PIF31

PIF31

8p

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14 years ago @ The Space Review: essa... - The Space Review: Why ... · 0 replies · -5 points

Going to the moon and Mars are only steps - the goal should be the complete exploration of the entire solar system. Only in that way will we be able to move beyond this solar system.

14 years ago @ DoD Buzz - QDR Likely Kills Two C... · 0 replies · +1 points

"May this be the beginning of the end of the the US/formerly British Empire that the sun never sets on! "

And the beginning of the US as a third world country, wherein the only "fair, gentle, most kind, gererous, and peaceful" nations will be Russia and China. Yes. The world, under their benevolent guidance, will be a far better place, don'cha think?

14 years ago @ DoD Buzz - QDR Likely Kills Two C... · 0 replies · +1 points

In a further irony, the F-22 costs would have dropped dramtically had the plane been available for the nations which were clamoring for them - now those same nations are only reluctantly placing orders for a smaller number of the (as yet nonproduction) F-35.

Of course, in a major conflict with enemies targeting GPS and Mil com sats, most of these modern planes (manned and unmanned) and missiles will be useless - so time to bring back the SopWith Camel! :)

14 years ago @ DoD Buzz - Stop the F-22 Now · 0 replies · +1 points

Well, 19 weeks later and the F22 is dead. Rumor on another board: "Don't fret - there is something operational and flying that is far better than than the F22..."

14 years ago @ Breitbart.com - Lobster wars rock remo... · 0 replies · +1 points

You are all lucky to be even reading this story. Almost all stories of commercial fishermen are routinely suppressed when politics are involved. This story's theme is crime with human interest thrown in. If national politics were involved in any way in this story it would have never been printed. There were huge numbers of stories filed in the trash decades ago - both print and MSM TV. Because you never saw these stories, it is difficult for most readers to understand the view points of the lobstermen.

You may sit in front of the TV and watch "Deadliest Catch", thinking how tough that life must be, but not understanding what crab fishing was like before those boats were put on the limited permit quota system (a fixed number of boats, each boat with a fixed maximum poundage - varied according to the season's biomass) - in the days when anyone and any number of boats could enter the fishery, setting as many pots as the boats could carry, catching as many crab as they could before the (state/federally regulated) harvestable biomass was caught. This lobster fishery operates in a similar way.

It is one thing to watch people risking their lives to feed others, and something else again to actually do it. No matter how well written or filmed a story, it is impossible to capture the life and dedication of a commercial fisherman. Sports fishing is easy to understand, but commercial fishing is another beast altogether.

Boats are burned and sunk, fist fights and bad feelings are common, as is the occasional fisherman shooting at another in other fisheries around the nation. This one just happens to have caught the attention of this reporter and his editor allowed it to go to print - probably because someone actually was injured in the shooting; had the shot missed and no one was injured, this story would probably not have been printed.

Some one asks why the lobstermen don't share. Do you share your paycheck with a co-worker making less money? Do you give your sales leads to other salesmen with smaller accounts? This is no different.

Farmers ask how anyone can 'own' a particular part of the ocean bottom. How can a farmer 'own' a particular part of a piece of land? Farmers have recognized property rights, but bottom fishermen do not - but that makes no difference to the fisherman; he or his family found the place were fish are best caught through hard work and much sacrifice. Should he just let any Joe Blow set gear on his spot and so steal his livelihood? There are only so many lobster to be caught in a given season and area. If he allows Joe Blow to set gear on his spot, he knows from long experience that there is no where else to go to set his gear - and so he cannot pay his bills or feed his family. He may even lose his boat to the bank...

Farmers should also remember that commercial fishermen are their natural allies. Both harvest food to feed others, both face weather uncertainties and take risks accordingly to reap their bounty. Both do their work for the love of their work. Neither sees his work as a job, but as a profession - it is who and what they are. On numerous occasions farmers have been attacked by political forces over one thing or another. On some these occasions, it had been the voices of commercial fishermen that have turned the tide and allowed the farmers to continue. Klamath Falls, Oregon comes to mind.

I'm sure there are those reading this who will demand facts and figures - to them I say, do your own research. Hint: start with Nixon in the early 70s.