Crabs are Coming -- November 30, 2011

I was happy to learn that the crab processors have agreed to pay the fishermen a decent amount.  Crabs should be in the stores soon.

I took the photo of former Giants mascot Crazy Crab on 06-May-2011.

Update 01-December-2011: Today we had the first clear morning this week and I could see the lights of the crab boats as I drove down the hill towards the ocean.

Q-FM/KARC/KLSI -- November 29, 2011

Mike H. in Linda Mar (the QFM "janitor) wrote recently and asked if their new Optimod, an audio processor, had a beneficial effect on their signal. I would say yes. Within their coverage area, the signal is crystal clear. I can crank up the car radio and it sounds great. Several Pacifica businesses run commercials on the station. One sponsors a Beatles hour on Sunday morning. It's nice having a local radio station.

Ocean Greyhounds Are Now Racing -- November 28, 2011

From the 18-August-1901 San Francisco Call. William A Coulter did many maritime drawings for the newspaper. Click on the image for a larger view. Caleta Buena is a port in Chile.

OCEAN GREYHOUNDS ARE NOW RACING

The Androsa Beat the Emilie Ciampa Into Port Easily.

The British ship Androsa and the Italian bark Emilie Ciampa had an exciting race of it from latitude 16 north to San Francisco. On that occasion they were in company and exchanged signals. Captain Maresta said his vessel was from Antwerp and bound for San Francisco, while Captain Morgan responded that he was from Caleta Buena, and also bound for San Francisco. The result of the run up the coast was that the Androsa beat the Ciampa twenty-four hours into port. When the two vessels were in company it was only blowing about six miles an hour and there was just enough wind to keep the sails filled. During the night a breeze sprang up and the vessel parted company to meet again in this port.

The Androsa brought up a cargo of nitrate, and it turned out in perfect order. In fact, Herman and Mills, the stevedores, say they never saw a nitrate cargo that turned out as well. She will take in 3100 tons of general cargo for Liverpool, and as she has just come off the drydock should make a quick run. The Androsa has been all around the world during the last eighteen months. From Antwerp she went to Sutidswall, Sweden, in ballast, and from there took a load of lumber to Delagoa Bay. From the latter point she went to Newcastle, N. S. W., in ballast, and there loaded coal for Valparaiso. From Valparaiso she went to Pisagua in ballast, and from the latter point was ordered to Caleta Buena, where she loaded nitrate for San Francisco. A new patent anti-fouling paint was put on her before she sailed on her eighteen months' voyage, and it proved so effective that when she went on the Union Iron Works drydock there was hardly a barnacle found on her bottom.

Captain Morgan of the Androsa is well known in San Francisco. He was here as chief officer of the Somali when Captain Hanney brought her in after her long passage around the Cape of Good Hope. While here the captain of the Androsa died, and Captain Morgan was at once offered the position. He accepted it and has been in the vessel ever since. He is a clever navigator, a thorough gentleman, and, like every true sailor, very proud of his ship.

Benny Bufano #12 -- November 27, 2011

Hillsdale Mall developer David Bohannon commissioned sculptor Benny Bufano to provide sculptures to decorate the new mall in San Mateo. Bufano opened a studio on the mall site in 1955 and created ten of his famous animal sculptures. This sculpture, a mother bear with two cubs, is in a little garden outside the food court. I took the photo on 12-November-2011.

Roman Missal -- November 26, 2011

If any of your Roman Catholic friends seem confused this weekend, it may be because, with the first Sunday of Advent, we started using the newly revised Roman Missal.  The long responses were easy, but when the priest said "The Lord be with you," I kept saying "And also with you" instead of  "And with your spirit."  The changes are meant to bring the responses closer to the Vulgate.

We went downtown.  The Emporium dome had all the windows blocked so they could show projections.  The animals in the windows at Macy's were cute.

It's Hard Work Being a Cat #53 -- November 25, 2011

I took the photo on 03-November-2011, a cold day.

I worked from home today.

Happy Thanksgiving #5 -- November 24, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. I'm grateful for health and life, my family, and my coworkers.

 The photograph shows musical comedy star Janis Paige trying to fatten up or perhaps improve the health of a turkey. Janis Paige appeared in many movies and television shows, but is most famous for appearing in the original production of The Pajama Game on Broadway.