Daily Archives: August 24, 2021

When the Big Bang Was Just a Theory – The New York Times

Posted: August 24, 2021 at 10:22 am

FLASHES OF CREATIONGeorge Gamow, Fred Hoyle, and the Great Big Bang DebateBy Paul Halpern

The universe is changing. But scientists didnt realize that a century ago, when astronomers like Edwin Hubble and Henrietta Leavitt discerned that other galaxies exist and that theyre hurtling away from the Milky Way at incredible speeds. That monumental discovery sparked decades of epic debates about the vastness and origins of the universe, and they involved a clash of titans, the Russian-American nuclear physicist George Gamow and the British astrophysicist Fred Hoyle.

In his new book, Flashes of Creation, Paul Halpern chronicles the rise of Gamow and Hoyle into leaders of mostly opposing views of cosmology, as they disputed whether everything began with a Big Bang billions of years ago.

Halpern, a physicist himself at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, skillfully brings their fascinating stories to light, out of the shadow of the overlapping quantum physics debates between Albert Einstein and Niels Bohr, which Halpern has written about in an earlier book. Halpern also poses fundamental questions about how science should be done. When do you decide, for example, to abandon a theory? Ultimately, his book seeks to vindicate Hoyle, who in his later years failed to admit his idea had lost.

Until these two bold theoreticians arrived, astrophysics had been stuck at an impasse. Scientists werent sure how to interpret Hubbles observations, and no one understood how the universe created and built up chemical elements. It is clear that the intuitive, seat-of-the-pants styles shared by Gamow and Hoyle were absolutely needed in their time, Halpern writes.

Gamow and Hoyle make for a challenging joint biography, Halpern acknowledges, in part because their parallel stories so rarely intersected. They had only one significant in-person meeting, in the summer of 1956 in La Jolla, Calif., where Gamow had briefly served as a consultant for General Dynamics, the aerospace and defense company. They discussed many ideas in that coastal town, hanging out in Gamows white Cadillac, but for the most part, their debates took place in the pages of physics journals, newspapers and magazines, including Scientific American.

They also frequently appeared on early television and radio programs, becoming among the first well-known science communicators, paving the way for Carl Sagan, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Bill Nye, Carolyn Porco, Pamela Gay and others today. Hoyle wrote the science fiction novel The Black Cloud and the television screenplay A for Andromeda, while Gamow produced One, Two, Three Infinity and the Mr. Tompkins series, whose main characters predicaments illustrated aspects of modern science.

For years, their dueling theories a Big Bang origin of matter and energy (championed by Gamow) versus a steady-state universe that created matter and energy through quantum fluctuations (championed by Hoyle) remained highly speculative. Initially, the Big Bang theory predicted a universe only a couple billion years old, which conflicted with observations of the sun and other stars, known to be much older. Physicists were evenly divided between the two.

But that changed as more evidence emerged, and a key discovery eventually seemed to settle the debate. In 1964, the astronomers Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson noticed a constant signal of radio static with the Holmdel Horn Antenna in New Jersey. After ruling out possible experimental sources of noise (including pigeons and their droppings on the antenna), they deduced that the radio hiss had a cosmic origin. They and their colleagues eventually realized the signal came from relic radiation from the hot fireball of the early universe.

After that, the Big Bang theory quickly became consensus in the field. While Hoyles steady-state idea eventually failed, he made many other significant contributions, especially involving stellar processes and supernova explosions, which he showed could fuse chemical elements into heavier atoms and produce nitrogen, oxygen, carbon and more. In explaining this, and throughout the book, Halpern provides many helpful metaphors and analogies. He also reminds readers that Hoyle, Gamow and their fellow theoretical physicists made these accomplishments well before the heyday of supercomputers.

Halpern doesnt shy away from the characters flaws. In particular, he shows how Hoyles work later in life lay on the fringes of physics, including his controversial panspermia hypothesis, that organic material and even life on Earth came from colliding comets, and his unsuccessful attempts to revive steady-state theory. But this shouldnt cast a pall over his legacy.

Hoyles investment in the theory raises important philosophical and sociological questions about when we should consider an idea proven. Its also the sort of quandary that threads its away through contemporary debates among physicists: about dark matter versus modified gravity theories; about what dark energy is and how the universes inflation happened moments after the Big Bang; and about a persistent discrepancy in measurements of the universes expansion rate, known as the Hubble tension. Halpern unfortunately gives only brief mention to these active areas of research, which owe a lot to Gamow and Hoyle.

At one point in the book, Halpern relates a conversation he had with Geoff Burbidge, a colleague of Hoyles who also continued to support a steady-state model. Cosmology needed alternatives, he argued, not lemmings following their leader over a cliff.

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Theoretical physicists think humans are screwing up the universe’s plan – The Next Web

Posted: at 10:22 am

The universe started with a Big Bang. Everything that was ever going to be anything was compacted into a tiny ball of whatever-ness and then it exploded outward and the universe begin expanding.

At least, thats one way of looking at it. But emergent new theories and ages-old philosophical assertions are beginning to find a foothold in cutting-edge quantum physics research. And its beginning to look more and more like we might actually be the center of the universe after all.

Thats not to say Earth or the Milky Way is at the geographical center of the universe. Itd be arrogant to make such a literal assumption.

Im saying humans are the figurative center of the universe. Because, theoretically, were gods.

This is a two-parter. First we need to establish that the universe is conscious. It might not be, but for the sake of argument lets say we agree with the growing number of scientists who support the theory.

Heres a quote I found in Mind Matters News that explains it nicely. Its from Georgia Techs Tim Andersen, a quantum physics researcher:

The key to understanding Will is in examining our own sense of consciousness. We have, in a sense, two levels of consciousness. The first is of experience. We experience a flowers color and smell. Therefore, we are conscious of it. The second is that we are aware of our consciousness of it. That is a meta-consciousness which we sometimes call reflection. I reflect on my awareness of the flower.

Andersens referring to Will as an underlying force in the universe thats analogous to consciousness.

The gist is that everything is capable of experience. If you kick a rock it experiences force, velocity, and gravity. It cant reflect on these experiences and, thus, the rock itself is capable of changing nothing on its own.

Its conscious because it exists. And, because it sort of doesnt exist. Its not actually a rock, but a bunch of molecules smashed together. And those arent molecules, really. Theyre particles smashed together. And so on and so forth.

Eventually you get to whatever the quantum version of bedrock is, and the whole universe is just an infinite amount of pretty much the same stuff it was the exact moment before the Big Bang happened.

So our rock is a rock, but its also not a rock because we can clearly see its just regular universe material if we look close enough. A tree, a rock, a Volvo, an AI reporter named Tristan: theres not much difference between these things in the quantum realm.

Its kind of like Minecraft. No matter what you build its all just ones and zeros on a computer chip.

Heres where things get cool. The rock, for whatever reason, doesnt appear to experience secondary consciousness. As Andersen explains it, the rock cannot reflect on its experience.

But humans can. Not only can we experience, for example, falling, but we can also reflect on that experience and create change based on that reflection.

Whats even more interesting, cosmically speaking, is that we can internalize the experiences of other humans and use those to inform our decision-making. Were capable of reflecting on the reflections of others.

This implies that human free will is the sole known entity in the universe capable of eliciting change based on conscious reflection.

The rock can never choose not to fall, but humans can. We can even choose to fly instead.

The result of our existence is that the universes entire trajectory is, potentially, changed. Whatever the particles in the universe were going to do before humanity emerged, their course has been altered.

Who knows what changes weve wrought upon the cosmos. Weve only been around for a few million years and our planet already looks like a frat house after a kegger.

What will the galaxy look like when we can travel to its edges in a matter of months or weeks? What happens when we can traverse the universe?

Its possible theres an intelligent creator there somewhere chuckling right now. Or perhaps the universes plan always included the inception and evolution of humans.

But the evidence, of which theres admittedly very little, says otherwise.

Quantum physics makes a strong argument for universal consciousness and, if thats the case, its hard to define the human experience without separating everything capable of reflection from those things only capable of experience.

If it turns out were the only entities capable of producing a secondary reality out of the universal consciousness, well, that would be something.

Im not saying youre the God, Im simply pointing out that youre the only thing in the entire universe that we can show evidence for having free will and the capacity to reflect on its experiences.

Perhaps our ability to reflect on consciousness itself is what allows experiential reality to manifest. We think, therefore everything is.

Further reading:

New research tries to explain consciousness with quantum physics

Scientists may have found the missing link between brain matter and consciousness

New MIT brain research shows how AI could help us understand consciousness.

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We finally have a working supersolid. Here’s why that matters. – Popular Science

Posted: at 10:22 am

Imagine an intact diamond whose innards move with no friction, or a formed ice cube whose tightly-packed contents effortlessly flow. These might sound strange, or even impossible. But to physicists, theyre not too far removed from something theyve recently created: a strange state of matter called a supersolid.

For the past several years, scientists have been creating supersolids at very tiny scales in the lab. Now, a group of physicists have made the most sophisticated supersolid yet: one that exists in two-dimensions, like a sheet of paper. They published their results in Nature last Wednesday.

Its always been a sort of outstanding goal to bring [supersolids] into two dimensions, says Matthew Norcia, a physicist at Innsbruck University in Austria, and lead author of the Nature paper.

So what exactly is a supersolid? At its base, it contains properties of two different states of matter, one mundane and another quite esoteric.

The first of those states is a solid, which is among the most mundane forms of matter. Chances are that youre touching one at this very moment. Importantly, To physicists, a solid is interesting because the atoms inside are held in a rigid structure. Its why you dont, normally, see solid objects flowing like water.

But the second is a state of matter youve probably seen somewhat less: a superfluid. A quirk of quantum mechanics, a superfluid is a substance that acts like a fluid with zero viscosity. Scientists have caught glimpses of superfluids by cooling helium to temperatures barely above absolute zero. They can, and will, effortlessly crawl up walls or slide across surfaces.

A supersolid combines both a solid and a superfluid into one package: a solid that flows like a fluid with no friction, no resistance. If that sounds strange, its all perfectly natural. Its simply a product of quantum mechanics, the peculiar sort of physics that governs the cosmos at the very smallest scales.

To picture a supersolid, consider an ice cube immersed in liquid water, with frictionless flow of the water through the cube, wrote Bruno Labruthe-Tolra, a physicist at Sorbonne Paris North University in France who was not involved with the latest paper, in Nature News & Views that accompanied the new study.

It isnt an entirely new idea; physicists have been proposing it since the 1960s. But for many decades, it wasnt clear if we could make a supersolid on Earth. Only in the 2010s did scientists start making concrete progress towards creating a supersolid in the laboratory.

[Related: What the heck is a time crystal, and why are physicists obsessed with them?]

At first, scientists tried looking for supersolids in supercooled helium. Superfluids occur in helium, whose atomic properties make it ideal, so it seemed logical that you might find supersolids in them, too. But that effort has yet to bear fruit.

Later in the decade, physicists began turning to other elements such as rubidium and lanthanum. When you trap a small number of gaseous atoms and chill them down to fractions of a degree above absolute zero (the very coldest possible temperature, at around -460 degrees Fahrenheit), they condense into a whole suite of quantum weirdness. Thats called a Bose-Einstein condensate.

So, to create a supersolid, you first trap some atoms, then cool them, then play with their interactions. If you tune those correctly, and you tune the shape of the trap correctly, you can get a supersolid, says Norcia, the lead author.

Using this method, in 2019, researchers began to create a basic, one-dimensional supersolid: essentially, a thin supersolid tube in a straight line.

Thats what Norcia and his colleagues at Innsbruck University and the Austrian Academy of Sciences have now done. By tinkering with the device they used to trap atoms and the process they used to condense the atoms, they were able to extend their supersolid from one dimension into two: from a tiny tube into a small sheet.

This demonstration is a key advance because one direct way to prove that a system exhibits superfluidity is to study its properties under rotation, writes Labruthe-Tolra, and this analysis cannot be achieved if the system has only one dimension.

Now that researchers have created a supersolid in two dimensions, can they make one in three dimensions? Can they make a proper supersolid that you can touch?

Probably not soon, according to Norcia, though he says its a question that has crossed physicists minds. Currently, hes uncertain how they would do that with the technology they have.

Instead, for now, the researchers want to study the supersolid theyve created. Even though theyve successfully created a supersolid, physicists still know so little about it.

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Bahamas: Cruise passengers 12 and over must be vaccinated for …

Posted: at 10:21 am

All cruise passengers ages 12 and older must be fully vaccinated for Covid-19 for ships to enter a Bahamas port, effective Sept. 3.

The order includes cruise lines' private islands in the Bahamas. Every major cruise company sailing from the U.S. -- Carnival Corp., Royal Caribbean Group, MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings -- calls at a private Bahamas destination.

Bahamas prime minister Hubert Minnis issued the emergency order on Aug. 19. The restriction is valid through Nov. 1.

What is an agency's liability for having sold a cruise to an anti-vaccine client if the line changes its policy after the sale?

Before arriving in port, the ship's captain will be required to submit a manifest disclosing the vaccination status of all people aboard.

Cruise lines immediately began changing their vaccine requirements on sailings from Florida in response to the order.

Royal Caribbean International said that in order to comply, guests 12 and older sailing from Florida ports must provide proof of vaccination in order to cruise, starting Sep. 3. The updated policy matches Royal's requirements for cruises departing other U.S. ports. Guests under 12 must provide a negative test result at boarding.

MSC Cruises said unvaccinated guests whose cruise is scheduled to depart Florida between Sept. 3 and Oct. 31 won't be allowed to sail. They are eligible for a full refund.

Earlier this month, Royal Caribbean International said that the U.S. Virgin Islands would not allow cruise ships to enter unless all eligible passengers onboard were vaccinated.

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Bahamas implements vaccine requirement for cruise ships to …

Posted: at 10:21 am

COVID-19: Reporter details time on cruise ship with positive cases

Morgan Hines, a USA TODAY Travel Reporter, detailed her time aboard a cruise ship with positive COVID-19 cases on board.

Staff video, USA TODAY

Cruise ships will not be allowed to enter ports in the Bahamas if there are unvaccinated passengers on board aged 12 and older without a medical excuse, the country said in an emergency order issued Thursday.

The order posted to the Bahamas Customs & Excise Department website wassigned by Bahamian Prime Minister Hubert Minnis, takes effect Sept. 3 and is valid through Nov. 1.

The new rule is applicable to private islands such as Royal Caribbean's private island Perfect Day at CocoCay, according to the order.

In order to dock, a cruise ship's captain is required to transmit a "crew and passenger manifest"disclosing every person's vaccination status to the Port Medical Officer before arrival.

Cruising requirement: Norwegian Cruise Line extends 100% COVID vaccination requirement through end of year

'I never felt unsafe': USA TODAY reporter aboard cruise ship with positive COVID cases

All passengers who are aged 12 and older must be fully vaccinated at embarkation. Additionally, the health protocol on board must be that which wasapproved previously by the "Competent Authority" and complied with.

There are exceptions to the new regulation.

The rule does not apply to crew, contractors and any "non-revenue passenger" under the protocol previously agreed upon between the government and cruise lines. The rule is also moot when a cruise ship is attempting to enter port in an emergency and when a passenger has a medical reason as to why they are unvaccinated.

Passengers entering The Bahamas on a cruise ship are also subject to testing requirements mandated by the cruise line and given approval by the "Competent Authority."

On Thursday, Royal Caribbean announced that it would change its vaccine policy for ships sailing from Florida to the Bahamas including its private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay to comply with the emergency order. The cruise line already requirs proof of vaccination from passengers 12 and older sailing from other U.S. ports.

And Sunday, Carnival Cruise Line announced changes to its policy, too.

"Effective Aug. 28 through October, for departures from all Atlantic and Gulf homeports, only children under 12 and adults with a medical condition that prohibits their vaccination are exempt from vaccination requirements to sail," Carnival said in a release, noting that their ships are already sailing with at least 95% of crew and passengers fully vaccinated, in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance.

Carnival passengers who had previously received an exemption outside those two categories have had those exemptions rescinded through October.

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The Bahamas Welcomes New Crystal Cruises Voyages Starting This Fall – PRNewswire

Posted: at 10:21 am

Cruisers can start off the New Year's in The Bahamas December 29, 2021 via the Tropical New Year's Celebration voyage.

The Bahamas will kick off the multi-season long additions, first with a seven-night voyage, Bound for Paradise, launching November 26, 2021, from New York City to Nassau, calling on San Salvador, Great Exuma and Bimini.

Cruisers can start off the New Year right in The Bahamas on December 29, 2021, via the Tropical New Year's Celebration voyage, which includes a 10-night cruise from Miami, Florida to Bimini, San Salvador, Long Island and Great Exuma, with a final stop with our neighboring Caribbean brothers and sisters in Jamaica.

The Blissful Bahamian Luxury voyage will have several departures starting January 22, 2022, from Miami, including stops in Bimini, Nassau, San Salvador, Great Exuma and Long Island. The series will have two additional sailings on February 12, 2022 and March 5, 2022.

Crystal Cruises has changed the way travelers cruise in The Bahamas, allowing passengers to explore the wonders of the Family Islands beyond the beautiful waters, including wildlife, historical landmarks, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, local shopping and dining.

For more information about the upcoming Crystal Symphony launch, please visit http://www.crystalcruises.com.

ABOUT THE BAHAMASExplore all the islands have to offer atwww.bahamas.comor onFacebook,YouTubeorInstagram.

PRESS INQUIRIESAnita Johnson-PattyBahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation[emailprotected]

SOURCE Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation

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The Best Resort in Great Exuma, The Bahamas – Caribbean Journal

Posted: at 10:21 am

Travel has changed.

Increasingly, travelers dont just want to stay in a destination they want to live there, even if just for a few days.

They want to understand the destination in an authentic way.

Thats turned travelers toward a different kind of luxury.

Since the pandemic, the trend towards so-called residential resorts has only strengthened, as more and more travelers demand the independence and security of residential living at their Caribbean resorts.

That means being able to make dinner one night; to have the space for multiple generations; to have the seclusion of a residence with the quality and amenities of a traditional resort.

And thats exactly what you get at Grand Isle, the residential resort on Great Exuma thats the islands best place to stay.

The resort, set on Emerald Bay, has a mix of 78 villas, ranging from one to four bedrooms.

All of them are wonderfully appointed: think Sub Zero refrigerators, whirlpool spa baths; Wi-Fi and a pervasive tropical vibe.

And while its a residential community, the amenities are vast: that means a pair of pools, including the spectacular, 30,000-square-foot 23 North Beach Club, set right on the sands edge.

Thats along with the excellent poolside Palapa restaurant, with an international menu featuring a focus on fresh Bahamian catches.

And then theres the Seastar Spa, home to Elemis-branded treatments and even mini mani and pedi treatments for younger guests.

The party piece, though, is the Greg Norman-designed Emerald Reef, managed by shared with the adjacent Sandals Emerald Bay all-inclusive resort.

Its the back, which wraps around the villas at Grand Isle, which is the star, a remarkable stretch of windy, cliffside, links-style golf with dramatic ocean views.

Of course, Grand Isle is also a jumping-off point, a place from which to discover the marvels of Great Exuma, whether youre bone fishing in White Bay off the southwestern coast of the island or finding tucked-away beaches like Coco Plum and Jolly Hall.

It all adds up to a rather special place to stay, one that marries the amenities of a traditional resort with the comforts of your temporary Bahamian home.

For more, visit Grand Isle.And see more in the latest CJ Video at the top of the page.

CJ

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Virtual classes next week in The Bahamas NationNews Barbados nationnews.com – Nation News

Posted: at 10:21 am

Posted on August 24, 2021

NASSAU The Bahamas government says schools will reopen next month with no face-to-face classes due to the resurgence in the number of coronavirus (COVID019) cases.

In a statement, the Ministry of Education said that decision was made out of an abundance of caution and came after heavy consultation with the Ministry of Health.

While the preferred mode of instruction delivery continues to be face-to-face, the ministry remains guided by the mantra of safety first, education always, the statement said.

As many of our students and educators will be returning from summer travel, the Ministry of Education considers that online instruction will best assist us in reducing the chances of a spike in COVID19 cases throughout the country.

We think that this action is necessary given the state of our nations healthcare system. Therefore, out of an abundance of caution, the decision is made to re-open schools via an online format. This decision will be reviewed in a few weeks.

It said that private institutions to adopt the virtual learning model and that any school wishing to open with face-to-face learning will first have to seek permission from the Ministry of Education.

At this time, the Ministry of Education strongly urges all private schools to adopt a similar position by engaging their students using a virtual platform. Nevertheless, those independent schools that wish to proceed with some face-to-face instructional activities must seek approval from the Ministry of Education.

The statement said it will continue to closely monitor the changing situation to determine when it is safe for students to return to campuses.

In-person classes ended in March 2020 due to the pandemic but resumed after the summer break last October in a phased approach.

Latest figures here show that 330 people have died and 16 962 others have tested positive for the virus that was first detected here in March last year.

The President of the Bahamas Union of Teachers, (BUT), Belinda Wilson, said that while she accepts the approach to having schools re-opened virtually, the announcement should have been made earlier.

Im pleased that they have finally listened and adhered to the advice from the medical professionals and prior recommendations from the Bahamas Union of Teachers, Wilson told the Tribune newspaper.

At this time, it is our view that virtual learning is the most safe model of teaching especially based on the increased number of COVID-19 positive cases in the country and more specifically amongst school aged children, she said, even as she said there were concerns that ought to be addressed before schools reopen next week, particularly as it relates to the ministrys virtual learning platform. (CMC)

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Chef Marcus Samuelsson on Cultural Collaboration and His New Restaurant in the Bahamas – AFAR Media

Posted: at 10:21 am

Since opening in 2017, Baha Mar has become a center of gastronomy in the Bahamian capital of Nassau. With over 40 restaurants and bars, the resort has lured some of the worlds leading chefs, including Katsuya Uechi and Daniel Boulud, to name a few. Now, six-time James Beard Awardwinning chef Marcus Samuelsson joins the resorts collection of culinarians with this summers debut of Marcus at Baha Mar Fish + Chop House.

While developing the concept, Samuelsson spent nearly four years learning about Bahamian culture and meeting with local purveyors. The result? A deeply collaborative menu reflective of native ingredients with an innovative take on Caribbean comfort food. Think fried chicken with sour orange hot honey or tuna tartare with cassava chips. Yes, youll find his signature Marcuss Cornbread on the table, but here it comes with a spice-infused rum-spiked butter.

We spoke with Samuelsson to learn more about his new restaurant in the Bahamas and his hopes for creating a more inclusive industry through intention and empathy.

Why the Bahamas?

We get a lot of opportunities in front of us, and before we say yes, we have got to like [the location]. A great location for me means Whats the path towards opportunity? So, looking at farming, looking at fishing, looking at cooking school here, I said, OK, this makes sense! And with a place like Baha Mar, I wanted to make sure that we have something experientialnot just a great restaurant, it has to be an experience.

With restaurants in Newark, Harlem, Overtown, Bermuda, and now the Bahamas, why is it important for you to open in predominantly Black destinations?

Its important to acknowledge your privilege, right? When I left Aquavit, I did a lot of soul searching about my role as a Black chef. I want to figure out how I can open up more doors, specifically in the African diaspora.

Weve been very strategic with Harlem, with Overtown. We feel proud to work with the cultures and the history, but also to provide jobs locally. For a chef of any color, but specifically for chefs of color, you must figure out where in the industry you fit. Our restaurants have become the hub for that.

Tell us about your process of learning about Bahamian culture.

When I say it takes four years [to open a restaurant], one year could just be researching. Islands are not monolithic. We have to be very respectful . . . and we have to learn the culture. We pay homage to that, and it shows up on the menu. We eat at restaurants. We go to markets, and we go with local people. Our goal is to make the menu relatable to locals and unique for visitors, too.

What are some of the Bahamian ingredients youre loving right now?

Sour oranges! It might not be a big thing for locals, but its a big thing for me. So, we marinate in that. Then there is this incredible hydroponic farm [in Nassau] where we get fresh herbs and tomatoes.

Locals take pride because they see themselves in the food. We have a hot sauce that we do with passion fruit that came from them. The pickles on our fish, that came from them. They say, Oh, these pickles are my aunties pickles! Its been really fun.

How do you find balance in blending your cultural experience and culinary expertise with local cultures?

Coming from two backgrounds allows me to have windows into Ethiopia, or Africa, or Scandinavian Sweden. When youve grown up through it, you dont know that eventually that can become an assetits about empathy.

When we do the conch salad, I dont touch a thing. I may present it with dry ice or something like that, but in terms of the flavor, I dont dare go near it because [the locals] are the ones that know. Im not coming with my menu set, and I dont think I would have that sensitivity if I say, Im a Swedish chef. Heres the Swedish food. Im an American now, and Im from African culture. Its about sensibilities and sensitivities.

What do you hope it brings to the Bahamian community to have a celebrated Black chef open a restaurant here?

As a Black chef with a large platform, its about that intersection of inspire and aspire. Having the privileges and the opportunities that I have, it comes down to how I hire. Here, we started with a big open kitchen, because then its very clear who works in the kitchen. When you have someone like chef Garrette [Bowe]shes the chef, and shes a localits not a coincidence.

Pastry chefs, servers, cooks, bartenders: These people dont have to leave the island to have the best opportunities. Someone can learn sushi from chef Katsuya and the best French cooking from chef Daniel, and now you can come down here and work with us.

Marcus at Baha Mar Fish + Chop House is now open for dinner at Baha Mar (1 Baha Mar Blvd., Nassau). Reservations are recommended and can be made online.

>> Next:The Bahamas Is Open for Travel, With Restrictions

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INVESTOR INITIATIVE LAUNCHED: Red Lobster and Bahama MyFi first out the gate on ArawakX crowdfunding platform – EyeWitness News

Posted: at 10:21 am

NASSAU, BAHAMAS Red Lobster and Bahama MyFi are the first two companies to launch on the ArawakX crowdfunding platform, with the founders touting the move as a step towards financial inclusion for Bahamians.

DArcy Rahming Jr, chief technology officer of ArawakX, said: We have tried to make it super simple so that companies and investors can onboard. These are assets you are purchasing. Those assets come with certain rights, dividends [and] the ability to borrow money against them.

We have tried to make it [as] easy as easy as possible for people to get onto the systemand lower the barriers. This is meant to be about financial inclusion.

Businessman Christopher Mortimer, chairman of Pinnacle Franchise Brands, which has the Red Lobster franchise rights for the Caribbean, estimates that The Bahamas has a $100 million dining out market.

The company is looking to raise at least $2.7 million to cover the cost of construction, outfitting the restaurant and working capital. The company plans to open the first Red Lobster restaurant in New Providence in 2022, the second in 2023, a third in Jamaica in 2024, a fourth in the Dominican Republic in 2026 and a fifth in Trinidad in 2028.

Marcian Cash, CEO of Bahama MyFi, an augmented reality-based travel ecosystem, noted that the company spent a year and a half doing research on cruise ship and stopover visitors. The companys groove tourism marketplace utilizes augmented reality (AR) to provide an immersive and customizable vacation experience. The company, which also offers Wi-Fi services, is seeking a capital injection of $1.8 million to remain solvent, hire staff, complete ongoing redevelopment of its major applications and acquire necessary assets.

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INVESTOR INITIATIVE LAUNCHED: Red Lobster and Bahama MyFi first out the gate on ArawakX crowdfunding platform - EyeWitness News

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