The Chronicle Laid A Turkey

November 28, 2013-Thursday-Thanksgiving Day-I was about to leave the house for my early morning stroll through Fishermen's Wharf that I noticed a plastic wrapped "San Francisco Examiner" newspaper in front of the house. The "Examiner" is the City free newspaper published Sunday through Friday, excluding certain holidays except today. They use to home delivery, but many residents complained about the wastefulness; therefore they only home delivery on Sunday and place in corner newspaper rack the rest of the week.

I can still recall in the 1950's the City had three main newspapers, "San Francisco Chronicle" published mainly in the morning and the two evening papers: "San Francisco Examiner" and "San Francisco Call-Bulletin," which eventually merged into one evening paper the "San Francisco Examiner." I can still recall the cost was only a dime for the daily and my father always brought the three stars edition of the "Examiner" on his way home from work, because it had the closing stock market quotations.

Today the City really have one basic newspaper…"San Francisco Chronicle." The price for the newspaper have gone up and the contents have shrunk.  The paper list the daily at $1.00, but I have seen some newspaper rack list it at 75 cents. The Sunday's papers now cost $3.00. The electronic age have hurt the printed newspaper industries, since people can watch the evening news on TV and get up-the-minute news report in their computers or cell phones. I normally buy the Sunday's, since it is usually packed with store ads and my favorite "Food" section.

On my way back home from the stroll, I stopped by my regular newspaper vendor in front of the "Safeway" on Bay Street. I wanted to see what's this year "Black Friday" deals. He informed me that today newspaper would be treated like a Sunday's edition at the cost of $3.00.

The left is the "San Francisco Chronicle" at $3.00; the right is the "San Francisco Examiner" home delivered and free.

The "Chronicle" did not have any of the regular Sunday's extra features, therefore a regular Thursday daily filled with store ads. The "Examiner" had most of the same major stores ads, the only exception were "Chronicle" had more cell phone companies ads, "Walgreens" and "Walmart" store ads.

"Black Friday" have become the standard for most major business to jump start the holiday shopping binge. This year was the start of a new trend called "Gray Thursday," forget Thanksgiving and hit the stores. "Walmart" and "Best Buy" had stores opening at 6 p.m. Thursday, while the others major stores are opening at 8 p.m. Thursday. Next year the opening should be 3 p.m. Thursday after a turkey lunch.

The "Chronicle" wanted to get into the consumers spending mode by raising the price of today newspaper, which is 75% filled with store ads. As I can recall, the store ads insert are paid by the stores; therefore the old "supply and demand"…consumers demand to know the sale ads. My neighbor said screw "Chronicle" and Google "Black Friday Ads" next year!

North Beach Oddities

November 17, 2013-Sunday-8:05 a.m.-The City of San Francisco have over 100,000 registered dogs, which some claims to be more than the number of school-aged children enrolled in the City. I decided to sit in front of my window and count how many dogs passed by from 7 a.m. to  7 p.m. I picked a day which I had no chores or errands needed be done, the wife was mad that I camped in front of window with a TV tray during lunch and snacks, I told her it was an important "scientific experiment," unfortunately she was not happy about my quick bathroom dash and subsequently mess. My count were for the initial pet owners and their dogs, since several walked by in the morning and again in the evening. I counted in that time period: 37 dogs, 2 loose cats, 11 bums and 186 vehicles not making a complete stop at the 4-way "STOP" intersection (I really quit counting after 2 p.m.-it was getting too frustrating).

My main problems are the "irresponsible dog owners," especially the ones that refuse to pick up their dog's poop! Several of my neighbors have other grips: dog urinating along side of their building or sidewalk and pet owners tossing their doggie poop bags in planted trees area or sidewalk. Dog owners would cried…"Dog-less person, what's your problem?"

In the summer of 1976, I adopted a mixed breed labrador/mutt puppy from SPCA. After 16 years, she died in the operating table from a bleeding ulcer. In those days the neighborhood only had a total of 5 dogs; a Italian chef-german shepherd, a Oriental mailman-chow chow, a Oriental city worker-german shepherd, and a Irish retiree-mixed breed husky/german shepherd. We all curb the dogs, meaning dogs did their business between the parked cars. In 1978, supervisor Harvey Milk passed the "pooper scooper law" requiring dog owners to scoop up their pet's poop in public. People were mad at the few dog owners allowing their dogs to poop all over the City's parks. The City had "pooper scooper officers" to issue citation to dog owner whom did not compiled. I can still recall walking the dog and holding the scooper-a broomstick brush with a broomstick dustpan. The law is still on the book today,  since dog owners have more clout than before…there are now special-made dog park in the City and some dogs are even roaming freely in regular City park areas.

Now back to the problem…January 31, 2012-8:15 a.m.

Doggie poop in the middle of the sidewalk on the 600 block of Greenwich Street.

March 17, 2013-7:57 a.m.

Doggie poop in the middle of the sidewalk on the 1900 block of Powell Street.

Back to this morning on my daily walk, I noticed the following

Someone or two person tossed their doggie poop bags by the side of a storefront.

The store which happen to be a pet store called "Jeffrey's Natural Pet Foods" at 1841 Powell Street.

Maybe the dog owner or owners were in the act of defiance of the store high prices or bad dog foods selection.

Or maybe,

Just a case of "lazy and irresponsible dog owner."

Postal Worker Antics

November 2, 2013-Saturday-8:56 a.m.- I noticed this on my way home...

A "US Government" license plate vehicle parked within a yellow striped crosswalk on the corner of Stockton and Filbert Street. 

Assumption #1-Why yellow striped crosswalk...an intersection with heavy pedestrians  traffic, usually proximity to a school.

Assumption #2-What's the fine for parking in crosswalk...California Vehicle Code V22500B is $100.

Assumption #3-What's attractions nearby...to the right-Liguria Bakery, to the left-Mama's restaurant, farther left-St. Peter and Paul Church, and behind to the left-Washington Square Park.

Assumption #4-Government vehicle...first two letters license numbers "PO" which means Post Office.

Reality: A postal worker making a "Express Mail" delivery this early in the morning? Nope...he standing in  line at the Liguria Bakery at 1700 Stockton Street, home of the best focaccia bread in town; to make a purchase! 

The postal worker is loading his purchases into the back seats.

Sadly the Postal Service is losing money each day and they blame it on Congress forced requirement to pre-fund future worker's health plan. The last time I checked a Ford Focus do not cost less than $100 even if you buy in bulk, plus the cost of maintenance, insurance and fuel do add up. 

Oddly postal workers thinks that they are exempt from driving rules, but a police officer once told me that parking violations are issued to the vehicle and workers usually tells their supervisor they cannot find a legal space to park. Unfortunately moving violations are issued to the drivers and recorded to he/she driver license. This postal worker would tell his supervisor that he was there to pick up several outgoing brown paper bag package or maybe it was a supervisor breakfast run!

Chinatown Oddities #2

November 2, 2013-Saturday-8:40 a.m.-This morning on my walk through Chinatown along Stockton Street, as I approached the corner of Pacific Avenue...I noticed a rushing stream of water flowing along the western curbs of the 1100 block of Stockton Street. The enormous amount of flowing water was causing a miniature pond at the Pacific Avenue corner drainage. I was able to take a giant leap across   the puddle, but many elders had to walk up Pacific Avenue to cross the street. As I walked up toward Jackson Street, I could see in the far distant a big gushing of water. I can also overheard several of the merchant workers explaining to customers that whoever cannot turn off the water, therefore what happened must had occurred not just the last few minutes but at least 15 minutes ago.

What happened...

The water was gushing out of the fire hydrant at the corner of Stockton and Jackson Street.

At the location were several police squad cars with officers outside keeping an eyes on the traffic and onlookers. A fire truck crew was there too with a crowbar attached to the shut-off valve---but cannot shut the water off. Everybody is waiting for whom...The Water Department! 

The normal response time 45 to 60 minutes; first to arrive would be a supervisor in a pick-up truck to  evaluate the situation and then a crew truck comes along to cap the opened pipe. I figure total time 1 hour and half of water down the drain when the City is facing a drought-like October month. 

Post Office Flag Etiquette Again And Again

September 27, 2013-My retired postal buddy informed me on September 7, 2013 of an upcoming date the postal service are required to half-staff the American flag at all postal facilities. He claims to be an avid postal sources reader on the Internet and knew I was an avid post office flag etiquette watcher.

He email me an article from the "USPS News LINK," the postal service daily management and employees newsletter of postal information. He claims all management personnel in all postal facilities are required to read the daily doctrine from Washington, D.C. Headquarters. This was entitled "Remembering 9/11" posted 9/6/13 at 2:05 p.m. EDT:
          Wednesday is Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance,
          when Americans pause to remember the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001. All
          postal facilities must fly the American flag at half-staff on Wednesday.

          When flown at half-staff, hoist the flag to the peak for an instant and then
          lower it to the half-staff position. The flag should be raised to the peak
          again before it's lowered for the day.

The fun begin on September 11, 2013-10:01 a.m.-North Beach Carrier Annex-2200 Powell Street:

The American flag is half-staff or most likely somehow caught between the roof ledge!

September 11, 2013-10:19 a.m.-Chinatown Station Post Office-867 Stockton Street:

Oops-someone forgot to half-staff the American flag! My retired postal buddy inform me that this station is under the command of the Station Manager of the North Beach Carrier Annex. The Chinatown station do have a supervisor or the senior clerk that should had read the "News LINK" posted 6 days ago.

September 12, 2013-8:40 a.m.-Chinatown Station Post Office-867 Stockton Street:

The American flag is still full-staff, I thought maybe someone had the dates mixed up!

September 12, 2013-10:17 a.m.-North Beach Carrier Annex-2200 Powell Street:

This is strange-the flag is still half-staff or most likely three-fourth-staff. Maybe the reason they could not raise the flag to full-staff because the flag is still struck on the roof ledge?

September 13, 2013-9:54 a.m.-North Beach Carrier Annex-2200 Powell Street:

The flag is still three-fourth-staff and struck on the roof ledge.

September 14, 2013-707 a.m.-North Beach Carrier Annex-2200 Powell Street:

Eureka! The American flag is finally back to full-staff. I think most likely done yesterday evening, therefore it took 2 days before someone or something at the Postal Service to correct "normal reoccurrence of bad flag etiquette."

I spent the weekend putting together this posting and on Monday-September 16, 2013-3:30 p.m.-My retired postal buddy called to inform me that President Obama an hour earlier on TV issued a presidential proclamation in honor of the victims of the Washington navy yard shooting, therefore all Federal facilities lower the American flag to half-staff until sunset September 20, 2013. My buddy claims most likely the Postal Service would post the information tomorrow in its "News LINK."

On September 17, 2013-1:45 p.m.-My buddy email me the following entitled "Flag at half-staff" posted 9/17/13 at 11:03 a.m. EDT:
          As a mark of respect for the victims of the Sept. 16 shootings at the Washington, DC,
          Navy Yard, President Obama has ordered that the U.S. flag be flown at half-staff at 
          all federal facilities throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions
          until sunset, Sept. 20, 2013.

          When flown at half-staff, hoist the flag to the peak for an instant and then lower it to
          the half-staff position. The flag should be raised to the peak again before it's lowered
          for the day.

My buddy claims most Station Managers should read the information and had the American flag lowered to half-staff by the evening. He wanted me to check out the post offices, but I told him I am a morning person...would check it tomorrow!

September 18, 2013-8:52 a.m.-Chinatown Station Post Office-867 Stockton Street:

The flag was at half-staff!

September 18, 2013-9:55 a.m.-North Beach Carrier Annex-2200 Powell Street:

The flag was at half-staff, plus this time it was really located at half-staff!

The fun part not going happen until sunset, September 20, 2013, when the American flag be raised back to full-staff and then lowered for the day. These two post offices never lowered at the end of the business day and raise the flag at the beginning of a business day---too much work! Therefore on September 21, 2013,  all American flags should be in the full-staff position. My retired postal buddy claims all two post offices should be at full-staff. I told him of my special insight into foreseen the future  or more correctly..."normal reoccurrence of bad flag etiquette.," the flags would be at half-staff.

September 21, 2013-8:10 a.m.-North Beach Carrier Annex-2200 Powell Street:

What-the flag is at half-staff!

September 21, 2013-8:34 a.m.-Chinatown Station Post Office-867 Stockton Street:

Oops-the flag is also at half-staff!

September 22, 2013-8:05 a.m.-North Beach Carrier Annex-2200 Powell Street:

The flag is still at half-staff.

September 22, 2013-8:28 a.m.-Chinatown Station Post Office-867 Stockton Street:

The flag is back on full-staff. Today is Sunday, therefore someone raised the flag back to full-staff yesterday evening...still one day late!

September 23, 2013-9:38 a.m.-North Beach Carrier Annex-2200 Powell Street:

The flag is still half-staff and UPS just merged with the Postal Service!

September 24, 2013-1012 a.m.-North Beach Carrier Annex-2200 Powell Street:

September 25, 2013-7:41 a.m.-North Beach Carrier Annex-2200 Powell Street:

Well the American flag is finally raised to its full-staff, either by yesterday evening or this morning. It took 3 days before someone or something realized that the flag should be raised back. Many people complaint about the postal service slow service or "snail mail." I would rather call this episode as "snail flag etiquette."

Chinatown Oddities

October 22, 2013-Something never changes on my daily walks...something would happen! 

Lately the Stockton Street corridor along Chinatown been having traffic congestion due to my favorite pet peeve of the City's lax of traffic enforcement on vendor's trucks double-parking; adding the last two weeks of underground pipes replacement on the 700 block of Jackson Street and the start of the demolition of the old Hogan & Vest Building on the corner of Washington & Stockton for the future Central Subway station.

The Central Subway station project hired SFPD officers to control traffic around the area of the demolition. The Jackson Street pipe project done by private contractor utilized workers in orange vest and orange cones to direct traffic in that intersection---causing one big confusing mess---low bid cut corners!

The SFPD officers are on extra paid/off-duty assignments and their main duty is the construction area, but eliminating two lanes into one would causes traffic backup down the road. Therefore what traffic problems prior to their intersection is not their concern. The situation gets worst when drivers are having a hard times navigating the left turn onto Jackson Street and drivers along Stockton Street having to zig-zag among double-parked vendor's trucks.

The new society norm is "Self-Preservation" or in common term---"I and only I comes first!" The merchants along Stockton Street have boxes lined on the sidewalk & street, produces stands protruding beyond the legal limit, and company trucks parked all day. The vendor's have trucks double-parking, parking in crosswalk, driving those motorized forklift on the sidewalks or on the streets, making U-turn in the middle of the block and the famous "We are exempt" making illegal left-turn off of Broadway onto Stockton Street. Today what a vendor's truck driver did top all previous stupidities.

8:35 A.M.-The Central Subway demolition project posted road signs along Stockton Street to warn motorists of the upcoming dangers several blocks prior to Washington Street. The 1100 block of Stockton Street near the Jackson Street corner:

The 1100 block of Stockton Street near the Pacific Street corner:

Finally the middle of the 1200 block of Stockton Street:

Sorry for the fuzzy picture, I was amaze by what happened...instead of moving the warning sign to the front or the back of the truck. The vendor moved the sign...

                                         RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SIDEWALK!

Post Office Flag Etiquette---Part III

August 16, 2013-Friday-My original post on July 28, 2012 concerning the local post offices procedures on lowering or raising the American flag on special dates, with a follow-up posting on July 4, 2013 on why the American flag was at half-staff that day. The main postal installation in this saga...North Beach Carrier Annex located at 2200 Powell Street.

The latest updates:

Saturday-July 6, 2013

Flag is still at half-staff.

Tuesday-July 9, 2013

Saturday-July 13, 2013

Sunday-July 28, 2013

Wednesday-August 7, 2013

The American flag is still at half-staff.

Today, Friday-August 16, 2013

The American flag is finally back at full staff. Either someone at the post office realized the mistake, someone in upper management called, someone in the neighborhood  informed the post office of the mistake or the post office repaired the rope pulley!

No matter what's the reasoning behind the correction of raising the flag back to full mast---it should  not had taken so long to correct the mistake. If my calculation is correct, the last known date the American flag was to be lowered to half-staff would be for Memorial Day May 27, 2013...give or take of almost 82 days the American flag been flown at half-staff by mistake. The postal service been known to misdelivery a piece of mail or even lose a piece of mail---now I can add forgetting correct flag etiquette!

Chinatown Double-Parking Fiasco

August 6, 2013-Tuesday-8:22 a.m.-On my morning stroll through upper Chinatown (lower Chinatown is the tourists trap Grant Avenue, while upper Chinatown is the locals shopping mecca), I noticed a traffic jam along the 1200 block of Stockton Street south-bound lanes heading downtown. The most notable vehicle struck in the traffic was a MUNI long articulated line 8X bus. As I approached the corner of Pacific Avenue, I realized the problem---a double-parked refrigerated meat delivery truck, with its side cargo door wide open with fresh slaughter pigs inside. I noticed the driver with a pig carcass on his shoulder crossing the street to deliver to the corner store. I also noticed just my luck a DPT officer in his scooter behind the traffic mess. I cross the street and walked over to the next block to observe what would happen next.

The lack of double-parking enforcement in Chinatown been my pet-peeves for years. I have even documented so many incidents of this very same DPT officer of not enforcing the laws due to some form of discount/gift for fruits or vegetables from vendors and store owners. I watched as the DPT officer parked his scooter right behind the truck, walked nonchalantly between the two parked trucks. He looked at the front of the vehicle...why? There are normally two meat processing companies trucks that makes deliveries in the area, whom constantly double-park wherever; including on the one lane northbound side, and he would not tag or ask them to move---because he have some kind of arrangements. These two companies works in tandem of two workers, but this truck is one lone driver. I know the operation of this area by heart. The DPT officer and I knew this truck was new to the area, therefore the DPT officer started to take out his ticket scanner to write up a ticket. The driver came back to the truck and the two had a discussion on the spot. 

The picture is worth of thousand words:

Point #1-The truck is parked way over into the other south-bound lane, because he is unloading by his side door---he needed room to get the slaughtered pigs out. This the main reason why there is a traffic jam. Regular size cars can barely pass the double-parked truck, but a wide MUNI bus need clearance by waiting for traffic on the other side clear before passing it.

Point #2-With modern technology and these new ticket-writing scanner it take a DPT officer less than a minute to issue you a ticket, but this officer act like its a stroll in the park, while traffic is backed up! He is really trying to negotiate a deal with a new clients!

There should be no explanation required, either issue the ticket or have him immediately move, which after several minutes of wasteful discussion the driver moved over to Pacific Avenue.

Point #3-Noticed another DPT officer approaching the scene. This gets weirder as I stood on the next block I noticed a DPT sedan parked one block over and on the opposite side, with that officer watching the traffic mess in front of him. He did not leave his vehicle until the truck driver started talking to the officer. This DPT officer could be a senior DPT officer, supervisor or special on-call DPT officer. He came out with a clipboard.

This DPT officer must be following protocol, if noticed a traffic mess and not your beat---just ignore it. The correct procedure is never infringe on another officer arrangements!

He was just giving the other officer moral support or wants in with the deal...why? I noticed the officer returned to his vehicle and made an illegal u-turn, since it was made in a business area. But I realized that he had a license that clearly stated why he can do it---EXEMPT.

I also noticed as he drove pass another vendor in a pick-up truck, the officer waved at him. Thus I knew the officer was not here on official business but on personal business.

Point #4-Did you noticed the vendor on the left side with the motorized dolly cart. These are another big hazard in Chinatown. The vendors that uses these motorized dollies treat them like car, blocking traffic lanes and flying through intersections without any regards to signal lights. The worst offenders are those that drive along the sidewalk in the morning. I know nothing been done to regulate trucks in the City's, why would anything be done to regulate motorized dolly carts!

The final Point #5-The next block of 1100 Stockton Street:

Not one but two double-parked trucks!

I wanted to see what that DPT officer would do in this incident. 

The answer: The officer in his scooter drove up the next lane, stop by the rear of the first double-parked truck and joked with the driver and waved at him as he drove by. The officer stopped at the second truck waved at the two workers unloading and motoring on by. "Selective Enforcement" or better know as "previous arrangements."

On July 30, 2013, newspapers and local television stations were carrying an segment on the problems of vehicles double-parking in the City. The main focus came from Supervisor Scott Wiener and on his website came the following statements:

                  "7/30/13 -- Today I called for a hearing on double parking at the Board

                    of Supervisors. Double parking can disrupt entire transit lines and cause

                    unnecessary traffic jams. I've called on MTA to report on enforcement, or

                    lack thereof, against this practice, and how double parking impacts

                    vehicular traffic flow."

Supervisor Scott Wiener even suggested that fines for double-parking should be increased to discourage such practice. The solution is really very simple...Enforce the rules! The problem is...Money talks!

San Francisco Department of Public Works Antics

July 7, 2013-Sunday-7:58 a.m.-I was on my morning stroll toward Chinatown along Columbus Avenue about to cross Green Street to make the right turn onto Stockton Street by the Bank of America building; I heard the sound of a powered pressure washer with street debris flying out onto the street. I made my turn onto Stockton Street and noticed a City's worker cleaning the MUNI bus shelter with his pressure washer hose. He was on my left side spraying the shelter with a light mist but full blast on the air spray. I could see flying debris and feel the water mist hitting my pant legs as I walked passed him. He made no motion to stop or aim the spray away from me, but I understood the "standard of procedures for City's workers." The thing that really got my attention was two elderly ladies was approaching the bus stop on the opposite direction on Stockton Street, and they was about to cross the alley "Card." He should had noticed them, since they were coming straight at him, but he kept the air spray on pushing the debris and dust up toward them. Both the ladies had their hands up to cover the nose and mouth. The "standard of procedures for City's workers" are to know what areas of the City you are working at---Chinatown...don't give a damn! The two ladies were Oriental and me a old Oriental man---we do not complaint (Old Confucius Myth: worrying about Immigration Officers). The City's worker would behave like a gentleman if he was at the Marina or Pacific Heights neighborhood.

Some might say I am bias toward City's workers in Chinatown, but over two months ago another Public Works worker with the same small pressure washer truck was pressure washing the sidewalk in front of the CHASE bank branch at 1318 Stockton Street at 8:30 a.m. on a weekday. This worker was using the full blast of steam and water on the sidewalk with no orange cones or working partial of the sidewalk at a time. What caught my attention was him yelling at Oriental passers-by..."Hey I am working here!" This worker was in his white City's issued overall, acting if he being timed on the job. Oops! I forgot the bank open it's door in 30 minutes for business.

Today City's worker was not in his white overall and seems to be in a rush. Why? Before I reach the next intersection at Vallejo Street, he was in his truck and passed me by. I came upon him double-parked at the next bus stop along Stockton Street between Broadway & Pacific. I noticed him out of his truck and this area is very congested with riders awaiting the buses plus right in front of a very busy produce store. It turned out he was only there to wait on a fellow City's garbage truck for break time! Another "standard of procedures for City's workers" never take a break alone!

One of my worst pet peeve is how lazy are many of the store owners in my stroll through the areas of Chinatown and North Beach. The blocks along Stockton Street and Grant Avenue have 7 days street cleaning, while the blocks along Columbus Avenue have street cleaning every other days. The street cleanings are done before 6:00 a.m. and including holidays. In the City's store owners are responsible for the front sidewalk of their business. They can be cited for not removal of graffiti in a timely manner or too much accumulation of chewing gums on sidewalk. The strange habit of many store owners is that any trash or debris along the front are not picked up with a dustpan, but just sweep out into the street! I even caught one young coffee shop owner sweep the front  debris to his neighbor's area.

I returned back to bus stop where the City's worker was cleaning about the most 10 minutes ago:
This is the bus stop-

This is Card Alley, where the two ladies were approaching the City's worker-

Noticed all the trash were just moved from one spot to another---onto the street!

The corner when I first approached-

The trash are out on the street!

Street views of the area-

All the City's worker did was move the trash from one point to another. The worker might not be equipped or qualified to use a broom and dustpan. Finally another "standard of procedures for City's workers" delegate the work assignments. Leave unfinished work for another City's worker to transport a van full of "community service" workers to sweep the area.

Confucius said...He who work swiftly and diligently, would gain additional work. He who work slowly and carefree, would gain assistance.

Post Office Flag Etiquette---Part II

July 4, 2013-It been almost a year ago on my July 28, 2012 post, which I ranted about how my two local postal installations were not honoring orders of half-staff flag or lowering the flag at the end of the day. Well today I came up with a remarkable occurrence for "Independence Day!"

First I must correct something I mentioned in the first posting concerning the North Beach Post Office at 1640 Stockton Street. My retired postal buddy informed me, prior to 1997 the postal service were the only occupant of the building, therefore the clerks were raising and lowering the United States flag. After the erection of the new two-story building, owned by the next door 'San Francisco Italian Athletic Club' which rented the first floor back to the Postal Service. The two exterior flag poles were maintained by the Italian Athletic Club, thereby a Italy national flag is flown on the right pole:

Private buildings are not required to honor Presidential half-staff flag orders.

The North Beach Carrier Annex at 2200 Powell Street is a postal service owned building and after checking my vast photos archive:
December 20, 2012-

The North Beach Carrier Annex had the flag at half-staff! Why? President Obama ordered "all government installations - including postal facilities" flag be flown at half-staff in honor of U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye of Hawaii passed away on December 17th 2012. My retired postal buddy informed me that the station just had a new Station Manager. Maybe finally someone able to comprehend postal memo or able to read the flag pole manual.

I came upon another archive photo:
April 19, 2013-

The Chinatown Station Post Office at 867 Stockton Street had the flag at half-staff! Why? President Obama ordered all government and postal facilities flag be flown at half-staff to honor the fallen victims of the April 15th 2013 Boston Marathon Explosion. I forgot to check the North Beach Carrier Annex to see if their flag is flown at half-staff.

Now to today's remarkable occurrence, but first a small prelude:
June 30, 2013-

Sunday-North Beach Carrier Annex flag was flown half-staff! Why? I could not "Google" any latest Presidential ordered half-staff, therefore I called my retired postal buddy for assistance. He called me back the following Monday after calling some postal employees and the only postal required scheduled flag flown at half-staff was for May 27, 2013-Memorial Day. We chuckle since that was 34 days ago!

Today July 4, 2013-
The post office is closed and everybody is celebrating...

Unfortunately the United States flag is flown in this glories day at half-staff! My retired postal buddy wanted me to check the half-staff above photo for December 20, 2012; the July 4, 2013 flag is really at three-fourth staff; he concluded it can be a rope pulley mechanism problem.

My conclusion is all those years this post office station never honored half-staff orders and when a new manager arrived and started honoring half-staff orders...it became a bewilderment to raise back the flag to full-staff! Or the Wizard would surmised: The flag at the post office is half-staff, therefore they are hiring!