I find myself wondering lately, is this a sailing forum or a current events forum?
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<br>I hesitate to even bring this up, becuase as a video and television professional, I'm a strong believer in the "change the channel" school of thought. When you don't like the program, you change the channel. If you don't like the way the salesman treated you, you don't complain to the manager, you vote with your feet, and do business elsehwere.
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<br>The thing is, that I like many people, have been a bit on the depressed side lately as a result of the terrorist attacks. Depressed about all the people that died, depressed about the uncertainty that it brings to daily life now and in the future, and depressed about how it has directly impacted my daily life and livelyhood.
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<br>My point is, that this forum is one of my forms of escape. It was a form of escape before September 11, and is even more so now. The fact is, however, that I can not escape it even here. I see posts about the taliban, posts about the news media, posts about the Christian perspective, etc., and all I want to do is read about sailing.
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<br>But, like I said, I hesitate to even bring it up. I'll try not to read those posts, but I just wanted to wonder out loud, could this web site benefit from a current events forum? I really don't know, and the last thing I want to do is squelch those who enjoy using this forum to sound off about whatever happens to be on their mind.
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<br>On the topic of sailing, I just stripped my boat of all its vital organs today. It's just two hulls, a tramp, and a mast, completely ready to be put into hibernation for the winter. The next time I sail it will be in the spring of 2002! Ugh!
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<br>Fair winds,
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<br>Tim J.<br><br>Hobie 20 #541
<br>Bald Eagle Yacht Club, Fleet 52
<br>White Bear Lake, MN

Good post. Current events forums litter the internet and are a good idea for the most part. Occasionally people need an anonymous medium to vent their feelings, frustrations or blathering rhetoric about information of which they have lots of opinion, but no intellect. I think that you see some of this venting in the sailing forums, because we are all mostly sailors, first and foremost. We come to discuss sailing, but we come to discuss what's on our mind with other sailors. I think we stuck more to topic before September 11. I think we will stay more on topic once the world settles down a bit. It's easy to not read posts, or to read part of them to determine if you are interested in going further. It is impossible to avoid media coverage unless you put on blacked out glasses, cover your ears and crawl in a hole. It's tough to sit with people who share your passion and not talk about the things that affect us. Especially when the scale of current events is as large as it is currently.
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<br>The one thing that has set this forum apart from many or even most of the other forums I have ever come across is that the group that participates here allows for the uncritisized expression of thought. You may not agree, you may think people are totally without thought, you may think that some posters are full of sh*t and just flat out wrong, but we don't openly challenge eachother in a juvenille fashion. We reply with information and not cynisism. We respond with critical (not in the negative sense) information that gives us all a chance to learn more and participate to a higher standard in our passion. We act as adults and show eachother the respect that we should show others. This is good forum, a great site, and a superb bunch of people and I understand your sentiment and probably agree with you.
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<br>Good night all!<br><br>

Tim, good post. Sorry about you having to put your boat up. If you want to sail, just come straight down to South Louisiana at just about any time and we could probably arrange a sail. This is not South Florida but I'm sure it'll feel like summer compared to what you guys have up there.
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<br>Stay warm, pray for spring.
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<br>Clayton<br><br>

I wrote a post on this a couple of weeks ago which recieved very limited support, but I'll certainly lend my voice to yours!
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<br>I fully recognize that just because cat sailing brought us all together that doesn't mean we should ignore all other subjects. However, Tim does have an excellent point about how visiting this site is something of an escape and all of this 9/11 stuff is wavering between depressive and opressive!
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<br>A "current events" or "non-sailing issues" forum is a great idea!<br><br>

nm<br><br>Luiz

Hey Tim,
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<br>As you may remember, I'm in the media biz, too, and it's certainly ok to feel the way you do. Maybe I feel like this, too, because we haven't had very good weather here in Minnesota. It truly is a sad day when you know you've sailed for the last time in a season. Looking forward to new sailing ventures makes the winter seem a bit more tolerable, and gives us something to look forward to.
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<br>Maybe we should get some interested people together this fall/winter and discuss making a Worrell doc - now that would be fun!
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Tim,
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<br>I think we need to cut folks a little slack on this one. You have to admit, we are being bombarded by the media every single day, which I'm sure is spurring a lot of reaction that is showing up in this forum. With the attention span of the average American, I'm sure this interest will start to wear down as have most other hot topics. Anyone heard from Gary Condit lately?!
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<br>Back to sailing: (1) Did you ever get that knife you were looking for? I had a similar experience years ago with a new crew up on Lake Huron ... first regatta for my crew ... we turtled in heavy air and she got hung in her trap. Luckily she came free just after the trampoline forced her head under water. I've been sailing with a Gerber in a sheath ever since. I also put one on my crew's jacket if he or she doesn't have one. (2) Great job with the videos ... I've got em all. Those definitely are useful when trying to bring a new crew up to speed. Sure beats trying to get them excited about reading a book.
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<br>Have fun ice fishing !!
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<br>Bob Johnson
<br>H-16
<br>Dayton Ohio<br><br>

Bob,
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<br>I did get a knife, and I love it. Only trouble is, I can't take it as part of my carry on luggage anymore! It's a Gerber River Guide with a sharp point. I figure I want to be able to slice through a tramp or sail if need be, and the blunt tip is really blunt! Here's a picture:
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<br>Also, glad to hear you like the videos!
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<br>Fair winds,
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<br>Tim<br><br>Hobie 20 #541
<br>Bald Eagle Yacht Club, Fleet 52
<br>White Bear Lake, MN

i think this is more like a family talking things out.
<br>if you like, i could start bitching about that krappy harken gear again ;)<br><br>

I, too, use this forum as a momentary distraction from the day to day challenges. I found myself avoiding it, however, during the past month. In part it was because of the non-sailing discussion, but maybe it's also because I've been busy charting a new course after watching my job evaporate soon after 9/11.
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<br>Now, like so many other northern sailors, I'm dealing with the feelings that come when you have to admit that the sailing season is over. My boat is still rigged and ready on the beach. Frost forms on the cover in the early morning hours. Daytime highs peak out in the low 50's. I'm not giving up easily, though. Maybe Indian Summer will return next week. A day of steady south winds and mild temperatures will be cause to don the drysuit and take to the water once again. Yes, November will eventually force me to tuck the boat into winter storage, but I'm not giving up yet!
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<br>Cheers,<br><br> Kevin Rose
<br>N6.0na #215
<br>kevin@paddleways.com
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Kevin,
<br>You're welcome on Great South Bay, LI, NY anytime. We'll find you a couch, a boat and show you a good sail!
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<br>Ed Norris<br><br>

Ed,
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<br>Thanks for the offer!
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<br>Saturday's forecast for northern Vermont calls for snow flurries and a high of 40. Today, however, we've had a blip in the normal pattern and it's nearly 70. Wind out of the south at 10 knots. It's always paid off to keep the boat rigged and ready for a couple of late autumn sails.
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<br>Cheers,<br><br> Kevin Rose
<br>N6.0na #215
<br>kevin@paddleways.com
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Weel, we're about midways thru our second sailing season (spring and fall) this year. Wind is really starting to crank. Heh,heh, heh... One (at last) for Loosebanana. C'mon over Clayton, GOT THE 18 SQUARE NOW TOO!<br><br>