A Dangerous Mind from the Sunday Review Section of the NY Times.

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Bruce
Another screed from one of those pinko professors at Yale:

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Stream Monitoring for South River Federation

Posted on April 21, 2012 by Bruce

They have 40 sites that they have been monitoring for eight years. The two here are Church Creek #4, and Bacon Ridge Branch #2. We also did a site further upstream at CC# 1.

Photo_1Photo_2

Sent from my iPhone

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Nice Morning to be on the River

Posted on April 20, 2012 by Bruce
Photo

Sent from my iPhone

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MEDCO: Dumbest, Verging on Dangerous

Posted on April 17, 2012 by Bruce

Photo
MEDCO gets a prescription for 135 tablets, CHANGES it to 90 tablets AND DOES NOT NOTIFY THE ?victim? AT ALL.

I still can’t believe it, but the Customer Rep actually.confirmed it!

Sent from my iPhone

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BVI Premier Says No Environmental Cost for Airport Expansion

Posted on April 11, 2012 by Bruce
Airport Expansion Will Not Come At Expense Of Our Environment – Premier Assures
BVI Platinum News

Published: April 11, 2012 7:54 am AST

Photo Credit: File

Hon. Dr. Orlando Smith, Premier and Minister for Tourism has assured that the expansion of the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport at Beef Island will not come at the expense of the Territory’s environment.

Speaking to the BVI Tourist Accommodation Properties Association at a meeting held yesterday, April 10, the Premier spoke at length about the importance of supporting the association and also encouraged small property owners to look at joint programmes using collective strength in areas such as purchasing, marketing, training, printing, promotions and web site design.

He stated that Government will not just listen, but will also offer help, noting that they have several plans including the expansion of the airport.

“More recently we have begun discussions about the expansion of the runway at the TB Lettsome International Airport. This expansion will help small properties in the future to be more competitive globally as a result of easier access for your guests and more competitive fares. But I assure you that even as we speak about the expansion of our airport, it will not come at the expense of our environment, which is the very thing that sustains us,” he stated.

The Premier said small property owners must pool their resources to reduce their collective and individual cost of doing business.

“Do not view each other as competitors, but as partners where a rising tide lifts all boats in the harbour. Build win-win relationships. With this approach I can assure you that my Government will not only listen, but help,” he stated.

The Premier also charged the BVI Tourist Accommodation Properties (TAP) Association members to be willing to do what the tourism industry requires to be successful. “You must participate fully in the programmes of the Tourist Board. You must increase the standards of the product. You must increase your level of service and you must be 100 percent personally involved in your business.”

He said in creating a new direction for TAP to build a more competitive BVI, they must think about strategic and creative ways to get more market share.

“Think about how you have done business and not be afraid to make changes. Think about making progress. Think about your role in stimulating the economy to build a better British Virgin Islands. Just recently, we introduced changes in the way duty is charged on imported goods. We trust that you will benefit from those changes. We also spoke about the revitalisation of Craft Alive Market. This will result in a much better experience for our visitors and a better environment for our vendors,” he stated at the meeting.

The Tourism Minister said while Government’s intention is on stimulating the economy, they must also encourage them to sell the best of what the BVI is offering.

He said like in 2003, the National Democratic Party (NDP) Government has the same mindset. “Developing our tourism product is about the public and private sectors committing to each other to improve the hospitality sector. My Government is committed to the development of a buoyant and vibrant small business sector, where new and repeat customers are excited about being given exceptional service.”

He said they are committed to the tourism agenda where residents and visitors are enjoying more than sun, sand and sea. This, the Premier stated, means creating combined vacation packages which tells a story about the BVI as a prime destination for relaxation and investments.

“I would like to assure the Association and its members to expect our full support. Indeed, we are ensuring a new direction for TAP to build a more competitive British Virgin Islands. I am told that the BVI Tourist Board has put together an aggressive programme as part of its Villas and Inns Programme where it will continue to assist the organisation with its annual operations.”

He said additionally, the board is looking at concrete ways to assist the organisation with marketing.

“For example, I look forward to the establishment of a booking engine for small properties. The board will be working with a US based tour operator to find ways to add affordable airfare to the booking engine. Also, we believe that small property bookings will attract the UK market. I am happy that emphasis will be given to these properties in the new public relations programmes being developed in the US and UK and Europe. This will include social media,” he stated.

Further, the Premier reminded persons about the amendment that was made to the Hotel Aid Ordinance during his 2003-2007 term in office and urged them to take full advantage of the legislation.

“When I served as Chief Minister from 2003-2007, my Government amended the Hotel Aid Ordinance (Cap 290) to encourage small property development in the Territory. I encourage you to take advantage of the benefits of this piece of legislation which will help you to keep your product sharp and market competitive. I will ensure that any such applications get immediate attention by my office,” he told the meeting.

—–
Copyright 2011 by Virgin Islands Platinum News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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US alert as China’s cash buys inroads in Caribbean

Posted on April 8, 2012 by Bruce
Interesting thing is that although Archibold mentions Cuba in passing, he fails to note that China has built a MASSIVE presence in Cuba since the collapse of Cuba’s special relationship with Russia in 1994. And of course Cuba is nearly half the Caribbean, anyway.

I would have played the lead on this story a different way: 
Instead of “US alert as China’s cash buys inroads in Caribbean,” I’d be tempted to say, “US snoozes as Chinese start to buy up all the chips and build bonds with Caribbean leadership — especially the Cubans.”

bp

On Apr 8, 2012, at 10:10 AM, Kevel Lindsay wrote:


US alert as China’s cash buys inroads in Caribbean

‘They are buying loyalty and taking up the vacuum left by the United States, Canada and other countries,’ former diplomat says

By RANDAL C. ARCHIBOLD

updated 4/8/2012 3:16:06 AM ET2012-04-08T07:16:06
NASSAU, the Bahamas — A brand new $35 million stadium opened here in the Bahamas a few weeks ago, a gift from the Chinese government. The tiny island nation of Dominica has received a grammar school, a renovated hospital and a sports stadium, also courtesy of the Chinese. Antigua and Barbuda got a power plant and a cricket stadium, and a new school is on its way. The prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago can thank Chinese contractors for the craftsmanship in her official residence.
China’s economic might has rolled up to America’s doorstep in the Caribbean, with a flurry of loans from state banks, investments by companies and outright gifts from the government in the form of new stadiums, roads, official buildings, ports and resorts in a region where the United States has long been a prime benefactor.

The Chinese have flexed their economic prowess in nearly every corner of the world. But planting a flag so close to the United States has generated intense vetting — and some raised eyebrows — among diplomats, economists and investors.

“When you’ve got a new player in the hemisphere all of a sudden, it’s obviously something talked about at the highest level of governments,” said Kevin P. Gallagher, a Boston University professor who is an author of a recent report on Chinese financing, “The New Banks in Town.”

Most analysts do not see a security threat, noting that the Chinese are not building bases or forging any military ties that could invoke fears of another Cuban missile crisis. But they do see an emerging superpower securing economic inroads and political support from a bloc of developing countries with anemic budgets that once counted almost exclusively on the United States, Canada and Europe.

China announced late last year that it would lend $6.3 billion to Caribbean governments, adding considerably to the hundreds of millions of dollars in loans, grants and other forms of economic assistance it has already channeled there in the past decade.
Unlike in Africa, South America and other parts of the world where China’s forays are largely driven by a search for commodities, its presence in the Caribbean derives mainly from long-term economic ventures, like tourism and loans, and potential new allies that are inexpensive to win over, analysts say.

‘Strategic move’

American diplomatic cables released through WikiLeaks and published in the British newspaper The Guardian quoted diplomats as being increasingly worried about the Chinese presence here “less than 190 miles from the United States” and speculating on its purpose. One theory, according to a 2003 cable, suggested that China was lining up allies as “a strategic move” for the eventual end of the Castro era in Cuba, with which it has strong relations.

But the public line today is to be untroubled. “I am not particularly worried, but it is something the U.S. should continue to monitor,” said Dennis C. Shea, the chairman of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, a bipartisan Congressional panel. But, he added, “With China you have to be wary of possible policy goals behind the effort.”

This archipelago, less than a one-hour flight from Florida, has gotten particular attention from the Chinese. Aside from the new stadium, with its “China Aid” plaque affixed prominently at the entrance, Chinese workers here in the Bahamas are busy helping build the $3.5 billion Baha Mar, one of the region’s largest megaresorts.

Beyond that, a Chinese state bank agreed in recent weeks to put up $41 million for a new port and bridge, and a new, large Chinese Embassy is being built downtown.

The new stadium here, Bahamian officials said, was in part a reward for breaking ties with Taiwan in 1997 and establishing and keeping relations with China.

It is one of several sporting arenas that China has sprinkled in Caribbean and Central American nations as gratitude for their recognition of “one China” — in other words, for their refusal to recognize Taiwan, which Chinese officials consider part of their country.

“They offered a substantial gift and we opted for a national stadium,” said Charles Maynard, the Bahamian sports minister, adding that his government could never have afforded to build it on its own.

Tug of war

In this enduring tug of war with Taiwan, others have switched, too, with a little financial encouragement. Grenada ended relations with Taiwan in 2004, and it is now in talks with China about getting a new national track and field stadium. The parting has not been entirely amicable; Taiwan and Grenada are now locked in a financial dispute over loans that Grenada received to finance the construction of its airport.

Island Resources Foundation (IRF)
Natural Resources Management
24 Rogers Ave., Apt. 4D
Brooklyn, NY 11216

Tel: 917-385-9867
Fax: 718-778-3181

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Early Contender: 2012’s Most Useless Press Release

Posted on April 4, 2012 by Bruce

In its entirety:

Image003-4

Maybe it makes more sense in Arabic . . . 
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St. Helena Government About to Kill Off St. Helena INDEPENDENT

Posted on April 1, 2012 by Bruce
[By way of background: 

The Saint Helena Independent is one of the best newspapers among the UK overseas territories  (see it on-line at the digital sister publication, Saint FM at http://www.saint.fm/independent/). .  . . and it has been truly independent. 

The Government of St. Helena (SHG) — most likely with the knowledge and support of Her Majesty’s Government in the UK —  is about to shift all of its publication’s support to its own outlet that will compete directly against the St. Helena Independent, and will probably run them out of business, for all the reasons detailed below. . . 

Forcing the island’s independent press out of business at the same time that the island is about to gain its first air links to the global economy seems at least perverse. Read the editor’s statement below.

This is not a good idea, and maybe we should say so — at the very least write to the Independent at <independent@cwimail.sh>, and let them know we care and . . .  the whole world is watching. . .  . . . .  brucegordon]

Begin forwarded message from the St. Helena Independent, :


St. Helena Independent
23 March 2012
The St Helena Independent to Close Down
The Island’s Most Successful Newspaper is Killed Off – Saint FM to continue

The Independent, St Helena’s only private sector newspaper in modern times, will have to close after
next week’s issue. The Independent, also the Island’s most successful newspaper is closing against its
will; there is no other choice.

The reasons are;

· The Independent cannot compete on a commercial basis with the new heavily subsidised government
backed media organisation

· The new government backed media will charge low advertising rates because they are subsidised.
The price charged for every copy is much lower than the true cost because they
are subsidised. The St Helena Independent cannot compete against this unfair competition.

· The low advertising rates and the low charge for buying the new newspaper will not cover the government
backed newspaper’s staff and printing costs. The St Helena Independent cannot compete
against this. It will be a constant uphill struggle and doomed to failure.

· The St Helena Independent has to set charges to cover all its costs; if it does not, it makes a loss
and will build up debt more debt week after week.

· WORST OF ALL, IT IS UNDERSTOOD THE ST HELENA GOVERNMENT WILL NOT BE PLACING
ANY ADVERTISING WITH THE ST HELENA INDEPENDENT AFTER ITS OWN NEWSPAPER
STARTS NEXT WEEK. IT WILL ONLY ADVERTISE IN THE NEWSPAPER IT IS BACKING
WITH BIG SUBSIDIES. THIS WILL REDUCE THE MONEY MADE BY THE ST HELENA INDEPENDENT
TO PAY ITS BILLS.

· The only newspaper in St Helena in modern times which has existed free of government influence
and government money is now being killed off because of the actions of government.

EDITORIAL

The future of the St Helena Independent has been in doubt for
the last few months. Ever since details of the final plans for
made for the new government subsidised media trickled out
of The Castle, bit by bit, it has looked increasingly bad for the
future of ANY private sector media in St Helena.

It is certainly true The Independent has had a difficult relationship
with the St Helena government. Difficult relationships
between the Press and the State in democratic countries are
a common thing, in fact, often the usual thing. It is not the
usual thing for the state to take actions which are certain to
kill off the free press; except in the communist countries and
countries ruled by dictators.

In setting up a new subsidised media the St Helena government
has made a mockery of several of its own much publicised
polices and grand pronouncements.

Untargeted Subsidies

Remember the big talk about changing
the way government subsidies are handed out so that only
those who genuinely need them actually receive them. Well,
all that has been ignored. The government are throwing many,
many thousands of pounds at a new media organisation which
it is not absolutely necessary to have, while people on low
incomes continue to wait for the government to finish their
assessment of what welfare benefits should really be.

Promoting the Private Sector

We have been on the receiving
end of all sorts of government talk over a long period of time
about building up the Island’s private sector. The government’s
policy says it is to sell off some of its own activities to private
sector interests. Websites and news media around the world
are picking up on the story about St Helena welcoming investors
to the Island in advance of the airport opening. Government
help to build up the private sector has been talked about
for several years and has still not come up to much. Any
overseas investor thinking of putting money into St Helena
should look long and hard at the history of private sector efforts
to get a real economy going here. Thornton and Timmreck
are two resounding examples. Now we can add The St Helena
Independent to the list of examples which show how little regard
is given to the private sector in St Helena.

Democracy

Government press releases often refer to democratic
processes, consultation, good governance and the rest.

Democracy is much more than electing councillors every few
years. Democratic action is a daily thing and has to be shown
to be in action. One important part of it is that those in power
have to be able to take criticism and argue their case openly
and honestly. In the UK there is not just Her Majesty’s Government;
there is Her Majesty’s Opposition. Here in St Helena
there are too many instances through the years of opposition
to government not being tolerated and there is no change in
sight.

Enjoy the rest of this week’s Independent. We will carry on
as we always have done for the short time that is left for this
newspaper. Remember, Saint FM will remain on the air 24
hours a day and we look forward to continuing to entertain
and inform you when you tune in to 93.1. More on this next
week


Each man’s death diminishes me,

For I am involved in mankind.

Therefore, send not to know

For whom the bell tolls,

It tolls for thee.


John Donne

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TWEET: Tennessee passes anti-climate, anti-evolution ‘education’ bill

Posted on March 23, 2012 by Bruce

From Grist’s Lists — <http://grist.org/list/tennessee-passes-anti-climate-anti-evolution-education-bill/>

Climate Skeptics

Tennessee passes anti-climate, anti-evolution ‘education’ bill

By Jess Zimmerman

22 Mar 2012 12:35 PM

This cartoon is from 1925. Way to make progress, Tennessee!

Good news for people who don’t know shit about dick: You can now teach science in Tennessee! The state legislature has passed a bill saying that if “science” “teachers” don’t personally believe in evolution or climate change, they’re free to represent them to students as kooky conjecture. Because forcing teachers to teach science is a form of fascism! Or socialism! I don’t know the difference, I took political science in Tennessee.

It’s possible that Tennessee legislators, who to be fair did take math in Tennessee, got confused and thought it was 1912, 13 years before the Scopes Trial in that very same state started the process of undermining laws against teaching evolution. Or maybe Tennessee is finally chafing under the yoke of science, and rebelling against the obligation to live in the same reality as the rest of us. If it’s the latter, I’m hoping for some very entertaining new laws as the legislators continue to snap. Next on the docket in Tennessee:

  • Biology teachers who don’t believe in premarital sex are free to teach students that animals have tiny but elegant weddings before they breed.
  • History teachers with elaborate conspiracy theories may spend up to 12 weeks of the semester doing nothing but screening the Zapruder film over and over and chain-smoking.
  • Writing teachers may opt for phonetic spelling, and are not required to mention the existence of socialist tome The Dictionary.
  • Literature teachers are free to teach that Shakespeare was actually Francis Bacon. Ha ha, just kidding! Who the hell are THOSE guys?

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Spring

Posted on March 13, 2012 by Bruce

Two osprey either making nest together or disputing possession of the nest on mark 15 in the South River.

Photo

Sent from my iPhone

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