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I've updated the universal Mac OS X binary version of MC MP, a Midnight Commander clone. This release requires 10.4+, just read included README file for more…
Midnight Commander MP is an advanced clone of the famous Midnight Commander without Tk, xv, or GNOME parts (including GLib). It also features a real-time clock, file group colors, charset support for the viewer, editor, and panels, position saving for the viewer and editor, and more.
Download: mc-4.1.40-pre9-bin.tar.gz
See updated packages: tag=mc


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Most exciting NHL players of all time? Here's our listby John Kreiser
There's excitement, and then there's excitement -- the kind that yanks you right out of your seat. The kind that makes you shake your head. The kind that makes you wonder aloud, "How did he do that?"
Players who generate that kind of excitement don't come along every day. Here's a look at some of the NHL's best at bringing us out of our seats over the seasons.
You might agree with NHL.com's choices. You might think an all-time great–remember we are talking a superior brand of excitement, the players you don't want to miss a single shift. Feel to share a comment about our choices. Oh, and Happy Hockey in July.
Dominik Hasek (1990-91 - 2007-08)
For generations, the idea was to be a "stand-up" goaltender. Aspiring goalies were told to stay on their skates as much as possible. Few goaltenders played what's known today as the butterfly style.
By the time Hasek arrived in the NHL, with Chicago in 1990, the butterfly was in full vogue. But Hasek was more than just a butterfly goalie -- he would do anything, use anything, to keep the puck out of the net. That could mean flopping, rolling onto his back, doing a snow angel, leaving his stick on the ice or gloving the puck with his blocker -- he never gave up on a shot, and found ways to keep pucks from entering the net that other goaltenders hadn't even dreamed of. His unorthodox style may have driven his coaches crazy, but it drove opposing shooters to distraction while earning him the nickname "The Dominator."
Hasek's excitement quota was off the charts -- you never knew what new move he'd come up with to keep the puck out of the net.
The Blackhawks dealt Hasek to Buffalo in 1992, and two years later he had the first of his six Vezina Trophies. In 1997 he became the first goaltender in 35 years to win the Hart Trophy; a year later, he became the first goalie ever to win it in back-to-back years. In 1999, he led the Sabres to their first Stanley Cup Final in 35 years.
The Sabres traded Hasek to Detroit in 2001, and he led the Wings to the Stanley Cup the following spring, and was on another Cup-winner with the Wings six years later. He's still playing, and still driving shooters batty with his "all-access" style of goaltending.
Bobby Orr (1966-67 - 1978-79)
Bobby Orr may or may not be the greatest of all time -- you can make a case for players such as Gordie Howe and Wayne Gretzky. But Orr was the most revolutionary player of his or any other time.
Before Orr, defensemen played defense -- period. They cleared their own zone, got the puck to the forwards and let them handle the scoring. Even Doug Harvey, a seven-time Norris Trophy winner and arguably the best defenseman of the Original Six era, reached 50 points just once in his career and never scored more than 8 goals.
But Orr had speed and skill at a level that never had been seen from a defenseman. He broke all the rules -- and all the records. Orr won the Calder Trophy as a rookie for the Boston Bruins in 1966-67 after scoring 13 goals and 41 points, unprecedented offensive numbers for a defenseman. In his third season, his 64 points set a League record for defensemen (he also led the NHL with 133 penalty minutes).
But that was just a warm-up act. Orr shattered records in 1969-70 by scoring 33 goals and piling up 120 points, and capped the season by scoring the Stanley Cup-winning overtime goal. One year later, he scored 37 goals, piled up a record 102 assists and became the first (and still only) defenseman to lead the League in scoring. His speed terrified opponents, but thrilled fans who never had seen anyone like him. No defenseman ever had rushed the puck the way Orr had, and none ever had put up offensive totals anywhere near his numbers. Watching Orr go coast-to-coast was a treat -- unless you were rooting for the opposing team.
Orr led the Bruins to another Cup in 1972, got them to the Final again in 1974 (they lost to Philadelphia) and set an NHL mark a year later by scoring 46 goals. He won his eighth and final Norris Trophy that season.
Though he excelled in the preseason Canada Cup in the fall of 1976, it turned out to be his last hurrah. Knee injuries limited him to 10 games in 1975-76, and he managed only 26 games in two seasons after signing with Chicago for the 1976-77 season.
Orr hasn't played a game in more than 30 years and his career scoring records for defensemen have been eclipsed. However, his effects on the sport still are felt today, and there's never been another player like him.
Maurice Richard (1942-43 - 1959-60)
Maurice Richard did one thing better than any player of his generation -- put the puck in the net. He was as unstoppable from the blue line to the net as any player in NHL history. The sight of Richard, eyes ablaze as he attacked the goal, was enough to send a shiver down the spine of any NHL goaltender.
After a promising rookie season was terminated due to a broken ankle, Richard became the most exciting player to hit the NHL in a generation by scoring 32 goals in 1943-44 (leading the Habs to the Stanley Cup) and pumping home a League-record 50 goals in 50 games during 1944-45. Richard, Elmer Lach and Toe Blake became known as the "Punch Line" for the offense they generated.
Richard, a Montreal native, became an icon in French Canada while filling the net. In an era where only stars reached the 20-goal mark, he did it 14 times in a row. He set a record with 26 hat tricks, and in 1944 he had the first eight-point performance in NHL history, a single-game mark that stood for more than 30 years.
"The Rocket" was no slouch at playoff time, either. He scored 82 goals in 133 postseason games, leading the Canadiens to eight Stanley Cups, including five in a row from 1956-60. He called it a career after the 1960 championship and left the NHL as its all-time scoring leader with 544 goals and 965 points in 978 games. Since 1999, the Maurice Richard Trophy has been awarded to the top goal-scorer each season.
Bobby Hull (1957-58 - 1979-80)
In the 1960s and early 1970s, the sight of Bobby Hull racing down the left wing and teeing up a slap shot the likes of which the NHL never had seen filled buildings around the League -- and had goaltenders ducking for cover.
Hull was a big part of the rise of the Chicago Blackhawks from also-ran to Stanley Cup winner in 1961. After scoring 13 and 18 goals in his first two NHL seasons, he erupted for 39 in 1959-60, the first of 13 consecutive 30-goal seasons.
Hull's combination of size, speed and a huge slap shot (augmented by the arrival of curved stickblades in the 1960s) was as big a reason as any that more and more goaltenders began donning masks. Not that it helped -- Hull matched the NHL single-season record with 50 goals in 1961-62, then blew past the record by pumping home 54 in 1965-66, breaking the mark he shared with Maurice Richard and Bernie Geoffrion by getting No. 51 against the New York Rangers.
His talent, good looks and his legendary willingness to sign autographs made Hull the most popular player of his time -- except with opposing goaltenders. He set a personal best with 58 goals in 1968-69 and was coming off another 50-goal season in 1971-72 when the fledgling WHA lured him to Winnipeg, where he continued to pile up goals. He returned to the NHL for a last hurrah when the Jets joined the League in 1979 and finished his career in 1980 in Hartford, where he was a teammate of long-time rival Gordie Howe.
Guy Lafleur (1971-72 - 1990-91)
Perhaps not since Jean Beliveau's arrival a generation earlier had Montreal fans been so eager to see a newcomer as they were when Guy Lafleur stepped onto the Forum ice in the fall of 1971. Lafleur had torn up the Quebec Junior Hockey League, and Montreal GM Sam Pollock did some of his best wheeling and dealing to make sure that Lafleur would play in his home province.
Lafleur was a 20-goal scorer in each of his first three NHL seasons -- not bad, but not what was expected of a player anointed to carry the torch for the next generation of Canadiens greatness.
He blossomed in 1974-75, erupting for 53 goals and 119 points. He bettered those numbers the next season with 56 goals and 125 points, then added 7 goals and 17 points in the playoffs to lead the Canadiens to the first of four straight Stanley Cups.
The sight of Lafleur, his long blond hair flying as he led another rush, became familiar to hockey fans throughout North America. He terrorized goaltenders, putting up six straight seasons of 50 or more goals and 119 or more points. Along the way, he played on five Cup winners, captured the Hart Trophy twice, won three scoring titles and took home the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 1977.
Injuries began to hamper Lafleur after that, but he was coming off a 30-goal season in 1983-84 when he stunned everyone by announcing his retirement after 19 games in 1984-85. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame three years later -- then stunned the hockey world again by making a comeback with the New York Rangers that fall. He was dealt to Quebec in 1989 and finished with two more seasons there, becoming the only player other than Gordie Howe to play in the NHL after being enshrined in the Hall.
Denis Savard (1980-81 - 1996-97)
The NHL doesn't allow do-overs in the draft. If it did, the Montreal Canadiens unquestionably would have wanted one in 1980.
The Canadiens had the first pick in the 1980 draft and picked Doug Wickenheiser, a big, powerful center from Regina. They passed over a speedy little center from Gatineau, Que., named Denis Savard, who went to Chicago with the third pick.
Wickenheiser went on to a serviceable NHL career -- 111 goals and 276 points in 556 regular-season games. Savard had exceeded those scoring marks by the end of his fourth NHL season, by which time he already was one of the most exciting players in hockey history.
Savard may or may not have invented the spin-o-rama, a 360-degree spin and deke that usually left defensemen flat-footed, but he became the player most identified with it. The "Savardian Spin-o-rama" was part of an offensive arsenal that helped him pile up five 100-point seasons in his first eight seasons in Chicago that left baffled defensemen and frustrated goaltenders in his wake.
Ironically, Savard became a Canadien 10 years after being drafted -- the Habs acquired him in a deal that sent Chicago native Chris Chelios to the Blackhawks -- but his magic didn't make the trip. Savard never again scored 30 goals or averaged a point a game. He made it back to Chicago in 1995 and finished his career with the Blackhawks, retiring with 473 goals, 1,338 points -- and thousands of video clips of some of the most spectacular moves in NHL history.
Pavel Bure (1991-92 - 2002-03)
In 1989, the Vancouver Canucks opted to take a sixth-round flyer on Pavel Bure, who had been a sensation at the World Junior Championship a few months earlier and was regarded, along with Sergei Fedorov and Alexander Mogilny, as one of the new generation of Russian stars.
By 1991, all three were in the NHL -- with Bure the last to defect. He joined the Canucks and won the Calder Trophy in 1992 after piling up 34 goals and 60 points in 65 games. That was just a warm-up -- he fired home 60 goals in each of the next two seasons, leading the Canucks to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final in 1994 before they lost to the New York Rangers. He earned the nickname "The Russian Rocket" for the speed and skill that electrified fans.
Injuries hampered Bure's play until 1997-98, when he burst out again with 51 goals and 90 points. But prior to the 1998-99 season, Bure announced he never would play for the Canucks again, and he was dealt to Florida in January 1999. He scored 13 times in his first 11 games with the Panthers before a knee injury ended his season.
Bure then had back-to-back seasons of 58 and 59 goals with the Panthers, and scored 22 times in 56 games in 2001-02 before being dealt to the Rangers. He had 31 goals in 51 games with the Rangers before his knees forced him to retire after recording 437 goals and 779 points in just 702 regular-season games.
Alex Ovechkin (2005-06 - present)
No player in the last six seasons has terrorized goaltenders or lifted fans out of their seats the way Washington's Alex Ovechkin has.
The Caps took Ovechkin with the first pick in the 2004 Entry Draft, so it wasn't like he was an unknown. But the 2004-05 work stoppage delayed his NHL arrival for a year, and he flew under the radar because of the excitement of the arrival of Sidney Crosby -- the two made their NHL debuts on the same night, Oct. 5, 2005.
Ovi scored twice in his first NHL game and hasn't stopped since. He had 52 goals in his rookie season, beating Crosby for the Calder Trophy, and then became the first NHL player since the mid-1990s to break the 60-goal mark when he reached 65 in 2007-08.
But it wasn't just how many goals Ovechkin scored -- it was the way he scored them. A spectacular goal against Phoenix in his rookie season, scored falling down on his back, told the hockey world he was something special, and he's added to his library of "how did he do that" moments with each passing year.
Ovechkin also is the rare high scorer who enjoys contact. At 6-foot-2 and 233 points, he's bigger than most defensemen, and he's as good at flattening an opponent as he is at putting the puck in the net.
At age 25, Ovechkin already has more than 300 goals. It's safe to say he has he has at least a few more years of bringing fans out of their seats and making life miserable for opposing goaltenders.
Pavel Datsyuk (2001-02 - present)
The 1980s had the "Savardian Spin-o-rama." The 2000s had the "Datsyukian Deke."
Pavel Datsyuk's offensive numbers with the Detroit Red Wings won't match his countryman Ovechkin's totals with Washington -- they are different types of players. But while Datsyuk may not ring up 50 goals, he doesn't have to take a backseat to anyone when it comes to highlight-reel moments.
Datsyuk is the NHL's most accomplished thief -- he's led the League in takeaways in three of the past five seasons, losing his chance to repeat in 2010-11 due to injuries that cost him 26 games and dropped him to 11th. He's also willing to try moves that other players only dream about -- such as the one he made in Game 2 of the opening round of the playoffs against Phoenix this spring, when he broke in on the right side, dragged the puck backward between his legs, pulled it around his left leg and fired a puck that goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov managed to stop it with his pad, only to have Darren Helm easily convert the rebound.
Datsyuk also is a wizard in the shootout -- his 26 goals in the tiebreaker are second among active players, and his 48.1 shooting percentage is fifth among active players with 15 or more goals. He's the kind of player opponents never can take their eyes off. Neither can fans -- they might miss something spectacular.

subset: commoncrawl


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The Foresight Update features Foresight Institute news, lectures, and conference updates, and spotlights Foresight members, corporate members, media partners, and nanotech events. Until February 19, 2009, the Foresight Institute Update was named the Foresight Institute Weekly News Digest. An earlier quarterly newsletter titled Foresight Update was published from June 15, 1987 through spring of 2007, and is archived here.
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For in depth coverage on what the media is saying about nanotechnology, see the Media Watch column in most issues of Foresight Update. Media Watch columns from Update 20 (February 1995) through Update 53 (January 2004)
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News Library: 1995 - 2004, arranged chronologically and by category. Includes news articles in the category "News about Foresight" from 1995 through 2004. Articles in the categories "Nanotechnology Headlines" and "What people are saying about nanotechnology" are included from 1995 through summer of 2000, at which time these topics were taken over by Foresight Institute's nanodot website.
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For sure, but - percentage wise the rich are a minority in China, just with a very large population that is still probably a larger number of serious tea drinkers than the West combined.chrl42 wrote:
My point is there are complicated issues and matters that make China not quite same as Japan/Korea...it's quite common to see rich young Chinese hanging around in fancy tea rooms, discussing about LBZ, Yixing, Indian red woods or kyara...you could say high-class, but not minority.
Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou areas are not necessarily representative for the country as a whole. But you said it, China is complicated and a lot more diverse than other tea-consuming societies.


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Margaret Thatcher—whose Conservative Party won elections three times between 1979 and 1987 when she led it—is the subject of a new movie, "The Iron Lady," starring Meryl Streep. But the tough, imaginative campaigns that brought Thatcher to power were orchestrated by the advertising firm Saatchi & Saatchi and emphasized emotions and issues and did not focus much on Thatcher herself.
In 1979, high unemployment and inflation hurt the ruling Labour government. The billboards and posters, titled "Labour Isn't Working," created by the advertising firm illustrated the joblessness (see my past blog post). They featured a long, snakelike line of people at the unemployment office, and the caption "Britain's Better Off With The Conservatives." TV spots also did not mention Thatcher; rather they showed people trying to cope with high prices, unemployment, and taxes, and speaking positively about Conservative economic policies.
Thatcher and her party won again in 1983 and 1987. After the British victory over Argentina in the Falklands War, and with improved economic conditions, the Conservatives won decisively over Labour (as shown in the film). Saatchi & Saatchi's campaign for the Conservatives, in 1983, featured a poster that compared the Labour Party's policies to those expressed in the Communist Manifesto. The poster's headline read "Like Your Manifesto, Comrade."
In contrast to U.S. elections, it was clear that British voters put less emphasis on the leader of the party. In a 1987 exit poll, voters were asked to indicate "the most important reason which decided their vote," and only 6 percent replied that it was the party's leader. It is not surprising, therefore, that British posters in the 1980s often excluded Thatcher and the opposing leaders (while U.S. posters showed Reagan, Bush, Carter, and Mondale).
More often than not, British election propaganda campaigns have emphasized issues more than the leaders, even popular ones. Party leaders, however, have appeared on posters more frequently in the past two decades. And, ironically, Thatcher has appeared a number of times on opposition posters and billboards—sometimes with only her hairdo on a Conservative Party leader (see an example to the right).
For more on election posters in British campaigns, see my book, Posters, Propaganda, and Persuasion in Election Campaigns Around the World and Through History.


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AR Philosophy - Index > Morality - Index > Speciesism - Index
They think, feel pain
Recent news that Happy, a 34-year-old Asian elephant, recognized herself in a giant, shatter-proof mirror at the Bronx Zoo is just the latest in a burgeoning list of eye-opening revelations into the minds and motivations of other beings.
Recent studies have shown that mice empathize with familiar mice who are suffering, that captive male monkeys will hand over a bottle of fruit juice for a chance to ogle photos of female monkeys' bottoms and that rats accustomed to being tickled will come running for more, making high-pitched chirps linked to the origins of human laughter.
Such discoveries are not confined to mammals. Pigeons navigate using human roads, ravens slide or roll down snow banks just for kicks and iguanas will shun boring food to brave the cold for a gourmet treat.
Fish, too, can no longer be dismissed as mindless, unfeeling things. Three fish biologists recently described fishes as: ``steeped in social intelligence, pursuing Machiavellian strategies of manipulation, punishment, reconciliation and cooperation.''
The once-long list of uniquely human traits is dwindling almost as fast as you can say ''human supremacy.'' Tool use, a former symbol of our unique ingenuity, is widespread in nature, and several species manufacture and modify their own tools. Animals also have their own cultures, and they may show malice, or compassion, for others. They deceive, tease, pretend and celebrate, and they exhibit a broad range of emotions including grief, gratitude, jealousy, joy and embarrassment.
We aren't even the best at everything. Our sense of smell pales in comparison to that of most mammals. Bats interpret echoes with a precision that our best sonar can't come close to emulating. Some animals use geomagnetic, electrical, seismic or celestial cues. Pigeons outscore humans at recognizing objects rotated at different angles. Chimps were thought to have poor face-recognition skills -- until someone thought to present them with pictures of faces from their own species instead of human faces.
Unfortunately, as our knowledge and understanding of animal awareness and sentience advances, our treatment of them lags further behind. We kill tens of billions of animals yearly, and the toll is rising. In just the time it takes you to read this sentence, a thousand factory-farmed chickens will have been slaughtered in the United States. Like most farmed animals today, they are deprived of the freedom to move about, fresh air to breathe and the sun on their backs.
Another hundred million animals languish in tiny laboratory cages and suffer in harmful experiments and product tests. Those who don't die are usually killed. Tens of millions more are killed for fashion, recreation and entertainment. The numbers strain comprehension. But science and common sense tell us that every one of these animals is a thinking, feeling individual.
Because animals are sentient -- because they can feel fear and pain, pleasure and joy -- it follows that to them, their lives have value. It matters little what their IQ is. Their pain and pleasure are akin to yours and mine, and their will to live is just as strong.
If animals experience the world essentially as we do, can we really justify harming and killing them for our own interests?
Jonathan Balcombe is an ethologist and Research Scientist with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, in Washington, D.C. and author of Pleasurable Kingdom: Animals and the Nature of Feeling Good.
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Designer Alphabet Plastic Canvas Pattern
For fun from A to Z, stitch these designer alphabet letters!
Cut from 7-count plastic canvas, these letters can be joined to spell out welcome signs, nameplates for childrens rooms, crib mobiles, gift baskets, party decorations and many other imaginative adornments. Instructions include stitch pattern guides for 9 different designs that can be used on any or all of the 26 letters. Each letter is 5 3/8" tall. For smaller letters, cut pieces from 10-count plastic canvas and stitch using 6-strand embroidery floss.
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Designer Alphabet Plastic Canvas Pattern
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June 21, 2014
June 21, 2014
I made these letters for my 2 year old granddaughter for her birthday. I did all the letters in different colors so she would learn her colors and letters at the same time. I also made a box for her to keep them in. She loves them and pulls them out every day to play with them not realizing she is also learning. In less than two months she can say and pick out her letters and colors.


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For Prospective Students Interested in Theatre Arts
There are many ways for prospective students to figure out if Western's Theatre Arts program is the right fit.
Prospective students and parents can come as our guests to any of the shows we produce. We produce large-scale musicals, Shakespeare as well as more classic dramas and comedies in our 350-seat MainStage Theatre. We produce smaller shows including student-generated works in the Studio Theatre, our black box space.
Prospective students can also sit in on our classes. Though our "Shadow Day" program, they can follow a current student and get a taste for the average day in the life of a theatre major at Western. There are plenty of classes they can attend, including acting, dance, costume technology, musical theatre, management or a design/tech class. They can take a tour of our facilities and see our stages, rehearsal rooms, new computer lab, scenic arts and crafts room and costume and scene shops. They can even spend time with the students, hanging out with them in the Campus Center.
For any further information, please email Professor Pam McDaniel at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text: As much as I love the interface with Synthogy, I was wondering if any other softwares out there can read the Synthogy library such as Nuendo or Cubase? If you go into the Ivory Items folder, each file type is "file" so I doubt any other audio softwares can read this? Ive heard the terms VST before, I'm not sure what that means or may pertain to my problem.


text: © Copyright 2003 - 2014 Douglas Remington, Ethereal Light® Photography, LLC - All Rights Reserved. All photos and information contained herein this blog or website may not be copied, downloaded, used in blogs, distributed, broadcast, used on the internet for private or commercial use, or used in anyway whatsoever without proof of authorized consent by Douglas Remington/Ethereal Light®. Use of my works require a commercial license. Please inquire for rates. Violators shall be fined and or prosecuted in court. Ethereal Light® is a registered trademark of Douglas Remington


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DETROIT (Reuters) - Chrysler Group LLC, which is owned by Fiat SpA, on Wednesday said its revenue would rise 11 percent to about $80 billion in 2014.
The American automaker that went through bankruptcy in 2009 and came out managed by Fiat, is now fully owned by the Italian company, which reported fourth-quarter earnings on Wednesday below expectations of analysts.
Chrysler's fourth-quarter net income of $1.62 billion, up 329 percent from the previous year, included a $962 million non-cash tax benefit related to the release of a valuation allowances on deferred tax assets.
Adjusting for the one-time benefit, Chrysler's fourth quarter net income was $659 million, compared with $378 million a year ago.
Net revenue for 2013 was $72.14 billion, up 10 percent from 2012, and was primarily driven by an increase in vehicle shipments, which rose to 2.6 million, up from 2.4 million in the previous year.
Chrysler said it expects 2014 net income to be between $2.3 billion and $2.5 billion. That compares with net income of $2.76 billion in 2013, which includes the one-time tax benefit of $962 million.


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EP084: Smooth Talking
By Tobias S. Buckell.
Read by Steve Anderson (SGA Creative and Great Tales Live).
Roger sighed, shifted his position on the stump, and then turned back away from Marcus.
"What I'm trying to do, Marcus, is talk that tree into moving."
Marcus didn't say anything. He stood behind someone he thought he once knew and tried to figure what to say next. Not a man normally tied for words, Marcus found himself in the very surreal position of being speechless.
Rated R. For profanity and somewhat wooden anatomical descriptions.


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The Bahamas Population: 327,316NO VISITORS FROM HERE YET!
Back to Flag Counter Overview
|Lucayan Indians inhabited the islands when Christopher COLUMBUS first set foot in the New World on San Salvador in 1492. British settlement of the islands began in 1647; the islands became a colony in 1783. Since attaining independence from the UK in 1973, The Bahamas has prospered through tourism, international banking, and investment management. Because of its location, the country is a major transshipment point for illegal drugs, particularly shipments to the US and Europe, and its territory is used for smuggling illegal migrants into the US.
Strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chain of which 30 are inhabited
|chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba
|Geographic coordinates:
| total: 13,880 sq km
land: 10,010 sq km
water: 3,870 sq km
Size comparison: slightly smaller than Connecticut
|Land Boundaries:
|0 km
|3,542 km
|Maritime claims:
| territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
|tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream
|long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills
|Elevation extremes:
|Natural resources:
|salt, aragonite, timber, arable land
|Land use:
| agricultural land: 1.4% arable land 0.8%; permanent crops 0.4%; permanent pasture 0.2% forest: 51.4%
other: 47.2% (2011 est.)
|Irrigated land:
|10 sq km (2012)
|Natural hazards:
|hurricanes and other tropical storms cause extensive flood and wind damage
|Current Environment Issues:
|coral reef decay; solid waste disposal
|International Environment Agreements:
| party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
|^Back to Top
| noun: Bahamian(s)
adjective: Bahamian
|Ethnic groups:
|black 90.6%, white 4.7%, black and white 2.1%, other 1.9%, unspecified 0.7% (2010 est.)
|English (official), Creole (among Haitian immigrants)
|Protestant 69.9% (includes Baptist 34.9%, Anglican 13.7%, Pentecostal 8.9% Seventh Day Adventist 4.4%, Methodist 3.6%, Church of God 1.9%, Brethren 1.6%), Roman Catholic 12%, other Christian 13% (includes Jehovah's Witness 1.1%), other 0.6%, none 1.9%, unspecified 2.6% (2010 est.)
|327,316 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2016 est.)
|Age structure:
| 0-14 years: 22.75% (male 37,779/female 36,691)
15-24 years: 16.79% (male 27,843/female 27,116)
25-54 years: 44.12% (male 72,295/female 72,107)
55-64 years: 8.87% (male 13,023/female 15,998)
65 years and over: 7.47% (male 9,399/female 15,065) (2016 est.)
|Dependency ratios:
| total dependency ratio: 41.2%
youth dependency ratio: 29.6%
elderly dependency ratio: 11.7%
potential support ratio: 8.5% (2015 est.)
|Median age:
| total: 31.8 years
male: 30.6 years
female: 32.9 years (2016 est.)
|Population growth rate:
|0.83% (2016 est.)
|Birth rate:
|15.4 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)
|Death rate:
|7.1 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)
|Net migration rate:
|0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)
| urban population: 82.9% of total population (2015)
rate of urbanization: 1.53% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
|Major urban areas - population:
|NASSAU (capital) 267,000 (2014)
|Sex ratio:
| at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.81 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
|Maternal mortality rate:
|80 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
|Infant mortality rate:
| total: 11.7 deaths/1,000 live births male: 11.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)
|Life expectancy at birth:
| total population: 72.4 years male: 70 years
female: 74.8 years (2016 est.)
|Total fertility rate:
|1.95 children born/woman (2016 est.)
|Health expenditures:
|7.7% of GDP (2014)
|Physicians density:
|2.82 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
|Hospital bed density:
|2.9 beds/1,000 population (2011)
|Drinking water source:
| improved:
urban: 98.4% of population
rural: 98.4% of population
total: 98.4% of population
urban: 1.6% of population
rural: 1.6% of population
total: 1.6% of population (2015 est.)
|Sanitation facility access:
| improved:
urban: 92% of population
rural: 92% of population
total: 92% of population
urban: 8% of population
rural: 8% of population
total: 8% of population (2015 est.)
|HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
|3.22% (2015 est.)
|HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
|8,100 (2015 est.)
|HIV/AIDS - deaths:
|300 (2015 est.)
|Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
|36.6% (2014)
|Education expenditures:
|Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
| total: 30.8% male: 29.6%
female: 32.2% (2012 est.)
|^Back to Top
|Country name:
| conventional long form: Commonwealth of The Bahamas
conventional short form: The Bahamas
etymology: name derives from the Spanish "baha mar," meaning "shallow sea," which describes the shallow waters of the Bahama Banks
|Government type:
|parliamentary democracy (Parliament) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
| name: Nassau
geographic coordinates: 25 05 N, 77 21 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November
|Administrative divisions:
|31 districts; Acklins Islands, Berry Islands, Bimini, Black Point, Cat Island, Central Abaco, Central Andros, Central Eleuthera, City of Freeport, Crooked Island and Long Cay, East Grand Bahama, Exuma, Grand Cay, Harbour Island, Hope Town, Inagua, Long Island, Mangrove Cay, Mayaguana, Moore's Island, North Abaco, North Andros, North Eleuthera, Ragged Island, Rum Cay, San Salvador, South Abaco, South Andros, South Eleuthera, Spanish Wells, West Grand Bahama
|10 July 1973 (from the UK)
|National holiday:
|Independence Day, 10 July (1973)
|previous 1964 (preindependence); latest adopted 20 June 1973, effective 10 July 1973; amended many times, last in 2016 (2016)
|Legal system:
|common law system based on the English model
|18 years of age; universal
|Executive branch:
| chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Dame Marguerite PINDLING (since 8 July 2014)
head of government: Prime Minister Perry CHRISTIE (since 8 May 2012)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by governor general on recommendation of prime minister elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; the prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister
|Legislative branch:
| description: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (16 seats; members appointed by the governor general upon the advice of the prime minister and the opposition leader to serve 5-year terms) and the House of Assembly (38 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms); note - the government may dissolve the parliament and call elections at any time
elections: last held on 7 May 2012 (next to be held by May 2017)
election results: percent of vote by party - PLP 48.6%, FNM 42.1%, DNA 8.5%, other.8%; seats by party - PLP 29, FNM 9
|Judicial branch:
| highest resident court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and 4 justices, organized in 3-member panels); Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 9 justices – as of 2015) note: as of 2008, the Bahamas was not a party to the agreement establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice as the highest appellate court for the 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM); the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) serves as the final court of appeal for The Bahamas judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal president and Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister after consultation with the leader of the opposition party; other Court of Appeal and Supreme Court justices appointed by the governor general upon recommendation of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, a 5-member body headed by the chief justice; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement normally at age 68, but can be extended until age 70; Supreme Court justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement normally at age 65, but can be extended until age 67
subordinate courts: Industrial Tribunal; Stipendiary and Magistrates' Courts; Family Island Administrators
|Political parties and leaders:
|Democratic National Alliance [Branville MCCARTNEY] Free National Movement or FNM [Hubert MINNIS] Progressive Liberal Party or PLP [Perry CHRISTIE]
|Political pressure groups and leaders:
|Friends of the Environment other: trade unions
|International organization participation:
|ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
|National symbol(s):
|blue marlin, flamingo, Yellow Elder flower; national colors: aquamarine, yellow, black
|National anthem:
| name: "March On, Bahamaland!"
lyrics/music: Timothy GIBSON
note: adopted 1973; as a Commonwealth country, in addition to the national anthem, "God Save the Queen" serves as the royal anthem (see United Kingdom)
|Diplomatic representation in the US:
| chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Eugene Glenwood NEWRY (since 3 December 2013)
chancery: 2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 319-2660
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Miami, New York
|Diplomatic representation from the US:
| chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d' Affaires Lisa A. JOHNSON (since 9 July 2014
embassy: 42 Queen Street, Nassau, New Providence
mailing address: local or express mail address: P. O. Box N-8197, Nassau; US Department of State, 3370 Nassau Place, Washington, DC 20521-3370
telephone: [1] (242) 322-1181, 328-2206 (after hours)
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The Bahamas is one of the wealthiest Caribbean countries with an economy heavily dependent on tourism and offshore banking. Tourism together with tourism-driven construction and manufacturing accounts for approximately 60% of GDP and directly or indirectly employs half of the archipelago's labor force. Financial services constitute the second-most important sector of the Bahamian economy and, when combined with business services, account for about 35% of GDP. Manufacturing and agriculture combined contribute less than one 10th of GDP and show little growth, despite government incentives aimed at those sectors. The economy of The Bahamas shrank at an average pace of 0.8% annually between 2007 and 2011, and tourism, financial services, and construction - pillars of the national economy - remain subdued. Conditions are improving in the tourism sector, however, due to steady foreign investment led activity. New resort and marina developments are likely to provide sustained employment opportunities.
|GDP (purchasing power parity):
| GDP (purchasing power parity): $9.066 billion (2016 est.) $9.042 billion (2015 est.) $9.195 billion (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
|GDP (official exchange rate):
|GDP (official exchange rate): $9.047 billion (2015 est.)
|GDP - real growth rate:
|0.3% (2016 est.) -1.7% (2015 est.) -0.5% (2014 est.)
|GDP - per capita (PPP):
| GDP - per capita (PPP): $24,600 (2016 est.) $24,800 (2015 est.) $25,500 (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
|Gross national saving:
|14.1% of GDP (2016 est.) 11.2% of GDP (2015 est.) 9.2% of GDP (2014 est.)
|GDP - composition, by end use:
| household consumption: 65.7%
government consumption: 16.3%
investment in fixed capital: 27.3%
investment in inventories: 1%
exports of goods and services: 36.9%
imports of goods and services: -47.2% (2016 est.)
|GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
| household consumption: 65.7%
government consumption: 16.3%
investment in fixed capital: 27.3%
investment in inventories: 1%
exports of goods and services: 36.9%
imports of goods and services: -47.2% (2016 est.)
|Agriculture - products:
|citrus, vegetables; poultry
|tourism, banking, oil bunkering, maritime industries, transshipment, salt, rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals
|Industrial production growth rate:
|1.5% (2016 est.)
|Labor force:
|196,900 (2013 est.)
|Labor force - by occupation:
| agriculture: 3%
industry: 11% tourism: 49% other
services: 37% (2011 est.)
|Unemployment rate:
|15% (2014 est.) 15.8% (2013 est.)
|Population below poverty line:
|9.3% (2010 est.)
|Household income or consumption by percentage share:
| lowest 10%: 1%
highest 10%: 22% (2007 est.)
| revenues: $1.9 billion
expenditures: $2.3 billion (2016 est.)
|Taxes and other revenues:
|21% of GDP (2016 est.)
|Public debt:
|64.4% of GDP (2016 est.) 64.4% of GDP (2015 est.)
|Fiscal year:
|1 July - 30 June
|Inflation rate (consumer prices):
|Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1% (2016 est.) 1.9% (2015 est.)
|Current account balance:
|-$1.029 billion (2016 est.) -$1.415 billion (2015 est.)
|$880 million (2016 est.) $800 million (2015 est.)
|Exports - commodities:
|crawfish, aragonite, crude salt, polystyrene products
|Exports - partners:
|Poland 26.3%, Cote dIvoire 20.9%, US 15.9%, Dominican Republic 14.3% (2015)
|$2.495 billion (2016 est.) $2.585 billion (2015 est.)
|Imports - commodities:
|machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, mineral fuels; food and live animals
|Imports - partners:
|US 22.3%, China 14.8%, Japan 9.5%, Poland 7.7%, South Korea 7.3%, Colombia 6.8%, Brazil 5.6%, Singapore 5.5% (2015)
|Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
|$1.02 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $895.5 million (31 December 2015 est.)
|Debt - external:
|$17.56 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $16.35 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
|Market value of publicly traded shares:
|$2.78 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
|Exchange rates:
|Bahamian dollars (BSD) per US dollar - 1 (2016 est.) 1 (2015 est.) 1 (2014 est.) 1 (2013 est.) 1 (2012 est.)
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|Electricity - production:
|1.7 billion kWh (2014 est.)
|Electricity - consumption:
|1.6 billion kWh (2014 est.)
|Electricity - exports:
|0 kWh (2013 est.)
|Electricity - imports:
|0 kWh (2013 est.)
|Electricity - installed generating capacity:
|600,000 kW (2014 est.)
|Electricity - from fossil fuels:
|100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
|Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
|0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
|Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
|0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
|Electricity - from other renewable sources:
|0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
|Crude oil - production:
|0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
|Crude oil - exports:
|0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
|Crude oil - imports:
|0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
|Crude oil - proved reserves:
|0 bbl (1 January 2016 es)
|Refined petroleum products - production:
|0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
|Refined petroleum products - consumption:
|24,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)
|Refined petroleum products - exports:
|922.7 bbl/day (2013 est.)
|Refined petroleum products - imports:
|26,330 bbl/day (2013 est.)
|Natural gas - production:
|0 cu m (2013 est.)
|Natural gas - consumption:
|0 cu m (2013 est.)
|Natural gas - exports:
|0 cu m (2013 est.)
|Natural gas - imports:
|0 cu m (2013 est.)
|Natural gas - proved reserves:
|0 cu m (1 January 2009 es)
|Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
|4.1 million Mt (2013 est.)
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|Cellular Phones in use:
|total: 311,000 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 96 (July 2015 est.)
|Telephone system:
| general assessment: modern facilities
domestic: totally automatic system; highly developed; the Bahamas Domestic Submarine Network links all of the major islands; Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) privatized in 2011, but the government reacquired 51% share in 2014
international: country code - 1-242; landing point for the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber-optic submarine cable that provides links to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 (2015)
|Broadcast media:
|2 TV stations operated by government-owned, commercially run Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas (BCB); multi-channel cable TV subscription service is available; about 15 radio stations operating with BCB operating a multi-channel radio broadcasting n (2007)
|Internet country code:
|Internet users:
|total: 253,000 percent of population: 78% (July 2015 est.)
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|61 (2013)
|Airports (paved runways):
| total 24
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2013)
|Airports (unpaved runways):
| total 37
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 16
under 914 m: 17 (2013)
|1 (2013)
| total 2,700 km
paved: 1,620 km
unpaved: 1,080 km (2011)
|Merchant marine:
| total 1,160
by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 238, cargo 170, carrier 2, chemical tanker 87, combination ore/oil 8, container 57, liquefied gas 71, passenger 102, passenger/cargo 26, petroleum tanker 225, refrigerated cargo 97, roll on/roll off 13, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 61
foreign-owned: 1,069 (Angola 6, Australia 1, Belgium 6, Bermuda 15, Brazil 1, Canada 96, Croatia 1, Cyprus 23, Denmark 69, Finland 8, France 15, Germany 30, Greece 225, Guernsey 6, Hong Kong 3, Indonesia 2, Ireland 3, Italy 1, Japan 88, Jordan 2, Kuwait 1, Malaysia 13, Monaco
registered in other countries: 6 (Panama 6) (2010)
|Ports and terminals:
|major seaport(s): Freeport, Nassau, South Riding Point container port(s) (TEUs): Freeport (1,116,272)(2011) cruise port(s): Nassau
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|Military branches:
|Royal Bahamas Defense Force: Land Force, Navy, Air Wing (2011)
|Military service age and obligation:
|18 years of age for voluntary male and female service; no conscription (2012)
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|Transnational Issues
|Disputes - International:
|disagrees with the US on the alignment of the northern axis of a potential maritime boundary
|Illicit drugs:
|transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for US and Europe; offshore financial center
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Back to Flag Counter Overview
Source: CIA - The World Factbook


text: I do almost all of my geocaching so far in the woods and hiking trails. Would I be stupid to stop for the next month because of hunting season?:confused: I have had Non-geocachers tell me that as long as me and my geo-pooch wear orange we will be fine:), others have said that so many out of staters shoot at anything that moves I need to stay out of the woods for hunting season.:( maybe they just don't want me tromping through their hunting grounds and spooking the deer:rolleyes:.I only hear about 1 or 2 hunting accidents a year so I think my odds would be pretty good of not getting shot:rolleyes:. The thought of trying geocaching at night might be a different experiance also.


text:
Grand Opening Event
Information Seminar
Senior Suites of Bellwood
The new Senior Suites of Bellwood is a beautiful, affordable Independent Living community for people age 62 or better. Our affordable, high-quality apartment homes feature a number of amenities for safety, comfort, and entertainment, and the care from our dedicated staff is unmatched. Located in Bellwood, Illinois, Senior Suites of Bellwood offers the best value in the area.
Senior Suites of Bellwood allows residents to maintain an active lifestyle with the ease of maintenance-free living, security, and wellness programs. We also offer on-site parking, secured entry systems, complimentary laundry rooms with washers and dryers, and grocery shopping transportation. Your comfort and convenience is always our top priority.
Prior to moving in we speak with you and your family to showcase all the advantages at Senior Suites that will allow you to enjoy your independence to the fullest. These include our emergency pull cord system as well as our daily up and about check-in service. We also provide regularly scheduled shuttles to shopping and other outings. Our mission is to provide a lifestyle that fosters independence, actively engages the mind, invigorates the body and nurtures the spirit while offering you and your loved ones the peace of mind you deserve.
While some communities insist on new residents putting down huge, non-refundable payments up-front, we like to do things a little differently. We care about not only the physical and emotional well being of our residents, but their financial health as well. That's why we offer our residents all the perks and ease of apartment living without the expensive buy-in—just a simple lease. Residents must financially qualify for the community and the apartment for which they reside. Rental rates are based on availability, the specific income designation for the specific apartment, and the applicant's income. Rate and income levels are determined and monitored by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Our Bellwood Independent Living community offers affordable, high-quality apartment homes with specially designed amenities to meet the needs of older adults. Our studio and one-bedroom units offer a full kitchen, a bath with grab bars, individually controlled heating and cooling, and wheelchair accessibility.
Dining at Senior Suites of Bellwood
Services at Senior Suites of Bellwood
Our Service Culture Makes the Difference
It's the service culture at every Senior Living community that sets us apart. Our experienced, highly trained staff find everyday fulfillment as they help residents live life to the fullest. Below you will find the services and amenities available that are specific to this location, organized by lifestyle option.
Memory Care
- Monthly Housekeeping
- Utilities
Assisted Living
- Daily Up and About Check
Independent Living
- On-Site Maintenance Personnel
- Utilities – Excluding Telephone and Internet
- 24-Hour Emergency Call Response
- Free Laundry Rooms
General Amenities:
- Emergency Call System
- Fitness Equipment
- Planned Social Activities
- Outdoor Patio Area
- Spacious Community Rooms with TV's and DVD's
- Pet Friendly
- Individually Controlled Heat and Air
- Weekly Transportation for Grocery Shopping
Points of Interest
- Saint Simeon's
- Grace Central Church
- Monroe Bapist Church
- Gottlieb Memorial Hospital
- Loyola University Hospital
- Pace Routes 310, 313
- Pace Routes 317, 330
- Metra – Union Pacific/ West Line
- West Suburban Senior Services
- Community Nutrition Network
- Winston Plaza
- West Point Mall
- Downtown Oak Park
- Cinemark Melrose Park
- Maywood Fine Arts Association
- Classic Cinemas
- Casa Italia Italian Cultural Center
- Hal Tyrell Trailside Museum
- Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio
- Dominican University
- Concordia University
- Elmhurst College
- Bellwood Public Library
- Walgreens
- US Post Office
- Memorial Park District
- Stevenson Park
Programs at Senior Suites of Bellwood
Stop Dreaming—Start Doing!
Senior Living communities thrive because many of our residents are curious, interesting individuals who love to collaborate with their neighbors and our staff. They consistently make brilliant suggestions for interesting new programs and clubs, which we are more than happy to make a reality. We empower every resident to continue to grow, connect, move, and create at their own pace.
Awards for Senior Suites of Bellwood
Awards for Senior Suites of Bellwood
heart of caring
Testimonials for Senior Suites of Bellwood
Special Offer
Save $1,000 on Moving Expenses!*
Senior Lifestyle is here to lessen the load. That's why we're offering $1,000 off your moving expenses for move-ins prior to 12/31. We take pride in making everyday a happy day. This even includes moving day.
Request more info to receive a coupon for $1,000 off your Moving Expenses. Print out the $1,000 off coupon and bring it with you when you visit the community!
*Participating communities only. Limited-time offer applicable to new residents only and must be presented at the time of deposit.request info


text:
This weekend is Memorial Day and Americans are pausing to celebrate freedom and thank those who sacrificed to protect it.
Many will also make pilgrimages to cemeteries and shed a few tears for those who have passed from this life. Love is unique with its power to make us so happy and so sad.
In GriggsDakota lilacs draw my memory to homesteaders who brought me here. I am especially mindful of the sacrifice of the pioneering women. It seems to me that the sacrifices made by men are better documented and more often dramatically portrayed than those of women in America.
Unsung heros, these women lived and worked alongside of their fathers, brothers, husbands, and sons.
I am enjoying lilac blossoms today that were planted by pioneer women and their families. A pioneer woman lived a life of self-sacrifice. Her goal was a better life for her children and grandchildren.
She lived with purpose and faith.
Like this woman, who planted lilacs, bore ten children, and died a week after giving birth for the final time.
In this house where the lilacs still bloom.
Like thousands of others, she sacrificed her life.
Her daughter, my grandmother who told me the story only once, watched her mother die as the older girls went out to the field to fetch their father. There was nothing to be done, except to bury her, which they did after having her dressed in her wedding gown.
They put their sorrow in their pocket and went on. Ten children and a father in a household held together with gritty determination. The older girls were assigned to the youngest ones. My grandmother became a ten year old mother to a not quite three year old boy.
I try to imagine their lives in this house with lilacs and love and chaos. There was no extra money and endless work to be done. All the children were held accountable for their work and responsible for one another. My life has been so blessed by their sacrifices that I cannot clearly see.
They made it work. The children became farmers, teachers, an engineer, a carpenter, the Superintendent of a Class A school in GreaterDakota. They were husband and wives, mothers and fathers. Their father is the proud man in the middle with eight of the ten children. My grandmother is on the lower left.
Their father taught them that their most valuable inheritance was
American Citizenship.
American Citizenship.
My life is what they hoped for. It took sacrifice from thousands. Remember.
Celebrate Memorial Day. Happy Summer!


text:
'American Idol' results: Which two contestants did Elton John trip up?
"American Idol" results are in, and the top 11 has shrunk to the top 9. In the video montage that started the show, we were warned (via graphics on a piano, in a presumed nod to Elton John, whose songs the contestants tackled Wednesday night): "And you won't believe / who is going home."
Normally, I'd assume that was just the usual "Idol" hyperbole. But after last week's results show, in which the talented Casey Abrams appeared to be in serious danger of not just going home, but perhaps going back to the hospital, when the judges breathed new life into his Idol hopes, I did have a few quivers of doubt. After all, as Ryan Seacrest reminded us, "No more saves, no more second chances, and no one can escape the outcome of more than 55 million votes … a new record at this stage of the competition."
Would we lose another favorite, rather than two of the expendables? Or even ... two favorites?
After Lauren Alaina and Scotty McCreery sang what was actually a really nice duet of "I Told You So," Ryan got right to it, ushering them to the center of the stage, "right up front."
"After the nationwide vote," he told them. "Both of you get another chance to impress. Congratulations, you can take a seat."
Then, after a particularly forgettable Ford music video (I remember only a falling gargoyle, caught by Casey, and a glowy-eyed Naima Adedapo) and some chitchat in which the newly trimmed Casey says he's a "beardy kind of guy" and James Durbin shows off a custom-made WWE world champion belt someone sent him, Naima and Jacob Lusk perform "Solid as a Rock." I spend the whole song trying to figure out if Naima did definitely have work done on her teeth (as well as having undergone some eyebrow-shaping improvement), and musing on how, last year, Crystal Bowersox refused to let them fix her teeth, only to have the work done once the "Idol" season was over. That unpredictable Crystal …
But not at all difficult to predict: Naima is in the bottom three. "Jacob," Ryan says. "You are safe."
Season 3 winner Fantasia performs "Collard Greens & Cornbread," looking like a million bucks in a sparkly red dress, with a giant blonde curl on top of her head, and declares her love for Steven Tyler as she finishes her song.
Ryan leads her over to dispense some advice to the remaining contestants. "Only one thing?" she asks, like she's been saving up a few tips. Ryan tells her yes, "due to time." And so she squishes it all in as fast as she can: "Love what you do and that is music … Keep good people with you … people who are going to tell you when you're wrong and when you're right … It's not always peaches and cream. It's not always good, but because you love music, you can do it."
Haley Reinhart, Pia Toscano and Thia Megia perform Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream," making me think of how great Darren Criss' performance of that song was on "Glee," but also how much better Pia and Haley are than Thia, who looks a little tacked on next to them.
Lo and behold, Pia is safe, Haley is safe, and Thia is sent to join Naima on the purgatory stools.
Look, Kris Allen is in the audience. Look, the Idols are meeting Reba McEntire, Kelly Clarkson and Muhammad Ali at a charity event. Look, there's Lauren Alaina falling down the stairs. Look, the mansion the Idols have been staying in is actually possibly made of cardboard. Look, the Idols are getting primped and spray-tanned.
Then Paul McDonald, Casey, Stefano Langone and James step up to perform a not-bad version of "Band on the Run," and Steven offers them a gig opening up for Aerosmith next year.
But before they can think too hard about Steven's (possibly serious?) invitation, Ryan gives them some results: Casey, is safe. "My friend, if you knew how many [votes] you got, you'd be proud," Ryan says, rushing to deliver the good news, perhaps for fear of a worrisome replay of last week. "You are safe. Congratulations."
James is also safe, which leaves Stefano and Paul, one of whom will be in the bottom three. And that person is – mildly surprising – Paul.
Jamie Foxx and will.i.am perform a song from the movie "Rio" featuring some Busby Berkeley-esque choreography. And Ryan finally asks for a dimming of the lights.
The two people who will go home are …
Thia and Naima.
The camera alights on Lauren Alaina, face streaked with tears, but me? I can't say I'm surprised or terribly sorry to see either of them go. And you? Will you miss Thia and Naima? Or not so much?
Full Show Tracker coverage of "American Idol"
-- Amy Reiter
Photo: Final 10 plus one: Clockwise from top left: James Durbin, Paul McDonald, Pia Toscano, Scotty McCreery, Jacob Lusk, Stefano Langone, Lauren Alaina, Casey Abrams, Naima Adedapo, Haley Reinhart and Thia Megia. Credit: Michael Becker / FOX.


text:
Spring is finally here! After an unusually bizarre winter with the "polar vortex" swirling around the east and the dry skies in the west, we're all ready to enjoy the pleasures of springtime. The sun is shining, maybe a little rain is still falling, but warm weather is here, hopefully to stay!
Here is a list of 10 things to do, get outside… enjoy the weather and your family and friends.
1. Read outside on a blanket in the sun
2. Go fishing with your buddies
3. Do some spring cleaning to fun music
4. Make these beautiful spring centerpieces, using simple glass jars and lemons for a touch of color!
6. Plan a "staycation" with these cool ideas
7. Take pictures of wildflowers
8. Make this delicious "dirt cake":
9. Walk barefoot on cool grass
10. Make a fairy garden like this one!


text:
The Texas Stars extended their winning streak to three games with a 3-1 victory in Grand Rapids. Reilly Smith had the game tying goal, his second in as many games, and had a crucial play to get the insurance goal. Jordie Benn scored his second goal in as many games as well. Alex Chiasson also collected his second of the year. Cristopher Nilstorp had 18 saves on 19 shots on the night.
Despite outshooting the Griffins 13-6 in the first, Texas found themselves on the wrong side of a 1-0 score at the end of the period. Landon Ferraro broke in alone and went high glove on Nilstorp for his sixth of the year.
The Stars and Griffins skated to a mostly quiet second period, trading power plays mid period. Perfectly even on shots in the middle frame, Texas decided they also needed to even up the score. Reilly Smith scored his second in as many games, gathering the rebound of a Cam Barker shot with just 39 seconds left in the period. Even without the goal, Smith's name was all over the game. He had five shots and a plus-2 rating.
The Stars took the lead in the third period with two goals just 43 seconds apart. Jordie Benn went first on the power play. Crashing the net with Sceviour, Benn collected his third of the year and second in as many games off a beautiful backhand dish from Sceviour. Texas led 2-1.
Next it was Chiasson's turn. Reilly Smith drove the net on his brother, Brendan, with the puck kicking out to the point after the initial shot. Brenden Dillon's point shot was tipped by Alex Chiasson out front for the 3-1 lead. Despite Reilly's lack of a point on the scoresheet for the play, he was instrumental in making it happen.
Texas needed to make a big stand at the end of the game, killing a late Travis Morin penalty. They did so with facility, continuously clearing the puck and killing clock.
The win put Texas at 9-7-1-1 on the season. They are two games above .500 for the first time since the second game of the season.
Texas stays in Grand Rapids to face the Griffins again tomorrow.
Tonight's lines:
R. Smith-Eakin-Chiasson
Injuries, scratches, and notes:
Gazdic, Vause, Sloan (scratch)
Tonight's attendance was 8,619.
AHL Gamesheet - Texas at Grand Rapids - November 30 2012
Friday, November 30, 2012
Stars Extend Streak to Three with 3-1 Win
2 comments:
- AnonymousDecember 1, 2012 at 1:51 PM
How could Reilly Smith be +5 when the Stars only scored 3 goals?ReplyDeleteReplies
Nice catch. My typo.Delete
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text:
Another hydrotherapy technique with a similar rationale is to soak the feet in
a hot foot bath, as soon as possible after the stroke has occurred, while
applying a cold compress to the neck, face and scalp. If this technique
can be applied as a stroke is happening, it may even abort the stroke.
Make sure the ice-cold compress touches the skin over the carotid arteries
under the jaw bone. Mustard paste or powder may be added to the foot bath
to increase the heating effect. Make sure to continue this treatment for
at least 20 minutes and keep adding hot water to the foot bath and make
sure the cold compress stays really cold. Or, you may take a neutral bath
that is neither freezing cold, nor warm. Immersion in water of neutral
temperature is extremely soothing to the central nervous system.
If someone has collapsed due to a stroke, and is waiting to get medical
attention, raise the head gently if you are absolutely sure no spinal injury
has been sustained, and keep the paralyzed side up. Don't let the stroke
victim lie on the paralyzed limbs if at all possible. The paralyzed limbs
may be massaged to maintain proper circulation.
Two of the most distressing sequelae of stroke are inability to speak clearly,
and inability to perform fine motor skills, particularly with the hands.
For someone struggling to regain the ability to speak normally, speech
therapy is highly recommended. And read on, because there is help with
Acupuncture also. To help minimize permanent damage to hand coordination
please begin exercises, such as the exercise ideas listed below, as soon
as possible, and don't give up.


text:
5-16-09 PNC Park
There isn't much to write about.
Today was a Saturday and was Nate McLouth All Star bobblehead. The biggest crowd since opening day was expected. Here's the view from General Robinson and Federal Street.
The Pirates made an alteration to their batting practice gate opening starting today. The gates still opened at 4:30 on Saturday, but center field and right field didn't open until 5:30 PM, meaning all fans wanting to see batting practice would have to cram into 6 rows across 7 bleacher section in left field. Not good.
I got ball #1 from Matt Capps during the season ticket holder only portion of batting practice. That was it for the day. I got robbed twice by fans who were standing a row ahead of me. Had they not been there, I would've made the catches easily.
I made my first glaring error of the season. I had to jump for a home run ball, but I barely got off the ground. It hit my glove and some other fan got it. Rule of ballhawking, if a ball hits your glove, you should come away with the ball.
Left field was getting way to crowded, so I headed over to center field when it opened up. I still got shut out. None of the Rockies pitchers were showing me any love. Not surprising, since I got blacklisted yesterday by a jealous ballhawk snitch who told the Rockies I change my clothes to get more balls.
I tried for a ball at the bullpen and in the first inning from Nate McLouth. No luck.
Then, the rains came. The game was delayed for an hour and 37 minutes.
Game: 1 Ball (1 thrown)
Season: 119 Balls (51 hit, 54 thrown, 14 device)
Games: 23 games (20 with BP, 3 without)
Average: 5.17 Balls per Game
Career: 285 Balls
Attendance: 24,496


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Windjammer Barefoot Cruises The End of an Empireby Paul Motter, CruiseMates Editor
Part 4 of a 4-Part Series
My Personal Experience with Windjammer Cruises
Note: as more information seems to be coming in daily I am publishing all of these articles now. Some areas of parts one and two have been updated. If you would like to comment, please go to our message boards here: Windjammer Message BoardsSince my first professional cruise line experience 25 years ago I have seen a few cruise lines fail. The pattern is quite predictable.
First the line alienates the travel agents as commission checks get later and later. Next come the crew issues. Passengers return from cruises with rumors of surly crewmembers talking about how the ships are falling apart and paychecks are late. The third step is cruises being cancelled due to maintenance issues with the line making up for the cancellations with vouchers for free future cruises. The last straw is the announcement that ships have been seized and are anchored with no money for fuel, the crew stranded.
When I found, in late September, that this Windjammer story was already at stage four. I wrote a quick essay to our readers saying, "all signs indicate Windjammer is on its last legs, we at CruiseMates recommend that no one purchase a Windjammer cruise. There is a good chance you will be left holding a useless ticket."
Little did I know what I had in store for me.
In response to my first article article, Joey Burke contacted me and said he wanted to speak to me by telephone. I agreed to take his phone call. At the time I did not really know anything at all about the Burke family. I had not even seen the "Flotilla" message board, so I had not read any messages there. When Joey contacted me, I went to the Flotilla for the first time, but found I had to register to read the most important threads. I registered but I was told I had to await approval. Before I was approved, I received the Windjammer phone call.
Susan Burke This is where I must refer to the beginning of this article where I fully admit that as a journalist, I was naive. But in my defense, little did I know with whom I was dealing. I believe people in public positions giving interviews know any misrepresentation of the facts will be quickly revealed once an article is published, and by the way, intentional omission of relevant information in the same thing.
Instead of the call I expected to receive from Joey Burke, his sister Susan Burke called me, saying she was calling at Joey's request who was too busy and emotionally drained to deal with more details. We had a long conversation, which I will relate to you now because I believe it probably represents the "best line of defense" in the Burkes' thinking to justify all of the recent moves they have made.
I asked her how things got so bad with the condition of Windjammer's ships. She told me about the family squabbles and the tragic loss of her brother, Danny, which she said had caused the family to lose focus. She indicated that things simply went downhill when they weren't looking because they didn't have anyone "they could trust" working ship operations.
I asked her directly, "who owns Windjammer Cruises?" She told me the company is in the hands of a trust, formed on the Isle of Man by her father, headed up by a lawyer and administered by a board of directors (without much direct involvement). As far as I can tell, all of this is accurate, though I think it would have been far better if she had explained to me how the business is actually comprised of many separate businesses that each perform different functions.
My next question was more pointed. "What financial liabilities does Windjammer Cruises have that would prevent it from getting on its feet again?"
Her specific words were that the company had practically no liabilities; the crew has all been fully paid, all ships were free and clear. The only liabilities were "a few vendors who are very understanding." Perhaps she assumed I already knew about the LaMer or Sail 5 and Sail 10 programs when I asked her about the people who had paid for cruises who needed to be rescheduled. (I knew nothing about them, and hence did not ask about them). She replied that past cruises were all "no problem, they are already being taken care of on the Legacy". I was left with the belief that the liability for unfulfilled cruises were limited to late August through September 2007.
I asked her why cruises were being cancelled. Her implication was that while the company had actually been making efforts to provision the ships, there were crew members who had become uncooperative and were telling passengers that cruises were cancelled instead of doing their jobs. Meanwhile, the reason provisions were sitting on the decks was because while they had been delivered the crew was refusing to load them.
I asked why that was happening if the crew had now been paid. She replied it wasn't happening anymore. "The Legacy is sailing now" she told me on August 30.
Okay, crew sit-down strikes are unusual but not implausible. So, I asked Ms. Burke what future plans the company had for getting the ships up and running. "Looking to hire new people?" I asked, "Possibly," she replied. She told me the ships only needed refurbishment, which was currently being done in Trinidad. She continued that the entire company was actually hopeful that the ships would be ready as soon as February 2008 rather than the announced April date. She said "The Legacy is sailing right now (this was 10-31) and it is also scheduled to keep sailing with cruises scheduled for November 3, and November 10.
I asked her why the Windjammer web site was so hopelessly out of date. She said their computer person had just quit and they didn't have a chance to find a new one. Without saying outright how bad it looked to be selling cruises via a web site so obviously full of incorrect information, I even offered to fix it for them for a very reasonable flat fee. (At the time I was still thinking she was being honest with me, and I was actually trying to help them out). I said for $1000 and I would bring the Windjammer web site completely up to date with all the accurate information she could supply to me. She said she would let me know the next day. I never heard back from her.
The only area where Susan did not mention having any problems was in handling sales operations. I now realize sales is her job. No problems where selling cruises was concerned. Simple enough, the problem was getting the ships sailing again for all those cruises they sold.
The only other thing she alluded to was what she said was a problem with the Flotilla message board. She said that there were people on that message board who actually wanted Windjammer to fail, because they had purchased a sail ship themselves and already had plans to hire one of the Windjammer captains away and compete directly with them.
End of conversation. I went and wrote up my second piece which I now disavow. Reaction to the article was almost instant.
What I Know Now My problem now is that this story is unfolding faster than I can write it. I thought nothing would surprise me any longer. I was wrong again. After being completely assured by both Joey and Susan that the Legacy November 3 cruise would sail "no matter what," two days later Joey left a message on the Flotilla boards that the November 3 and 10th sailings of Legacy were both cancelled.
Did Joey contact me to tell me he was canceling those cruises he and Susan had just touted to me so convincingly? No. I read about on the Flotilla, the same as many people who were booked on those sail dates. By November 9, some people booked on the November 10th date still had not been notified it was canceled. Those people were urged to change their plans to the Nov. 17th cruise. But on November 13th, the November 17, 24 and December 3rd cruises on Legacy were also cancelled.
And so the pattern repeats itself. As the former company insider I later spoke to said to me, "They live by a strategy I call the 'ultimate scapegoat.'" One family member can promise anything based on word of mouth, and if that works out for the Burkes, they are happy. When it backfires the answer is inevitable, "See, I had good intentions all along, but it was my family who backed out on my word to you."
Joey said something else to me in his email. He said "I really wanted to sail the Legacy on November 3rd, but I just couldn't raise enough money for fuel and food."
I am now thinking, "Here is a cruise line that owes thousands of cruises to prepaid customers, and they can't raise enough money for one cruise? Do they really expect to revive the entire cruise line by bootstrapping the company one cruise at a time?"
I wrote back to him to question how he could say he couldn't raise enough money for food and fuel for one cruise when people know how much personal wealth the Burkes have. I told him I wouldn't even mention he said that because I realized Joey has a way of saying things he shouldn't. I didn't mention it, until now. Passengers were flying down to Costa Rica on $1000s of non-refundable air tickets for scheduled Windjammer cruises only to be told they wouldn't be getting a cruise after they arrived, and the Burkes weren't saying much more than "sorry 'bout that."
My shock lasted for all of a week. Then I got it. Messages from the Burkes in the Flotilla boards are full of pleas for understanding and patience from their faithful customers, not to mention asking for them to buy future cruises now in order to save the company. Yet not one Burke family member will put in a red cent to save the cruise line even when their customers are losing money on each cruise they cancel at the last minute.
Could it be they realize that as long as they say there are cruises scheduled they have not officially defaulted on their timeshare or Sail 10 customers? Possibly. Is it also possible they do not want to set a precedent of putting in private money because it means the labyrinth of protected, offshore corporations could be pierced in the same way the IRS did CB back in 99? Possibly.
And what about this practice of using the Flotilla, a privately owned, non-official Windjammer devoted message board, as their primary way to contact their customers? Wouldn't that be a little like a professional catering company depending on their neighbor's kid to do their grocery shopping? It just doesn't make sense. Except in one way - they can't afford (or are just too cheap) to fix the official Windjammer Web site. Or maybe they really want to have a place where they can state Windjammer policy and someday disavow it by saying, "Well, the Flotilla is not an official Windjammer Barefoot Cruises Ltd Web Site."
To this day, I honestly don't know if the Burkes are cagey, or just naíve. Their "just trust us, we're really lovable people" stance works very well on some Jammers, but meanwhile other people who have already pre-paid for several cruises they will probably never see are just mad. These are the people Joey should be worried about, yet these are the people who are being virtually ignored.
Liabilities of Windjammer Looking at financial liabilities, I noticed that the company that used to sell timeshares for the LaMer project is still online. The homepage of Cruiseshares300 no longer mentions Windjammer, but the pages about LaMer timeshares are still on its web site if you use Google. That is how I found Barry Jones who still runs the company.
Michael Burke Jr. is long gone from that business, and in truth Barry never mentioned MDB by name, though Barry was a fan of CB, the captain. Barry's company Cruiseshares300, is still in the cruise timeshares business -- just not Windjammer timeshares.
What I now know is that most states, including Texas, have no laws governing timeshare sales, but Florida does. In Florida, a timeshare owner would have preferential rights over people who purchased single vacations on the same property and were not able to take them. Timeshare sales imply a partial ownership and legal claims to the property according to Florida State timeshare law.
Although Barry would not say how much money Windjammer sold in timeshare sales alone, he does believe those buyers could make a legal claim to the ship LaMer based on Florida law, whether they know it or not and despite a contract which mandates arbitration. He believes the total amount of liability is sufficient to make it a significant hurdle to finding a new financial backer for Windjammer who could make good on all outstanding company debt. Essentially, the only way to accomplish that, according to Jones, would be if all of the timeshare owners collectively voted to a settlement, possibly in partnership or in agreement with someone looking to buy the company out.
As a friend of Captain Burke Sr. and a fan of the LaMer project Barry was very impressed with how it worked out. "It was a good plan and a successful one," he said. The problem, he says, was the Burke kids usurping the sales proceeds from it instead of leaving it where it belonged.
"That is not normal procedure for timeshares." Says Barry, "and that could be a problem for Windjammer as they are based in Florida."
Jones says he is sorry it happened that way, because now Cruiseshares300 does not know where that money is. Jones fears he would be but one in a long line of creditors waiting to recover should Windjammer ever show any real assets.
When asked about the Sail 5 and Sail 10 programs he said, "Another successful program, but I doubt they have the same rights as the timeshare people." Jones even has doubts as to whether it is legal to pre-sell cruises on a foreign-flagged cruise ship. I noted that while other cruise lines do have time-share models, no other cruise line has a pre-sell cruise package of which I am aware.
When it comes to liability, according to Barry, the fact that the Windjammer ships are owned and flagged overseas is no protection. Every nation has admiralty courts and one could seize any of the Windjammer ships at any time. Then the creditors will be standing in line to collect. The only reason they have not yet been seized is because their intrinsic value does not add up to the liabilities, especially after a class action lawsuit for the LaMer timeshare buyers.
Meanwhile, the timeshare owners feel their chances of getting the cruises they pre-paid for are more likely to materialize if the cruise line can rise from the ashes, while the individual proceeds from a class action lawsuit would likely be miniscule.
It's a classic standoff. Everyone is waiting to see if Windjammer will one day be worth something more than the current net value of the ships. Meanwhile, no one, including the Burkes, will do anything to try to get the company to that place for fear any capital invested would be eaten by lawsuits.
Speaking of the Burkes, word is that June Burke (CB's wife) set up a new trust for CB, and it is completely off-limits to his kids with all his money going to his grandchildren. If CB were speaking he would probably say, "my kids dug their own hole, let them dig themselves out." Unfortunately, the kids are too busy fighting to do any digging.
Today, Joey Burke is still listed as a principal officer and director of Windjammer Barefoot Cruises, Ltd. a BVI (British Virgin Islands) corporation licensed to do business in Florida. However, Joey himself has posted in the Flotilla that his personal wealth is indeed very small, alluding to boarding horses and having an income just over $20,000/year. My former insider contact says that Joey has made plenty of money in the past, however, if his primary source of income in the past was provisioning Windjammer ships, then he probably is scraping the bottom of the barrel now.
How much are the ships worth? "About $6 million, maybe, if they were in good shape and unencumbered" says Barry Jones, "not counting the LaMer." Apparently that ship has some real potential value. The problem is no one knows what kind of shape it is in since it hasn't sailed commercially since they acquired it. Meanwhile, a former member of the board just emailed me to say he believes the company's outstanding liabilities are in the neighborhood of $12 million.
Where We Stand Now I do have to wrap up this article at some point, though the truth is this story continues to grow.
Joey Burke just announced a new "breakthrough" deal to "save Windjammer once and for all" on the Flotilla. The deal says two of the ships will be sold away, to a "creditor," and that money will be used to refurbish and save two of the other ships for Windjammer cruises.
Oddly, one of the ships he says he is going to sell is the LaMer ship, which is tied to the timeshare sales for which Windjammer still has obligations. Furthermore, the creditor at the other end of the deal is none other than his brother Michael Burke, who many people allege made off with the Cruiseshares300 sales revenue originally.
In announcing this breakthrough deal, no mention was made of the LaMer timeshare obligations.
The next day, just as cryptically and unquantifably as the day before, yet another message was left on the Flotilla message board. It amounted to saying, "disregard my previous announcement" since his lawyers had advised Joey not to "discuss investors, not to discuss family and suggested I reconsider selling future cruises on the Legacy."
His lawyers are saying, "reconsider selling future cruises on the Legacy?" There are already dozens of cruises already sold on the Legacy as it is the last operating ship the line has. What about those? No mention was made.
He then says "Perhaps they will come around and see my plans as what is best for Windjammer. But I can't proceed to articulate, work and expect you guys to support me or Windjammer if I am not being supported by the trust."
"Arghhhhhhhhhh," and I don't mean that in the "matey" sense! I mean the pattern only repeats itself ad finitum/ad nauseum like a hamster running in a turnstile cage. Make a promise, and then back off by blaming it on your associates. The ultimate scapegoat theory.
And still the Jammers in the Flotilla stand up for Joey; still hoping he can resurrect the cruise line. It's better than the alternative, declaring bankruptcy and packing in all hope, apparently.
And this could be the biggest wrinkle yet. Florida is one of the few states that requires travel agencies to be certified to sell cruises. Windjammer let their certification lapse, but apparently caught it in time not to incur immediate repercussions. However, the Florida statues are very clear cut about what Florida-based travel companies can do, and selling any travel without the clear proof that you can fulfill your promise to the buyer is frowned upon, to say the least.
Where Do I Stand on the Issue Now? When the Nov 13 shoe dropped that the following three Legacy cruises, November 17, 24 and December 3 were canceled it meant they have sold and then subsequently cancelled five cruises on this ship alone in the last two months.
I have subsequently been contacted by a man who says he was placed on the board of Directors on May 22 to try to help sort the entire mess out. He writes;
"... the current fraud is that they are knowingly collecting money for cruises they cannot under any circumstances deliver. To wit: no money, no insurance, accumulated liabilities in excess of $12 million, they have lost their flag state status - this is to say, the ship operating company has been de-certified and the ships simply cannot sail legally under international law."
"Two of the ships are under arrest, one of the ships is most likely unseaworthy - leaving only the Legacy as potentially viable."
"While TimeShare promises have been made for 10 or more years, only the Legacy would be compliant with the 2010 SOLAS Regulations. The other vessels could not operate."
"Are you aware that the last TimeShare sale was made in Oct 2006? And that a Windjammer letter, signed by MDB, went out in July 2006 to the TimeShare buyers detailing the progress that was being made with La Mer and the overall project?, By the way, there were 646 Time Share sales in total."( end of message ).
Someone left a message in the Flotilla that they had a group of 20+ people booked on the Nov. 17 cruise. Word is she got her cruise documents and cancellation notice the same day, and that she had independently arranged air tickets. Another lady who flew down for the November 3rd cruise was told it was canceled after she arrived. Although Windjammer said people who flew down could sleep on the ship, that was disallowed by the local authorities. She posted to the Flotilla from her hotel, saying how nice it was to see the ship in the distance. She had plans to fly down again for the 17th cruise, hoping that cruise would "be the one." It won't.
Since there were so many credit card charge backs the banks shut down Windjammer's commercial accounts, so if you want to buy a cruise you can do it with PayPal (the web-based money transfer service owned by Ebay). It is not easy to get a refund from PayPal however, and keep in mind that third party travel insurance carriers stopped covering Windjammer months ago, and a Windjammer travel policy does not cover "company financial failure" as a reason for a refund. Also, that Florida Seller of Travel law prohibits a seller from favoring one payment method over another unless there is a specific reason (such as a promotional discount for a new Visa card, for example).
Also a problem with the FL Travel Sellers law is the Windjammer Web site http://www.windjammer.com. It is still up, alive and well and looks as if you can schedule a cruise on any ship at any time, noting that all four ships have cruises scheduled through April 2008. The link called "The Fleet" shows four shiny ships. There are links to wedding planning, etc. The only page that does not work is the one for making reservations.
In truth, none of the ships are currently sailing. But the web site also shows no indication that there are problems with company except one cryptic press release canceling the Legacy Nov 3 & 19th cruises -- but they hope to be up and running on the 17th once again.
My Outlook? I have been wondering why the Burkes have not filed for bankruptcy for Windjammer. Unless they are willing to reinvest in it themselves (which doesn't appear to be likely) or they find a way to unencumber the ships and get a new backer, I don't see any changes coming. Especially troubling to me are the ongoing cruise scheduling and cancellations. This last letter was a blow to Windjammer believers, but just a matter of time to those of us who really started watching this story a few weeks ago.
If the line files bankruptcy, it is possible someone could buy the ships and the name "Windjammer" and sail on with the same model. Unfortunately, I believe most of the Sail 5, Sail 10 and LaMer investors would get the short end of the stick.
But I certainly see little reason to continue on as they are. I get frankly very upset when I see people writing into cruise message boards from Costa Rica because they flew down there only to find their cruise cancelled with no warning. Yet, the Burkes seem content to continue acting is if none of what they are doing to their customers is a problem.
There is a web site for consumer complaints full of stories of people who spent as much at $18,000 on LaMer timeshares. These people do not appear to be the idle wealthy. They are regular folks who work hard for their money.
The web site is: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/travel/windjammer.html
Personally, I ardently urge people not to count on future Windjammer cruises. I advise everyone not to give this company anymore money.
Link to: Windjammer Barefoot Cruises - Part 1 Link to: Windjammer Barefoot Cruises - Part 2 Link to: Windjammer Barefoot Cruises - Part 3


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