The other side of the Merrimac Bridge in Newport News. By the time we got
back things looked pretty good but then we saw the specials in the newspaper
later on. When I say not so bad I'm comparing it to Andrew and the original
200 mph winds.

Of course I believe you! Especially since that's about the time they
started counting 95% of the available work force as full employment. That
formula held true up until late 92 or early 93 when it was changed to 90% of
the available work force with one job inferred for every two known and
everyone dropping off unemployment without a job simply dropped from the
computation. I believe that is still the current way of doing the math
although I'm not sure. Points are - unless you know how the figures are
arrived at .. . they don't mean much for one and historically . . ..
according to my antecedents .. . not much got better until the run up to and
conduct of WWII. That led to max. employment. Which is one thing full
blown wars are good for . . .. . ergo . . . .union members support wars. We
are nothing but patriotic when it comes to increased paychecks.

Another thing we like is increasing the minimum wage. For some unions
that's an automatic contractual pay increase. For the rest of us it drives
up the cost of living like nothing else save a good gas shortage scare . .
..and that's another automatic pay raise. The little guy gets his food
stamps, annual unearned income tax welfare check and so forth so not to
worry too much about that segment. Only people that get hurt really are the
lower/middle income non-union segment. But then SOMEBODY has to pay the
bill. They shoulda joined up and it's the price they pay for going it
alone.

Didn't put anything in about sailing did I? Well it looks like
Thanksgiving Weekend if I'm not working on a river boat it's a choice
between sleeping (love these overtime schedules) or zipping around on a wing
keel Catalina 22 down in Florida . . .or maybe visiting a friend with a
Bristol Channel cutter. Love the choices and they are all so affordable.

Hey boys and girls keep working, keep paying taxes - we all thank you. And
don't forget social security starts in a few years. Those maximum benefits
are going to look real good in my cruising kitty!

(taking his leave with a big tongue in cheek grin)

MST

PS MAST became MSC or Military Sealift Command the current name. Navy owns
the ships. Some are run by MSC direct (tugs, tankers, underway
replenishment etc.) Some are run on contracts and manned by union crews.
Some work for the Navy specifically and some are dedicated to support USMC,
USAF or US Army. That's what we do on the USNS Bob Hope-less. Carry up to
950 vehicles and/or trailers at one time . Or we can do containers or a mix
of both.