On Jun 3, 7:07*pm, Wizard of Woodstock wrote:
On Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:47:40 -0500, Vic Smith



wrote:
On Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:58:19 -0400, HK wrote:

Frogwatch wrote:

How's the fishin Harry? *Do you live anywhere near Point Lookout?

For this area, the fishing is average. In comparison to everywhere in
Florida I have fished, that would translate to slower than slow.

We're north of Point Lookout, about an hour or so by car, depending on
traffic. I've driven there by car once, just to enjoy the vistas, and
have turned the corner, so to speak, on boats about a half-dozen times.
If I am driving down that way, it's most likely to attend something or
other at the Seafarers facility at Piney Point. A number of unions hold
social functions there.

http://www.seafarers.org/phc/PhotoGallery/facilities/

I heard about a training program SIU has for new merchant sailors,
leading to the CG license and....work.
There was a discussion about it on the cruising group.
Sounded like a neat program for youngsters.
No cost and free room and board, I think.
Quasi-military in that respect.
Used to be you had to get "sponsored" by a ship company, or have
military experience to get the license.
But U.S. Merchant Marine is just a wisp of what it once was.
Globalism.

Actually one of the few Unions that actually does something for it's
membership other than try to scam more money out of ownership for "job
banks" and such.

Their training program is first rate - equal to the various merchant
marine academies.

Last year, I stopped using computer during a storm even though we have
a surge protector. FLASH-Bang and a huge spark jumps from the
computer housing to the grounded outlet, HUH? made no sense to me but
it cured me of wanting to use computer during storms.
Two yrs ago, came into work in morn to find whole place filled with
vacuum pump smoke and a whole leg of the 3 phase burned out. A
computer was fried and we had to run a new ground by drilling thru the
concrete and pounding it down 20'
Two weeks ago, one electron microscope died one night. Apparently a
strike fried a whole board of old 7400 and 7420 chips (electronic guys
will be able to tell the rough era of said scope from that)
Everybody in my neighborhood is on wells cuz we have no city water.
The wells with downhole pumps are always getting struck. My neighbor
has a well that is underground with nothing showing above (tank is
inside his garage) and it has been struck 4X. mine only once in 20
yrs, across the street twice.
A guy at work had his house hit last year when it came in on a natural
gas line. Fried most of his electrical system.
I could go on and on and on..........I have also been up close and
personal with lightning 4 times although I really try to avoid it.