said he was not aware of the tsunami until he heard about it from others. "We're only three blocks from the harbor," he said to the San Francisco Chronicle. "We didn't know it was coming."

Meanwhile, half a world away in North Carolina, a tornado upended Riegelwood  and killed eight people. "There was no warning. There was no time," one victim said in the AP report. "It just came out from nowhere."

I searched the National Weather Service for "warning system" and got a full page  of links to their procedures and policies.

So why are warnings not received? Is it fiscal trouble in counties? What's our weak link here?

Posted by Charles at 11:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Found in Earthquakes, Get Involved, Natural Disasters, Participate, Tornadoes, Tsunamis, Wells Fargo Bank

So we had this big ol' election yesterday to mandate the future of the world. Or maybe it was the usual events on the first Tuesday in November. Whatever the case, the news is big all over—new legislators, interesting voter opinions being expressed and all that. While I muse over a California issue, please weigh in on issues from your home.

There are two old maxims that contradict one another, which means they're both right. "The tyranny of the majority" (Tocqueville , Mill ) suggests the mass of folks will get it wrong every time. The other conclusion is that American voters express common sense (Jefferson ), that people set an agenda that makes government respond.

Take your pick, but let's look at California's Proposition 87  in either light.