Tag Archives: Freedom

Marsha’s Cottage and Village America on Parade Slideshow

Posted on 9 Dec 2012 | Leave a comment

A few years ago, Janet went to Virginia Beach with friends. One of those friends invited a friend, Marsha. I met her last year. This year, as we were eating pancakes at Brantley’s Village Restaurant contemplating the impending Nor’easter due on our (no longer) planned departure day, Marsha came over to say, “Hi,” which led to retail therapy at her boutique, which lead to an invitation to her “reviewing stand with libations” for the Christmas Parade. This slideshow reminds us of a village parade in Oak Harbor, Washington July 4, 1985. That beautiful day started with pancakes, too.

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Posted in 2012

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B.A.R.R. Boaters’ Anchoring Rights & Responsibilities — Florida at it again

Posted on 26 Sep 2011 | Leave a comment

Apparently, the anchoring situation in Florida hasn’t improved; it has just changed. Antipathy toward cruisers who don’t feel the need or desire to tie up and start pouring money into local coffers by the day, week, and month is every bit as strong as it was before legislation was passed to prevent the abuse of Federal navigation protections. And now the same folks who abused the Federal protection, necessitating the new Florida law, are finding new ways to do the same with the new law.

Courtesy B.A.R.R.

Into the fray steps Capt Charmaine Smith Continue reading →

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Posted in 2011

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From Natural to Human Hazards

Posted on 12 Mar 2011 | Leave a comment

I don’t think there is much argument there are people out there who mean others ill. I don’t think there’s much argument that reducing their impact almost always impinges on all our freedoms. I don’t think there’s much argument this dilemma has been with human-kind from the beginning. So, I offer the following without further comment other than to say:

If you see things here which disturb you, take advantage of any of the opportunities for dialog referenced within the document to make your feelings known.  Many of the implied changes will define the context for cruising for decades to come.

The Small Vessel Security Strategy Implementation Plan (.pdf)

US Department of Homeland Security, January 2010

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Posted in 2011

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When, in the course of human events…

Posted on 4 Jul 2009 | Leave a comment

July 4, 1776 was a day when outrage, commitment and optimism changed the course of humanity in ways then unimaginable and still imperfectly imaged. The American Revolution is a fragile experiment in a non-Hobbesian civilization. Colonists over-threw colonizer, yes, but Human over threw Leviathan as well (though it is an ongoing and increasingly uphill process).

Today, with the ebullient abundance flowing though the anchorage of a town once nominated for the Nation’s capital, a port once greater than Baltimore, that 1776 optimism and commitment is at least commemorated by a myriad of flags and symbols. Let’s hope it goes deeper than that and lasts much longer than it has.

For the momentarily unhappy, naked two-year old getting a barely sun-warned shower abeam of us, I suspect it was just another pretty day, spoiled.

Once again, the Annapolis Fireworks were delightful and were applauded by steam whistle hoots and piercing electric horns (Some of which, Janet supplied…the electronic ones…). There were easily a hundred boats anchored off Horn Point for the spectacle.

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Posted in 2009

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