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August 2009

THE ECOLOGICAL SIDE OF MARLON BRANDO

Recently, we’ve all seen a credit card ad featuring a jean-clad, motorcycle riding, young Marlon Brando.  When I spent two weeks in French Polynesia years ago, I wondered what Tetiaroa (a small collection of a dozen or so islands) was like. … Read the rest

BIG WORDS…

Reading through my son’s summary of a top-selling book, my brain began to hurt, my eyes fogged over and my attention span came to a screeching hault.

Charlie’s interpretation was a jumble of words, complex phases and disjointed thinking which had to come from the author. … Read the rest

THEY ARE BACK…

Just when we were beginning to relax at sea and forget about pirates, a new band of “bandits” are out there!

Aqua Expeditions has captured the Amazon River Bandits.  The CEO of the company, Francesco Galli-Zurgaro through Peruvian news agencies, announced the capture of six armed “bandits” who robbed passengers on July 26th on the river vessel cruising the Amazon in Peru.… Read the rest

TRAVEL ALERTS

Throughout April when the Travel Alert was issued April 28 and revised May 8, the world became aware of the 2009-H1N1 influenza.  “Flu” has been with us for a long time under various names.  My great grandfather and aunt died in Quebec City in the late 1800’s epidemic.… Read the rest

30 Billion in Clean Energy Spending

From the New York Times: DOE announced it was ready to accept applications for about $8.5 billion in loan guarantee authority for advanced renewable energy projects made available in the department’s 2009 spending bill and $3.25 billion provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to cover the subsidy costs that will unleash the billions of dollars in loan guarantee authority for renewable energy, transmission projects and biofuels.… Read the rest

PROTECTING THE PAST FOR THE FUTURE

Between you and me, I have never forgiven Napoleon’s soldiers for the destruction they did in Egypt to the Sphinx’s noses!  Robin  Tauck, owner of Tauck Tours (a tour company who as been in business a long and successful time) recently reported on attending the 33rd annual World Heritage Center.… Read the rest