Daily Archives: March 5, 2020

TV bosses believe shes the perfect choice to take over Cruising With Jane McDonald .

But comedian Susan Calman may be in for a rough ride when she hits the high seas as her replacement.

For while the former Strictly Come Dancing star proved she can handle some tricky footwork on the dancefloor, she was definitely struggling to find her sea legs when she took her first ever cruise, 18 months ago.

The comic was on a Strictly cruise of the Mediterranean in 2018 when she was floored by some choppy seas quite literally.

But after picking herself up from the deck, Susan, who was also too short to see over the ships balconies, was informed that what she called rough was barely a gentle wave.

Scottish Susan, 45, later learned to love sea travel, adding: For someone who hates flying, its a grand way to vacation.

The only trouble is, shes also taking over the singers other Channel 5 show Holidaying with Jane McDonald, so shell be flying too...

But Susan was still thrilled when Jane told her yesterday: Im sure you will have a ball. I certainly did.

Susan gushed: I have a signed photo of you in my living room. Youre magnificent in every way and will always be the best cruiser ever.

Mmmm. Its good to be gracious, Susan, but try not to go overboard.

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Susan Calman set to hit the high seas as she takes over Cruising With Jane McDonald - Mirror Online

Get ready to cast off into the New Heart of Fire update for Sea of Thieves coming to the high seas next week.

Sea of Thieves, the pirate-themed MMO from UK developer Rare has just turned two years young and now the sea songs are over, players should get ready for the next major update. before it makes land, hitting Xbox One and PC on 11 March, Rare has revealed information on the upcoming Heart of Fire update and it looks typically tongue in cheek. While a new video over on the official Sea of Thieves YoutTube runs down some of the more functional details, were most excited about the incoming cosmetics.

As part of the Heart of Fire add on, pirate pets will get the chance to dress up in some amazing banana costumes. Combat will get particularly fruity too, with a range of banana themed weapons available in the premium store. If that isnt enough, Heart of Fire will bring a ton of content too.

PvP focused players will get some less squishy weapons. The new Blunderbomb looks like it could cause some serious confusion when it falls into players hands. The item is a chuckable explosive that is primarily meant to inflict knockbacks rather than damage. Useful in close quarters it can be used to knock enemies off their perches or even loaded into cannons to knock an opposing ship off course.

The biggest content bounty coming to Sea of Thieves is the PvE updates for Heart of Fire. Next week players will get a new story mission for the pirate simulator which follows on from the narrative kicked off last year. We dont want to spoil the details but rare has put substantial work into this chapter of the game to make a cinematic experience that plays slightly different each time payers sail into action. The whole update is wrapped up with the normal bug fixes and technical improvements that you might expect from a major update.

Anybody looking for something to do in the meantime can head over to Sea of Thieves and haul in as many qualifying fish as possible between now and Sunday, in order to bag some sweet new prizes in the Hunters Haul fishing challenge. Until then pirates, happy hunting and well see you on the seas when Heart of Fire kicks off next week.

Excerpt from:

Sea Of Thieves Heart of Fire Update is Bananas - GameSpace.com

In a sea of cinematic assassins, Duke Togo stands a cut above the rest. Operating under his trademark codename Golgo 13, Togo is an elite killer who possesses near-superhuman sniping skills, making him a hot commodity on the international scene.

The 2008 Golgo 13 TV series drew elements from the manga series and the animated films to create a modernized take on the franchise, mixing a smooth detective-style narrative with a level of James Bond intrigue. Through the series' run, Golgo 13 pulled off an elaborate number of high-profile assassinations, and we've gathered the 10 best, right here! This list ranks each kill from excellent to God-like! Eat your heart out, Agent 47!

A brilliant knife-throwing expert decides to make a name for himself by killing Golgo 13 so he can assume his notoriety. To do so, he orchestrates a hit to lure Golgo 13 in and set him up for a stealth kill.

During a stage performance, Golgo 13 prepares to shoot his target, prompting his would-be assassin to hurl a knife at him for a killing blow. Sensing the incoming attack, Golgo 13 blocks it with his rifle, then turns sights on his aggressor, executing him with a single shot to the head.

This episode finds Golgo 13 squaring off against two highly trained ex-Foreign Legion soldiers carrying highly modified assault rifles equipped with an advanced digital scope. As a field test, the soldiers stalk Golgo 13 to prove the scope's efficiency and viability for sale around the world.

The ensuing battle takes place against the backdrop of a rally race where the soldiers hold a range advantage over Golgo 13's M-16 rifle. To compensate, he changes position several times to get in front of the rally race, using a car's headlight glare to blind one of his foes long enough to score a head shot. As the second soldier pursues with vengeance in mind, Golgo 13 dives down a hill and puts his opponent on higher ground. The soldier's gunfire misses Golgo 13 entirely due to a flaw in the scope's design when used on a slope, as opposed to flat ground, givinghim an open kill-shot.

This episode takes place on the high seas after a group of criminals hijack a U.S. oil tanker and take the crew hostage. With time running out until they move the tanker into international waters, the authorities hire Golgo 13 to prevent their escape.

After testing the superior sniping skills of one of the criminals, Golgo 13 makes his move. He infiltrates the tanker and executes most of the criminals, leaving his sniper for last. He uses a pulley to add another level of movement onto an already rocking boat, and sets up a blind spot which proves to be a lethal combination for his enemy.

One of Golgo 13's most grisly kills occurs in this episode featuring an armored van used to spring an international drug lord from custody. Unable to stop the van, the U.S. hires Golgo 13 to take out the drug lord before he can escape over the Mexican border.

RELATED:The 10 Deadliest Death Games In Anime

After analyzing the van's schematics, he acquires a specialized gun with armor piercing rounds and kills his target by shooting through the van's underbelly. The bullet travels vertically through the length the target's spinal column, before exiting out the top of the head.

The pilot episode of the series finds Golgo 13 in hot water after a brawl in Texas lands him in the local jail. Meanwhile, a corrupt CIA informant hijacks a domestic flight and holds the passengers hostage on an airport tarmac, prompting both the FBI and CIA to spring Golgo 13 from jail in return for taking out the threat.

To pull off the job, Togo acquires a heavily modified .308 Winchester rifle, and sets off to snipe his target. However, a change in the plane's positioning forces him to adapt on the fly. From 2 kilometers out, Golgo 13 snipes his target through the cockpit window of the plane, earning him both respect and fear from the CIA.

Golgo 13 shows off his long-game tactics in this episode which takes place in Canada. The CIA have hired him to take out a double agent before he can escape, and uses his female accomplice to lure him out. After kidnapping her, burning her clothes and imprisoning her in a log cabin, he gifts a red coat to a woman in exchange for cleaning the kitchen.

It's all a setup to allow his female prisoner a chance to escape, using the red coat for clothing. When she attempts to make her escape with her double agent boss on a snowmobile, Golgo 13 snipes both of them with a single, difficult long-range kill-shot.

Golgo 13 is hired to kill a wealthy real estate mogul by a vengeful competitor. He capitalizes on his target's love of theater by infiltrating his birthday party, which includes a stage play. After setting off firecrackers which coat everyone in gunpowder residue, Golgo 13 sets about crafting a makeshift disposable gun for the final kill.

The stage performance commences, and the story progresses to a scene involving a fake gunshot using a blank, which Golgo 13 uses to mask his own shot. After striking his target dead, Golgo 13 drops the disposable gun in a soup pot, where it proceeds to melt away, denying the police a murder weapon to pin to their killer.

The American government hires Golgo 13 and another assassin of equal skill known as AX-3 to take out a secret criminal research facility attempting to weaponize poisons and toxins from deadly animal species. After accomplishing the task, both assassins prepare to go their separate ways, until AX-3 receives a call from his handler with a bounty on Golgo 13.

With one bullet left in each of their rifles, the two assassins engage in a standoff with Golgo 13's back to the facility's entrance, where deadly snakes and spiders may emerge at any moment. He uses the incoming tide to stall until sunset, which prompts a flock of bats to emerge from the cave's entrance, creating a moment of opportunity. Both assassins leap into action and score grazing rifle hits on one another before Golgo 13 finishes off AX-3 with a knife-throw to the chest.

The anime's penultimate episode features Duke Togo's plane crashing into a small island being used by the U.S. military to conduct trial runs on a new kind of armored power suit with highly advanced weapons and defensive capabilities. Golgo 13 plays against the pilot of the suit by testing its weaknesses several times, before determining the appropriate kill-shot.

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When the pilot becomes mentally unstable and terrified of his opponent, it gives Golgo 13 the chance to fire a single round into the barrel of its shoulder-mounted flamethrower unit, setting off an explosion that destroys the armored suit, and kills its occupant.

Arguably Golgo 13's most outrageous and incredible kill occurs in this episode featuring a villain named Vargas Walton, a millionaire who keeps young women on his island fortress for the purpose of harvesting their organs to generate funds for terrorism. The fortress was designed specifically to thwart any assassination attempts, including ricochet shots that could strike a target.

Supremely confident regarding his safety, Walton is nevertheless executed by Golgo 13 after he fires a single shot from a helicopter which ricochets off of the waves created by the women frolicking in a pool, significantly changing the angle of the shot. If that weren't impressive enough, Golgo 13 immediately accomplishes a second, identical ricochet shot to take out Walton's henchman J.J., a Olympic medal sniper!

NEXT:10 Video Games That Should Become Anime Series Like Netflix's Castlevania

Next10 Twilight Zone Episodes Whose Themes Still Resonate Today

Derek's been a pop culture nut since he was a wee lad. When it's time to yell "Get off my lawn," he'll probably do it with Cloud's buster sword in hand. In the meantime, Derek loves contributing to both ScreenRant and TheGamer, so make sure to check out his stuff!

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Top 10 Golgo 13 Kills From The TV Series | ScreenRant - Screen Rant

A cruise was never on the vacation list for Tracy and Jim Corbran of Tonawanda. Jim didnt like the idea of being out in the ocean. (I can be on a river, but not in the water where I cant see land, he said.) Tracy wasnt interested in relaxing by a pool or other traditional cruise activities.

But when the Corbrans, who are classic movie fans and members of the Turner Classic Movie fan club Backlot, heard friends rave about the TCM cruise, their interest was piqued. As they learned more about it five days of classic movie screenings, celebrities and all things TCM the cruise proved irresistible.

The idea of TCM made a cruise interesting. Our friends made it sound wonderful and it was, said Tracy Corbran, who added she enjoyed the leisurely pace of the cruise and the chance to participate in multiple classic movie activities.

The Corbrans were two of more than 1,500 passengers on the recent TCM Classic Cruise on the Disney Magic that sailed from New York City to Bermuda. Movies were shown on multiple big screens (with free popcorn) from early morning to late at night; TCM hosts and celebrity guests with ties to classic Hollywood talked at screenings and other events. Movie-themed trivia, bingo, dancing and a costume party were held. Traditional cruise activities and shore excursions were offered, too.

It was the seventh TCM cruise and the seventh sellout. Rooms were gone so fast, in fact, that the 2020 cruise will sail on the larger Disney Fantasy to accommodate demand.

The TCM Classic Cruise has proven to be one of our most beloved fan experiences, and due to unprecedented consumer demand, Im proud well be offering fans this engaging and immersive film event once again in 2020, said Genevieve McGillicuddy, vice president of enterprises and strategic partnerships. Joining forces again with Disney on an even larger ship allows more fans to come aboard for six entertaining nights at sea with TCM.

Jim and Tracy Corbran show off the Disney Cruise Line mugs they won in a trivia contest on the TCM Classic Cruise. (Toni Ruberto/Buffalo News)

The TCM cruise is one of hundreds of specialty or themed cruises that are a growing segment of the cruise industry. The allure? An immersive experience with like-minded people on just about any topic including music (The Outlaw Country Cruise), astronomy (a space-themed cruise for World Space Week on the Queen Mary 2), comedy (The Impractical Jokers), wrestling (Chris Jerichos Rock N Wrestling Rager at Sea) and television (The Walking Dead).

Humberto Martinez of Miami has taken multiple traditional cruises, but the TCM cruises are his favorites. For those who love the Turner Classic Movies channel or movie classics in general, these cruises offer a unique atmosphere and experience, said Martinez, who has attended three TCM cruises with his wife, Consuelo. Not only does one get to meet, chat and mingle with the TCM hosts, but one gets to meet new and old friends who share the same passion for movies and share experiences and plan future meetings and cruises.

Anthony Diaz, CEO of Sixthman, an industry leader in themed cruises, understands the appeal of the shared experience.

Whether its a genre of music like big iconic pop star like Kesha or blues rock with Joe Bonamassa, people love coming together when they share a passion, Diaz said. While that proves itself with music, it has expanded into film with TCM and other areas like the Impractical Jokers. Were even doing a cruise with Theresa Caputo, the Long Island Medium.

Its neat to see this notion that when you bring people together who are passionate about something and give them opportunity to vacation with heroes something really special happens. The artists want to come back and the guests come back and they bring friends, Diaz said, adding that about 60% of guests on Sixthman cruises return, often bringing friends with them.

Fans packed onto the deck of the recent Chris Jericho Rock N' Wrestling Rager at Sea to watch an AEW match. The specialty cruise also included celebrity appearances and fan experiences. (Photo by @WillByington)

Though fan-based cruises are usually booked through companies like Sixthman and Entertainment Cruise Productions, AAA Western and Central New York can help with other themed cruises. Elizabeth Carey and Brian Murray, hosts of WECK Radio's AAA Talking Travel show, are hosting a Bermuda cruise in October that features such events as a WECK cocktail party.

Were finding people are becoming more adventurous and not doing traditional cruises, said AAA travel consultant Renee Pilley of the Williamsville office. She said she has worked with customers on such specialty cruises as Mardi Gras-themed and Disney trips including Halloween on the High Seas and a day at sea with Star Wars and Marvel. Food and drink specialty cruises are very popular, too.

People come in for anything to do with food, said Pilley, who recently booked a wine cruise called Taste of Bordeaux for customers who are especially fond of the wine from the region. The fact that it is hosted by Travel Channels Samantha Brown as part of her Places to Love series is a bonus.

Everyone knows her, everyone loves her. Samantha Brown is a travel celebrity, and everyone wishes they could have her job, Pilley said.

Janice Mergenhagen poses with her "Star Trek" bears near a "Spock" statue on a "Star Trek" cruise. (Photo courtesy Larry Tetewsky)

Like a pop-culture convention on a ship

Kenmore residents Janice Mergenhagen and Larry Tetewsky have gone on nearly 20 cruises. Frequent attendees of pop-culture conventions, they quickly learned a themed cruise gave them the ultimate fan experience.

They have just taken their fifth specialty cruise, the sold-out, seven-day Star Trek cruise on Royal Caribbeans Explorer of the Seas, which featured more than 30 guests including such Star Trek luminaries as Kate Mulgrew, Jeri Ryan and yes, William Shatner.

We were very surprised at how accessible everyone was, Mergenhagen recalled of their first Star Trek cruise.

It was like a convention on a ship, Tetewsky added. Without a doubt, it is the best Star Trek convention you will go to.

While a traditional convention may have up to 20,000 people seeing 20 or so celebrity guests, cruises are generally limited to 2,000 to 4,000 people often with the same number of stars.

You will see them everywhere on the ship and they will talk to you, Tetewsky said about celebrity guests. Youre also sharing the cruise with a base of like-minded fans, so youll never run out of people to talk to.

Classic movie fans had the chance to sit and chat with TCM host Ben Mankiewicz throughout the 2019 TCM Classic Cruise. (Toni Ruberto/Buffalo News)

Jim Corbran had a similar experience on the TCM cruise, especially when it came to the networks hosts Ben Mankiewicz, Dave Karger, Alicia Malone and Eddie Mueller who mingled with fans throughout the ship when they werent doing presentations.

The experience, Corbran said, made it feel like you know them.

AAA of Western and Central New York: Visit westerncentralny.aaa.com for details on all cruises.

Sixthman: It started with Rock Boat concerts, now in their 20th year. Since then, Sixthman has hosted themed cruises in music, movies and more. For details on future cruises, visit sixthman.net.

Entertainment Cruise Productions: Since 2001, ECP has hosted more than 80 theme cruises from "Star Trek" to its Jazz Cruise, and is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2020. Visit ecpcruises.com.

TCM Classic Cruise: Fan demand led to TCM's next cruise being booked on a larger ship, the Disney Fantasy. The six-night Western Caribbean cruise is from Oct. 4 to 10. Visit tcmcruise.com.

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Classic films, rock concerts and wrestling: indulge your passion on themed cruises - Buffalo News

Franklin Roosevelt on December 8, 1941

Be honest!

Thats the sentiment that my friend John U. Bacon, best-selling author and sports historian, expressed in a recentcommentaryfor Michigan Radio. Bacon was referencing advice from the University of Michigans former sports information director, Bruce Madej, who said,First, lets start with the truth.While the advice is simple it is often ignored, and it leads to a failure of integrity.

Being honest about wrongdoing requires courage. The reason that organizations, large and small, for-profit and non-profit, get into trouble is that too often when a crisis strikes, the instinct is to protect the institution before addressing the harm done to its victims.

There is another aspect of honesty. Tell people what they need to hear. During a crisis, people are upset; they seek reassurance. A leader who delivers the truth and does so calmly and confidently gives people a reason to believe that the right people are in charge and will do what they can to improve the situation. At the same time, honesty dictates being straight with people. Just because they seek comfort does not mean you dispense bromides like everything will be better, trust me. No, be brutally honest.

A history lesson

A classic example of brutal honesty was Franklin Rooseveltsaddress to Congressand the nation on December 8, 1941, the day after the Japanese navys attack on Pearl Harbor. While we remember his comments as the Day of Infamy Speech, we forget the tenor and tone of his voice. It was firm and resolute. After excoriating the aggression, Roosevelt did not pull any punches. Although he did not reveal the full damage done to the U.S. Navy, but he did not sugarcoat the losses.

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.

Then, Roosevelt asserted his leadership and his faith in our military.

As Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense. But always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us.

Roosevelt lastly turned to what had happened on this day of infamy into a righteous cause for all Americans.

No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.

In the novel,The Kite Runner,the author Khaled Hosseini, writes, When you tell a lie, you steal someones elses right to the truth.

Honesty raises a cause to righteousness. Dishonesty taints not only the leader but also erodes faith in the institution. When people lose confidence in their leader, they also turn away from that institution. By contrast, as Roosevelt did, when people believe in their leader, they join with him to put things right.

Better then to face an ugly reality immediately than to have it rot. Be honest.

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If Honesty Is The Best Policy, Why Do We Forget It? - Forbes

OSKALOOSA Oskaloosa High School students are ready to take a big bite out a giant peach onstage at George Daily Auditorium

Roald Dahls beloved 1961 novel, adapted into a musical, will come to the stage March 6 and 7.

Director Allison McGuire said audiences of all ages will be very familiar with the story of James Henry Trotter and his new friends. James encounters a mysterious stranger and a magical spell that turns a regular-sized peach and nearby creatures into giants.

They have this fantastic adventure on the high seas on the giant peach that carries them all the way to New York City to get stuck on the Empire State Building, she said. The musical really tells the classic story; there are no major changes to the plot. The only thing thats been added is really the phenomenal music thats in this show.

The stage adaptation was written by Timothy Allen McDonald, with music and lyrics composed by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.

Theyre the composers who are behind the music and the movie The Greatest Showman, the musical Dear Evan Hansen, so theyve found a lot of commercial success in their projects, McGuire said. This is one of the earliest shows that they wrote together, but it really has that feel of just get stuck in your head, toe-tapping tunes and just really a classic show tune feel.

McGuire said there are 45 students who are involved with the production onstage and offstage, with lots of opportunity for creativity.

The show gives us a chance to be really fantastical, everything from the costumes for the bugs to the puppets that are involved, she said. There are parade-style, human-sized puppets that our performers actually wear at points. They were all created and designed by students, so this has been a really fun show since it is set in a fantastical world, the students have really been free to use all of their creativity to bring the world to life, whether its through makeup or through the set design.

Students have also worked on painting the set as well as creating the logo, working on marketing and other production tasks.

So it really is a student-designed piece, McGuire said.

Tickets are $4 for children and $8 for adults, with a family pass available for $20.

Once you reach that $20 ticket cost, everyone thats coming in your family can come for that $20, McGuire said. It is a show that really is meant to be enjoyed by kids and by families and we really want to make it a possibility for as many families to come together as possible.

James: Jade Whitley; Ladahlord: Nicholas Ingamells; Grasshopper: Sage Cochran; Ladybug: Lauren Milledge; Spider: Maddy Keough; Earthworm: Colin Fietchner; Centipede: Cayden Kinzenbach; Spiker: Maddie Hamilton; Sponge: Amber Lindley; ensemble performers portray seagulls, reporters, Oompa Loompas and other characters.

For the second year, Oskaloosa High School thespians will be participating in the Iowa High School Musical Theatre Awards, an initiative of Des Moines Performing Arts.

McGuire said nearly 90 Iowa schools of all sizes are participating

Three adjudicators will be coming to see the show over our weekend. They will give us feedback and ways that we can improve for the next performance that we do, she said. And then there will be a Tony awards-style awards ceremony at the Civic Center in June, where Oskaloosa will have the opportunity to have some students perform in group medleys and maybe in some other ways as well.

The students who participated last year, McGuire said, appreciated seeing the breadth of the musical theatre world in Iowa; just seeing more schools perform, understand whats out there, how schools do things differently.

And I think it really pushed them to know that they could take their performances to the next level, she said. And they really knew what they were striving for because the bar had been reset for them; they had seen what else is out there.

Managing Editor Angie Holland can be reached at aholland@oskyherald.com and followed on Twitter @OskyAngie.

When: 7 p.m. on March 6 and 7.

Where: George Daily Auditorium, 1800 N. Third St.

Tickets: Tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for students; a family pass is $20.

See the original post here:

'James and the Giant Peach ' glides into Oskaloosa - Oskaloosa Herald

Cruise passengers return to ships at the Port Zante terminal in St. Kitts.

Mariakray/iStockPhoto / Getty Images

Almost 30 million vacationers chose fun on the high seas in 2019, but does the outbreak of coronavirus now make cruise ships a travel pariah? With COVID-19 cases in 80 countries and counting, the floating village of a large ship seems like a prime place for the virus to flourish.

The Diamond Princess, which was the first ship quarantined due to coronavirus, had 705 people contract the disease (six of whom died) out of 3,711 passengers and crew.

The first line of defence for passenger health and safety and a standard on large cruise ships is an on-board medical team. Ships from major cruise lines have a minimum of one doctor and two nurses who are on call 24 hours a day and have experience in emergency, family and internal medicine and are often board-certified in multiple countries.

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Ships have also embraced every doctors mantra for reducing the spread of disease: clean hands. Their answer is the prevalence of hand sanitizer, placing dispensers in multiple public areas from dining rooms to casinos; entry into these spaces comes with a cool dollop of anti-bacterial gel.

But an even better practice when in close quarters with hundreds of crew and passengers is the real thing: Wash your hands! Use soap and water for 30 seconds frequently throughout the day, and always after using the washroom and before meals. On many ships, hand-wash stations are available just outside dining rooms.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than half of those who typically become ill on a cruise ship are over the age of 65 and are often already diagnosed with respiratory illness, seasickness, injuries from falling or gastrointestinal illness. Diseases like COVID-19 are rare.

Additional tips for keeping illness away wash your hands every time you return to your stateroom, cover your face with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and dispose of it, drink water to avoid dehydration, use sunscreen, get your beauty sleep and take it easy on the multiple, often-rich courses offered at mealtime.

Last tip: If you feel unwell, isolate yourself in your room and contact the medical team. It may just be the sniffles or seasickness, but they are there to inform and diagnose if needed.

A Japanese infectious disease specialist has castigated his government's handling of quarantine on a coronavirus-stricken cruise ship, saying it was run by 'bureaucrats' who stoked the crisis by failing to follow basic protocols. Reuters

Need some travel advice or have a question about life on the road? Send your questions to personalconcierge@globeandmail.com.

Get inspired by the weekly Sightseer newsletter, with travel advice, destinations and more. Sign up today.

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Ask a travel expert: How do I keep healthy while on a cruise ship? - The Globe and Mail

Looking at options trading activity among components of the Russell 3000 index, there is noteworthy activity today in UnitedHealth Group Inc (Symbol: UNH), where a total volume of 36,586 contracts has been traded thus far today, a contract volume which is representative of approximately 3.7 million underlying shares (given that every 1 contract represents 100 underlying shares). That number works out to 62.4% of UNH's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 5.9 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $300 strike call option expiring March 06, 2020, with 3,104 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 310,400 underlying shares of UNH. Below is a chart showing UNH's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $300 strike highlighted in orange:

SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. (Symbol: SEAS) saw options trading volume of 8,440 contracts, representing approximately 844,000 underlying shares or approximately 58.5% of SEAS's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 1.4 million shares.Especially high volume was seen for the $22 strike put option expiring April 17, 2020, with 1,102 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 110,200 underlying shares of SEAS. Below is a chart showing SEAS's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $22 strike highlighted in orange:

And Quest Diagnostics, Inc. (Symbol: DGX) options are showing a volume of 6,780 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 678,000 underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 58.1% of DGX's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 1.2 million shares.Particularly high volume was seen for the $125 strike call option expiring March 20, 2020, with 992 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 99,200 underlying shares of DGX. Below is a chart showing DGX's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $125 strike highlighted in orange:

For the various different available expirations for UNH options, SEAS options, or DGX options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com.

Today's Most Active Call & Put Options of the S&P 500

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

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Notable Thursday Option Activity: UNH, SEAS, DGX - Nasdaq

Coming from the highlands and to experiencing island life has given him a totally new perception of life especially travelling the high seas by boat.

Manasa Yavala with the Year 11 students of Ratu Finau Secondary School in Lau. Sitting second from left is his younger sister, Vika Yavala.

Living in the island is amazing, says Manasa Yavala.

Mr Yavala, who got his first rural posting to Ratu Finau Secondary School in Tubou, Lakeba, Lau, early this year, says the experience was something he never expected.

He is originally from Narukunibua Village in Namosi.

Coming from the highlands and to experiencing island life has given him a totally new perception of life especially travelling the high seas by boat.

Mr Yavala was accompanied by his father Joe and younger sister Vika, who now joins Ratu Finau Secondary School.

They left Suva for Lakeba on the MV Brianna franchise last month.

He said they spent two nights and a day at sea before reaching Lakeba.

This is his fourth year teaching Applied Technology. He spent three years at Marist Brothers High School before he was posted to Lau.

Mr Yavala said he was shocked when he received his new posting, but happy at the same time.

This is my first rural posting, he said.

Im happy because this is the first time I visited islands in Lau.

I enjoyed the sights, people and the island itself, its so beautiful.

Mr Yavala said he was welcomed by the teachers and the principal of the school.

I only have five students in my class, so theres not much to worry about.

He is teaching Technical Drawing, Basic Technology and Applied Technology for Year Nine to Year 13 students.

Manasa Yavala (left), with fellow teachers of Ratu Finau Secondary School in Lau.

The school is located away from the village on a hill, looking down at the sea, he said.

Here I go to mass every Sunday in Tubou, and last week was my first Ash Wednesday away from my loved ones.

The school has internet access where Mr Yavala gets the chance to update himself with the news and also reach out to his family members through social media platforms.

Mr Yavala was homesick during his first month.

He said living on the island includes social and geographical isolation, transportation problems and some community challenges.

Manasa Yavala and his father, Joe Yavala.

I love the food here, we eat seafood every day. It took me time to learn how to eat crabs.

Mr Yavala said now he was able to save money compared to his years of teaching in Suva.

Edited by Selita Bolanavanua

Feedback: lusiana.tuimaisala@fijisun.com.fj

Link:

From the Mountain To The Sea: Highlander Teacher, Says Island Life Amazes Him - Fiji Sun Online

This weekend, Seattles fishing fleet will be honored in the 92nd annual Blessing of Fleet to mark the start of the 2020 fishing season.

The event, happening Sunday, March 8 at Fishermens Terminal, will bring together crews, friends, family, and the greater community to send the fishing fleet off with a ceremony and blessing from Pastor Elise Scot of Ballard First Lutheran Church.

Along with wishing them a good season and a safe return to their loved ones after a summer on the high seas, the blessing also remembers those who have lost their lives in this dangerous profession, the King County Council stated in a press release about the event. Since 1988, the Seattle Fishermens Memorial at Seattles Fishermens Terminal has served as a tribute to the lives of its women and men lost at sea. Last year, the Dutch Harbor-based Scandies Rose sunk off the coast of Kodiak. Five crew members perished, many of whom had connections to the Puget Sound region. Just two members survived the tragedy.

The ceremony will happen at 2pm sharp at the Central Plaza at Fishermens Terminal.

File photo of a previous years Blessing of the Fleet

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92nd Annual Blessing of the Fleet is this Sunday - My Ballard