Comments on: #15: the golden gate bridge and suicide

By: Jocelyn C.

Jocelyn C. — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:10:47 +0000

Hi richard,
The bridge has its big purpose why it was built. Not for those jumpers who want to end their life. Anyway, I like your post. I like really like orange..Great job.Keep it up!!

By: Chloe

Chloe — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 21:59:57 +0000

Hi, Richard,

My father was one of the painters who worked on the bridge. As you know, of course, it’s painted year-round, so if they were up to it, a painter could hold a job forever. I don’t know how long my father worked on the GG. He also was a painter on Sutro Tower, and another, lesser-know bridge up in Fort Bragg, Mendocino County.

Alas, you and I part ways when it comes to how to handle the bridge jumpers. I won’t go into any of that here, of course. I have too much respect for you to argue my side on your site. I truly enjoyed this podcast, as I have so many others.

Chloe

By: richard - sparkletack

richard - sparkletack — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 03:09:05 +0000

I’m not sure what the current status of the project is, but I’d be delighted to have you suggest the idea to the CCT! It wasn’t originally my own idea, of course, but I’m certain that the woman who came up with it would approve as well.

Here’s the website link.

Thanks for the nice comment about the show — I’m very glad to be back!

By: JohnMLee..MD

JohnMLee..MD — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 00:50:10 +0000

What..is..the..latest..on..putting…up..inspirational..sayings..on..the..bridge..to..dissuade..jumpers?…
Great…idea..There..is..a..debate..about..this…on..the..op-ed..pages..of..the..ContraCostaTimes..I..want..to..contribute..your..idea…Love..your..podcasts..Missed..you..when..we..were..on..your..break
(Space..key..not..working,.sorry)
JL

By: Mary

Mary — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 01:06:09 +0000

In fact, it is the WATER which kills the people, to be technically correct. Therefore, if ever a solution were to be found, a barrier it is not. No, some kind of bouncing trampoline device just above the water would be the obvious solution.

Or, perhaps we could ask God to redesign humans?

By: David Freidberg

David Freidberg — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 01:05:47 +0000

In the early 1970′s I worked as a psychiatric counselor on the graveyard shift at Westside Lodge, which was a locked in-patient facility on Alamo Square, in S.F. (The eerie – haunted? – building later became the home of the Archbishop of S.F., and then an elegant boutique hotel.)

We had one patient who jumped fro the Golden gate Bridge and survived. He was treated like royalty by all the other inmates and staff alike.

I now live in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and your Podcasts take me on wonderful trips down memory lane, to my former home by the Bay.

By: richard

richard — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 01:05:27 +0000

international orange it is! thanks for the input, guys. and kai, you have it exactly right… the words cannot adequately describe the color.. you’ve got to see it, and it changes constantly, depending on the time of day, the angle of the sun, the season…anything from a soft luminescent orange to a deep bloody red is possible.

By: John Stone

John Stone — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 01:05:06 +0000

Richard,

Just found your podcast, it’s fantastic, keep up the great work….. I’m going with the Intl Orange choice……

John

By: Kai Voigt

Kai Voigt — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 01:04:47 +0000

Quoting Wikipedia gives some more background information.

“The color of the bridge is orange vermilion, deemed International Orange. The color was selected by consulting architect Irving Morrow because it blends well with the natural surroundings yet enhances the bridge’s visibility in fog.”

But words cannot describe the color, you need to have seen it in real.

German greetings from Cupertino.

By: richard

richard — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 01:04:29 +0000

hi annik! wow, goosebumps?! i’m getting goosebumps just reading about YOUR goosebumps. :) thanks so much for the thought… it’s a difficult theme, this bridge of ours, a strange mixture of beauty and tragedy…a little like the Lorelei on the Rhine, maybe. (bad news about the trivia question – i’ve got an answer already – jay, a listener from connecticut was the first to report correctly that the answer is “international orange”. i have to admit, though, that i like the sound of “rostrot” ganz viel besser.

By: Annik Rubens

Annik Rubens — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 01:04:04 +0000

Hi Richard!
I have to say this is your best show so far, it is very touching and I had goosebumps listening to it. In case no one yet answered your trivia question, I’ll give it a try. The Golden Gate Bridge is what we Germans call “rostrot”, meaning somewhere between orange and red… ;-)
Keep up the great work, I love listening to your stories!