RIP Loran 2-8-10

[DarkSkies]

This is for all the guys who have used this reliable navigation tool for years. Today is the final day. Desire, a BassBarn member, made up a poem about it.

[DarkSkies]

I thought many guys could relate to it, so I'm posting it and crediting Mike for his amazing creativity.

Here's his post:

Dear Fishing Brethren ~

Well, curiosity has the best of me-and I was told by the chief in charge of Loran in Washington DC, that at exactly 1500 hours on February 8th our beloved Loran was going down forever.

That got me thinking--Does that mean at exactly 1500 hours, better known as 3 PM that the screen will go blank?-Or possibly will it just blink for a while before it completely dies like my uncle Louie, or will it immediately croak??
What are the options here??
Will a big picture of Nancy Pelosi show up on the screen instead??-Or possibly Karl Rove?
Or will it be a Budweiser ad or an ad for McDonald's to help subsidize our national debt?
I am not sure--I am not sure??

I think we should all have a big going-away-party for our wonderful Loran.
Yes, rent the top of the Waldorf-Astoria and have a big Loran extravaganza- Yes, fill the place up with Lorans , have them all turned on at exactly 2:59 PM on February 8th--and wait for the 3 PM demise of our wonderful guiding light for all of these years, yes, the magic of Loran C!!!

But then again, maybe I will just have a couple of guys over at my house-and watch the demise over a pizza.
Yes, there is a sadness to me over this-but I guess that is the way of the world.
However, whenever the passing of someone great occurs, oftentimes a eulogy is in order.
Therefore, as being the unofficial Mayor of the Hudson Canyon for many years- I will take on the responsibility of saying goodbye to our beloved Loran.

My condolences-my condolences---my condolences.. Mike-DESIRE


Ode to the Guiding Light of Our Directional Mishaps

Gosh I'll miss those Loran numbers great,
on every exciting fishing trip offshore.
On every wreck, with my strip clams of bait,
dreams of 50 pound cod fish, and so much more!

Beautiful were the Canyon days at 100 square,
Yellow-fin and Big Eyes to our heart's delight.
Every fishing trip with dreams beyond compare,
lasting from the early morning’s sunrise, all through the night.

Only fading memories now are the Bacardi at 308/308.
rest in peace my tile fishing at the West wall 090 line.
A wonderful system called Loran has finally met its fate,
now GPS has taken its place, but for my old Loran, my heart does pine!


Ode to the Guiding Light of Our Directional Mishaps


G osh I'll miss those Loran numbers great,
O n every exciting fishing trip offshore.
O n every wreck, with my strip clams of bait,
D reams of 50 pound cod fish, and so much more!
B eautiful were the Canyon days at 100 square,
Y ellow-fin and Big Eyes to our heart's delight.
E very fishing trip with dreams beyond compare,

L asting from the early morning’s sunrise, all through the night
O nly fading memories now are the Bacardi at 308/308
R est in peace my tile fishing at the West wall 090 line.
A wonderful system called Loran has finally met its fate,
N ow GPS has taken its place, but for my old Loran, my heart does pine!

[finchaser]

Another Nobama accomplishment

[BassBuddah]

That's the worst marine decision the feds ever made outside of fishing laws. In the IT world you always have a backup. Now, there are only sounds of silence.

[bluesdude71]

Mike is a pretty creative guy. I really enjoyed reading that. It's a shame that logic doesn't factor into many of these govt decisions.