Telling You Today: Feb 13, 2025
Friends,
This week I learned about' 'moon lights' via Hayes Davenport's newsletter. Moon lights were an insane-sounding form of urban lighting that used carbon arc lamps suspended on massive towers. The lights were hundreds of feet tall and extremely bright, intended to illuminate several city blocks. Carbon arc was early form of electric lighting which relied on an electric arc passing through the vaporized particles of two closely-aligned carbon rods. They were labor-intensive to maintain (the carbon rods had to be replaced frequently) and eventually made obsolete by increasing building height blocking the light horizontally. Smaller, distributed filament-based streetlights became the standard, though a few cities still preserve towers as curiosities.
Carbon arc lights reminded me of time I spent doing lighting and sound in my high school's theater. The original Montgomery Blair High School had a mouldering auditorium filled with lots of old tech, including two carbon arc follow spotlights. I actually think they might have been this exact model (for which an ABBA album is named). They cast searingly bright, blue-tinged light, and emitted visible fumes that we vented through a dislodged ceiling tile. At some point we were wisely forbidden to use them, but one was still illicitly deployed to light the beloved drama teacher/director Mr. Mather as he stood for an ovation on the eve of retirement.
Of course, arc lights were also used for decades in film projectors, which is where the defunct Arclight Cinemas got their name.
Ride Report
I hit the Verdugos on Sunday, meandering through Glendale, ascending Beaudry Motorway, and exiting down Stowe Canyon. I love this ride, and it's treat to ride from my door in Los Angeles and end up in such serene and remote-feeling areas. I passed a horde of one-wheelers and saw plenty of ravens. As I was passing a runner, he told me my bike "looked heavy." Cool, thanks!
Some Other Pics
Recs
Kairos by Jenny Erpenbeck
Timeline of Patrick Soon-Shiong losing his mind and wrecking the LA Times (LA Taco)
Goes without saying there's a lot of horrible shit happening, and I hope you're finding a way to find some stillness amidst it all (and if you’re so motivated, a way to channel your anger!). I think community is vital in times like this, and that's part of why I'm writing. So keep in touch!
Yours Truly,
Neale