#british pool result week 45 | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

travelingtheusa · 5 years ago

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NEW YORK

18 Sep 2019 (Wed) – We spent the day getting ready for our move. We went food shopping and stopped in at Bagel Boss for lunch. I don’t know how that place stays in business. They are soooo slow. It must be because they are the only bagel place around. At 3 p.m. I drove over to Travis & Sam’s to watch Lincoln. Sam had work and Travis was taking the boys to karate. We reviewed their finances and discussed options to resolve their issue. In the meantime, Paul was watching Caiden back at the camper because Miranda and Kenny went to Meet the Teacher Night.

It was quite cool this morning. The heater is not working right. It turns on and then shuts off. This is an issue we will have to resolve before the weather gets colder.

17 Sep 2019 (Tue) – It’s been a fairly busy week. I attended a memorial service for a member of the American Legion Post on Thursday. Gus Luhrs, past post and past division commander, passed away at the age of 86. He served 20 years in the Marine Corps and was in the Korea and Vietnam Wars. He was the bartender at the post for many, many years. I will miss him.

We went to a dinner celebrating the 100th birthday of American Legion Post 411 on Friday the 13th. It was held in the Marconi Lodge; not the post. I guess they wanted to give everyone a chance to enjoy the celebration and not worry about set up and break down. I was disappointed that few of the guys wore uniforms. Not too long ago, everyone would have proudly worn their uniform. The times, they are a-changing. There were about 60 people at the event. The food was ok but the company was great. It was fun to see all our friends from the post.

Caiden decided to skip church this Sunday. Afterward, Paul and I went to the Bayside Clam Bar for lunch. The warm days are waning and I want to enjoy as much of the waterfront as possible before it gets too cold.

12 Sep 2019 (Thu) –I had lunch with my sister, Susan, today. We met at the Cheesecake Factory in Bay Shore and both enjoyed salads. Later this evening, I attended a memorial service for an American Legion friend, Gus Luhrs.

11 Sep 2019 (Wed) – Wow. Things have been very, very busy. We have spent time watching Caiden which takes full effort. He likes to play pillow fights and pulls me into these all the time. It’s either here in the camper or on the couch in his house.

I had lunch with my daughter, Gina, today. We met at Cheesecake Factory and caught up on how things have been going since we last saw each other.

Later today at 5:00 p.m., Paul and I went to a 9/11 memorial conducted by the Town of Islip next to Town Hall. There were 15 fire departments represented there. Lots of firemen and a bagpipe and drum band played songs that left you with a lump in your throat.

5 Sep 2019 (Thu) – We celebrated our 48th wedding anniversary yesterday. We had dinner at the Texas Roadhouse. We saw a posted sign that said they give a 20% military discount on Mondays. We now have our new best eatery on Mondays!

We had my brother, Dennis, and his lady, Denise, over for dinner on Tuesday (September 3). I made chicken picata, potatoes, and green beans. Everything came out perfect. They stayed for two hours. It was a very pleasant visit.

Caiden started school yesterday (Noah started the day before on Tuesday and Hudson started on Wednesday). We all walked Caiden down to the bus stop and waited over a half hour. The first days of school always sees the bus come late. It was almost an hour late returning at day’s end; although there was a legitimate excuse – the town was out and picking up debris one block over and on our block. That held up traffic all over the area. Caiden seemed to enjoy himself on his first day. His teacher’s name is Mr. Lolo. Can’t wait to meet him.

1 Sep 2019 (Sun) – We took Caiden with us to church this morning. He was very fidgety and complained that it was boring. Not sure how much longer he will go with us to church before he decides it’s not fun. We spoke with Pastor Doug and scheduled October 20 for Lincoln’s baptism.

After church, I let Caiden do some exploring and playing on the playground behind the building. Then we went to the Clamside Bar & Grill at the East Islip Marina for lunch. We all took a walk around the pier then returned home.

Paul and I spent the afternoon doing yardwork. As Paul cleared out some of the brush, I got a good look at the trees down on that back fence. It looks like a much bigger area was crushed by our neighbor’s tree than it first looked like. And he still hasn’t started clearing anything away. I’m not sure what we are going to do about that.

After naps, we sent out for pizza for dinner. Hmmm Hmmm, good!

30 Aug 2019 (Fri)

– Paul and I took Caiden to my sister Susan’s house today. We spent the day swimming in the pool and visiting with Susan & Bill and Shay & Pat (her daughter and boyfriend). The weather was lovely.

29 Aug 2019 (Thu) – Good news! I had an appointment at Sloan Kettering this morning to find out the results of the PET and CT scans I had on Monday. After only ten days on the chemo, the lymph nodes have already started to shrink. My response to the therapy has been so good that I don’t have to come back for a month. I thought I was going to have to go in every week for 5 or 6 weeks.

After the doctor, Paul and I went to Red Robin for lunch. I had a margarita and cobb salad. Paul had a beer and burger. We were kind of giddy with relief and thoroughly enjoyed the meal. Following lunch, we stopped at Shop Rite and picked up some groceries then returned home to continue the yard cleanup.

28 Aug 2019 (Wed) – It was cool this morning. We had to wear jackets when we walked Bonnie this morning. The summer is coming to a close. There’s a kind of sadness and yet a feeling of excitement as we build up to the holidays.

There is a spider that builds a web outside my bedroom window every night. I first spotted her during that thunderstorm last week. When the lightning flashed, she was illuminated on her web. She seemed to be floating in midair. She comes out every night and stays until early light the next morning. I watched her this morning as the sun came up and she climbed up and away to her den for a well-deserved sleep. She is an orb weaver and measures about an inch and a half in length. What a beautiful specimen of the insect world!

27 Aug 2019 (Tue) – We went to church on Sunday. Caiden decided to take the day off so he did not go with us. Everyone missed him.

On Monday, I went to Sloan Kettering and had both a PET scan and a CT scan. They sure keep those rooms cold. Brrrrr! Since I had some radiation, I couldn’t go near pregnant women or small children for 24 hours. I had to wave across the room to Caiden rather than get my Caiden hug. At 4:30 p.m. today, I was sure to get my big hug. And it came with a great big smile!

This afternoon, we drove to the V.A. in Northport. I wanted to establish myself as a cancer patient and see about getting medicine as we move around the country rather than having it mailed to me every three months. The doctor referred me to hematology. There was no answer at the department so I have to wait for a call back. I got an appointment with Audiology for October. Ugh. I hate the thought of being here that long. But, unfortunately, I think I will be here. The doctor wanted to schedule me for a mammogram but I said I’d go with my regular radiologist. She did schedule me to come back for a pap smear but I think I’ll just see my own gynecologist instead. She seemed to be somewhat flustered by me. She wanted to do all this medical stuff and I kept turning it down. She wasn’t sure what to do. lol

24 Aug 2019 (Sat) – The air is full of the sound of generators, chain saws, and leaf blowers as everyone cleans up after the storm. Seems like there are tree removal and PSEG trucks all over the place. A company has been working on removing the trees from the two neighbors on the south side. We think they took out 11 or 12 trees in total. We finally got power back on around 2:30 p.m.

We met with the counselor this morning. Afterward, we drove to the Clamside Bar at the East Islip Marina and had a late breakfast. It is nice to sit by the water and watch the boats come and go. There weren’t many people out on the water considering that it was a beautiful, clear Saturday and summer is fast coming to an end. You’d think everyone would want to be out getting in their last licks for the season.

When we finished our meal, we went home and took Bonnie for a walk. Then we drove out to Mastic Beach and toured the William Floyd Estate. What history exists in our own backyard! William Floyd was one of the original signers of the Declaration of Independence. Nine generations of the family lived on the estate from 1718 until they gave it to the National Parks Department in 1976. They originally had 4,400 acres. Over the years, family inherited the property and divided it among heirs, with just 673 acres remaining on the estate today. The Floyd family was much involved in politics and several prominent people visited the estate to include George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison. During the Civil War, the family fled to Connecticut while the British occupied Long Island. The house was pretty much trashed when they returned after the war but the Floyds were able to restore it. The estate began as a two-story, 6 room house. Additions were made over the years until it ended with 25 rooms, 13 outbuildings, and a family cemetery.

23 Aug 2019 (Fri) – Wow! We had a hum dinger of a thunderstorm blow through last night. The phone pinged a warning that a severe storm was going to hit in 15 minutes and everyone should seek shelter on a lower level in the interior of the house. That was different. I’ve gotten many storm warnings but never one that told me to get to the middle of the house. They must have expected tornadoes although the warning did not say that.

At about 9:45 p.m. it began to rain. Shortly after, the wind picked up. Then the skies opened up and the thunder and lightning started. We lost power after about 15 minutes. We sat and watched the transformer on the pole blow. Then another one blew down the block.

Finally, the storm passed and we all walked outside to see what kind of damage had been left behind. Kenny had gotten out of work just after the storm ended. He reported having to take a crazy circuitous route to get home because of downed trees and wires. There were trees down at either end of the block. The next block had a tree land on a car. Over on the main road (Saxon Ave), there were two trees down at opposite ends, thus closing off the road to through traffic. People were trying to go down the block. When they couldn’t get through, they turned and went down our block only to discover they couldn’t get through that way either. Our neighbor in the back on the south side had five trees go down. Two landed on our fence. Another tree came down on our fence in back on the west side. That tree was also from a neighbor’s yard. All our trees stayed put for this storm. lol.

We had gone over Trap’s house earlier to help him with an electrical problem he is having at the house. Paul and he worked for over an hour but couldn’t solve the problem. Sam and I went food shopping with the baby while the two older boys stayed home. We picked up pizza on the way back home and shared a meal with them before going home. Luckily, we got home before the storm hit.

21 Aug 2019 (Wed) – The church had their annual outdoor service on Sunday. We took Caiden with us. I guess the outdoor setting was too much for him. He wanted to go play and squirmed and fidgeted throughout the entire service. Afterward, there were all kinds of foods in a potluck meal. Everything was very good. I really enjoy those potlucks!

I really messed up today. I was scheduled for a PET scan at Sloan Kettering this afternoon. The test requires you to fast for six hours prior. I was watching Caiden and he asked for something to eat. I got him a snack out of the refrigerator and without thinking, popped a piece of cheese in my mouth. Yikes! When I got to the cancer center, it turned out I was supposed to be there at 1:15, not 2:15 p.m. Fortunately, the 2:15 appointment had shown up at 1:15 so they let me take the later appointment. Unfortunately, I had eaten the cheese and couldn’t take the test. I had to reschedule for next Monday.

I started chemotherapy on Monday. I am taking Ibrutinib once a day. So far (knock on wood), I am not having any side effects. Reading all the warnings, I have been fully expecting diarrhea and vomiting. Maybe it will come after the chemical builds up in my body. I have to admit that I am afraid of this drug. It interferes with the production of white blood cells. This lowers my resistance to infection. I have to be careful about keeping my hands clean and avoiding sick people. It is something I have to learn to live with since I now have to take this drug for the rest of my life.

The saga with trying to get Miranda financial help goes on. Social Services turned down her request for financial aid as well as food stamps. The department has a requirement for certain categories of persons to be referred to New York State HQ for examination when applying for Medicaid. We have to wait and see what happens there.

17 Aug 2019 (Sat) – We saw the counselor this morning. She was empathetic to our situation and gave us some suggestions for dealing with our adult children and their issues. Afterward, we drove to Bayside Clam Bar at the East Islip Marina for lunch. It is a great time of year to sit down by the water and just enjoy the season. All too soon, the cold weather will be upon us.

We stopped by the thrift shop at church and helped move tables and chairs from the storage area to the door. Tomorrow will be our annual outdoor service and potluck. We were staging the items by the back door where they would be taken down to the yard. Paul found a pair of super cool looking glasses for Caiden. They look like some kind of futuristic robot apparatus. They have a battery pack and when you turn it on, blue lights come on either side of the glasses. They also have a magnifying glass that folds out in front of the right lens. He loved them!

16 Aug 2019 (Fri) – It’s been a pretty quiet week. I got my hair cut this morning. It was good to see my hairdresser. She moved down to the Carolinas years ago and comes up about every 3 or 4 weeks. She said it was too hard to start a new following down south so she just continues coming back to New York to see her customers. I am glad about that! She is the only one who can get my hair right.

I went to visit my niece, Jennifer, and her new baby, Ava. She delivered about a month ago. My sister, Susan, and her other daughter, Sharon, joined me. The baby is adorable. Susan picked me up in her new red Tesla, of which she is very proud. It rides pretty nice.

Later at 5:30 pm, we went over Travis & Sam’s to watch the boys while they tore up the carpet in the upstairs hallway and put down new flooring. First we played outside. Then we followed Noah and Hudson on their bicycles around the block (they rode; we walked). Then we drove them to a nearby playground and let them play for a while. Interestingly, Noah pulled a book out of the book exchange and sat down on a bench to read while Hudson climbed all over the playset. Two very different boys!

Finally, we capped the night with a trip to Carvel. The ice cream was delicious but needless to say, their parents weren’t too happy about all the energy they came home with after the sweet treats. It is good to be the grandparent! You can spoil the babies and not suffer the aftermath. Sweet!

11 Aug 2019 (Sun) – We went to church this morning. Caiden is spending the weekend with his other grandma so he wasn’t with us. It seemed like everyone missed him. Everybody we spoke with asked about him. He is pretty popular.

After church, Paul and other folks helped to unload furniture for the church’s garage sale in October. I went down to the thrift shop and helped them sort baby clothes. They got a donation with dozens of outfits. We put them in bundles of six and marked them at fifty cents for the bundle. It must have been clothing from a store that closed. There is no way they could have all come from one family. Many outfits were brand new, some with tags still attached.

We went to Sagtikos Manor for a tour of the historical home. The land was purchased from the Secatogue Indians in 1692 and a 4-room house was built in 1697. The home was purchased by a wealthy family and over the years, more rooms were added until it now has 42 rooms. It was fascinating to hear the history of the property. The Gardiner family, one of the wealthiest in the area, owned the home in addition to Gardiner Island. They also had several homes around the Island and in New York City. In 1963, the house was put into a foundation trust. The property was sold to Suffolk County in 2003. What used to be 1,400 acres is now just 10 acres of land. There is a cemetery, a walled garden, a carriage house, and a buttery on the property. British soldiers occupied the manor during the American Revolution. The newly elected president, George Washington, slept in the house during a tour of Long Island in 1790. There were many delightful pictures and prints hanging on the walls. The family kept everything and all the furnishings were from the period. We really enjoyed the tour. Here was something in our own backyard that we never explored.

10 Aug 2019 (Sat) – Caiden keeps us amused. He is a charming, sweet soul. I went over Trap’s house Friday night and got to read the boys bedtime stories. It was fun. We went bowling with them on Wednesday. They are two very ener- getic boys! The night was quite interesting. Hudson and I had the same score for almost the entire game. I pulled it out in the end and broke 100. I think he got eighty something. Pretty good for a 4-year old (or bad for a 67-year old). :-}

We’ve been keeping busy. Paul went down to the church and power washed the fence in back and the front entry way. We will be having an outdoor service next Sunday and Pastor Doug wanted the area to look nice. I helped out in the thrift shop for a couple of hours. There were a couple of boxes with baby clothes in them. I took them for Lincoln.

I went down to Social Services with Miranda. I am trying to get them some financial aid as well as food stamps and Medicaid. It took over an hour just to fill out the application form! We left without seeing anyone after sitting for a couple of hours. An agent called Miranda later and told her she did not qualify for financial aid. Her $160 a week disability check combined with her husband’s $177 weekly unemployment check is considered too much income. WTH??? That comes to $1,348 a month. Who can even find rent at that price? Plus electric, car insurance, phone costs, education loans, etc., etc., etc. The agent is sending forms to Miranda to fill out and submit. DIDN’T WE JUST DO THAT??? Talk about aggravation and frustration!!!

6 Aug 2019 (Tue) – We brought the truck down to Safelite Glass today to have the windshield replaced. We have had a ding in the passenger’s side since 2015 when we were in Alaska. It often interfered with the pictures I tried to take through the front window. This year, we got another ding in the driver’s side of the windshield. It was time to replace it. We dropped the truck off and walked up to Main Street. The café we were looking for was no longer there. We wound up having bagels and coffee at a deli.

At 3 p.m., I went in to relieve Miranda from childcare duties. I took Caiden to the playground at the local elementary school playground. He had a great time! I told him he deserved an Italian custard at Rita’s. When we drove there, we found the shop closed permanently! What a bummer. So we drove a little further down the road and “settled” for Carvel ice cream. Caiden was not disappointed.

We went to Cavanaugh’s Bar & Grill tonight. We met Joan & Peter, Pat & Fred, Ginny & Milton, and Johanna & Thom at the bar. The restaurant had a $14.99 special for a 20 oz. porterhouse steak. It came with onion rings, baked potato, and a vegetable. The food was very good. It was a fun evening.

4 Aug 2019 (Sun) – We gathered up Caiden and headed off to church this morning. Paul’s sister and husband, Joan & Peter, showed up at church, too. After service, we went to the Bayside Clam Bar at the East Islip Marina with cousins Lee & Donna and friends Fred & Pat. It was a beautiful day on the bay. I took Caiden down by the docks where we watched folks putting in and taking out boats and jet skis. He was very impressed with the jet skis.

After we dropped Caiden off back home, Paul & I drove to Willie’s Appliances, a scratch-and-dent retailer. We bought a washing machine for the house. The one in there now has gotten out of balance and dances all over the room during the spin cycle. When we got home, Paul switched out the two washers.

3 Aug 2019 (Sat) – Yesterday, we took the three grandsons to my sister’s house to swim in the pool and lunch. It was like trying to keep ferrets in an open-top box. It couldn’t be done. They were all over the place and not as obedient as we would have liked. Having additional adults to help out wasn’t enough. At any rate, I believe the boys enjoyed the swim time and my sister really went out of her way to provide a varied menu for everyone.

Today, we enjoyed an unplanned adventure. While scanning Facebook, I came across a posting of a friend who plays in a band. He advertised that they would be down at the East Islip Marina playing at the Bayside Clam Bar and Grill from 10 to 1. We went there for lunch. I had lobster roll and Paul had fried shrimp. The music was delightful, the bay breeze was balmy, and the sky was blue. It was so nice to sit and listen to the 3-piece band play while watching watercraft (boats and ski jets) come and go.

31 July 2019 (Wed) – I almost wound up in the hospital today. I took a new supplement – a proteolytic enzyme. Then I took the dog for a walk. About ten minutes into the walk, the palms of my hands started itching. At first, I thought it was one of those lucky itches. You know, the kind where your palm itches and you’re going to come into money (or pay money)? But then it got intense, almost burning. My stomach started in next. Although I got the heaves, nothing was coming up. I barely made it back to the camper. Then the vomiting and diarrhea started. I was so weak, I could barely stand. I lay there wishing Paul would come into the trailer so I could have him call an ambulance. The vomiting finally subsided and I lay on the bed trying to recover. Next, the bottom of my feet began to itch, then my whole body. As I sat there trying to scratch everything at once, red blotches started breaking out on my legs. At that point, Paul came into the trailer and realized I was having a severe allergic reaction. He ran down to the drug store and picked up some benedryl. That stuff is great! It worked almost instantly. For the rest of the night, I sat in the lounge chair nodding in and out. It was one scary experience!

We have been busy working around the house. The men’s softball league at church had the last two games of the season on Monday and Tuesday. We went down to watch. Our team lost.

Both Paul and I went for an annual physical. My appointment was on Monday. It turned out to be a Medicare Wellness Check. I spent an hour and a half answering questions from a nurse who input everything into the computer. I could have stayed home and put the information in the computer myself! What a waste. The nurse was very apologetic and said that Medicare does not allow for an annual physical exam. If you want to see the doctor, it has to be scheduled as a follow up to a condition or an illness. We went to the desk and changed Paul’s status for his checkup the next day. I made an appointment to come back for an EKG. I won’t get any bloodwork but Paul did. What a screwed up system! I was very happy with my health insurance before they forced us to go on Medicare. I can’t imagine what will happen if everyone gets put on Medicare like the current presidential candidates are touting!

28 July 2019 (Sun) – We took Caiden to church with us this morning. Afterward, we stopped at McDonald’s for breakfast. We couldn’t get any fries (they don’t cook them until noon), so we cut up a pancake and fed it to the gulls. There has been a significant change in the kind of gulls prevalent on Long Island. There used to be black backed gulls all over the place. Now we don’t see any. There are laughing gulls flying around. I wonder what happened to the gull population.

When we returned home, we worked around the property. Paul cleaned out the gutters on the house and garage. I bundled up branches from the trees Paul trimmed or cut down. It was so hot. We were both drenched in sweat.

26 July 2019 (Fri) – We had dinner with my brother, Dennis, and his lady, Denise, at Chili’s Grill tonight. Dennis is working as an usher at Island 16 and gave us two free tickets. We can’t use them on a Friday or Saturday and are restricted from going to a Disney movie during the first two weeks of a new release. Otherwise, we can enjoy the movies for free. That was a very nice gift.

My sister’s daughter, Jennifer, delivered a baby girl on July 24. Ava Shea checked in at 8.9 lbs. I just love that name!

25 July 2019 (Thu) – We drove to Port Jefferson Station and had lunch with Travis and his family. He gets an hour for lunch and works close enough that he can go home for his noon meal. We shared McDonald’s while the boys showed off their pool and playing skills.

At 6:00 p.m. a French bulldog came running into the yard barking and barking. It wouldn’t let us touch it but it wouldn’t leave either. The dog honed in on Kenny and when we all stepped away, it walked with Kenny into the backyard where he secured it. Paul walked up and down the block looking for its owners (it had no collar), but couldn’t find any. At 6:45 p.m., Miranda and I drove to Bohemia to Maguire’s Comedy Club to watch a comedy laugh-off. My brother, Dennis, was performing and we went to support him. We had dinner and drinks. The food was excellent. The comedy was hit or miss. Apparently, comedy is not easy to do. We left before the show was over at 9:45 p.m.

When we got home, Paul told me that the woman across the street claimed the dog. It is not chipped and they take the collar off when they put the dog in its crate. It somehow got out and they didn’t miss it for several hours. Oh, well. It’s a happy ending any way.

24 July 2019 (Wed) – It was a busy day today. First destination was the TSA Pre-Check booth located in a Staples store. I brought my birth certificate, marriage certificate, and driver’s license. The clerk took my picture and fingerprints. The charge was $85 but is good for five years. What the pre-check does is to allow me to go through the security screening line at the airport without having to take my shoes and belt off, and to leave a laptop in its computer case. Next, we’ll have to get Paul the pre-check.

We then drove back to the camper to get Bonnie. We took her to the vet to see if we could find something that can be done about her chronic diarrhea. She has also been showing signs of arthritis in her paws. The vet prescribed Tylan for the diarrhea and gabapentin for pain. We’ll see if that helps.

After dropping Bonnie off at the RV, we went to the dentist where I got my teeth cleaned. Paul had been there on Monday. He has a small cavity that will need filling. My checkup was perfect!

23 July 2019 (Tue) - Well, the parents are back. Whew! What a week. There is a reason children are best raised by the young folks. Our 5-year old grandson sure had us running around from dawn to dusk. Caiden slept in the camper every other night, alternating with his bed in the house. We went through an incredible heat wave and, at one point, we just stayed in the trailer all day and night. Poor Bonnie had to be put out every time Caiden came in. She does not like him and for some reason, she tries to go after him. That breaks my heart because if she ever does bite him, we’ll have to put her down.

Ok. Some of the things we did over this past week. I saw a doctor at Sloan Kettering in Manhattan. The doctor said the disease is well advanced and I should have started two years ago when it was first discovered. She described the same options that Dr. Ahmed in Texas offered – a pill for the rest of my life, an intravenous protocol as a temporary stopgap and going on the pill after a time, and a new treatment whose performance is not yet known. I asked to have my case transferred to the satellite clinic on Long Island. If I had to go into NYC, it would drive me crazy! I had to take a train and two subways to get to Dr. Noy’s office. I don’t know how people can live like that – like cattle being pushed along by all the other bodies traveling underground.

We took Caiden to the library where he had a great time playing with the toys. We also went to playgrounds and chased each other around as his imagination conjured up monsters, pirates, and Darth Vadar from Star Wars. We drove to Port Jefferson Station and picked up our other two grandsons and took all three boys to the movies to see Toy Story 4. Poor Paul. Each boy had to go to the bathroom twice. Paul would take one while I watched the other two, then he would drop that one off and take the next one. They all had to go in the middle of the movie, too. While we enjoyed our time with the boys, we certainly won’t try doing that again unless there is at least one adult for each child and an extra grown up for back up. The energy level is incredible. It was like trying to keep ferrets in a box. Can’t be done. We took Caiden to visit my sister, Susan, in Hampton Bays. He loved swimming in the pool.

We were able to go to church last Sunday and this past Sunday. It was so good to see all our friends. The pastor announced our presence and the congregation clapped their greeting. We enjoyed catching up with everyone.

20 July 2019 - Haven’t forgotten you! Just been super busy watching our grandchild while his parents are gone. My blog will be back in a few days. Thanks for your patience!

12 July 2019 (Fri) – We got a call from our son at 1:30 p.m. that he had been scalded and needed to be picked up. Apparently, he had tried to open the radiator cap while the car was still hot. Our truck was in the shop to have the real pinion seal repaired so we borrowed Miranda’s car and drove to Commack to get him. He had been drinking and refused to go to the clinic with us. The car was towed away and Travis just walked away. We left and drove to the shop to pick up our truck. I cooked dinner tonight.

11 July 2019 (Thu) – We left West Point at 9:55 a.m. Although the distance to Bay Shore was only 102 miles, it took us three hours with all the traffic on the road. We pulled in around 1 p.m. After set up, we visited with Miranda, Kenny, and Caiden. Kenny drove Caiden and me to Lake Grove where we got their cell phone problems fixed. We had pizza for dinner.

10 July 2019 (Wed) – It was a lot of driving around today with very little results. First was the KOA in Plattekill. We were looking for another campground besides the one we are at that is near West Point. It was a very nice campground. The manager said he could also coordinate bus tours into New York City as well as the surrounding area. That peaked our interest! We wanted to bring the group to the city but didn’t want the hassle of trying to shepherd 44 people around all the people and traffic.

We then drove to the U.S. Military Academy. First stop was at Thayer Hotel Restaurant. We went in and had lunch, then stopped by the check-in desk to ask for the group sales manager. The coordinator came down to see us. Although she wasn’t the one to coordinate our kind of group (she’s does weddings, birthdays, and celebrations), she gave us contact information for the other coordinator.

We then drove off the base to the Visitor’s Center. Although there was a tour desk in the center, they told us to go across the street to the Bus Tours Office. We went over there and were given a website to check out. It has the various tour options listed. Then we drove back on base to the West Point Club. The woman we spoke with was on the verge of going to a meeting but gave us a website to check out for menus and various meal options. We looked at some of the rooms available in the club.

After wandering around the grounds for a bit and trying to look in some of the buildings (they were almost all locked), we headed back to the campground. So when we get internet again (the cell phone and wifi signal in this campground is almost nonexistent), I’ll have to investigate the options for touring the U.S. Military Academy.

9 July 2019 (Tue) – We left Watkins Glen at 8:55 a.m. and drove to West Point, stopping for a quick bite to eat at Wendy’s. We pulled into Round Pond Recreation Area at 2 p.m. It is a military campground associated with West Point Military Academy. We had thought it would be good to have the caravan stay here but this campground would not be good for our group. It is a little too rustic for some folks, the sites are close in some quarters, and the campsites are spread out around a large pond. In addition, the water and electric hookups are on the wrong side of our RV. I’m not sure all campsites have that issue, but ours does. There are no sewers but they do have a dump station.

Once we were set up, we grabbed the laundry and threw it in the washers in the laundry room. There were three machines in the room; one had a sticky note on it that said “Ate $2 July 9.” I surmised that person lost $2 in the machine today. So we didn’t use it.

After we put the laundry away, we took a walk with Bonnie around the lake. It is very pretty here. I love all the greenery. We have been on the west coast for over a year and around desert and cacti. I didn’t realize how much I missed the trees. It’s lovely.

8 July 2019 (Mon) – We drove to Corning Glass Museum this morning. They have really expanded the museum since we were here 48 years ago on our honeymoon. We spoke with the group sales coordinator and got the information for the museum, a tour, a glass making experience, and a catered meal. We then drove down the street to the Rockwell Museum. Their tour takes 45 minutes to one hour. We may leave this museum for folks to go to on their own. We’ll see.

We drove by a couple of campgrounds and gathered information on availability for group camping. The town of Watkins Glen campground – Clute Memorial Park & Campground – looked very promising. They are located across from the beach on Lake Seneca.

We had lunch at Sorges Restaurant in Corning. I had a cheeseburger wrap. It was ok but nothing I would buy again. We then drove around Lake Seneca, stopping at a couple of vineyards for tastings. When we got back to the KOA, we went in and got contact information for the owner. We also picked up a few souvenirs for the grandkids. It was a fruitful day.

7 July 2019 (Sun) – We packed up and left Bath at 10:15 and drove to the Watkins Glen KOA, which was only 40 miles away. When we pulled in, we recognized that we had been here back in 2007 when we drove up to pick up our first fifth wheel RV. The part they put us in at that time was brand new. They have added some other buildings and cabins since then. They wouldn’t let us into the campground until 12 noon. We had to keep ourselves busy for five minutes then passed through. The wifi in this park is non-existent. In addition, the cell phone does not work well either. We must be a valley or something.

After set up, we drove into the town of Watkins Glen. It is very touristy. Watkins Glen State Park was packed with people. We stopped at CPT Bill’s Seneca Lake Cruises to get information. There was a restaurant next door that is also owned by CPT Bill’s. We stopped in there as well to find out about group meal options and costs. After walking along the boardwalk of Seneca Lake, we drove up into the state park to look at the campground. It was too tight with narrow turns and lots of trees. It would not work for our group.

We stopped for lunch at Nickel’s pit BBQ. I got ribs and Paul got wings. We didn’t care for either for the food. It was overdusted with dry rub and actually seemed to be gritty. After lunch, we drove to Watkins Glen International. It is a NASCAR race track. In town, they painted the crosswalks in a checker flag pattern. The street signs have race cars on them. We had trouble finding an entrance into the park. After driving around the place, we finally discovered an open gate. The office was closed. There were cars racing on the track – we could hear them. There is a campground at the track and we wanted to find out about it. Finally, we discovered an employee who answered our questions. He said they only allow camping during special events. Guess that won’t work for our group either.

6 July 2019 (Sat) – We went into the campground office first thing this morning to get information about group reservations for the caravan. Then we drove to Letchworth State Park. Letchworth is called the Grand Canyon of the East. It was over an hour away. Although we thought it was such a great place when we came here 30 years ago, it didn’t look so great today. You couldn’t really see the gorge or canyons or river because of all the trees. I guess having just come back from seeing the national parks out west made us a little jaded.

We then stopped at a campground near Letchworth to check out the place for the caravan. They didn’t have everything we wanted for the group so we won’t be camping there. We had lunch at the Iris Glen Inn. It was the house of Mr. Letchworth converted to a restaurant. The upper falls were visible outside the window. The food was good. The drive back was under rainy skies.

5 July 2019 (Fri) – We packed up and left Lockport at 9:15 a.m. We drove 12 miles to a nearby campground to dump the tanks. The Elks Lodge recommended dumping at the nearby waste treatment plant but when we went to look at the site, it turned out you would just open the spigot over a grate that covers a collection tank. The cover had bits of toilet paper and other debris on it. Ugh!

It was an easy drive to the KOA in Bath. We stopped at a Pilot station and got lunch at Subway. The campground is a little tight. It is pretty big with over 200 campsites. We are parked on the grass in a pull through. A couple used to be managers at the Watkins Glen KOA and bought this KOA in Hammondsport/Bath in February. They were selling pulled pork sliders for dinner. The baked beans were too sweet, the cole slaw was bitter, and the pulled pork was very dry.

After we got set up, we drove to the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum to gather information for the caravan. We then drove down the road to Bully Hill Vineyards and enjoyed a small snack in the restaurant. We sat out on the deck and watched a thunderstorm grumble and growl its way across the sky. Down the road was the Finger Lakes Boating Museum. Their complex used to belong to Taylor wines. We were there about 8 years ago and had a wine tasting. Since then, Coca-Cola had sold the wine division. Sales decreased and Taylor wines were sold to a couple of different owners until, today, only their dessert wines are being sold (Taylor Flagate and Port). The Taylor Wines complex is now mostly closed with parts of it being sold off. The boating museum owns one of the buildings and is in the process of buying another two of them. It will be a pretty big museum in two years.

We returned to the campground just before the skies opened up and the rains poured down. Sheba spent several hours hiding in the closet.

4 July 2019 (Thu-Independence Day) – It was a quiet day for us. We went over Kevin & Joy’s daughter’s home for a barbecue. Their son-in-law, Justin, made a variety of delicious appetizers to nosh on before grilling hot dogs, hamburgers, and coonies. Coonies are a popular barbecue food for the upstate folks. It is a kind of mild flavored sausage. That led to all of us talking about different foods peculiar to areas around the country. It was a funny discussion.

3 July 2019 (Wed) – We went to two wineries this morning. I found wines I liked (the Niagara wine has a wonderfully distinctive taste) but Paul did not find a good one. We went to Tom’s Diner for lunch. It was small but the service was good. We both had salads that were huge! At 4 p.m. we drove to Buffalo to visit a campground there. With all the information we are collecting, we are starting to form an idea of how we want the caravan to run in the Buffalo/Niagara Falls area. Since we are thinking about using a tour bus, we want to keep the cost of the campground down. There are not many nice campgrounds in this area. Just the two resorts on Grand Island with sites over $100 each.

We met Kevin and Joy at Texas Roadhouse for dinner. The food, as always, was great. We enjoyed their company very much. They invited us to join them at their daughter’s house tomorrow for a BBQ.

2 July 2019 (Tue) – We drove into Niagara Falls today. The intent was to find a nice restaurant in which to have a dinner for the caravan. It was incredibly crowded and there was construction that made navigation around the area difficult. We got frustrated and finally gave up. We drove into town and had lunch at the Pearl Street Grille & Brewery. It was rated #1 of 234 restaurants in Niagara Falls by Trip Advisor. I don’t know what criteria they used to rate these restaurants, but this was certainly NOT a #1. There were six booths, two tables, and six chairs at a counter. They served pub food. I got Beef on a Weck. We’ve seen that on several menus now and I decided to try it. It turned out to be a roast beef sandwich where they dipped the roast beef in au jus then put it on the roll. It only made the bread soggy (and I HATE wet bread). The meat also had some grizzle in it. Paul got a tuna melt and it came without any cheese. We really didn’t feel the place deserved to be rated #1.

After lunch, we stopped at the Underground Railroad Heritage Center. They mentioned Harriet Tubman frequently but had very little about her in the center. It was very small and basically boasted of how the folks in Niagara Falls helped escaped slaves cross over into Canada.

We then drove to Youngstown to Old Fort Niagara. The group tours manager was not in and the clerk gave us her contact information. We have to call her tomorrow. When we stepped out, we saw the Buffalo trolley shuttle. It provides a shuttle from Niagara Falls to Buffalo with 14 stops along the way. We asked about a tour and the bus driver gave us contact information. We’ll have to contact that lady tomorrow, too.

1 July 2019 (Mon) – We brought the truck to Ford to get it inspected this morning. Kevin & Joy met us for breakfast at Bob Evans. After breakfast, we went back to the campground where they are parked. After a brief visit, we returned to Ford to get the truck. There were (supposedly) several lights out that they had to replace. We paid $139.12 and went on our way. We drove into Buffalo to the Buffalo Naval and Military Park on the Eric Canal. They had three ships there: The USS Croaker (a submarine), the USS Sullivans (a destroyer), and the USS Little Rock (a missile cruiser). There was also a small museum on the second floor of the visitor’s center and gift shop. We spent three hours climbing up and down stairs as we explored the three ships. It was fun.

We drove to the Pearl Street Grill & Brewery for a late lunch. The food was excellent. On the way back to the Elks lodge, we stopped at Lockport Locks & Eric Canal Cruises. They have a very nice program for lunch followed by a two-hour ride on the canal. It will be a definite venue if we do the New York caravan in 2021.

30 June 2019 (Sun) – We drove to several campgrounds today to check space availability and options. Of the four we stopped at, two are possibilities. One charges $102 per night and the other charges $113. Yeow! That’s a lot of money. There’s a possibility we can negotiate prices at one of them because we have to call back to speak with the owner.

We also stopped at the Niagara Power Plant to see about a tour. The manager was out and will be in tomorrow afternoon. We’ll have to call back.

We stopped at a restaurant on Lake Ontario for lunch. We sat up on the second floor out on the deck. It was too windy to put the umbrella up but there was a brisk wind blowing that kept the sun from feeling too hot. As we were eating, there was a sudden CRACK and a tree across the street split. A large trunk with wide spread branches came crashing down. How it avoided hitting the power line next to it or the cars parked in front of it, is beyond me. There was a guy walking his dog in front of that tree not two minutes before. The angels were watching over everybody.

29 June 2019 (Sat) – We left Youngstown at 8:45 a.m. Although the sky got cloudy, the rain held off. The drive took us through Pennsylvania into New York. We stopped at a travel center when we crossed into New York. It was crazy! The place was so crowded. There was only one facility on the west side of the thruway. Those on the eastbound side had to cross an overhead bridge. We each got a slice of pizza.

We arrived in Lockport at 1:30 p.m. We are staying in an Elks Lodge in the back parking lot. After set up, we went in and paid for our site. At 3:30 p.m., Kevin & Joy, a couple who was on our Utah caravan, met us and we all went to an early dinner. The food and company was good. After we returned to the lodge, Paul and I went food shopping to pick up groceries and to Pet Smart for Bonnie’s food. When we got back, we looked through brochures for activities in the area.

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blockpaths · 4 years ago

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WARNING!!! BITCOIN FROM 2010 ON THE MOVE!!! [Last time BTC Dropped by 50% IN 1 DAY] – Programmer

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**Disclaimer** Please be advised that I own a diverse portfolio of cryptocurrency as I wish to remain transparent and impartial to the cryptocurrency community at all times, and therefore, the content of my media are intended FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES not financial advice. The information contained herein is for informational purposes only. Nothing herein shall be construed to be financial legal or tax advice. The content of this video is solely the opinions of the speaker who is not a licensed financial advisor or registered investment advisor. Purchasing cryptocurrencies poses considerable risk of loss. The speaker does not guarantee any particular outcome. Past performance does not indicate future results.

This information is what was found publicly on the internet. This is all my own opinion. All information is meant for public awareness and is public domain. Please take this information and do your own research.

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bbcbreakingnews · 4 years ago

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Spain is hit by 200 coronavirus outbreaks since easing lockdown

Spain has been hit by at least 200 new coronavirus outbreaks since it began easing lockdown restrictions.

Fears of a second wave are growing after Spain identified 5,695 new cases last week, a sharp increase from 2,944 a week earlier, while some areas have been forced to re-impose lockdown measures just as Spain starts to welcome British tourists again.

A beach in Barcelona, a wedding in Tudela and a Red Cross centre in Malaga are among the places where new clusters have been found in recent weeks, leaving health officials scrambling to carry out mass tests.

Dinner parties, sports events and a summer language school have also been affected by virus outbreaks in a setback to Spain’s efforts to resume normal life after one of the world’s strictest lockdowns.

Local authorities have been given powers to take emergency measures such as closing beaches and imposing curfews if necessary, with prime minister Pedro Sanchez warning repeatedly of a possible second wave.

Here are 20 of the most alarming virus scares that Spain has suffered in recent weeks.

Spain has seen an increase in cases in recent weeks after lifting one of the world’s strictest lockdowns. Spain said on Friday that it had identified 5,695 new cases in the previous seven days, a sharp increase from 2,944 a week earlier.

This graph shows how cases have increased since the start of last month. Spain has recently stopped releasing figures at weekends

1. Fourteen workers at a mink farm in Aragon tested positive for coronavirus in an outbreak beginning in May, and the virus has now been detected in the animals as well. As a result, 92,000 minks on the farm in Teruel are having to be put down in the interests of human health. Tests have shown that the infection rate among the minks had reached 87 per cent.

2. Seaside resorts have voiced concerns about the arrival of illegal immigrants because some of them are testing positive for coronavirus. In Navalmoral de la Mata in Extremadura, there was a major scare when a migrant with coronavirus escaped custody on June 17 and affected 24 other people.

3. Castellon in the east of Spain confirmed an outbreak at a San Juan celebration on June 23, when people traditionally celebrate with bonfires, beach parties and gatherings at their homes. At least 16 positive cases were linked to the same family celebration and more than 100 people are being contacted, many from outside the region.

4. One of the worst outbreaks in Malaga occurred in a Red Cross reception centre and led to 108 people contracting coronavirus over a period of three weeks from June 23. Those infected were volunteers, workers, contacts and close family. Health officials had to carry out more than 500 tests in other Red Cross centres.

5. A young woman’s funeral and cremation in Granada led to further misery after a coronavirus outbreak during the ceremonies in Balicena on July 2 and 3. At least 58 people have tested positive among the mourners and their contacts.

An outbreak was detected after a wedding in Tudela (pictured) where the bride, her mother-in-law and many others tested positive for coronavirus

People enjoy the sunshine at La Nova Icaria beach in Barcelona on Friday. A party at a different Barcelona beach in early July led to a dozen youngsters developing symptoms of fever

Mallorca and Ibiza will fine Britons for not wearing masks

British tourists on holiday in the Balearic Islands will be fined £22, £45 or £90 from today if police find they are not wearing a mask.

The new rule in Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera applies to virtually all public places, with the exception of the beach, walking on the seafront promenades swimming pool, countryside or while eating or drinking in a restaurant.

The rule came into force last week with a one-week grace period which expires today.

The level of the fine (25, 50 or the maximum of 100 in euros) will depend on the circumstance and ‘the severity of the breach’.

When police hand out fines, they have been instructed to take precise details and will ask tourists for identification and their name and address, plus where they are staying if appropriate. They will also note where the breach has taken place, the circumstances and the number of people involved.

Police must also specify the degree of intent, what response the person gives when stopped and whether they repeat the offence.

Angry hoteliers and tourism leaders are not in favour of the new order and claim holidaymakers are already being put of going to the islands because of the mask rule.

However, most holiday locations in Spain, including the Costa del Sol, are now also adopting the compulsory measure as Spain battles with daily outbreaks of coronavirus.

6. All 20 residents of an apartment block in Albacete had to go into quarantine for 14 days in early July after nine of them, including five members of the same family, tested positive for coronavirus. A court ruled this to be reasonable because of the risk to health. Three residents admitted to hospital were later discharged and allowed to continue their recovery at home.

7. A July 4 dinner party for eight guests in Madrid has led to five people testing positive for Covid-19. The get-together was held in the capital but had a far-reaching impact because five of them travelled home by train, plane or car after the party. The health department has had to contact 61 other people to tell them to shield.

8. A beach party in Villasar de Dalt in Barcelona is feared to have led to an outbreak after a dozen youngsters developed symptoms of fever and bad stomachs. There were 60 people at the party in early July and test results are now being awaited. Possible virus patients must remain in quarantine until the results come back.

9. After Pamplona cancelled its famous San Fermin bull-running showpiece, people held their own festivities and even ran through the streets running dinosaur costumes. One group of friends fell ill after a gathering on July 6, as did others they had been in contact with in local bars. 24 cases have been confirmed so far.

10. A summer language school had to be called off on July 8 after eight teenagers were found to be infected, along with two of their helpers. All 40 students were sent home into either quarantine or recuperation.

11. A wedding in Tudela went horribly wrong when nearly all the attendees, including the bride and her mother-in-law, later tested positive for coronavirus. More than 280 contacts also need to be traced and tested after the ceremony in early July. So far, there are 41 confirmed cases and more are expected.

12. More than 600 people have been tested in Getaria after numerous people developed the coronavirus in a matter of days between July 9 and 12. The outbreak is being linked to a local bar and health chiefs have warned anyone who has been there to stay in isolation.

13. Ten Galician fishermen had to go into confinement for a week after a visitor who arrived on another boat and helped them unload their catch on July 10 tested positive for coronavirus. Six have been allowed to return home but four have proved positive and have to stay put.

14. More than 400 people are being tested after a group of school pupils went to a nightclub in Cordoba to celebrate the end of their studies on July 11, and one of them subsequently tested positive. At least 36 people have tested positive so far, with contacts also being tested and the pupils and their families forced into isolation.

15. A pair of parties in Gran Canaria and then in Fuerteventura have led to a rare outbreak in the Canary Islands. Ten people have been diagnosed with coronavirus, nine of them members of the same family and one friend. More than 100 people who were in contact with them are having to be tested after the parties on July 12.

Health workers wearing protective suits take a woman to hospital after she tested positive for coronavirus at a Red Cross reception centre in Malaga which was the site of an outbreak

A pair of parties in Gran Canaria and then in Fuerteventura (pictured) have led to a rare outbreak in the Canary Islands with nine members of the same family testing positive

16. Around 250 tourists were trapped at a Basque campsite after two holidaymakers tested positive for coronavirus on July 14. The campsite in the beach resort of Zarautz was immediately closed down. All 250 campers had to take coronavirus tests. It has since re-opened after being given the all clear amid reports that the two cases were ‘imported’ and not caught on the campsite.

17. Forty youngsters who took part in a handball event in Salduero were forced into isolation after one of their coaches suddenly died on July 16 and tested positive for coronavirus in an autopsy. The young players were ordered to take coronavirus tests.

18. A food group which supplies meat to supermarkets had to test 3,000 workers at its factory in Guissona, located in the Lleida province of Catalonia which has been forced back into lockdown. To date, at least 66 staff have been confirmed positive this month.

19. Sixteen people who travelled on a train from Barcelona to Vigo earlier this month are in isolation after a female passenger later became ill with coronavirus. The transport company Renfe had to contact all the passengers who were sitting near her on the train, and they were ordered into home quarantine.

20. Flights are far from immune. In Vigo, 12 passengers on a plane that landed at the provincial capital’s airport from Madrid are in home isolation after a man on the flight tested positive. The Iberia Express flight was full although only a dozen passengers were ordered to be isolated as they sat closest to the infected man. Another outbreak linked to a flight from Bolivia caused the first death in Murcia in 23 days. The victim was a 98-year-old woman residing in Cañada de la Cruz. It is understood she wasn’t on the flight but became infected through contacts.

The post Spain is hit by 200 coronavirus outbreaks since easing lockdown appeared first on BBC BREAKING NEWS.

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automaticpostinfluencer · 5 years ago

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Coronavirus updates: Trump eyeing NY ‘quarantine,’ FDA approves 5-minute test

San Francisco Bay Area residents arrive at the coronavirus testing site in Hayward, California.

James Martin/CNET

For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the WHO website.

The coronavirus pandemic has upended life across the globe. Health care systems scramble to control the virus and governments are instituting strict social distancing measures to try to flatten the curve. The situation is constantly evolving as COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, rapidly spreads.

CNET has been tracking the outbreak since it was first traced to a novel coronavirus in early January. We have compiled answers basic questions, ways to protect yourself and others, where you can and can’t go in lockdown and advice for staying healthy and entertained during long periods at home.

Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus outbreak each day.

Now playing: Watch this: Coronavirus lockdown: Why social distancing saves lives

5:41

March 28

Trump considers NY ‘quarantine’

In the US, President Donald Trump said he might impose a short, “enforceable” travel quarantine on the New York metropolitan region, including parts of New Jersey and Connecticut, to restrict travel out of the area. But New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he hadn’t had any conversations with Trump about such a move.

Separately, Cuomo said the death toll in the state had hit 728, with the total number of cases climbing above 52,000. New York City itself has over 29,000 cases, with more than 500 deaths as of Saturday morning, officials said. Cuomo also tweeted that New York would delay its presidential primary to June 23. It was originally set for April 28.

5-minute virus test gets OK from FDA

Under its Emergency Use Authorization, the US Food and Drug Administration approved a coronavirus test that can offer up results within minutes. “You can get a positive result in five minutes and a negative result in 13 minutes. You can walk into a clinic and literally get results while you are there,” an executive at Abbott Laboratories, which developed the test, told Reuters. Abbott said it plans to begin distributing the test next week and will increase manufacturing to 50,000 tests per day, the news agency reported. A week ago, the FDA approved a coronavirus test with a detection time of about 45 minutes.

Ireland says stay at home

In Europe, Ireland joined the list of countries issuing lockdown orders. “You can buy food and attend medical appointments and even get out for some exercise but you are being asked to do as little as you possibly can,” reads a notice on a government website.

March 27

US hits 100,000 cases

After surpassing China on Thursday, the US now has more than 100,000 COVID-19 cases. According to tracking numbers from John Hopkins University, the US is sitting at around 101,657 cases as of 3:30 p.m. PT. Italy has overtaken China in the last 24 hours, at 86,498 cases compared with China’s 81,897.

Deaths in the US have topped 1,500, while deaths in Italy are at more than 9,000 and in China are almost 3,200. China is re-closing all of its theaters nationwide, according to Deadline.

Trump signs up GM and Boeing

President Donald Trump invoked the Defense Production Act to force General Motors to make ventilators, he said during a coronavirus task force briefing. It came after Trump tweeted earlier Friday that GM must “start making ventilators now.” After signing agreements with other private companies, Trump said there’ll be 100,000 more ventilators in the next 100 days — and said any excess units will be given globally to countries that need them most.

Boeing is also pitching in, and will make thousands of plastic face shields each week and supply three planes to carry supplies, Trump said.

US House passes $2 trillion stimulus package

The House of Representatives approved a $2 trillion relief bill meant to respond to economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. The bill expands unemployment insurance, provides direct payments to many Americans and includes hundreds of billions of dollars in loans for businesses and for local and state governments.

The bill was passed with bipartisan support by a voice vote. Trump signed the relief bill later Friday.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson tests positive

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tested positive for coronavirus, his office announced. The 55-year-old has been displaying mild symptoms since Thursday, but will remain in charge of the government’s handling of the crisis, his office stated.

“I am now self-isolating, but I will continue to lead the government’s response via video-conference as we fight this virus,” Johnson said in a tweet, which included his video tribute to the UK’s National Health Service.

Over the last 24 hours I have developed mild symptoms and tested positive for coronavirus.

I am now self-isolating, but I will continue to lead the government’s response via video-conference as we fight this virus.

Together we will beat this. #StayHomeSaveLives pic.twitter.com/9Te6aFP0Ri

— Boris Johnson #StayHomeSaveLives (@BorisJohnson) March 27, 2020

Within hours, UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced his positive test.

March 26

Trump pushes new guidance as US tops global cases

The US now has the most coronavirus cases globally at around 82,400, surpassing China’s 81,700. Trump called it “a tribute to our testing.” The president said he spoke with the governors of all 50 states and US territories on his idea to classify counties as either low, medium and high risk in an effort to update guidance on social distancing. “Our country has to go back to work,” he said during a White House coronavirus task force briefing.

Trump also spoke to G20 world leaders, including Germany, Australia, Russia, China, Japan, India and Saudi Arabia, as well as organizations like the UN, European Commission, WHO, World Bank and the IMO, to discuss how each are dealing with the pandemic.

Initial jobless claims surpass anything in US history

Initial jobless claims in the US hit nearly 3.3 million for the week ending March 21, according to the US Department of Labor.

“In the week ending March 21, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 3,283,000, an increase of 3,001,000 from the previous week’s revised level,” the Labor Department said. “This marks the highest level of seasonally adjusted initial claims in the history of the seasonally adjusted series. The previous high was 695,000 in October of 1982.”

US Department of Labor

US crosses 1,000 deaths

The number of COVID-19 deaths in the US has reached 1,046, the John Hopkins University tracking site reported Thursday morning, and the number of cases has surpassed 69,000.

Worldwide, the number of deaths has hit 21,100 and the number of cases has topped 463,000.

Keep track of the coronavirus pandemic.

March 25

US Senate passes $2 trillion stimulus package

The Senate passed a sweeping $2 trillion aid package 96-0 on Wednesday night. Four senators were absent because they have either tested positive for coronavirus or are self-isolating. The House may pass the legislation this week on a voice vote, allowing representatives to remain away from the Capitol as fears of infection rise. According to CBS News, the package includes:

Direct payments of $1,200 to most adults making up to $75,000, or $2,400 for couples making up to $150,000. Each dependent child increases the amount by an $500. The amount decreases for individuals with incomes above $75,000, and payments cut off for those above $99,000.

Expanded unemployment benefits that boost the maximum benefit by $600 per week and provide laid-off workers their full pay for four months. Eligibility is extended to independent contractors and the self-employed.

$130 billion for hospitals.

Hundreds of billions of dollars in loans for businesses and for local and state governments.

Apple donates millions more masks worldwide

Apple CEO Tim Cook provided an update on the tech giant’s efforts to help the world through COVID-19, saying Apple has now “sourced, procured and is donating 10 million masks to the medical community in the United States.” This is in addition to “millions more” donated to the hardest hit European regions. “Our ops teams are helping to find and purchase masks from our supply chain in coordination with governments around the world,” Cook tweeted.

Meanwhile, Elon Musk’s SpaceX is making hand sanitizer and face shields, according to a report by CNBC.

1M Californians have filed for unemployment

1 million Californians have filed for unemployment in the last 12 days, Gov. Gavin Newsom said. He added California has now distributed 24.5 million N95 masks, and has ordered 100 million new masks. Newsom also secured commitments from Wells Fargo, Citi, JPMorgan and US Bank to waive mortgage payments for the next 90 days for people impacted by the coronavirus. Bank of America only agreed to a 30-day period.

Prince Charles tests positive, self-isolates in Scotland

Prince Charles, the 71-year-old heir to the British throne, has tested positive for coronavirus, according to a spokesperson for the royal family. He’s been “displaying mild symptoms” of COVID-19 but is otherwise in good health and working from home, his office said in a statement.

His wife, Camilla, has tested negative, and the couple is self-isolating at home in Scotland.

Prince Charles tested positive for coronavirus and is displaying “mild” COVID-19 symptoms.

Andrew Matthews-WPA Pool/Getty Images

“It is not possible to ascertain from whom the Prince caught the virus owing to the high number of engagements he carried out in his public role during recent weeks,” his office said.

Charles last saw his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on March 12, the BBC reported, but the 93-year-old British monarch “remains in good health.”

March 24

Senate, White House agree on $2 trillion stimulus package

US senators and the White House reached a deal to deliver a nearly $2 trillion stimulus package, according to The New York Times. The stimulus bill is the largest in US history and is expected to provide financial aid to individuals as well as struggling businesses. A Senate vote is expected Wednesday.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we are done. We have a deal,” said Eric Ueland, White House legislative affairs director, at approximately 10 p.m. PT Tuesday.

The legislation, according to The Washington Post, will send many American adults $1,200 and children around $500. It will also boost small businesses with a $367 billion loan program, and hospitals are set to receive $150 billion in funding.

India in total lockdown

The Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, ordered the entire country — 1.3 billion people in total — to stay home for 21 days starting March 25. The extreme measures were announced late Tuesday, with Modi stating that “the only option is social distancing, to remain away from each other. There is no way out to escape from coronavirus besides this.”

Worldwide cases are approaching 420,000, but India has so far reported just over 500 cases, with 10 deaths.

Apple donates 9 million masks

Vice President Mike Pence said 9 million masks have now been donated by Apple. The remarks came during a White House briefing Tuesday afternoon, where Trump added that coming soon to hospitals around the nation are medical supplies including 8 million respirators, 14 million masks, 2.4 million face shields, 1.9 million surgical gowns, 13.5 million gloves and more than 4,000 ventilators.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said randomized tests are being done on a number of drugs, which are “queueing up to go to clinical trial.”

Trump hopes to have US open by Easter

During a town hall hosted by Fox News on Tuesday, President Donald Trump said he would love to have the US “opened up and raring to go by Easter,” which is on April 12. The president added that people will still have to practice social distancing, but reiterated that the cure cannot be worse than the problem.

“I gave it two weeks and we’ll assess at that time,” said Trump, referencing his 15-day timeline to slow the spread. “But we have to open this country up.”

Speaking further on the Easter plan during the White House briefing Tuesday afternoon, Trump conceded that some sections of the country may have to be opened one at a time.

Tokyo 2020 Olympics postponed

The Olympic Games, originally set for this summer in Tokyo, have been postponed due to the coronavirus. In a joint statement Tuesday, the International Olympic Committee and Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee said the decision was made to protect athletes and everyone else involved in the sporting event.

The Games will be rescheduled to a date beyond 2020, but no later than summer 2021, said the IOC. The Olympic flame will remain in Japan, and event leaders say they hope it will serve as a “light at the end of the tunnel” for the world.

March 23

Trump says America will be open for business ‘soon’

During a White House briefing, President Trump said the US “wasn’t built to be shut down,” and he is hoping local data can be used to advise areas of when they can “cautiously” resume normal activities. “America will be open for business a lot sooner than three or four months,” the president said. “We cannot let the cure be worse than the problem itself.”

Dr. Deborah Birx, White House coronavirus task force coordinator, said self-collected nasal swabbing is going to be made available later this week at clinics and drive-through sites. Birx added around 250,000 people have been tested in the last week.

Trump is also pushing an anti-malaria drug to be used in coronavirus tests, saying distribution of the drug, hydroxychloroquine, will begin tomorrow in New York City. It follows NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo announcing Sunday the state will begin drug trials using 70,000 doses of Hydroxychloroquine, 10,000 doses of Zithromax and 750,000 doses of Chloroquine Tuesday.

Also during the press conference, Attorney General William Barr said people hoarding essential medical supplies like face masks and hand sanitizer will “hear a knock at the door.” New laws prohibit both hoarding and price gouging.

The UK is on lockdown

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced a lockdown for the UK starting Monday night, with gatherings of more than two people banned unless they’re from the same household, and all non-essential stores and most public places closing. People are allowed to leave home only for essential shopping, medical needs, one form of exercise per day and travel to and from work only when absolutely necessary.

“From this evening, I must give the British people a very simple instruction: You must stay at home,” Johnson said. Visiting friends and family from other households is banned. Police have been given the power to enforce the new rules, including through fines and dispersing gatherings.

Five Florida spring breakers test positive

Five University of Tampa students have tested positive after traveling for spring break, the college tweeted. It comes after spring breakers in Florida were criticized last week for going ahead with their vacation plans and massing together at beaches despite social distancing guidelines and potential risk of contracting COVID-19.

Amazon to begin delivering test kits

Amazon will be delivering and picking up coronavirus test kits in Seattle, with the program part of the Seattle Coronavirus Assessment Network (SCAN) backed by the Gates Foundation. If a person tests positive after the test kit is analyzed, they will be contacted by a health care worker. “Responding to the rapidly evolving COVID-19 crisis must be a community effort and requires support from both the private and public sectors,” Kristen Helton, director of Amazon Care, said. “We … are eager to leverage Amazon Care’s infrastructure and logistics capabilities to support this local effort.”

US Surgeon general warns things will get worse

Dr. Jerome Adams, the US surgeon general, warned Monday that the coronavirus outbreak in the US will get worse before it gets better. “We really need everyone to understand this is serious, to lean into what they can do to flatten the curve,” Adams told CBS This Morning. He added that it will be awhile before “life gets back to normal” and stressed that Americans must ake steps “right now” to help stop the spread.

Congressman with coronavirus hospitalized

Utah Rep. Ben McAdams, who tested positive for COVID-19 last week, was hospitalized on Friday after experiencing a “severe shortness of breath.” McAdams said Sunday that he’s feeling better and expects to be released once doctors determine it’s appropriate. In his message, the Democratic congressman also urged people to follow advice from the CDC and Utah Department of Health to stop the spread of the virus.

March 22

Weinstein reportedly tests positive

Disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein has tested positive for COVID-19, according to a report by Deadline. Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison in March on sexual assault and rape charges and recently transferred to Wende Correctional Facility in New York. Deadline reports he has been placed in medical isolation, but public relations representatives of Weinstein have no knowledge of the positive diagnosis.

GameStop backflips on decision to stay open

Days after defending its decision to stay open during the coronavirus pandemic, claiming it was providing “essential retail,” video game giant GameStop is closing stores to customers. It will allow curb-side pickups and continue to handle online orders.

“This is an unprecedented time and each day brings new information about the COVID-19 pandemic,” George Sherman, GameStop’s CEO, said in a press release announcing the change. “Our priority has been and continues to be on the well-being of our employees, customers and business partners.”

Australian lockdown measures in place

The Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, has announced that stricter lockdown measures will now be enforced and that the country’s pubs, restaurants, bars, clubs, gyms and other “nonessential” services will be shut from midday on Monday, March 23. Morrison also requested all Australians stay home unless travel is essential.

“Those holidays that you may have been planning to take interstate over the school holidays are canceled,” Morrison noted in a press briefing on March 22.

Australia’s states and territories have also begun closing borders and will enforce 14-day quarantines for any domestic travellers. South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory all announced any incoming travellers would be required to self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival by air, land or sea.

Another sport gets postponed: Australian Rules Football

In light of the new lockdown measures in Australia, the Australian Football League — the country’s preeminent professional sporting competition — has decided to postpone the season indefinitely. The AFL had planned to forge ahead with the first round of the season, playing in empty stadiums, but the new measures have made playing on untenable.

Gillon McLachlan, AFL CEO, said it would be an understatement to call the coronavirus pandemic “the most serious threat to our game in 100 years.” At the earliest, the AFL will continue its season in June, but a decision on its fate will not be made until the end of April.

Rand Paul tests positive

Sen. Rand Paul, a Republican of Kentucky, has tested positive for coronavirus. In a tweet Sunday, Paul’s account revealed the results and is in quarantine. According to the tweet, Paul is “asymptomatic and was tested out of an abundance of caution due to his extensive travel and events,” with a followup tweet noting that his staff has been operating remotely and that he “expects to be back in the Senate after his quarantine period ends.”

Paul is the first US senator to test positive for the virus.

Senator Rand Paul has tested positive for COVID-19. He is feeling fine and is in quarantine. He is asymptomatic and was tested out of an abundance of caution due to his extensive travel and events. He was not aware of any direct contact with any infected person.

— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) March 22, 2020

German Chancellor Angela Merkel in quarantine

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has entered quarantine after being told that a doctor who gave her a pneumonia vaccine Friday has tested positive for coronavirus. According to the Associated Press, Merkel was put into quarantine shortly after a press conference on Sunday where she announced some “new measures to curb the spread of the virus.” The country has added a ban on gatherings of more than two people in a bid to slow the pandemic.

If you’re interested in coronavirus news from before March 22, CNET has been tracking the outbreak in real time here.

This article was originally posted on March 22 and is being constantly updated.

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Family, Work, and Divemastering (Nov 5, 2018-May 23, 2019)

At noon on Monday, November 5 Nathan and I, along with a couple of our more adventurous team members, took our scuba tanks and gear into downtown Yangon to the public pool I’d scoped out the week before and gotten permission to use from the pool manager.

We were going in order to practice some basic diving drills to refresh our skills (and have fun) in preparation for an upcoming dive. Nathan had been diving several times over the spring and summer since he was working on his instructor certification, but I’d always had other responsibilities and hadn’t been able to go with him. I’m pretty sure nobody at the pool had ever seen anything like it before because soon we attracted several amazed spectators!

The night of the 7th Nathan and I met up with one of our friends, Dr. Than Win, to drive 5 hours northwest of Yangon out to the small coastal fishing town of Ngwe Saung, on the Bay of Bengal, to go scuba diving again. Arriving at the beach after an exhausting, bumpy ride over narrow, primitive roads, we parked in a vacant lot for a few hours until dawn and then hauled our gear bags over a rickety wooden bridge spanning a small estuary and across a wide sandy beach to the predetermined rendezvous point with the boat.

The boat, was, as we should have expected, enormously late. This was not a problem though, as it gave us the opportunity to watch a sunrise wedding photoshoot and visit with three other young divers who were traveling the world on a cruise ship while enrolled in a ‘study at sea’ type of college program!

A small outboard motorboat finally arrived to ferry us out across the crystal clear water, just a little bit warmer than the early morning air, to the larger boat we would be diving from. This boat was a great hulking wooden monstrosity, with a huge, loud, water-cooled, underpowered inboard engine taking up the entire hold. When the engine cranked over several liters of greasy oily water belched out from the bilge directly onto the deck of the boat moored next to us and commenced spreading out in a thin film over the water.

As soon as the gear was stowed and the anchors weighed we started on what was supposed to be a 45 minute ride out to some small islands where the dives would take place. The problem though was that our boat was slow. We were on the slow boat to India! We couldn’t see it on the way out, but this boat was so slow that on the way back the incoming swells were rolling past us as if we were standing still!

Scuba diving in Myanmar is relatively uncommon, probably because it’s like trying to herd cats to get anything done here; very little English comprehension, outdated regulations, atrocious roads, restrictive lodging requirements, and the list goes on. (Could the not-uncommon Saltwater Crocodiles be another factor?)

Safe and conservative diving is recommended when diving in Myanmar because Myanmar healthcare facilities and infrastructure are so substandard. Also, poorly maintained equipment, minimally trained “instructors”, or instructors and Divemasters with expired licenses result in the level of professionalism and the quality of the dive gear being lower than what international divers would expect. Diving accidents should therefore at all cost be avoided.

I was glad we had all our own gear, including a fully stocked custom-built med bag to deal with any unavoidable diving-related emergencies that might arise, whether medical or trauma, because it’s a bloody long way back to anything resembling a hospital, and even farther to Monkey Point Naval Base in Yangon, which currently boasts the only operable hyperbaric chamber in the entire country!

Finally we arrived at the dive site just off Bird Island, and after getting geared up, entered the water to start our first dive. The water was warm and pristine, with crystal clear visibility for over 100 feet! This amazing visibility gave us a nice buffer to keep a sharp lookout for Saltwater Crocodiles, which are commonly seen in the area, but fortunately we didn’t see any.

Sadly though, unbridled fishing practices including heavy dynamite fishing has decimated the coral reefs and other marine life, and the water was sparsely inhabited in general. I was, however, able to see a lionfish, a bluespotted whiptail ray, several nudibranchs, small reef fish, and flying fish while on the way back to shore.

Diving here reminded me of a fascinating though disputed story that occurred on an island just north of our dive location during World War 2: for six weeks during January and February of 1945, Ramree Island, situated just off the coast of Burma in the Bay of Bengal, was the setting for a bloody battle between Japanese and Allied forces.

The Battle of Ramree Island was part of the Burma Campaign during WW ll, and was launched for the purpose of dislodging Japanese Imperial forces that had occupied the island since early 1942, along with the rest of Southern Burma, and establishing an airbase there.

They were met with stiff resistance from the Japanese, and vicious fighting ensued. Finally, after a long and bloody battle, the Allies captured the enemy base, but a platoon of an estimated 1,000 Japanese soldiers escaped, and since they were surrounded on three sides by the British, they decided to retreat straight across the island through 16 km of dense tidal swampland to rejoin a much larger Japanese battalion on the other side.

Traveling through the thick, muck-filled swamps, over maze-like mangrove roots, and under tangled vines was slow and exhausting work, made worse by the clouds of mosquitoes biting to distraction and spreading malaria and dengue fever, as well as leeches and the various poisonous spiders, scorpions, and snakes slithering through the mud and underbrush like it was the forest of Endor.

During the night, as the fleeing soldiers struggled on towards the safety of their reinforced beachhead, British troops reported hearing panicked screams of terror and gunfire emanating from within the dark swamp. Unfortunately for the Japanese, the swamps of Ramree were infested by countless, very large Saltwater Crocodiles, which can grow over 20 feet long and weigh over 2,000 pounds.

Drawn by the tasty sounds of the weary and bloodied soldiers thrashing clumsily through their territory, the opportunity was just too good to pass up, so they didn’t. Out of just under 1,000 Japanese soldiers that entered the swamps of Ramree, only about 20 were found alive by their reinforcements the next morning!

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

On November 12th I was “surprised” by visitors when my mom and little sister Lexi came to see me! They flew into Yangon where I met them and we all went out to a Burmese restaurant for supper and to catch up on everything. They came loaded with food and gifts from my family and some of my Montana friends which was another big surprise and very much appreciated!

The next morning we took a taxi to the bus station and caught the bus traveling from Yangon to the small hill station of Kalaw, high up in the mountains of Shan State, the same town that hosted the half-marathon Trail Run our ambulance stood by for last year.

Kalaw is also one of the best places in Myanmar to go trekking, which is the reason we were here. I’d already researched the best trekking outfits and found out who was available, so that evening after checking into our hotel we went out and talked to a couple of them in person and made reservations for the next day.

Early morning on the 14th we started on the 3 day, 36 mile adventure by walking through the expansive early morning street market in Kalaw with our Pa’O guide, David, and 4 other adventurers with whom we became very good friends by the time we reached our destination of Inle Lake, on the other side of the mountains.

During the 1st day we walked through high pine forests, grassy wildflower strewn meadows, small scattered villages, and rich mountainside farmland where farmers were plowing with water buffalo and cultivating crops of ginger, chilies, mountain rice, and niger seeds.

In the afternoon a sudden rainstorm blew through, even though we were already several weeks into the dry season. Very quickly the trail became cold, slippery, and treacherously muddy. There were several spills and one of our group even had both their shoes sucked off their feet going through an especially wet and leechy stretch of the mountains!

In the evening we came to the village where we would be spending the night. After taking a bucket bath from the open communal well in the center of the village, I went up the stairs to the large communal bedroom that one of the villagers rented out and rolled out my blanket, then we all went to another villagers house and had a delicious (spectacularly) supper.

Maybe it was all the exercise, but the food on the trek was some of the best examples of Burmese and Pa’O (the predominant tribe in this part of the country) food I had while living in Myanmar, with a few exceptions when foreigner food was attempted (the pancakes on the final morning would have made great pothole fillers).

On the second day after breakfast we struck out again, soon leaving the high mountains behind dropping down into an expansive valley interspersed with rolling hills, small villages, and a cantankerous cow. We passed villagers shelling cobs and laying the corn out to dry in the sun, harvesting tomatoes and ginger, and weaving intricate baskets out of delicate strips of bamboo.

It was substantially hotter in the valley than the mountains, so when we came upon a medium sized river meandering along beside the trail and our guide suggested we stop for a swim and a rest, we were happy to take him up on it!

This was actually the very same river whose terminal end we would canoe out of and into the lake at journeys end, but David explained that its course was too serpentine and roundabout to warrant building a bamboo raft and floating out on it, which I had been thinking would be far more ameliorative for my blistery feet, the shoes of which were disintegrating before my very eyes as the trek unfolded.

Late in the afternoon we finally reached the lower bamboo and jungle clad mountains on the other side of the valley, which we began ascending for a couple hours. Just as dusk was falling we arrived at an enormous, ancient wooden monastery, which appeared to have been built in the middle of nowhere, and here we stopped and were granted lodging for our second night.

The fun thing about staying here was that a couple dozen small novitiate monks lived here in the monastery, and they challenged us to a game of pickup football (soccer) with them when we first arrived before it got dark. I’m convinced the only reason we were beaten so roundly was due to the various hardships of our journey, for example blisters and leech-induced anemia!

Early on the third morning, after finishing breakfast and patching up our feet as best we could, we continued on, first up, then down through the mountains, eventually coming upon a beautiful cobblestone road left over from colonial days which we followed all the way out of the mountains into another beautiful valley, and on towards Inle Lake, the second largest lake in Myanmar, and one of the highest, at 2,900 feet (880 meters). Near the lake, the ground is at or below water level, and the road was flooded in several areas even though the rest of the country was well into the dry season.

Finally the road ended entirely and we climbed a rickety wooden stile, crossed a rickety wooden catwalk over a boat canal that connects the village to the river, balanced along a slippery, muddy dyke, and finally arrived at a villagers house where we could rest and have lunch.

After lunch we walked back over to the canal and climbed into a long, wide, wooden outboard canoe and started on the last leg of our adventure. First we floated past all the houses through the village, then we entered the river from the day before which shortly opened into a huge area which was nothing but amazing floating tomato gardens, the rows of vines clearly bobbing up and down over the water, with the farmers (settlers? colonizers?) living over the lake in stilted huts and doing all the trellising, harvesting, and other farm work from their small wooden dugout canoes.

These are the Intha people, a very small tribe who only live around Inle Lake and who make their living farming on the lake and fishing, using unique cone-shaped basket-like fishing traps, and an even more unique method of paddling using their leg to grip the oar, standing on the other leg in the back of their canoe.

Finally we entered the open water of the 13 1/2 mile long lake and sped along up the lake enjoying the sensation of effortless movement, taking in the spectacular views of the surrounding mountains, Intha fishermen, and all the other boat taxis and lake traffic out enjoying the fresh air and pleasantly warm sun on the sparkling, though very murky, lake. Arriving at the northern end of the lake in Nyaungshwe, a small fishing town with as many boat canals as roads, we bid our guide and traveling companions farewell and went our separate ways.

After the trek the three of us traveled to the capital of Shan State, Taunggyi, to attend the annual Tazaungdaing Fire Balloon Festival, where hundreds of amateur teams compete over 4 days to launch the best hot air balloons, sometimes shaped like various animals, birds, and mythological creatures, and filled to capacity with homemade fireworks. Sometimes the balloon is too heavy or poorly designed to even make it off the ground before the payload ignites, or it catches on fire soon after takeoff and plummets into the thousands of spectators. There are fatalities every year but there’s just the right twinge of danger to keep it interesting. The festival occurs close to the end of the Buddhist Lent and marks the official end of the rainy season. While a huge celebration and local phenomenon, its deeper purpose, like so many “Buddhist” traditions, is to ward off evil spirits; the giant balloons are just upsized Chinese sky lanterns.

On November 18 we had to take a night bus back to Yangon in order to make it in time to catch our plane! The only bus I could find that was able to take us was a bottom-tier 3rd class bus with absolutely no legroom and innumerable stops throughout the interminable night.

Early the next morning we flew from Yangon to Kuala Lumpur where my mom had some meetings and had invited us along, then we flew to Malaysian Borneo to go scuba diving. My mom had been a diver in college and my sister had wanted go diving ever since I myself started diving, so now they both finally had a chance! Diving was wonderful, with my mom deciding to renew her license and Lexi vowing to get hers.

From Malaysia we flew up to Chiang Mai, in northern Thailand, for a few days, and then, after meeting up with friends, drove out to Sunshine Orchard, where Lexi would be residing while interning as a paramedic at a small nearby clinic in the middle of the jungle.

After seeing all my friends at Sunshine Orchard and visiting for a few days I had to return to work, so I told my mom, sister, and SO friends goodbye. On December 4th my mom and I drove into MaeSot where my mom took a bus down to Ayutthaya to spend one more week before flying back home and I walked across the Friendship Bridge to the Myanmar border and took the night bus back to work. Lexi of course stayed behind to work at the jungle clinic.

During the last week of November and first week-and-a-half of December Nathan was back in Thailand finishing his scuba diving instructor course and upon completion received his NAUI Scuba Instructor certification!

On December 7th I took a taxi to the bus station and traveled back up to Kalaw to join my ambulance and partial crew already present to stand by at the Trail Run for the second year in a row. This event is a fun assignment for several reasons: The crisp, sunny, humidity-free days and cold, invigorating, mosquito-free nights are a pleasant change from the oppressive lowlands, the food at the antique Kalaw Heritage Hotel where the race is hosted is delicious, and it’s fun to see our friends there, especially my friend who is the doctor for the Australian Embassy in Yangon, who collaborates on projects with us from time to time.

The morning of Sunday the 9th the race began, with nearly twice as many participants as last year. We were fairly busy treating the expected maladies- blisters, twisted ankles, scraped knees, heat cramps, but there weren’t any major injuries.

After the race was over and most of the people had left we packed up our gear and drove directly to the very old city of Sagaing, in central Myanmar, where we would begin teaching an EMR course to 24 students from Sagaing Emergency Rescue Team and a few volunteers from other nearby groups the next day. This is why I hadn’t ridden to Kalaw in the ambulance, because we needed a team to go early and drop off our training materials in Sagaing on their way up to the Trail Run.

The leader of SERT, Mr. Soe Min Oo, had been our best student at our fourth ever EMR training, and he had been trying to get an EMR training for his group ever since, but there had been major scheduling issues on both sides until now.

The Sagaing EMR training ran from December 10-21 and was unusual in that it was covered by a major national television channel, so I’m happy to say that it went very smoothly and was probably the best overall EMR course I had ever taught!

I did have to go intercede on one students’ behalf though because the rescue group he works for was making him man their “dispatch center” every night even though he was the only person from that group attending our course! They were doing this to low-key punish him and try to make him fail class for trying to get training which they hadn’t endorsed and would put him at a higher-trained level than the leaders of his group. But despite this he was still coming to our class and arriving on time in the mornings! Fortunately, after all the formalities of the visit to this rival rescue group were out of the way they agreed to find someone else to fill in for him until training was over, and he ended up being one of our students who passed the class and received our internationally accredited EMR certificate!

After the EMR course, we packed up and brought all the training supplies back to Yangon to be cleaned and stowed until next time, and then spent the next week catching up on end of year paperwork, delayed CPR-AED and First Aid trainings, and continuing to respond to emergencies.

At 9 AM on Sunday, December 30th, Nathan began instructing his first scuba diving course to 4 students, with myself as an assistant. We spent the first day in the pool in Yangon, familiarizing the students with the equipment and teaching basic principles and skills like how to use the buoyancy control device (BCD) and regulator to breathe underwater and control depth. The next morning we drove out to the beach at Ngwe Saung and again spent the whole afternoon in a pool there teaching and practicing skills, although Nathan and I did manage to squeeze in a shore dive that evening!

January 1 and 2, 2019 was the open water component of the course, a fantastic way to start the New Year! As luck would have it, we happened to draw the same boat as last time, and found ourselves putzing along at a feather-star pace (one of the most graceful animals in the sea, though never known to win a race). At least we certainly couldn’t complain about the location, scenery, or company!

On our way out to sea for the 2nd day of open-water, the boat decided to needle us a little more than usual and the engine died about a quarter-mile offshore, leaving us at the mercy of the incoming tide and letting us drift dangerously close to a small, rocky island before the “engineer” could get it started again. We finished the voyage and scheduled dives without further incident and after putzing back to shore late that afternoon, washed the saltwater off us and our gear, ate supper, and then drove back to Yangon during the night.

Early the next morning on January third, just a couple hours after arriving back in Yangon from our scuba class, Nathan went to the airport and flew back to our school property in Thailand to begin preparing it for a Remote First Aid class that we were scheduled to teach that next week. The day after Nathan left I also started traveling to Kanchanaburi, taking the night bus from Yangon to Myawaddy, and crossing into Thailand the morning of the 5th. I really wanted to stop for breakfast at one of the amazing restaurants in MaeSot, but as I was hoping to catch the day bus down to our school in Kanchanaburi, I took a Songtau straight to the bus station and bought a ticket for a van that would take me over the steep, always-under-construction mountain road to Tak, an hour and a half from the border, where I could catch the bus I needed.

Arriving in Tak I rushed to the ticket counter and discovered that I had just missed the morning bus and would have to spend the day in the bus station until the night bus arrived at 11 PM (story of my life). After a day spent thinking about taking two night-busses in a row and all the other things I could be doing instead, I finally boarded my bus and arrived in Kanchanaburi mid-morning on January 6, then jumped on a local bus which took me out to the village near the school where Nathan met me in our ambulance.

The rest of that day and all the next we worked around the property getting it brush-hogged and trimmed and weeded and watered, then we cleaned out and scrubbed down the classroom we would be holding the training in.

Monday evening after work we drove into Kanchanaburi to pick up my sister Lexi at the bus station. She had been working the medical beachhead along the Thai-Burma border ever since I’d last seen her (no joke either; suturing knife wounds, treating breasts hollowed out by mastitis, sick babies, drowning victims, strange and wonderful tropical diseases...). For some reason, she had decided to have an ocular emergency of her own which had prevented her from traveling south with me when I crossed into Thailand. Now she was coming down to accompany us to a real beach and finally get her diving certification at the next scuba diving class Nathan had scheduled to teach immediately after the RFA.

From Jan 8-10 Nathan and I taught the Remote First Aid class to local rescue volunteers plus the owner and some of the employees of a Bangkok-based rock climbing company specializing in guiding climbing tours to scenic and remote locations across Thailand. They had been looking for a company to give their guides some medical training in case someone had an emergency and they were thrilled to have found us.

On Friday Nathan and I loaded up our Thai ambulance with scuba tanks and dive gear and with Lexi we drove out to the local military base where we have a quid pro quo that allows us to use their training pool for swimming and diving. Along the way we picked up Pi Top and Pi Game, two of our local friends who were also taking the scuba diving course.

At the pool, the 5 of us met 5 more prospective students sent by the local rescue diver foundation, who had given Nathan and I our first scuba diver training two years ago. Now that Nathan was a NAUI Instructor, the foundation leader was sending him the first of many foundation divers to receive real training, since all their previous training to date had been 2nd or 3rd hand at best and entirely empirical.

So, the former students taught the former teachers, and I was again assisting as with the first course to provide an adequate student-instructor ratio and just to help streamline the process. For instance, if someone panics or has trouble equalizing their ears while practicing underwater skills I’m there to help them regain control or fix their problem instead of having to pause the whole class and bring everyone else up also.

The next day we hung out at the school, picking fresh limes and making fresh limeade, and just relaxing. Early Sunday morning we reloaded the ambulance and all piled in to drive 10 hours farther south to the ocean near Krabi, Thailand for the open-water part of training. Heading out of town we parked our ambulance at Pi Top’s gas station and transferred everything into Pi Game’s vehicle, which is also an ambulance, but it’s bigger than ours and we needed all the space we could possibly get since both he and Pi Top were coming along, plus Lexi and I, and Nathan with his family.

On the 14th and 15th we rented a wooden longtail fishing boat and dove as many times as we safely could. This completed the first level of scuba diver, and our two friends went back home, but Lexi and Nathan and I stayed and got a couple more dives in on the 16th to start fulfilling the requirements for Lexi’s advanced scuba diver license, since she loved it so much.

We weren’t able to finish that course immediately though, because Nathan had some family of his own coming over to Thailand for a visit and had to leave, leaving Lexi and I to poodle around the beach on our own for a couple days. This was great fun and also gave me a chance to look around for a dive shop that might be looking for someone to intern with them.

(I had completed my divemaster training over a year before, but in order to be certified I needed to have a certain number of logged dives, and despite our best intentions, with all our other responsibilities Nathan and I hadn’t been diving as much as we’d have liked, which would have more than satisfied my pre-DM-cert dive quota. So... before our Remote First Aid class we had talked and decided that after the next scuba training I would stay behind and try to find a divemaster internship to complete my training.)

I was worried about finding an opening because Thailand was currently experiencing an unseasonably low volume of tourists due to recently changing their tourist visa requirements, but when I checked at one of the very first shops I came to, which I only knew about because this is where one of the instructors who’d helped teach Nathan and I our initial divemaster course now worked, they were delighted to have another diver help them out and offered me the ternship!

After seeing my sister off back to her clinic internship on the 19th, I started my divemaster ternship the very next day, Wednesday, January 20. This entailed learning and doing everything a divemaster does, plus helping the other divemasters and instructors with everything they needed help with, in exchange for gaining the essential experience I needed to qualify me for my DM certification.

On Sunday night, February 24th, I took a 12 hour bus ride from Krabi up to Bangkok where I immediately switched busses to take another 12 hour bus ride on up to MaeSot where I switched yet again to a Songtau and went up to visit Lexi and everyone else at Sunshine Orchard for a few days before continuing on to Yangon on March 1st. I had to make this trip back to Yangon in order to apply for a new Thai visa, and also to pack up and move my stuff out of our office/house, as there was a contemplated upgrade on the horizon. I brought my stuff back to Thailand and parked it temporarily with a friend in MaeSot. Here I again met up with Lexi, who had taken a Songtau down from Sunshine Orchard and was going to accompany me back down to the coast, because Nathan was now available to finish teaching Lexi her advanced scuba diver course.

From March 19-21 we dove off the coast of Krabi and Phuket, completing the necessary skills for Lexi to be certified at the advanced level including: light salvage, underwater navigation, night diving, shore dives, wreck dives, and Nitrox dives, plus Rescue Diver skills.

Afterwards, I went back to complete my DM internship, working there until May 24, when I started making preparations to go to Africa and work at a rural clinic in Ethiopia!

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blancpain-gt-series-asia-blog · 8 years ago

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Blancpain GT Series Asia reveals inaugural calendar and championship details

> Six rounds and 12 races spread across four countries in 2017 > An exclusive selection of the best circuits > Multi-class GT3 and GT4 racing featuring the SRO Balance of performance > Pirelli selected as official sole tyre supplier > $300,000 prize fund shared between classes > Dedicated live TV and online streaming > Standardised professional timing service > VIP Team hospitality included in the entry

The inaugural Blancpain GT Series Asia campaign will feature a six-round, 12-race calendar in 2017, as well as a number of elements designed to offer teams greater value for money, opportunities and exposure throughout the season.

The promoter, SRO Motorsports Group, has pooled its experience of overseeing the world’s biggest GT3 Series - the European Blancpain GT Series - as well as national championships catering for GT4 cars, with that of respected leaders in Asian motorsport and its teams to devise a format and benefits specifically tailored to the region’s GT market.

The result brings together the best of both cultures to create a highly-professional platform equally geared towards professional and amateur drivers, while employing the same world-renowned BoP, sporting and technical expertise, and Pirelli tyres common across European and American GT racing.

2017 calendar

The inaugural season’s six-round, 12-race calendar features a mix of Asia’s internationally renowned and newest domestic circuits.

2017 begins at Malaysia’s Formula 1 circuit, Sepang, in early April before moving on to Thailand’s only FIA Grade 1 track, the Chang International Circuit in Buriram, for two more one-hour races in late May.

These are followed by trips to Japan’s most internationally renowned motorsport destinations, Suzuka (June) and Fuji Speedway (August), ahead of two Chinese rounds separated by four weeks. The first of these takes place at Shanghai’s Formula 1 circuit in late September before the newly constructed Zhejiang Circuit plays host to the season finale in late October.

With no Intercontinental GT Challenge (Liquid-Moly Bathurst 12Hour, Total 24 Hours of Spa, Laguna Seca 8 Hours and Motul Sepang 12 Hours) date clashes, the calendar also offers Blancpain GT Series Asia teams and drivers the opportunity to compete outside of their traditional heartland using the same cars, BoP and Pirelli tyres.

Weekend format and classes

Each Blancpain GT Series Asia weekend will follow the same format, which has been designed to maximise track time. Friday features two 45-minute practice sessions before another 30-minute session on Saturday morning. That’s followed by two 15-minute qualifying segments ahead of that afternoon’s 60-minute race. A second hour-long race then takes place on Sunday. Both races will feature a mandatory pit-stop and driver change governed by a minimum pit-stop time.

GT3 and GT4 cars will compete in the same race, albeit fighting for individual honours, which adds an exciting multi-class element.

Equally, SRO’s driver crew classifications offer an opportunity for existing professionals to excel, youngsters to develop and amateurs to win. GT3 will therefore comprise separate categories for Pro/Am, Silver Cup (Silver Cup cars will be balanced) and Am/Am line-ups, while GT4 remains solely dedicated to all-amateur pairings in preparation for a potential GT3 graduation.

Pirelli: a tried and trusted GT partner

Pirelli has won the tender to become Blancpain GT Series Asia’s official sole tyre supplier.

While other manufacturers expressed considerable interest, Pirelli’s P ZERO GT3 and GT4 tyres have consistently proven themselves in other SRO-promoted series. A sole supplier prevents teams from footing significant development costs, while the considerable existing data held by manufacturers, as well as European and US teams, can be shared.

Amateur drivers can easily switch between SRO-sanctioned series or contest one-off rounds of the Intercontinental GT Challenge without spending time and money testing unfamiliar tyres, or altering the car’s set-up and their driving style to suit. Equally, Pirelli’s GT compounds have been praised by amateur drivers for their durability, consistency and confidence-inspiring performance over a stint’s duration.

Clearly, a focus on amateur drivers proved a significant factor in Pirelli’s selection. But its continuing supply deal with Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia (see information below) also emphasises the close cooperation between the package’s various stakeholders.

Greater value for money and prize fund

SRO has also focused on the often difficult logistics teams face when competing at venues across the continent and has taken steps to make the Blancpain GT Series Asia package more affordable.

Building on its successful European partnership, Blancpain GT Series Asia will be supported on all weekends but one by Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia. This makes it more cost-effective for teams (and drivers, if they wish) to compete in both at the same event, while an amateur driver’s progression from one-make category to globally-recognised GT3 rules racing is also streamlined.

A further support series announcement, aimed at making the package even more cost-effective, is expected in the coming weeks.

Finally, a substantial $300,000 prize fund has also been guaranteed throughout the year, with $50,000 available at each round. This will be split between the GT3 and GT4 classes, although only full-season entries are eligible to win a share of the money.

Hospitality, live TV, multi-language resources and dedicated logistics

Blancpain GT Series Asia will feature a number of elements designed to widen the exposure of its teams’ successes, enhance sponsor relations and aid general organisation.

A dedicated central hospitality unit at all races provides teams with an area to wine and dine their partners. Four VIP guest passes are included with every full-season entry, while more can be purchased upon request.

In line with all Blancpain GT Series races in Europe, SRO’s Asian equivalent will benefit from professionally produced live streaming at every round, while TV exposure is also guaranteed across the continent and beyond.

A dedicated logistics partner will help lower the cost associated with freighting cars and personnel across Asia, while standardised professional timing will be used at every round.

Experienced staff

Blancpain GT Series Asia will combine SRO’s world-renowned GT racing expertise with that of experienced Asian motorsport professionals.

Blancpain GT Series Asia Championship General Manager & Director Benjamin Franassovici provides a wealth of experience earned over 20 years at SRO. Having first worked as FIA GT Championship Team Coordinator between 1997 and 2009, he has overseen the British GT Championship since 2011 and will already be familiar to many Asian teams through his work as Motul Sepang 12 Hours Manager and Macau FIA GT World Cup Coordinator.

Meanwhile, Championship Co-Director Paul Yao’s motorsport involvement began as a driver before founding the Hong Kong Supercar Club in 1999. Four years later he established the Asian Supercar Challenge which, after several name changes, eventually settled on the GT Asia Series moniker. He remained an active partner until 2015.

2017 Blancpain GT Series Asia Calendar

April 8/9 Sepang International Circuit Malaysia 2x 1hr races May 20/21 Chang International Circuit Thailand 2x 1hr races June 24/25 Suzuka International Circuit Japan 2x 1hr races August 19/20 Fuji International Circuit Japan 2x 1hr races September 23/24 Shanghai International Circuit China 2x 1hr races October 21/22 Zhejiang Circuit China 2x 1hr races

Link to Blancpain GT Series Asia Brochure

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wikitopx · 5 years ago

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History is everywhere in Virginia.

Four of the first five presidents were born in the state, giving it a head start on the record of eight, the most of any state. Two of its top tourist attractions — Mount Vernon and Monticello — are homes of presidents. Virginia also claims the most Civil War battlefields of any state and the places where both the Revolution and the Civil War ended.

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1. Colonial Williamsburg

Few places can recreate a setting for the period of the American Revolution as well as Williamsburg, where the original 18th-century buildings are either still standing or have been faithfully reproduced on their original foundations.

Here, you can stand where Patrick Henry gave his stirring speech, walk the same streets as Thomas Jefferson, and savor a meal where George Washington enjoyed seafood dinners.

Williamsburg was the capital of Virginia from 1705 and throughout the Revolution, and the final battle of the war was fought nearby, so it was a hotbed of the independence movement, along with being one of the most prosperous and politically active colonial capitals.

Costumed interpreters help show what life was like for the gentry, the farmers, and the slaves that lived and worked here, and frequent re-enactments add color and action that makes Williamsburg a fun place to visit for all ages.

In addition, you can visit two outstanding museums of folk and decorative arts and dozens of authentically recreated colonial gardens.

2. Virginia Beach

Named the golden sand stretching from the east of Norfolk, Virginia Beach is a very popular resort town and is often crowded with hotels, amusement parks, and long walkways.

If the Atlantic Ocean is not warm enough for the children, take them to the 19-acre Ocean Breeze Water Park, with Caribbean-themed waterslides, a wave pool, and a water playground.

The Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Museum explore the climate, seafloor, and fauna of the coast, with an 800,000-gallon aquarium, hands-on exhibits, and a touch tank. Outdoors is an aviary, nature trail, marshlands to explore, and an adventure park.

More than 9,000 acres of coastline has been protected in the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, where you'll find walking and hiking trails and picnic facilities at the visitor center. This is a favorite spot for birders, as more than 10,000 birds visit annually, including snow geese, falcons, ducks, and piping plovers.

The Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum displays historical and contemporary waterfowl decoys. To visit the Old Cape Henry Lighthouse in 1791, open the Chesapeake Bay area for safe movement, and the nearby New Lighthouse was built in 1881, you will need to pass through security at Military Base the Fort Story.

Between Virginia Beach and Norfolk is the entrance to the 20-mile-long engineering marvel Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, which spans the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay, connecting the mainland to Virginia's Eastern Shore.

3. Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive

In central Virginia, Shenandoah National Park protects parts of the Blue Ridge Mountains, with a height of 2,000 to 4,000 feet.

Along their peaks and running the length of the park is Skyline Drive, the northern continuation of Blue Ridge Parkway, with stops to enjoy the scenery and attractions, including summer's accommodation. President Hoover and the Old Cave Cemetery under Dark Hollow Falls.

The beautiful hiking trails are some of the park's main attractions in the park. Flowering trees and shrubs are at their finest in spring and summer, but the park is best known for its autumn colors in October.

Only a short drive west from the Skyline Drive on US 211 is Luray Caverns containing magnificent formations of stalactites and stalagmites. One of the cave's highlights is the world's only stalactite organ, where the stalactites resonate when struck with rubber mallets.

4. Arlington National Cemetery

Spread across 600 acres overlooking Washington, D.C., Arlington National Cemetery is where some of the most famous people in the United States are buried. The most visited are the grave of President John F. Kennedy and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Kennedy's grave is marked by a slate headstone covered with Cape Cod fieldstone and contains inscriptions of his 1960 inaugural address carved in marble, as well as an eternal flame.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is carved of white marble and watched over by an honor guard 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. It contains the remains of soldiers from both World Wars, the Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam War.

The third site tourists look for is the famous Iwo Jima Memorial, the Marine Corps War Memorial depicting the Joseph Rosenthal photo of five Marines and one sailor raising the flag on Mount Suribachi.

Other notable monuments include the Seabees Memorial, sculpted by former Seabee Felix de Weldon who also created the Iwo Jima Memorial, and the Women in Military Service for America Memorial, a tribute to all women in the US military.

Arlington House was built in the early 1800s by George Washington Parke Custis as a tribute to his step-grandfather, George Washington. However, the house is most famous for being the residence of Robert E. Lee and his wife for 30 years until they abandoned it during the Civil War.

Lee was a commander of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia during the American Civil War. The house has been restored and now serves as a memorial to him. Near the mansion is the tomb of Pierre Bennfant, who designed the city of Washington, D.C.

His original city plan was etched into stone, and his burial place commanded a beautiful view of the city he intended. The mast of the Battleship Maine is incorporated into a memorial to the casualties of the ship that sunk in Havana Harbor in 1898, leading to the Spanish-American war.

Place: 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon, Virginia

Official site: https://ift.tt/MSM5H6

5. Mount Vernon

George Washington's home from 1754 until his death 45 years later, Mount Vernon was a work in progress under Washington's close supervision, even while he was leading the Continental Army during the Revolution.

The architectural design, construction, and even interior décor in each renovation and addition received his personal attention, resulting in the gracious 21-room plantation house you see today.

You may be surprised at the vivid paint and wallpaper colors throughout the house, but these shades were popular in the late 18th century — the bright green walls in the "New Room" were Washington's favorite.

Unlike many historic homes, Mount Vernon is filled with personal reminders of George and Martha Washington: family portraits, crests, and the couple's belongings.

The grounds and gardens overlooking views of the Potomac River were a great pride of the first president, and again he took a personal part in their planning and care. He chose a less formal and more natural plan than his predecessors, reshaping the lawns and paths and planting native species of trees and shrubs.

The outbuildings have been preserved or reconstructed, and you'll often see the many skills used on the plantation demonstrated: blacksmithing, plowing, sheep shearing, weaving, even grinding grain at the water-powered gristmill.

Location: 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy, Mount Vernon, Virginia

Official site: www.mountvernon.org

6. Monticello and Charlottesville

One of the finest country houses in the United States and one of the most visited presidential homes, Thomas Jefferson's Monticello is a Palladian-style mansion he designed himself, inspired by a villa outside Vicenza, Italy.

He continued altering and improving it over a period of forty years, from 1768 to 1809. Throughout the house, you will see some Jefferson inventions, showing another aspect of the talent of the versatile man.

To the rear of the house are the extensive historic gardens, also designed by Jefferson, and below is the family cemetery with an obelisk marking Jefferson's grave. An interesting outdoor exhibit, Landscape of Slavery: Mulberry Row at Monticello, sheds light on the lives of the people who worked and lived on the 5,000-acre plantation.

The Monticello Visitors Center has more than 400 items on display, an introductory film, and hands-on activities for children.

Jefferson founded the University of Virginia in 1819 and also designed its red-brick buildings. Be sure to see the outstanding Rotunda; fans of Edgar Allan Poe can see his room in the West Building.

The university's Art Museum has a permanent collection of American, European, and Asian art. Not far from Monticello is Ash Lawn-Highland, the country house of President James Monroe, with beautiful period gardens. At Michie Tavern, built during Jefferson's time, you can dine in 18th-century surroundings.

Address: Thomas Jefferson Parkway, Charlottesville, Virginia

Official site: www.monticello.org

7. Jamestown and Yorktown

Colonial National Historic Park encompasses both Jamestown and Yorktown, where the Revolution ended. Jamestown is the oldest British settlement in North America, founded in 1607 by Captain John Smith.

Only the foundations of the 1639 church tower, the churchyard, and the outlines of a few other buildings remain of the original settlement, but you'll find a re-creation of a Powhatan village based on contemporary drawings and archaeological finds, and replicas of the three ships that brought the settlers from England: Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery.

Jamestown Settlement was built in 1957 to commemorate the 350th anniversary of Jamestown's founding. A museum and exhibition galleries focus on England's colonization in the New World, the history and culture of the Powhatans, and Jamestown's first 100 years.

The statue of Pocahontas by William Ordway Partridge was erected in 1922 in memory of her role in smoothing relations between the Native Americans and the settlers. The statue of John Smith by William Couper was erected in 1909.

Triangular James Fort is a re-creation of the one constructed by the colonists, with thatch-roofed structures representing Jamestown's earliest buildings. Although none of the original buildings are still standing, the foundations are still in place, and you can see them on a half-mile walk through New Towne, part of Colonial National Historical Park.

It was at Yorktown Battlefield that the English Army under Lord Cornwallis surrendered to the combined American and French Armies, paving the way for American Independence. The events on the battlefield are well documented and easy to understand from the interpretive displays and dioramas.

Park Ranges also guide frequent tours, and you can see the early 18th-century Moore House where Cornwallis surrendered. Nelson House, which has a cannonball lodged in the wall near the upper window, is well-restored and an excellent example of Georgian architecture.

Grace Episcopal Church has been standing since 1697 despite the ravages of war during the sieges of Yorktown in 1781 and 1862 and despite the fire of 1814. A silver procession dating from 1649 is still in use.

Address: Colonial National Historical Park, Yorktown, Virginia

8. Luray Caverns

Luray Caverns contain breathtaking examples of calcite formations within an extensive underground system that sometimes feels more like an alien landscape than a terrestrial natural landmark.

Visitors can walk through the caves and admire these limestone crystals, which have, over the centuries, formed an impressive landscape.

Among the highlights are Titania's Veil; the giant Double Column; interior lakes, which magnify the scene; and a one-of-a-kind musical instrument called the Great Stalacpipe Organ, which creates music using the stalactites themselves.

In addition to the caves, visitors can also enjoy other attractions as part of the admission. The Luray Valley Museum explores the history of the Shenandoah Valley throughout a seven-acre 19th-century village, which is filled with both authentic and reproduction buildings and artifacts.

The Car & Carriage Caravan Museum features historic vehicles, including an 1897 Mercedes Benz, and Toy Town Junction is home to an antique train set and toy collection form the 1940s.

Address: Luray Caverns, 101 Cave Hill Road, Luray, Virginia

9. Chincoteague and Assateague Islands

Assateague is a 38-mile-long barrier island to the east of Chincoteague Island, which it protects from the Atlantic Ocean. The entire island of Assateague, which is partly in Maryland and partly in Virginia, is protected as a wildlife sanctuary.

The southern end of Chincoteague is protected by a National Wildlife Refuge with 14,000 acres of shoreline, fresh and saltwater marshes, wetlands, and forest habitat for more than 320 species of shorebirds and waterfowl.

But the two islands' most famous residents are the wild ponies. Partly because of these ponies and partly because Assateague Island is lined by one of the most beautiful beaches on the entire Atlantic Coast, these islands get about one-and-a-half million visitors each year.

Along with watching the wild ponies, you can swim, walk nature trails, take wildlife tours by boat or bus, watch birds, visit the famous lighthouse, kayak, go fishing, and collect seashells (up to a gallon each day).

10. Natural Bridge of Virginia

Towering more than 215 feet high with a span of 90 feet, the Natural Bridge is one of America's oldest tourist attractions and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. During the 18th and 19th centuries, it was one of the two most popular sights for European visitors, ranking with Niagara Falls.

It was formed by the collapse of a cavern through which the Cedar Creek flowed. The legend that George Washington surveyed the bridge for Lord Fairfax gained credence when a rock with his initials and survey mark was discovered in 1927. Thomas Jefferson owned the land for some time, building a log cabin here as a retreat.

In 2014, Natural Bridge became a state park. Stroll along Cedar Creek Trail from Cascade Falls, under the bridge, and to Lace Falls, visiting an exhibit on the Monacans, the local Native American tribe, and a saltpeter mine used during the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. US Route 11 runs over the top of the bridge.

Nearby is the Natural Bridge Caverns, where you can go 34 floors underground to see the Colossal Dome, Mirror Lake, and stalactites and stalagmites. Natural Bridge Zoo is known for its work in breeding rare and endangered species and for the chance for visitors to interact with some of the animals.

Address: 6477 South Lee Highway, Natural Bridge, Virginia

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courtneytincher · 5 years ago

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Boris Johnson Denies Lying to Queen Over Suspension: Brexit Update

(Bloomberg) -- Follow @Brexit, sign up to our Brexit Bulletin, and tell us your Brexit story. Boris Johnson denied lying to the Queen over his suspension of Parliament after it was ruled unlawful by a Scottish court, just one of a series of recent political and legal setbacks to his “do or die” plan to leave the European Union on Oct. 31. EU negotiator Michel Barnier also warned there would be no point reopening formal talks, it was reported.But there was some respite from Belfast, where a court ruled on Thursday that leaving the EU without a divorce agreement, which Johnson has not ruled out doing, wouldn’t violate the peace accord in Northern Ireland. In Hungary, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto urged the bloc to take Johnson more seriously.Key Developments:Johnson denied lying to the Queen over Parliament suspensionA Belfast court ruled that a no-deal Brexit would not break the Good Friday peace accordGovernment published no-deal Brexit planning documents late Wednesday ahead of Parliament-imposed deadline: U.K. Warns of Protests, Chaotic Border Scenes in No-Deal BrexitDefence Secretary Ben Wallace said the government is working to mitigate no-deal Brexit risksHungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told Bloomberg he wants the EU to take Johnson more seriouslySpeaker Bercow Calls for U.K. Constitution (20:22 p.m)John Bercow, who has been a thorn in the side of the government as Speaker of the House of Commons, suggested he would allow MPs to use parliamentary proceedings to ensure Prime Minister Boris Johnson upholds the anti-no deal law passed last week by MPs.Speaking publicly for the first time since announcing he’d step down Oct. 31, Bercow also said the U.K. might need a U.S.-style constitution to prevent future governments seeking to override laws passed by Parliament.A “Parliamentary Powers Act might be introduced to entrench the authority of the House of Commons and ensure that the rule of law is never distorted or perverted by executive malpractice,” he said at the annual Bingham Lecture.Barnier Says no Grounds to Restart Talks (4:50 p.m.)The European Commission’s Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, told Members of the European Parliament that there are insufficient grounds for reopening official negotiations, the Guardian reported.Barnier told leaders of the Parliament that Johnson hasn’t yet offered any legally and credible proposals for alternatives to the Northern Ireland backstop, the newspaper cited him as saying in a private briefing.Another Day, Another Court Challenge (4 p.m.)The legal challenges to Johnson are piling up. After the Scottish Court of Sessions ruled on Wednesday that his suspension of Parliament is unlawful, the prime minister faces a new challenge in the same court.Ecotricity Group Ltd. founder Dale Vince – a donor to the opposition Labour Party – is filing papers seeking an immediate order that the premier should comply with the law passed last week by Parliament, compelling him to seek a Brexit delay if he hasn’t secured a deal by Oct. 19.Vince has teamed up with Jolyon Maugham, the lawyer who spearheaded Wednesday’s case, and has been a legal thorn in the government’s side throughout the Brexit process. If the injunction is granted, and Johnson doesn’t write the letter seeking to extend negotiations, Vince said he’ll ask the court to sign and send the letter to the EU itself.Letwin: MPs Want Brexit Resolved Before Election (3:45 p.m.)In an interview with the Evening Standard, Oliver Letwin -- who was expelled from the parliamentary Conservative Party for rebelling over a no-deal Brexit -- said the majority of MPs want Brexit resolved before a general election, even if it means calling a referendum.“That means either you get a deal and get it in place, which is relatively quick, or you have a deal followed by a referendum, which is relatively long,” Letwin said. “Elections are decided on the basis of all sorts of concerns that people have about whom they want to have govern them. The Brexit issue is a different kind of issue.”Hungary Urges EU to Take Johnson Seriously (1 p.m.)Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said the European Union must take Boris Johnson seriously, telling Bloomberg several key member states want Brexit “to end, one way or another.” He left the door open to potentially vetoing any U.K. request for an extension.“We don’t want the EU institutions to approach this question in a condescending way, but as a fair negotiating partner,” Szijjarto said in an interview. “If the British decided that they want to leave, then the result should be the closest co-operation when they do so.”The possibility of Hungary choosing to veto an extension has been mooted since Parliament voted last week to force Johnson to apply to the EU for a delay until Jan. 31 if he is unable to secure a new divorce deal by Oct. 19. A veto from an EU nation could allow him to comply with the new law, while also ensuring the U.K. leaves the EU on Oct. 31 as he has promised.“If there is such a request, we’ll make our own decision,” Szijjarto said. “A few large Western European member states really want to put an end to this, and want it to be decided one way or another,” he added, “so probably it won’t be our decision that will be key.”Significant Gaps Remain on Brexit, Ireland Says (12:30 p.m.)Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said the European Union would react positively to a change to the U.K.’s approach on Brexit as “significant gaps” remain between the two sides.“I think the EU will respond positively if it’s realistic, to try and find a middle ground position that can work for the U.K., but certainly meets the reasonable and honest demands of the EU and of Ireland,” Coveney told reporters in Cork on Thursday.Johnson ‘Hopeful’ of Deal With EU (11:20 a.m.)In his TV interview, Boris Johnson said he’s “very hopeful” of securing a deal with his European counterparts at an Oct. 17-18 summit in Brussels and that he’s “working very hard” to secure one.“We can see the rough area of landing space of how you could do it,” Johnson said. “It will be tough, it will be hard, but I think we can get there.”Crucially, Johnson said, if the U.K. can’t secure a deal, then “we will be ready to come out on Oct. 31, deal or no deal.”Johnson Wins in Belfast Court (11:15 a.m.)A Northern Irish court ruled that a no-deal Brexit wouldn’t violate the Good Friday peace accord, handing Johnson a legal victory in one of a string of cases related to his plans to leave the European Union.Judge Bernard McCloskey issued a ruling Thursday in Belfast. The case is set to be immediately appealed to a higher court in Northern Ireland before moving to the U.K. Supreme Court next week.Johnson Denies Lying to Queen (11:10 a.m.)Boris Johnson said he “absolutely” didn’t lie to the Queen when he asked her to suspend or prorogue Parliament, because the government needs a new session to put forward its agenda.“There’s a huge number of things that we want to get on with and do,” Johnson said in pooled television interview. “We need a Queen’s speech, we need to get on with these.”Commenting on the release of the Operation Yellowhammer document setting out projected outcomes of a no-deal Brexit, he stressed it’s “a worst-case scenario.”The document was “written by planners to make sure that we do everything we need to do to make sure that doesn’t happen,” he said. “If we have to come out on Oct. 31 with no deal, we will be ready. The ports will be ready and the farming communities will be ready.”EU Parliament Open to N. Ireland-Only Backstop (10:30 a.m.)The European Parliament has signaled the European Union’s willingness to change the contentious Irish border backstop in the Brexit deal to make it apply solely to Northern Ireland rather than the whole U.K.According to the text of a resolution that EU lawmakers will vote on next week seen by Bloomberg, the parliament “expresses its readiness to revert to a Northern Ireland-only backstop but stresses that it will not give consent to a withdrawal agreement without a backstop.”While the parliament doesn’t have any formal role in the negotiations with the U.K., it does have a full veto over the final deal. In the resolution, it says it won’t hold a vote until after the U.K. Parliament has approved the agreement.The EU has, in recent days, signaled that British negotiators seem to be moving toward accepting a Northern Ireland-only backstop. This would keep the province aligned to the EU’s customs union and single-market rules to prevent a hard border with the Irish Republic. In the current deal, rejected three times by British MPs, the whole U.K. would remain in a customs union.Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday denied he was ready to accept a Northern Ireland-only backstop, saying it wouldn’t work for the U.K.Rudd Wants All 21 Tory Rebels Readmitted (8:50 a.m.)Former Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd, who quit Johnson’s government and the Parliamentary Conservative Party at the weekend, said she would wait to see how the 21 Tory MPs expelled from the party last week are treated before deciding if she would rejoin.Rudd was responding to reports that some of the rebels have been offered a way back into the party. She said she’d been struck at the effective organization of the group of MPs, who were expelled for voting for legislation to block a no-deal Brexit, and said they should all be allowed back.“The group needs to be considered as a whole to be brought back,” she told BBC Radio. “I will wait and see on what terms other people choose to stay out.”Rudd described the expulsion of the lawmakers as an “act of political vandalism” in her resignation letter and said on Thursday that their vote against the government was no more “egregious” than the repeated votes of hard-line Brexiteers against Theresa May’s Brexit agreement.Wallace: Yellowhammer is a ‘Living Document’ (8:20 a.m.)Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the government is working to mitigate the risks exposed in the Yellowhammer planning document released on Wednesday, and will publish an updated version showing progress soon.“We’re spending the money on doing lots of things to mitigate those assumptions,” Wallace told BBC Radio 4. “We should consider it as ‘this is what would happen if we didn’t do anything about it.”’Describing it as a “living document,” he said there would be further versions. “Our job as a government is to say to people what could happen and then say what we’re doing about it,” he said.Labour: Yellowhammer Shows ‘Catastrophe’ for U.K. (Earlier)Andy McDonald, transport spokesman for the opposition Labour Party, said the government’s Yellowhammer planning documents show that a no-deal split from the EU would be “a catastrophe for our country.”“This is more like emergency planning for a war or a natural disaster,” McDonald told BBC Radio 4 on Thursday. Boris Johnson is “driving the ship onto the rocks,” he said, “and he’ll have a lifeboat but working people will not.”People on low incomes would be “disproportionately affected” by higher food and fuel prices after a no-deal Brexit, the government warned in the paper.Grieve: Court Will Tell More on Parliament Suspension (Earlier)Former Attorney General Dominic Grieve, who led Parliament’s efforts to force the government to publish its decision-making process behind Boris Johnson‘s suspension of Parliament, expects more details to be revealed when the Court of Session in Scotland publishes its full judgment on Friday.The court ruled on Wednesday that Johnson had acted unlawfully when he advised the Queen to prorogue Parliament.No-Deal Brexit minister Michael Gove refused to release documents relating to the decision on Wednesday evening. Publishing communications between Johnson’s advisers would be “unreasonable and disproportionate,” he said in a letter to Grieve.“The government’s reasons for proroguing Parliament have turned out to be entirely bogus,” Grieve told BBC Radio 4. “It’s very serious when a government comes out and deliberately sets out to mislead the public about its motives.”Earlier:U.K. Warns of Protests, Chaotic Border Scenes in No-Deal BrexitBrexit Is Making English Civil War Comparisons Hard to DismissU.K.’s Leadsom to Meet Businesses to Assess Brexit PreparednessYellowhammer Details Reveal Worst-Case Scenario: Brexit Bulletin\--With assistance from Ian Wishart, Zoltan Simon, Peter Flanagan and Dara Doyle.To contact the reporters on this story: Thomas Penny in London at [email protected];Alex Morales in London at [email protected];Marton Eder in Budapest at [email protected] contact the editors responsible for this story: Tim Ross at [email protected], Stuart Biggs, Thomas PennyFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.

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goldeagleprice · 5 years ago

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The Failure Of The 1960s London Gold Pool

In July 1944, close to the end of World War Two, delegates from 44 allied nations gathered in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire to recreate an international financial system and establish regulations for it. Two entities were founded in this meeting—the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IRBD). After this meeting, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) was later established.

The IMF was given the responsibility of maintaining a system of international currency exchange rates, which became known as the Bretton Woods system. Exchange rates were to be fixed concerning each other, but the system allowed adjustments as necessary. Further, all currencies in the system were required to be convertible, which meant they could be readily exchanged for physical gold or for other currencies that could be readily exchanged for gold.

The United States dollar was designated as the anchor currency of the Bretton Woods system. For many years, the price of gold was pegged at $35 US per ounce. Thus, the dollar became the world’s reserve currency. Foreign central banks were willing to hold US dollars because, at the time, they were readily convertible into gold upon demand.

However, the Bretton Woods system did not regulate the price of gold as a commodity. Thus, its price might fluctuate due to variations in private industrial and financial demand. If the free market price rose above $35/ounce, central banks had the incentive to redeem US dollars for gold to then sell the gold for a higher price in other markets.

Throughout the 1950s, the US Treasury experienced a continuing drain on its gold holdings. Pressures were gradually mounting for higher gold prices. Late in 1960, when the free market gold price topped $40, the US Federal Reserve and the Bank of England agreed that a significant quantity of gold stored at the Bank of England would be sold to help reduce the demand for US gold reserves.

The result was that in November 1961 eight nations agreed to establish the London Gold Pool for the explicit purpose of defending the price of gold at $35/ounce. A total of 240 tons (7.716 million ounces) were contributed to this Pool. The US allocated 120 tons, half of the total. Germany supplied 27 tons. The United Kingdom, France, and Italy each provided 22 tons. Belgium, the Netherlands, and Switzerland each put in 9 tons. At the time, the value of gold came to $270 million US.

The psychological impact of this “massive horde” of gold committed to holding the price down to $35/ounce did not last long. Inflation of the money supply in the US, partly to fund the Vietnam War, led the US by 1965 to lose a cumulative $3 billion from supporting the London Gold Pool.

In 1967, France publicly withdrew from the London Gold Pool and was aggressively repatriating US dollars to America to obtain physical gold. The Netherlands also ramped up redeeming dollars for gold, though on a smaller scale and with less fanfare than France. When the United Kingdom devalued the pound by 14.3% on Nov. 18, 1967, that further accelerated the run on physical gold reserves in the London Gold Pool.

Late on Thursday, March 14, 1968, the US government asked the British government to close the London gold markets (then the world’s largest gold trading market) the next day as an effort to stem demand for gold. British Queen Elizabeth II petitioned the House of Commons to declare March 15 a bank holiday.

A conference in Washington, DC was quickly arranged and held over that weekend. On Monday, March 18 Congress passed a law repealing the requirement that the US Treasury maintain a gold reserve to back the dollar.

The London gold market remained closed for two more weeks, which proved to be the death knell of the London Gold Pool. During this hiatus, other markets traded gold at ever-higher prices. The largest Swiss banks formed the Zurich Gold Pool to establish that city as a major gold trading center.

The collapse of the London Gold Pool resulted in the official adoption of a two-tiered gold market. While gold was officially still worth $35 per ounce, gold could be purchased at that price only by the few governments that did not trade in the private markets. No private parties could acquire gold at this lower fixed price.

The US government continued to ramp up inflation of the money supply, leading West Germany to withdraw from the Bretton Woods system in May 1971 and Switzerland and France to do so in August 1971. So many US dollars were being repatriated to the US Treasury that gold reserves fell to their lowest levels since 1938. The value of the US dollar was falling even faster against other currencies.

On April 15, 1971, US President Richard Nixon announced that the US government was “temporarily” suspending the convertibility by central banks of US dollars into gold, effectively completing the collapse of the Bretton Woods system. Today, 48 years later, the US government’s “temporary” suspension of redeeming dollars for gold is still in effect.

Minor historical side note: The founder of Liberty Coin Service, R. W. “Bill” Bradford, had been set up at coin shows since in 1968. Upon President Nixon’s announcement of the closing of the gold exchange window in August 1971, Bradford decided that the market was ripe to open a brick-and-mortar store to redeem dollars for gold and vice versa. Forty-eight years later, the business is still in operation, now under its third owner.

Patrick A. Heller was the American Numismatic Association 2018 Glenn Smedley Memorial Service Award, 2017 Exemplary Service Award 2012 Harry Forman Dealer of the Year Award, and 2008 Presidential Award winner. Over the years, he has also been honored by the Numismatic Literary Guild, Professional Numismatists Guild, Industry Council for Tangible Assets, and the Michigan State Numismatic Society. He is the communications officer of Liberty Coin Service in Lansing, Michigan and writes Liberty’s Outlook, a monthly newsletter on rare coins and precious metals subjects. Past newsletter issues can be viewed at http://www.libertycoinservice.com. Some of his radio commentaries titled “Things You ‘Know’ That Just Aren’t So, And Important News You Need To Know” can be heard at 8:45 AM Wednesday and Friday mornings on 1320-AM WILS in Lansing (which streams live and become part of the audio and text archives posted at http://www.1320wils.com).

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mikemortgage · 6 years ago

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How Canada’s fledgling land shrimp industry is working toward becoming the ‘new cannabis’

AYLMER, ONT. — In the middle of giving a tour, Sheldon Garfinkle peers into one of his company’s water tanks. Blue shrimp the size of fingers dart away from him, hiding in the far corners.

“They can hear us,” he said. “They are very sensitive creatures.”

Garfinkle’s great accomplishment is that these sensitive shrimp are alive at all, trotting around tanks stacked six levels high. For five years, the biggest problem in Canada’s fledgling, indoor shrimping business has been dead shrimp. If the water is too cold, they die. If the filtration isn’t right, they die.

For the few shrimp farmers operating in Canada, a 50-per-cent survival rate is an achievement. As a result, homegrown shrimp has been a rare delicacy, served infrequently by chefs and high-end fishmongers.

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But at the Planet Shrimp facility, 45 kilometres south of London, Ont., in Aylmer, Garfinkle and his team say they have figured out how to produce shrimp at a commercial scale.

Planet Shrimp CEO Sheldon Garfinkle.

Garfinkle, the company’s chief executive, conservatively puts the plant’s capacity at 300,000 pounds of shrimp a year — enough to start looking into international exports while fulfilling a growing list of supply agreements with luxury hotels, resorts and upscale Toronto retail chains such as Pusateri’s Fine Foods and Hooked seafood markets. The shrimp also show up at dozens of restaurants across southern Ontario, and will soon be offered on 360 Restaurant’s summer menu atop the CN Tower.

Canadian farmed shrimp seems on the verge of a new phase, with Planet Shrimp and a competitor in British Columbia both claiming that they are making good on their ambitions to expand their reach far beyond a group of local chefs. “Shrimp’s the new cannabis,” one Planet Shrimp executive joked recently. But with so few success stories and a high retail price tag, the shrimp’s path to the big time and grocery stores will be difficult.

Shrimp in tanks at Planet Shrimp.

The main selling point for the Canadian product is what it is not. It’s not shipped in from thousands of kilometres away. It’s not as ecologically harmful as wild-caught shrimp, which often involves dragging nets that inadvertently catch endangered species such as turtles, sharks and dolphins.

It’s also not the kind of cheap farmed shrimp from Asia, much of which is grown in outdoor pools created by destroying mangroves and treated with antibiotics to keep the shrimp alive, according to Ocean Wise marine biologist Alasdair Lindop.

But producing commercial quantities indoors means keeping millions and millions of shrimp. A lot can go wrong, even though the concept of such farming seems simple enough.

“I could do it in my backyard,” said Warren Douglas, project manager at Berezan Shrimp Co. in Langley, B.C., the only other fully operational shrimp farm in Canada. “You know, build a little shed and I could be growing shrimp probably within a few months.”

In a commercial context, however, “you’ve got basically a life support system keeping millions of animals alive,” he said.

Both Berezan and Planet Shrimp monitor their facilities 24 hours a day, seven days a week, watching for issues in the tanks that could threaten the stock — for example, a burst pipe that lowers water levels.

Planet Shrimp CEO & CFO Sheldon Garfinkle points at a screen showing the status of the shrimp stack temperatures.

“In the middle of the night, if the alarm goes off, in some cases you’ve got less than 20 minutes to rectify it,” Douglas said, “otherwise, you start losing shrimp.”

The short history of shrimping in Canada starts with Paul Cocchio and his son Brad. They were hog farmers in Cambellford, Ont., two hours northeast of Toronto, who turned their hog barn into a shrimp barn five years ago.

The shrimp barn is empty now. Cocchio was fed up. He was paying to heat the water to nearly 30 C through the winter and buy supplies from the U.S. on a weak Canadian dollar, only to pull up tattered shrimp corpses whenever he skimmed the bottom of his tanks.

“We haven’t figured out what’s gone wrong,” he said.

Cocchio’s shrimp production peaked at 200 pounds a week sometime around 2017. The wineries in nearby Prince Edward County bought most of it. Then consultants and aquaculture experts started making suggestions, he said, about improving his water filtration and increasing his shrimp survival rate beyond 50 per cent.

“Everything we tried made it worse,” he said. “I don’t know — couldn’t figure out why. We’d had enough of it by then.”

Water filters in a grow tank at the former shrimp facility in Campbellford, Ont., in 2018.

Cocchio said now, eight months after closing, he suspects murder. “We think it’s fighting at that point,” he said of the dead shrimp. The corpses he skimmed from the bottom of the tank were often “torn apart.”

But he has no way of knowing. The water is his tanks was too murky to see what was going on, since Cocchio’s system used algae as part of the filtration process.

“You look at water and you say, ‘Oh, there’s water,'” he said. “But when you start really looking at water, it’s amazing what science is behind it.”

A Planet Shrimp employee inspects a harvested shrimp.

In the filtration room at Planet Shrimp in Aylmer, 10 million gallons of water pass through per day. The waste is dried and sold in “cakes” as fertilizer. The heated water makes the room humid, almost feverish. The smell it gives off is vaguely reminiscent of a lake on a hot day — or maybe an outhouse beside a lake on a hot day.

“The smell starts to get to you,” Garfinkle said. But the water rushing out of the filtration room seems to thrill him. “That’s clear water,” he said. Asked if he would drink it, he said he would and then paused. “I wouldn’t go out of my way.”

The water and the shrimp in it are intensely monitored by sensors throughout the farm that collect a million data points per day. The shrimp grow in a row of shallow tanks, one row stacked on top of another, six rows high.

Sheldon Garfinkle surveys a map blueprint of Planet Shrimp’s facility.

Each row is as long as a football field, beginning with the nursery and ending in the Phase 5 tank. As the shrimp grow, they are transferred to progressively larger tanks, until Phase 5, when they are “harvested.”

In a lab beside the network of tanks, Planet Shrimp analysts monitor the shrimp’s progress in real time, watching, for example, how one tank’s weight matches up with the average, or how water data — salinity, temperature, pH — might explain any abnormalities in the shrimp stock.

After 137 days, the shrimp are siphoned out of the tank, through a turnstile, into a tube that shoots them to slaughter like mail through a mailroom. The water in the tube is colder than in the tanks, which makes the shrimp docile in their final seconds.

Garfinkle looks up at the tubes that line the wall of the “chill kill” room. They’re like water slides. The shrimp slide out the tube onto a conveyor belt with little sprinklers over top — the “car wash,” as he calls it — that spray the shrimp with ice water cold enough to instantly kill them. About 74 per cent of them make it to this stage, which is above the level that Addison Lawrence, an 83-year-old professor at Texas A&M University and shrimp farming pioneer, said is needed for a commercially viable shrimp farm.

“What they’re doing, it is the future,” Lawrence said.

The ‘chill kill’ process at Planet Shrimp.

From there, an X-ray machine grades them in half a second. If a shrimp is jumbo, it ends up in the jumbo chute. The same process separates the medium shrimp and smaller shrimp. But the measly ones, or ones with puncture wounds or other defects, slide alone to the end of the conveyor belt, which drops them one storey into a reject bin.

A supervisor watches the shrimp as they enter the X-ray machine. He grabs one that is larger than the others, at least 40 grams, which he brings over to show Garfinkle.

“That’s what we call a colossal,” Garfinkle said, adding that when Planet Shrimp starts breeding shrimp, they will use such big ones such as brood stock.

Planet Shrimp currently gets its shrimp babies, or “post-larvae,” from a hatchery in Texas. The babies are packed in a bag filled with ocean water, flown to Toronto and trucked to Aylmer where they’re inspected by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. They’re given time to acclimatize to Planet’s Shrimp’s water conditions, a third of the salinity levels of ocean water, before being released into the nursery tank.

A Planet Shrimp employee shows off a harvested shrimp.

Last week, a storm in Houston cancelled the shrimp babies’ flight, forcing Planet Shrimp to wait three days for a new batch to be delivered, since keeping the others in limbo that long would have put too much “stress on the animals,” Garfinkle said. “That’s the reason to have a hatchery.”

Planet Shrimp has installed hatchery tanks at its facility to produce post-larvae, thereby simplifying the process. The tanks are empty now, though Garfinkle said they’ll be operational soon, through a “strategic alliance” with his post-larvae supplier in Texas.

But starting a hatchery has been complicated for Kerry LeBreton, president of Good4Ushrimp Inc. in Sudbury, Ont. Until recently, Good4U was the only other operational shrimp farm in Ontario. But its plans for a hatchery forced it to halt production.

A Planet Shrimp conveyer belt.

“This is where the politics comes in,” LeBreton said.

The U.S. producers who sell post-larvae require their clients to agree that the babies won’t be used as brood stock to start a competing hatchery, he said.

“I refuse to buy from those suppliers,” he said. “So I have no shrimp in the farm.”

Until his hatchery is able to produce enough post-larvae to supply his 18,000-square-foot farm, his tanks are stuck at five-per-cent capacity. He said he expects to have the hatchery operational in the next few weeks.

To start the hatchery, LeBreton ordered brood stock from Hawaii at roughly US$25 apiece. Females can produce up to 400,000 post larvae once a month.

Some hatcheries will cut off one of the female’s eyes, manipulating its hormones to cause it to reproduce more often — a process called eyestalk ablation. LeBreton said he refuses to do that.

“Curious enough, the females will actually choose their mates,” he said, adding that he has seen females refuse males.

“Nobody here has ever witnessed the actual mating,” LeBreton said. “Maybe they’re shy. I don’t know. I have to assume it’s pretty damn quick, because we’re obviously watching.”

A Planet Shrimp employee inspects shrimp after being culled by cold water.

The tour back at Planet Shrimp ends at a makeshift office. It is drab room outside the biosecure shrimp farm area, dominated by the smell of the anti-bacterial footbath that all visitors must slosh their feet in. Marvyn Budd, the president and founder of the company, walks in.

“I decorated myself,” he said of the office, a jumble of plastic folding tables, power chords and internet cables. Garfinkle adds, “A lot of our investors appreciate the fact that when they walk in they don’t see a glamorous setup.”

Instead of paying for hotels, the company rents a house in town for executives to stay when they visit the facility from Toronto. Most of the time it’s just Garfinkle and Budd. They are only concerned about the farm, making sure the shrimp babies they put into the system “come out the other side,” Budd said. “It took us longer than we anticipated, but we’ve figured it out.”

There’s more to figure out, though: such as how to convince Canadians en masse to spend more for a pound of shrimp. Farmed varieties from overseas can cost less than $10 while Planet Shrimp’s products retail between $30 and $42 per pound, a premium price for a premium product, Budd said.

Shrimp packing at Planet Shrimp.

There’s no shortage of demand — North Americans consume more than one billion pounds of shrimp a year — so there very well might be room for a premium product. Canadians spent $379 million on shrimp in the past 12 months, according to Nielsen data.

Tyler Sheddon, culinary director at Chase Hospitality Group, oversees a number of popular downtown Toronto restaurants, has been testing dishes using Planet Shrimp’s product and plans to use it for a new dish on the menu at Chase. He’s had supply issues with other local indoor aquaculture projects but he’s willing to take a bit of a risk.

He’s pushing his distributor to get him fresh shrimp from the Planet Shrimp farm, which freezes almost all its product on site.

“The texture is a bit firm,” Sheddon said. “The sweetness for me isn’t something that’s quite there.”

But the frozen product is good all the same — not like pulling spot prawns out of the trap on the B.C coast, he said, but good.

Planet Shrimp’s plan is to keep scaling the business, expanding into more of its million-square-foot warehouse. The ambition is to more than double capacity, and as the company grows, it will be able to get the price of its shrimp down.

At the end of the tour, a sales coordinator brings in a bowl of shrimp. She cooked them in a frying pan with a bit of oil in the office kitchen. Budd gives a demonstration, ripping off the shrimp’s head and peeling the rest all at once.

For his guests, it’s not so easy. Budd and Garfinkle watch, waiting for them to finish peeling the shrimp. There’s a pause as they chew. Budd, standing beside them, starts asking questions and then suggests the shrimp taste sweet and not fishy. “This is not what you’re used to.”

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clusterassets · 7 years ago

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New world news from Time: ‘To Be Number One Is the Target.’ China’s Ding Junhui Is Taking on the World Snooker Championship

Ding Junhui isn’t wearing the requisite waistcoat and bowtie of the professional snooker circuit, but even dressed in a baggy jogging suit, he isn’t difficult to pick out of the crowd. Ball after ball vanishes as Ding glides around the green baize, wielding his cue with metronomic ease. “I’m trying to make my rhythm more relaxed so games are like practice routines,” he tells TIME between training sessions at his snooker club in northwest Beijing. “How to take off the pressure and just play is the hardest part.”

All top sportsmen must deal with the weight of expectation, though it’s hard to imagine a burden comparable to Ding’s. China’s most successful player has been hailed by World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn as “the true superstar of the sport” in China, and more than a quarter of his homeland’s television viewing public — some 210 million people — tuned in to see his World Championship final defeat in 2016. (That’s double the viewers of last year’s Super Bowl.) The World Championship begins again on April 21 and Ding is determined to realize his potential by finally seizing the game’s top prize. (Eventual champion Mark Selby knocked him out at the semifinal stage last year.)

“To win the World Championship and to be world number one is the target for the next few years,” says Ding, his cherubic face and softly spoken demeanor masking inner steel that has seen him claim 13 ranking titles. “This is very hard, I know, because [snooker] careers are quite short. I’m now just over 30. There is just only one thing, to keep going and find more chances to win.”

Snooker is an unfamiliar sport for many Americans — a cousin of cue games like pocket billiards, though played on a surface about four times the size of your average pub pool table. Snooker has grown wildly popular in Asia following the success of Ding and Hong Kong’s Marco Fu. The winner of the World Championship takes home a cool $600,000 in prize money, which is many times the purse for the pool equivalent. About 70 million people are estimated to play cue sports in China each week, with thousands of snooker and pool clubs strewn across both big cities and donkey-cart towns.

Read more: How Snooker Swept China’s Sporting World

As a result, Hearn’s bold prediction that half of snooker’s top 16 will soon hail from China doesn’t look farfetched. “The future’s so bright, I should be wearing sunglasses,” five-time snooker World Champion Ronnie O’Sullivan said of upcoming Chinese talent at last year’s Evergrande China Championship. A raft of top young Chinese players have joined the professional tour, many inspired by Ding’s achievements. Although Ding was briefly world number one, he currently ranks third. There will be four other Chinese players — Li Hang, Cao Yupeng, Xiao Gudong and Yan Bingtao — chalking up at the legendary Crucible Theatre this month. “I picked up the cue all because of watching him,” Yan, 18, has said of Ding. “He is like an elder brother to all of us. We worship him.”

There is a superhuman quality to mastering snooker; rounded pockets and a lightening-quick surface render the sport less forgiving than pool, with titanic concentration required to build large scores. It’s also a rare sport where true perfection is possible. Team games like soccer or basketball contend with myriad external factors, whereas even tennis and golf matches may turn on a gust of wind or peculiar divot. The snooker table, by contrast, is like a vacuum; every facet is controllable, every shot theoretically possible. Top players only ever really play against themselves, meaning defeat always entails an avoidable blunder. This adds a significant psychological burden. “With football, sometimes you don’t play well but your team mates are playing great, so you still can win,” says Ding. “With snooker you have to win everything yourself. It’s a more of a mental game.”

It’s one that Ding has been honing since he was just eight years old, when his father spotted his son’s potential on the communal pool table below the family’s apartment in China’s eastern province of Jiangsu. Before long his parents sold their home and grocery business and moved the family 1,000 miles south to Guangdong province — considered China’s snooker Mecca — so Ding could work with the nation’s best professional coaches. He was pulled out of school to concentrate solely on snooker at just 12 years old, winning the Amateur Championships at 14 and turning pro at just 16.

As a teenager, Ding was sent to the British steel-smelting city of Sheffield, where the World Championship takes place each year. Stepping off the plane alone without speaking any English was a jolting experience. “It was scary at first,” he says. “I was always very shy. Every day I just wished to see another snooker player to play with.” But Ding is sanguine about missing out on simple childhood pleasures, insisting that the only pressure he ever felt was from himself. “Everyone of the age 10 or 11 likes to have some childlike time, to play some games,” says Ding. “This is what I lost… now I am getting something back.”

Dan Mullan—Getty Images Ding Junhui of China looks on during his first round match against Kyren Wilson of England at the Dafabet Masters in London on Jan. 15, 2017.

Still, from diving and gymnastics to table tennis, China has a reputation for putting inordinate pressure on young athletes that can verge on abuse. Parents are lured to surrender talented children to state sporting academies on promises of national glory and future commercial spoils. There, kids train until tendons snap and retinas detach, while neglecting regular studies. Some 45% of former athletes in China fail to find work after retirement, according to a 2010 report by the state-run Nanjing Daily newspaper. The nation’s best snooker players are recruited by the CBSA World Snooker Academy in Beijing, where 30 pupils from six to 22 years old play from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday, according to the BBC.

For Ding, spending endless days alone with a snooker table is ultimately counterproductive. He says Chinese players often lack tactical and defensive instincts because they are used to clearing up every ball in just one visit. “But if you lose your concentration, lose your plotting, you’ve got nothing left,” he says. But even more damaging can be the psychological toll of isolation on youngsters. After eight to ten hours a day with just a snooker table for company, “I would get outside and forget how to speak to people, because you spend all day alone in a room,” he says. “It’s too much.” Ding says the game quickly went from being an all-engrossing passion to feeling “more like a day job.” Today, though, “I try to enjoy it more,” he says.

Ding hopes rekindling his love for the game can help spur him to the world title. Today, practice sessions last just three hours a day, and he books regular free time traveling the world and not thinking about snooker. More importantly, he isn’t lonely on or off the green baize. His wife is expecting their first child — “I don’t know what to do, so I have to learn quick!” Ding says — though he balks at the thought of raising another snooker superstar in the family. “Snooker is so boring,” Ding laughs, “my first choice [for my child] would not be this, something else.” Ding says his father didn’t push him to excel at the sport, but rather supported his decision. “I chose this for myself,” he says of his freedom as a child. As for raising his own, “I think I will let mine do the same.”

— With video by Zhang Chi / Beijing

April 19, 2018 at 03:01PM ClusterAssets Inc., https://ClusterAssets.wordpress.com

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yes-elegantcollectorconnois-blog · 7 years ago

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otomix stingray - An Overview

Otomix Stingray

Stingrays are not hostile and also just strike humans when provoked, such as if a ray is unintentionally stepped on. [18] To stay clear of stepping on a stingray in shallow water, the water must be waded via with a shuffle. [19] Alternatively, prior to wading, tiny rocks can be tossed right into the water to scare stingrays away. [20] Call with the stinger causes neighborhood trauma (from the cut itself), discomfort, swelling, muscle mass aches from the venom, as well as later on might cause infection from germs or fungis. [21] The injury is extremely uncomfortable, yet seldom dangerous unless the stinger punctures a vital location. [18] The barb normally damages off in the wound, and also surgical treatment may be required to get rid of the fragments. [22] https://www.bodysart.com

There have to do with 220 recognized stingray species organised into 10 family members and 29 category. Stingray species are gradually coming to be intimidated or prone to termination, especially as the repercussion of uncontrolled angling. [7] Since 2013, 45 species have been listed as prone or jeopardized by the IUCN. The standing of a few other varieties is poorly understood, resulting in their being listed as information lacking. [8]

Purchasing a pair of Otomix Stingrays with an on the internet retailer such as Amazon.com would usually cost you even more compared to $100. That's a fair amount of loan to invest in shoes, yet the top quality of the footwear a lot more compared to validates the price. I have a set of Stingrays myself that are a number of years of ages as well as they're just as good now as they were when I first bought them. I put a lot of mileage on them, as well; I possibly invest even more than 10 hrs a week in the health club. I have actually seen various other owners online that have reported greater than five years of loyal service from their Stingrays. There are also Otomix proprietors out there-- extremely unusual situations, however real ones-- who are wearing shoes they inherited from their parents. It's tough to even envision that kind of sturdiness in a shoe, however the Otomix supplies it.

Although stingray teeth are unusual on sea bottoms contrasted to the similar shark teeth, diving divers searching for the latter do encounter the teeth of stingrays. Permineralized stingray teeth have been found in sedimentary deposits around the world, consisting of fossiliferous outcrops in Morocco. [36]

Otomix Stingray M3000

One usual point possible buyers question about is comfort. To throw out one example, putting on Stingrays makes it simple to own for hours on end without experiencing any discomfort. These shoes are made for the health club, though, not the road.

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Otomix Stingray Trainers

Stingrays have much more benefits compared to being used for human consumption. Their behaviours are really tranquil and also friendly, and also thus, numerous waterparks, e.g. Exploration Cove (Possessed by SeaWorld), produce a habitat within pools, where they and also people are able to interact within a safe environment. SeaWorld is house to 'Even more compared to 200 stingrays- some with wingspans as much as 5-feet'. [35] Within the major SeaWorld park there are tiny pools where people are able to connect with and feed the stingrays. They likewise have tiny nurseries which are the home of the stingrays' dogs; these are likewise open for communications, yet due to the fact that they are young, they tend to hide underneath the sand.

After you purchase a pair of Otomix Stingrays, you'll have no problem nursing at the very least 5 years of valuable life out of them, particularly if you look after them correctly. If you're like me, though, you may get the impulse to have a various set long previously your first one puts on out. (Naturally, a brand-new set gives you an ideal justification to select out a new shade, also!) If you're ready to take an appearance at the options offered to you, take a journey over to Amazon.com and also check out all the Stingrays available currently. There are a lot of designs to pick from, the majority of which are available in a variety of colors. I confess the designs are all really similar-- yet I 'd also claim that's not really a negative Point!

Throughout the breeding period, males of various stingray varieties such as Urolophus halleri, might rely upon their ampullae of Lorenzini to sense specific electric signals produced by fully grown ladies prior to prospective copulation [11] When a man is courting a female, he follows her carefully, attacking at her pectoral disc. He then places one of his 2 claspers into her valve. [12] Click for source

Otomix Stingray Evaluation

A glance at any of the pictures of Stingray weight training footwear readily available online will make it clear that they're created for design in addition to comfort and durability. It's very appealing to turn them into a style statement, yet you have to keep in mind that the soles of the shoes do not hold up to pavement quite possibly.

Numerous ethnological sections in museums, [32] such as the British Gallery, show arrowheads and spearheads constructed from stingray stingers, used in Micronesia as well as in other places. [33] Henry de Monfreid specified in his publications that before The second world war, in the Horn of Africa, whips were made from the tail of big stingrays, as well as these devices caused cruel cuts, so in Aden, the British forbade their use on females and slaves. In former Spanish nests, a stingray is called raya látigo ("whip ray").

https://www.amazon.com/Otomix-Stingray-Boots/dp/B00AXDDKVU

Otomix Stingray Kopen

The flattened bodies of stingrays allow them to properly conceal themselves in their settings. Stingrays do this by flustering the sand and also concealing underneath it. Since their eyes get on top of their bodies and their mouths on the bottom, stingrays can not see their victim; instead, they utilize smell and also electroreceptors (ampullae of Lorenzini) comparable to those of sharks. [9] Stingrays feed mostly on molluscs, shellfishes, and occasionally on tiny fish. Some stingrays' mouths have 2 powerful, shell-crushing plates, while various other species only have drawing mouthparts. Stingrays pick all-time low while feeding, frequently leaving only their eyes and also tails noticeable. Coral reefs rate feeding premises as well as are usually shared with sharks throughout high tide. [10]

Monfreid also wrote in several places about guys of his team experiencing stingray injuries while standing and also wading into Red Sea shallows to fill or dump smuggled wares: he composed that to "conserve the guy's life", searing the injury with a heated iron was needed. [34] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zs5ijw97cjQ

Numerous Tahitian island hotels frequently provide visitors the chance to "feed the stingrays and also sharks". This is composed of taking a watercraft to the outer shallows coral reefs, after that standing in waist-high water while habituated stingrays swarm about, pressing right up against travelers looking for food from their hands or that being threw into the water. The boat proprietors likewise "hire" sharks, which, when they show up from the sea, swoop with the shallow water above the reef as well as nab food provided to them. [30]

Stingrays are ovoviviparous, birthing live young in "litters" of 5 to 13. The female holds the embryos in the womb without a placenta. Instead, the embryos take in nutrients from a yolk cavity, and also after the sac is depleted, the mommy provides uterine "milk". [13]

Otomix Stingray Escape Shoe

Rays are edible, and also could be caught as food making use of fishing lines or spears. [24] Stingray recipes are plentiful throughout the globe, with dried forms of the wings being most common. As an example, in Malaysia and Singapore, stingray is typically smoked over charcoal, then offered with hot sambal sauce, or soy sauce. Usually, the most prized components of the stingray are the wings (flaps is the appropriate terms), the "cheek" (the location bordering the eyes), and the liver. The remainder of the ray is considered as well rubbery to have any kind of culinary usages. [25]

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robertmcangusgroup · 7 years ago

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The Daily Thistle

The Daily Thistle – News From Scotland

Thursday 20th July 2017

"Madainn Mhath” .…Fellow Scot, I hope the day brings joy to you…. Well the humidity of the past week has been blown away by a wonderful westerly breeze, and Bella and I are taking full advantage of it this morning, as we head towards the beach… the ocean is like a mirror.. the last sliver of the waning moon reflected in the still waters of the Alboran Sea as the water off the coast of the Costa del Sol is correctly called, just before you meet the Straights of Gibraltar on your way to the Atlantic Ocean….. Passing the Pillars of Hercules on the way.. so much history in this area….. Bella shows not the slightest bit of interest, so we turn and head back to the house…….

FAMILY FILES POSTHUMOUS APPEAL FOR LOCKERBIE BOMBER…. The family of the now-deceased man convicted of bombing Pan Am Flight 103, which crashed in the Scottish town of Lockerbie in 1988 and killed 270, has filed a new appeal on his behalf Tuesday, a lawyer said. Family members of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi filed his third appeal to the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission in Glasgow, lawyer Aamer Anwar confirmed to The Telegraph. Al-Megrahi died in 2012, three years after being released from prison on compassionate grounds; he returned to his native Libya, where he died from prostate cancer. Al-Megrahi was convicted in 2001 of the bombing. His first appeal in 2002 was unsuccessful and he dropped his second bid in 2009 prior to his release from prison. His widow, Aisha, and son, Ali, filed the posthumous appeal on his behalf. "The reputation of Scottish law has suffered both at home and internationally because of widespread doubts about the conviction of Mr. al-Megrahi," Anwar said. "It is in the interests of justice and restoring confidence in our criminal justice system that these doubts can be addressed. However the only place to determine whether a miscarriage of justice did occur is in the appeal court, where the evidence can be subjected to rigorous scrutiny." Al-Megrahi was the head of security for Libyan Arab Airlines at the time of the bombing. Prosecutors said items in the suitcase bomb were linked to al-Megrahi, including clothing one shop owner testified he sold to him. But many, including some family members of the victims and former South African President Nelson Mandela, called his conviction a miscarriage of justice. Some believe there wasn't enough evidence to convict al-Megrahi. Dr. Jim Swire, whose 23-year-old daughter, Flora, died in the bombing, told Sky News he's interested in learning the truth of who's to blame for the bomb.

RYANAIR CEO WARNS OF CANCELED FLIGHTS DUE TO BREXIT…. Michael O'Leary, the CEO for European budget airline, Ryanair, told the European Union Parliament that flights between Britain and the E.U. could end for an extended period after Brexit goes into effect. "There is a real prospect, and we need to deal with this, that there are going to be no flights between the UK and Europe for a period of weeks, months beyond March 2019," O'Leary said, according to the Telegraph. O'Leary points to the Open Skies agreement, which allows currently allows European airlines to fly into all European countries, including Britain. But with Britain out of the E.U., the current agreement would become an "impossibility." O'Leary said that if Britain adheres to the referendum voted on by Britons and breaks away from the E.U. as scheduled in 2019, European airlines will be restricted from flying into Britain and British airlines. But O'Leary, who was a staunch opponent of Brexit, said his airline won't accept any quick fixes. "There is not going to be an interim agreement, there is not going to be a legal basis, we will be canceling flights, we will be canceling people's holidays for summer of 2019," he said. O'Leary also quipped that Britons will quickly get bored with vacations close to home. "It will be a couple of months before British people understand that they don't all want to go on holidays in Ireland or in Scotland, and I think the British government will be forced to come to its senses," he said. Ryanair has been warning of canceling a slew of flights between Britain and E.U. Post-Brexit for several months.

GLASGOW FLIGHTS TO NEW YORK TO BE GROUNDED THIS WINTER…. United Airlines is to halt flights between Glasgow and New York this winter, The Daily Thistle has learned. It is the first time the year-round route has been reduced to summer only since it was launched 19 years ago. The blow came as Air France confirmed to The Daily Thistle it was axing its Glasgow-Paris route from October, just a year after it was launched. United's daily service will now end in October, leaving no direct flights between the cities until they resume next May, apart from three return trips by Jet2 in October and November. United blamed the move on a reduction in demand. However, it appears to have been an unplanned move since tickets were already on sale and some passengers had already booked flights. A spokeswoman said: "United will suspend its Glasgow-New York/Newark service during the upcoming 2017-18 winter season, 29 October 2017 to 4 May 2018 inclusive (westbound), in response to a seasonal reduction in market demand. "The service will resume effective 5 May 2018 (westbound). "We will contact customers with bookings for flights during the service suspension to either offer them alternative travel plans or provide refunds. "We apologise for any inconvenience caused." Delta launched summer flights from Glasgow to New York JFK in May, which end in September. The airline said it had no plans to extend them. United said its year-round flights between Edinburgh.

GLASGOW TOP OF THE TREE FOR MOST GREENSPACE IN SCOTTISH CITIES…. It was the first map of its kind anywhere in the world, offering a comprehensive interactive display able to identify any public park in Scotland. Now Ordnance Survey (OS) has updated its groundbreaking Scottish Greenspace Map and extended it to England and Wales. The free digital map plots all accessible recreational and leisure greenspace in Great Britain – including parks, public gardens, playing fields, playgrounds, allotments and community areas. The results show Scotland has 1,112 sq km (429 sq mile) of urban green space - the area of 160,000 football pitches. Glasgow, once known as the second city of the Empire due to its heavy industries, is among the greenest cities in the UK with 13.5 per cent of its total area being accessible green space - including 340 play areas and 55 bowling greens. Only Birmingham, with 15.6 per cent, and Nottingham with 15.3 per cent, can boast more than Scotland’s largest city. Edinburgh, with 9.3 per cent, and Aberdeen, with 8.1 per cent, also boast relatively high levels of greenspace. Glasgow’s high ranking is apt given that its name is the modern form of the ancient Cumbric Glas Cau, which translates as “green hollow”.

7 ROYAL MARINES ACCUSED OF GRAPHIC SEXUAL ACTS IN ARBROATH NIGHTCLUB…. Seven Royal Marines allegedly committed sex acts, drank each other’s urine and smacked bare bottoms at a nightclub, in a public “initiation” ritual. The men, based at RM Condor on the outskirts of Arbroath, Angus, are accused of public indecency in a nightclub on June 2. Each denies a charge of committing graphic sexual acts in the smoking area of DeVito’s in Millgate. They face trial in September. It is understood the service will not convene a court martial if it is aware there is a civilian court case pending, but the allegations have been investigated. The men deny any wrongdoing, but a Marines source said the allegations alone are “enough to raise questions about 45 Commando” at a time when servicemen and women need to be “unimpeachable” following a high-profile trial last year, which heard newcomers were made to drink from mess tin filled from a paddling pool containing urine and vomit. Jordan Coia, Ben James, Michael Byrne, Ryan Fowler, Luke Bowen, Jacob Holt and Craig Lynch are accused of one charge of public indecency in the smoking area of DeVito’s nightclub in Millgate on June 2, comprising acts such as exposing themselves, urinating in public, drinking each other’s urine, smacking bare buttocks, and committing acts of a graphic sexual nature. “It is not like the old days where lads got leave and did what they wanted to blow off steam,” the source said. “The world is watching us and we need to be whiter than white. “Higher-ups have cracked down on initiations, and rightly so.” A Royal Navy spokeswoman said: “While legal proceedings continue, it would be inappropriate to comment further”. The men appeared on an undertaking before Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown, and trial was set for September 25. Lynch, 42, Holt, 21, Bowen, 25, Fowler, 23, Byrne, 26, James, 22, and Coia, 22, whose addresses were given at Forfar Sheriff Court as c/o RM Condor, deny the single charge on summary complaint. Not guilty pleas were entered by local solicitors Angela McLarty

On that note I will say that I hope you have enjoyed the news from Scotland today,

Our look at Scotland today is of a Wooden Bridge, and if you use your imagination this bridge in the highlands of Scotland will take you wherever you want to go.....

A Sincere Thank You for your company and Thank You for your likes and comments I love them and always try to reply, so please keep them coming, it's always good fun, As is my custom, I will go and get myself another mug of "Colombian" Coffee and wish you a safe Thursday 20th July 2017 from my home on the southern coast of Spain, where the blue waters of the Alboran Sea washes the coast of Africa and Europe and the smell of the night blooming Jasmine and Honeysuckle fills the air…and a crazy old guy and his dog Bella go out for a walk at 4:00 am…on the streets of Estepona…

All good stuff....But remember it’s a dangerous world we live in

Be safe out there…

Robert McAngus

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