OIL SLICK STAYS OFFSHORE! Those are todays Mobile Press Register headlines...however it would take me all day to read all the articles relating to the oil slick. Everyone has an opinion and the eco freaks are wearing out their index fingers pointing and shaking their fists, but unfortunately shit happens, and it's time to take care of it. It seems people ARE at least trying. Including Bob Austin...good job Bob! Apparently the slick has already hit Louisiana and is expected to come ashore on Mississippi islands today (Sat.) Alabama continues its waiting game but has managed to complete setting piles at the opening of Mobile bay to attatch booms with gates, container 'ponds' and a 'ship-cleaning station' for its shipping lanes. Fortunately our coastline is relatively short. BP reports success placing its box device on the bottom over the leak, we'll see if and how well it works. BP is also setting up training programs for volunteers anxious to help the cleanup, though some eco-freaks are complaining they've 'been rebuffed'. Figures. Fishing fleets have been corralled to help spread booms etc, at least giving them temporary jobs. Yesterday when at Verizon, there was a rather loud guy, possible a fisherman, talking about his buddies who have taken their vessels elsewhere or are possibly even abandoning them (money owed?) because 'they've lost everything.' This includes not just shrimpers/commercial fishermen but charter fishing boats too. There is also reported to be a federally sponsored research vessel out there as close as 1/3 mi. to the site which has switched from coral research to water sampling, for analysis by NOAA and the universities of Miss. and Miss Southern. Website available if interested. There seems to be some concern about air quality from the oil burning. If I have any advice it is either rush through Mobile Bay and up the River quickly being aware of the current and trash flowing down river from recent storms (Tennessee River curently closed to pleasure boats) or best yet, STAY PUT for awhile! Stay tuned, more tomorrow! Marge Griffith Boatless on Mobile Bay