Despite its kitschy name, Cap'n Bob & the Damsel is a no-nonsense blog written by a South Bay couple about their life and perspectives. Full of fine photography of flowers and firearms, the site has posts about politics, science and the South Bay scene.
The bloggers, a Navy veteran who works locally as an aerospace engineer and his shutterbug wife, describe themselves in their bios as patriotic, politically active news junkies who post as a conservative counterpoint to mainstream media. Their homepage features a 9-11 Tribute that has been viewed more than 37 million times.
The duo also writes a second, more personal, South Bay-centric blog. On it, you'll find many more photos, including this one of an Easter Lily. It also has a list of the Damsel's favorite recipes, including Savory Sweet Potatoes, that sounds like it might be good with Easter ham. For his part, Cap'n Bob has has posted a "Universal Triangle Solutions Solver." The couple also posts a lot of local videos including a B-17 Bomber at Zamperini Field and a helicopter flight to Catalina Island.
We've added the sites to our blogroll.
Read on for a Q&A with Cap'n Bob about his blogging habits, thoughts on the South Bay and where he got the blog name.
How did you and the Damsel meet?
We met during the country music craze after "Urban Cowboy' revitalized country & western dancing in the South Bay - at Calamity's on PCH at Ocean, as I recall.We got married in Avalon and go back every anniversary and stay at the Hotel Metropole.
How did you come up with your aliases?
Hers is a nickname she used to play trivia at a bar & grill. A couple of my former student pilots coined Cap'n Bob when I got my Airline Transport Pilot certificate - never flew as an airline captain though, just small airplanes and helicopters.
When and why did you start blogging?
I started the original blog about five years ago to learn the technology and for fun. I also wanted to dabble in posting our political perspectives on contemporary events as an alternative to traditional media.
Your blogs are remarkably well-updated. How much time do you spend blogging each day and how do you stay motivated?
Thanks - we try to have a post at least daily, and usually it takes just a few minutes to publish a post - sometimes, when we get on a roll, we publish some sizable articles which, of course, takes longer. We do it because it's fun - Damsel takes some really great pictures and we love to share those. I also like to engage in technology and 'widgets.'
You have a 9-11 tribute on your homepage. What impact has 9-11 had on your life? Why were you moved to do the tribute?
The 9/11 tribute (also a 'widget') not only appears on our website, but we distribute it to hundreds of other blogs and web pages. As of this writing, the distribution counter reads over 37 million hits. The story and the history for the tribute appears at http://capnbob.us/blog/never-forget-flash-animation/
What's been your most popular blog post?
I can only go by what appears in the bloglog, but I would have to say my post about how sunspots have an effect on global climate continues to come up in Google referrals a lot.
What's your strangest blogging story?
Not so strange as unusual, Damsel's photograph of Air Force One in the Ronald Reagan Library where the vertical stabilizer and rudder appears to be transparent.
Have you ever posted anything on your blog that you later regretted?
Early on, I would rant and occasionally use defamatory terms about folks with whom I disagree. That's a tactic that never works as an alternative to discussion. Most of those were lost when I changed to the WordPress publishing platform whose database was incompatible with earlier posts, so I can't link you to any of that, which is just as well.
What are your favorite things about the South Bay?
- The ocean and coastline - we love it - and, as I said before, Catalina Island.
- The Marine Mammal Rescue and Recovery Center at Fort MacArthur - love the marine animals and the work done there - we visit the 'inmates' often.
- The South Coast Botanic Gardens
In your opinion, what are the biggest problems facing the South Bay right now?
- Gangs and crime problems.
- Housing and population growth without the infrastructure to support it.
- Improper teaching and parenting - a general failure to instill value systems in today's youth.
3 favorite blogs or Web sites:
Hard to narrow down to three but these are all on our blogroll:
Michael Yon
Acute Politics
Doc in the Box
In her photos, the Damsel has some seriously long hair. What's her hair care regimen?
Damsel merely brushes it out daily, washes it every few days and generally wears it up most days. I have the duty every couple of months to trim off the dead ends - a couple inches or so. It falls well below her waist.
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