Category Archives: High Seas

When a one-eyed pirate slurped up a hairy eyeball which had been floating around a large soup tureen, my friends and I each snatched a handful of confectionery plunder before heading for the hills.

At first glance, you might think we were swashbucklers on the high seas escaping Blackbeard himself; but we were attending the churchs annual Halloween party to mark the end of our first year at Bentleyville Assembly of God Tabernacle.

When my big brother John and I hurried down the basement steps to the Sunday school classrooms, an ugly witch with a crooked nose and yellow teeth attempted to place us into her bubbling cauldron.

These ministers rambunctious little boys squealed loudly while grabbing ahold of each others hand as we escaped the clutches of the broomstick flying sorceress in her black cloak and pointed hat.

Dressed in our matching Batman and Robin costumes, these little caped crusaders found a couple of empty chairs on the other side of the large room as we prepared to take part in the big event.

Church members large and small alike filtered through the side door of the building dressed in a wide array of frightful garb filling up the room as the witching hour quickly approached.

The arduous task of figuring out the mysterious individuals behind the mask was half the fun of the exciting affair.

While easily spotting our cousin Lori Farrell and her downstairs neighbor Johnny Puskarich in a Wonder Woman and Incredible Hulk outfit, respectively, we had quite a difficult time identifying a little old lady with a cane.

As a matter of fact, everyone in attendance was just as bewildered. Not a single party participant was able to unmask the identity of the mystery guest, who walked into the room shortly before the festivities were about to begin.

Who could it be, queried the freckle-faced lad as he leaned forward looking at me on the end of the row of folding chairs. I dont think Ive ever seen that woman come into our church.

Yeah, I think youre right about that, I interjected while hunched over with one hand resting against my playmates knee. I know Ive never seen her in my whole entire life.

Unable to ignore the grumbling in his stomach any longer, the first grader, who lived on the other side of town, ambled up to the row of tables in the center of the room filled with numerous delicious delicacies.

While reaching for a plate of homemade chocolate chip cookies, the brown-haired lad looked like a deer in headlights when he noticed an eyeball floating around in a large soup bowl.

After snatching a handful of the decadent delights, the little whippersnapper made a beeline for the row of seating near the piano in the corner.

Hey guys, announced the six-year-old as he came back to our little band of merry makers after slipping me a couple of the sweet treats. Theres an eyeball swimming around in that soup over there on the table.

What are you talking about, questioned the ministers niece with narrowed eyebrows and pursed lips looking at the little tyke with warranted skepticism. Are you sure youre feeling all right?

Ill believe it when I see it, remarked the oldest of the bunch while leaning his chair back to look past his cousin at the suspected storyteller. I think you need to show me that eyeball in the soup.

If there is an eyeball in that soup, I mentioned while looking at my favorite pal with bug eyes after shoving a cookie into my pie hole. Then someone for sure has to be missing an eye.

When Johnny marched our little gang of superheroes over to the smorgasbord of goodies, a pirate with an eye patch was helping himself to a bowl of the soup from the tureen with a ladle.

These youngsters watched in horror as the marauding buccaneer placed the presumed gouged out eye into his serving dish and shot us a toothless grin before slurping it up with a spoon.

Umm this soup tastes really good, commented the bearded treasure hunter looking cross-eyed at these little scamps. But what is this squishy round object stuck between my teeth?

When our little crew of scalawags saw the eyeball looking back at us through the pirates teeth, we ran back to our seats in the corner of the room screaming in terror as hideous laughter echoed in our ears.

After the judges made their way around the room accurately guessing each and every attendee, the trio of officials awarded the prize to the little old lady with the cane since they were unable to reveal her true identity.

All the partygoers at the gathering were just itching to know who was behind all the makeup impersonating the supposed frail elderly woman in the corner.

Once the mystery guest removed the latex skin from around her nose and eyes before shedding the old rags, everyone was astounded to discover it was none other than Pastor Cecil Price.

These guardians of the galaxy broke out into a fit of laughter when we realized who was behind the elaborate disguise designed to fool everyone, including his own offspring.

As all the ghosts, goblins and other creatures from the underworld filled up their plates while making their way around the buffet, these comic book heroes ate until our little hearts were content.

Toward the end of the great feast, these mischievous rapscallions had a good laugh when Bill Basey, the marauder with the tricorn atop his head, came over to show us that the counterfeit eyeball was actually a rubber bouncy ball.

That is so groovy, observed John as he picked up the little ball from the palm of his elders hand flipping it between his fingers. This is just like the ball I use to play with my jacks.

That was scary fun, I added with eyes as big as saucers.

Mark S. Price is a former city government/county education reporter for The Sampson Independent. He currently resides in Clinton. If youre interested in reading the extended version of this story in his novel titled, Little Church at the Top of the Hill, just type the title into the Facebook search engine and scroll down to Chapter 28, Ghosts and Goblins Rule the Night.

Read this article:

Ghosts and goblins rule the night - Sampson Independent

NEWPORT, RI Wet weather is here to stay in Rhode Island for the next few days, bringing with it the likelihood of localized flooding, high seas and strong wind gusts.

The National Weather Service issued flood and high wind watches statewide, effective Tuesday and Wednesday. Heavy rainfall could flood streets with runoff and raise water levels in creeks and streams, making for dangerous driving conditions. As much as six inches of rainfall is expected in some parts of the state, with at least three inches statewide.

In addition, wind gusts are expected to reach up to 50 mph, with coastal regions include the southern shoreline and the East Bay taking the brunt of the storm. Residents are advised to secure loose outdoor items.

The rare October Nor'Easter is expected to kick up high seas, as well. The City of Newport reminded anyone with a boat still in the water to double-up lines and secure loose canvas to prevent damage.

The storm is expected to clear by Thursday, when clear skies are back in the forecast. More rain is possible Friday, when we could see showers in the afternoon.

Here's a look at the latest Rhode Island forecast from the National Weather Service.

MondayA chance of light rain, mainly after 2 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 60. East wind around 8 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Monday NightRain. Patchy fog. Low around 55. Northeast wind 8 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

TuesdayRain. Patchy fog. High near 63. Breezy, with a northeast wind 13 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 39 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Tuesday NightRain before 8 p.m., then showers after 8 p.m. The rain could be heavy at times. Low around 48. Windy, with a northeast wind 25 to 29 mph, with gusts as high as 48 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

WednesdayShowers likely, mainly before 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55. Breezy, with a north wind 20 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 38 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.

Wednesday NightA chance of showers, mainly before 11 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45. North wind 14 to 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

ThursdayMostly sunny, with a high near 56. North wind around 15 mph.

Thursday NightMostly cloudy, with a low around 45. Northeast wind around 9 mph.

FridayA chance of showers after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 58. East wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.

Friday NightShowers likely, mainly after 9 p.m. Cloudy, with a low around 51. East wind 11 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.

SaturdayShowers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 63. East wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.

Saturday NightA chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. Southeast wind around 7 mph becoming north after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.

SundayA chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 63. West wind 7 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.

Follow this link:

Flood, High Wind Watches In Rhode Island For October NorEaster - Patch.com

EU's vision in Arctic - Korea Times Opinion 2021-10-2616:45 EU's vision in Arctic By Josep Borrell and Virginijus SinkeviciusBRUSSELS The Arctic is changing rapidly, owing to the impact of global warming, increasing competition for resources, and geopolitical rivalries. Regarding the region's future, the European Union has both interests to uphold and a meaningful contribution to make. We intend to step up our engagement there through climate action, international cooperation, sustainable economic development, and putting people first.The European Green Deal will make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, and our legally binding commitment to cut greenhouse-gas emissions by 55 percent by 2030 stands as a global benchmark. The Green Deal and the EU's new approach to fostering a sustainable blue economy are at the heart of the Union's Arctic strategy. Among our core proposals are a call for oil, gas, and coal to remain in the ground, including in Arctic regions, and the establishment of a permanent EU presence in Greenland.This task could not be more urgent. Climate change is on everyone's mind, but it is happening more than twice as fast in the Arctic as elsewhere. Some of the region's coastal stretches will soon become ice-free during summers and eventually during winters, too. Melting ice and thawing permafrost are releasing large amounts of methane, further accelerating global warming, while rising sea levels are increasingly threatening coastal communities around the world. The August 2021 report by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change stressed that human actions lie at the root of these developments.Already, receding Arctic ice is opening up shipping routes and easing access to oil, gas, and minerals some of which serve as key inputs to help meet the world's growing demand for innovative technology products. No wonder, then, that the Arctic is becoming more crowded, with a growing number of actors expanding their engagement. Increasingly, the kind of strategic competition that is so prevalent elsewhere in the world is now also shaping the Arctic landscape.China, for example, has described itself as a "near-Arctic state," and has added a "Polar Silk Road" to its transnational Belt and Road Initiative. It has been investing heavily in Russian liquefied natural gas fields and is eyeing shorter shipping routes. Russia, meanwhile, is building heavy icebreakers and looking at the Northern Sea Route to increase domestic and international shipping, as well as rebuilding military capacities in the region that had fallen into disuse since the end of the Cold War.These developments show that Europe must define its geopolitical interests broadly to promote stability, safety, and peaceful cooperation in the Arctic. Of course, the eight Arctic states have the primary responsibility here, but many issues affecting the region can be addressed only through regional or multilateral cooperation. The EU will thus expand its collaboration on such matters with all interested parties, and notably with allies and partners such as the United States, Canada, Norway, and Iceland.Regarding maritime search and rescue, for example, we need regional or circumpolar cooperation between national coast guards, and should make greater use of our satellite systems to reduce risks at sea. Likewise, the EU is committed to the success of the agreement to prevent unregulated high-seas fishing in the Central Arctic Ocean. Another regional priority is social inclusion: the challenges that indigenous reindeer herders face do not stop at national borders. We are also more effective working together when it comes to zero-emissions shipping standards, best practices in telemedicine, renewable energies, or reducing plastic pollution.With decades of experience in fostering regional cooperation, the EU will play its part. We are a leading proponent of multilateralism and take our multilateral commitments seriously particularly those related to tackling climate change. And the Union is of course itself part of the Arctic. Three of our member states have territory there, and we make laws that apply in five Arctic states. We are active in several regional bodies, including the Arctic Council, the Barents Euro-Arctic Council, and the Northern Dimension, where we work with Russia, Norway, and Iceland, particularly on environmental clean-ups.The EU will expand its Arctic engagement across the policy spectrum. That includes paying special attention to the interests and views of youth and indigenous peoples, who have unique knowledge of local landscapes and are firsthand witnesses to changes that pose imminent threats to us all.Clearly, we need an integrated approach. This means combining our climate and environmental goals with economic opportunities and joint action against shared security threats, including those arising from the climate crisis. For example, stimulating a robust green transition will enable Arctic regions to create jobs in sectors such as carbon-neutral energy, as well as develop sustainable approaches to connectivity, tourism, fisheries, and innovation.Europe will continue to use its substantial research budget and expertise in Earth science to understand better and counter the effects of climate change. And we will seek to increase the EU's strategic autonomy in minerals that are important for the green transition, ensuring that the extraction of these key raw materials is carried out in accordance with the highest environmental standards.The Arctic faces serious, even existential, challenges. The EU will scale up and modernize its engagement to help ensure that collaborative approaches to addressing them prevail over potentially damaging strategic competition.Josep Borrell, high representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, is Vice President of the European Commission for a Stronger Europe in the World. Virginijus Sinkevicius, a former minister of the economy and innovation for Lithuania, is commissioner for Environment at the European Commission. This article was distributed by Project Syndicate (www.project-syndicate.org).

Continue reading here:

EU's vision in Arctic - koreatimes

Warner Bros/Paramount

If you've even seen the trailer for Dune, Denis Villeneuve's epic 2021 adaptation of Frank Herbert's 1965 novel of the same name, one thing is abundantly clear: it. is. big. That's going to be the first observation that anyone has when looking at the massive scale at which the sci-fi tale was created. It's huge. Beyond thatand don't get us wrong, filming on location and merging special and practical effects makes for a grand visual spectaclethe movie tells the first part of its story in an accordingly fitting, but, again, epic, manner.

Once you're done with that, though, we wouldn't blame you if you sort of found yourself starting to get a taste for more of what you just got. We may have to wait a little bit for the Dune sequel or spinoff, but there's plenty that's tangentially related to Villeneuve's Dune that you can use to further immerse yourself in the same kind of world.

Obviously, you can start looking for other space and Sci-Fi epics. You can look for general epics, toothe idea of a hero's story told on a grand scale is far from limited to outer space. You could look into past adaptations of Dune to compare, and you could watch documentaries about failed attempts to adapt Dune. The history is rich. Hell, maybe you even just want some Sci-Fi but want to scale everything back a bit.

No matter the mood, there are plenty of worthy follow ups to Villeneuve's 2021 Dune. Here, we've gathered some of the very best.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

1Star Wars

This is a recommendation for not only Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hopewhich is the Galaxy Far, Far, Away equivalent to Dune: Part Onebut for the entire franchise, which was heavily influenced by Herbert's 1965 novel from the jump. It's ironic, then, that Star Wars, with 11 feature films, a live-action hit series, and a whole animated universe, eventually became something that the world of Dune had to acknowledge.

"It was a very long process to find this identity in a world with the giant elephant of Star Wars in the room," Villeneuve said. "George Lucas was inspired by Dune when he created Star Wars. Then as we were making a movie about Dune, we had to negotiate the influence of Star Wars. It's full circle."

If you somehow haven't seen Star Wars, well, there's only one place to start.

Stream It Here

2Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

The last film from Denis Villeneuve was the similarly-ambitious Blade Runner 2049, which served as a 25-years-later sequel to Ridley Scott's original 1982 Blade Runner. Harrison Ford returns as Rick Deckard, but the lead here is Ryan Gosling. Gosling is convincingly broody the whole movie and wears a very cool coat; supporting roles from Ana de Armas, Robin Wright, Dave Bautista, and Jared Leto are super watchable. But, like Dune, what makes Blade Runner 2049 really stand out is its visuals and the scale. This is an incredible movie to watch. Find the biggest screen you can, and press play.

Stream It Here

3Interstellar (2014)

We probably could have put quite a few different Christopher Nolan films on this list, but, you know, he does have a space epic, so we're going to include it. Interstellar might be Nolan's most ambitious movie yetwhich is really saying something. It stars Matthew McConaughey, Jessica Chastain, and Anne Hathaway, among others, in a story about space travel looking to help society survive. Bonus for Dune fans? It features a young Timothe Chalamet as Matthew McConuaghey's son.

Stream It Here

4Arrival (2016)

If someone wanted to say that Arrival was Denis Villeneuve's best movie, it would be hard to argue against them. Arrival is sci-fi at its best telling a twisty and engrossing story that makes sense and blows your mind by the very end. Amy Adams gives perhaps her best performance in the lead role (she should have won the Oscar!) and the film's score is also unbelievable. Arrival is based on a short story from a collection by author Ted Chiang, and quite frankly is a strong testament that Hollywood should adapt his work way more.

Stream It Here

5Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

A desert-esque wasteland, barren of resources, where water supply is super-limited? Where have we heard that before? It's clear that Mad Max: Fury Road took some influence from Dune along the way to becoming the most thrilling and visually-arresting action movie of the last 20 years.

Stream It Here

6Ad Astra (2019)

Another space epic from recent years is Ad Astra, which follows Astronaut Brad Pitt as he searches for his father, Astronaut Tommy Lee Jones who went missing long ago during his own outer space expedition. Stunning visuals and great acting make this a space voyage worth taking.

Stream It Here

7The Matrix (1999)

If you're looking for another tale of a so-called chosen one, look no farther than the groundbreaking action of The Matrix. This first movie was unbelievably unique and divergent at the time of it's release, andguess what?it still kicks ass! The sequels are just OK (The Matrix Reloaded, which does still have some good action) and bad (The Matrix Revolutions, which sucks), but still worth seeing for the scope of the story. The Matrix Resurrections, out later in 2021, should be an epic reboot of sorts.

Stream It Here

8Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

This story of a military officer's adventures in Arabia are formative to American cinema, and particularly the desert-heavy aesthetic of Dune. Peter O'Toole never won an Academy Award despite being nominated for Best Actor 8 times; he lost for Lawrence of Arabia to worthy competition (Gregory Peck in To Kill a Mockingbird), but this is one of the most classic performances of all time.

Stream It Here

9Gladiator (2000)

Ridley Scott's Gladiator is like Dune in the way that it's a visually-arresting epic set in a time and place that is definitively not ours. The movie stars Russell Crowe as a former general who's out for vengeance when a corrupt emperor and his regime kill his entire family. The rest of the action-packed story is a revenge story, and a damn good one.

Stream It Here

10Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

For another film that serves as a gateway into a brand new world, you can do a lot worse than the first film in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. It's a high-seas adventure with top-notch villains, heroes, and, uh, in-between (whatever Captain Jack Sparrow is, your call). There have been quite a few Pirates sequels, but The Curse of the Black Pearl is an epic adventure that holds up.

Stream It Here

11Prisoners (2013)

For his first film in the English language, Villeneuve made a mystery/thriller/crime drama. And it fucking rules.

Prisoners features a stacked castJake Gyllenhaal, Hugh Jackman, Viola Davis, Terrence Howard, Paul Dano, Maria Bello, Melissa Leoand tells a story of a small community of parents and families that gets impacted after two children go missing.

Stream It Here

12The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

Enter another epic saga with The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, which brings you fully and immersively into the middle earth that Peter Jackson created. Like Villeneuve's Dune, this movie sets the table in a massive way for the world that exists while still telling a self-contained storyand leaving the door open for more.

Stream It Here

13Sicario (2015)

Villeneuve shifted his genre to political thriller with Sicario, a non-stop, action-packed ride of tension that takes viewers along with an FBI agent played by Emily Blunt for an anti-drug mission that goes off the rails quickly. Blunt is joined in an incredible cast by Benicio Del Toro, Josh Brolin, and Daniel Kaluuya.

Stream It Here

14Avatar (2009)

There are many sequels coming, but as of now we've still only ever gotten the first of James Cameron's Avatar movies. And it's fair to say that it's done pretty well, going back and forth over the last couple years with Avengers: Endgame as the highest-grossing film of all time. Avatar was groundbreaking visually upon release and is still a fun watch, especially if you want to get ready for those sequels Mr. Cameron keeps teasing.

Stream It Here

15Dune (1984)

It's somehow both way weirder and way cheesier, but we can't deny that David Lynch's Duneadapted and greatly truncated back in 1984does exist. His frequent collaborator, Kyle MacLachlan (best known as Agent Cooper in Twin Peaks), is our Paul here. Worth checking out if only to see a comparison, right? Sting (yes, that Sting) plays Feud-Rautha Harkonnen, a character who we're eager to see return for Villeneuve's Dune sequel.

Stream It Here

16Jodorowsky's Dune (2014)

And if you want to see the story of a Dune movie that didn't get made, you can check out Jodorosky's Dune. This documentary goes deep on director Alejandro Jodorowsky's plan to make a super-ambitious version of Dune, which was in pre-production for two years and never got made.

Stream It Here

17Nausica of the Valley of the Wind (1984)

Writer/director Hayao Miyazaki (who you may know from Spirited Away) made this film considered a post-apocalyptic classicthat's also considered to be either heavily influenced by or unofficially adapted from Herbert's Dune book.

Stream It Here

18Ex Machina (2015)

If you want to shrink things down but still get your Sci-Fi on, consider Alex Garland's Ex Machina, which stars Domhnall Gleeson, Alicia Vikander, and Dune's Duke himself, Oscar Isaac. This movie has a twisty plot, stunning visuals, and a bit to say about artificial intelligence. Worth checking out.

Stream It Here

19Moon (2009)

Another sci-fi story, Moon almost serves as an antidote to the massive scale of Dune; a reminder that sci-fi stories can be quite small but still wholly engrossing. Sam Rockwell stars and Duncan Jones directs.

Stream It Here

20Prometheus (2012)

The scale on Prometheus is just enormous. Firmly landing in the Alien universe, the movie was Ridley Scott's most ambitious sci-fi since Blade Runner, and while reaction to the movie at the time was polarized, there's no question that it's got the scale, effects, and tension to stand the test of time. Lots of great world-building and planetary aesthetics.

Stream It Here

21Enemy (2014)

Villeneuve's smallest movie in the English language might also be his biggest mind fuck. Enemy finds the director re-teaming with Jake Gyllenhaal to tell the story of a man who's life begins to spiral out of control when he sees another man who...looks exactly like him. I am not spoiling anythingI would not darebut this movie has an ending that had me exclaiming aloud to no one.

Stream It Here

22The Godfather (1972)

The Godfather is not what we would call a "genre" film. It's not sci-fi, it's not a period piece action, it's not a thriller. It's a straight-up crime epic, though, and the first film in the series, The Godfather, has a surprising number of parallels to Dune. There's Don Vito (Marlon Brando), the family business patriarch, and Michael (Al Pacino), his emerging heir. Drama emerges, but the epic arc is familiar for a reason.

Stream It Here

23Alita: Battle Angel (2019)

This movie was a bit overlooked upon release, and it's not all that similar to Dune in just about any way. But it's a quick-paced sci-fi/action/thriller that does enough world-building to establish both characters and a setting that you wouldn't mind returning to by the time the end credits start rolling. Maybe if Alita: Battle Angel becomes a big enough cult hit, we'll get one of those years-later sequels down the line.

Stream It Here

24Jupiter Ascending (2015)

OK, sure, Jupiter Ascending may not have landed like the sci-fi epic that the Wachowskis thought it would. Still, if you wanted to transport yourself to a larger galactic world, you could do a lot worse. Find a big screen and take it all in. It's Channing Tatum and Mila Kunisthey're charming, and the visuals are half the battle anyway.

Stream It Here

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Read the original here:

24 Movies to Watch if You Liked Dune - menshealth.com

This morning the Jewel of the Seas returned to the ships home port of Limassol, Cyprus after a one week cruise around the Greek Isles. Yesterday, the ship conducted a routine test for the COVID-19 virus of all of the 1,100 or so guests on the ship. According to a crew member on the cruise ship who wishes to continue to remain anonymous, eleven passengers tested positive for the virus.

In addition to these guests, the whole team (nine) of the ships dancers are under quarantine on board.

Eleven (11) Guests Test Positive on Jewel of the Seas for #COVID19, Bringing Total to at Least Fifty (50) in Last Thirty Days https://t.co/nU5HEZVR0j @RoyalCaribbean #JeweloftheSeas #cruise ship. pic.twitter.com/TOFlUrfsuq

James (Jim) Walker (@CruiseLaw) October 23, 2021

In the last thirty days, we have learned that there have been a total of around fifty positive COVID-19 cases of passengers on this same cruise ship. More specifically, on the cruise which departed from Limassol on September 25th, we reported that there was a total of twenty-one cases involving guests on the Royal Caribbean ship.

On October 2nd, we reported that there were twelve guests who tested positive on the next cruise on the Jewel.

There have been at least a handful of positive cases involving guests on each cruise on this ship this summer. The total does not include the number of crew members who tested positive for the virus over the past month.

Royal Caribbean is continuing to take aggressive steps to try and reduce the number of COVID-19 cases involving its crew members and guests on this ship after experiencing a higher than normal number of positive virus cases in the last several weeks.

Eighty percent of guests on the ship have been from UK which is still experiencing a high number of COVID-19 outbreaks. BBC News recently published an article titled Covid: Why are UK cases so high? which explained that COVID-19 cases in the U.K. have soared to to more than 50,000 cases a day, although it is less likely that the infected will end up in the hospital or die.

The Jewel of the Seas will be re-positioned in mid-November to South Florida where it will be sailing on a Western Caribbean itinerary of cruises from five to ten days long. The ship will sail from Miami until mid-May of 2022 when it will be repositioned and sail from Amsterdam. The company obviously wishes to reduce the number of positive virus cases it has been experiencing before it begins sailing out of U.S. waters where it will fall within the jurisdiction of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

There have been a number of sailings of Royal Caribbean crusie ships where at least a dozen or more passengers and crew became infected with COVID-19. Ten days ago, we reported that fifteen crew members on the Allure of the Seas tested positive for COVID-19.

Two days ago, a crew member on Royal Caribbeans Spectrum of the Seas tested positive after several tests. The ship wa scheduled to depart from Hong Kong but the local health department intervened and prohibited the ship from leaving port. Several thousands of guests had to depart the ship and the cruise was cancelled.

One RCCL crew member tests positive. Spectrum of the Seas' cruise scheduled for yesterday canceled. Compare that to the fifteen RCCL crew members on the Allure of the Seas who tested positive for COVID-19 ten days ago. Ship still sailed. https://t.co/xZ3daf8xba pic.twitter.com/2gr8gcbegS

James (Jim) Walker (@CruiseLaw) October 22, 2021

Royal Caribbean, like most cruise lines, does not voluntarily disclose the number of guests and crew members who are infected during cruises on its ships, althought this basic information is vital to understanding the risk of infection which a consumer encounters while cruising.

This afternoon the Jewel of the Seas set sail with approximately 1,200 guests on another week-long cruise around the Greek Isles.

Have a comment or question? Please leave one below or join the discussion on our Facebook page.

October 26, 2021 Update: A guest on the Jewel of the Seas commented on Twitter that he was extremely disappointed with the standard of entertainment on Jewel of the Seas this week and that Royal Caribbean had the audacity to show a movie in the theatre . . . It appears that the quarantine of the ships dancers is having an effect on the type of entertainment which the ship is able to offer its guests?

Perhaps the fact that all of the #cruise ship's dancers were quarantined for #COVID19 had something to do with this? / @RoyalCaribbean Jewel of the Seas https://t.co/JygcsiJ6WO

James (Jim) Walker (@CruiseLaw) October 26, 2021

Image credit: Jewel of the Seas Royal Caribbean

Here is the original post:

Eleven Guests Test Positive on Jewel of the Seas for COVID-19, Bringing Total to At Least 50 in Last Thirty Days - Cruise Law News

A stonemason in the UK who had ordered a container of rocks from India got the surprise of a lifetime when his package came along with one of the deadliest snakes in the world a saw-scaled viper.

The snake travelled across the high seas and into the UK in a shipping container from India. The stunned stonemason called the authorities as soon as he discovered the deadly, venomous snake among the rocks.

The snake wasnt active which could have been due to the cold temperatures it may have encountered on its travel from India to the UK. Veterinarians from the South Essex Wildlife Hospital rescued the viper from the container.

One of the rescuers, the founder of a charity told a British news network that the fact that the reptile was not active meant that the people who had opened the container were very lucky to be alive.

Her charity said, We are glad not to have to deal with venomous creatures too often but feel sad for the snake that we cant give it is freedom and get it back home.

The deadly viper is now contained in a room with the door taped up with the help of warning signs.

A highly poisonous snake, the saw-scaled viper is native to south Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, and is found near inhabited areas.

Read the original post:

One of the worlds deadliest snakes, a saw-scaled viper ships itself from India to the UK - DNA India

Read Story Transcript

Our planet is changing. So is our journalism. This story is part of a CBC News initiative entitled "Our Changing Planet" to show and explain the effects of climate change and what is being done about it.

Canadian scientists have used virtual reality to take people under the seas, in an attempt to foster empathy for the oceans and make sure they aren't forgotten in the climate change fight.

The oceans are "very much ... out of sight and out of mind" for those not living along the coast, said Jessica Blythe, assistant professor at the Environmental Sustainability Research Centre at Brock University.

That's compounded by the enormity of climate change, which can leave people disillusioned and withdrawn, she told The Current's Matt Galloway.

"Scientists, I think, have rightly argued that figuring out how to foster empathy for the planet, but also for each other, is one of the most important things we can do."

With a team from Brock University and UBC, Blythe helped to create underwater virtual worlds that gave people the experience of the ocean, and gauged how that affected their empathy towards it.

She told Galloway about the experiment, and its results. Here is part of their conversation.

Tell me about this experiment that you ran. What were you testing?

I was really fortunate to be working with Colette Wabnitz from UBC and solutions on what the high seas might look like in the year 2050, so future scenarios for the high seas. And at the same time, I was working with Gary Pickering at Brock University, who is a psychologist who works on how to inspire pro-environmental behaviour [with the use of virtual reality]. So we wondered what if we combined future scenarios for the high seas with VR? And specifically, could we make people care more about this really remote, kind of magical, but elusive place.

How did you plug VR into the scenarios?

We were so fortunate to work with a company of Brock alumni, called Expert VR. And they created, based on a written narrative, these worlds that you put on a VR headset.

You would be standing on the deck of a ship and you could look around you could see fishing vessels, you could hear the sounds. And then you would transition to an underwater scenario. You can look up at the surface and see the sun coming through. There were fish swimming around you, really inspiring marine life.

[You could] sort of feel that environment, which most of us, you know 99 per cent of us, will never actually be able to visit.

Did it feel real?

Yes, absolutely. When we were developing the scenarios and I would go over to test it, I would ask the VR team if I could just stay, because I loved being underwater so much.

I'm a scuba diver and it evokes that feeling just the same way it did to me when I was underwater in real life.

WATCH |The High Seas in 2050: Imagining a Better Future

So you run this experiment.What did you find?

We found that it worked. We tested people before and after, asked them questions about how much they cared and were concerned about the oceans. And after they were immersed in those scenarios, their scores were much higher, significantly higher on empathy across all of the scenarios that we tried.

We tried both a good news, sort of optimistic scenario, and a pessimistic scenario. And we found both those actually increased empathy as well.

What was the pessimistic scenario?

In the pessimistic ones, global negotiations have broken down. Countries are not co-operating on governance of the high seas. We have not taken any action for climate. We see conflicts between nations, we see marine biodiversity plummeting. It's sort of the worst-case scenario based on what could happen if we follow business as usual.

WATCH |The High Seas in 2050: A Plausible Dystopian Future

Were you surprised that this worked, that you were able to connect people to the oceans in a way that was not possible without something like virtual reality?

Surprised and just thrilled, to be honest. We tested this primarily with undergraduate students at Brock University, many of whom have grown up in central Canada and haven't experienced the ocean.

The anecdotal things which people told us when they took off the headset were things like, "It was incredible. I felt like I was there. It was a really magical experience." And so we were thrilled to hear that, but also to find the results that it did actually shift and increase empathy.

Do we know whether that empathy then translates into action?

That's the most important question. So we did ask intent for action, so "After the experience, do you have more intention to perhaps get involved with the marine conservation organization or to take climate action in your life?" And those metrics did increase.

The trick, then, is trying to understand and hopefully it's the start of the next phase of research does intent for action actually translate into behavioural change. So that's something we hope to continue to do research on.

What else do you want to study when it comes to virtual reality?

One of the first things I'm hoping to do is take this research on the road. This was done just before COVID and I was hoping that we could test it with actual policymakers. Hopefully, we'll be able to do that over the next few months to see if people who are deciding about the future of the high seas right now, if they experience those scenarios, does it shift their empathy and does that have any impact on how we decide to govern the high seas.

Written by Padraig Moran. Produced by Alison Masemann.Q&A edited for length and clarity.

View post:

Under the CGI? Scientists use virtual reality to get people to care more about oceans - CBC.ca

One of Sestra System's Connected Taps Onboard The Scarlet Lady

STERLING, Va. (PRWEB) October 19, 2021

Virgin Voyages, the new lifestyle travel brand focused on delivering irresistible cruise vacations, and Sestra Systems, the industry leader in smart dispensing, welcome Sailors back to sea with a beverage experience as innovative as Scarlet Lady.

Sestras unique IoT-connected dispensing solutions and sophisticated analytics platform are essential on-board systems and a key component of Virgin Voyages beverage strategy and sustainability initiatives. Working together, the companies are driving their shared vision of creating positive change for people and for the planet.

Virgin Voyages has committed to integrating sustainability into every part of the Sailor experience. Scarlet Lady has been outfitted with the latest state-of-the-art equipment and innovative food concepts throughout. Virgin Voyages eliminated buffets, serves sustainable seafood and direct trade coffee, and uses many techniques and technologies to source responsibly and reduce waste, a key benefit of Sestras technology. Additionally, Virgin has banned single-use plastic, and Sestras TapWise draft solution enables the use of recyclable and reusable materials across the ship.

Virgin Voyages created the first cruise line that is carbon neutral for its direct emissions footprint. In addition to shaking up how drinks are served, the Crew on-board Scarlet Lady use data directly from Sestras platform to transform their entire beverage operation. Sestras impressive solution keeps beverage taps cloud connected, even when out at sea, delivering actionable data and providing significant value to Virgin Voyages Sailors and Crew. This value includes:

Charles Steadman, Senior Manager of Virgin Voyages Beverage and Bar Development and Operations said, Sestra's innovative dispensing solution is unlike anything else in the industry. Working with their team and their solution helps us deliver on our promises of sustainability and Sailor experience in a smart way. And, we use Sestras analytics and insights to pinpoint inventory needs of every bar, and drive faster turnarounds. They are a true partner in every sense of the word, we couldn't be more excited to work with them."

Scarlet Lady arrived in the United States from London in mid-September and set sail on her MerMaiden voyage from her home port of Miami on October 6th.

When two companies that are re-imagining their respective industries come together, the process is fun, and the outcome is sure to turn heads. This is not your average cruise, and were proud to sail with Scarlett Lady and her sisters, said Lev Volftsun, CEO of Sestra Systems.

Share article on social media or email:

The rest is here:

Virgin Voyages and Sestra Systems Hit The High Seas With Innovative Beverage Program - PR Web

A Colombian man who was interdicted at sea in a semi-submersible vessel loaded with cocaine was sentenced in San Diego federal court earlier this week to more than 16 years in prison.

It was the second time in less than five years that Jose Rosario Segura Balentierra, 35, had been sentenced for nearly the same crime.

The Coast Guard, which has increasingly patrolled the Eastern Pacific for cocaine traffickers, found the vessel on Aug. 14, 2020, more than 500 nautical miles from Central America, according to court records.

Segura and three others failed to stop for the Coast Guard cutter, prompting the Coast Guard to fire warning shots, then disabling shots to stop the engines. When that didnt work, an officer jumped on board the moving vessel and was able to gain control of the engines, authorities said. The officer removed the fuel lines, ultimately stopping the semi-submersible.

Officers discovered about 4,400 pounds of cocaine on board, worth over $35 million, prosecutors said.

Bundles of cocaine are seen stacked inside a semi-submersible that the Coast Guard seized off the coast of Central America in 2020.

(Courtesy of U.S. Attorneys Office)

The semi-submersible was also filled with a few feet of water at the bottom, indicating the crew tried to sink the vessel to avoid seizure, prosecutors said.

Segura pleaded guilty in July to possession of cocaine with intent to distribute on board a vessel and operation of a semi-submersible vessel without nationality.

He had been convicted for offenses involving a semi-submersible in Florida in 2016, after the Coast Guard found him on a similar vessel about 300 nautical miles from Mexico. That vessel sank, and no drugs were recovered.

He was sentenced to 41 months in custody. After serving his term he was deported to Colombia, then arrested 18 months later.

He was sentenced Tuesday to 182 months in the San Diego case and another 18 months for violating the terms of his supervised release in the Florida case.

Also Tuesday, his three co-defendants were each sentenced to 100 months in prison.

Go here to see the original:

Colombian sentenced for second time in drug-trafficking exploit on the high seas - The San Diego Union-Tribune

The Spanish thriller series remake of the British series Liar is coming to Netflix globally in November 2021. First released on ATRESplayer Premium in April 2020, all six episodes of Lies and Deceit season 1 hit Netflix on November 15th, 2021.

The Spanish mystery series which is based on the book by Harry and Jack Williams first released at the beginning of the pandemic on the premium Spanish SVOD service which as of December 2020 has just shy of 500,000 subscribers. It was released under the name of Mentiras but will be called Lies and Deceit on Netflix around the globe.

Curro Novallas is behind the series and serves as the writer and director. Novallas is no stranger to Netflix having worked on Netflixs High Seas (Alta Mar) and is currently hard as work as an executive producer on the TV mini-series Los Protegidos: El regreso which is destined for Atresplayer Premium.

The series is headlined by ngela Cremonte who plays Laura Munar who wakes up one morning and suspects that she had been drugged and raped by a well-respected surgeon (played by Javier Rey). The series looks back at the event during the ongoing legal case the literature teacher brings against him.

Given the series seeks to tell both sides of the story, youll be left questioning throughout as to whether Laura or Xavier is lying.

Also among the cast for the series includes Manuela Velasco (REC), Paco Tous (Money Heist), Clara Segura (The Sea Inside), Miquel Fernndez (All I See Is You) and Eva Llorach (Quin te cantar).

Reviews for the series were generally good with Bluper, an entertainment column within a Spanish newspaper, saying that the series is necessary and praises the cinematography throughout and is light on filler.

On IMDb, the series sits at a 6.9 out of 10.

Will you be checking out Lies and Deceit when it hits Netflix on November 15th? Let us know in the comments down below.

More:

Lies and Deceit: Spanish Thriller Series Coming to Netflix in November 2021 - What's on Netflix