The Silhouette Act

While everyone seems to be focused on one political agenda, I decided to see what else our elected officials are up to.

Are you familiar with the ban on offshore oil platforms near the shores of the eastern United States? I've heard various rumours about why they're banned but put no stock into them.

However, an interesting attachment to a bill caught my attention. During this economic slowdown, the national government has found money to support the arts. I'm all for the arts - controversial, unconventional, ordinary, you name it. Whatever it takes to keep extraordinary minds occupied, right?

Well, guess what. The latest art project is interesting. Turns out a major metallurgical firm is matching government funds for a series of enormous floating sculptures visible along the Eastern Seaboard as well as the coasts of Florida. But wait, that's not all. The metallurgical firm is owned by a major oil manufacturer.

Why would they want to build large sculptures out in the ocean? Hmm...tune in tomorrow, same drill time, new kind of platform. 100% Guaranteed. Get your money back, double or nothing. Shipping and handling not included.

At least the sculpture proposals look interesting. A menacing lobster off the Maine/New Hampshire border, a giant crab off Cape Cod, a large Wright flyer off Cape Hatteras and a large mouse riding a rocket off Cape Canaveral. Looks like the image of a Cuban cigar off Miami is being replaced with a big hurricane warning flag. How about a cruise ship, instead, something that's always hanging just offshore? Oh wait, I see they already held a debate about that. Someone was afraid it would resemble a refugee boat and weren't sure whether it would look like people leaving the U.S. for Cuba or the other way around.