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Caribbean Sealife
a guy, a girl & a cat: a nautical adventure
Captain Scott
Howard Our Boat Cat
Places We've Been
Great Dismal Swamp
Intercoastal Waterway
Dry Tortugas
Isla de Mujeres
French Harbor
Albuquerque Cays
Linton Bay
Vsitor Center at Mira Flores Locks
Caneel Bay
Rodney Bay
Rhonde Island
Prickly Bay
Union Island
Chatham Bay
The Tobago Cays
Jolly Harbor
Falmouth Harbor
Our Floating Home
Our Ridiculous Refit
General Info. & Photos
Aluminum Princess
Princess Bruce
January 18, 2018 May 5, 2018 / kk42sealife	/ 14 Comments
During our days anchored near Great Bird Island, Scott again found himself with a drink in hand and time to kill. Settled up on the flybridge, he surveyed his surroundings, and as is usual in this situation, the wheels began to turn. Before long he was back inside the boat, rummaging in the storage compartments under our master berth.
Me: "What are you doing?!?" (in response to the rummaging)
Scott: "I have an idea." (more rummaging)
Me: "Good Lord…what is it?" (imagining the many possible outcomes from this current idea)
Scott: "Just wait."
He passed by me in the saloon, carrying several spray paint cans, and headed back up to the flybridge. I still had no idea what he was up to, and hoped it was not cause for concern….or, a marital "conversation."
As we traveled the Western Caribbean, there was much round and round about Scott's idea to spray-paint rust stains down either side of Sea Life, in hopes of making her less appealing to possible theft or attack. I'd stood firm against this "creative" idea. Although I appreciated Scott's thought for our safety, I felt that marinas, and most future cruising friends would find us equally less appealing.
I went back to whatever I was doing, and before long Scott reappeared, asking me to come see what he'd done. His huge smile had me a bit apprehensive, as I followed him up to the flybride. At the top of the ladder, I followed his proud gaze…over to the Aluminum Princess, who undergone yet another transformation. This latest look was quite different from her past structural changes:
I actually felt a bit of pity for the poor boat. It was as if a younger sibling, not old enough to protest, or too enamored, had allowed their older sibling to cut their hair…or maybe dye it in this case.
Scott was pleased as punch with himself, and his boat's new appearance; the result of spontaneous, artistic genius. I was informed that we would be lowering her into the water to debut the new look. Once she was floating, I was to ready the camera for in-water video footage, and a photo shoot.
As the boat sped back and forth around the mother ship, I snapped photos.
Here's a short video, capturing the Aluminum Princess in action, and the big grin on Scott's face:
We're conflicted about to what to call her now, as those teeth aren't very "princess-like." She is often referred to as Sharky, and our friend Rob named her Bruce, after the shark in the movie, Finding Nemo.
Whatever the name, Sea Life now gets even more attention as we travel (I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing). When people in dinghys and on boats slow to point, and snap photos as they pass by, Scott will exclaim, "Why does everyone stare at my boat?!?" "I can't imagine," I reply, "Maybe because we have the only boat in the anchorage without a sail, that has long poles coming out from either side…and an aluminum pilothouse boat up on the flybridge…with shark teeth clearly visible on it!"
I think Scott secretly loves the attention, and is proud of his "Princess," who now has a face only a father could love.
"Shells Sink, Dreams Float. Life's Good On Our Boat!"
Christmas And New Year's Eve. In The San Blas Islands
January 5, 2017 April 18, 2018 / kk42sealife	/ 7 Comments
We're alive and kickin', here in the San Blas islands! Internet service is more available than expected, but usually requires precise placement of a cell phone (used as an internet hot spot) at the highest outside point possible. It's a familiar sight here, to see phones encased in plastic bags, hanging from, or being hoisted up a mast. At best, the service comes and goes, making uploading challenging, with the strongest hours coming in the middle of the night…oy! Some people have boosters installed on board, to up the strength of the signal. Others travel to anchorages that may have better service.
We do not have a booster, and are trying not to spend our time chasing the internet, so getting a signal worth doing anything, for any amount of time, is basically a crap shoot.
I've finally caved, and have spent several all-nighters (with nap breaks during weak service periods) while we're in a location with decent service, to catch up a bit, and share what we've been up to for the past two months. Yes, I guess I could have written a post without photos attached, but that would just be mean.
We made our way from Linton Bay, on Panama's mainland, to the eastern Holandes Cays in the San Blas islands, where we anchored in the Swimming Pool. Named for it's shallow, clear blue water, the pool lives up to it's name. The anchorage provides an nearly 180 degree view of the surrounding reef, and the breaking waves are easily heard day and night.
The views behind us were just as beautiful, with the colors of patch coral in the distance.
On our first morning at anchor in "the pool," we had a visit from Venancio, one of just a few master mola makers in the San Blas. We'd been told to keep an eye out for him, and were surprised to see him so far east. Venancio told us that he makes the eight hour round trip to the eastern Holandes from the island where he lives, just once a week, so we were lucky to catch him.
Venancio came aboard with a trash can full of molas, and some beaded bracelets. He took each mola out, and explained it's design as he laid them out for us to see. They were beautiful; full of color, and all hand stitched.
We chose several of our favorites, and then Venancio packed up his trash can, loaded it aboard the ulu (wooden canoe) and covered it well, protecting the molas from the salt air and spray. Mola purchase in San Blas..check.
The week before Christmas, we heard a general announcement on the vhf that there was going to be a cruiser gathering on Barbecue Island, located at the front of the anchorage, just behind the reef. We were excited to meet the other cruisers in the anchorage, and arrived with an appetizer to share with the group. The weather was perfect, and we met many new friends. (photo courtesy of s/v Sundowner)
Once the sun set, locals on the island, who run a small "resort" (I use that term very loosely) lit a bonfire for us. Their fire starting was far from skilled, as we watched them spray the huge pile of wood and palm fronds with gasoline! (photo courtesy of s/v Sundowner)
As expected, Scott spent many hours in the Aluminum Princess, exploring the anchorage and the area around the expansive reef.
He always has his pole spear handy, as his snorkeling outing often turn into hunting expeditions…many times successful ones!
Scott dropped a lobster head into the water behind the boat, to see what might bite. It seems that Triggerfish find them pretty tasty. Regulars here in the San Blas refer to Triggerfish as "Bob." Maybe because there are many in the waters here…not sure. Bob likes lobster.
On windy days, current would run through the anchorage at close to four knots, making swimming very challenging. Scott's solution was to take the Princess to one end of the anchorage, tie himself to it with a 30 foot line, and drift along behind it, as the boat made it's way back through the anchorage in the current.
He caught quite a few very large conch like this, having just enough time to get to the bottom and grab them before being pulled along. Neither of us were up for the job of cleaning conch (eewww), so we shared them with some of our new friends in the anchorage…and joined them for some fresh ceviche as a thank you!
We would get regular visits from the Gunas, in their ulas (dugout canoes). They usually had molas and jewelry for sale. We already had more molas than needed, but were happy to fill their water jugs with fresh water, and occasionally a juice for small children. They also took our aluminum cans, to sell to the Colombian trader boats who recycle them.They both row and sail the ulas, and the women's traditional dress is beautiful.
There is no trash removal service here in the San Blas. Bottles are broken into pieces (the theory is that the pieces will eventually turn into sea glass) and dropped overboard when in deep water (at least 150 feet), along with steel cans (anything that will rust away). This isn't just practice reserved for the San Blas islands, the U.S Coast Guard has similar requirements for trash removal offshore.
All other trash here is burned. Being new to the San Blas, we weren't sure which beaches were acceptable for this, as all of the islands here are owned by Guna families, whether they are inhabited or not. Until we learned the rules of trash burning etiquette, Scott improvised.
Channeling his inner "MacGyver," Scott fashioned a rack from a wire coat hanger (I'm shocked that we had one on board, although he probably had it squirreled away for just such an occasion),and placed it in the bottom of an old varnish can. He punched holes in the bottom for air, and voila!, a burn can for the grill was born.
This would have been the perfect solution if we burned every day, or made less trash, but we do neither of these things. Instead, Scott would spent two hours or more burning everything from paper to an old pair of shorts.
Positive…our trash burned down to a tiny pile of ash. Negatives..it took hours, and we had to close up the saloon, to avoid being choked out from the smoke.
Luckily, or new-found cruiser friends invited us to join them for a trash burn run. We followed them about 20 minutes from the pool, to a beautiful spot, where they meet to burn trash. Fires are made near the waterline, so that high tide will wash away the leftover ash.
We soon realized that trash burning here is a social event. Once the trash has burned, and while we wait for the ashes to smolder and cool, it's time for bobbing with drinks in the clear blue water; now that's my idea of a day's work!
By the way, wearing some kind of shirt is a must in the water here (unless you're our friend, Sharda, who is blessed with skin from Trinidad!). I learned this the hard way, frying my shoulders and back from the reflection of the hot sun off of the water.
When we first arrived, there were few boats in the anchorage here, but during the weeks of Christmas and New Year's Eve. the numbers grew.
We enjoyed Christmas Day in two shifts. First, with dinner aboard s/v Sirena, and then dessert with friends on s/v Gris Gris. And of course, Christmas would not be complete without lights! We lugged along our holiday lights, and Sea Life was quite a festive sight in the anchorage (photo courtesy of s/v Sundowner).
Knowing no boat offered enough room for a group to gather for New Year's Eve., I put out the word for all cruisers interested to gather on a nearby beach, to ring in 2017. As luck would have it, the location was in perfect view of a fireworks display, set off by a nearby superyacht for their charter guests.
After enduring a stretch of windy weather in the pool, with the accompanying currents and insane salt spray, we decided to change locations for the next go-round. After the new year, we headed around the corner to the Hot Tub (yes, from the pool, to the hot tub..tough times).
With more protection from the winds, the water in "the tub" is much calmer, and the current much less strong. In addition to more beautiful views, the water is supposed to be warmer than in the pool, hence the name. However, we found it to be much cooler…ahhhh, refreshing.
Scott found a great honey hole around the corner, for catching lobster and Lionfish. They are invasive, so he tries to kill them whenever he can. Lionfish are also good eating, but challenging to clean, due to their poisonous dorsal fins.
Once again, Scott used lobster tails for bait, and attracted a huge Bob! He grabbed his pole spear, and shot it right from the cockpit, without even getting wet. Unfortunately, Big Bob did not go down without a fight, flopping and bleeding all over the cockpit when Scott removed the spear tip.
Scott delivered this massive fish to our friends, Jon and Shannon, on s/v Prism. They were waiting for a new dinghy motor, requiring them to row everywhere.
In case you're wondering, Howard is enjoying life in the San Blas. He keeps an eye on us from one of his favorite perches, up under the solar panels, and loves when the fish light goes in the water each night.
So our first few weeks in the San Blas were off to a great start. We made many new friends, and enjoyed the beautiful views. More to come, as we explore new anchorages. Here are more photos.
Scott's Bachelor Days
September 12, 2016 April 18, 2018 / kk42sealife	/ Leave a comment
While I was in Baltimore, Scott enjoyed some serious bachelor time. A conversation two weeks into my trip home went something like this:
Me: How is everything?
Scott: Ok, but the boat kinda smells.
Me: Have you done laundry? (keep in mind, I'd been gone for two weeks)
Scott: I'll probably do it tomorrow.
Me: Are you showering regularly?
Scott: Well, maybe not as regularly as society would like.
Me: Ok, so the laundry stinks, and you stink and therefor the bed sheets also stink. Maybe this the cause of said smell.
Scott: And I may not be rinsing the sink as good as I should, 'cause it kinda has a smell, too.
Me: Please pay someone to clean the boat before I come back.
Scott's answer to the squashing the smell? When I talked to him the next day, he'd sprayed some body spray into the air conditioning vents, so the smell would travel down into the stateroom. I told him I was actually fine with that, but to still do the laundry, and shower more often! Thankfully, when I came back, everything smelled and looked normal.
Pete, our neighbor across the pier, had to empty his fuel tanks for repairs. With nowhere to put it, and time getting short, he offered it to us…free of charge. Scott just had to get it from Pete's boat to ours.
After waiting in vain for the mechanic at the marina to help out with pumping the fuel, Scott went to town and bought 100 feet of hose, removed his pump from our engine room, assembled everything on the pier, and pumped 350 – 400 gallons of fuel from Pete's boat, across the pier and into our tanks.
Before beginning, Scott moved all of the fuel we had into one tank, just in case Pete's fuel wasn't the cleanest. As always, Scott filtered the fuel down to 10 microns as he pumped it, and said that it looked great. It was a bit of a hassle, but the process saved us approximately $1,000.00!
There were also several excursions on the Aluminum Princess while I was gone. Scott's first outing was to the Snyder Canal.
Bocas del Toro is home to Panama's first man-made canal. The Snyder Banana Company received permission from the Colombian government in 1899 to construct a canal from near Isla Colon to nearby Changuinola, in order to develop banana plantations on property recently obtained from the estate a German banana grower in the area.
There needed to be some way to transport banana bunches to ships waiting in Almirante bay, so construction of the the Snyder Canal began. The United Fruit Company purchased the Snyder Banana Company in 1899, and completed the canal 1903.
In addition to bananas, the canal was used to barge construction materials, supplies, bridge and steam locomotive parts and personnel to Changuinola. A telephone line was installed along the length of the canal, to communicate the control of heavy barge traffic.
Bridges and railroad systems were eventually built, connecting port facilities to plantations from Changuinola to the Costa Rican border 30 miles away.
By 1909, with the railroad system in place for transporting bananas to newly opened port facilities located on the mainland, the Synder Canal was declared obsolete and was abandoned.
Referred to as "the other Panama Canal," the Snyder Canal parallels the Caribbean coast, not far from Bocas del Toro. These days, the shoreline has grown into the canal in many spots, making for interesting travel. Scott also passed several local Indian homes on his journey.
As most of the land along canal is also fronts the Caribbean Sea (canal on one side, Caribbean Sea on the other), Scott noticed many investor signs along the way. It seems that they intend to eventually develop the shoreline here.
As the canal ends, the water opens up again, with field-like grasses on either side.
Scott next traveled the Rio Banano, a small, natural river nearby. Unlike the man-made canal, the Rio Banano is thick with mangroves. They crowd the shoreline, and hang down from above like tropical stalactites.
Scott navigated the twisting, turning path through the muddy, sediment-filled water. He hoped that his prop didn't snag anything along the way, not wanting to put his hand in the murky water to free it.
Scott loves a good day of exploring, and enjoyed discovering these two interesting waterways. Here are more photos of his Aluminum Princess excursions near Bocas.
Exploring Bocas del Toro By Water
August 9, 2016 April 18, 2018 / kk42sealife	/ 2 Comments
The country of Panama is an isthmus (a narrow strip of land with sea on either side, forming a link between two larger areas of land), bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. Bocas del Toro is located at the northwest end of Panama, near the border of Costa Rico.
Bocas del Toro Province is made up of an island chain off the Caribbean coast, and a section of nearby mainland. The archipelago separates Almirante Bay from the Caribbean Sea, and is made up of 10 islands. It was originally dubbed "the Galapagos of Panama" for its scores of biologically unique islands and islets. Our marina is on the main island of Isla Colon, where the capital, Bcocas Town is also located. The archipelago also includes 50 cays and some 200 tiny islets.
Not surprisingly, during the 17th century, the archipelago became a haven for pirates. They repaired ships on the islands, built others with wood from the forests and fed upon the many sea turtles in the area.
Gold was not plentiful in Bocas del Toro, so the Spaniards did not colonize the region with the same ruthlessness that was seen in other parts of Panama and the Caribbean.
From the 16th century to the mid-1800s, Bocas was little more than an uncharted frontier. Blazing sun, torrential rain, floods, bugs, landslides, and a plenty of feverish diseases made it pretty inhospitable (hmmm, aside from the landslides and diseases, sounds pretty familiar to us!). Later on, a little fishing village settled where Bocas Town is today.
In 1899, the United Fruit Company planted itself in Bocas town and over the next century that followed, it established vast plantations that stretched across the entire peninsula. Based in Bocas del Toro, the company rapidly expanded through Central and South America, constructing elaborate networks of roads, bridges and canals as well as entire towns and cities to house their workers.
However, one by one, plantations began to fall to a mysterious and deadly infection. "Panama disease" was a fungus that incubated in the soil and spread by floodwaters. By the 1920s, the banana plantations had died out.
During World War II, the Japanese cut off the world's supply of abaca, which is used to make Manila hemp, the raw fiber in rope. Unable to tie their warships, the U.S. government enlisted the United Fruit Compnay to grow abaca on an industrial scale, and Bocas del Toro was suddenly booming again.
Today, United Fruit is part of Chiquita Brands (based in Cincinnati), and their workers in Bocas del Toro Province grow and export three-quarters of a million tons of bananas annually.
Alright, enough historical tidbits….Now that the Aluminum Princess was in the water, and we'd made a dent in the to-do list, it was time for some exploring. Our first run was an hour-long ride along the shoreline of Bocas Town, just before sunset. Restaurants, hotels and homes in all conditions are crammed together, many built entirely over the water.
Carenero Island is just off of Isla Colon, and Bocas Town, so we took a spin past that shoreline next.
While perusing the piers of Marina Carenero (because Scott never tires of looking at boats), we noticed this interesting tenting over a boat having work done. It strapped right to the pier, providing a sturdy structure for the work being done inside.
On the other side of the island, as we motored close to some over-water houses, Scott caught sight of a Maryland registration sticker on a small sailboat that has seen better days; neglected boats make him sad.
A few days later we took a longer ride, heading around the corner from the marina and over to the small settlement of Saigon, which backs up to the far side of Bocas Town. Most all of these houses sit over the water, in all shapes and sizes.
Next it was on to Starfish Beach. We actually didn't see any starfish, just several interesting, low-key restaurants. We made a mental note for a future visit.
On our way back to the marina, we enjoyed views of the gorgeous clouds over the mountains of nearby Costa Rica.
Scott was concerned about leaving the Aluminum Princess in the water for days at a time, and set about devising a way to allow the bottom to dry. His answer? Tie off the bow of the Aluminum Princess to Sea Life's windlass, lifting it out of the water and up toward the pier. From there, Scott gave it a good heave, and hauled her out. It's quite a sight, but it works.
I'll be traveling back to the U.S., for a five week stay. While I am visiting friends and family at home, Scott has plans for several day-long excursions in the area. Here are many more photos of our first days exploring the waters of Bocas del Toro.
Sea Life's Web TV Debut!!
June 18, 2016 April 17, 2018 / kk42sealife	/ 2 Comments
Sea Life has debuted on the web! Our crusing buddy, Kevin, sent us a link to Cruiser TV, a new web tv show. The first episode features Isla Mjueres, and guess who's in the opening scenes (with the Aluminum Princess floating proudly behind her)?? Sea Life also appears clearly in the background during a later segment as well…howdya like that?!!
We'd heard that they were filming for the show when we were in Isla Mujeres, but had no idea that Sea Life would be in the footage!
The video is 26 minutes, and although it's not the best produced show on the net, it was neat for us to see Sea Life! She appears at about 35 seconds in, and again at about 2:05. Check it out!!
June 13, 2016 April 17, 2018 / kk42sealife	/ 1 Comment
When we visited Delmar on our golf buggy day, he invited us to return for rondón, a traditional African-Caribbean dish. It sounded like fun, and meant more coco locos, so we agreed to come back. After spreading the word around the anchorage a bit, we wound up with a group of ten. Delmar's place is "just around the corner" from the anchorage, so we were able to arrive by water.
We are unable to get off of the bow of Aluminum Princess, so while the inflatable dinghies pulled up onto the sand, Scott anchored us fore and aft.
We then waded to shore, and made our way across the beach and up the steps to Delmar's.
He immediately came to greet us, and made quick work of cutting coconuts, which he serves the coco locos in.
He was quite the one man show, serving us drinks, and another group food. We chatted and enjoyed the view, while waiting for our turn at rondón.
After doing a bit of research, I've learned that rodon is a soup made up of different types of seafood (fish, crabs, small lobsters or shellfish), with coconut milk, plantains, vegetables, peppers and spices. The word rondon comes from the words "run down", which refer to going down somewhere to look for vegetables or fruits for cooking the dish.
Rondón is a traditional dish shared by different countries, so the ingredients and spices vary from region to region. Our rondón meal was "interesting;" not the most flavorful meal I've ever had. Aside from a dumpling, plantains, and some kind of fish, it was hard to discern what else was on our plate (I'm fairly sure that it included a pig's tail).
Both the food and sauce were grayish in color, and it was very hard for me to get a knife through any of it it. Oh well, we try and be open to new things on this journey, and the drinks and views more than made up for it.
When it was our turn to eat, we all gathered around a large table under the palapa. Delmar played music for us while we ate. I think he enjoyed the break.
After dinner, the instruments came out, and Delmar and his friends entertained us.
As the sun set, some of our group made their way back to the anchorage, while Kevin and Marina and Scott and I stayed. Delmar built us a fire on the beach, and we enjoyed ourselves until way after dark.
Although it wasn't our favorite meal, our host, the atmosphere and of course the coco locos were great, and we can now check rondón off of our list! Here are a few photos.
Around The Corner To French Harbor
May 2, 2016 April 15, 2018 / kk42sealife	/ 2 Comments
On Friday morning, we left West End and came to the area known as French Harbor. The wind forecast wasn't the best (meaning we'd have head seas, no one's favorite), but waiting for something better would have meant five or six more days at West End.
French harbor offers, among other things, a large grocery store, an Ace Hardware, a marine store and very few tourists. So, we made a quick but fairly bumpy trip (Howard was not pleased) "around the corner," and along the southern coast of the island.
The rough ride was worth it, as we had decided to take a break from the sweltering temperatures and get a slip in French Harbor! Once we were out of the open ocean, I was able to take some pictures.
We made our way to Fantasy Island Resort & Marina. Timing was just right, as we were able to follow one of their dive boats through the reef, saving us the hassle of eye-balling our way.
Steve, the dock master, was there to catch our lines. He and his wife left Hawaii, bound for Annapolis, Md! When the dock master position presented itself, they accepted, and are now permanent marina residents. Steve helped us side-tie to the pier, which offers us terrific views from the boat.
The sound of breaking waves on the nearby reef is so loud, that you'd think we were anchored near a waterfall!
After plugging in and cooling off, we headed to the pavilion at dusk, where cruisers gather each evening. As we arrived, we were surprised to meet some of the marina locals…monkeys!! There had just been a bit of drama and screeching, that was quickly soothed by Steve's offering of peanuts.
There are three monkeys who live on Fantasy Island, two males and a female (the names currently escape me). We are told that the female does not like women, so I kept my distance as she ate her peanuts. Steve warned us to keep things like shoes and such inside our boat, because the monkeys will take them. Scott is fairly sure that they have already made off with one of the gloves he uses when bringing in our paravanes.
The beer and wine bar in the pavilion is self serve, with latches on the refrigerators to keep the monkeys out, of course. A book is provided, to tally drinks next to your boat name. Payment is on island time, made that evening, or the next, or at the end of the week or at the end of your stay. We enjoyed music and singing from another cruiser, and chatted with a few of our new neighbors.
In addition to the monkeys, there are roosters and iguanas roaming on the island. Howard spotted this huge guy climbing the tree right outside our boat.
There are also many agoutis. These animals look like a guinea pig and a rat mated. They aren't afraid of humans or noise, and wander the grounds (including the piers) freely as they look for food. Ick!
Howard is in "Wild Kingdom" heaven! The crying to get out began as soon as we tied up and he caught sight and smell of the grass. He was mesmerized by the agoutis.
We took him out to get some fresh air, and he immediately ran to the grass. After wandering around for a bit, he got right to chewing on the palm fronds.
As you can imagine, he did not want to leave the grass. Once inside, he showed his frustration by yelling at me and then biting my feet and ankles. Howard gets quite "sassy" when he doesn't get his way. However, it's not all bad for him. He gets daily walks, and enjoys watching the grass and trees for passing animals.
We spent all of Saturday washing the dirt and salt off of the boat. Scott spent hours pre-rinsing, and then we washed..and washed…and washed some more. Sea Life is a big girl, and the bath was much needed. We even washed the sides below the rub rail, turned the boat, and did the same on the other side. It was like a spa day for the old girl, and we could feel her breath a sigh of relief.
Yesterday, I started to reclaim the interior, that had been neglected once the heat and humidity kicked in. After a thorough vacuuming, cleaning of heads and general straightening, we enjoyed some time with Diane and Jeff, who are from the UK. They are just down the dock, and we invited them over to pick their brains for further information on Colombia, Panama and the Eastern Caribbean.
Today, Scott went into town with Jeff and Diane to visit Ace Hardware and some other stores. Since they left at high noon, I chose to stay behind and catch up on the blog, emailing and boat chores. Their dinghy has a small leak, so instead of pumping it back up, Scott fired up the Aluminum Princess and they all headed to the dock that's used to access town.
We plan to stay here for a bit, and use the marina as a home base while we explore the area. Here are more photos of our trip to French Harbor, and our first days at Fantasy Island.
Guanaja…It's SOO Pretty Here!
April 22, 2016 April 16, 2018 / kk42sealife	/ 2 Comments
The waters surrounding our anchorage off of Graham's Cay were beautifully clear.
Scott enjoyed many hours of exploring and snorkeling. By the way, the Aluminum Princess has recently been equipped with an oscillating fan (thank the Lord) and a rod holder…ain't she fancy!
In the evenings, Scott would drop his fish light off of the swim platform, providing hours of entertainment for Howard. The fish were so intriguing, that he eventually ended up hanging down and swatting the water…I couldn't watch.
We also took the Aluminum Princess over to Savannah Bight for a "drive by." Sitting opposite Graham's Cay, on mainland Guanaja, Savannah Bight is the larger of two main settlements on the island.
We all enjoyed the anchorage here, especially Howard, who spent much more time outside.
Here are some photos from our anchorage off of Graham's Cay.
Movin' Down Island
With the forecast calling for winds below 20 knots, we planned to move out of El Bight and farther down the coast yesterday morning. However, on our trip into Bonacca for some food and an ATM run, the winds appeared to have picked up instead.
The Aluminum Princess slogged through white caps and sizeable waves in the open waters between our anchorage and town. With Scott wanting to tow her behind us when we moved, and concern for a comfortable stay at anchor, we decided to wait until this morning to change our location.
However, as I worked in the cockpit late yesterday afternoon, I noticed that the towels drying on the line weren't whipping quite so violently (after getting slapped pretty good in the head by one earlier, I should know). Realizing that the winds had died down, I woke Scott from a nap, and we scurried to ready and go. It was only an hour ride to our next anchorage, but we liked the idea of waking up the next morning already settled.
We raised anchor and headed out of El Bight, around the corner and further down the coast of Guanaja. As always, the views did not disappoint along the way.
As planned, the Aluminum Princess tagged along behind for the ride. After a short and easy hour, we arrived at our next anchorage, off of Graham's Cay.
Graham Thompson runs a small resort on his island, appropriately called Graham's Place.
We'd already planned to visit, having heard great things from fellow cruisers. Most hotels and resorts, and some islands in general, aren't always welcoming to cruisers. Sometimes this is for good reason, but for the most part it's frustrating and unnecessary. In addition to him being friendly toward cruisers, we now have another reason to like and meet Graham.
Unfortunately, we had no luck with Mexican Fed Ex, and getting the compressor for our refrigerator through customs. At whits end, Scott got Defender involved, the company we ordered the parts from. After more back and forth with no clear instructions or reasoning on the issue, Scott told Fed Ex Mexico to send the stuff back.
He then received an email asking for his credit card number, to pay for "fees and storage." There was no cost given for said "fees and storage," and Scott replied that he did not intend to pay. He was through with the matter, having done what little they'd asked of him, with no result or explanation as to why.
Defender has been just as frustrated with the issue. They have someone who deals just with Fed Ex, and with international shipping, and can't get a resolution. Fed Ex Mexico wants Defender to pay 500.00 for return shipping. Defender has decided to just let the parts go, write it off and refund Scott his money (less original shipping). The company has been terrific to us the last few years, during our refit, and this is a true testament to their exceptional customer service, going above and beyond for Scott.
Ok, so we now turn to Honduras, and getting the stuff shipped there. I again reach out to our friend Louis, who is proving an invaluable resource. He suggested that I contact Graham Thompson, to ask how to proceed. A great idea; a local man, who could point me in the right direction.
It turns out that Graham didn't point at all. He quickly replied to my email, giving me the information for a shipping company based in Miami, that he and his son use for things that they cannot get locally. Once our parts are in Miami, we can choose to have them shipped via boat or plane, with his name on the package. When they arrive in Guanaja, Graham will be notified. He will pick up the items, pay the fees and we can reimburse him…hoo-RAY!
However, this stupid saga continues. When Scott called Defender to re-order his parts, he feared the sale price originally offered had ended. It indeed had, but they honored the sale price for him…of course. However, the parts are now on back order until the end of the month! This was disappointing to hear, as we know that there are perfectly good parts sitting in Merida, Mexico!
We plan to go ashore and say a big hello and thank you to Graham, as well as get final details before the parts come in to Defender and the order goes through. Since it will take weeks for that to happen, and for the stuff to arrive here, we plan to stay here a few days and then head on to Roatan. We'll stay there for a few weeks, and then return here to wait for our shipment. Neither location is a bad place to be stuck!
Here are a few photos from our short trip "down island."
Boats Big And Small…And Many Friendly People
April 18, 2016 April 12, 2018 / kk42sealife	/ 1 Comment
We are surprised at the amount of large, commercial boats that come and go from this area. In addition to the many commercial fishing boats that work the local waters, there are often larger ships loading and unloading goods. One ran aground recently, just behind where we're anchored. Two fishing boats helped to free it, before it headed south.
Since there are very few cars on the island, and the main town is only accessible by water, most locals seem to motor, or row where they need to go by boat.
Water taxis are also popular, ferrying both locals and the few tourists that visit back and forth.
Scott got the chance to use one recently, when the Aluminum Princess had a set back. We also discovered how great the locals, and our cruising friends are.
We were on our way to town for "shopping day," when the supply boat brings the weekly load of fresh fruits, vegetables and supplies. Scott went to increase our speed, and instead the motor revved up, but our speed remained the same.
Not wanting to get stuck in the choppy waters, we turned back and putted our way toward Sea Life. Whenever Scott tried to increase speed, the motor would again rev up, but not accelerate. He was almost certain that the bushing between the hub and the propeller had worn, allowing the motor to rev without engaging the prop. So it seems we needed a new propeller…the search began.
I started with emailing our friend, Louis. He was one of the first cruising friends we'd met in Isla Mujeres, and has spent much time here. I got a quick reply, telling us to find a local couple, Jim and Cathy. He described where there house was, and also told us to just ask anyone about where to find them. He also told us to see Hans, a German man who lives here on the beach (he also makes a mean pizza, more on that later).
We headed to shore, and stopped in to see Klaus and Annette, a friendly German couple who have been here for over 20 years, and run Manati bar. They also told us to go talk to Hans, so we walked the grass path, and over the bridge to see him.
Hans told us that he could "rig" the prop, but if we wanted a replacement, it should be available in town. Scott had already researched this, and had put in an email to the business he thought may have what we needed.
We stayed and enjoyed beer and conversation with Hans and others at his small bar, and then headed back to Manati. Annette and Klaus told us to stop by the next day, when they would help us call the store, just in case we got no email reply.
The next day, after our sweaty hike, we stopped into Manati, but found no one downstairs. Scott decided to give the email some more time, as we were still able to use the Aluminum Princess at a slow speed. A day later, we received an email reply. The place in town had what we needed…hurray! We were so happy not to have to order it!
That afternoon, a local panga boat made it's way to our swim platform. It was Louis' friends, Jim and Cathy! With all else going on, we'd forgotten to ask about them. It seems that Louis had emailed the couple about our situation, so they stopped by to see if we needed help. I think Scott wants to stay here permanently.
We stopped into Manati after our second hike, and found Klaus and Anntte sitting down to lunch. They had seen our boat tied to the pier the day before (we'd left it there to go and hike) , and went looking for us at Hans'. It seems that they'd called the store in town on their own, and were trying to let us know that the part was in stock. It's so nice to have so many people here look out for us.
I convinced Scott to take a water taxi to get the prop, instead of putting back and forth to town in the choppy water. He dropped me at the boat, and then went back to shore. Annette phoned a water taxi for him, and soon he was off to town in style.
With part in hand, Scott now wondered how he'd work on the motor while we were at anchor. When the Aluminum Princess is up on the flybridge, the motor hangs off the back. He thought of taking it to the pier at Manati, and backing it up into shallow water. Eventually, he came up with this "MacGyver" idea that worked great!
The prop went on in no time at all, and after a brief test drive (with turns that I will not allow when I'm onboard) the Aluminum Princess is back in business!
A few more boat photos.
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Lil Wayne's first major commercial since 2016, happens to be for Bumbu of Sovereign Brands
(CREDIT: Sovereign Brands).
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - Sovereign Brands is a family-owned, wine & spirits company based in "The Big Apple." Sovereign Brands is owned by the Berish family and partners that develop first-class superior brands. Sovereign Brands has an impressive portfolio of brands, such as, Luc Belaire, Cloud Chaser, Skeleton Wines, and Bumbu. Luc Belaire is the world's fastest growing French sparkling wine, and comes in a silkscreened, paperless bottle is that is sold in more than 100 countries. Cloud Chaser is perfect for al fresco summer meals, and comes in a slender pink bottle with painted labels. Skeleton is a food-friendly white wine, and comes from an award-winning winery in eastern Austria. Bumbu is based on a 400-year old recipe used merchants of the colonial West Indies, and packaged in a fragrance-quality glass bottle with an iconic tarnished metal "X" medallion.
Sovereign Brands announced this morning that Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., known professionally as Lil Wayne, an American multi-platinum selling gangster rapper, is starring in a hilarious new commercial for Bumbu. It's Lil Wayne's first major commercial since 2016, when his appearances for Samsung and Apartments.com went viral.
"Bumbu is a totally different kind of drink," says Lil Wayne. "I fell in love with the bottle and the taste the first time I tried it. Now it's Bumbu everywhere - in the studio, parties, the VIP. All my people are on this Bumbu now."
Brett Berish, CEO of Sovereign Brands, owner of Bumbu, says: "Bumbu is a small-batch, limited production rum and we've been fortunate to have more demand than supply since it was first released. Lil Wayne was one of the first people to see it and became one of our earliest supporters. As Bumbu has grown and we've been able to bring it to new places around the world, making a video with Wayne was a fun and easy choice for us. It's a perfect way to kick off our first-ever marketing campaign for this wonderful brand."
Adds Wayne, "Bumbu listens to the streets. You have to. Like my businesses, there's no outside agency speaking for Bumbu. This was a raw idea that made us laugh out loud. We had fun doing it. And that's really what separates Bumbu as an independent company…. probably why we get along so well!"

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


This is a story from Jataka Tales about two merchants, and is known as The Merchant of Seri or The Story of Two Merchants.
The story goes as follows: once upon a time, there were two merchants in a village. One of them was kind hearted and honest, while the other was short tempered and greedy. One day, both traveled to a nearby town to sell their wares. They separately met an old woman and her grand daughter. The old woman had a plate made of gold. Both the merchants made an offer to the woman for the plate. Whose offer did the old woman accept? Listen to this story to learn more.
This story has been revised and rewritten by Amar Vyas and narrated by Sheerali Biju for gaatha story. We will shortly publish this story on Myths, Legends and Fairytales of India.
Visit gaathastory.com/subscribe to learn how you can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify,Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Saavn, Castbox,TuneIn, and many other fine websites and apps where you listen to podcast.


238 ACRE FARM IN PETERSHAM!
Fantastic opportunity to own over 238 ACRES on Chimney Hill in historic Petersham! Over 30 acres of hayfields, brooks, bridges, and serene woodlands. A picturesque 36x108 barn with gambrel roof trusses, 3 garage doors, and includes a 24x24 milk room.
The barn has electricity, 6 stalls, a deep well, and an older septic system. Over 5200 feet of frontage on East St and Quaker Rd.


Prayer is not the right thing; the right thing is to meditate.
Mulla Nasrudin once staggered from a train, his complexion very white. I had gone to the station to receive him. "Riding backwards for ten hours," he explained, "I never could stand that." "Why," I inquired, "didn't you ask the person sitting opposite to change seats with you?" "I could not do that." said the Mulla. "There wasn't anybody there."
There is nobody in the sky to listen to your prayers. Whatsoever you want to do, do. There is nobody who is going to give you permission to do it. Whatsoever you want to be, be. There is nobody you have to look to for the permission.
Existence is free and available. This is the understanding of yoga: that existence is available to everybody. Whatsoever you want to be, you can be. Everything is ready. Don't wait for anybody's permission because there is nobody. The opposite seat is vacant -- if you want to sit, you can sit on it.
Mulla looks absurd, ridiculous, but that's what the whole of humanity has been doing for centuries looking at the sky, asking permission, praying -- to somebody who is not there. Prayer is not the right thing; the right thing is to meditate. And what is the difference? When you pray you have to believe in someone who is listening to your prayer. When you meditate you meditate alone. In prayer the other is required; in meditation you alone are enough.
Yoga is meditative. It has no place for prayer, because it has no place for God. It has no place for any childish notions about God.


Macron new technical sponsor of Bahrain Football Association!
2018-12-23	Asia, Kits Comments Off on Macron new technical sponsor of Bahrain Football Association!
Macron & Levante UD extend contract until 2022!
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Macron & PAOK FC announce partnership renewal until 2023!
2018-12-21	Europe, Kits Comments Off on Macron & PAOK FC announce partnership renewal until 2023!
Macron named as new Technical Sponsor of Swiss side FC Thun!
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Piacenza Calcio & Macron present the centenary shirt!
2018-11-26	Italy, Kits Comments Off on Piacenza Calcio & Macron present the centenary shirt!
Small European FA's proud of new kits thanks to UEFA's Kit Assistance Scheme!
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Marguerite Rogers
TURNINGPOINT SELECTED FOR $40 MILLION CONTRACT FOR MEDICARE FRAUD DETECTION AND PREVENTION
Rockville, MD – July 5, 2012 – TurningPoint Global Solutions, a software engineering and Information Technology (IT) professional services firm, announced that it was awarded a contract by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) Center for Program Integrity (CPI) to help reduce fraud, waste, abuse, and errors in the Medicare program through the implementation of an Automated Provider Screening solution.
"Detecting and preventing health care fraud is one of the top priorities for the Federal government, and we are pleased be part of this important effort," explained Michael Edwards, TurningPoint's Vice President of Federal Delivery.
CMS CPI has launched the National Fraud Prevention Program (NFPP), of which this contract initiative is a key component, is focused on developing an enhanced process and set of tools for provider enrollment and registration that provide a long-term, sustainable approach and leverages leading edge technologies to identify fraudulent providers before they can get in the system.
On this engagement, the TurningPoint Team includes subcontractors National Government Services (NGS) and Booz Allen Hamilton. TurningPoint has previously partnered with NGS and Booz Allen Hamilton in delivering innovative solutions to the Federal government.
TurningPoint will deliver automated and expanded screening mechanisms to verify and validate enrollment information prior to enrolling every Part A and B provider or supplier and then continuously through the tenure of that provider's enrollment in Medicare. TurningPoint's solution involves the integrated use of customized Extract, Transform and Load (ETL) technology, an Expert System based Scoring Engine, and IBM's Master Data Management (MDM) application to merge, individualize, normalize, standardize, augment, and assign a Risk Score to provider enrollment data.
"TurningPoint's experience with the Medicare program as well as our proven successes in data verification and validation are critical for this work," added Mr. Edwards.
The contract includes a base year and four one-year option periods. The total value of the contract, including all option periods, is estimated at over $40 million.
ABOUT TURNINGPOINT GLOBAL SOLUTIONS
Headquartered in Rockville, MD, TurningPoint is a CMMI Maturity Level 3 independently appraised software engineering professional services firm that serves a diversified group of commercial and government customers, enabling them to generate value from their IT investments. TurningPoint achieves these results through the successful planning, development, integration, and maintenance of IT solutions and by driving operational efficiencies into infrastructure operations. TurningPoint's focus is on providing high availability business applications that improve bottom-line results by streamlining high-transaction-volume, mission-critical business processes. For more information, visit www.tpgsi.com.
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← Chester children visit the White House – News from Chester Eastside, Inc.
Help them spend those summer days the way they were meant to be spent – an appeal from Chester Eastside, Inc.
The Summer Enrichment Camp is about a lot more than children's fears. It opens new horizons – experiences like learning to swim and exploring museums. One can see children responding as their world opens up beyond their immediate surroundings.
It's also a time for them to appreciate ways in which they can impact on that world. Last summer's theme, "My city needs something – and it starts with you and me," resonated with the young campers, as reflected in the original poems some wrote.
You can be part of that awakening experience. A small investment can pay rich dividends that go on for years. By contributing $220, you can pay the cost of giving one child that summer camp experience. $300.00 will cover the cost of one bus to take our children on local trips. $500.00 will allow us to pay a stipend to an art teacher to work one day a week for four (4) weeks.
So please consider making a donation (tax deductible) to ensure that our camp is fully funded and that our children receive the best enrichment and educational opportunities possible.


For many years now, the Rolex Submariner has become the most popular Rolex model the world over, and here is great looking 2002 Rolex Submariner model 16610 that is in such good condition and will never let you down no matter where you are. For over 50 years the Rolex Submariner has become synonymous with a strong and robust divers watch, capable of going to great depths and even today the Rolex Submariner retains that original tradition of being a superb divers watch, all the while looking as good above water as it does under. Fitted in the traditional and comfortable 40mm case, it is fitted with the Rolex Triplock screw down crown and sapphire crystal for superb durability, and with the easy to read dial is such a practical all round watch to wear all the time. Inside is the tried and tested 31 jewelled Rolex automatic calibre 3135 that keeps perfect time and comes with our twelve month warranty. In great condition, this stainless steel Rolex Submariner is just perfect to put on and leave on all the time. Stock# W937cc Maker: Rolex Model: Rolex Submariner reference 16610 Circa: 2002 $Sold.


This system uses continuous loop recording. Loop recording means the camera continuously records without stopping. This loop is saved in 10 minute intervals until the memory card is full. At this point the unit will record over the oldest file.
Copyright PhaZZer Global, Inc.. All Rights Reserved.


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Duvall, Albies power Braves to 8-4 triumph over Nationals
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Kyle Wright throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals in Washington, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Adam Duvall and Ozzie Albies each hit a two-run homer off a laboring Max Scherzer, and the Atlanta Braves rallied past the Washington Nationals 8-4 on Sunday.
Kyle Wright pitched six innings for his first major league win, helping Atlanta take three of four from Washington.
The Nationals carried a 4-2 lead into the sixth, and Scherzer had already thrown 104 pitches. Manager Dave Martinez sent the three-time Cy Young Award winner out to start the inning, and stuck with him after Dansby Swanson flied out and Nick Markakis singled.
Two pitches later, Duvall blasted his major league-leading ninth homer in September. The drive to deep center was his 14th homer overall this season.
Martinez still didn't change pitchers, and Austin Riley looped a single to right before Albies lashed his third homer to center.
"I had an extra day coming into the start, got two extra days coming up, bullpen's been taxed, threw five innings, I'm thinking there I need to get through the sixth inning," Scherzer said. "We got three of the four right-handed hitters coming up, that's an opportunity for me to go out there and try to get through that inning. There's no reason why I should come out of the game after the fifth inning."
Scherzer (4-3) struck out 10 while throwing 119 pitches in 5 1/3 innings. He allowed six runs for the first time since yielding seven against Miami on April 20, 2019.
"We get to the sixth inning and it was all about location that inning," Martinez said. "He's our ace. And when you have these conversations and you're watching him and he says he feels good, for me, who else do you want out there in the sixth inning?"
Wright (1-4), who was 0-7 with a 7.86 ERA in 16 career appearances before Sunday, allowed three earned runs and eight hits.
"It took a lot longer than expected," Wright said of his first victory. "I felt like I kind of got away from myself a little bit. Now I'm slowly getting back to where I need to be. I still have a long way to go, but I definitely like the way I am trending."
The 24-year-old had pitched more than four innings just once in his five previous starts in 2020.
"He's experiencing things and he's figuring himself out," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "It's really good. I've had multiple talks with him about how good his stuff is. How good he can be. He doesn't have to take a backseat to anybody and you saw it today."
Atlanta added two insurance runs in the ninth on Marcell Ozuna's RBI single and Travis d'Arnaud's fielder's choice grounder.
Four Braves relievers combined for three shutout innings of relief. Atlanta improved to 21-0 this season when leading after six innings, while Washington fell to 0-21 when trailing after six innings.
"We've gotten some really positive things that happened these last four days here, with the rotation, getting Ozzie back," Snitker said. "I like where we're at. Bullpen, it was good to see those guys step up today. We had a bunch of main-line guys down we've been counting on a lot in the bullpen and those guys did a great job piecing that thing together."
Asdrubal Cabrera hit his sixth homer of the year for Washington.
Braves: LHP Cole Hamels (triceps tendinitis) is listed as the starter for Wednesday's game at Baltimore. Hamels has not pitched since agreeing to a one-year contract in the offseason.
Nationals: OF Adam Eaton, who was scratched from Saturday's lineup with back spasms, led off in the series finale. He was 2 for 4 with a walk and a stolen base.
SUNDAY FUN DAY
Atlanta improved to 8-1 on Sundays this season. It has outscored opponents 69-25 on Sundays.
Braves: RHP Touki Toussaint (0-1, 7.89 ERA) faces Baltimore for the first time as Atlanta continues its road trip by opening a three-game series Monday against the Orioles.
Nationals: Washington begins its final road trip of the season Tuesday when it opens a two-game series at Tampa Bay. RHP Anibal Sanchez (2-4, 6.34 ERA) makes the start for the Nationals.
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports


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December 24, 2015 Tom ChildsLeave a Comment on Blast From The Past – Week 16
Blast From The Past – Week 16
October 22nd 1978: Kansas City Chiefs 17 – Cleveland Browns 3
The Chiefs put up a dismal showing in 1977, with a 2 and 12 record in the last 14 game season before the NFL moved to the current 16 game schedule – the silver lining being the high draft pick which picked up star defensive end Art Still. 1978 didn't start much better, with frustrating defeats to Denver, Houston and Tampa Bay meaning the Chiefs were at a lowly 1 and 6 when the next home game came around.
The Cleveland Browns had won 4 games so far and were comfortable favourites with the Vegas bookies to win at Arrowhead. However a grinding performance by Kansas City – in which they held their opponents to the fewest yards of any of that season's game – sent the fans home happy for once!
It wasn't a day for passing. Chiefs QB Mike Livingston completed only 8 passes, for 57 yards – but at the same time we held the Browns to only 67 yards of their own through the air. This was a day for pounding it home on the ground, and two Chiefs running backs combined to do the damage.
Tony Reed's 97 yards made him the day's top rusher. Reed spent the whole of his 5 year NFL career with the Chiefs, and 1978 was his best year, with over 1,000 rushing yards to go with 6 touchdowns. He didn't score in this game (though he scored a touchdown against the Browns when the teams met the following season.
After a quiet opening quarter, where both teams got on the scoreboard with a field goal, the man who would make the difference on the day was Arnold Morgado. Morgado, a Hawaiian, had played college football at Michigan State, but had transferred to Honolulu University because he was homesick. He was way off the football radar and went undrafted, before being given a chance on special teams by the Chiefs. He ended up playing 50 games over four seasons and scoring 16 touchdowns – two were in this game. Late in the first half he rounded off a drive with an 8 yard run. Then, after a scoreless third quarter, he got home from even shorter range in the fourth quarter to clinch the game.
Morgado had a knack of scoring pairs: he got two touchdowns in a game against the Chargers later the same season, two more against the Raiders in 1979, and another two against the St Louis Cardinals in 1980, to help the team back from a ten-point deficit to seal a cross-state victory.
Despite this gutsy win, the Chiefs then went on to lose their next four games, as the season drifted away, and finished 4-12. Once again, the silver lining was another high draft pick, and another great defensive end – this time Mike Bell.
Elsewhere in the NFL at the time:
The Houston Oilers, led by the great Earl Campbell's three rushing touchdowns, went on the road and beat the Steelers at Three Rivers stadium – but Pittsburgh would have the last laugh, heading to a 14-2 record for the season and a win over the Dallas Cowboys in Superbowl XIII.
Elsewhere in the world:
In the USA, Jimmy Carter signed into law the legalisation of home brewing. Meanwhile on this side of the pond, Liverpool Cathedral – the longest cathedral in the world – is finally completed, work having started way back in 1904!
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Acts of Faith
Jesuits name priests 'credibly accused'of sexually abusing children, including in D.C. area
By Julie Zauzmer and
Julie Zauzmer
Reporter covering religion, faith and spirituality
Marisa Iati
The Maryland Province Jesuits, a Catholic religious order with clergy serving throughout the Washington area and across eight states, released a list Monday of priests in the order who have been "credibly accused" of sexually abusing children since the 1950s.
The men accused of sexually abusing minors worked for decades in high schools, including Gonzaga College High School in the District; in colleges, including St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia, the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania, Wake Forest University in North Carolina and several more; at Georgetown University's hospital; at churches in the District and Baltimore; and other institutions.
One Jesuit priest, Neil P. McLaughlin, is believed to have abused children from the 1950s to the 1980s. Accusations came in from Pennsylvania, Maryland, Georgia, Massachusetts and New York. McLaughlin was removed from ministry in 2007.
[Read the list of accused priests]
Much of the abuse detailed in the reports dates back more than half a century. But other accusations are much more recent, and the list reveals that some of the Jesuit priests were not removed from ministry until well after 2002, when the Boston Globe published its expose of abuse in the church and the U.S. Catholic bishops committed to rooting out abusive priests.
The admission by the Jesuit order, which is widely known for educating youths in its high schools and colleges, comes at a time when Catholic institutions are under tremendous pressure to respond more transparently to claims of sexual abuse by priests.
Religious orders -- including the Jesuits, the Catholic church's largest male order with almost 17,000 priests and brothers around the world -- have been particularly criticized by victims' advocates for their opacity. Of about 48,500 priests nationwide, about 31 percent are from religious orders, and the other 69 percent are from dioceses, according to the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, a research center at Georgetown University.
In October, the major umbrella organization for male orders urged the groups to publish names of their accused members, and on Monday, the Maryland Province Jesuits named five living Jesuits, three who left the order after being accused of misconduct, and five who have died.
"We are deeply sorry for the harm we have caused to victims and their families. We also apologize for participating in the harm that abuse has done to our Church, a Church that we love and that preaches God's care for all, especially the most vulnerable among us," the Rev. Robert M. Hussey, leader of the Maryland Province Jesuits, wrote in a letter accompanying the detailed list of names and accusations. "The People of God have suffered, and they rightly demand transparency and accountability. We hope that this disclosure of names will contribute to reconciliation and healing."
The list did not state when these crimes were first reported by the victims to Jesuit leaders; some victims came forward long after the incidents occurred. Nor did it detail reports to police. It was unclear whether some of the priests named on the list were ever reported by the Jesuits to law enforcement. Mike Gabriele, a spokesman for the province, said that the province only automatically reports an accusation to authorities if the victim is still a minor when he or she reports the abuse.
If the victim is already an adult, Gabriele said, the province's response varies by state. The Maryland province covers territory from Pennsylvania to Georgia.
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The Jesuit order has long been respected for its emphasis on education; Jesuit priests run some of the country's oldest and most prominent Catholic secondary schools and universities. After the Conference of Major Superiors of Men, the umbrella organization for religious orders, urged orders to release accused priests' names, and after victims' groups highlighted the lack of transparency from orders in a letter to U.S. ambassador to the Vatican Callista Gingrich last month, the Jesuits started publishing names.
First the West Province and the Central and Southern Province released names on Dec. 7. The Northeast Province, which stretches from New Jersey to Maine, said it will publish names on Jan. 15.
Terry McKiernan, co-director of the organization Bishop Accountability that tracks the Catholic church's response to abuse, said the Jesuit provinces are ahead of other religious orders. One province each of the Benedictine, Capuchin, Crosier, Christian Brothers and Oblates of Mary Immaculate orders also have published lists of credibly accused members, he said.
"What the Jesuits are doing now, they're out in front of the other religious orders, definitely," McKiernan said. "And that's a positive thing." But he said the Jesuits' list on Monday should have included more detail, including the number of victims in each case.
Becky Ianni, a leader of the victims' advocacy group SNAP in Virginia, said that survivors find "validation" when such lists are made public. "But that validation and healing might have come years ago.... How many years could these victims have found validation, much sooner than today?"
Ianni pointed out that the religious orders have escaped some of the accountability currently facing dioceses across the country, which have been subpoenaed by attorneys general in numerous states who are investigating crimes by their local clergy in light of Pennsylvania's groundbreaking statewide report on abuse there.
Five Jesuits identified in the Maryland Province's report at one time were associated with Georgetown Preparatory School in Montgomery County. Md. Gary Orr, a Jesuit who worked at Georgetown Prep from 1977 to 1980 and from 1989 to 2004, was reported by school authorities to police after the accusations were made in 2003. He was sentenced to five years of supervised probation after he pled guilty in 2011 to two counts of sexual offense. Orr, who left the Jesuits, is a registered sex offender.
"I cannot express strongly enough on behalf of this institution and of the Society of Jesus my deepest apology and contrition to those whom we failed," school president Rev. James Van Dyke wrote in a letter to parents about the accused priests. "I am grateful to those who came forward; that is an extraordinarily difficult task, I know, on so many levels — moral, spiritual, and psychological. I can only say to you that your painful honesty about what you experienced has made the rest of us aware of a problem — a deeply-rooted problem that afflicts all human institutions — that we all must acknowledge and face."
[Arrest at prominent D.C. parish puts spotlight on Catholic religious orders]
On the Maryland Province's list, two of the five living priests who are still in the Jesuit order were removed from ministry in the 1990s: Michael L. Barber pleaded guilty in 1994 to a sexual offense that the order believes occurred that year, and was removed from ministry the same year. Another priest, William J. Walsh, was accused of abusing children in the District, in Prince George's County in Maryland, and in Pennsylvania, from the 1950s to the 1980s, and was removed from ministry in 1996.
But others were not removed from ministry until well after the Catholic Church implemented policies designed to root out abusive priests in the early 2000s. The U.S. Catholic bishops' procedures for responding to abuse, written after the 2002 scandal, focused on diocesan priests, who are assigned geographically. Recently, many victims' advocates have worried that the procedures don't adequately address members of religious orders because they do not report directly to local bishops.
One of the priests, J-Glenn Murray was accused of abuse that happened once around 1981 but was not removed from ministry until 2011. Claude L. Ory faced multiple allegations of sexual abuse, probably in his time in Louisiana working at a Jesuit high school in the 1970s, and was not removed from ministry until 2007.
The Maryland province said that today, all five men are "living in a restricted environment on a safety plan." Gabriele did not go into detail about what that plan entails, but said that the men are confined to Jesuit residential community and are not permitted to be near minors.
In three cases of living priests on the list, Jesuits were accused and removed from ministry, then chose to leave the order. Those three men -- Orr, H. Cornell Bradley and Louis A. Bonacci -- are now living as private citizens. But in the cases of the other five living priests, even after the Jesuits barred them from practicing ministry in churches or otherwise acting as religious leaders, the order retains its agreement to provide the men with housing and care.
In the Jesuit's Oregon province, at least 20 accused priests were housed on the campus of Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, the Center for Investigative Reporting said in a report this week,. The Maryland province did not say where the five men living "in a restricted environment" are housed on the east coast.
The province also listed six more priests who had been accused of sexual abuse but could not be fully investigated, sometimes because the priest had died. In those cases, the order said there was "a reasonable possibility (semblance of truth) that the alleged offense occurred."
[Four months after McCarrick's resignation, silence from the Vatican on his fate]
The Maryland province, which oversees a large number of high schools and colleges, noted that five Jesuits who have been publicly included on lists of accused priests published by other provinces across the country also served in churches, schools or other institutions in the Maryland province at some point, and five more studied in the province.
Among the five priests who have died, three were removed from ministry before their deaths -- C. Jeffries Burton, Charles G. Coyle and Stephen M. Garrity.
John H. Duggan, accused of numerous sexual offenses over a span of more than 30 years, died in 2004 without facing consequences in the church or in court. Francis C. Bourbon, accused of an unwanted kiss in 1985, died in 2007 without being removed from ministry.
In the wake of a Pennsylvania grand jury report in August that named more than 300 accused priests in the state and brought renewed attention to sexual abuse by Catholic clergy, dioceses across the country and some religious orders such as the Jesuits have published lists in recent months of credibly accused priests. That includes the Archdiocese of Washington, where Cardinal Donald Wuerl stepped down in October amid furor about his handling of abusive priests in the past — and where religious orders are under new scrutiny. At Washington's Sacred Heart parish, a prominent congregation run by the Capuchin order, a priest was arrested recently on charges he abused teenage girls.
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The Bureau of Economic Analysis of the US Department of Commerce released on January 30 its initial estimate (what it formally calls its "advance" estimate) of US GDP growth in the fourth quarter of 2012. The result was terrible: GDP is estimated to have declined by a slight amount (0.1% at an annual rate). While it is possible that this estimate will be revised upwards as the second and third revisions are released next month and the month after (there has historically been an upward revision on average of 0.3% points from the advance estimate to the third, and there was a particularly large upward revision in the 2012Q3 figures between the advance and third estimates), fourth quarter growth will still likely be disappointingly low.
The primary cause of the stagnation of GDP in the fourth quarter was a sharp cut in government spending. As shown in the table above, total government spending on goods and services (federal, state, and local) fell at an annualized 6.6% rate in the quarter. This had the direct impact of subtracting 1.33% points from what GDP growth would otherwise have been. But there will also be an indirect impact, as workers who would have been employed producing goods and services for government would in turn buy goods and services themselves with the salaries they would have received. With a multiplier of just two, the impact of the cut in government spending in the fourth quarter was a subtraction of 2.66% points (2 x 1.33% points) from what growth would have been.
Most of the decline in government spending was due to a large fall in spending at the federal level, although state and local spending fell some as well. Federal government spending fell at an annualized rate of 15%, all due to a fall in defense spending at an annualized rate of 22%. These declines more than offset increases of an estimated 9.5% and 13% in total federal and in defense spending respectively in the third quarter, which had contributed to the relatively good GDP growth of 3.1% in that quarter. The swings were likely due to end of the fiscal year spending (the federal fiscal year ends September 30) which was particularly sharp last year and therefore not picked up in the normal seasonal adjustment calculations. The fall in the fourth quarter of 2012 (the first quarter of the fiscal year) reflected the continued budget uncertainty, as Congress threatens to slash the current budget drastically, either by design or through the automatic sequester cut-backs dictated as part of the agreement to get out of the debt ceiling debacle in 2011, that might be instituted soon (see below).
The fall in government spending in the fourth quarter was particularly sharp, but government spending has been falling in each quarter but two since the beginning of 2010. The resulting fiscal drag has held back growth. The figures are shown in the graph at the top of this blog. The graph shows the rate of growth of GDP each quarter (in blue, at annualized rates) since the beginning of 2007, plus the direct contribution to this growth each quarter from government expenditures (in red).
Government spending rose each quarter in 2007 and 2008, the last two years of the Bush Administration, and this continued into 2009 after Obama was inaugurated. The growth in government expenditures was particularly sharp in the second quarter of 2009 as the stimulus measures started, and this succeeded in turning around GDP. GDP was falling at an annualized rate of 8.9% in the fourth quarter of 2008, and this carried over into the first quarter of 2009 with an annualized fall of 5.3%. But then GDP stabilized and began to grow in the third quarter of 2009, and it has grown each quarter since until the fourth quarter of 2012.
But GDP growth since 2010 has been disappointingly modest, at rates of just 2 to 3% a year on average (with some quarterly fluctuation), as it has been dragged down by the falling government expenditures over this period. As has been noted in earlier postings on this blog (for example here and here), the resulting fiscal drag can explain fully why this recovery has been modest in comparison to the recoveries seen in previous downturns in the US economy over the past four decades.
The other major factor explaining the stagnation of GDP in the fourth quarter was the negative contribution from inventory accumulation. The change in private inventories led to 1.27% points being subtracted from what GDP growth otherwise would have been. But as was explained in an Econ 101 posting on this blog, it is the change in the change in private inventory accumulation which acts to contribute to (or subtract from) GDP growth in any given period.
One sees news reports that still get this wrong, with statements such as that inventories fell by $40 billion in the fourth quarter. This is not correct. As noted in the table above, inventories actually grew by $20 billion in the fourth quarter. But they grew by more (by $60 billion) in the third quarter. That is, the change (the growth) in inventories was $60 billion in the third quarter, while the change (the growth) in inventories was again positive at $20 billion in the fourth quarter. But while they continued to grow, they did not grow as fast as before, and the change in the change in inventories was a negative $40 billion. This subtracted 1.27% points from GDP growth.
As was noted a year ago on this blog when the figures for GDP growth in the fourth quarter of 2011 were released, an increase in private inventory accumulation in that quarter largely explained the relatively good growth rate of that quarter. But I argued this would then likely be reversed, with inventories not growing as fast and perhaps even declining, which would act as a drag on growth in 2012. The 2012 figures now out show that this in fact happened, with a negative contribution of private inventory accumulation to GDP growth in the first, second, and fourth quarters.
Non-residential fixed investment (basically private business investment in capital and structures) also grew at a good rate in the fourth quarter, at 8.4% annualized, reversing a small decline seen in the third quarter. And personal consumption expenditure rose at a 2.2% rate. Since personal consumption accounts for 71% of GDP spending, this 2.2% increase contributed 1.52% points to what GDP growth would have been.
The fourth quarter GDP report therefore would have been solid, had it not been for the sharp cuts in government spending in the quarter. Accumulation of private inventories then responds, as businesses do not want to see inventories mounting up on the shelves when they cannot be sold and scale back production (or in the fourth quarter, still increase their inventories, but not by as much as before).
The danger to the economy now is that government spending will be scaled back even further, as a Republican controlled Congress insists on slashing public expenditures. If nothing is agreed to, then the sequesters that Congress required in August 2011 as a condition for the debt ceiling increase (so that the US would not then be forced to default) will mandate a sharp scaling back in federal government expenditures. While the deadline for this was pushed back to March 1 from January 1 as part of the fiscal cliff agreement at the end of 2012, there is still a deadline. The nonpartisan Center on Budget and Policy Priorities has estimated in a recent report that should the sequester enter into effect on March 1, defense spending would be cut by $42.7 billion, or 7.3%, while non-defense spending would be cut by also $42.7 billion, or 5.1% for programs included other than Medicare (Medicare would be cut by 2.0%).
Such cuts, especially if they suddenly enter into effect on March 1, would be devastating to the economy. Note that while federal spending already fell by 15% at an annualized rate in the fourth quarter, this fall at a quarterly rate is just 3.6%. The sudden cuts under the sequester would be far larger.
Almost all of the participants in this budget process, both Democrat and Republican, agree that the sequester is something to be avoided. The sequester requirement was in fact set up precisely as something both sides would want to avoid, so that agreement would be reached on some other budget plan. But Republicans are insisting on similarly large cuts in any budget. They simply wish that the cuts would fall more on domestic programs affecting the poor and middle classes, and less on the military. But economically the problem for GDP growth would remain if similarly sized cuts are forced through, and would indeed be worse (in terms of the impact on GDP, even ignoring the distributional consequences) if they are re-focused on programs for the poor and middle classes.
And inflation in the fourth quarter of 2012 was even less, at just 0.6% for the GDP deflator and 1.2% for the personal consumption expenditures deflator. The prediction of both conservative economists and politicians that high deficits under Obama would lead to high inflation unless government expenditures were slashed drastically, could not have been more wrong.
This entry was posted in GDP & Productivity and tagged economic growth, GDP, government spending, private inventories by aneconomicsense. Bookmark the permalink.


What Does President Obama Want For His Kids?
A few weeks ago, President Obama offered some inspiring remarks about what he wants for his kids, the sort of remarks we heard on during the '08 primaries, but sadly, not much since. Nevertheless, I am glad to see this voice return on this, and other important issues such as the social safety net.
Maybe his voice will begin to include arts education again, and even better, maybe some arts education friendly policies might appear thereafter.
Too often what we've been doing is using these tests to punish students or to, in some cases, punish schools. And so what we've said is let's find a test that everybody agrees makes sense; let's apply it in a less pressured-packed atmosphere; let's figure out whether we have to do it every year or whether we can do it maybe every several years; and let's make sure that that's not the only way we're judging whether a school is doing well.


Sports and fitness have been central parts of my life for as long as I can remember. I started a career in athletics at a young age by participating in multiple sports including soccer. After graduating high-school, I went on to play Division 1 college soccer at the University of Central Florida. At UCF, I ended my career as an All-American and ranked in record books for all-time stats and seasonal categories. I continued to pursue my career in soccer while playing professionally in Florida and Connecticut.
I spent time coaching at various institutions such as my alma mater and the Florida Institute of Technology. I took my first full-time coaching position at St. Andrews Presbyterian College, followed by a five year stint at Youngstown State University where I rose through the ranks to become an Associate Head Coach. After YSU, I moved on to Florida Atlantic University where I continued to help young women soccer players get to the next level and compete for Conference Championships.
After a fulfilling, nine-year career in college coaching I decided to change paths and embark on a new journey in the health and fitness industry which led me to Forte Fitness. We are all a part of a wonderful community of people here at Forte Fitness that helps empower one another while providing support, resources and accountability through healthy lifestyle choices.
Here at Forte Fitness, we are a place without ego or judgment. It's a place where people are challenged to become the best version of themselves and who strive to make each day better than the last. We're more than just fitness. We truly care about our clients and approach success from a whole perspective. We give our clients ALL of the tools they need to be successful and then hold them accountable to reach their goals.
Forte Fitness has had the privilege of working with hundreds of people in Central Florida and have helped them to lose hundreds of pounds of fat and shed not only weight, but help them transform into strong and empowered people.
I am excited to lead a community that is conducive to helping you become healthier than you have ever imagined. Join us and be a part of an energetic environment of like-minded people that are on the same path to a lifetime of optimal health and wellness. I look forward to meeting you soon!


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PosterLad: Award-winning project boasts posters inspired by '90s graphics, VHS packaging, and Bauhaus
Written by Katy Cowan on 7 October 2020
Taking inspiration from old VHS packaging, '90s graphics and retro culture, together with a strong influence of Bauhaus, this growing series of poster designs by Czech designer Vratislav Pecka is proving ever-popular with the creative community.
A winner of an A' Design Award in 2019 and German Design Award this year – along with huge popularity on Instagram – PosterLad is a side passion project which began in 2016, hoping to "reinvent the perception of posters". Today, it's a profitable venture with posters available to purchase online and shipped across the world.
"A poster does not have to always promote – a product or an event," says Vratislav. "Instead, the designer is using the medium to express his design ideas and unique thinking in terms of approaching poster design as fine art."
Vratislav mainly uses simple shapes, geometrically aligned layouts or organically shaped lines and vivid colours in his poster designs. "It's all about pleasing the viewer's eye," he adds. "Because the world needs good looking things."
Based in Amsterdam, Vratislav studied video editing and animation before moving into the world of graphic design. He freelanced for more than a decade before setting up his own studio with his sister. His side project, PosterLad, began a few years later and has become the main focus. It was inspired by a quote from Wes Anderson's Rushmore when the character Max Fischer said: "I guess you've just gotta find something you love to do and then... do it for the rest of your life."
Designs on PosterLad are split into categories: popular, minimalist, VHS packaging, and organic. Over 500 posters have been shipped globally since the project began four years ago. Browse the posters yourself at posterlad.com.
Written by Katy Cowan
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Anne Hathaway, Chris Hemsworth Up For Steven Spielberg's Robopocalypse
25/09/2012 by Cynthia BujnickiEntertainment & News
By: Sean O'Connell
For a while it appeared that Steven Spielberg's Robopocalypse would end up on the back burner, as the director surveyed his landscape and considered other projects. But now a new report says exiting Fox chair Tom Rothman might be coming on board to produce Spielberg's adaptation of the best-selling futuristic book, and that two very popular leads are circling key role
THR is the source reporting that Anne Hathaway wants to play with Spielberg on his robots-versus-humanity blockbuster. The trade also is confirming a report we had months ago that Thor star Chris Hemsworth also wants a part in the film. Right now, discussions between Hathaway and Spielberg's camps are in the "early stage," though the film is maintaining its April 25, 2014 release date.
Robopocalypse is based on Daniel H. Wilson's novel about a future where man is totally dependent on robotic beings … until the machines rise up and start fighting against us. Hathaway would play the female lead in the script. And seriously, can her career get any bigger? She's obviously coming off of Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises, where she scored rave reviews for her turn as Catwoman. She recently hosted the Oscars, and could return next year as a nominee for her turn as Fantine in Tom Hooper's musical version of Les Miserables.
Landing stars like Hathaway and Hemsworth (who is no slouch with Thor and The Avengers to his credit) would give Spielberg an instant leg up in the pre-production on what's bound to be a massive-budget, effects-heavy popcorn thriller. Not that he needs it. He's Spielberg. But so far, I think those are excellent casting options, and I'm be instantly more interested in Robopocalypse if Spielberg's able to get one or both actors to sign on the dotted line.
Souce: Cinema Blend
anne hathawa, Catwoman, Chris Hemsworth, christopher nolan, daniel h. wilson, fantine, fox xhair, les miserables, robopocalypse, robot beings, robots ending theworld, Steven Spielberg, the avengers, the dark knight rises, thor, thr, tom harper, tom rothman
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Read the complete lyrics of Shree Vindheshwari Chalisa by Anuradha Paudwal on Rockol. Shree Durga Chalisa Vindheshwari Chalisa Or Aarti Sahit (Set Of 51 Book For Distribution) by Mathura ji ka from Only Genuine Products. 30 Day. Product description. Chalisa means "forty verse(40 stanzas)" prayer and contains verses that praise the deity with devotion. They are recited over and over again.
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The prosecution yesterday opened its case against a couple charged in a shooting that injured four people three years ago.
Michael Newland and Victoria Gibson, who have a child together, are both in custody.
Prosecutors allege Newland attempted to murder Mickia Major, Shavargo Major, Rickell Farrington and Jimmy Lee Augustin during a July 29, 2015 shooting at Key West Street.
Gibson faces four counts of accessory after the fact to attempted murder, as the Crown alleged she tried to help him evade the law.
They have both pleaded not guilty at their trial before Justice Renae McKay.
Anthony Forbes appears for Newland and Sonia Timothy represents Gibson.
Terry Archer and Perry McHardy are prosecuting.