Perceptions

This picure was copied on line from Fox News

The huge storm that hit the eastern seaboard and is extended way beyond to the west has raised many questions regarding the coming presidential election. I specifically said presidential because that is the one election date that is carved in stone. It is federal law that November 6, 2012 will be the election day regardless of the difficulty in getting to the polls.

There are several options open to the states affected, none of which are very attractive. For instance, remember we the voters do not elect a president. The electoral college does. How is the electoral college constituted? By the states. As is customary throughout our country, Electors are elected as a slate representing a particular candidate. But ... the electors once sent to Washington, D.C. can vote any way they want to.

In the instance where the states are mortally harmed by the storm with flooding, electrical failure, transportation failure, etc. could elect to have their respective state legislatures elect the electoral college representatives, totally bypassing the public. Is it legal? Bet yer ass it is. Of course if a state chose that route there might be a ton of recall elections following that decision.

Can a state postpone the election, say for a week or two? No. The date for presidential elections is set by federal law. Other offices could be voted upon later, but not president. This is going to get interesting, since we have just a few days for these areas to get their act together. Voter turnout will be way down in states that have been flattened, regardless of what alternative voting measures are taken. That would favor the Republicans in the east, since the northeast is pretty solidly democrat orientated, with the possibility of Massachusetts being the exception since Romney was governor of that state, but don't bank on it.

This storm has taken the economy, the foreign policy, and other issues and slammed them into the background. If you remember the hits that Bush took over Katrina, the same could happen to Obama. Even if the president can do very little to affect the situation aside from declaring a state emergency, enabling federal machinery to enter the picture. It doesn't matter. The president is blamed if the milk in your refrigerator sours due to a power outage.

On the other hand, If Obama appears to be firmly in charge, effective and essentially a hero, he will win hands down. It all depends on perception. Former polls are useless at this point. Hurricane Sandy is the new and principal campaign issue. This election year is going to prove very interesting and the results will reverberate for years to come.

If you remember that the last presidential election featuring Bush vs Gore, Florida recounted three times, the liberal leaning state supreme court reordered more and more studies, until the U.S. Supreme court finally felt it necessary to act to avoid a constitutional crisis. Some, if not many democrats still faced with all of those recounts coming out in favor of Bush, still claim the election was stolen. I guess that were upset that Chicago could not vote in Florida. Think of all of those disenfranchised tombstones.

Just One More Week

 Waves crashing into sea wall, NYC photo from accuweather online

I don't know about the rest of you, but I am really anxious to have this election over with. It will be interesting back east if power outages last through election day. We may not find out who our new president is for months.

Some of my more radical friends will turn back into real people after next week, too. I'm looking forward to that as well.

Regardless who you are for, go vote. Like I said last year, if you don't vote, shut yer pie hole if the results aren't to your liking.

I Am Sad And Dismayed

While I enjoy Football and of course am following what could be described as the perfect storm, other than the weather channel, I can't find any thing else.

We have What I thought were at least two news channels that could be trusted to bring the news. Fox and CNN. I rejected the CSNBC news channel as a propaganda source long ago.

This weekend, aside from football, nothing is being dedicated toward the disaster that is shaping up in the east and even as far west as Indiana. The Sandy Hurricane apparently is merging as it lands onshore, with two other systems.

One, a severe Nor'easter, coming down from Canada, and a deep jet stream arrow pointing down from the arctic right straight through Indiana and into Northern Kentucky. All of these will merge in the next two days, while the news channels are busy with presidential campaigns.

Of course it is important to follow political events, but if anyone out there hasn't made up their minds they probably reside in an institution for the confused. Many lives are at stake as this monster combined storm will apparently involve 18 states and land areas as far west and south as below Indianapolis, Indiana.

Political direction will decide where we go for the next four years. The same, plus extensive news coverage will decide whether many live or die.

Having been in radio, print news and a blogger currently, I can't, as a trained news person justify the incessant debates  the talking heads of our broadcast media, not to mention the more respectable sources such as the neighborhood bars.

As of tomorrow, I'm heading out to the Wheel. First, I will e-mail my brother in Indianapolis, saying he and his neighbors are doomed if they don't chain down their lawn furniture.  Secondly, I will grieve for those imbeciles that couldn't imagine anything happening that hadn't already happened during their lifetimes.

I will pray for their sorry souls, for stupidity isn't curable. For those who were two poor, (Millions) to hop in a car they don't own, or a bus that has stopped running or a subway, etc.  Many people do not have the price of a tank of gas to flee far enough west to escape this combination of storms. They will be stuck in New York City and other Ghetto areas that actually has not  had a workable relocation system since civil defense began during the cold war.

Bottom line? You cannot evacuate a city or metropolitan area the size of New York City and New Jersey in lass than two weeks minimum. Those that stay are there because they have no other choice. God Bless them.I wish them hope.

Slim Dossey 1918-2012 R.I.P.

L-R James Adams and Slim Dossey

 

I have the sad duty tor report that long time country singer, Slim Dossey, died Tuesday, October 23 just a few days before his 94th birthday which would have been November 4. Slim is survived by his son Jim, his daughter Sharon and preceding him in death, daughter Barbara, plus gal pals two many to mention.

Slim was the top country singer back in the 40's in Seattle, performing along side of legendary Disc Jockey, Buck Ritchie. He was given some good advise from a friend who said, you are a big frog in a small country=Western pond here in Seattle. Go south to California  and get with some of the well known country bands of the day.

He got lucky. He no sooner reached San Diego when an opportunity jumped up for a spot in The Town Hall Party in Los Angeles. Smoky Rogers band, the Western Caravan was losing their principle singer, who was Ferlin Huskey, later, husband of Local Betty, here in Bayview. Slim was hired to take Ferlin's place in the band. Ferlin went to Nashville where he did quite well Slim went on to stardom singing with people like Gene Autry, the Sons of the Pioneers and many others. He also released several records of his own, mostly written by himself.

I met Slim when I walked into the old Scoonerville bar in Hayden back in around 1990. I got him several gigs including the old bar at Tobler's Marina on Hayden Lake, Turtles.t Later when I moved to Bayview, I introduced him to a whole hew batch of fans at the Captain's Wheel where he became a regular at every Christmas Party. His last appearance was outdoors where he joined in with a couple of singers and sang along with them.

In later years when his memory started to fail,, his son, Jim bought a karaoke machine so Dad could have the advantage of not having to remember the words to everything.

Slim has been in poor health, battling pneumonia since last fall. He even missed the Naval reunion at Farrague last fall, as he too served there and in the Pacific during World War 11.While many younger folks from this area didn't realize who he was or what his history was, many older people knew and loved his singing and awful jokes.  He finally rejoined a huge chorus of singers from the forties and fifties, when he crossed the burning sands one last time, looking for that cool clear water.

Jim Dossey has generously shared some DVD's where Slim as interviewed at length about his areer. I am starting work on an in depth story about his career, the people he worked with and the crowning experience when he was invited to speak at the Gene Autry Museum in Oklahoma, several years ago.

There will be no services. A celebration of life party will happen in the Spring. Jim will notify everyone through this blog as to the date, time and place.

A Real Reagan Republican

Back in the 1960's I worked closely with Ronnie Reagan on his first election run in California. I knew his daughter, Maureen and her husband then, Dave Sills who is now an appellate judge in California. I moved back to Washington Sate in 1967 and thence to Idaho in 1990.

During those days as a Young Republican and living in Orange County, we had the same problems that we have here in North Idaho. Extremism. There and then, it was the John Birch Society. They had absolutely no room at all in their philosophical basement for the rest of the party and they were overwhelmingly tossed out of office during the 1966 election cycle.

Here we are faced with the opposite of Washington State. There, the liberals control almost everything, especially on the west side. In our state, it is the opposite with extremist republicans holding most of the offices.

Either extreme is unhealthy for the politics of any state. We got rid of Hart in the primary, but still have his hand chosen buddy,  Barbieri. This guy just announced that people should take their children out of public schools, referring to public schools as Godless. Well yes, they are godless, but not against god. They simply do not mix religion with secular education.

Many democrats are also Christian, if that is a test one must pass for candidacy, but suggesting everyone pull their children out of public schools while running for public office is a bit ironic to say the least. I have decided to break ranks in two district two races. Cheryl Stransky  will get my vote and a long time public servant, Dan English, who incidentally is pro-life, and way more qualified than Morse with his only claim to fame being his membership in the Kootenai County Reagan Republicans. I am also voting for the incumbents in the NIC election. These are non-partisan positions and should stay that way. I'm not impressed with various Republican organizations trying to change that status.

I have no desire for the state legislature in Idaho to revert to Democratic rule, but I want enough representation on that side to even things up a bit. Getting ride of Idealoges is my goal. I want thinking, problem solving people representing me, not knee jerk followers of the Constitutionalist God they follow.

In other races, I will vote to retain the Luna laws as they are referred to. Until they are completely enacted and absorbed into the system there is not reason to demonize them unless of course you are a union activist. We are in the 21st century. One of electronic miracles. Let's not be troglodytes and fail to include computers in our children's education. They spend most of their free time on them anyway, we might as well use them as an educational tool. Not to replace teachers, but to supplement them.

I will vote republican in all other races, including my hope that we can get rid of Obama before he ruins our economy past the point of no return. My other wish is that this campaign year be over, so we can begin to return to normal conversations with our friends that don't necessarily think like we do.

Please, no matter how you vote, turn out this November and vote your choices.

Thursday Night Football-Seahawks vs 49ers

Don't forget to check in at the Wheel where tonight's game will be seen on the NFL channel in high definition. Three large screens enable customers to not only follow the Seahawk game, but also the Pac-12 game between Oregon and Arizona State. See you there.

Halloween At The Captain's Wheel

Free Market ... National Suicide?

Many free market advocates see less expensive products can be purchased in China and other countries with economies that allow slave labor. They go on to point out how much cheaper the products purchased at Walmart, Target, Sears, etc., etc. are for us to buy.

That is only half of the equation. The vast numbers of unemployed or under employed cannot take advantage of these bargains because no matter how good the deal is, you still have to be able to earn a living to create the income necessary to buy the inexpensive product. This is voodoo logic.

Retailers have absolutely no choice in the matter. They have to compete with each other price wise, or fail. These companies didn't send jobs overseas, the federal government did.  I will explain. There are two major factors in competing with foreign workers. One is lack of a level playing field, or in other words, no protective tariffs which our country for many years relied upon to make our factories competitive with China and others. Currency manipulation is the other. China has kept their money below where it should be so that their products are cheaper in other markets.

The other is the greed of the labor unions who wanted to vault their workers into the upper middle class, income wise. They succeeded. Except now the middle class has been dragged down rather than the laborers being elevated. Higher wages created higher prices which competitively could not match the China man making $3 dollars per day, or the 9 year old child working in a factory.

At that point two things should have happened. One, the unions should have been controlled to the extent that their greed didn't put their own members at risk. Two, Our federal, government can control what is shipped into our country by charging a duty or tariff on the item that is being built elsewhere.

If you start at the bottom of productivity, it would be mining. Mining for iron ore, copper,Bauxite, which aluminum comes from and precious metals that go into high end electronics. Our steel mills have shut down. Here in the inland northwest, Kaiser Aluminum no longer smelts the metal. They buy it from foreign sources then roll it into usable products such as aircraft parts, auto parts, etc.

While we haven't been looking, China has quietly bought up most of the copper mines in Canada as well as Australia and Africa. They also own most of the other precious metals that are necessary to our manufacturers. Recently, a product called rare earth has been cornered by China who now refuses to export the raw material needed for our use. There will be more of the same as some as China corners the market on other raw materials.

Soon, our government will wake up to the fact that control has shifted to the orient. At that point, if the only place a metal can be purchased is from China, even protective tariffs won't work. China can simply say, we won't sell any of these things to you and you can't buy them from anywhere else.

While it isn't too late, we need to grab as much in the metals market that is left unsold to the enemy. Yes, enemy. We are in an economic war and we are losing. Secondly, slap tariffs on products that we cannot match price wise, if it isn't too late already.

In a relatively short time, our country can be enslaved by China without a shot being fired. I remember when it was against U.S. law to ship computers or their technologies to Russia, China and other potential enemies. This was done to protect our lead in military equipment. Now, we buy the computers from China.

Steel beams for heavy construction are made from ore mined in our so called rust belt, shipped to China, manufactured into the finished product and shipped back cheaper than we can do it ourselves. Most lumber is shipped in from other countries. Our furniture industry is now in China as well. The bottom line is for the aforementioned reasons, we no longer make anything. Unemployed workers cannot take advantage of low prices. Food stamps have taken the place of productive workers supporting themselves.

Gasoline hasn't gone up double in the last four years. The dollar has gone down that amount in value.

Our only hope, if in fact there is one is to elect moderate Democrats and Republicans that are not locked in to a political mantra which is a box from which there is no escape. We must strike a balance between radical environmentalists and those that would pollute for profit. Medical expenses can be brought down very simply. We prohibit pharmaceuticals prices in our country from exceeding that which is sold elsewhere. We must enact tort reform. Which is to create limits on class action suits that are draining our resources and cause many doctors to flee their private practices and work for giant health plans that pay the premiums.

At least fifty per cent of a doctors overhead is related to malpractice insurance and government paperwork requirements that require large staffs just to shuffle paper, not provide hands on health care. Good luck on the tort reforms, since a majority of congress is made up of attorneys which wont vote to restrict shark like tactics in the legal ;profession.

It may already be too late to change our fate. Politicians are locked into either union funding or free trade, which large corporations donate from, both of which are extreme positions and are losers either way. We can't cure this ill by governments supporting us because the money the government has we have given them. When we run out of money, the government borrows more and more which it can't pay back. Business as usual is a doomsday philosophy. One we can't survive.

Thursday Night Footbsall

Recently, the NFL network and Time-Warner cut a deal. They will carry Thursday night football in high definition only. The Captain's Wheel Lounge is carrying the games starting tonight at 5:00 Tennesee Titans vs Pittsburgh Steelers.

Where Were The Marines?

The last week or two have seen many debates on television, in newspaper editorials and congressional hearings in which the administration first covered up that the attack on our Libya Embassy was not premeditated, but was over the anti- Muslim cartoon thing on You Tube.

Then they admitted is was an organized attack either by Al Qaeda or loyalists to the former dictator.

Now they are saying that while former security people claim protection was inadequate, that a few more wouldn't have made a difference. This from a state department that has some embassies around the world set up as impregnable forts. Hind sight isn't needed to figure out that this area is volatile, that there are many separate groups with weapons that were seized from government armories during the uprising.

What I want to know, is where were the Marines. For two hundred years we have had the U.S. Marines guarding our embassies around the world. These detachments have heavy weapons with which to repel attacks from infantry weapon carrying terrorists. Has the state department quietly replaced these troops with private security guards around the world? Of was it just in Libya.

This, in my mind is where the negligence lies. Could it be that the administration, which is more sensitive to muslem countries feelings than our own, felt marines would somehow offend the Libyans? Well, I'm offended that our diplomats were not adequately protected. I'm offended that the Marines were not assigned that job. Private security employees are for the most part not trained in combat tactics. Marines are. The administration and the state department lead by Hilary .Clinton especially, who during her husband's presidency was widely know to dislike the military to the extent of treated then extremely rudely at times.

Have we donated the ambassador's life to political expediency on the extreme left? Many of us would like these questions answered. Islam has declared war on the west and we are ignoring the fact that we are in one.

Everything Being Equal ...

For a long time I have been bothered by inequality. Our constitution says, "Equal protection under the law." Unfortunately in both law and life it just isn't true.

Last week-end, as the ESPN announcers gleefully stated repeatedly, when star running back for Oregon, Thomas broke loose once again for long gainers making defensive players look like they were at lunch, they referred to the player as the "Black Mamba."

I reminisced about a few years ago in a similar situation on Monday Night Football, when Howard cosell said in his excitement, "Look at that little monkey run." Using an improbable stretch, the remark, instead of referring to his elusiveness and speed, equated monkeys being black, as the runner was. Cosell was fired for the so called gaff.

In law, there are many other examples. "Hate Crimes." You can beat the crap out of another person and be charged with third degree assault. Call your opponent a racial or ethnic slur turns it into a felony. Really. And we accept this enormous error in judgement and equality as alright, because after all, it's prejudicial. Since when, as distasteful as it is, is prejudice illegal?

One of my favorite memories is that of Bayview Daze a few years ago. A black man wandered into a bar that shall remain un named. It was at the time a drunken irreponsible crowd that contained a few red necks. The black man was hasstled with, "Your kind don't belong here, man." He left, not wanting to cause any trouble. The red neck followed him trying to start a fight. He took a swing at the black man. He woke up in the hospital and under arrest. I loved it. Instant karma.

But even the term "Red Neck" is a misuse of the term as originated. In hot climates as in the southern United States, a man guiding a mule and controlling a plow from sun up to sun down always ended up with a sunburned neck. Ergo, a red neck. He was just a white farmer doing what farmers do. It was picked up as a slur toward what the "equality community" defined as an uneducated white guy that was prejudiced. That in and of itself is a prejudicial term.

Here in Idaho, just where you are from is prejudicial.  "You from the city? get out of here, man. You from Los Angeles? You don't belong here. Move on. You a Catholic? Muslim? Baptist? "I ain't. Move on, Dude.'

Affirmative Action. Now there is a fine shiny buffed up righteous phrase. "Affirmative." That word suggests that it is good. Positive, rather than negative. Spin.
Choosing a person of color or of foreign birth over anyone else for a job, education, anything, is flat wrong. It's not reverse discrimination. It's just plain discrimination or by what ever ilk you wish to justify it. Equality is a simple well defined word. Why try to alter it's meaning?

Where have we gone in trying to be righteous? How did we get here? Why have we not redressed these obvious wrongs. Why are so many apologists of our society so uneducated as to our origins. Why? Why?Why? The route to enlightenment is education not  laws that are unconstitutional.

Oktoberfish Winds Down

What started out scary, when at around 4:30 pm Saturday, not fish had been reported, turned out alright. Some fish were caught later Saturday and more  Sunday. Each year the winners keep on getting smaller, but we hear the Fish and Game Department is ending the bounty on Rainbow heads and just continuing with Mackinaw.

The netting and bounty program has done it's job, with Mac numbers way down and Kokanee, or Blue Backs as we call them locally, are thriving once more.The numbers are up, the sizes are up and it looks like a limited fishing season is in the offing for next year. More about that when we confirm it.

Now, about the winners of the derby:

Trout Division

First Place           Mike Perry             11.3
Second Place       Rick McCorkle     10.3
Third Place          Rory Bergere          9.8

Mackinaw combined weight:

Winner was Ken Olson                      31.3

Pictured above from left to right first through third place with the single picture of Mike Perry, holding his trophy fish. The traveling trophy has once more travelled. It has been re;ported that among the 103 entrants, enough beer was consumed to raise the stock market for major beer brands. None of course consumed by the drivers. One boat reported sighting a Mermaid. We think that might have been someone hallucinating. But who knows. Perhaps a new legend is born.

Co-sponsors for the derby are Ralph's Coffee House and the Captain's Wheel Restaurant.

Saturday Oktober Fish Report

As of 4:30 pm Saturday there were no fish reported caught yet, but we have it from our usual spies that a numerous cans of beer have been consumed by the 103 official ticket holders. Last night the auction was a great success with a ton of donated prizes to bid on. Pictured above is chief auctioneer and Derby Meister, Ralph Jones.

Oktoberfish Friday

Hey folks, come on down to the Wheel this afternoon for a German dinner, auction and other activities along with a last chance to get derby tickets. All proceeds go to prizes. No house money taken out.

Ralph is going to try a new approach this year. Instead of a favorite lure, he's going to emulate professional sports figures. He gonna trash talk those fish.

Come down, quaff a few brewskis and kick off the derby for the week-end. I'll be down there taking pictures for the blog,so look scroungy like real fishermen and women.

The derby starts at dawn Saturday and ends 4:00 pm Sunday. Judging at 5:00 pm. The will be a huge amount of Mackinaw available that will be given away to the public. If you like fish and even better, if you know how to smoke fish, grab some. Everything ends at the Captain's Wheel, fishing headquarters for Bayview.

Above are some disreputable fish winners from 2009.

Still Missing

Good Afternoon Herb, The above link is to a short article just posted by the Spokesman on their blog. This boy is 16 from Post Falls and his family is well known by a few residents of Bayview. I know by following your blog religiously that you have quite the knowledge of the news world and I was wondering if you knew of any additional ways to get information out. He’s been missing since September 10th and this post by the Spokesman is the first media assistance we’ve been able to get. Absolutely any ideas would be much appreciated, Thank you for your assistance, Dana Albanese Bowen Family seeks information on missing teen Oct. 3, 2012 noon  •  0 comments The family of Austan Tyler Stone, 16, is asking the public for information on his whereabouts. The teenager was reported as a runaway on Sept. 10, according to the Post Falls Police Department. Stone's family says his cell phone was turned on briefly in Modesto, Calif., but they have no further leads. They're asking for any tips to be logged on a special Facebook page, www.facebook.com/helpfindaustanstone, or by calling (509) 480-1027 or emailing geogypsy@gmail.com. (reprinted from spokesman-Review)

TAO to the Rescue

Good morning --

You would have been proud, as I was, of the Ta' Ata Ori crew on Saturday. We were out for a leisurely sail that morning, in light winds. The usual. We goofed around a bit with the mizzen stays'l, had brunch and sort of nodded off, as the wind died around noon. (Sound familiar?)

As we headed back toward Bayview around noon, the wind picked up and slowly built to around 20 knots, from the south. I was at the helm, the rest of the crew tidying up the boat, making preparations to take the sails off and get TAO ready for the coming winter.

I noticed a small sailboat, about 1/2 mile off our port beam that seemed to be in a bit of trouble. As I watched, the boat capsized and then "turtled." (Turned completely upside down, with the mast pointed toward China.) The crew of two was in the water. (Water temp about 60 degrees)

I immediately changed course and the TAO crew went into full "rescue mode." By the time we reached the turtled boat, we had the boarding ladder down, the dinghy ready, boat hooks, life jackets and horseshoe buoys in hand and towels and warm blankets waiting. We had also used the VHF radio to alert boats in the vicinity that we were carrying out a rescue operation.

We maneuvered TAO to windward and got the shivering crew safely on board without a hitch. (They were wearing life jackets.) Father and son were sailing this boat for only the second time and things got out of hand when the wind came up so strong.

With the soggy sailors safely on board, our next thoughts were for their vessel. Louis got in our dinghy, tied a long tether line to the boat and we secured it to TAO. Now what? No way to tow a half-sunken boat with the mast in the water back to land. The wind had settled in at the 20 knot level and the waves were building steadily.

By this time, a small powerboat was idling nearby, offering assistance. Mike had the idea that they could take him back to the marina, where he would get his diving gear, come back out, dive down and attach a line to the top (now bottom) of the mast, so we could right the boat. Which is exactly what happened.

Righting the boat was quite an operation, but with much bailing, improvised hand signals and a couple of setbacks, the boat was right side up again and the waves weren't breaking over into the cockpit. She was afloat. We towed the boat back to the marina for a successful end to what turned out to be a busy day.

I have named Louis and Mike in this narrative so far, but let me emphasize how well everyone on board worked together seamlessly in an emergency situation. Gail was ready with the horseshoe buoys and boat hook, Dawn took care of the sailors once they were on board and friend Jan helped out with securing the dinghy -- plus so many other large and small actions that were critical to our success, but are now just a blur in my mind.

What a crew. I am privileged to sail with such a fine group of people, who, when it counted, "got it done."

As recent special guests aboard our beloved Ta' Ata Ori, I thought you might want to hear the story of how we wrapped up the sailing season.

Wishing you fair winds and following seas,

--Lawrence
Skipper
S/V Ta' Ata Or

***
Just learned that a catamaran flipped over yesterday, too. The boat was floating upside down at Bitter End Marina, but was removed before I got there. Gary MacDonald rescued the boat and occupants successfully. Gary does rescues on a regular basis without much if any credit. He’s always out there when the radio goes off.

TAO to the Rescue

 

 

 

 

 

You would have been proud, as I was, of the Ta' Ata Ori crew on Saturday. We were out for a leisurely sail that morning, in light winds. The usual. We goofed around a bit with the mizzen stays'l, had brunch and sort of nodded off, as the wind died around noon. (Sound familiar?) As we headed back toward Bayview around noon, the wind picked up and slowly built to around 20 knots, from the south. I was at the helm, the rest of the crew tidying up the boat, making preparations to take the sails off and get TAO ready for the coming winter. I noticed a small sailboat, about 1/2 mile off our port beam that seemed to be in a bit of trouble. As I watched, the boat capsized and then "turtled." (Turned completely upside down, with the mast pointed toward China.) The crew of two was in the water. (Water temp about 60 degrees) I immediately changed course and the TAO crew went into full "rescue mode." By the time we reached the turtled boat, we had the boarding ladder down, the dinghy ready, boat hooks, life jackets and horseshoe buoys in hand and towels and warm blankets waiting. We had also used the VHF radio to alert boats in the vicinity that we were carrying out a rescue operation. We maneuvered TAO to windward and got the shivering crew safely on board without a hitch. (They were wearing life jackets.) Father and son were sailing this boat for only the second time and things got out of hand when the wind came up so strong. With the soggy sailors safely on board, our next thoughts were for their vessel. Louis got in our dinghy, tied a long tether line to the boat and we secured it to TAO. Now what? No way to tow a half-sunken boat with the mast in the water back to land. The wind had settled in at the 20 knot level and the waves were building steadily. By this time, a small powerboat was idling nearby, offering assistance. Mike had the idea that they could take him back to the marina, where he would get his diving gear, come back out, dive down and attach a line to the top (now bottom) of the mast, so we could right the boat. Which is exactly what happened. Righting the boat was quite an operation, but with much bailing, improvised hand signals and a couple of setbacks, the boat was right side up again and the waves weren't breaking over into the cockpit. She was afloat. We towed the boat back to the marina for a successful end to what turned out to be a busy day. I have named Louis and Mike in this narrative so far, but let me emphasize how well everyone on board worked together seamlessly in an emergency situation. Gail was ready with the horseshoe buoys and boat hook, Dawn took care of the sailors once they were on board and friend Jan helped out with securing the dinghy -- plus so many other large and small actions that were critical to our success, but are now just a blur in my mind. What a crew. I am privileged to sail with such a fine group of people, who, when it counted, "got it done." As recent special guests aboard our beloved Ta' Ata Ori, I thought you might want to hear the story of how we wrapped up the sailing season. Wishing you fair winds and following seas, --Lawrence Skipper S/V Ta' Ata Ori

Sports Spin

I'm a little weary of the talking heads and newspaper sportswriters blaming the Green Bay loss on a bad call. That isn't even close to the truth.

First, anytime a Hail Mary pass is thrown into the end zone in a football game, it's a group grope between potential receivers and potential interceptors. Seldom is there ever an interference call since most of the players involved have bumped each other.

The thing that got me going this morning is that even Norm Chad's column devoted itself to the same fiction. There were two reasons why this is a national issue. One, Green Bay is a highly respected program that was expected to bury the lowly team from flyover country. They didn't. That alone pissed everyone east of Missoula.

The other is the total ignoring of the fact that Green Bay scored a total of 13 points non of which came from an offensive touchdown. THIRTEEN POINTS! THEY LOST BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T SCORE, NORMAN AND THE REST OF YOU TALKING HEADS.  Get over it. They got beat because they didn't play well enough to win and the Seahawk defense smothered every effort.

There were probably several hundred poor calls made by the under qualified officials in the several games played during that period. In some cases, they undoubtedly made a difference in the outcome. Is anyone hearing an outcry from the horrible non call Monday night,on the obvious fumble the the real officials missed? No, and you won't. Had that end zone play been between Green Bay and the New York Giants, it would have been a non-event.