You're right, I can't stay long, but the latest "read this" from TB was just too much to resist. It's sort of like those "John 3:16" posters the Jesus groupies wave in the bleachers at ball games. We're supposed to drop everything we're doing and look up the appropriate chapter and verse and be shocked into enlightenment by the self-evident epiphany of the reference. Sheeeeeit. At least, the New Testament has some moral legitimacy and historical legs. No one takes the WSJ, or those who believe it, very seriously after the Bush Meltdown any more. They're the ones who got us into this mess, does anyone with any sense really expect to profit by their advice?

As for the political sparring here, it's all moot any more. The Neocons and their apologists have been thoroughly discredited and disgraced far better than by anything I could do or say, and the left has been handed an unprecedented opportunity to set things straight (or at least, to stop the hemorrhage). If they blow it, they deserve the same fate as the wingers.

As for myself, I've been busy battening down for the coming economic storm, getting my financial ducks in a row and preparing for the worst. Fortunately, not being one to be seduced by the self-serving predictions of the business castes, my assets were not at all connected to the stock market or to any other speculative venue, (I've seen the Republican Crash coming since the Reagan era, it's been long overdue so I've had plenty of time to prepare). I'm in pretty good shape to ride out the storm. I'm even considering retiring and writing a chronical of it as it unfolds around me. Maybe I'll borrow a title from Defoe, "A Journal of the Plague Years".

I'll drop in occasionally and see how you guys are doing. Until then, let me leave you with a little something that might come in handy...

***************************************************

Heaving-to is a maneuver employed when the weather is rough but still manageable, when the crew is exhausted and in need of rest, or repairs have to be made or preparations for worse weather ahead have to be completed. The vessel is still sailable, she may be reefed down but
all her canvas is still up and she is ready to proceed in a moment if required, but she is in a position of minimum stress and movement in relation to wind and wave, and the helm can be left unattended if necessary.

To heave-to, you slowly alter course into the wind until you are sailing directly into it, as if you were tacking. The only difference is that when you come about you do not unsheet the jib and let her flop to the lee side of the boat, you leave her sheeted to what is now the windward side, letting her backwind and wrap around the windward shroud and mast. Simultaneously, you let the boom and mainsail fall naturally to leeward, slightly close-hauled, and push the tiller a-lee. There is a point where all three balance against each other and you can tie off the tiller, secure main and jib sheets, and let the boat sail itself--backwards.

The wind whipping past the main generates lift, wants to drive her forward, the rudder wants her to come back into the wind where she stalls, and the jib wants her to fall off the wind and run before it. There is a point where all three work against each other and the ship is stable, pointed more or less to windward and yielding sensibly to the seas, gently falling downwind, with the bow slowly oscillating between directly to weather and a close reach. The ship will slide backwards, giving up ground grudgingly, taking the seas on her windward bow where she can best absorb the punishment.

Now is the time to go below, batten down, secure loose gear, brief the crew, take a fix, grab a hot meal and fill up the thermos, change into your foulies, vest and harness, take your Dramamine and complete whatever other preparations you need before the weather gets worse. If it does, you may need an alternative storm strategy, whether it be pressing on under reduced sail, altering course to minimize the danger, riding to a sea anchor, running under bare poles--free or towing a warp, or when all else fails, lying a-hull and letting the ship take care of itself as best it can while you huddle below, wide awake during the longest night of your life.

You will have to pick the right option depending on conditions, and the capabilities of your vessel. But you'll never know whether or not you did until it's too late to matter.