Archive for the ‘America’ Category
Sanford Airport to opt out of TSA screening
| WDBO Local News |
Sanford Airport to opt out of TSA screening
@ November 18, 2010 6:25 AM Permalink | Comments (528)
The backlash continues over those new TSA screening measures, and now one Central Florida airport has decided to go with a private security screening firm.
Orlando Sanford International Airport has decided to opt out from TSA screening.
“All of our due diligence shows it’s the way to go,” said Larry Dale, the director of the Sanford Airport Authority. “You’re going to get better service at a better price and more accountability and better customer service.”
Dale says he will be sending a letter requesting to opt out from TSA screening, and instead the airport will choose one of the five approved private screening companies to take over.
Congressman John Mica, who’s expected to lead the powerful Transportation Committee next year, says the TSA is crying out for reform.
“I think TSA is overstepping its bounds,” said Mica.
Dale says, if all goes as planned, the private security firm could take over in about 12 months.
The TSA points out that even if an airport decides to use a private firm for security, the screeners still must follow TSA guidelines. That would include using enhanced pat-downs and the full-body scanners if they are installed at the airport.
Cape Cod Light – Chatham Light
Cape Cod Highland Light is the oldest, tallest and the strongest light on the Cape. Originally built in 1797 and replaced in 1853, the current structure was completed in 1857, 510 feet from the cliff. By the early 1990’s it stood 128 feet from the edge of the cliff. In July 1996, Cape Cod Light was moved back 453 from the eroding cliff where it will be safe for another few hundred years.
Cape Cod (Highland) Light
Chatham, nestled at Cape Cod’s southeast corner, was named for an English seaport and incorporated in 1712. Maritime traffic passing the Cape was heavy by the nineteenth century. The waters off Chatham were a menace, with strong currents and dangerous shoals. Mariners talked of a ghostly rider on a white horse who appeared on stormy nights, swinging a lantern that lured mariners to their doom.
In April 1806, nine years after the establishment of the Cape’s first lighthouse at North Truro, Congress appropriated $5,000 for a second station at Chatham. A second appropriation of $2,000 was made in 1808. In order to distinguish Chatham from Highland Light, it was decided that the new station would have two fixed white lights. Two octagonal wooden towers, each 40 feet tall and about 70 feet apart from each other, were erected on moveable wooden skids about 70 feet apart. A small dwelling house was also built, with only one bedroom. Samuel Nye was approved as the first keeper by President Thomas Jefferson.
The house had such a poor foundation that rats had burrowed in and infested the cellar. A storm in October 1841 broke 17 panes of glass in the lanterns, which Keeper Howe (the second lighthouse keeper) blamed on poor construction.
A tremendous storm hit Cape Cod in November 1870. Before the storm, the Chatham lights were 228 feet from the edge of the 50-foot bluff. The storm had broken through the outer beaches, and the erosion accelerated. By 1877 the light towers stood only 48 feet from the brink.
On September 30, 1879, the old south tower teetered 27 inches from oblivion. Another two months passed, and a third of the foundation hung over the edge. Around this time some local boys found ancient coins, rumored to be pirate treasure, under the lighthouse.
By the early 1900s, the Lighthouse Board began phasing out twin light stations as an unnecessary expense. The north light was moved up the coast to Eastham to replace the survivor of the “Three Sisters” in 1923, ending 115 years of twin lights at Chatham.
A new rotating lens was placed in the remaining tower, along with an incandescent oil-vapor lamp. In 1939, the Coast Guard electrified the light — which had been fueled by kerosene since 1882 — and increased its intensity from 30,000 to 800,000 candlepower.
Chatham Light
Sailing, Sails, Yachts, Yacht Clubs, Harbors
Sailing
| Neither Out Far Nor In Deep |
The people along the sand
All turn and look one way.
They turn their back on the land.
They look at the sea all day.
As long as it takes to pass
A ship keeps raising its hull;
The wetter ground like glass
Reflects a standing gull
The land may vary more;
But wherever the truth may be–
The water comes ashore,
And the people look at the sea.
They cannot look out far.
They cannot look in deep.
But when was that ever a bar
To any watch they keep?
~ ~ Robert Frost
Indian Harbor Yacht Club - Greenwich, CT
IHYC - Greenwich, Connecticut
In Greenwich Harbor - Connecticut
Sleeping Sails - West Dennis, MA
In Hyannis Harbor - Cape Cod - Massachusetts
In Wychmere Harbor - Harwichport - Cape Cod - Massachusetts
Wychmere Harbor - Harwichport, Massachusetts
I hope you all enjoy these — they mean a lot to me……………
While in Connecticut
As some of you know, the first part of our trip north was to Connecticut. My daughter and family live in Greenwich and my sister and friends live in the New Haven area.
I took a walk around Greenwich while there:
Greenwich, CT
When I was at Gen Re
When I was with GenRe my office was on the third floor center set of windows of this building on Arch St.
RL on Greenwich Ave
Ralph Lauren has an impressive space on Greenwich Avenue – and the window are dramatically decorated.
Greenwich Harbor
A view of Greenwich Harbor from Steamboat Road.
On Railroad Ave., Greenwich
These fine automobiles looked like jewels in a jewelry store window as I walked down Railroad Ave. This was across the street from the railroad station.
The Yale Bookstore - in the building which was once the Yale Co-op
Barns and Noble runs the Yale Bookstore. It’s located in the building that was once the Yale Co-op. As I wandered each floor on my visit, I could envision the layout from the Co-op days; especially the top floor which was clothing. I new exactly where the suits, shirts and ties were; Gant and Sero BD shirts stacked and on-sale; rep and Yale College crested silk ties. I could see the wall of Shetland and cable knit sweaters in beautiful colors and tones – by their look they were instantly recognizable as a “Co-op sweater”.
J Press - New Haven
Walking into J. Press in New Haven brings back a lot of memories. When I visit there, I swoop from table to table and look through the cases along the wall of shirts; the opposite wall completely decorated with ties of impressive colors and designs. On this trip my daughter surprised me a bought me a couple of ties – I love green ties, so I picked out a blue/green rep and a blue green knit – my wife bought me a watch strap. Everything looked great –
The loot from this trip
Some of the loot I picked up during this trip. By the way, the red chinos on the left are from Murray’s Toggery Shop Outlet in Nantucket and the pair on the right are from LL Bean. The Nantucket Reds are very light – almost pink – and this will be a cause of concern especially on Friday’s at work – so I’ll pass on casual Friday with the Murray’s go with the LL Beans. Even the LL Beans will be a problem, but I think I can pull them off OK at work. My PM partner at the firm will have a field day with preppy remarks – but I can take it.
Blue chambray shirt, ribbon belt, and flip-flops from J. Crew. Blue embroidered shorts and madras belt from the Bass Shoe Outlet, ties and watch strap from J. Press.
Tomorrow I’ll post a bit more from Connecticut then move onto Cape Cod.
I’m tired, good night!
Quick update from the road
I’ve been without realiable internet connectivity while in Cape Cod this week — so there you have my reason for not posting photos, thoughts and other outbursts.
Just quickly — Had a wonderful time in Greenwich and other parts of Connecticut… My daughter poured her love on me by treating her Pop to belated Father’s Day gifts from J. Press – (will show some of that later). Met up with KSA from the Legions of the Lost Ones – he’s a good guy! Also met up with a friend that I’m proud to say that I’ve had for 51 years. We had a wonderful dinner at their home, then off to New Haven for pizza at Pepe’s with my sister, neices, nephews, cousins, and friends — it was all good.
Three days in Cape Cod, shopping, P-Town, Nantucket, Clams, Lobsters, some great New England fish and chips from Baxters in Hyannis. I scored a pair of Nantucket Reds (at Murray’s Toggery Outlet – yes outlet! You wouldn’t believe what I paid for dem Reds!
Heading to Northern New York State very early Saturday morning.. its going to be about a 10 to 12 hour ride then it will be 4th of July festivities in Three Mile Bay, NY.
I’ll post up some pics in the next day of so – last count I snapped 440 photos in a week. I think I have some good ones for showing later after some post processing.
Everyone have a very Happy and Safe Indepence Day weekend!!!
By the way… I have an awful toothache! I’m eating a 1/2 pound of Advil a day and it still throbs!
Thursby House – Along the St. John’s River
This is the Thursby house along the Saint John’s River in Central Florida – In 1872, the Thursby family built a large frame home atop the Indians’ shell mound, safe from the floodwaters of the St. Johns. The pilings of the steamboat dock remain, relics of a bygone era.
Thursby House - along the St. John's River at Blue Springs
Happy Father’s Day 2010
My son and his kids – out today on the St. John’s River —
Happy Father's Day
Three years ago —
I smoked my last cigarette. I can’t believe it’s me telling you this. It’s been THREE YEARS! But yes, three years and I really haven’t had a craving for a smoke all this time. Oh sure — a sudden twinge that leaves just as quickly as it came.. but I really don’t want one, and I hope I don’t sink low enough to have another. Chantix works!
On another note… Hurricane season starts today – NOAA has their predictions for the coming hurricane season – they expect it to be an active season with more than normal storms:
An “active to extremely active” hurricane season is expected for the Atlantic Basin this year according to the seasonal outlook issued today by NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center – a division of the National Weather Service. As with every hurricane season, this outlook underscores the importance of having a hurricane preparedness plan in place
(have plenty of water, ice, beer, cocktail preparations – and be sure to dress well!)
Hurricane Ike, 2008.
High resolution (Credit: NOAA)
