Fishermen's Fleet Reports

Picture a bright blue ball,
 just spinning, spinnin free,
Dizzy with eternity.
Paint it with a skin of sky,
Brush in some clouds and sea,
Call it home for you and me.

A peaceful place or so it looks from space,
A closer look reveals the human race.
Full of hope, full of grace Is the human face,
But afraid we may lay our home to waste.

There's a fear down here we can't forget.
Hasn't got a name just yet.
Always awake, always around,
Singing ashes, ashes, all fall down.

 Now watch as the ball revolves
 And the nighttime falls.
 Again the hunt begins,
 Again the bloodwind calls.
 By and by, the morning sun will rise,
 But the darkness never goes
 From some mens' eyes.
 It strolls the sidewalks and it rolls the streets,
 Staking turf, dividing up meat.
 Nightmare spook, piece of heat,
 It's you and me.
 You and me.

Commissars and pin-stripe bosses
Roll the dice.
Any way they fall,
Guess who gets to pay the price.
Money green or proletarian gray,
Selling guns 'stead of food today.

 If the game is lost,
 Then we're all the same.
 No one left to place or take the blame.
 We can leave this place and empty stone
 Or that shinin' ball we used to call our home.

  So the kids they dance
 And shake their bones,
 And the politicians throwin' stones,
 Singing ashes, ashes, all fall down.
 Ashes, ashes, all fall down.
                                      -Ice Nine

   Todays' story my friends, begins long ago, in a pleasant, but sleepy, little place. Most of the people were happy enough, but they were continually at the mercy of a few, predatory people who just couldn't get enough money. Those few, observing that every person needed to breath, decided to form the Federal Commission of Air. This FCA was advertised to the people as a way to provide clean breathable air in perpetuity, and since the FCA belonged to the government, and the government constitutionally belonged to the people, therefore the FCA belonged to the people, as the air did, and this infinite supply would be provided at no profit to the people, as they indeed owned it. Of course there were some expenses in providing this essential product, and they would of course be passed on to the people, as they were the benefactors, and indeed the owners, of the system. These expenses would be evenly divided, except for those who worked for the FCA, who would receive the product free, as a reward for their selfless and diligent efforts, for and by the people. Well, as time went by people began to notice that the people at the top of the peoples' Commission were living very well, but as long as the air continued to flow, there wasn't much to complain about. Awhile later, as the very reasonable rates for the air continued to increase, it was noticed that the company wasn't taking very good care of its' machinery and assets, and that the supply of air wasn't as consistent, or as clean, as before. When asked, the FCA told the people that in order to restore the previous levels of service their rates would need to be raised, which really didn't answer the question, but then they really didn't have to answer the question, because the FCA had had a big party with government officials, whereat they asked for, and received, a law that made it illegal to ask the FCA questions. As time and rates went up the FCA found that they needed more and more money. They even stooped to charging people for air that they had never breathed, but claimed that the meters that measured the air must surely be faulty, as they needed more money. “But aren't you responsible for the meters?” asked a few brave citizens. “We used to be, but as you can clearly see, after our last big party with the persons in charge of the country, it is now no longer our responsibility to know whether the meters work at all, and in fact it is also illegal for you to ask that question. We'll let you off with a fine, this time, of 6 months air usage, averaged over 2 years, multiplied by the factors allowed in the new law, and charged over the next 6 months. And don't do it again.” “It?”, the people asked, what is it?” “There you go again said the FCA, and this time it will more serious than the last time!” Stay tuned, this story might even end some day.........

 Yellowtail action getting hotter and more consistent every week. Pargo still a little few and far, but they're still coming. Fishing is good. David