Quack, uh, er, chirp?

Well, as my little contribution to the oil slick situation, I did my part to try to save a little bird today.

I spotted the bird in the marina, what I believe is called Gashouse Cove across from Safeway in the Marina District. It was paddling along, seemingly o.k., but I decided to watch it for awhile. Sure enough, it was pulling at its feathers quite a bit, and when it arched up to try to ruffle its feathers, it was quite obvious that the feathers were all stuck together with the spilled fuel oil.

Unfortunately, I didn't have in my phone the email with the oiled bird hotline, so I walked over to the marine fuel attendant who told me to call the Coast Guard or City. I called the City's 311 number. They told me they were taking a list of bird reportings so the people could consolidate their runs.

The bird kept paddling close to the rocks around the edge of the marina. Finally, it managed to hop up on some rocks and try to clean itself and rest. Unfortunately, a seagull saw it struggling and decided to come over and see if it could have the small bird for dinner ! The bird had enough strength to convince the seagull not to mess with it, and it jumped back in the water. The seagull didn't seem to mess with it in the water, though another seagull who spotted it zeroed in again and chased it around a boat.

When it looked like the bird was going to be dinner for a seagull, I called the City again. They said, "oh, if it's on the rocks, animal control can get it." So I talked to animal control, who said they'd be around, but it might take awhile.

So I watched the bird for about an hour. Finally, at one point, I lost sight of it, but knew where I saw it last, and thought it might be on the rocks. I walked to the other end, and there was animal control. Turns out another guy in a car had caught a bird and was handing it over. Then the animal control guy came down and spotted my oiled friend on the rocks. He called a few agile co-workers in, and they easily netted the bird, and took it in for de-oiling.

They say it was a grebe, though the one I saw is much smaller than the one in this picture. Maybe because of its oil coating !

Cleanup - the Gav

Basically at "training sessions" volunteers were being told to stay away from beaches because oil-soaked birds need to get out of the water, and they won't if the beaches are crowded with people. This lead to frustration. Fortunately, the Gav has come up with a way to capture some of that volunteer help. Thanks Gav !
-------------------
*** PRESS RELEASE ***


MAYOR NEWSOM OFFERS VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY IN OIL SPILL-AFFECTED WETLAND AREA

Effort is underway to collect stressed birds and assist with hazardous materials

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - On Sunday, November 11 at 9:30am, a volunteer event to support the oil spill response effort will take place at Heron's Head Park located at the intersection of Jennings Street and Cargo Way. Volunteers are needed to assist in checking wildlife sanctuaries and adjacent properties on the inner San Francisco Bay. The objective is to pick up debris, observe and report stressed birds to the Unified Command Center and assist with the disposal and report of hazards.

Ocean Beach, Baker Beach, and China Beach have been evaluated and work plans are being executed by a cleanup company, city, state and federal workers. As these efforts support the region's activities to mitigate the spill, additional efforts are needed to safeguard the shoreline of San Francisco and sensitive wildlife areas.

There are a number of critical wildlife sanctuaries and restored wetlands that are homes to indigenous bird species and provide cover for migrating birds. Coastal birds may seek refuge in these areas and could have been exposed during the oil spill. These sanctuaries include India Basin, Islais Creek, Mission Creek and Warm Water Cove. All are accessible from the parking/staging area at Pier 96.

Although the approaches to these areas are industrial and residential,
the Bay walk provides access to the wetland areas. More distant assignment
of volunteers will be supported with City and County of San Francisco
buses. The Department of Public Works, the Port of San Francisco, and SF
Connect will assist with gloves, disposable bags, safety vests, disposal, and provide coordination to other City agencies.

Those who have questions about the volunteer effort, need directions to
the volunteer location, or want more information on the oil spill should
call 3-1-1 or visit the website

http://www.sfgov.org/site/sf311_index.asp?id=70813.

DIRECTIONS TO PIER 98 @ CARGO WAY, SAN FRANCISCO, CA

North on 280:
1. Take Cesar Chavez Exit
2. Turn right at Cesar Chavez
3. Turn right at 3d Street
4. Turn left at Cargo Way
5. Proceed to end of Cargo Way (intersects with Jennings St.)

South on 280:
1. Take the Mariposa St. Exit
2. Merge onto Pennsylvania Avenue
3. Turn right at Mariposa Street
4. Turn right at 3d Street
5. Turn left at Cargo Way
6. Proceed to end of Cargo Way (intersects with Jennings St.)

South on 101:
1. Take Cesar Chavez Exit
2. Follow signs for Army St. East, and merge onto Army St./Cesar Chavez
3. Turn right on 3d Street
4. Turn left onto Cargo Way
5. Proceed to end of Cargo Way (intersects with Jennings St.)

North on 101:
1. Take Potrero Avenue/ Cesar Chavez Exit
2. Turn right onto Cesar Chavez
6. Turn right on 3d Street
3. Turn left onto Cargo Way
4. Proceed to end of Cargo Way (intersects with Jennings St.)

Lisa Hoffmann, Deputy Director

Department of Emergency Management

1011 Turk Street

San Francisco, CA 94102

415-558-3870

415-558-3841

Marc Maron

Saw a comedian who had this to say about the Tenderloin:

The thing about the Tenderloin is it's such a small area. Other cities have miles of bombed out neighborhoods. But San Francisco, it's so compact, the Tenderloin is only about 5 blocks. So it's condensed. There are more people, more freaks. And the freaks have to compete harder to be freaky.

So I'm in the Tenderloin, and I see this transexual... on roller skates... nodding off on heroin. Man, let your FREAK FLAG FLY ! You know, this freak is doing the work of FOUR freaks in any other city.

http://www.marcmaron.com/

Cleanup Links

And some fun links, courtesy Peter Kuhn:
What to do?

Cleanup chemicals threaten reefs


What happens to spilled oil?


Cleanup and lung problems


Natural degradation

Spill Cleanup

Some people are saying go to Sports Basement; others say they went there and nobody knew anything. Here's another posting:

> As of Friday evening, the first opportunity to volunteer is for
> those interested in attending a public workshop. The Department of
> Fish and Game's Office of Spill Prevention and Response is holding the
> following informational wildlife care trainings.
>
> November 10, 9:30 - 11:30 PM
> Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
> 99 Grove Street, San Francisco
> (415) 974-4060
>
> November 10, 1:30 - 3:30 PM
> Harbor Master Richmond Marina
> 1340 Marina Way South, Richmond
> (510) 236-1013
>
> November 10, 5-7 PM
> Headlands Institute
> Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Building 1033, Sausalito
> (415) 332-5771
>
> Additional volunteer opportunities will likely emerge in the upcoming
> days and weeks. We will let you know as soon as we have further
> information from our partners including the Oiled Wildlife Care
> Network. Consider forwarding this message to your friends and ask them
> to sign up on our website to show their support. You can also help out
> by making a donation to sustain Baykeeper's work to hold the
> responsible parties accountable in cleaning up this spill. Your
> contributions will help us respond to this crisis.

Homeland Security

In light of a giant container ship hitting the bay bridge, no containment of the oil slick that spread out to the Golden Gate, e.coli in vegetables and meat, lead in toys, and a bridge collapsing in Minnesota... I ask, "Please explain to me again what Homeland Security means?" What did all that money go for ?

New cameras so the old security guard can still take a nap in front of the monitoring screen ?

City full of loonies

A concerned and determined citizen who knew a crazy man was about to blow, got transferred to 6 different people in community services. The City said they couldn't do anything, even though it turns out the man had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. Subsequently, the man beat a police officer in the face. Chances are, he'll be back out on the streets before long, doing it again. That's San Francisco.(link)

Time on their hands

Quote:
-----------
A man who escaped from custody in Tennessee 30 years ago has been arrested in western Massachusetts, where authorities say he started a new life after skipping out on the final four months of a prison term.

William Reegan, 65, had the time left on his one-year sentence for forging a prescription when he failed to return to a Tennessee prison after a furlough in October 1977. (full article)
------------

This points out one of the HUGE differences between Tennessee and San Francisco. In Tennessee, what, this guy forged a prescription, it was only a YEAR sentence, and they hunt him down 30 years later ?! We're not talking a violent criminal. He had to keep his sh*t clean to avoid being caught, but still, he was fu**ed for life.

Here in San Francisco, on the other hand, we have violent criminals and gangsters running the streets. Sometimes the police bring them in, book them, and release them. We have speeding cars killing people in intersections and people gunning each other down in the streets. Hell, we have Keystone Cops running into each other on high-speed wild goose chases like a demolition derby that all ends up at the same intersection. Link to story -- they were trying to catch 3 children. The big criminals have paid off the cops (or higher officials) so they won't get bothered.

No wonder this town is a magnet for every looney in the country (myself included?)? But William Reegan didn't come here -- he wanted a quieter life !