Odysseus commanded his men not to untie him, no matter what he said, and he had them all plug their ears with beeswax. By doing so, he wanted to have his cake but avoid eating it. He wanted to be the only man to listen to the Siren’s song without giving in to its power. All others had succumbed to the irresistible call and met their deaths when they sank their boats on the rocks.

Odysseus was an idiot. Don’t try this at home. He got away with it only because the book was named after him and it was early in the story, but you can’t take these kinds of chances with the Enemy. You may think you’re above a particular temptation. You may think you are immune to its power. You, unlike other men, can handle it without falling. You’ve tied yourself to the mast and can experience the temptation and maintain your purity. It’s not true. You can’t tie yourself to the mast tightly enough if you are putting yourself in harm’s way. That’s exactly where Satan will come after you.

]]> http://paintingskiathos.wordpress.com/?p=318 Sun, 06 Jul 2008 23:49:07 +0000 yvonne ayoub http://paintingskiathos.wordpress.com/?p=318

Gosh! WHAT a busy week!

"Navy Week" came to an end this evening with a wonderful buffet/reception held on the Bourtzi, and it closed with a spectacular firework display from the end of the 'Dolphin' Jetty, on the new port.

I was thrilled to accept an invitation from Mr Manolis Pantelakis,The Chief of the Port Authority and Mayor Nikolaos Plomaritis, to attend.

 I must just remark on how dashing and smart all the naval officers (who attended with their wives) looked, in their pristine white naval uniforms (Oh be still my beating heart! Thought I was on the set of 'An officer and a Gentleman'  for a second and half expected Richard Gere to appear and sweep me off my feet any moment - well, a girl can dream can't she?.....Must have been the wine!)

I don't have many photos of the week's events  (too tied up with the Art exhibition every evening, I'm afraid) but I did translate the programme of events into English for the organisers, so here is the diary of all that's been happening on Skiathos, this past week:

 SUNDAY 29 JUNE 2008

08:00  Official Opening Ceremony - with the raising of the National Flag

In the Submarine “KATSONIS” area.

11:00            Memorial Service - with boat-side ‘wreath-hurling’ into the sea

At the Statue of the Unknown Sailor

            .

21:30  Choir Performance

At the Open-air theatre, “Bourtzi”.

            MONDAY 30 JUNE 2008

20:00   Exhibitions Opening Ceremony - with a prologue by Anna Deliyanni,

 At the Municipal Centre, “Bourtzi”

 “Skiathos and the Sea”- a            journey through Skiathos’ nautical history

(Opening daily for the duration of Navy Week, 19.00hrs – 22.00hrs)

“Colours of Skiathos 2008” – an Art Exhibition of works by local artists

(Opening daily until August 30, 19.00hrs – 22.00hrs)

Organized and presented by:

The Municipality of Skiathos

The Municipal Culture Development Branch

The Union of Retirees N.A.T. of Skiathos

            TUESDAY  01 JULY 2008

20:30   Presentation - of traditional sailing boats.

21:00   Consecration of the Office of Retirees N.A.T. -

             At the Skiathos Old Harbour - Psaradika Fish Restaurant.

            WEDNSDAY  02 JULY 2008

19:00  “Deep Sea Clean-up” - of the Skiathos Harbour.

            Community-conscious volunteers are invited to participate.

20:30  Free Sea Tour

At the South Harbour - Skiathos.

            Sponsored by the Tourist Boat Union.

            THURSDAY 03 JULY 2008

19:00  Aquatic First-Aid Demonstrations - by professional Life-savers

            At the Bourtzi Swimming Area (below the Cafe).

Under the auspices of the Municipality of Skiathos

21:30  “Make a Wish” (Sea Lights).

            FRIDAY 04 JULY 2008

20:00  Sea-sports Athletic Demonstration

At the Skiathos Harbour.

            Presented by The Sea Sports Club and the Boat Rental

            Recreation group.

21:30            International Dance Festival

At the Open-Air Theatre, “Bourtzi”.

            SATURDAY 05  JULY 2008

20:30  Free Sea Tour

Skiathos South Harbor.

Sponsored by the Union of Tourist Boats

21:30            Philharmonic Band - Music Festival

At the Open-Air Theatre,  “Bourtzi”.

            SUNDAY  06 JULY 2008

19:00            Swimming Matches - Municipal Athletic Swim Team of Skiathos.

21:00            Awards Ceremony – the presentation of medals and diplomas       

At the Skiathos Municipal Council Hall, “Bourtzi”.

22:00  Official Reception

At the Open-Air Theatre, “Bourtzi”.

23:00            Fireworks Display

In the Skiathos Harbour area.

The Art Exhibition is proving to be a great success, with a steady stream of visitors - and many paintings sold already! If you visit, be sure to leave your comments in our 'Visitors Book' - your feedback is invaluable to us and we want to ensure that every year it gets better and better.

After tonight, things should be a little quieter as the island returns to normal. We had a spectacular electrical storm a couple of nights ago but only a light shower followed - not the heavy rain we all pray for (Skiathos badly needs it!) Not only is there a water shortage (and the season's only just begun!) but the threat of fire is very real and we don't want a repeat of the devastating fire that swept through Paraskevi Valley last year. It's amazing how quickly the charred hills surrounding villa nicara have turned to green once again though it will be many years before the lush forests return, sadly.

What the hell was my last post? Ahh, ok.

“Don’t hold someone in your heart that you can’t hold in your arms.

Letting go doesn’t mean you have to stop loving someone, or that you gave up,
it means that you understand that life goes on with or without him/her.”

Heartbreaks.
Ian and I broke up, for the last time. Fourth time, last time. Our difference finally got the best of us, he broke up with me, wanted to get back together a week later, and guess what? I said no. That's right. Little, weak, run-back-to-him-all-the-time me told him no. Who am I kidding? This is the fourth time he's broken up with me and I'm sick of crying, I'm sick of putting my life on hold waiting for him to come back, I'm sick of allowing the same thing to happen to me over and over again. Granted, I had a huge part in him breaking up with me this time, I'll admit to that, but still. I finally started trusting the relationship enough to make plans for the future and it blows up in my face. I don't really make plans, so this was a huge step, and a huge disappointment for me. I cried for one day and was refreshed the next day. Haven't cried since and its been a few weeks. Why not? Every other time, I cried for days, months. Didn't eat, didn't sleep. What's so different about this time? The quote above, that's it. "

"Letting go doesn’t mean you have to stop loving someone, or that you gave up, it means that you understand that life goes on with or without him/her." I'm always going to care about him, but I can't be with him anymore and I've finally accepted that. I'm not giving up on him and I haven't stopped loving him, but I am letting go. I do know that life goes on without him. It was hard doing this. I had to muster up every ounce of courage and strength in me to tell him no. Its been him for the past three years, I was interested in ONE other person the entire three years (yay for Sailors, I'll be talking about this later on in here, too). Like said above, I went right back to him three times, but I couldn't do it this time. I finally got the strength in myself to be selfish. I'm not a selfish person. As long as the people I care about are happy, I'll think everything is ok, even if its killing me inside. Point is, I do love him and do care about him, always will, but its time to move on..and I have. Maybe not 100%, but I'm working on it.

New boyfriend.
Its one of the most difficult things for me to be with someone who drinks. I can put up with smoking, but still don't like it. I've lost a lot in my life, because of alcohol. A lot. The last thing I need in my life is someone I'm in love with, whose a borderline alcoholic. The amount of hate I have for alcohol is enough to overpower the feeling of love. I've discovered that no matter how much I love someone, I'll never 100% accept them for who they are if they drink. That sounds terrible to say, but Ian is proof. I was so in love with that kid, he was my world for three years, I'd do anything for him and everyone knew that (and everyone hated that), but when his drinking became extreme, I couldn't do it. I could manage being friends with him, but I can't stay with someone like that. I tried as hard as I could to keep my head up, be accepting, love him for who he was...I just couldn't. I found myself falling out of love.

Its over now and I'm moving on. I've met one of God's most perfect creations. His name is Matthew and he's everything I've ever prayed for. The hate I have for alcohol, smoking, and drugs...he has, also. The silly faces I make at people, that make them look at me like I'm stupid...he makes back. The drive I have to make the person I'm with the happiest person alive...he shows for me. He pays attention to the little things that make me happy and does them all. He's made a life for himself and wants me to be a part of it. For once, I'm being supported, not being the supporter. He wants all the same things that I want, which is a huge deal for me. He's one of the goofiest people I've ever met and everything he does makes me smile. He pretends to be a racecar driver when we're driving around, plays with Marvel action figures, gets his priorities in line and follows it, drinks as much Chai Tea as I do, drives twenty minutes to see me everyday, even if its for no longer than an hour, or just to kiss me goodnight. Come on, he evens freaks out as much as I do when a new superhero movie comes out. Our first date, The Incredible Hulk. Can't top that. Batman comes out in two weeks, we got matching shirts and are going to be first in line, baby! Honestly, though, he's like my own superhero. He saved me from ruining myself. I was about ready to settle for something I didn't truly want. Everyone could see on my face that I didn't want it, but since I didn't know anything else, I was going to make everything ok with it. Matthew has proved to me that there is more out there. That there is someone who is going to give back everything I give to them. He's that person. He's everything I've ever prayed for and I couldn't ask for more. And as much as I hated my job at Albertsons (which I already quit, by the way), there's one good thing that came from it: needing black pants as part of my uniform, going to Hot Topic to find them, and meeting Matthew there, cause he works there. Thank God for getting that job, even if I quit a month later.

Old friends.
Since Ian, I've reconnected with quite a few people. I was so stupid in that relationship, that I let him control who I was friends with and who I talked to. I rarely ever talked to Ali anymore, because he didn't like her, and she's been one of my best friends since the sixth grade. I almost completely stopped talking to Sam, because Ian hated him, and Sam has been there for me more than just about anyone. I entirely stopped talking to Tony, because Ian didn't like us talking, and Tony was there for me through everything Ian put me through. I stopped talking and hanging out with Eric, because Ian thought it was just unacceptable, and Eric has been there for near four years. I even disconnected with my family. They weren't fond of Ian for one reason and one reason only, they knew he wasn't what I ultimately wanted for myself, but I stayed with him. That caused conflict with my family and I because I refused to listen to them and fought to defend everything I thought was right. Luckily, all these people are true friends and love me enough to have accepted my apology. They were there for me more than anyone and I let Ian get in the way of that. So much for love, right? I accepted all of his friends and made them my own, despite the differences between us all, they're awesome. Its a shame that he couldn't do the same for me. I've learned my lesson. I lost a lot of friends for a stupid reason and I can't apologize enough. I'll never be able to make up for it, but I'm fortunate enough for them to still be here for me.

On another part, not my doing, but it adds to old friends and reconnecting - Nate talked to me yesterday for the first time since he left for Virginia. Yeah, you all know that story, so you can only imagine how great of a moment that was for me. Its like, I finally get everything going in the right direction, for once, and more things just start to follow. I finally have back all the friendships I've missed for so long and that makes me the happiest person in the world.

I never really realized what I had. I had good friends, good family ties, and I gave it all up because I put all of my faith into something I knew wasn't going to happen. I'm not saying that I regret being with Ian, or that I don't care about him, I'm just saying that I let him blind me for far too long. I wish I could have realized these things on my own, but sometimes, you need a superhero to help save the day.

Matthew opened my eyes. Now, I feel refreshed. I feel healthy. I feel happy.

RS_0091, originally uploaded by rsmithlal.

EN: School is finished for the year!

I am in no way religious, but this statue in an old church on the uninhabited île aux marins really stood out to me. His cold stare sends shivers down your spine.

FR: L'année scolaire est fini!

Je ne suis pas croyant, mais ce statue qui reste dans une église vieux sur l'île aux marins a vraiment accroché mon œil. Son regard froid vous font frissonner.

Read the details here about what the Navy is doing in regard to it's Sailor's concerns: Navy.mil

-----

Imagine a World without Filipinos

by: Abdullah Al-Maghlooth | Al-Watan, almaghlooth@alwatan.com.sa

Muhammad Al-Maghrabi became handicapped and shut down his flower and gifts shop business in Jeddah after his Filipino workers insisted on leaving and returning home. He says: “When they left, I felt as if I had lost my arms. I was so sad that I lost my appetite.”

Al-Maghrabi then flew to Manila to look for two other Filipino workers to replace the ones who had left. Previously, he had tried workers of different nationalities but they did not impress him. “There is no comparison between Filipinos and others,” he says. Whenever I see Filipinos working in the Kingdom, I wonder what our life would be without them.

Saudi Arabia has the largest number of Filipino workers — 1,019,577 — outside the Philippines. In 2006 alone, the Kingdom recruited more than 223,000 workers from the Philippines and their numbers are still increasing. Filipinos not only play an important and effective role in the Kingdom, they also perform different jobs in countries across the world, including working as sailors. They are known for their professionalism and the quality of their work.

Nobody here can think of a life without Filipinos, who make up around 20 percent of the world’s seafarers. There are 1.2 million Filipino sailors.

So if Filipinos decided one day to stop working or go on strike for any reason, who would transport oil, food and heavy equipment across the world? We can only imagine the disaster that would happen.

What makes Filipinos unique is their ability to speak very good English and the technical training they receive in the early stages of their education. There are several specialized training institutes in the Philippines, including those specializing in engineering and road maintenance. This training background makes them highly competent in these vital areas.

When speaking about the Philippines, we should not forget Filipino nurses. They are some 23 percent of the world’s total number of nurses. The Philippines is home to over 190 accredited nursing colleges and institutes, from which some 9,000 nurses graduate each year. Many of them work abroad in countries such as the US, the UK, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Singapore.

Cathy Ann, a 35-year-old Filipino nurse who has been working in the Kingdom for the last five years and before that in Singapore, said she does not feel homesick abroad because “I am surrounded by my compatriots everywhere.” Ann thinks that early training allows Filipinos to excel in nursing and other vocations. She started learning this profession at the age of four as her aunt, a nurse, used to take her to hospital and ask her to watch the work. “She used to kiss me whenever I learned a new thing. At the age of 11, I could do a lot. I began doing things like measuring my grandfather’s blood pressure and giving my mother her insulin injections,” she said.

This type of early education system is lacking in the Kingdom. Many of our children reach the university stage without learning anything except boredom.

The Philippines, which you can barely see on the map, is a very effective country thanks to its people. It has the ability to influence the entire world economy.

We should pay respect to Filipino workers, not only by employing them but also by learning from their valuable experiences.

We should learn and educate our children on how to operate and maintain ships and oil tankers, as well as planning and nursing and how to achieve perfection in our work. This is a must so that we do not become like Muhammad Al-Maghrabi who lost his interest and appetite when Filipino workers left his flower shop.

We have to remember that we are very much dependent on the Filipinos around us. We could die a slow death if they chose to leave us.

]]> http://totinette.wordpress.com/2008/06/06/its-fleet-week-here-in-portland/ Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:25:14 +0000 totinette http://totinette.wordpress.com/2008/06/06/its-fleet-week-here-in-portland/

Sailors in Tropic Dress - Vintage

Originally uploaded by Tobyotter

And you know what that means! Sailors, sailors everywhere! My friends know how much I love sailor outfits and vintage sailor photos. Cathy almost called me yesterday when she crossed into downtown and saw the streets flooded with sailors. She said at one point they were all lined up on their ship, perfectly spaced apart. Cute! I'll have to try and snap some photos of them later today if it isn't too rainy.

9 Ways To Win My Heart:
1. Give me flowers on a random day, just because.
2. Call me really early and tell me "Good Morning".
3. Take me to feed ducks and climb trees.
4. Make me butterflies out of dollar bills.
5. Get me plastic rings from Pojos.
6. Take a lot of random pictures with me at the zoo.
7. Argue with me about Meese (Moose).
8. Tell me what I mean to you.
9. Be on the phone with me, not saying anything, and love every second.

8 Random Favourites:
1. Lucky Charms.
2. Wonderwall.
3. A Day To Remember.
4. To Write Love On Her Arms.
5. Body Modification.
6. Meaningful Conversations.
7. Staring at stars from elementary school rooftops.
8. Parking Garages.

7 Memories:
1. Shopping at Fred Meyer with Nathan.
2. The Incredible Hulk with Matthew.
3. The night before Connor left, when we sat on my porch at 1am talking.
4. When I used to be a punk, good times.
5. My graduation.
6. Ian at the park, when he fell in the water trying to jump over it.
7. The first time Ian and I hung out, under the bandshell, big spider, fire, haha.

6 Things That Annoy Me:
1. People who lie to themselves.
2. People who try to sing to songs they don't know.
3. People who act like they know what they're talking about.
4. When my dogs scratch at the window, when they want back inside.
5. Alarm clocks, not just because I have to get up, they're just annoying.
6. The fact that my room is the temperature it is outside.

5 Things I Want To Do Before I Die:
1. See the wonders of the world and discover new ones.
2. Have a family.
3. Make sure everyone I truly love and care about knows.
4. Conquer my fears.
5. Take the longest road trip known to man.

4 Things I'm Afraid Of:
1. Not being able to settle with myself.
2. Being old and alone.
3. Clowns, barbed wire, darkness, daddy long legs.
4. Dying before I've had the chance to live.

3 Things I Do Everyday:
1. Eat.
2. Breathe.
3. Sleep.

2 Things I'm Trying Not To Do:
1. Eat when I'm bored, not hungry.
2. Be someone I'm not.

1 Person I Want To See Right Now:
1. My best friend, Chelsea.

This is one thing I REALLY need to stop dwelling on, its ridiculous. I have a great life, honestly. I could use a new job, but other than that, things are perfect. I can, with my entire heart, say that things have never been better than they have been the past couple months. So, why am I still dwelling on some sailor trapped in Virginia? I can't answer that, I wish I could. I'd like to know the answer just as much as everyone else. I think it's because I'm a talker. I can't have an argument and not talk to the person face to face until its settled. I think the reason I'm still dwelling, is because he left with no words whatsoever and hasn't said anything since. Friendships are stupid, honestly. Why have someone close to you, better yet, why get so close to someone, who isn't going to get close back? I think that's what I meant to say. I have no idea. All I know, is that someone I thought I was very close to and I thought was just as close back, left without a word. I thought I knew him, guess not. Its making me wonder about everything else I think I know. Maybe I don't really know those things, either? Ugh, time. Time time time, as much as it can bring you up, it can shut you down just as easily. Eew, fuck the Navy.

On the bright side, Ian got his early birthday present from me on Monday. I paid for a five hour session on his sleeve. We came to find that that was too long of a session for him to handle and needless to say, he's in a lot of pain, haha. It looks awesome, though. Only about an hour left until his sleeve is completely finished. I have tattoo fever, now. No bueno, never is, lol. I get my stomach piece finished on July 19th and I'm super stoked. Anyways, Ian's birthday isn't for another month, but I couldn't wait and I wanted him to have his sleeve as soon as possible. I get too excited about the gifts I get for people, haha. I always end up telling them, or giving it to them early. I need to try and contain myself.

Fuck, I haven't posted in forever. I think its almost around the two week mark. What a shame. My views, comments, all my stats - have dropped dramatically. I know there are a lot of people who love reading my stuff, sorry guys :/ but, I'm trying to make a comeback. Its not like I don't have time, I have all the time in the world, lately. I graduated, quit my job, so all I do is sit at home, or sit at Ian's house. I HAVE THE TIME, why the hell haven't I posted? Fuck if I know. I'm going to get back on this, though. Full swing like before. Of course, I say that now, but one of two things will probably happen now that I said that - 1) I'll get a job and not have time anymore or 2) I really won't, even if I have the time, haha. Ohhhh shit, my arms hurt for some reason.

I did the funniest thing last night. Ok, so I quit Cold Stone about two weeks ago. The owner of the one I worked at owns two other stores in my area. So, last night, I decided to apply to one of the other neighbor stores, that she doesn't own, lol. Its not that I didn't like my job, I fucking loved that job, I just couldn't work that dumb broad anymore. So, that'd be hilarious if I got that job, because I know the store I was working at - went to complete SHIT after I left, its rather entertaining.

Ohhhhh dear, I'm bored and I feel useless.

Naval Association of Australia president Les Dwyer has accused the popular Channel 9 show of undermining one of Australia's proudest institutions.

"The amount of sex on the show is simply a bloody joke," Mr Dwyer said.

The revelation comes days after the Defence Department launched an investigation into allegations screen star Tania Zaetta had sex with Australian special forces soldiers during a recent tour of Afghanistan, denied by Ms Zaetta.

Mr Dwyer - who served 44 years in the RAN rising to the rank of Warrant Officer - says the program is an insult to navy personnel. (link)

Samantha Davies on board Roxy crossed the finish line of The Artemis Transat as the first British yacht to finish this years Transat.

UK sailor Dee Caffari has also crossed the gate in Boston in her first solo offshore race.

Read more about the UK sailors in the Artemis Transat

I've had the privilege to meet many extraordinary men and women serving as airmen, sailors, and soldiers. Some serve because it's the best job they can get, some serve because family members served, some serve because they love our country and what it represents, some serve simply because they feel it's the right thing to do. But whatever the reason they serve... they serve so that we can go about our daily lives, praising the good things that happen to us, and complaining about the bad things that happen to us.

Take a moment to remember those men and women that are serving, or have served for all the rest of us.

I'd like to finish with a quote from the Commander, Pacific Air Forces, General Chandler, as posted on the Air Force News website (http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123099997).

Memorial Day: Remembering our heroes

Commentary by Gen. Howie Chandler
Commander, Pacific Air Forces

5/24/2008 - HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii (AFPN) -- On this Memorial Day, we take time to remember the men and women who have selflessly given their lives -- some more than 200 years ago, some just last week in the Middle East  -- defending freedom.

When called upon to defend the rights and liberties of this nation, American Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines have responded courageously. For more than 233 years our military has protected our nation. Our world and our armed forces have changed over time, but certain elements of our armed forces remain constant; the selflessness, sacrifice and dedication to duty displayed by men and women in a United States military uniform.

From Bunker Hill to the Solomon Islands Campaign and Linebacker II to Iraqi Freedom, the can-do spirit of American servicemembers has been a part of our nation's history. That spirit is alive today as Airmen defend our nation with courage, honor and dignity around the world.

In the past year, more than 1,200 brave Americans and hundreds of coalition military members have given their lives to foster freedom. Their sacrifice will not be forgotten and their achievements will forever be woven into the history of the United States.

Daniel Webster said, "Although no sculptured marble should rise to their memory, nor engraved stone bear record of their deeds, their remembrance will be as lasting as the land they honored."

Our thoughts go out to all our great Americans standing freedom's watch, as well as their families.

Memorial Day

There are only two days left for thousands of Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen from U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard to dock their ships on the Hudson for Fleet Week New York. Wednesday marks the annual (since 1984), celebration of the sea services. So don't be surprised if you see white-clad men and women walking around in groups or solo, drinking in your local pub or looking at your favorite painting at the Met. They will be here for a week, starting Wednesday the 21st of May. Fleet Week also includes dozens of military demonstrations and displays throughout the week, as well as public visitation of many of the participating ships, if that's your thing.

Check here for detailed schedule of events.

]]> http://newfangled.wordpress.com/?p=29 Thu, 15 May 2008 16:05:44 +0000 Jamin Bradley http://newfangled.wordpress.com/?p=29 I woke up one morning after having a rather strange dream. I quickly jotted down a couple of the things I could remember but really only had two main ideas to base this story off of. I hope you enjoy it.

There had been a legend told by the sailors of the past that was as old as time itself. It was a legend of mystery, wonder and power. A story that had been passed down through generations, yet no man had ever attempted to test the story in order to find out if it was real or not. 

But one man, a scientist of his time, dared to pursue that in which he did not understand. If there was a theory out there then of course it would  be his duty to hypothesize, analyze, and test it- regardless of how far fetched the legend was. After all, every legend has got to have somewhere to start, right? So perhaps there's a bit of truth behind every one of them. And perhaps this story had some bit of truth to it.

Perhaps...

And that possibility is all that was needed.

“The Door in the Sky” was the name of the legend. It was started long ago when a crew ship stumbled across a mysterious door in the sky. There it floated, shining as bright as the sun. But in order to reach such a door, the mast of the ship would have to be quite large. And luckily, the mast to their ship is noted to have been large enough to reach the door. However, the legend goes on to say that no one possessed the courage to enter it. After all, who would want to simply enter a door in the sky? Who knows what could be on the other side.

The scientist found this intriguing. If this theory proved to be true then it would completely change everything he knew. But then again, in science, everything has an explanation and if it was true... well, then he would figure out the scientific reason as to why. All he needed was the location, which he happened to possess. The long lost journal of the captain who originally saw the spectacle had been attained by his country's kingdom and they had asked him to travel to the location and bring home a report on the legend. The captain's journal marked the location of the phenomenon and did so with warning:

...To anyone who may read this: HEED MY WORDS. There is something unsettling in my being about this unusual event. I tell you that as surely as God lives, there is a door standing high above me- floating in the sky. However, some things were just not made to be tested. Some things are better off alone. I do not feel completely sane writing this location down, but my curiosity compels me to do so. But may it be out of your sheer will and determination that you find this door. I will not lie responsible for your actions- I have warned you.

This was the captain's last entry before it happened. What I mean to say is that the ship had arrived on shore one day in perfect condition- not a scratch on it. 

However, the ship's crew was gone.

There was blood staining the ship, but no bodies. The entire crew had disappeared. If it wasn't for the journal the captain had left behind then no such legend would have ever come to be.

The scientist agreed to take the mission under the terms that he chose his crew. He did not favor working with more than he had to and such a legend should be pursued with those that he trusted. Among those that he trusted to his task was a well-known captain, a scholar, a doctor, a soldier, and a 17 year old boy. He also recruited a homeless man. While the scientist was no religious man, he was a good man and he had gotten to know this homeless man a little bit through short conversations with him on his walks to work. He knew that such a person would be humbled to be given the opportunity to make some money and perhaps it would help the poor man get back on his feet again.

The newly formed crew was gifted with a medium sized ship that had been built with a very tall mast in hopes that the legend was true. The scientist chuckled. What an odd looking boat it was. After a couple preparations had been made and jobs had been assigned the boat sailed off in search of this “door in the sky.”

After about a week of sailing the ship neared its destination. In fact it was so close that the scientist was sure he should have seen some kind of strange thing by now. The scholar desperately searched the captain's journal for more clues and compared it with the map, but alas, there was nothing. Nothing strange in the sky and nothing strange in the water. Just a heavy fog in the distance.

Then again... there did seem something strange about the fog. There was no starting point to it. The fog was just heavy. It didn't slowly trickle in as they floated towards it. Something wasn't right. It had been completely clear behind them. It was midday and there was a bright blue sky and nothing but water for miles. How peculiar...

Silence grew over the entire crew as they approached the massive wall of fog. There was excitement in the air- but not without fear. What would they find in that fog? Would there be strange scientific wonders? Or would there just be nothing?

The front of the ship entered the fog and the moment it did, it disappeared out of sight. The fog was so heavy...

The crew had a natural instinct to leave their posts and group together. Open mouthed and wide eyed, together they entered the wall. Although so close to each other, the fog made it impossible to even see each other's faces. But this only last for about two seconds. The fog was thick, but apparently the wall was not. They were now inside something even more odd.

A vertical tunnel of fog.

It surrounded them. Other than the blue sky at the top of the tunnel, fog was all that could be seen. The back of the ship continued to make it's way through the fog until the ship reached the middle of the tunnel. Then there was a loud noise and the ship rumbled as it stopped dead in the water. They hadn't hit a sandbar...

Next a huge wind swept through the tunnel and blew the fog completely away in about a second.

What beauty...

There were now huge islands in the distance that had not been there before. Every color the eye could see seemed so much more vibrant here. The water was a beautiful dark blue; the island's sandy beaches were a bright gold and its forests spotted it with a brilliant dark green; the sky was a spectacular shade of blue with bright glowing white clouds. The sight was unfathomable. The crew was in wonder at this place they had come to find.

The crew was especially in wonder at the strange door that was now at the top of their mast...

There was no science here. 

No formula to solving the equation. 

Just confusion.

Confusion and the question of “what is on the other side of that door, and dare I open it?”

The crew gathered together to talk about what they were seeing. 

What was this? 

Where were they? 

What now?

Each individual had his own plan of action to add to the mix. But it was agreed by all that none should enter that door. Not quite yet anyways.

Or so they thought they all had agreed...

But how can you truly know the adventurous young heart of a 17 year old boy anyways? How could he just stand there and not see what was on the other side? Especially after so long! Those crazy patient adult folk wouldn't understand. Its now or never and frankly the now had passed four hours ago when they  had gotten there. In another three hours the sun would be down and who knows what would happen then. What if they were released from this spot back to their normal world and never able to come back again? Yes, now was definitely the time for action. The adults were just being stubborn anyways.

As soon as the boy found a chance while the adults were talking, he ran over to the mast and began to pull himself up it. No one even saw him! He was so clever and sneaky in his ways. His heart pounded as he neared the top. What kind of treasure would lie behind this door? The boat had stopped in the perfect spot for the mast to reach it. But stranger things had happened day. He took one last look at the vibrant beauty the world around him possessed. He could see so much of it from up here. He then turned for the door slowly and began to open it. A bright light shown out of the door as he walked into it.

The room was coated with a glowing white light. It was the only color that existed in the room. Even his entire body and clothes were glowing white. There was no room for any other color to exist- except for that hint of blood red on the stand in the middle of the room. Words were engraved on a white stone tablet underneath it:

“THIS RING BELONGS TO THE KING. HE IS GOOD AND LOVES HIS PEOPLE. NO ONE ELSE MAY WEAR IT FOR NO ONE ELSE IS AS GOOD AND LOVING AS HE AND CAN HANDLE ITS POWER WITHOUT CORRUPTION.”

However, being that there was no real warning in this writing, the young boy tried the ring on.

Images began to flood his mind. Images of all that was good. Its very difficult to describe it but the boy saw love. He saw goodness. He saw both in its truest form. He saw Heaven! But these weren't his memories... Nor were the feelings he felt watching the memories. No, the boy had never experienced this kind of love. This was far to powerful a love to be of this world. These must have been the memories of the King that the stone was talking about! 

How could anyone be so good? 

So pure? 

So righteous? 

So loving?

So... perfect?

How could this be a King?

It didn't make any sense! What kind of man could be given power and use it with this kind of love. These memories were so strong that the boy knew they had to be true no matter how much sense they didn't make to him. The boy had to show the others! They had to experience this love! This ecstasy!

With the ring on his finger he ran to the door of the room and opened it. He stepped back into the world, his face and clothes radiating white. He stepped onto the mast and closed the door behind him. But when he did, something strange happened.

New memories?

What were these?

There was evil in these thoughts...

But not the evil of the King, rather the evil being done to the King.

The strong love of the King was still felt incredibly in the boy's mind, but outside of that room of goodness and love was an extreme hatred. He saw demons and Satan and he literally felt their piercing hatred and anger towards everything. The boy watched as these evil spirits spread across the Kingdom; invisible to the King's people. They whispered into his people's ears evil thoughts, harsh words, and blasphemies. 

“KiLL HiM!” they said.

“KILL HIM!” the people yelled.

Next the demons looked right at the boy. 

“YoU KiLLeD HiM!” they barked.

The evil corrupted the Kingdom and soon the all-loving King was taken by His people to face a gruesome, horrifying death. 

So much blood spilled...

So much horror...

And still...

So much love.

The King's thoughts rang out through the boy's head as he watched His people torture the King.

“But I love you.”

They spit on Him.

“I... still... love... you...” He was growing weak.

They left Him in pain and suffering for three days.

“I will always love you.”

The boy could take no more. He removed the ring and dropped it, losing his balance while doing so. He fell from the mast, tears streaming down his face. 

He made no noise. 

No scream for help.

Nothing.

Everything was in slow motion to him. 

Why? How could such a love be subject to such hatred? 

The ring landed on the ship.

tink

The boy just nearly missed the side of the ship before hitting the water.

SPLASH!

This alerted the others to the fact that the boy had not been around in awhile. They all stopped what they were doing and ran to where they had heard the splash. There the boy laid face down in the water.

 The soldier was the first to act. It was as if he had been trained for this moment all his life. Quickly he dived into the water with perfect form and grabbed the boy. He was no longer radiating with light. The others threw out a rope to them and pulled them in.

The doctor was next. He kneeled over the boy and began to do all in his power to revive him. It was quite a fall he had taken and it was possible that there was more damage done to him than that of a simple drowning case.

Everyone circled around, hoping, praying, waiting for some kind of life to return to the boy.

And fortunately...

It did.

The boy coughed out the water he had taken into his body and he somehow didn't have a scratch on him from the fall- despite the fact he should have been dead from it. The boy rolled over to his side and saw the ring lying on the ship. He ran quickly ran over and grabbed it. The others stared at him in confusion. The boy knew that what he had seen had to be shared. 

It was meant to be shared.

He told them of how he had snuck into the bright door and how he found the ring there. He told them of the love he had seen in the King and how the evil in the world tried to kill his perfect love, but never did. Sure, the evil had killed the King as a person, but not the King's love.

The scientist walked over to the boy. He asked for the ring. Being a scientist, he wanted proof. He could not simply just believe this story. The boy was reluctant at first for he did not want anyone else to have to go through the horrifying things he had just witnessed. But finally he handed it over. The scientist took a deep breath and tried it on.

...

Nothing.

Hope in the other's faces faded as they saw the scientist grow angry. Why had the boy lied?

The boy grabbed the ring back. He explained that now that he knew of the King's story it was his responsibility to tell others of it and that they would just have to believe him. And perhaps if they believed him, then the ring's power would work. That was it! To put that ring on without belief is to ask the ways of the mystical to follow the rules of science. 

Faith.

That was it.

That was what it took to make the ring work.

But now it was growing late and the ignorant adults decided it was time to eat dinner. Let the boy have his fantasies.

When the crew was done eating they decided that perhaps now they would go and check the mysterious door. But the sun was getting ready to set and no moon or stars had seemed to come out yet.

Or maybe they were never going to come out...

The only light left at this point was that of their dim lanterns. Everything else was pitch black. Then there was another large noise and the ship shook once again. It sounded as though water was pouring out of somewhere, but where? The scholar looked over the side of the ship and came to realize that all of the water that was once below them had fallen away. There was nothing but a circle of blackness below them and they were still stuck. There was still water all around them, but not under them.

They were hovering in mid air.

That's when they heard it. The horrifying piercing screams of those creatures. Those noises. The crew looked around at each other. What was going on? Something had just landed in front of the scientist. He held his lantern up and saw a distorted face staring back at him. The creature had wings and sharp teeth that never stopped gnashing. It breathed heavily in front of him and had a rotten stench.

“No oNe tO sAVe YOu,” it said. “No oNe to gIVe YOu loVE.”

The boy yelled. It was the demons he had seen in the memories! They loved hatred. They loved evil. They loved darkness. And now they were going to feast on them just as they had done with the captain's crew who had written about this location in the legend. What was once such a beautiful and vibrant world had now become dark and ugly. It had become Hell. 

Literally.

Demons flooded out of the open space below the boat screeching loudly before landing on the ship. Hundreds of them pushed the crew into a circle. So this was the scientific mystery of the door in the sky was it? It was a religious experience. There was no scientific explanation. It just IS.

The boy yelled at the creatures in the pain of remembering the King's death. The demons chuckled and smiled at the boy's pain. The scientist turned to the boy.

...

“I believe.”

All of the sudden, the homeless man's ragged clothes glowed with bright light. His whole body radiated just as the boy's had earlier, but this man lit up the entire earth. The demons covered their eyes and screamed. The man was glowing with more than light. He was glowing with power and authority!

“WhO iS tHIs MaN?” they cried.

“I am the King,” He replied. “The one who was, is, and is to come.”

The demons began to blister in the brilliant light. “It CAn't BE! WE kiLLed yOu!”

“Fear me demon! You have no power over me or my people! They have the same authority to rid you just as I do!”

The demon screamed and quickly jumped off of the boat into the eternal abyss.

The crew fell at his feet immediately, calling Him King. 

So many questions. 

So few answers. 

So much confusion.

So much...

Love.

The King looked to the scientist. “Now, my friend, you see the power of belief.” He looked around at the rest of the crew. “There is good in all of you here. I see it in your lives, your professions, your attitudes. But the only way to truly unlock that love and goodness is to believe in my existence. I am the definition of true love and true goodness and I am currently building a Kingdom away from here. I want the whole earth to join me there. I will let anyone and everyone in, as long as they believe in me and live for me here on earth in love and goodness. Anyone who doesn't do so will live among those demons in their kingdom for that is the life they have lived for here on earth. Please, my friends... Please, don't let that happen. The entire earth is made of my people. I cannot stand to have them live among Hell's kingdom.” A tear fell from the King's eye. “Please tell them about me. I love you all and I will always be with you. We will meet again soon.”

Just then, water returned beneath the boat and it rumbled back into place. The King vanished as the boat moved out of the mystical realm it had been in.

The crew was silent. 

There was so much to bring back home with them. 

Who would believe their tale?

Who would consider them insane?

None of them cared.

This crew was not going to let the King's people fall into that demonic abyss. 

This crew had just experienced love at its fullest.

And love moves people...

This story represents that of Jesus Christ.

From Cold War to cold meats... sailors from the US and Russian navies have tested their culinary skills in a sandwich-making competition.

The contest was held during a visit by the US destroyer Stethem to the eastern Russian port of Vladivostok to mark Victory Day. Officers also joined in.

A Russian cook took the prize for best-tasting sandwich while an American came top for most original presentation. Sandwiches topped with cucumber sails were among the Russian offerings. The ingredients included peppers, smoked ham, lettuce, cheese, mayonnaise, olives, cherry tomatoes and gherkins.

The US winner in the individual contest got a bottle of vodka, and presented his Russian rivals with USS Stethem caps and sweatshirts in return. Earlier, the Russians had laid on a traditional welcome for the Americans, with vodka and appetisers such as bliny (buckwheat pancakes) with smoked salmon and pickled green tomatoes. Yet a traditional Russian restaurant is hard to find in Vladivostok, where Chinese and Japanese restaurants are much more common.

The crew of the Stethem were taking part in a military parade in Vladivostok for Victory Day, which marks the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945.

Por un lado, me parece interesante plantear la ruta desde las islas Canarias mucho antes de Colón, y el siglo XIII me parece verosímil. Por otro lado, recelo mucho de toda conclusión precipitada que se pueda utilizar en aras de una relectura simplista de la historia. Es quizás más importante la importación de oro de América por parte de la Corona Española que la preexistencia de tal ruta de oro. Claro que ilumina la continuidad entre las estructuras de transacciones económicas desde la Edad Media, pero poco afecta a nuestra historia del arte, nuestra filología, incluso a nuestra historia política. Cuando digo nuestra, hablo de la mediterránea, ya que no se puede desplazar tan fácilmente el peso de ese espacio en lo que fue la creación del mundo moderno. Que Cristobal Colón fuera menos explorador de lo que nos han enseñado es, finalmente, un tema simplemente discutible. felicitaciones de todos modos a los que gusten con esta iluminación del pasado y sus reverberaciones en el presente.

“On the ground, sir?”

“Sure.”

“But we don’t have any oars, sir.”

The general didn’t like that kind of objection—one with such an obvious solution. “What is an oar? An oar is a long pole. Get a bunch of long poles—what’s the difference?”

“Yes, sir.”

Soon the fields were full of men sitting in rows of five, pushing and pulling on long poles. A pacer pounded on a drum to give them the rhythm.

As soon as the ships were in the water—in only sixty days, if you can believe Polybius—, the oarsmen went aboard, hopped onto their benches, and started rowing with real oars. There was no time to lose. They rowed right out to meet the Carthaginian ships.

What about tactics? The Romans had never thought about what sailors did out there on the sea when enemy ships met. They didn’t know or care about fleet tactics and ramming. Their objective, once they came up to an enemy, was to jump on his ship and kill him. There was nothing like the good old sword and shield.

Most oarsmen on those Carthaginian ships weren’t used to hand-to-hand combat. They thought their job was done once their ship had rammed the enemy ship. A few troops on the deck above them took care of the surrender and reduced any of the enemy sailors that resisted.

The oarsmen on the new Roman quinqueremes were all experienced soldiers. They saw themselves not as sailors but as soldiers doing the temporary but necessary duty of marching over the sea to meet the enemy—marching in a strange way: marching by sitting still and rowing: but marching.

“I've been wondering how we're going to board their ships when we get out there?” one of the more imaginative Roman oarsmen asked the others on their way out to meet the enemy.

It's true: try to jump from one ship to another, even on a calm sea, even without the confusion of battle and arrows and stones flying through the air. The two ships, even with their gunwales side-by-side, don’t go up and down on the waves at the same time; and when you try to jump, the harder you push with your feet to lift yourself off, the farther down you go into your own boat. And the ships don’t stay together for long either.

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” somebody said. And they did. It wasn’t a bridge but a gangplank.

Now came the kind of practical solution to a problem the Romans were famous for. It wasn’t really an invention. The Romans never invented much. It wasn’t some genius’s brainstorm. And it didn’t occur out of the blue. It came to several men at once probably, because their experience in combat brought them all to the same conclusion. “What we need is some kind of gangplank to carry on our ships,” said the generals. “One we can throw across their deck as soon as we bang up against them. Then our men can run right onto their ship.” A portable gangway was nothing novel. A lot of ships must have carried them and still do. But how do you heave such a heavy thing onto the enemy’s deck from your side, without help? The answer was the “Crow”.

Reader: Thank God.

The Romans built a nice long gangplank, four feet by thirty-six, with wooden guardrails. They cut a slot in it at one end and stuck a long pole through the slot. The pole they stood up on deck and fixed solidly like a mast. At the top of the pole they attached a pulley and ran a rope through it down to the other end of the gangplank. By means of that rope they could raise and lower the gangplank. It swiveled around easily because of the loose slot at the base of the pole or mast.

“That is fine as a way of getting our men across,” said the general after he was shown one of these experimental gangplanks. “The hitch I see is that the enemy isn’t going to let the thing lie there on their deck. They’re going to keep pushing it off. We need a way of keeping it in place and also of locking those two boats together. Why don’t you put a big spike on the end of the gangway? When we lower it, the weight will drive the spike right through their deck.”

Soon all the Roman ships were equipped with one of these gangplanks. They were stood up more or less vertically until they were needed. The enemy saw them and at first didn’t know what they were for. Nor did they care. They knew that the Romans were lousy sailors and all you had to do was ram their ships or drive them aground. Even to the Romans the gangways looked odd. They looked like a big bird—the spike was its beak. They started calling them “crows”. “Get the old crow [corvus in Latin] ready,” the captain would shout as they headed for an enemy quinquereme .

The crow was set up near the bow of the Roman ship and it could be swung around left, right, or forward, depending on the point of contact. It fell with a heavy slam and stapled the two ships together very firmly. As soon as it was down the Roman sailor-soldiers ran across: the first two holding up their shields to protect the men coming behind them. They took every ship they could board. The result was that soon the Carthaginians got very leery of Roman ships with crows and wouldn’t go near them. Their old ramming tactic was obsolete.

Return to The Crow:or the First Punic War (Part 1)

The Crow: or the First Punic War (Part 2)

..

To those whose family or friends have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country:

I am grateful for their bravery. Thank you.

To those who have served (Uncle Earl, Buck, Roy, Bill, Randy):

Thank you for your willingness to serve our country.

To those who are currently serving (IC, CT & BR):

Thank you and you have my support.

To those who wish to malign those in the military, to protest the war and/or demonstrate at funerals:

Please remember that freedom is not free. It was built on the backs of those who have served and defended this country for 200 plus years.