"Keep the extra ballot boxes handy in case the Massachusetts election is close"....

Energy future...

API’s President and CEO Jack Gerard delivered a speech in Washington today about U.S. energy policy. It contains some statistics about the importance of oil and natural gas to the economy and explains that the industry is prepared to create jobs--without a government subsidy.

"As the public debate focuses on how to move to a vibrant energy future, we must recognize that oil and natural gas will continue to serve as the principal bulwark of our economy for many years to come. The U.S. Energy Information Administration projects that oil and natural gas will supply more than half our energy in 2030 – some two-and-a-half gallons of petroleum products a day on average for every man, woman and child in the United States and significantly expanded amounts of natural gas. We need to be investing now to meet this demand. The International Energy Agency has warned that failure to develop now the oil and natural gas resources to meet future needs could lead to a supply crisis."
.

"And all of this will mean millions of jobs, high tech jobs, traditional industry jobs and what has become known as green jobs. The U.S. oil and natural gas industry has already created very large numbers of green jobs. Green jobs to develop advanced batteries, biofuels and other alternatives. Green jobs for finding and implementing ways to decrease energy use. Green jobs to increase recycling. Green jobs for developing carbon capture and storage technology. And many more. Applying a green jobs calculation methodology developed by the Center for American Progress, the industry created about one million jobs related to green technology just from its 2000 through 2008 low-carbon investments."

"Producing all of this energy would spur vast job creation. An ICF International study conservatively estimates that developing the nation’s federal non-park oil and natural gas resources could create 160,000 new direct jobs while also generating more than $1.7 trillion in government revenue. And that doesn’t include potential development on private lands. According to a Penn State study, developing the natural gas in Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale, for example, could create another 175,000 new jobs – on top of the 50,000 already created there. Just today, it was reported that gas drillers bid $128 million to develop a tract of state land in Pennsylvania, generating double the revenue the state had targeted for the sale. That will mean jobs and more government revenue."

The people have voted with their purchases... FORD up 33%...

Marketwatch has released the final auto sales for the year and it appears that the majority of the auto purchases went to other auto manufacturers other than General Motors \ Chrysler, better known as "Government Motors"....

.

Ford up 33%...

GM down 6%...

Chrysler down 4%...

Toyota up 32%...

Honda up 25%...

Nissan up 18%...

Ice Rescue Training ~2010~

The Point Pleasant Rescue Dive Team worked on Ice Rescue procedures today up in New Jersey...

VMI Cadets at McDonnell Inauguration....

On Jan. 16, the Corps of Cadets will travel to Richmond to participate in the inaugural parade for Gov.-elect McDonnell. The parade, which begins at about 12:45 p.m. following the swearing-in ceremony, passes in front of reviewing stands at the State Capitol Building. Viewing of the parade is available along its entire length. The parade route is along Grace Street between 5th and 9th Streets and then enters Capitol Square.

Rockbridge weekly...

Fannie, Freddie making out alright... What about their bonus?...

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) - "The chief executives for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac received $6 million annual compensation packages as the government mortgage giants try to attract and retain talent to help them support the U.S. housing market, according to regulatory filings Thursday."

Christmas 2009...

Greenpeace treatment...

Senator Jim Webb (D) of Virginia ~You still have time to do what is right for the citizens of Virginia and the United States....

Wahoo fishing in the Florida Keys...

Just got this video clip of some outstanding Wahoo fishing from the Captain I worked with when I was down in the Florida Keys aboard the SeaBoots boat out of Summerland Key...

.

Here is a description of the fishing going on down in the Keys that Captain Jim Sharpe sent me while I was spending my free time digging out from the 24"+ snow storm up here in Virginia...

"Last week we had the best day of wahoo fishing I have ever seen. A neighbor came down to weight a wahoo he shot, 63 pounds. He told us there was a whole school of these big wahoo in 100 feet of water off American Shoal Light. The next day we decided to take a bus mans holiday and target the wahoo. We are field testers for Rapala/Williamson products so this was a good excuss. Wow what a wahoo day, wahooooooo! in three and one half hours we fought 18 wahoo and landed 9 from 40 to 65 pounds, we were hooking them six at a time. I have caught as many as 25 wahoo in one day but they are usually 8 to 12 pounds. These were monsters. We lost many fish at the boat due to their size. Luckily I brought along my new Sony high Definition commercial camera and videoed the catch. I have attached a short clip of the wahoo action I hope you enjoy it. A full version DVD is available $14.99 plus shipping and handling. I recently wrote an article for Rapala on their knifes. I know they have a fine knife selection I test them but I never new the details of how they get such high quality steel and sharp blades until my recent research into the matters. I have included the article for you to enjoy, it will appear in Sport fishing magazine shortly You are seeing it first. Please have a happy and safe holidays! Captain Jim Sharpe seaboots5@aol.com 800-238-1746 http://www.seaboots.com/"...

Video footage is aboard the SeaBoots Charter boat out of Summerland Key with Captain Jim Sharpe and can be found here: www.Seaboots.com

.

Tall guy in Yellow shirt and wielding the gaff is Captain Mike Weinhofer who also owns and operates the light tackle boat Compass Rose based out of Key West...

More info and photos from the Compass Rose boat can be found here...