Daily Archives: September 22, 2019

WHEN PENCIL MET ERASER

Authors: Karen Kilpatrick and Luis O. Ramos Jr.

Illustrator: German Blanco

Macmillan Imprint, $17.99, ages 4 to 9

The straight-ahead plot of When Pencil Met Eraser highlights the relationship between two inanimate objects that can talk. They tell a lively and multi-layered story.

Once there was a pencil who loved to draw. Pencil liked to work alone. (See? Classic opening, right?)

The black-and-white illustrations that accompany these sentences feature an elaborate skyline with office towers, standard issue government structures and apartment buildings with arched windows.

Enter Eraser with his irreverent voice: Whatcha doin? Eraser jumps right into the drawing and does what he does. After working on the upper-left corner of the cityscape, he proclaims, Look! Now you can see the sky.

Pencil grumbles and pontificates, Leave the art to the artist. Undaunted, Eraser urges, Lets do another one. Pencil keeps drawing. Readers see a meadow full of flowers with broad petals. Eraser creates a meandering path right through the center. Next, Pencil draws a skiff navigating high seas. With a little help from Eraser, waves recede and smooth sailing commences. So it goes. Pencil creates a dark, dense forest, and Eraser removes some of the heavier graphite shading to allow for stargazing.

The charm of the book is its simplicity. With fewer words than there are in this review, the authors create characters with distinctive personalities who teach a valuable lesson about the joys of collaboration. And, there is a twist. It is not giving away too much to say that the cliffhanger showcases a curious gaggle that includes a pen, a crayon, a paintbrush and a ruler.

Be sure to have pencils (and erasers) at the ready so youngsters can replicate the concept they learn in the book. Imagine the creations.

NOTABLE SEPTEMBER RELEASES

Beloved author and illustrator Jan Bretts fall release, The Tale of the Tiger Slippers (G.P. Putnamss Sons, $18.99; ages 5 to 10) is set in India. The story re-tells a folktale, Abu Kassems Slippers. A poor cubs mother fashions him some sturdy slippers to protect his feet while he makes bricks and builds houses. Tigers hard work and dedication lead to wealth, but he continues to wear his battered slippers. When others ask why, Tiger tries to rid himself of the slippers, but they keep returning. Brett did her usual extensive research to create the story and its impressively detailed illustrations. Her travels included stops at Banhavgarh, Kanha and Panna national parks to study wild tigers. The countryside was beautiful, often revealing a venerable shrine or crumbling fort, resembling a primal forest rather than a jungle. The ancientness and complexity of the culture seemed to be begging for storytelling, Brett stated in a news release.

Pete the Cat and the Perfect Pizza Party by Kimberly and James Dean (HarperCollins, $17.99; ages 4 to 8). The best-selling gang that relays adventures in groovy, rollicking rhymes is back. What a perfect way to practice beginning letter sounds (pepperoni, pretzels, pistachios, pickles, popcorn and papaya) as Pete, Callie, Gus, Grumpy Toad, Alligator and Squirrel offer a subtle lesson about cooperation amid trademark over-the-top and festive atmosphere. Dont miss the endpapers where the creators offer one last laugh with vividly depicted toppings for pizza. Beside the usual mushrooms, peppers and olives, check out the watermelon, ketchup, egg, fish, sweet pea, baked beans and rock options. Oh, and there is chocolate, too.

Two-time Newbery medalist Kate DiCamillo released Beverly, Right Here (Candlewick Press, $16.99 ages 10 and older). It is the third book in her series that focuses on friends who refer to themselves as The Three Rancheros. The first was Raymie Nightingale. The second was Louisianas Way Home. Now, readers hear from Beverly Tapinski. Once again, the difficult theme of parental abandonment surfaces, and once again the moving story leaves readers feeling inspired by triumph exhibited in the toughest of situations. DiCamillo is the National Ambassador for Young Peoples Literature and now has more than 30 million books in print around the world.

In case you missed it, another of DiCamillos books, A Piglet named Mercy, (Candlewick Press, $18.99) arrived earlier in the summer. This picture book tells the origin story of Mercy Watson, the title character in DiCamillos popular chapter books, which includes six titles, plus a spin-off collection of four books in the Tales from Deckawoo Drive series, aimed at readers ages 6 to 9. Mercy, the porcine heroine, finds all kind of adventures involving disguises, grumpy neighbors, car trips, and of course, a lot of buttered toast.

Brandy Hilboldt Allport writes Read All About It, a children book review column for the Florida Times-Union. She can be reached at brandysbookmarks1@outlook.com.

Read the original here:

Read All About It: Pencil makes point to eraser in kids book - The Florida Times-Union

Russell Coutts can make a pretty good argument for being historys greatest yachtsman. His achievements include being a part of five teams that won the Americas Cup and winning an Olympic gold medal in 1984.

His latest endeavor may be more challenging than winning any yacht race. Coutts is the chief executive of SailGP, the yacht racing series featuring high-speed sailboats that reach speeds of more than 50 knots.

SailGP, the brainchild of Larry Ellison, the yachting enthusiast and a founder of the software company Oracle, debuted this year and is trying to make its mark in the sports consciousness so people pay attention to sailing more than every few years when the Americas Cup is contested. The series, in which teams compete under national banners, will hold its finale this weekend in Marseille, France, where strong winds are in the forecast and a $1 million prize is on the line, a rarity for what has largely been an amateurs endeavor.

This is all about establishing which team can respond best under the pressure, Coutts said in an interview this week in which he talked about the state of his start-up, his sport, and why his time competing on the high seas has passed.

This conversation has been edited for clarity and condensed.

Why did SailGP break with tradition and put a winner-take-all $1 million purse on the line?

Its good to have a situation where guys feel pressure and real desire to win. Who wouldnt want to win that prize? It adds to the drama. Who can respond to the pressure in that final race?

How rare is it in sailing for there to be this kind of prize on the line?

Its rare for there to be this much prize money. Normally, when you get prize money its not either you win or get nothing. In future years we might expand that and distribute some to the rest of the podium, but its great to have that one 10-minute race with all that at stake. Its a bit like our version of the Olympic 100 meters.

Why has this kind of prize money not traditionally been a part of sailing?

There has never been a consistent format to generate a commercial interest and create a foundation for prize money. There have been attempts, but there has never been a format like this where you are racing super high-tech boats and shipping them around the world.

What has worked for SailGP in its first year?

All six teams have tracked under budget. Weve found the right formula to manage the costs. The budgets are $5 million, and we added $2 million to allow for an upgrade to the boats.

How much do these boats cost?

Around $4 million.

What has surprised you?

Weve got things to improve, but we are a start-up and we have established ourselves as a global championship series. Weve delivered great economic return and good audience figures. We had six teams on the water and moved them around the world and shown we can deliver. Weve almost completed the seventh boat, and were expanding the number of venues next year.

So you are satisfied?

Our aim was to provide a consistent championship with consistent dates, venues and teams and format. That has been absent from the sport of sailing. There is no other event that provides that. This is new. This is a long-term structured program instead of discreet events. This is an attempt to mimic what a lot of other sports already had.

Why have the teams from Japan and Australia dominated?

Nathan Outteridge and Tom Slingsby have more experience with this type of boat. They each have very strong teams. There are so many things that have to go right and have to be executed in exactly the right order in maneuvering these boats so it has taken time to build that experience. As that experience grows, the gap is closing rapidly.

Do you watch these races in these crazy fast boats and think of making a comeback?

Im 57 years old. The one thing you realize is how quickly you have to react, and I do think age will be a factor. Its not just the physicality, but its the ability to make quick accurate decisions. This is an amazing opportunity for these sailors to grow the high performance talent in some of these countries. In the 1980s, the United States was the total dominant force and whatever reason that seeped away. The U.S. has made some strides with youth programs and they are starting to get those sailors coming through. The Australians do have strengths. So do the British. Thats why they are two of the top nations. But the French, Spanish and Germans are rapidly developing.

Did you ever think a sailboat would be able to go this fast?

No, I didnt. When we put the new wind sails on next year that will jump the speed by a couple knots. We could see 53 knots. That is amazing.

Read this article:

Russell Coutts Likes Sailing Races With Big Money at Stake - The New York Times

Seth Rudetsky and James Wesleys Concert for America fundraising concert series continues September 21 at UCLAs Royce Hall.

Hosted by Rudetsky and Wesley, the evening features Wayne Brady (Lets Make a Deal), Liz Callaway (singing the Oscar-nominated "Journey to the Past" from Anastasia), Marcia Cross (Desperate Housewives), Emmy winner Jane Lynch (Glee), Grant Gustin (singing Pasek & Pauls Running Home To You from The Flash), Cheyenne Jackson (American Horror Story), Tony winner Rachel Bay Jones (Dear Evan Hansen), Emmy and Tony winner Laurie Metcalf (Three Tall Women, The Conners), Grammy winner Melissa Manchester, Emmy winner Eric McCormack (Will & Grace), Caroline Rhea (Sydney To The Max), Gina Torres (Pearson), Elyfer Torres (Betty en NY), Eden Espinosa (Falsettos, Wicked), Carrie Manolakos (Mamma Mia!, Wicked), Allison Smith (Annie), Yuri Sardarov (Chicago Fire), Pasha Pashkov and Daniella Karagach (Dancing With the Stars), Kate Flannery (The Office), and recent Supergirl newlyweds Chris Wood and Melissa Benoist, singing together for the first time as a married couple.

Proceeds benefit the National Immigration Law Center, whose mission is to defend and advance the rights and opportunities of low-income immigrants and their families.

A concert of amazing performers belting up a storm or being hilarious, combined with information on how every person watching, can help this national crisis is my idea of a perfect evening, says Rudetsky.

Wesley adds, Seth and I feel that the best way to achieve social justice is through art. We are also honored to announce that Dr. Colleen Kraft, the immediate past president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, will be joining us at Royce Hall to discuss the continuing crisis at our southern border and her informed medical opinion that even short periods of detention can cause psychological trauma and long-term mental health risks for children and the effects can be long-lasting.

Concert for America is created and organized in association with Your Kids, Our Kids, as well as with the support of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. It is co-presented by Greg Berlanti, Robbie Rogers, and their Berlanti Family Foundation.

For tickets and more information, visit ConcertForAmerica.com.

See What Your Favorite Stars Are Up to Away From Broadway With Playbill Universe

The fundraiser benefiting organizations working to protect the rights of families at our southern border took place June 30.

Callaway, Jackson, Jones, and more have been special guest performers on Playbill Travels Broadway on the High Seas cruises. Cabins are now on sale for Broadway in the Great Northwest, Playbill Travels first domestic cruise featuring Kate Baldwin, Tedd Firth, Christopher Fitzgerald, Aaron Lazar, and Faith Prince (April 26May 4, 2020), and for Broadway on the Mediterranean (August 31September 7, 2020), featuring Audra McDonald, Will Swenson, Gavin Creel, Caissie Levy and Lindsay Mendez, and for Broadway on the Nile (December 27, 2020January 7, 2021), with performers soon to be announced. To book a suite or stateroom, call Playbill Travel at 866-455-6789 or visit PlaybillTravel.com.

Originally posted here:

Cheyenne Jackson, Rachel Bay Jones, Wayne Brady, More Are Part of September 21 Concert for America - Playbill.com

For the second straight year two of the state's top conferences in girls soccer will square off for regular-season bragging rights while also working to raise money and awareness for a worthy cause.

This Sunday, seven teams from the Shore Conference will face seven teams from the Skyland Conference in the second annual Mountains vs. the Seas Girls Soccer festival. Last year's showcase helped raise more than $50,000 for the Go4TheGoal Foundation, which works to improve the lives of children battling cancer.

This year's showcase is raising money for Into the Light, a non-profit focusing on reducing the stigma of depression for teens and young adults and preventing suicide.

Anyone wishing to donate online can follow this link. Click the donate button and follow the steps provided to complete the process.

Of course, there will also be some high-level soccer played in Tinton Falls Sunday, asw well. Here is a look at the seven match-ups on tap for the festival.

2019 Mountains vs. the Seas Girls Soccer Festival

Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019

At Capelli Sports Complex, Tinton Falls

Field No. 5

Records through Thursday's games

Shore (7-1) vs. Pingry (4-2), 10 a.m.

Shore returns goal-scoring machine and Illinois commit Julia Eichenbaum, who is off to another torrid start now that she is in her final high school season. The Shore striker already has 12 goals and six assists in eight games for the Blue Devils, who have won seven straight since an opening-day, 4-0 loss to Freehold Township. Shore is trying to return to the Group I final after failing to reach the state championship game for the first time in seven years.

The Blue Devils draw Pingry,which caught fire at the right time last year en route to capturing the NJSIAA Non-Public A championship. Like Shore, the Big Blue have been a high-scoring outfit early in the 2019, posting at least three goals in each of its last five games with an average of 3.67 per game.

Jackson Memorial (8-0) vs. Hunterdon Central (4-0-1), Noon

One of the Shore's hottest teams out of the gate, Jackson Memorial has hammered its opponents by a combined 34-3 margin while going 8-0. Senior Natalie Knauf is off to a strong start scoring goals and junior Hannah Reese has starred this week with a hat trick vs. Manasquan and another goal in a 2-0 win over Toms River South.

Hunterdon Central represents Jackson Memorial's toughest test to date. The Red Devils are a perennial contender in Group IV and have picked up a quality 5-0 win over Haddonfield and a 1-1 draw vs. Ridge.

Middletown South (7-0) vs. Mount St. Mary (4-1), 2 p.m.

Middletown South's start to 2019 has been as impressive as any in the Shore Conference. Among the Eagles' victims so far are Allentown and Red Bank Catholic, so not only is Middletown South winning every game; it is beating quality competition. Emma Laudisi continues to be a reliable source of scoring while junior Katie Coyle and freshman Abygail Doherty have also started strong on the attack.

The Eagles will put their streak on the line against a Mount St. Mary side that has conceded only twice this year and is led by senior Olivia Tiboni (six goals in five matches).

Field No. 6

Freehold Twp. (5-1-1) vs. Ridge (3-1-1), 10 a.m.

Four has been the magic number for Freehold Township to open the season, with the Patriots scoring four goals in each of their five victories. Senior Kat O'Brien leads the way with seven goals, junior Ryan Leohner has six and senior Anna Proborkina has posted five goals and six assists in the early going.

Saturday's 10 a.m. slate is a rematch of the 2017 Group IV championship game, which ended in a scoreless draw and the two teams sharing the group title. Last year was the first year in which group finals are decided by penalty kicks should the game remain tied after 100 minutes, but he draw will again be in play on Sunday for the Patriots and the Red Devils.

Toms River North (4-1-1) vs. Watchung Hills (1-5), Noon

After winning the a wide-open Shore Conference Tournament last season, Toms River North is among the favorites again this year. After an opening-day loss to St. John Vianney, the Mariners have picked up wins over Ridge and Colts Neck and earned a draw against Brick. Toms River North is again led by central defender and Duke University commit Emily Royson.

On record, Saturday's game might seem like a mismatch, but Watchung Hills has had to deal with Hunterdon Central, North Hunterdon, Pingry, Ridge and Kearny. The Warriors are a year removed from reaching the North Jersey 2 Group IV final, where they loss to Bridgewater-Raritan.

St. John Vianney (5-2) vs. Bridgewater-Raritan, 2 p.m.

With a serious slate of games to open the season, the Lancers are a very strong 5-2 to open the year, with wins over Toms River North, Freehold Township, Middletown North, Colts Neck and Neptune and losses to Shore and Red Bank Catholic. Senior Abby Cieri has led the attack with five goals and three assists during St. John Vianney's fast start.

Bridgewater-Raritan is the defending Group IV runner-up after losing a championship-game heart-breaker to Eastern. The Panthers won their first five games of this season and bring a balanced scoring effort to the table against another tough opponent on a tough schedule.

Field No. 3

Red Bank Catholic (5-1) vs. Somerville, Noon

After coming up one win shy of Shore Conference and NJSIAA sectional titles last year, RBC is on a mission in 2019 to finish off both. On Saturday, the Caseys will show off a balanced attack that includes three five-goal scorers through six games - sophomore Morgan Cupo, senior Reagan Pauwels and senior Katelyn Bertoldo.

Somerville counters with a program that was always a factor in Group II and has bumped up to Group III in recent years while maintaining its status as one of the Skyland's top teams year-in and year-out. The freshman duo of Caitlyn Scott (six goals) and Alexandra Peterson (five) have opened eyes in the early part of the season.

Sign Up For The SSN NewsletterPlease fill out this form to sign up for the Shore Sports Network newsletter.

Read this article:

Girls Soccer Shore Takes on Skyland in 2nd Annual Mountains vs. Seas Festival - shoresportsnetwork.com

Earths oceans are home to an incredible number of interesting creatures, and sometimes certain species show up where youd least expect them. Thats exactly what happened to a fisherman off the coast of Norway during a routine fishing trip that yielded a beast rarely seen near the surface.

Oscar Lundahl, a 19-year-old fishing guide for Nordic Sea Angling, was hoping to catch some blue halibut in deep water off the coast. Instead, Lundahl snagged a ratfish, and if you didnt know better, you might think it was something from another dimension.

Lundahl was fishing at a depth of over 2,500 feet at the time, and in an interview with The Sun he explained that it took him a full half-hour to reel the fish to the surface. Once he finally got a look at it, he was shocked. With two massive, bulging eyes and a bizarre, eel-like tail, it was like nothing hed seen during his young career on the high seas.

It was pretty amazing. I have never seen anything like it before, Lundahl told The Sun. It just looked weird, a bit dinosaur-like. I didnt know what it was but my colleague did.

Unfortunately, the fish didnt survive the ordeal. Deep-sea creatures that end up snagged on fishing nets or, in the case, a hook, rarely live to tell the tale. Theres such intense pressure in their native habitats that, when theyre yanked to the surface, their bodies simply cant handle the strain.

This unlucky ratfish didnt go waste, however, as Lundahl says he actually filleted and fried the fish, calling it really tasty, according to The Sun.

Image Source: Oscar Lundahl

Read more here:

Fisherman snags alien fish that looks like something straight out of a horror movie - BGR

Key point: The Allies responded in kind.

The forces of Nazi Germany in World War II were some of the most formidable fielded in any war. Backed by German science, engineering and modern mass-production techniques, it was a new type of highly mechanized warfare. Faster paced and deadlier than the armed forces that fought in the Great War just twenty years before, it overwhelmed slower-moving enemies and helped Germany subjugate an entire continent. Here are five examples of German war technology that very nearly ended Western civilization as we know it.

ThePanzerkampfwagenVI (Tiger Tank)

The tanks modern reputation as a fast, hard-hitting, deadly war chariot is largely due to the German Armys use of the tank in the early years of World War II. Although first invented by the British in World War I, the Wehrmacht and SS took the tank to its logical conclusion, in doing so swinging the pendulum of war from defense as the dominant form of warfare back to the offense.

Although the bulk of German tank forces was composed of smaller tanks such as thePanzerkampfwagenIII and IV, thePanzerkampfwagenVIor Tiger tankwas designed to be the decisive factor on the armored battlefield. At fifty-four tons, it was considerably larger than contemporary tanks, and together with its thick armor and eighty-eight-millimeter main gun, made the Tiger a so-called heavy tank. Introduced in 1942, the TigersKwK36 gun could gut any mass-produced Allied tank built during the war, and the tanks thick armored hide could shrug off most Allied antitank rounds.

Tigers were organized into heavy tank battalions and deployed by German Army commanders where they were needed the most. As a result, unlike other German tanks which prioritized protection and mobility over firepower in a general offensive, the Tiger emphasized firepower and protection over mobility, as it typically had specific objectives in mind.

MesserschmittBf 109 fighter

TheMesserschmittBf 109 was hands down the most lethal fighter of the Second World War. Designed by legendary aircraft designer WillyMesserschmittin themid-1930s, it replaced a grab bag of forgettable interwar German fighters with a fresh design that included a monocoque airframe, retractable landing gear and a closed cockpit.

EarlyBf109Amodels served in the Spanish Civil War. By the late thirties, German rearmament was in full swing and theMe109became the main fighter of the fledgling Luftwaffe. Fast and maneuverable, it was also hard hitting, featuring two .51-caliber heavy machine guns and one twenty-millimeter cannon.

TheBf109Aand the Luftwaffe served all over Europe, North Africa and European Russia, dominating all other air forces until 1943 with the exception of the Royal Air Force. TheBf109and its wartime variants had the most serial aces of the war, including pilots such as AdolphGalland, Werner Molders and JohannesSteinhoff. Overall, 33,984Bf109sof all kinds were built by German and Czech factories. Ironically, a variant of the Bf-109, the CzechAvia199, served with an embryonic Israeli Air Force in the late1940s.

MG-42 Machine Gun

The crew-served machine gun was a major contributor to the high death rate of World War I, and the interwar German Army, though small, ensured it had highly effective machine guns to help it punch above its weight. The MG-34 machine gun, adopted in 1934, was lightweight, had an extremely high rate of fire of up to 1,200 rounds per minute, and was capable of quick barrel changes on the battlefielda must for an infantry-support machine gun.

Unfortunately, the MG-34 was built made more like a watch than a battlefield weapon, and as a result manufacturerRheinmetallcould not keep up with demand. The MG-42, introduced in 1942, was an attempt to simplify the design into something that could be more easily mass-produced, and ultimately four hundred thousand were produced. The MG-42s high rate of fire proved highly beneficial in defensive battles, particularlystrongpointsbacked up by mobile reserves on the Eastern Front.

German small arms doctrine held that theMG42not the infantry weaponwas the foundation of infantry firepower. The infantry, armed with slower-firingKarabiner98kbolt-action rifles, supported the machine gun. By contrast, the U.S. Army placed less emphasis on machine guns, fielding fewer of them than a comparable German unit, while at the same time increasing overall firepower with the semiautomaticM1Garandand theM1918Browning Automatic Rifle.

The U-Boat

The German Navy (Kriegsmarine) in World War II was not the dominant arm of the German military. There would be no repeat of the German High Seas Fleet. As a result, it had to focus its limited resources on what was most effective its traditional maritime foe, the Royal Navy. While the response to the French Navy was the German Army, fighting the United Kingdom required a naval response.

But without capital ships, how would Germany take the fight to the Atlantic? The answer was theUnterseeboot, or U-boat submarine. U-Boats had been highly successful in World War I, and the Kriegsmarine heavily reinvested in them in World War II. This again proved successful, with U-boats sinking 2,779 Allied ships totaling 14.1 million tons between 1939 and 1945. The most successful U-boat,U-48, sank fifty-one ships. That translated to 306,874 tons of Allied shippingthe equivalent of three modern Nimitz-class aircraft carriers.

Not only did the U-boat campaign force the Allies to slow the flow of troops and war materials across the Atlantic and organize shipping into convoys for protection, it also affected the British civilian population, which suffered chronic shortages of foodstuffs and other goods. Initially powerful, U-boats were eventually nullified by Allied countermeasures and ultimately failed to sever lines of communication between North America and western Europe. Germanys submarine force lost heavily765 U-boats were lost during the course of the Second World War.

Panzerfaust

Germanys use of masses of tanks on the modern battlefield opened Pandoras box. Within a few years Allied forces would be returning the favor and it was suddenly the German Army that was facing large numbers of British, American and Soviet tanks. As the quality of German forces declined and the number of Allied forces went up, the Wehrmacht had a need for a cheap, inexpensive way to saturate the battlefield with tank-killing firepower. The result: the Panzerfaust.

The Panzerfaust was incredibly simple for an effective antitank weapon. A single-shot, recoilless weapon, it featured a large, egg-shaped warhead attached to a disposable metal tube. The primitive trigger ignited the black powder propellant, sending the warhead to an effective range of thirty yards. The shaped charge warhead had an astonishing penetration capability of up to 7.9 inches, making it capable of destroying any Allied tank.

The Panzerfaust made anyoneeven old men and children dragooned into the German Army late in the wara potential tank killer. The introduction of this new short-range, last-ditch weapon made Allied tank crews more cautious around German infantry that did not appear to have strong antitank defenses, such as towed guns. During the Battle for Berlin, some Soviet tankers evenwelded bed springs to their tanks, in hopes that prematurely detonating the shaped charge warhead would save their tanka tactic the U.S. Army used decades later with so-called slat armor on Stryker armored vehicles.

Kyle Mizokami is a defense and national-security writer based in San Francisco who has appeared in theDiplomat,Foreign Policy,War is Boringand theDaily Beast. In 2009, he cofounded the defense and security blogJapan Security Watch. You can follow him on Twitter:@KyleMizokami. This first appeared several years ago and is being republished due to reader interest.

Image: Wikipedia.

Read more:

Meet the Weapons That Made Hitler's Nazi Germany A Force To Be Feared - The National Interest Online

All's fair in Sea of Thieves. Sinking other ships and taking their treasure. Betraying your alliance so you can take all of the loot instead of just half. Four-man galleons ganging up on solo sloops. We're pirates, after all, and pirates aren't to be trusted.

But I have become the worst kind of Sea of Thieves pirate. I'm an outpost ambusher. And while I feel some degree of shame over this, it's not nearly enough shame to change my ways.

The outpost ambusher doesn't fight pirates on the high seas or go sword-to-musket with them on an uninhabited island. He waits at an outpost for another ship to arrive, a ship he knows is carrying treasure. He sinks his own ship ahead of time so the arriving pirates won't know he's there. He plants explosive barrels and detonates them from a safe distance, killing the other pirates just as they're about to cash in their loot. And then he rushes in to grab the treasure and quickly sell it himself.

That treasure was fought for and earned (or at least legitimately stolen) and was probably carried dozens of nautical miles to get there. The outpost ambusher carries it the last few feet and takes 100% of the profit.

That's what I've become in Sea of Thieves. An ambusher. A rat. I don't do it often, and I don't join a session with the express intent of ambushing other pirates at outposts. But when the opportunity for an outpost ambush presents itself, I don't hesitate for a second, and I've done it enough times that I can't pretend it's an anomaly. I will do it again.

The first time I ambushed pirates at an outpost in Sea of Thieves, months ago, it wasn't really my plan. I'd been playing solo, sailing around in my little sloop, pulling treasure out of randomly spawning shipwrecks. Then I'd head to seaposts and outposts to sell what I'd found, and along the way I'd usually fight a kraken or a megalodon and gather a bit more loot from them. It's an enjoyable solo loop, perfect for an hour or two of low-stakes play.

I was done playing for the night, so I headed toward the nearest outpost to sell the remaining loot I had. It was Plunder Outpost, which is right next to Lost Gold Fort, a skeleton stronghold. As I got close to Plunder Outpost, I noticed a player galleon anchored near the fort, which meant a crew was there battling waves of skeletons for a massive pile of loot. As I arrived at Plunder, the big skull cloud over the fort vanished, which meant the galleon crew had won.

It occurred to me that they'd probably head straight to Plunder Outpost, where I was, to sell everything. It would probably only take them a few minutes to load their ship and sail over. I realized I could be there waiting for them and their treasure-filled ship. Plus, I had some explosive barrels with mewhen I play solo I always pick up a few in case I get chased by other players.

I figured they would probably bring the most valuable chest to the merchant's tent first, so I placed an explosive barrel inside the tent. I scuttled my ship on the far side of the island so my mast wouldn't give me away. Then I hopped onto a roof of one of the vendors where I had a clear shot at the barrel I'd placed. I used the sleeping emote to lie down, and watched as they sailed over and docked.

It all worked perfectly except for the part where I completely failed. I'd guessed right: the first pirate off the galleon headed to merchant's tent carrying the expensive stronghold chest. I fired a sniper round and detonated the barrel, which killed him instantly, but I'd let him get too close to the tent. He'd managed to sell the crate a moment before he died. When I scurried over, there was nothing there but his dissipating ghost.

The rest of the treasure was in a rowboat that had been lowered to the water, but it was so crammed with loot I couldn't grab the stuff I really wanted. I only got a few pieces of low-value treasure out before the rest of the crew killed me.

Less than a week later, I wound up in almost the exact same situation again. I was heading toward Plunder Outpost, ready to call it a night, and I saw yet another galleon over at Lost Gold Fort. I had two explosive barrels this time, so I thought I'd try my ambush again.

This time, there was a bit of a twist. Shortly after the skull cloud vanished, I saw a sloop headed toward the fort. I could make out some distant cannonfire and through my spyglass I saw the masts of the galleon fall over. Several minutes later, I saw the sloop making its way toward the outpost where I'd scuttled my ship and was waiting. The sloop crew had sunk the galleon and taken all that treasure! And now I was going to try to take it from them, even though they'd put in the hard work of killing the pirates who'd put in the hard work to take down the fort. I'd be putting in no work at all because I'm a filthy rat.

This time my sniper shot was well-timed: I took out the pirate before he could sell the stronghold chest. I grabbed it, sold it, then took my second explosive barrel onto the sloop and nuked it. The pirate (who was apparently alone) respawned to find his ship already sinking, and we fought toe-to-toe on the beach. I managed to kill him and with his sloop destroyed he couldn't respawn. The pile of treasure he'd defeated the galleon crew for was floating in the water, all mine. It's the rattiest thing I've ever done, stealing from a legitimate thief.

I didn't try it again for a long, long while after that. Like I said, I'm a rat but an impatient one. I'm not going to spend my entire night lying on the roof at an outpost hoping someone sails over: I only ambush when the opportunity is already developing. Case in point, the other night.

I'd spent about 15 minutes crossing the sea in my sloop headed toward a reaper's chest, which appear in special, haunted shipwrecks you can see from anywhere on the map. Just as I was arriving I saw another sloop had beat me to it. A real pirate would chase them down and put some cannonballs in their hull, and maybe even sink them before they got the chest onboard.

But I'm no real pirate, so instead I headed to Sanctuary Outpost, the closest port. You sell the reaper's chests in the pub, so I scuttled my ship, dragged my barrel into the pub, placed it by the front door, and waited. Sure enough, a few minutes later I saw the sloop pulling up to the dock. When the pirate ran into the pub, I blew up the barrel and collected the chest myself.

I just wanted the chestI had spent all that time sailing toward it and so I felt vaguely (and wrongly) entitledbut after killing the second pirate I boarded their ship and stole a mermaid gem, too.

What can I say? I hate players like me. I'm a rat. I'm the worst kind of pirate. I'm an outpost ambusher. I'm not playing Sea of Thieves, I'm playing Sea of Thieves of Thieves.

So, if you've got a ship full of treasure and you're headed for an outpost, don't feel safe just because you don't see a sloop waiting there. Check the tents and pubs for barrels before you go rushing in with loot. And if you find me hiding nearby with a sniper rifle, kill me quickly and mercilessly. It's what I deserve and it's the only way I'll stop.

Excerpt from:

I've become the worst kind of Sea of Thieves pirate: the outpost ambusher - PC Gamer

Shailene Woodley and UF researchers saw sperm whales, a single flip-flop and thousands of microplastics in the middle of the ocean.

Nerine Constant and Alexandra Gulick, 29-year-old UF doctoral students who study sea turtles, participated in a sea research expedition as part of the Greenpeace Protect the Oceans campaign with Woodley, an activist and Divergent actress. The goal of the expedition is to study how climate change affects the ecosystem.

The campaign pushes for a Global Ocean Treaty to protect open oceans that are offshore from any countrys national waters because they lack protection and oversight, Gulick said.

The yearlong expedition, which began in the Arctic and ended in Antarctica, started in April. The UF duo, who joined the expedition from July 29 to Aug. 12, researched free-floating algae that congregates into thick mats in the Sargasso Sea.

Woodley joined the expedition, which researched key locations and ecosystems in the high seas. She wrote an article for Time magazine detailing her experience. The expeditioners goals are to highlight threats to the ocean.

The Sargasso Sea has a diverse ecosystem and could potentially be a part of the ocean where discarded waste collects, Woodley wrote.

Staring at the vast blanket of blue ahead of us, the baking sun tanning our legs, the fresh, clean air filling our lungs, its difficult to imagine this paradise being declared a climate emergency, Woodley wrote.

The UF students research is focused on if algae acts like incubators for baby loggerhead sea turtles.The UF students research is focused on if algae acts like incubators for baby loggerhead sea turtles. The warmth from solar radiation causes increasing temperatures in algal areas,which may help growth rates.

Turtles get caught in the currents that surround the Sargasso Sea, and they end up in the algae mats, Constant said.

The algae are a developmental habitat for young turtles as they stay in the open waters for five to 10 years, Gulick said.

Expeditioners saw plastic in the open water more than 200 miles from shore.

Gulick said everyone on the trip reflected on their use of plastic. One of the scientists on the expedition grabbed a patch of seaweed and shook out thousands of microplastics.

Even though we were aware that there was a plastic issue in the ocean, thats a huge problem, she said. Theres just something about it once you go out and see it.

Constant and Gulick said Woodley helps raise awareness about issues in unregulated waters.

She didnt just show up to the expedition for the photo ops. Even now that the expedition is over, shes really trying to maintain the presence in the press and in the public eye to really raise awareness, Gulick said.

Correction: This article has been updated to reflect the impact of solar radiation on sea turtles, which may help their growth rates. The Alligator previously reported different.

See more here:

Shailene Woodley joins UF researchers on Greenpeace sea expedition - The Independent Florida Alligator

The ocean is unconquered by the rule of lawa place where magic and superstition hold as much sway as science and technology. It tests human natures basest form, as only the barest traces of the order we follow on land govern international waters. It boasts some framework, in theory, some allegiance to best practices and human rights. But as Ian Urbina makes clear, the outlaw ocean dissolves such delusions in its endless depths.

Urbina spent years at sea, chronicling the lives of those upon it for The New York Times. The stories contained in his new book, The Outlaw Ocean: Journeys Across the Last Untamed Frontier, pertain to ecology, climate change and the economythe great engines now running the world. Urbinas true focus, however, is on the people driven by those engines.

There are few heroes in Urbinas anomic world. Coast guards and navies may try to impose their will, but the amorphous nature of the seaand our abandonment of even attempted control past a certain distance from landensures that international waters are a world unto themselves. Out there exists a maritime Mad Max, as ships barely seaworthy travel thousands of miles from their home portsand from civilization itself.

In vile conditionsUrbina reports roaches crawling across all surfaces and maggots flecked throughout food storessail sea slaves and indentured servants, dominated by tyrannical crews who whip, cane, flay and kill. They poach the high seas, snatching fish we laughably corral by invisible boundaries in waters we have arbitrarily divideda massive echo of colonial line-making.

On boats barely considered more reputable, idealistic people attempt to bring vigilante justice. Some dare to intercept Japanese whalers or to chase Interpols most wanted across thousands of miles of ocean. Anchored offshore in an enormous armory, private security guards await the call to protect against pirates. Yet state-owned vessels still flex firearms against phantom jurisdictions, and political tensions flare as the law is flailing.

How can you bring order to a place where winds exceed 100 miles per hour and waves reach over a hundred of feet high? The ocean drags both the weak and the brave into a frigid foreverits depths plied by monsters mythological, biological and man-made. In both shape and spirit, the international waters which dominate the globe are not an aberration but the norm.

What we learn from Urbinas journeys is nothing less than the deepest aspects of humanity itself. Dropped into a world without terra firmas systems and foibles, our darkest impulses emerge. But our most noble intentionsto save, to protect, to establish fair rule of lawappear as well. Neither has any chance against the power of the outlaw ocean, however, as society continues to ignore the majority of the globes surface. In the end, all the ink, blood, sweat and tears are mere drops in the highest seas.

B. David Zarley is a senior staff writer for Freethink and essayist, book and art critic. His writing has been features in The Atlantic, The Verge, Jezebel, VICE Sports, Frieze, Hazlitt and numerous other publications. He lives in Chicago.

The rest is here:

The Outlaw Ocean Exposes Crime in International Waters :: Books :: Features :: ian urbina :: Paste - Paste Magazine

The pounding surf from Hurricane Dorian causes extensive beach erosion along the Brevard County coast and exposed many sea turtle nests. Craig Bailey, Florida Today

The winds are still brisk out of the northeast and that will create issues for anyone who is seeking to fish offshore or along the beaches. The trade off has been a long stretch of really good surfing conditions so some are not concerned with having to leave the rods at home as they take out their boards.

Big redfish brought big smiles for this couple who fished this week with Capt. Jon Lulay of Mosquito Lagoon Redfish Charters in Titusville.(Photo: CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY JON LULAY)

Mosquito Lagoon:Capt. Jon Lulay of Mosquito Lagoon Redfish Charters in Titusville said it's getting to be that time of year. The big redfish are starting to school in the lagoon and anglers can catch them using soft plastic jerk baits on light jig heads, gold spoons or shrimp. Be stealthy when approaching these schools because they spook easily and are getting a lot of angling pressure. Big black drum are also in the mix and there are some trout and medium-sized tarpon around, too.

More: The mullet migration is underway, energizing the action

Offshore:Big seas will keep even the bigger boats in port through the weekend and into next week. The swell from Humberto, while generating big surf, is not doing much to encourage fishing.

Surf:Big surf is keeping anglers from being able to fish for whiting, snook and pompano inn the trough. Dirty water will linger for days after the swell finally drops out. Expect to find some beach erosion, too, as high tides are bringing the waves all the way up to the stairs and dune crossovers.

More: Humberto brings waves and surf to Brevard

Indian River Lagoon:There is always somewhere in the lagoon where an angler can find a place to fish out of the wind. That will be helpful the next few days. Trout and redfish can be caught along shorelines where there are mangroves. Sight casting will not be possible, really, as the winds have the waters dirtied again. Blind cast with cut bait or free-lined finger mullet, if they can be cast netted. Snook are biting, too, around seawalls and under docks. Tarpon are in the canals and channels.

Sebastian Inlet:Expect to find access to the north jetty deck closed temporarily as repairs are being done, and high seas will keep it off limits anyway. Still, fishing from the shorelines is productive for snook, redfish, flounder, snapper and black drum. The beginning of the outgoing tide is probably the better time to fish.

Freshwater:The water levels are pretty high throughout the region, as they should be during the peak of rainy season. Tilapia are along the edges of canals, lakes and water retention ponds and can be caught with a cane pole and dough ball on a small hook, or with bowfishing gear. Bass fishing has been picking up since water temperatures have been falling slightly.

Ed Killer is an outdoors columnist for the USA Today Network based on the Treasure Coast. Friend him on Facebook at Ed Killer, follow him on Twitter or Instagram at @tcpalmekiller, email him ated.killer@tcpalm.com.

Visit link:

Humberto's waves great for surfing, not so much for surf fishing - Florida Today