jksnijders

Well put. I understand your point of view now.. My previous post may have seemed a little knee-jerk, but here's my perspective. I can say with a fair degree of certainty that I will never work a union job. In the case of the auto sector, I think there are obviously quite a few factors involved, but it's hard for me not to think that the Autoworkers union help matters much. I'm blown away by the wages I hear about on an auto assembly line, for what I'm sure people would say is "hard" work. Which is great for the guy cashing the checks, for sure. I guess the scenario that comes to mind is the one of killing the goose that laid the golden egg. All the overhead those outfits drop on pensions, benefits, executive bonuses, etc. etc. are all just nails in the coffin I'm sure. Especially when your business is becoming increasingly un-competitive. I guess it's just hard for me to stomach that my taxes are possibly going to be paying for a bailout of an industry that runs like that. I think that unions have definitely done good things for workers, but its quite a bit different world from the ages of heavy industrialization where I've read much of abuses by employers. I guess it seems to me that I just don't like the "that's not my job" mentality. I was talking to a guy the other day who was heading to Hibernia, which is apparently unionized. He had some pretty interesting stories about that, for sure. I'm sure that outlook permeates a business to the point where politics and bullshit get fairly well in the way of actually getting anything done. Perhaps people lose sight of the big picture, then find themselves in the position the Auto sector is now in. I agree to let those companies go tits up would probably have serious consequences, I just find it all a bitter pill to swallow.

Goddamn Right.

That's awesome..

I was wondering when this subject would turn up... Great posts guys.

Um.. OK. I'm sorry, my comprehension skills mustn't be was they used to... Don't read into people's statements too much. It seemed to be fairly based around the issue of closures to me, and probably also gear (Not sure, but I think using more than one fly isn't legal there?) I can't imagine there are a pile of people on this board who would only choose to follow the regs based on what the fine would be for a particular infraction.

Awesome..

Strangely ironic, I should say..

Nice pics.

That was pretty interesting.. The guy who took the pics is awesome. From Whitehorse. www.paulnicklen.com

Thats awesome..

Whoops.....

I thought I was going to vomit when I saw the grin on Belinda Stronach's face as she strode across the floor.. I don't have the words to describe my thoughts on this.

Great pic. Spent a good deal of time working at the foot of those..

That's just my game. Awesome pics..

I've dealt with Vistek a few times lately, they've been really good. I do believe they will rent gear, on a per day basis or something, to try it out. The guy I dealt with last time mentioned it. As to the exact conditions I'm not sure though..

That is badass...

Hehe..

Man, I hope Santy Claus brings me one of them too..

I agree for sure. But... As said "dodgy" in my post, I dove for 4 days straight in different locations around Vallarta, and some of the things I saw made me a bit leery. My girlfriend at the time, who got her open water certification in Calgary ( the theory end ) dove also for a couple days. According to her divemaster, the proper way to enter the water was to don your weight belt, etc., inflate your BCD, put it in the water, and put it on once in the water. Hmm, I said. Thats maybe ok if you're experienced, and have the sense to ditch your weights if you get in a bind, and are diving with experienced people if you don't. I was using 30 pounds weight, which to stay afloat with is pretty tough. But a class of first timers? Not to say all outfits are like that, or that its limited to Mexico. I never once felt unsafe, I've been a number of times, and travelled alone, on public transit, etc. etc. It's like anywhere, what you make of it.

Full 7 mm wetsuit for that I bet... Ever go on the West coast?

Went for a drive today, and... McGregor and Badger both frozen, Newell still open except for shallow bays as of this afternoon.

As for ice to the shoreline, I'm not sure though.

I believe Badger has a boat launch, and is deep enough. Newell is plenty deep also and has a good launch area.

Sad. I almost drowned in a riptide on the Aus. coast. Pretty scary, there was a point off to my right, and even though I swam for all I was worth I was getting nowhere. Then I realized I was actually losing "ground" and headed out farther. Somehow I finally got out of it, learned later the best thing to do is swim parallel to shore, as the rip is caused by a slope to a sort of gutter on the shoreline. They can usually be seen as a streak of cloudy or silty water heading offshore. Surfers use them to get out past the breakers. As for Mexico though, with all the reports I've heard about "mysterious" deaths, who knows.. they're a little dodgy down there it seems.

Yes, but the article is about BC fish.. And if I'm not totally off base, they perhaps were shown around by someone in the area? And as far as stoking the fire, seems this one's burning well enough on its own. As for the letters, good job. I would hope the more pious out there wouldn't limit their scoldings to just this site.