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Tag: <span>Learn</span>

Computer History

Liza Loop showing me the first Apple computer that Wozniak personally gave to her. Yes, it is just a PC board, no case, but it still works when hooked up to a power supply, keyboard, and a monitor. It was kept in Milpitas for many years until the Sobrato Center kicked out the little museum. This photo was taken in Milpitas.

Liza Loop and the First Apple
Liza Loop and the First Apple

Apple II History
This project began as a description of how the Apple II evolved into a IIGS, and some of the standards that emerged along the way. It has grown into a history of Apple Computer, with an emphasis on the place of the Apple II in that history. By Steven Weyhrich.

Atari Games Museum
The following pictures were taken in May of 2003, when Midway decided to close their Milpitas facility. The Milpitas facility was the old ‘Atari Games’ building. I was able to get some pictures, before everything was moved out of the building.

Chief Yahoos: David Filo and Jerry Yang
“Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can postpone to the day after.” This parody of the old proverb could very well be the motto of Yahoo! Inc. co-founders David Filo and Jerry Yang. By following such a philosophy of procrastination, they not only created the world’s most popular (and most profitable) World Wide Web search engine; they also made themselves multimillionaires in the process. Well, sort of.

Computer History Museum
Timeline of computing history, browse by topic, or send them information about computing history. Located in Mt. View.

Don Hoefler
The journalist credited with coining the phrase: “Silicon Valley.”

Folklore
Andy Hertzfeld’s book in blog format. Read about the origins of Apple and the Macintosh computer.

GoMilpitas Way Back
This site has archived my home page and some internal pages since 1999. If you’d like to see news headlines and such, take a look here.

Apple I replica creation: back to the garage
By Tom Owad. A Google book preview.

History of Computing Industrial Era 1976 – 1979
The Third Generation of computers starts approximately in this era. These computers are characterized by mainly electronic models but now fully programmable. From The History of Computing Foundation.

Homebrew Computer Club
That summer in 1975 at the Homebrew Club the Intel 8080 formed the center of the universe. The Altair was built around the 8080 and its early popularity spawned a cottage industry of small companies that either made machines that would run programs written for the Altair or made attachments that would plug into the various kinds of micro computers. Be sure to check out the early newsletters.

IBM’s Early History
In 1890 the U.S. Census Bureau knew its traditional methods of counting would not be adequate for measuring the population, so it sponsored a contest to find a more efficient means of tabulating census data.

IBM Through the Years
A timeline that begins in 1885 with short articles about this history of this business machine company.

An Illustrated History of Computers
The first computers were people! That is, electronic computers (and the earlier mechanical computers) were given this name because they performed the work that had previously been assigned to people. By John Kopplin.

Intel Museum
So you have “Intel Inside.” What exactly DO you have inside your computer?

The Jargon Dictionary
A comprehensive compendium of hacker slang illuminating many aspects of hackish tradition, folklore, and humor. This file, jargon.txt, was maintained on MIT-AI for many years, before being published by Guy Steele and others as the Hacker’s Dictionary. Many years after the original book went out of print, Eric Raymond picked it up, updated it and republished it as the New Hacker’s Dictionary.

Lawrence Livermore Labs History
The single event that triggered the establishment of Lawrence Livermore was detonation of the first Russian atomic bomb in 1949.

Lo*op Center
Once located in the Sobrato Center in Milpitas, under the direction of Liza Loop, documents, artifacts, and stories were preserved to tell the history of educational computing.

Memoir of a Homebrew Computer Club Member
Posted on a bulletin board in the PALY terminal room (containing 6 noisy KSR-33 teletypes in the Palo Alto High School math-science office) was a notice that a computer group meeting would be held at the home of Gordon French. By Bob Lash.

National Semiconductor History 1959 1960’s
National Semiconductor started by making silicon mesa transistors for industrial and military uses. The company grew quickly after 1967 under CEO Charlie Sporck and new management, moving headquarters from Danbury, Connecticut, to Santa Clara, California in the heart of today’s Silicon Valley.

Pong Story
The video game history started in a strange and complicated way and it is important to avoid confusions with what happened in the 1950s and 1960s. The real video game history started with Ralph Baer as early as 1951.

The Promise: An Educator’s History of the Internet
An investigation into the history of the Internet and the promise for its use in the K-12 classroom.

Silicon Genesis
A unique collection of oral history interviews with pioneers of the semiconductor industry.

Steve Paul Jobs
Like the Bhagwan, driving around Rancho Rajneesh each day in another Rolls-Royce, Jobs kept his troops fascinated and productive. The joke going around said that Jobs had a ‘reality distortion field’ surrounding him. He’d say something, and the kids in the Macintosh division would find themselves replying ‘Drink poison Kool-Aid? Yeah, that makes sense’. – Robert X. Cringely, 1992.

Woz and Ann picking up new iPads April 3, 2010
Woz and Ann picking up new iPads April 3, 2010

Steve Wozniak, Still Fathering the Computer Revolution
He’s been called the Wizard of Woz. It was he who single-handedly designed an entire personal computer, the Apple I. It was he who designed the Apple II and wrote the software to make it run. Site has more good Woz sites, including Steve’s own website.

Pioneer Era – 1800s in Silicon Valley

In the 1800s the Mexicans, the Gold Rush, the Civil War, and the Transcontental Railroad transformed the Bay Area from a bunch of sleepy cattle ranches to a booming economy.

Read More About the California Pioneer Era

Milpitas Images of AmericaMilpitas
Images of America
by Robert Burrill
$21.95 or $25 with author signature.
Call 263-5468 to order.
Robert L. Burrill, Milpitas filmmaker and photography teacher for more than 35 years, has combed the archives of the Milpitas Historical Society, private local collections, and his own works to find more than 200 vintage photographs chronicling the heritage, enterprise, and wit of Milpitas from the 1700s to the present day. Read first 31 pages of this book.

Little CornfieldsLittle Cornfields
Hardcover editions of Milpitas : The Century of Little Cornfields 1852 – 1952 by Patricia Loomis are available by making a donation of $18 (or more) to the Milpitas Historical Society. Paperback edition is available for $8.

You are invited to attend one of the Milpitas Historical Society meetings any 2nd Wednesday of each month in the Library at 7p when this book will also be available.

Family Chronicles and Biographies of Milpitas Pioneer Families

  • Abel, George E.
    Born in Milpitas January 3, 1882. Butcher, farmer.
  • Ashley, Aldace N.
    Born in Placer County May 13, 1864. Ashley & Co. General merchandise store in Milpitas.
  • Ashley, John T.
    Born in Vermont June 4, 1830. Father of Aldace and others. Dixon & Ashley merchandise store in Milpitas.
  • Bellew, Michael
    Born in Meath County, Ireland, in 1830. Took up farming in Milpitas in 1861.
  • Boyce, David S
    Born in Quebec, Canada, August 18, 1838. Settled in Milpitas in 1863. Blacksmith and carriage maker. Firm name Boyce & Topham.
  • Brandt, Charles
    Born November 22, 1867. School board member for the Laguna School District in the Milpitas hills.
  • Darling, E. W.
    Born in Quebec, Canada, December 28, 1834. In 1875 Mr. Darling erected the Milpitas grain warehouses.
  • Giacomazzi, Edward P.
    Born in San Jose on March 22, 1879. In 1905, he was appointed the postmaster of Milpitas. Founder of the Bank of Milpitas.
  • Gibson, Edward O.
    Pioneer farmer and stockman.
  • Pashote Family
    Opereated a store, auto truck business, restaurant, ice-cream parlor and meat market.
  • Trimble, John
    Born in Missouri Feb. 17, 1828. He raised fruit,berries and grain.
  • Winsor Family
    Pioneer Blacksmiths of Milpitas.

History of Local Pioneers in the 1800s

Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum
Mining operations in New Almaden first began in 1845 under the claim of Mexican Cavalry Officer Captain Andres Castillero. Castillero discovered that the red rock used by the local Ohlone Indians to paint them and the walls of the Santa Clara Mission was cinnabar, an ore containing mercury. The valuable mercury was needed to process silver in Mexican silver mines.

Alum Rock Park History
California’s first and oldest park. The park which was founded in 1872, was simply referred to as the “reservation.” The name Alum Rock was derived from a huge rock that was believed to contain a high percentage of alum.

Alviso Adobe Park History
The first story of the Alviso Adobe, which is located near the intersection of Piedmont Road and Calaveras Road, was built some time in 1835 by José Maria de Jesus Alviso, who had been granted title to the land on which it stands by the governor of Alta California, José Castro, on September 23,  1835.

Ardenwood Farm
In 1849 George Washington Patterson joined the stream of young men leaving the Midwest for California’s gold fields. His dreams left little room for failure, but after a year and a half of mining he was ill and broke. And so he turned to work he knew well — farming.

The Bear Flag Revolt
With Fremont’s “army” nearby, and belief in the rumor that Castro was gathering forces to expel the Americans, the local settlers became emboldened enough to steal some horses meant for Castro’s army, then to storm Vallejo’s “fort” at Sonoma June 14, 1846.

California As We Saw It
Exploring the California Gold Rush. By Gary F. Kurutz, Curator of Special Collections, California State Library.

California during the Civil War: 10 Facts
While no battles took place on Californian soil, the state has a rich Civil War history. Learn more about the state of California during the Civil War with these ten facts.

Discovery of Gold in California
It was in the first part of January, 1848, when the gold was discovered at Coloma, where John Sutter was then building a saw-mill. A first-hand account.

Fallon House
Restored to how homes looked during the Civil War era in California, you can easily see this home and the Peralta Adobe next door in one trip.

Frémont in the Conquest of California
In the autumn of 1845 Frémont came on his second exploring expedition to California.

Gold Rush – American Experience on PBS
See if you have what it takes to strike it rich in the gold rush! Choose a character and try to strike it rich in our online role-playing game.

Gold Rush Chronicles
Here before you, in a leather-bound book on an old wooden table, is a history of the great California Gold Rush. Discover the colorful stories that lie unfurled on these pages and unlock a taste of that famous era. Learn how the Gold Rush affected the world not so long ago.

Guadalupe River Park
Local historians have always been aware that a settlement known as the Woolen Mills Chinatown was located near Taylor Street between 1887 and 1902.

History of the Donner Party – C. F. McGlashan
The far-famed Donner Party were, in a peculiar sense, pioneer martyrs of California. Before the discovery of gold, before the highway across the continent was fairly marked out, while untold dangers lurked by the wayside, and unnumbered foes awaited the emigrants, the Donner Party started for California.

Felton Homes and History
Felton had its start in 1843 when Isaac Graham transferred his limber mill from the Zayante land grant to the San Lorenzo River at Fall Creek. Local Felton wiki.

Historic Niles
The community of Niles is rich in history and has gained recognition as a truly unique spot in the San Francisco Bay Area.

History of the University of California
The University of California became a “public trust” in 1879 as part of a larger revision of California’s Constitution approved by California voters. Download full text.

History in the Vines: Fremont’s Wine Legacy
From the Spanish-Mission era up to Prohibition, south Fremont (then called the Washington Township), had once been one of the first and most productive wine regions in California.

The Houghton Donner House
156 E. St. John Street, San Jose, and right in the way of the Civic Center expansion, is a late -Victorian Italianate style and was home to two historically important San Joseans, early mayor Sherman Houghton and his wife, Donner Party survivor Eliza Donner Houghton. “Suspicious” fire burns historic Donner Houghton house to the ground in July 2007. More on the Donner Blog./P>

How California Came to be Admitted
The first Legislature assembled on December 15th for temporary organization in San Jose, the new seat of government. Of more significance, doubtless, was the fact that on the following Thursday, December 20, 1849, the State government of California was formally established. By Rockwell D. Hunt, Ph. D

Joseph D. Grant County Park
In 1839, a 15,000-acre Mexican Land Grant was awarded to Jose de Jesus Bernal and was named Rancho Canada de Pala. Jose de Jesus and his two brothers built adobes around a spring-fed pond on a ridge overlooking the Santa Clara Valley.

Juana Briones
A long-living ranchera acquired a large spread in Santa Clara Valley and shared it with others.

Lighthouses of the United States: Northern California
These early lights, like the Point Pinos Light and the Battery Point Light were built in a what was then a typical New England style. Ironically, there are no examples of this style surviving in New England, so the only place to see these traditional New England lighthouses is in California.Laguna Schoolhouse, Milpitas, CA (1865-1943)

Mexican California
Under Mexican rule governors were encouraged to make more grants for individual ranchos, and these grants were to be outright.

Mexican Years: 1822 to 1846
The early 19th century saw growing discontent in New Spain’s society. Revolts started in 1810 and extended through 1821, when a revolution led to formation of the Mexican Republic.

Mt. View History
In 1851, the Castro family built their first home and, later, donated land to the railroad, creating Mountain View’s first flag stop.

Peralta Family and the Rancho San Antonio
The Peralta Family had a huge rancho that encompassed most of the East Bay from present day El Cerrito down to San Leandro.

Santa Clara Valley Mill & Lumber Company – 1870’s
The demand for firewood and building lumber by the citizens and towns of the Santa Clara Valley produced a road over the summit from Saratoga to the San Lorenzo Valley in 1870.

A short history on wine making in California
The story of wine in California begins with the story of the Spanish in California. Vineyard planting in the state began with the Spanish Franciscan Missionaries starting with California’s first mission: Mission San Diego de Alcalá in 1769. Just as palm trees were planted so there would be palm fronds for Palm Sunday, vineyards were planted so there would be wine for communion. That first variety, planted by Father Junípero Serra, became so ubiquitous that it became known as the Mission grape and was the preeminent variety until 1880.

Stanford Lands
The first parcel, bought in 1876, was 650 acres along San Francisquito Creek. Purchase of adjoining parcels ran the total to 8,180 acres, the whole of which was given to the University in the 1885 Grant of Endowment with the stipulation that it never be sold.

William T. Sherman and Early California History
Sherman arrives in California and describes the Monterey area in 1847. Additional links tell of his experiences during the Gold Rush.

The Winchester Mystery House Story
Not long after Sarah returned to her family and home, another tragedy struck. William, now heir to the Winchester empire, was struck down with pulmonary tuberculosis. He died on March 7, 1881. As a result of his death, Sarah inherited over $20 million dollars, an incredible sum, especially in those days. She also received 48.9 percent of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company and an income of about $1000 per day, which was not taxable until 1913.

California History Overview

Milpitas once had an encampment of Ohlone Indians. Two adobe rancheros still stand from the early days of the Spanish. An early motto was “As goes Milpitas, so goes the State!” For centuries, Milpitas has often taken the lead in new ways of living and governance. If you want to live in the City of the Future, with a lively part in California history, too, come live in Milpitas.
California symbols

About Milpitas

The Milpitas Historical Society
General meeting is the second Wednesday of each month, 7 PM, in the assembly room of the Milpitas Community Library.

Four-Part Video Series about the History of Milpitas
Watch this series of videos at the Great Mall Historical Society Exhibit at Entrance 4.

Milpitas: A look back
Outline of Milpitas History from the Mercury News story published on Aug. 27, 2006.

About California

California History and Culture – State Symbols
Here’s where you find all that information for that state report, like state bird or flower.

California History
A major collection of documents from and about California’s rich history. The documents range from books, maps, newspapers, and periodicals, to pictorial materials (including daguerreotypes, lithographs, stereographs, and paintings) and ephemera (such as posters, programs, pamphlets, and sheet music).

California History Online
Lovely California Historical Society website includes geographic information, California natives, early explorers, to modern times.

California as I Saw It: First-Person Narratives of California’s Early Years, 1849 to 1900
The collection covers the dramatic decades between the Gold Rush and the turn of the twentieth century. It captures the pioneer experience; encounters between Anglo-Americans and the diverse peoples who had preceded them; the transformation of the land by mining, ranching, agriculture, and urban development; the often-turbulent growth of communities and cities; and California’s emergence as both a state and a place of uniquely American dreams.

Heyday Books
Publishing books about California history, culture, and literature.


Mark Hylkema: California during the Spanish and Mexican Colonial Periods
Mark begins with the first Spanish explorers conquering the Aztecs, and tells about the Portolá expedition in 1769, when California suddenly went from prehistory to history, like “the flip of a switch.”

Santa Clara County Historical Landmarks
My mother used to call these hunks of stone with metal plaques “Hysterical Landmarks” because so often there is nothing left at the site but the stone! But you’ll find one at the garage where H-P got started and where Noyce invented his first semiconductor. None in Milpitas…hmmmm.

Historical Figures in Early California

Cabrillo
On June 27, 1542, an explorer under Spanish command, named Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, left the port of Navidad on the Pacific Coast of what is now Mexico and headed north.

Juan Bautista de Anza
Juan Bautista de Anza was the first European to establish an overland route from Mexico, through the Sonoran Desert, to the Pacific coast of California. New World Spanish explorers had been seeking such a route through the Desert Southwest for more than two centuries.

Governors of California
A tribute to the individuals who have served as chief executive of the State of California from 1849 to present.

Notable People of Milpitas
The “Notable People” project adds to our knowledge about the history of Milpitas. For more information, please click on a link located on the right sidebar of the Historical Society’s page.

Russia’s Great Voyages
More than two hundred years ago, Russian naturalists, ethnographers, astronomers, cartographers, geographers and artists first described the west coast of America to the rest of the world.

Sir Francis Drake
The British explorer, Sir Francis Drake, sailed up the coast of California in 1579. Could he have discovered Milpitas?

Television Stations with Local Shows

TV Guide
Shows what is on tv here right now and for next two hours.
Find out what is coming soon.

2 – KTVU 2 – Sports
Your link for Stanford and 49er schedules, scores, discussion groups, interviews.

4 – KRON 4 – (NBC) News
KRON offers news and links to San Francisco events, sports, traffic and weather.

5 – KPIX 5 – (CBS) News
Here are breaking Bay Area News Stories that may be featured in tonight’s TV newscast.

7 – KGO 7 – (ABC) News
Tickertape news, sports and weather. Video, audio news and remote cameras.

9 – KQED 9 (PBS) What’s On
Find out or search for PBS programming on this page. Watch full episodes online.

11 – NBC Bay Area Top Local News
A busy page with news teasers for about everything going on.

12 – CBS All Access
Watch your favorite CBS Shows here.

13 – KBWB (WB)
The Warner Brothers network. Always shows today’s shows on the top page.

15 – GOVTACC
Government Access. View Live Streaming Video of the City Council and Planning Commission meetings on the internet through our Live Webcast of Milpitas Cable Channel 15! Live webcasting of Channel 15 is available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, anywhere in the world!

17 – In Demand
Movies, news, sports when you want to watch.

22 – CSPAN
Cable Satellite Public Affairs.

31 – HSN Home Page
Home Shopping Network program guide and online store. Purchases help support your community website.

41 – Ion Media Networks
Family viewing station.

48 – A& E Arts & Entertainment
Biography, Investigative Reports, Law & Order, The View, Nero Wolf, Behind Closed Doors, Mysteries, and more.

Home Improvement Advice and Services

remodeling

Advice

Ask the Contractors Board…Experts Answer Common Home Improvement Questions
Do you have questions about hiring and managing building contractors? The California Contractors State License Board has answers.

The Best 10 Contractors near Milpitas
Yelp reviews providing information, planning and qualified contractors to discriminating residents of Milpitas.

Call 811 Before You Dig!
Underground Service Alert (USA) is a free service for homeowners, excavators and professional contractors who are digging, blasting, trenching, drilling, grading, or excavating.

Diamond Certified Contractors in Santa Clara County
Our home, like yours, is the Greater Bay Area and our entire team is dedicated to ensuring you have confidence in the companies you choose.

Get energy efficiency rebates for your home
Complete our online application to speed up the turnaround time for your rebate. Our step-by-step instructions help you find the information you need, plus we provide examples of invoices and other documents required.

Home Depot Sucks
Home Depot is the largest retailer of old growth rainforest wood in the U.S. For this and other reasons, this site really doesn’t like HD.

Key Factory
Mobile and store service for your key needs. Complete expert service for commercial and residential locks.
200 Serra Way, Suite 36
408-263-3775

Lend-A-Tool Shed
Milpitas residents, businesses, property owners and community groups may borrow these tools free of charge!

Online Express Building Permit Application
Thinking of replacing a water heater? Fixing your roof? Residential repairs and replacements require a building permit. You can get one online. Building codes applicable in Milpitas.

Calculators

HomeAdvisor True Cost Guide
Enter in your project type and 95035 to get a ballpark for your project costs. Updated daily. Free.

Installation Cost Calculators
Get current fair pricing for common remodeling, installation, maintenance and repair services. Homewyse provides easy-to-understand cost breakdowns for 1000+ common home projects.
408-262-3667

Crafts & Supplies

Michaels Arts and Crafts Store
Everything you need to create decorative items for your home or office. McCarthy Ranch.
153 Ranch Drive
408-957-9677

Decor

Burlington Coat Factory – Home Decor
For bedroom, bathroom, dining room, kitchen, home accents, Christopher Lowell Collection.
1400 Great Mall Dr.
408-934-0454

Flooring

Crain Floor Covering Tools
Manufacturer of professional quality installation tools for carpet, vinyl and laminate floors.

Floor & Decor
Tile, wood, and stone. Shop top quality floors t rock bottom prices.
1665 N McCarthy Blvd.
408-904-0131

Home Improvement

Home Depot
New project ideas and home improvement tips every month.
1177 Great Mall Dr.
408-942-7301

Kelly-Moore’s CyberPaint City
Help selecting the right paint for your job.
301 W. Calaveras Blvd.
408-946-5914

Sherwin-Williams Paint Store
Brands Carried: Sherwin-Williams, Purdy, Graco, Titan, 3M, Shurtape, H&C, Uniflex, USG, Werner, Mi-T-M, Minwax.
Products/Services Offered: Interior Paint, Exterior Paint, Paint Brushes, Rollers, Spray Equipment, Caulk, Stain.
15 N Milpitas Blvd.
408-946-1765

DONATE BUILDING MATERIALS

Housing for Independent People
Builds homes for low-income, sick, elderly or disabled individuals. They accept building materials, carpeting, ceramic tiles, paint and nearly new appliances.
481 Valley Way
408-941-1850

Storage

Public Storage
Several locations in Milpitas. Estimates and reservations available online. Containers brought to your location for loading.

Saf Keep Storage (aka Bay Rock Storage)
Your property will be more protected at Saf Keep than at your home or apartment. Several locations in Milpitas.
408-957-0500

Windows and Window Coverings

Budget Blinds
Vernon Hasebe, window covering design consultant. We offer a great selection of name brand blinds and shades, free in-home consultation, and “Expert Fit” measuring and installation.
1147 Pescadero St.
408-262-3035

History of Railroads in California

History of the California end of the Transcontinental Railroad, and other historic trains and historic railroads in the San Francisco Bay Area.


Key System Scrapbook
Key System electric transit in the East Bay area from the beginning to the end of WWII. Also the Richmond Shipyard Railway to the Kaiser Richmond Shipyard.

California Railroad & Trolley Corporation
The mission of the California Trolley and Railroad Corporation (CTRC) is to restore, preserve and interpret railroad equipment as it was used to serve the people in Santa Clara Valley, California.

California State Railroad Museum
A two-hour drive to Sacramento is not too far for most railroad buffs to travel to see this tribute to the transcontinental railroad which had its terminus here.

Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum – Transcontinental Railroad
“The visionary Theodore Judah laid the engineering groundwork, but Samuel Montague and Lewis Clement carried it over (and through) the great granite peaks, across the Donner Pass and down the Truckee Canyon.”

Golden State Model Railroad Museum
They have these huge dioramas within which the trains run. Located at 900-A Dornan Drive, Point Richmond, California, close to the east end of the San Rafael bridge (I-580) in the northeast corner of the San Francisco Bay area.

 

Niles Canyon Railway

Niles Canyon Railway
An operating historic railroad museum on the last link and LAST SPIKE of the Original Trancontinental Railway, takes you back in time aboard the railways of the past.

Niles Canyon Transcontinental Railroad Historic District
Made up of the 11 mile-long section of the First Transcontinental Railroad that passes through Niles Canyon between the towns of Sunol and Fremont (Niles), north of San Jose, California. The rail line through Niles Canyon to San Francisco was the final segment of the First Transcontinental Railroad and was completed in 1870, providing the first rail connection between the San Francisco Bay area and the rest of the United States.

Niles Depot Model Railroads and Museum
The Niles passenger and freight depots located in the Niles District of Fremont, California, are home to a railroad museum and two new model railroad layouts.

South Bay Historical Railroad Society
Located at the historic Santa Clara Caltrain Depot, and opened periodically to the public for free.

Western Pacific
Probably the most significant event to occur in the history of Western Pacific subsequent to 1953 was the location of the Ford Assembly Plant on company property at Milpitas, California on the San Jose Branch.

The Zephyrettes – A History
Good morning, this is your Zephyrette Jean Williams. On behalf of the Western Pacific, Rio Grande and Burlington railroads, I welcome you aboard the California Zephyr.” With those words, first spoken in Oakland, California on board the first eastbound #18 on March 20, 1949, a grand tradition was born. From the California Zephyr Virtual Museum.

Weight Loss Software & Calculators

Find software, apps, and calculators to help you track your diet and exercise.

Apps

Apps for iPhone and Android
Access to all Weight Watchers apps and mobile site is included with your Weight Watchers Online or eTools subscription. Membership required to use.

The best weight loss apps for iPhone & iPad 2018
Losing weight is hard but technology can help. Here are 7 terrific weight loss and diet apps for iPhone and iPad that will help you shift those unwanted pounds.

10 best weight loss apps for Android
Losing weight can be a major pain in the rear end. It requires exercise, dieting, discipline, and motivation. It also requires a person to change their habits and make positive decisions. You’ve decided to do all those things. That’s great news and we can help! Here are a list of the best weight loss apps for Android.

Calculators Online

Moose & Doc’s Ideal Weight Body Calculations
Learn what people just like you think about their ideal weight. Then set your own diet goal somewhere between a medically-recommended weight and a weight that your peers would hope for.

Excel Spreadsheets

Focus on fitness: Tools for getting in shape
Focus on Weight Loss: Tools for tracking Weight Loss
There has never been a better time than right now to get in shape. Lucky for you, Microsoft Office Online has the tools to empower you on the road to a fit body, including templates that track your nutrition, weight loss, and fitness routine.

Mac Weightloss Software

Diet Controller
Mac. Track your daily food intake. Track your exercise. View fully customizable charts. Runs on Mac OS X 10.7 and above

Diet Sleuth
Mac. A nutritional database and personal health logbook.

Lose It! – Calorie Counter
iPhone & iPad. Download the app, set your goal, and track the foods you love to lose weight. It’s simple: You use it, you lose it. Now featuring embodyDNA: personalized, DNA-based insights to help you learn which foods, drinks and activities could activate your weight loss and optimize everyday living.

Windows Weightloss Software

Weight Commander
Windows. Now free. It’s the software program that teaches, entertains, and motivates. All you have to do is enter your weight and Weight Commander does the rest.

Genealogy Resources in Silicon Valley

Genealogy resources for finding long-lost relations who may have lived in the Santa Clara Valley.

Family Tree

California Pioneer Project
A list of settlers to California who migrated to or were born in California prior to 1880 (included in the 1880 California Census) and obtained from those sent (e-mailed) directly from individuals doing genealogical research.

Genealogy Research in Santa Clara County
This is the place to start researching for your local California ancestors.

Silicon Valley Computer Genealogy Group
Wherever your family history journey leads you, our group of genealogy enthusiasts and experts can help you along the way. We sponsor monthly classes, workshops and seminars in Santa Clara, California, and our members everywhere receive our monthly newsletter. Facebook Group.

Silicon Valley Chapter Sons of the American Revolution
Our organization actively supports the preservation of American history and patriotism by sponsoring historical speech contests for high school students, granting awards to the local ROTC, participating in patriotic events and rewarding outstanding acts of patriotism. Facebook Group.

Drivers Ed

California online driving class, practice tests, and other tips for teens to learn how to get a permit and California drivers license to be allowed to drive.


How to apply for a provisional permit if you are under 18

To apply for a provisional permit if you are under 18, you will need the following:

Driver License and Identification (ID) Card Information
To apply for a driver license if you are over 18, you will need to do the following. [Also check this DMV site if you have unusual circumstances. I cover only how an English-speaking, American teen can get a license to drive a car.]

Step 1

  • Pass the knowledge test. If you fail the test, you must wait 7 days (1 week), not including the day the test was failed, before retaking the test.
  • If you are 15½–17½ years old, you will need to provide proof that you:
  • Completed driver education (Certificate of Completion of Driver Education) OR
  • Are enrolled and participating in an approved integrated driver education/driver training program (Certificate of Enrollment in an Integrated [Classroom] Driver Education and Driver Training Program). For more information, refer to the Provisional Licensing (FFDL 19) Fast Facts brochure.

When it comes to home instruction, not one other course seems as vital as drivers education. It begins with learning safety as a pedestrian, and progresses through bicycle safety. Then, before you know it, you have a 15 year old teen who wants to earn a drivers license and drive the family car in traffic! At night! During bad weather!

The provisional permit is not valid until you start your behind-the-wheel driver training with an instructor or reach 17½ years old. If you have a permit and plan to drive outside of California, check licensing requirements in that state or country.

Your permit is not valid until you begin driver training; your instructor will sign the permit to validate it. You must practice with a licensed California driver: parent, guardian, driving instructor, spouse, or adult 25 years old or older. The person must sit close enough to you to take control of the vehicle at any time. A provisional permit does not allow you to drive alone at any time, not even to a DMV field office to take a driving test.

Here are some driving schools in nearby Silicon Valley cities.

The Best 10 Driving Schools in San Jose, CA
Learn to drive and qualify for a license in four weekend days. Teen program available. Read reviews in Yelp from students who have taken the driving lessons with each company.

Step 2

Wait times available on these links below for the office and the ones nearest it.

San Jose DMV Field Office
111 W. Alma Ave., 95110, (800) 777-0133. Online appointment.

Fremont DMV Field Office
4287 Central Ave., 94536, (800) 777-0133. Online appointment.

Santa Teresa DMV Field Office
180 Martinvale Lane., 95119, (800) 777-0133. Online appointment. Frequently has the shortest wait times.

Step 3

Be prepared with proper identification documents, proof of insurance, for the vision screening, and for the photograph.

  • Application form DL 44 – you can get this online through the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
    Obtain your parents’ or guardians’ signatures on the application form DL 44. When parents or guardians sign for a minor to get a driver license, they are stating that they will accept financial responsibility for that minor. Your parents will need to call their auto insurance agent to check what adjustments may need to be made to include a teen driver in their policy.
  • Provide your social security number.

How to Apply For a Social Security Card
If you need to replace a lost Social Security card, change the name shown on your card, or request a replacement card, you need to complete Form SS-5 which is available for download. Or you can call 1-800-772-1213.

Step 4

  • Study the Drivers Handbook

California Driver Handbook
You are responsible for knowing these tips and regulations before you take the driving test. DMV.

California Driver Handbook, Motorcycle Handbook
You are responsible for knowing these tips and regulations before you take the driving test. DMV.

  • Take a practice test online to get use to the language and format.

California Drivers Test
Interactive sample driving test online, if you have Java-enabled browser. Answer sheet available for those who don’t. From DMV site.

Step 5

What to expect at the DMV when you show up to take the written test.

  • Have all the forms mentioned in Step 2 with you plus the certificate awarded when you passed the drivers ed course.
  • Give a thumb print
  • Have your picture taken (Where to get a haircut in Milpitas.) This photo will be your primary identification for 4 years, so try to make it look great.
  • Pay the $12 application fee (This fee entitles you to three exams of any type within the 12-month period and pays for both the instruction permit and the driver license. If all requirements are not met within the 12-month period, the application becomes void and all steps must be completed again.)
  • Pass a vision exam (Eye care specialists in Milpitas.)
  • Pass a traffic laws and sign test. There are 46 questions on the test. A passing score is at least 39 correct answers. You have three chances to pass the test. If you fail, you must wait 7 days before taking it again.

Step 6

Get the Keys! Learn to drive!
Get the Keys! Learn to drive!

Congratulations! You passed the written test! What do you do for the next 6 months?

  • Locate a driving school and take the three 2-hour sessions of on-road instruction.

Driving School Association of California
Locate a driving school, safe driving tips, traffic schools, practice tests, insurance rates for new drivers.

  • Begin your on road driving lessons with your parent or guardian or other licensed driver 25 years old or older.
  • Complete 50 hours of practice with an adult 25 years or older. The adult must have a valid California driver license and certify to the 50 hours of practice. At least 10 of the 50 hours must have been done at night.
  • Learn all you can on how to be the best driver you can be.
  • Learn how to take care of the car entrusted to you.

Articles on Road Rage and Aggressive Driving
Learn about Road Rage and how to defuse it. By Dr.Leon James and Dr. Diane Nahl.

Free DMV Practice Test for California Permit
Good driving habits that hold true on every highway.

New Driving Laws
The following are bills signed into law by the governor which have the most significant impact on the department.

Scooter Safety
Here are a few easily digestible guidelines for scooter safety that everyone who uses scooters should observe.

Teen New Drivers’ Homepage
Advice from one teenager to others. Some advice adults would probably not think to point out, such as how to best navigate a school parking lot, or that it is best not to hit a school bus. Look out for anything to do with the mail. If there’s one deer there’s bound to be another.

Winter Driving Tips
Winter driving on roads and highways in the snowcapped mountains of California can be a pleasant adventure or it can be frustrating, tiring and sometimes even hazardous. The CHP provides the following information to help make your mountain driving safe and pleasant.

Step 7

Before being eligible to take your driving test you must:

  • Be 16 years old

AND

  • Have possessed your permit for a minimum of six months

AND

AND

AND

  • Have completed 50 hours of practice with an adult 25 years or older. The adult must have a valid California driver license and certify to the 50 hours of practice. At least 10 of the 50 hours must have been done at night.

You will also need to show proof of insurance for the vehicle you will be taking your drive test in.

After you pass your drive test you will be issued an interim license valid for 60 days until you receive your new photo license in the mail. Double check your address before you leave DMV and tell the DMV representative if you have moved or if your address is incorrect. If you have not received your license after 60 days, call (916) 657-7790 and they can check on the status for you. Have your interim license with you to provide information when requested.

If you fail your drive test, you must wait two weeks before you can take the test again. You have three chances to pass.

Step 8

Congratulations! You passed the road test! You have been issued a provisional license, which has these restrictions for the next year.

  • During the first 6 months you are licensed to drive you must be accompanied by a driver 25 years of age or older if you drive between the hours of 12 a.m. and 5 a.m. or if you have passengers under the age of 20 in the car at any time.
  • During the second 6 months, you must still be accompanied by a driver 25 years of age or older if you drive between the hours of 12 a.m. and 5 a.m., however, now you may have passengers under the age of 20 in the car without supervision between the hours of 5 a.m. and midnight.

Persons under 18 may not be employed to drive a motor vehicle. When you become 18, the provisional part of your license ends. You may continue to drive as an adult using your photo license, which will expire on your 4th birthday after the date you applied.

History Research Groups

Sparky and Leapin' Lena
Sparky and Leapin’ Lena

Milpitas Historical Society
The Milpitas Historical Society was formed in 1980 by 79 residents of Milpitas who felt that much of our city’s historic heritage was in danger of being lost.

Bancroft Library
The primary special collections library at the University of California, Berkeley. One of the largest and most heavily used libraries of manuscripts, rare books, and unique materials in the United States, Bancroft supports major research and instructional activities and plays a leading role in the development of the University’s research collections.

Dogtown Territorial Quarterly
A California History Trivia Quiz. Print it out, then browse the website to find the answers. History Magazine for Gold Rush buffs. Includes lists of California Historical Societies and Museums, Historic Events and Historic Parks.

KQED’s Social Studies and Language Arts for Educators
Bay Area Mosaic and other programs offer educators hands-on professional development and training, techniques for incorporating diverse and local historical perspectives in the classroom, and access to KQED and PBS films, lesson plans, and educator guides.

Monterey County Historical Society
This is the local history site for the county just to the south of Santa Clara County. Much common history explored in hundreds of pages.

Museum of Local History
The Museum is located at 190 Anza Street, one block west of Mission Boulevard near Ohlone College in Fremont. It is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Wednesday and Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (510) 623-7907.

San Jose Historical Museum
Actually a full town of museums, where you can wander through the buildings or take a docent led tour. Re-enactments often held here.