....stuff deleted

Well, I have actually videotaped a refinery once... varies what camera I
take with me and if I'm in a Sit-On-Top kayak, I usually grab my camcorder
with the scuba enclosure since it's gonna get wet anyway most likely...


I'm a bit jaundiced. I live within a few miles of several refineries on
the Carquenez Straits in the SF Bay Area. You can sit and watch
refineries for hours from here and learn all there is you need to know.
Putting this on tape, excpect for the purpose of documenting pollution
in court, seems beneath mundane to me.

Interestingly, cities near here are now banning the sale of .50 calibre
(I guess I read too many British authors to be certain of the spelling
of that word anymore) rifles because they could potentially be used in
terrorist attacks on refineries. Of course, nobody has studied whether
they are actually more effective for this purpose than, say, any other
weapon or armor penetrating round. We are, in our silly fears, giving up
that which made this country work well for so many years.

I've actually had someone praise Bush and say that there have been no
significant terrorist attacks in the US since 9/11. I laughed and asked
how many there were before. I didn't get an answer.

Course, I also videotape birds, slurry coming out of pipes and such too, and
generally, officials will react when you call them about something that you
have on video, even without seeing the video...

I have a EWA-Marine enclosure... it only is good for 30 feet underwater but
I told the salesman, "If I'm 30 feet underwater I've got more to worry about
than my camcorder." (he wanted me to buy a more expensive enclosure...)

I wonder if bad guys use spoonsoonies for their personal safety???


Now that would be suspicious. If a kayaker is seen with sponsons, the
correct response is to call in the authorities immediately. The coast
guard may well get to use their small canons for once.

Rick