Mike Liu
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9mac2.bsky.social
Mike Liu
@9mac2.bsky.social
410 followers 520 following 730 posts
Profile: Asian American male, looking over darkened glasses at the camera

Banner: waterfowl in shadow on a pond

50s/M/SF Bay Area (he/his)
oversharer, brother, ex-husband, photographer, dad, engineer (no particular order)

linktr.ee/9mac2
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9mac2.bsky.social
Rivertown // Antioch, Calif.

In these trying times, may I offer you a personal Sutro?

(IKEA Ekrar, customized with paint)
My apartment kitchen which I do woefully little cooking in, showing the dark laundry closet alcove where the possums are coming in from and a rice cooker and toaster oven on the counter. This is the clearest spot I have so I took a picture of a customized coatrack, which started out white and I added red stripes, making it look a little like Sutro Tower.
September 19, 2025 at 11:57 PM
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"Steelworker" (Clifford Wight, 1934) // Coit Tower // Telegraph Hill // San Francisco, Calif.

This is the first union job I've had so I needed to share this mural today; it was linked to its neighbor with a banner that read "Workers of the World Unite" until it was painted over by censorious jerks
Clifford Wight painted several murals in Coit Tower; this one, measuring approximately 4 feet by 10, shows a full-length portrait of a steelworker, who is wearing heavy gloves, bib overalls, and a light tan sweater over a collared shirt. On a leather belt slung at a jaunty angle across his waist, there are two large open-ended wrenches. His right hand is grasping a hose or cable, while the left is holding a rivet gun. Under a steel hard hat, the expression is somewhat grim, with deep lines etched connecting nose to chin.
August 30, 2025 at 1:40 AM
9mac2.bsky.social
Bonus: Vander Decken is salty about his rejection and gives possibly the worst haiku ever written:
www.tumblr.com/kaizokuou-ni...
Panel from chapter 631 of One Piece, which relates a haiku attributed to the villain Vander Decken superimposed over a close up of his face: "You are not my type" // Hurts when I hear that from her // This feeling of love ... I think (extra syllables) — Vander Decken IX
August 24, 2025 at 4:14 PM
9mac2.bsky.social
I'm reminded of this today because the latest chapter (47) of Ichi the Witch is out and giving the same emotional damage catchphrase as from One Piece;

The first and last three chapters are free to read:
www.viz.com/shonenjump/c...
Panels from chapter 618 of the manga One Piece. In this chapter, one of the main villains from this arc (Fish-Man Island), Vander Decken, is being rejected by Shirahoshi, a mermaid princess. The actual dialogue reads: Vander Decken: "Answer me, Shirahoshi! All you have to do to escape death is say yes! BA HO HO HO!! MARRY ME!!" Crowd: "After trying to kill her for all these years, he's still trying to propose to her?!" Shirahoshi: " ... You're just not my type!" Crowd (shocked): "!!! That's the problem?!" Panel from chapter 47 of the manga Ichi the Witch. This concerns the protagonist, Ichi, rejecting the proposal of Spica, a fellow witch. The actual dialogue is limited to Ichi and reads "I'm sorry. You're not my type." as he bows deeply to Spica. The reaction panel shows Spica's sister Kumugi struggling to hold a straight face as this means her plea to stay on Ichi's team has been accepted.
August 24, 2025 at 4:14 PM
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Rivertown // Antioch, Calif.

Like I said, we are Rivertown and so are you, at least in spirit.
This is a mural showing the water and sky along with the words "antioch, ca. 94509", painted in an old concrete wall. Who maintains it? I've seen it get graffitied but restored within a day. There was something comforting in this low garage/shop building along 10th. Perhaps it's because I almost got run over here last week and this was the first thing I saw after jumping clear.
August 23, 2025 at 1:15 PM
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Antioch Marina // Antioch, Calif.

You and I must make a plan to listen to the chime of rope on masts as the sunset glow fades.
A couple was passing through this picture of the marina at sunset. The masts and low water are prominently silhouetted against the fading light.
August 23, 2025 at 1:15 PM
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Corteva Wetlands // Antioch, Calif.

I went back to the wetlands to watch the sunset and muse on the working windmill harnessing our relentless Delta breeze.
On the wetlands property they have a working windmill which pumps water into a leaky tank; this sunset scene was taken with a gravel road leading up to that small area. The same windmill, rendered in muted colors and silhouette.
August 23, 2025 at 1:15 PM
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Waldie Plaza // Antioch, Calif.

When I got back there were a trio of lowriders in a little cul-de-sac, parked as a backdrop for a stupendous, bumping music video .
A woman wearing a bikini and heels is dancing in front of a red classic low rider car in a cul de sac in downtown Antioch, while being filmed by a video camera and people passing by. The picture is focused on the security bars of this apartment window, blurring everyone's features. The music was loud, strong, and bass-heavy and I mostly just wanted to lie down after walking too many miles, but I also was glad to see folks enjoying the sun and heat by the river.
August 23, 2025 at 1:15 PM
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Corteva Wetlands // Antioch-Pittsburg, Calif.

I found the entrance to the Corteva (formerly Dow) Wetlands near the Marina and watched a ship sailing on a prairie.
MV Santa Centellar sails against the current, east along the San Joaquin River towards Stockton. Photo taken from a wetlands trail with a grassy prairie in the foreground.
August 23, 2025 at 1:15 PM
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Downtown // Antioch, Calif.

We are out here in RIVERTOWN doing RIVERTOWN things.
The illuminated Rivertown sign straddles Second, just west of E in downtown Antioch. The sunset colors here are gorgeous and I've pumped them a bit but only to enjoy the same emotions I've been feeling.
August 23, 2025 at 1:15 PM
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Coyote Point Park // San Mateo, Calif.

Immaculate vibes, cool grey water and sky.
A fisherman stands on the southern edge of the marina at Coyote Point Marina, looking towards the mid-rise offices in Foster City and the low hill of Seal Point in the distance. The ground is covered with sage and other scrub plants; the white patches are crushed shells.
July 19, 2025 at 3:58 PM
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Chinatown // San Francisco

Could you touch both walls?
The alleys are the living breathing heart of Chinatown and the best replica of that experience you might have missed on accident.
July 5, 2025 at 3:25 AM
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Old Street // Tamsui

In the rush, as we hurry worry scurry
The old street shopping districts in Taiwan are delightful assaults on the senses: a panoply of sights accompanied by cheap snacks and chilly air con having you oscillating between steamed and chilled, a chance to practice deciding between different choices nearly identical but why not both, you finally shrug.
July 5, 2025 at 3:25 AM
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Chinatown // San Francisco

There is comfort in the familiar and nostalgic, though.
Cable Car 57 rushes up California Street next to the Sing Fat pagoda roofs, now overwhelmed by neighboring skyscrapers from the Financial District.
July 5, 2025 at 3:09 AM
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Sanzhi // New Taipei City // Taiwan

The unexpected rhythms of life in Taiwan: numbing humidity and heat that you eventually endure, sparkling opportunities to learn.
A temple rises from the roadside jungle. It's not terribly jungly (or massively temple-y) here, but it does make a nice splash of color against all that green. This building is new since I visited last year, rearing up into haughty repose, shrouded in scaffolding and blue poly tarps. Waves echo in frozen ceramic tiles, washing up forever on the deserted shoreline. A paifang (gate) welcoming you to Sanzhi, traditional signs supplemented by digital scrolling information as we always see in Taiwan: the combination of stubborn retention out of thrift or tradition, augmented with the convenient and modern. In the distance, corrugated (rusty) siding is a popular choice for the buildings, built in uncertain conditions but resilient nonetheless.
July 5, 2025 at 3:09 AM
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Sanzhi // New Taipei City // Taiwan

I spend so much time looking for foreign buildings I forget how much we have in common.
This is an abandoned building – full-on, trash piled up throughout the bottom floor, some windows intact – just off the main highway. Somewhere, this made economic sense. This is a gas station, perhaps? Or maybe a service station? The long carport gives some indication, while the building looks like perhaps you could put a small store and maybe a residence on top. There were so many angles. Stairs to the landmark pedestrian bridge in Sanzhi. I'm pretty sure that no one actually uses the bridge; you end up climbing an astonishing number of steps to cross at a dizzying height. Instead, most do as I do and wait for a break in the traffic, then dash over. This is the pedestrian bridge; it's lovely and colorful and serves as a great reminder to call for a stop in the bus.
July 5, 2025 at 3:09 AM
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Chinatown // San Francisco

In contrast, it's brisk in Chinatown this morning, crisp blue skies and sunshine promising a cool night ahead to watch the sky writ bright.
Your classic view north on Grant; red paper lanterns strung across the street, a dragon Street lamp on the right, and in the distance, the pagoda roofs of the Sing Fat and Sing Chow buildings, sun high enough to cast deep shadows in the canyon gap with bikes and cars rushing by
July 5, 2025 at 2:45 AM
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Sanzhi // New Taipei City // Taiwan

Part of being in Taiwan is trying to get a walk in before it was too hot but even at 6 am, it is certainly a feast for the senses and pores, open with no cooling breeze of relief.
Pickles Hotdog beach side stand, shuttered. As the name implies you may exhange money (undoubtedly a modest amount, as is the usual for Taiwan) for a hot dog and probably pickles. This combination is punctuated by a sign depicting a pair of potato-looking smiling foods giving each other a hug. The blue metal letters spell out "Zhilan" on the water's edge, looking north across the strait towards mainland China. This is a mural on the wall of a coffee shop in Sanzhi village, showing anthropomorphized female and male owls in oddly provocative poses. I may be in love.
July 5, 2025 at 2:45 AM
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Chinatown // San Francisco

This delightful pair arrested me in Spofford Alley, waiting patiently to be wheeled back into their shop.
A Siamese cat with blue eyes and a gray tabby are sitting in a wooden cart alongside some houseplants next to a flower shop opening for business in Chinatown.
July 5, 2025 at 2:20 AM
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Sanzhi // New Taipei City // Taiwan

I could spend a whole day talking to you about the stay cats of Taiwan who seemingly adopted me during this last trip.
A small brown tabby car lying on a tile floor covered by a checkered fabric mat. The car is looking towards the bottom of frame, sprawled out in a comfortable heap. Two cats lying on a table and chair; the table cat is an orange tabby eyeing me nervously, while the chair cat is a brown tabby with its back to me. Two cats lying on a tile porch; the same brown tabby is on the top level next to a stainless steel handrail, while a tortoise-shell is grooming its tail a couple of steps below. A great that looks at me alertly, frames by the brick walls of a grassy alley stretching into the distance, marked by an orange traffic cone.
July 5, 2025 at 2:20 AM
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Contra Costa County Fair // Antioch, Calif.

I end up at the Zipper, watching those watching those, flying out to infinity (and beyond).
Crowds at Zipper, a tumbling pod ride with two arms. I remember being on one as a kid hoping to ride with someone I wouldn't mind being squished up against, and succeeding. Zipper continues to spin against the sunset; the mix of blurred and sharp people in the foreground is attributed to how still they stood during the exposure. They say that diagonal lines convey a sense of dynamism so I took yet another photograph of Zipper, this time at a low angle as the rides main arm extends from lower left towards the center top.
May 17, 2025 at 5:19 PM
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Contra Costa County Fair // Antioch, Calif.

More carnival staples: a sky swing (starting on the ground, with seats suspended by chains) and a scrambler (multi-armed carousel, with each rider pod itself able to spin at the end of the arm)
I keep wanting to call this the YoYo, because that's the ride at the San Mateo County Fair, but this one is The Phoenix, which has a red and gold motif. The arms of the scrambler are blurred chaotically due to motion. It is colored black with a cruciform lattice base to support the rotating and tilting motors.
May 17, 2025 at 5:19 PM
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Contra Costa County Fair // Antioch, Calif.

This fair features two centrifugal rides: one open, one closed. It's been years since I've seen an open one (here named Vertigo) so I had to stop and watch.
Ride operator standing on the boarding stairs for Vertigo, an open ride that lines riders along the perimeter of a cylindrical platform, then spins to press them against the walls. By this time the ride is going fast enough to blur the lights into solid lines. Later, the ride begins to tilt its axis, looking for all the world like some kind of roulette wheel for a basketball-sized marker. It also looks a bit like a radar dish pointed at the sky.
May 17, 2025 at 5:19 PM
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Contra Costa County Fair // Antioch, Calif.

Whether falling or spinning, there is something to delight every rider here.
Drop Tower at the fair; riders are seated and secured on a little elevator and brought to the top, then experience a brief moment of free fall until they are halted and released. Crowds in the foreground are blurred into illegibility. Purple elephant on a flying carousel ride; a panning motion was used to stop the elephant while offering a sense of speed by blurring the background. The ride is a riot of color and speed.
May 17, 2025 at 5:19 PM
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Contra Costa County Fair // Antioch, Calif.

I love the lights coming up on the rides at night, shapes blurred by motion, painting trails against the twilight.
Ferris Wheel at Contra Costa County Fair at sunset; a long exposure has been used to blur the wheel's motion on the left, echoed by a flapping banner on the right advertising ice cream. Other booths, people, and rides are rendered as stark silhouettes, having exposed for the sky. The same Ferris Wheel, a little later and a bit darker. Again, a long exposure is used to blur motion into a series of spokes with a jagged rim of light.
May 17, 2025 at 5:19 PM