"Tele-prompter" free...

"Used Sinkers" ?....

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The Point Pleasant (NJ) Rescue Dive Team had their annual “Used Fishing Sinker Sale” at the local Fisherman’s Winter Flea Market and took in over $500 for the team. I have had the opportunity to help out during these sales and the appreciation of the team by the local fishermen has always been positive and enthusiastic.

The Dive Team has always been very visible in the local waters during training exercises and community support projects. They have been involved in numerous water related rescues and first-aid assists over the years and have been in the local papers news stories.

Additional photos and text can be found at Point Pleasant Rescue Dive Team…

Mote Marine Lab ~Bull Shark~ Research...

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CATCH A BULL at four... Scientists from Mote Marine Laboratory tag bull and hammerhead sharks in an effort to determine the effects these top predators have on the ocean food chain...

While living in the Florida Keys I had the opportunity to work on one of the better Sportfishing boats (SeaBoots Charters) and with one of the most knowledgeable Captains in the area. It was not just the 30+ years of fishing experiences in the Florida Keys but the marine biology knowledge that Captain Jim Sharpe brought to his charters.


Another benefit was that Mote Marine Lab had their Tropical Research Center just 100 yards down the dock from where the SeaBoots was kept. While most of the research at the Mote lab focused on coral research and growth, other Mote scientist would visit and conduct other research on other species such as the Bull shark…

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Above is a photo of me hand lining a Bull shark in the Gulf of Mexico while the Mote Marine scientist measured, tagged, and took blood samples, from the above shark. I have always enjoyed showing this photo at work to co-workers who enjoy local trout fishing and the conversations that follow...

Recently I was emailed the link to “You-Tube” footage of the shark fishing trip that produced the above catch. As the video shows there was much work and effort put into catching the bait and setting the lines for this research project and fortunately it paid off with this impressive catch. The amazing thing is what a Bull Shark of this size will allow you to do once you get them up to the side of the boat.

My first surprise was when lead Mote Marine Scientist Michael Heithaus leaned over the side of the boat and flipped this shark over onto her back where she offered very little resistance and allowed numerous tests, measurements, and tags to be attached.

Great video and great research team to work with…

Lt. Governor Bill Bolling...

STATEMENT OF LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BOLLING ON PASSAGE OF SENATE BUDGET

RICHMOND – Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling today issued the following statement in response to Senate’s passage of the state budget:

“Needless to say, this has been a challenging budget year, with the Commonwealth facing a deficit of $3.7 billion. To address this shortfall we were facing significant spending reductions for most state programs. It appears as though the infusion of some $4.5 billion in federal stimulus funds will enable us to restore many of these budget cuts, at least in the short term.

“Given the significant infusion of funds provided by the federal stimulus package, I think the Senate did a good job crafting amendments to restore many of the budget cuts that had been made in the Executive Budget. However, I fear that this is a short term solution to a long term problem. By relying on one time federal funds to balance the budget we are not addressing the fundamental structural problem in the budget. Simply put, we are spending more money than we are taking in and we cannot continue to do that. Unless we see significant economic growth over the next 18 months, we will once again face massive budget shortfalls when the federal stimulus dollars expire.

“Going forward, our full attention must be directed toward effective proposals to get out economy moving again. We can do that by reducing taxes for families and businesses, eliminating unnecessary regulatory burdens, directing more resources to aggressively recruit new business and industry to Virginia and empowering the private sector to unleash the entrepreneurial spirit of America. That is what will ultimately get our economy moving again, not continual financial bail outs from Washington.”

Energy & Stimulus for Virginia...

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Local Virginia State Delegate Chris Saxman (R) introduced house bill
HB1633: Offshore Drilling royalties bill which would allow the royalties from drilling off of the Virgina coast to be used to solve Virginia transportation and budget problems...

There is an incredible amount of potential energy sources off our coast including oil, natural gas, and wind power. Developing these energy sources could solve many energy and budget problems that we now face and know will increase if we do not take action soon…

According to an ICF International study
commissioned by API, developing America’s
vast domestic oil and natural gas resources
that were kept off-limits by Congress for
decades could generate more than $1.7
trillion in government revenue, including

$1.3 trillion in revenues from offshore
development alone. These revenues would
be earned over the life of the resource.

Increased federal leasing could bring
additional high paying jobs to Americans.
Our industry directly employs 1.8 million
Americans, with another four million jobs
supported by the industry.3
• Oil and natural gas industry exploration
and production wages in 2006 were more
than double the national average.
• New manufacturing jobs would be created
to develop and install the infrastructure to
bring new resources to market.
• Local employment also would benefit with
the addition of construction jobs as well
as service and support positions.
• In 2030, 160,000 jobs would be created.

This has already produced revenue for States to use...

According to the Department of the
Interior, in fiscal year 2008, the agency
distributed a record $23.4 billion to the
federal government, states and American
Indian tribes from onshore and offshore
energy production.
• A part of this revenue included $10 billion
in bonus bids paid by companies to lease
tracts for offshore energy exploration on
the Outer Continental Shelf in the Gulf of
Mexico and Alaska.
• A total of 35 states received $2.6 billion
from these revenues.1

Source info...

Boy Scouts coming to Goshen, VA...

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Delegate Ben Cline
(540) 461-0534
DelBCline@house.state.va.us

DELEGATE CLINE COMMENTS ON BOY SCOUT ANNOUNCEMENT
OF JAMBOREE RELOCATION TO ROCKBRIDGE

RICHMOND, Virginia – February 11, 2009 — Delegate Ben Cline (R-Rockbridge) made the following comment regarding the announcement of the National Boy Scout Council of their selection of Rockbridge County as the location for the National Boyscout Jamboree beginning in 2013:

"I am pleased to learn that the Boy Scouts have chosen Goshen as the tentative site for the National Boy Scout Jamboree in 2013. Rockbridge County has the perfect combination of natural beauty, outdoor excitement, and economic development for the Jamboree, and we have worked hard to convince the Council that Goshen is the best location for them to continue their successful event. I look forward to working at the state and local level to ensure a smooth and successful transition for the Jamboree to the Rockbridge area."

Cline represents the 24th House District, including Rockbridge County and the Cities of Lexington and Buena Vista, and parts of Amherst and Augusta Counties. He was elected in 2002, and re-elected to his fourth term in 2007. Cline is a member of the House Commerce Committee, Public Safety Committee, Finance Committee, and Courts Committee.

Jimmy B. shows up in Key West...

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Jimmy Buffet showed up in Key West and did a un-announced concert for the staff and family and then opened the doors to the public. Best part is that he performed most of the songs written just about Key West and Stock Island. If you have spent some time down there you know many of these songs and the stories behind Stock Island...

Key West Citizen paper has front page coverage here...

"You cannot" ~Abraham Lincoln~

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You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift~ You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong~ You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich, You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred~ You cannot build character and courage by taking away man's initiative and independence~ You cannot help small men by tearing down big men~ You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer~ You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income~ You cannot establish security on borrowed money~ You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they will not do for themselves.

Words and quotes often associated with Lincoln and very relevent with our present day situation...The quotes were published in 1942 by William J. H. Boetcker, a Presbyterian minister. He released a pamphlet titled Lincoln On Limitations, which did include a Lincoln quote, but also added 10 statements written by Boetcker himself

Americans for Prosperity "Rally at the Bell Tower"....

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Had the opportunity to attend the "No Stimulus" rally at the belltower in Richmond hosted by "Americans for Prosperity" Virginia chapter yesterday. Good turnout and it was good to see many well known Conservatives gathering to protest the outrageous Stimulus package that Congress is pushing...

"As you’ve probably seen, President Obama has hit the road with a series of campaign-style events to push the Pelosi-Reid-Obama debt and spending bill. Taxpayers like you and me need to fire back not just in Washington, DC, but all over the nation with big crowds who will stand up and say NO to this trillion-dollar scam!"...
http://www.nostimulus.com/

Ben Marchi of the Virginia chapter of Americans for Prosperity...

Waynesboro GOP Chairman Chris Darden, Gov. Allen, John Darden

After the Rally at the Belltower many went on to sit in and observe both the House and Senate in session which provided some interesting material for another post in the future. The day concluded with the "Defending the American Dream" dinner hosted by the Americans for Prosperity ~Virginia Chapter~ with guest of honor Governor George Allen...

Many people that I spoke with after the dinner commented on how Governor George Allen was back to his “self” which made him the most productive and popular Governor of Virginia… I had seen Allen speak numerous times in the past and I also noted a new sense and purpose in his speech and presentation. The crowd responded to this enthusiasm and it continued with other speakers including outstanding closing remarks by AFP Virginia Chairman Paul Harris…

Chris Darden, Carl Tate, and John Darden...

Is Obama going to Kentucky ?...

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"At its peak, the storm knocked out power to 769,353 customers in Kentucky. At least 28 deaths have been blamed on the storm, according to the state medical examiner's office. Beshear has called the storm "the worst natural disaster" in the state's modern history.
As of late Wednesday, the number of Kentuckians still without power had dropped to 157,200, according to the state Public Service Commission. Meanwhile, utility crews continued to work to rebuild electric lines, especially in Western Kentucky. And National Guard troops continued to hand out water and meals and check on residents without power."