Daily Archives: May 4, 2017

Utopia vs. Dystopia May Come Down Your Attitude Toward – WCAI

Posted: May 4, 2017 at 3:43 pm

Cory Doctorow's "Walkaway" and a new artificial womb

Science fiction has always been a way to explore what our future might look like. As often as not, those imaginings are pretty dark - full of social and technological catastrophes. Hulu's new adaptation of A Handmaid's Tale has sparked renewed interest in Margaret Atwoods 1985 clasic, with some calling it relevant, even timely.

Brave New World

Just as that series was debuting, though, researchers announced a breakthrough that seemed to leap-frog A Handmaid's Tale and jump straight to Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. A team at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia have created an artificial womb and successfully incubated several fetal lambs in it.

For many, it was a bit jarring to see a lamb in what looked like a giant ziplock bag. But George Annas, director of the Center for Health Law, Ethics, and Human Rights at Boston University School of Public Health, says that attitude could change.

"It was just kind of startling thing," said Annas. "But you could think about this as being beautiful in its own way. You have a living creature there in a liquid environment, and you can watch it develop. That's pretty astonishing."

An artificial womb could give premature babies more time to develop, avoiding the life-long complications and disabilities that preemies often experience. And the lead author of the study says human trials could be just a few years away.

But Annas sees both promise and peril in the advance. He says the technology could redefine the abortion debate, raising the possibility of unwanted or risky pregnancies not being terminated, but rather, transferred to an artificial womb. Whether that's a negative or positive development for women would depend on whether such a transfer is an available option or a legal mandate, and who has the right and responsibility of making decisions for the baby.

Default Reality or Walkaway

That kind of duality is a hallmark of most technological advances. Many prognosticators tend toward either optimism or doom-and-gloom, but both sides of the coin get a thorough treatment in Cory Doctorow's new novel, Walkaway.

The book opens in true dystopian fashion, set just a handful of decades into the future, in a world where climate change, consumerism, income inequality, and digital surveillance have been taken to extremes. Society is also suffering at the hands of something that sounds like a good thing, something Doctorow calls post-scarcity.

"It's a subject I've been pondering since my first novel, in 2003," said Doctorow, acknowledging he doesn't have a clear-cut explanation. "Scarcity is the intersection of what we want, what we can make, and how easy it is to get the things that we can make to the people that want it."

In a future where 3D printing is as omnipresent as inkjets are today, it should be possible to make whatever you want, wherever you want.

Doctorow imagines two responses to such a scenario. In default reality, the ultra-rich attempt to enforce scarcity and maintain the status quo. But a growing number of walkaways turn their back on all of it and set out to build a whole new society based on gift economy, where work and goods are in abundance and given freely.

Doctorow says, in his mind, the difference between dystopia and utopia boils down to one thing: believing that your neighbors are the problem, or that your neighbors are the solution.

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It’s not that far from utopia to dystopia – Daily Journal

Posted: at 3:43 pm

By Norman Knight

I think I first became aware of the word dystopian back in 2008 when I was still teaching seventh-grade language arts. My students were all mad about the novel The Hunger Games, which came out about then.

For most of that school year I would spot students alone or in groups quietly devouring the story of a dismal future world where a far-off government entity ruthlessly controls the lives of suffering regular citizens. As a teacher, especially an English teacher, it is always a distinct satisfaction when students are caught reading a book, even a dystopian one.

It was probably in some college lit class that I learned that the word utopia was coined from Greek words meaning no where or no place and referred to a ideal, perfect society. Using my English teacher superpowers, I determined a dystopia would be the opposite of an ideal, perfect society.

Stories about utopias and dystopias have been around for centuries. Plato was describing his ideas for a perfect Republic several hundreds of years before Sir Thomas More coined the word and then published Utopia in 1516.

I guess it is a natural inclination for some humans to try to plan out a perfect world. And it is probably just as natural that some humans would conjure up a dismal future society.

Recently, both my wife and I were caught reading dystopian novels. Becky is not one who usually tolerates fiction where the suspension of disbelief requires one to accept extremely unconventional characters and situations. But her daughter prevailed upon her to read The Giver, by Lois Lowery, a book my middle school students also enjoyed. Turns out she enjoyed it, too.

At about the same time she started The Giver, published in 1993, I settled in with a book that came out just this year: The Mandibles: A Family, 2029-2047. Both books are different takes on societies of the future.

In The Giver, we are presented with a society that is perfect. It is perfect because everyone is equal, and everyone is equal because everyone is exactly the same.

This is accomplished by eliminating emotions, memory, physical contact and any hint of individuality from the citizens of this perfect world. What seems to be a safe and well-ordered utopia is soon discovered to be a colorless (literally) dystopia.

As Becky was engrossed in her book, I was reading about the Mandibles, a well-to-do family that must find a way to survive after the worldwide collapse of the United States dollar. People learn very quickly the illusionary nature of money, especially money based upon the promises of a increasingly insatiable and ruthless government.

To survive in 2029 and the years after means abandoning nearly all of that thin layer of civility and agreed upon behavior that is a requirement for a normal society to function. It also means avoiding the prying technological eyes and ears of the government.

In the midst of our book reading, Becky and I leaned that another dystopian novel has been recently trending. The Handmaids Tale is a 1985 novel by Margaret Atwood that has just been made into a much anticipated TV series.

The story takes place in a future where the United States government has been replaced by a theocracy where women are considered second-class citizens useful only as breeders.

A common thread in dystopian fiction from 1984 and Brave New World and running through The Handmaids Tale, The Giver up to The Mandibles: A Family 2029-2047, seems to be that we should be cautious about allowing any government or large institution to have too much power over our lives.

Beware of looking for utopia, they seem to be saying. You might wind up with dystopia.

Norman Knight, a retired Clark-Pleasant Middle School teacher, writes this weekly column for the Daily Journal. Send comments to letters@dailyjournal.net.

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World championships veteran helps team mates train hard for Oceania meet – Marianas Variety

Posted: at 3:43 pm

05 May 2017

IAAF World Championships and Oceania veteran Beouch Ngirchongor is helping his fellow NMI athletes train hard for the 2017 Oceania Athletics Association Area Championships that will be held in Suva, Fiji from June 29 to July 1.

Ngirchongor who set a previous best time of 23.92 in the 200-meter dash of the 15th IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Beijing, China two years ago expressed confident about his team mates.

He and eighth other local athletesZarinae Jones Sapong, Riella Ann Billy Ichiuo, Traven Quitugua, Annalei Santos, Jamie Pangelinan, Jerald Castillo, Daniel Calvo III and Chloe Salvosa are gearing up this years Oceania event.

Ngirchongor is not new to Oceania championships. He, Jerald Castillo and Zarinae Sapong competed in 2015 Oceania championships in Cairns, Australia.

In our group, I am the veteran so I kind of motivate them every time we see each other in practice, Ngirchongor said adding that with the help of Preston Basa and coach, Elias Rangamar they work like a family during practice.

Ngirchongor who finished fourth 200-meter sprint in Australia two years ago with 24.5 is also confident he can beat his PBT in Fiji. He figured it out, he said over the last several weeks of training at the Oleai Sports Center, Airport field and Hopwood Junior High football field.

We come every 5:30 in the morning. It is hard to explain. But Im making myself better than before. We all are pretty working hard, he said.

I wish to beat my PBT and the win gold this time, he added.

He said he also feels good about his team mates specially Traven Quitugua and Zarinae Sapong.

For his new team mates, he said he helps his coaches bring them up, as well.

Every time we practice I tell them to be always confident about themselves, dont let themselves down. I always tell them they should learn confidence and feel like a champion, he said.

In Fiji, Ngirongchor, Sapong and Ichiuo will prove themselves in the open division of 100-meter and 200-meter dash.

Quitugua, Santos and Pangelinan will compete in the 18-and-under sprints while Castillo, Calvo III and Salvosa will compete in the 20-and-under events.

Salvosa will do long jump and sprints; Santos, shot put and discus throw and Castillo in 100-meter sprint.

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Boosted performances from Samoa and Fiji at Oceania Rugby U20’s, but still a long way to go – ABC Online

Posted: at 3:43 pm

At the Oceania under 20 Rugby Championship on the Gold Coast, the young Fijian team have given the host nation Australia a fright, pushing them all the way before eventually losing their match by just eight points, 32-24.

Fiji scored three tries to Australia's four and showed plenty of fighting spirit after losing their opening encounter against New Zealand by 60 points to 3.

In the earlier game on Match Day 2, Samoa again managed to get past the 20 point mark, but that was nowhere near enough to trouble the junior All Blacks, who ran in 12 tries to the young Manu's two, to win by 80 points to 23.

Peter Horne, World Rugby's High Performance General Manager in Oceania says while there were positive signs from the two junior sides from the Pacific, its clear there's still work to be done in order for them to be more competitive with Australia and New Zealand.

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Students Dominate Fiji Team For Oceania Champs | Fiji Sun – Fiji Sun Online

Posted: at 3:43 pm

ACS Laisani Moceisawana (left) hits the tape to claim gold in the senior girls 100m event at the ANZ Stadium during the Coca-Cola Games on April 21, 2017. Photo: Jone Luvenitoga

Athletics Fiji has selected 169 athletes to represent Fiji at the 2017 Oceania Championships which will be held at the ANZ National Stadium in Suva, from June 28 to July 1. Fiji will be represented in the Under-18, U20, Open grade, Masters and Para events.

The Fiji team consists of athletes from the Coca-Cola Games winners, Adi Cakobau School who will be fielding 18 while Jasper Williams and Natabua will be fielding 15 athletes each.

Athletes from schools like Sigatoka Methodist, Yasawa Secondary, Vunisea Secondary, Magodro, Richmond High, St. Bedes, Napuka Junior, Niusawa Methodist and Delana Methodist to name a few have had some outstanding performances at this years Coca Cola games and have also forced their way into the team.

Approximately 500 athletes from 20 countries in the Oceania Region will be competing at the championships including Australia with 150 and New Zealand with 55 athletes. The New Zealand team will consist of five current NZ senior champions and four Rio Paralympics medalists.

The championships are also a qualifying event for the 2017 World Athletics Championships where all first place getters in the Open grade track finals will automatically qualify.

Tracks

With the absence of Banuve Tabakaucoro, the sprints charge will be led by high school sprint sensation Shane Tuvusa, Samuela Railoa who is ranked No 1 in the sprints this season , Lodoni flyers Sailosi Tubuilagi, Kameli Sauduadua, former high school sprint kings Vilisoni Rarasea, Albert Miller Jnr and Aaron Powell. In the distance events, Jet runners Avikash Lal who has been dominating road races and had recently returned from the World Cross Country Championships in Uganda will be joined by Suva Marathon Club top runners Jeremaiah Singh, Kennol Narayan and Rajeshwar Prasad.

SJSS sprint queen Heleina Young will be joined by Olympian and SJSS alumni Sisilia Seavula who will be battling it out with Alesi Finau, Makereta Naulu and Laisani Moceisawana for the title of Fijis fastest female.

Field

Two time Olympian Leslie Copeland, National record holder in the Shot Put Mustafa Fall, national record holder in the triple jump Eugene Vollmer and national record holder in the high jump Malakai Kaiwalu will be looking to inspire the field with their beastly performances.

Junior high jump sensation, Shawntell Lockington is in impressive form and will be looking to better her performance of 1.66m and hopefully break the national record of 1.70m. With the absence of national record holder Milika Tuivanuavou, Alice Peters and Bonasere of ACS will be looking to take the helm for the lady throwers and will be joined by the likes of Fiji Swimming rep Kinisimere Naivalu of SGS.

The Fiji Team are as follows:

Under 18 Boys

Waisake Nakavu (MBHS 100m), Tyrone Chambers (NAT 100m), Nemani Mudreilagi (NAT 100m & 200m), Kolinio Radrudru (QVS 200m), Apolosi Nawai (Lelean 200m), Petero Veitaqomaki (Sigatoka Methodist 400m), Douglas Matakibau (NAT 400m), Osea Baleinamau (QVS 400m), Aisea Busa (Cuvu College 800m), Josua Daveta (MBHS 800m & 1500m), Kolaia Bucalevu (Magodro Secondary 800m), Alivereti Vakasilimi (Tailevu North College 1500m), Ayush Prasad (Xavier College 1500m), Paula Nasara (NAT Long Jump), Noa Kautoga (Xavier College Long Jump), Aporosa Taqiri (RKS Long Jump), Jone Sukulu (Xavier College Triple Jump), Ilisoni Naiteqe (QVS High Jump), Kolaia Ivi (RKS High Jump), Nikola Raiqeu (St. Johns College High Jump), Tikomaijapani Batibasaga (NAT Shot Put), Brandon Mario (MBHS Shot Put), Kautane Erasito (MBHS Discus), Joseva Taleimaicakaudrove (RKS Discus), Darcy Cammick (Niusawa Methodist Javelin), Maximus Lestro (MBHS Javelin) and Eronimo Vakarewa (South Taveuni Secondary Javelin).

Under 18 Girls

Salote Baravilala (Jasper Williams 100m), Braelynn Yee (NAT 100m), Louisa Tubailagi (St. Josephs Secondary 100m & 200m), Serenia Ragatu (ACS 200m & 400m), Vika Bavui (Jasper Williams 200m), Virisila Radovu (Naitasiri Secondary 400m), Ana Kaitoga (ACS 400m), Vani Loloma (ACS 800m), Laisiana Seru (Vunisea Secondary 800m), Lavenia Kororua (Naiyala Secondary 800m & 1500m), Makereta Talei (Navosa Central 1500m), Saravina Nakaisawa (Waidina Secondary 1500m), Shawntell Lockington (Xavier College High Jump), Tuliana Tinai (Jasper Williams High Jump), Alumita Diunisi (Jasper Williams High Jump), Fane Sauvakacolo (SGS Triple Jump), Sovaia Vusona (Levuka Public Long Jump), Mereseini Waqatoki (ACS Long Jump), Luse Qasevakatini (Basden College Long Jump), Tarairi Erasito (St. Josephs Secondary Shot Put & Discus), Ilisaveci Maramasoqo (ACS Shot Put), Loata Nabulagi (ACS Shot Put), Seinimili Cagilaba (Vunisea Secondary Discus), Elisabeta Lilicama (Napuka Secondary Discus), Marica Bai (Richmond High Javelin), Ateca Narisia (ACS Javelin) and Ilisapeci Loloma (St. Johns College Javelin).

Under 20 Boys

Netani Vakayali (Lelean 100m), Tony Lemeki (MBHS 100m), Malasebe Tuvusa (SGS 100m & 200m), Nemia Nawave (Ratu Navula 200m), Jim Colasau (QVS 200m), Viliame Tawake (Vunisea Secondary 400m), Apolosi Koroi (QVS 400m), Melchizedek Katafono (Dudley High School 400m), Shaneel Narayan (Xavier College 800m & 1500m), Jekesoni Yavala (Uluivalili Secondary 800m), Petero Tuisiga (Bua College 1500m), Dave Raika (Bucalevu Secondary 1500m), Tevita Senico (NAT High Jump), George Vokiti (NAT High Jump), William Sikuri (St. Thomas High Jump), Kitione Nasau (NAT Long Jump & Triple Jump), Penijamini Nasorowale (Sigatoka Methodist Triple Jump), Jethro Lockington (NAT Long jump), Kavekini Vasuitaukei (Sigatoka Methodist Long Jump), Mua Cavuilati (RKS Shot Put), Isikeli Lumelume (MBHS Shot Put), Livai Natavi (QVS Shot Put), Josua Serukilagi (QVS Discus), Eneri Waqailutua (QVS Discus), Jone Savou (NAT Discus), Mosese Saqanavere (RKS Javelin), Jone Elder (RKS Javelin) and Amania Isa (Niusawa Methodist Javelin).

Under 20 Girls

Alesi Finau (Jasper Williams 100m & 200m), Heleina Young (St. Josephs Secondary 100m), Taraivini Tane (ACS 100m), Akanisi Sokoiwasa (Jasper Williams 400m), Seinimili Maisamoa (ACS 400m), Mereoni Loki (Jasper Williams 200m & 400m), Tupou Saukalou (Jasper Williams 800m), Cilia Kalokalo (Lomary Secondary 800m), Vika Tuilomana (ACS 800m & 1500m), Jemima Ferguson (NAT High Jump), Tera Narayan (St. Josephs Secondary High Jump), Amelia Finau (Ballentine Memorial High Jump ), Alesi Bulisala (ACS Long Jump), Mariana Talatoka (Napuka Secondary Long Jump), Senimili Vakamino (ACS Long Jump & Triple Jump), Lydia Panapasa (SGS Shot Put), Maraia Siganisucu (St. Josephs Secondary Shot Put), Penina Elliot (Rishikul Sanatan Discus), Merelita Tamaniceva (Delana Methodist Discus), Kinisimere Naivalu (SGS Discus), Katarina Lilicama (Napuka Secondary Javelin), Tupou Tuiloa (St. Johns College Javelin) and Joana Tabua (Jasper Williams Javelin).

Open Men

Vilisoni Rarase (Trailblazers 100m & 400m Hurdles), Shane Tuvusa (NAT 100m & 200m), Aaron Powell (Gospel Saints 100m & 200m), Samuela Railoa (Jetrunners 200m & 400m), Albert Miller Jnr (Laucala 4x100m relay), Sailosi Tubuilagi (RKS 400m), Kameli Sauduadua (RKS 400m), Ilaitia Waqairadovu (QVS 4x100m), Emosi Sukanaivalu (MBHS 400m Hurdles), Errol Qaqa (Laucala 110m Hurdles), Viliame Salusalu (RKS 800m & 1500m), Josua Raivanua (RKS 800m), Atama Vunibola (Wainibuka Junior 1500m), Mohammed Ali (Kamil College 1500m), Avikash Lal (Jetrunners 5000m & 10000m), Jeremaiah Singh (Suva Marathon Club 5000m & 10000m), Kennol Narayan (Suva Marathon Club 5000m & 10000m), Pramesh Prasad (5000m Walk & 10000m Walk), Rajeshwar Prasad (Suva Marathon Club 5000m Walk), Malakai Kaiwalu (Brothers High Jump), Meli Kolanavanua (RKS High Jump), Poasa Satoqi (Brothers High Jump), Waisale Dausoko (Veiuto Long Jump), Iosefo Kamusu (St. Bedes College Long Jump), Sireli Bulivorovoro (USP Islanders Long Jump), Eugene Vollmer (Laucala Triple Jump), Belasio Waqadau (NAT Triple Jump), Kalaveti Mokosiro (NAT Triple Jump), Mustafa Fall (Dakua Shot Put & Discus), Robert Elder (Laucala Shot Put), Solomone Qisavola (Laucala Shot Put), Setareki Matau (Brothers Discus), Maurea Konrote (Brothers Discus), Leslie Copeland (Trailblazers Javelin), Pita Tamani (Brothers Javelin), Alipate Wesele (Brothers Javelin) and John Sade (Pacific Sports Academy Decathlon).

Open Women

Makereta Naulu (ACS 100m & 200m), Sisilia Seavula (Laucala 100m & 200m), Laisani Moceisawana (ACS 100m), Elenoa Sailosi (Trailblazers 4x100m), Younis Bese (Laucala 4x100m), Elenani Tinai (ACS 400m), Mereseini Vukici (Jasper Williams 400m & 800m), Filomena Balobalo (ACS 200m & 400m), Ana Kaloucava (Laucala 400m Hurdles), Maria Noela (Lomaivuna High 800m), Tavenisa Senigacali (ACS 800m), Camari Adilasaqa (wainibuka Junior 1500m & 3000m), Nanise Tavisa (Brothers High Jump), Diama Maramanikaibau (Laucala High Jump), Rosalia Raqato (Jasper Williams High Jump & Triple Jump), Francis Kurivitu (Jasper Williams Triple Jump) Nanise Tokalauvere (Nasinu Secondary Triple Jump), Emily Tamani (Jasper Williams Long Jump), Mereoni Bonasere (ACS Shot Put), Alice Peters (Jasper Williams Shot Put), Gloria Taylor (MGM Shot Put), Ana Baleira (ACS Discus), Elena Caucau (Jasper Williams Discus & Javelin), Venina Turaganisolevu (SGS Discus & Javelin), Avelina Soakula (Yasawa Secondary Javelin) and Raylin Mario (Gospel High School Heptathlon).

Feedback: leonec@fijisun.com.fj

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Australia U20s blow away Samoa in rain | Rugby.com.au – Rugby.com.au

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Australia have battled wind, rain and a physical Samoan side to get their Oceania U20s Championship campaign off on the right foot with a 43-20 victory at Bond University on Friday night.

The Australians scored seven tries to two but struggled at different times for cohesion and the pattern that head coach Simon Cron would like to see them play with at these titles.

They led 24-10 at the break and continued to work away in the second half to give the final scoreline.

It must be said that the Kiwis looked the much more impressive side on the first night of the championships in the earlier game v Fiji but the Aussies will be much better for the run in the often trying conditions.

Scrumhalf Ryan Lonergan did some good things and was rewarded with a try while loose head prop Harry Johnson-Holmes worked hard throughout the evening.

Angus Scott-Young was another in the middle of a lot of the good things that the Aussies were able to achieve in tough conditions.

Oceania U20s Championship

Australia 43

Tries: Ramm, Ikatau, Lonergan, Johnson-Holmes, Scott-Young, Hewat, Maafu

Cons: Lonergan 4

Pens: 0

Samoa 20

Tries: 2

Pens: 2

Cons: 2

Table after Round One

1. New Zealand 5 (+60)

2. Australia 5 (+23)

3. Samoa 0 (-23)

4. Fiji 0 (-60)

Australian U20s team to face Samoa U20s

1. Harry Johnson-Holmes, NSW U20s

2. Efi Maafu, Queensland U20s, NSW U20s

3. Harry Chapman, NSW U20s,

4. Harry Hockings, Queensland U20s,

5. Ryan McCauley, NSW U20s

6. Angus Scott-Young, Queensland U20s

7. Liam Wright, Queensland U20s

8. Reece Hewat, Queensland U20s

9. Ryan Lonergan, ACT U20s,

10. Nick Jooste, ACT U20s

11. James Ramm, NSW U20s

12. Tony Hunt, Queensland U20s

13. Len Ikatau, ACT U20s

14. Dylan Riley, Queensland U20s

15. Jayden Ngamanu, Queensland U20s

Reserves

16. Tom Horton, NSW U20s

17. Sama Malolo, Western Force U20s

18. Vaauli Faaumusili, Melbourne Rebels U20s

19. Lachlan Swinton, NSW U20s

20. Darcy Swain, ACT U20s

21. Theo Strang, NSW U20s

22. Jack McGregor, Melbourne Rebels U20s

23. Clay Uyen, Western Force U20s

New Zealand vs Samoa, 3pm AEST

Australia vs Fiji, 5pm AEST

Round 3, Saturday May 6

Samoa vs Fiji, 5pm AEST

Australia vs New Zealand, 7pm AEST

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‘Pirates Of The Caribbean 5’ Could Be Johnny Depp’s First Hit Since ‘Pirates Of The Caribbean 4’ – Forbes

Posted: at 3:41 pm


Forbes
'Pirates Of The Caribbean 5' Could Be Johnny Depp's First Hit Since 'Pirates Of The Caribbean 4'
Forbes
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'Pirates Of The Caribbean 5' Could Be Johnny Depp's First Hit Since 'Pirates Of The Caribbean 4' - Forbes

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Growth in the Cuban market could help the Caribbean as a whole … – Miami Herald

Posted: at 3:41 pm


Miami Herald
Growth in the Cuban market could help the Caribbean as a whole ...
Miami Herald
Some regional tourism leaders say growth in the Cuban market could lift all boats, and that Caribbean nations, including Cuba, should band together to jointly ...

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Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers can share and connect on this Caribbean cruise – Los Angeles Times

Posted: at 3:41 pm

Lori La Bey, founder of a Minnesota-based organization called Alzheimers Speaks, maintains an online community in which patients and their caregivers meet and discuss common challenges.

Now she plans to bring them and others together on a weeklong Eastern Caribbean cruise in November.

The Dementia Friendly Symposium & Cruise will feature chats in which Alzheimers patients discuss how they live with the disease and what strategies they use to focus on what they want to do rather than on what they can no longer do.

Other on-board programs include morning meditations; Memory Cafes, in which folks make social connections on a range of subjects; music therapy sessions; and speakers. And theres free time for excursions too.

The whole cruise is about getting back into the space of your personal relationships, finding joy within the relationships, La Bey said. We expect lots of laughing and sharing, and purging of emotions.

La Bey sums up her advocacy as seeking to shift dementia care from crisis to comfort.

She knows firsthand how stressful life can be for Alzheimers patients and those who care for them. Her mother had the disease for 30 years, and her father suffered from a brain tumor that compromised his abilities. Though her parents were ill, she remembered taking a cruise with them and her siblings, and the good memories created on the trip.

The whole pitch with dementia is it's doom and gloom, she said. My mom's disease is the biggest gift I'll ever get in my life. It taught her to find joy and learn to laugh again rather than be stuck in what she calls the fears-and-tears mode, which keeps people trapped in the past or with a dark outlook for the future.

The cruise is appropriate for those diagnosed with early to mid-dementia and their caregivers (family members or professionals); families and friends of loved ones with dementia; and professionals and advocates who work on dementia issues.

It sails aboard Holland Americas ms Nieuw Amsterdam and leaves Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Nov. 11, stopping at Nassau, Bahamas; San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and the private island Half Moon Cay.

Prices start at $1,389 per person, based on double occupancy, for an inside cabin. Gratuities, airfare and insurance are extra. Reservations must be made exclusively through Kathy Shoaf, (219) 608-2002 or email kathy.shoaf@cruiseplanners.com

travel@latimes.com

Twitter: @latimestravel

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Hurricane Hunters prepare the Caribbean > U.S. Air Force > Article … – Air Force Link

Posted: at 3:41 pm

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- More than 20,000 people attended the Caribbean Hurricane Awareness Tour hosted April 24-29, 2017 by the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron Hurricane Hunters and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The annual tour is held to share the mission of the Hurricane Hunters and raise hurricane awareness across Latin America and the Caribbean, said Maj. Brad Roundtree, the 53rd WRS aircraft commander for the tour.

The Hurricane Hunters traveled with officials from NOAAs National Hurricane Center, which included Dr. Rick Knabb, the NHC director, Lixion Avila, an NHC senior hurricane specialist, and John Pavone, the chief of aerial reconnaissance coordination. The group stopped at five locations including Mrida, Mexico; San Pedro Sula, Honduras; Grand Cayman, Turk and Caicos; and Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.

During the CHAT, the public toured one of 10 WC-130J Super Hercules aircraft flown by the 53rd WRS. The aircrew gave demonstrations of the equipment used to collect storm data and explained how the data is used, said Maj. Kimberly Spusta, a 53rd WRS aerial reconnaissance weather officer.

Once the data is collected, it is given to the NHC in real-time via satellite from the plane, said Spusta. That information is then inserted into a model that generates storm forecasts and allows local governments to issue proper and timely weather advisories and warnings to the public.

Some people see that we do a hurricane awareness tour in the Caribbean and may think its just an airshow, but its so much more than that, said Spusta. We are really getting into communities that don't have access to hurricane readiness information, and that is very rewarding.

The Hurricane Hunters and NHC officials also took part in several interviews with local media, attended press conferences with local government officials, and spoke to the public on the importance of being prepared before a storm comes, said Roundtree.

The question most people asked was, What is it like to fly into a hurricane Roundtree described it as a roller coaster ride through a car wash. However, he said the crews focused on promoting the importance of being prepared and having a plan before a storm comes.

Whenever those watches and warning go out, we have the proven data that a storm will hit the area, he said.

Several Caribbean countries were severely damaged last year by Hurricane Matthew and Hurricane Otto, Knabb said. Another season is just weeks away, and we have to be prepared. Simply hoping one of these storms won't hit your community is not a good plan. It doesn't matter how many hurricanes there are this season, it only takes one to hit your area. People who want to stay prepared and get more information before a storm hits should watch their local media outlets for weather advisories. Visit the NHCs website at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov to see live data collected by the Hurricane Hunters.

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Hurricane Hunters prepare the Caribbean > U.S. Air Force > Article ... - Air Force Link

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