Blog
2020 IS A LEAP YEAR
on January 1, 2020
This year you may have also noticed that February 29th has made an appearance on your calendar.. We all probably know of at least one person born on February 29th that has to endure jokes about how old they are. In all seriousness, Most people are familiar with Leap Years but may not know why we have them. What are Leap Years ? The Earth’s axis is tilted. The axial tilt is why we have […]
CHRISTMAS PUDDING
on December 25, 2019
Are you having Christmas pudding? Christmas (or Plum) Pudding is the traditional end to a British Christmas dinner. But what we think of as Christmas Pudding, is not what it was originally like! Christmas pudding originated as a 14th century porridge called ‘frumenty’ that was made of beef and mutton with raisins, currants, prunes, wines and spices. This would often be more like soup and was eaten as a fasting meal in preparation for the […]
THE CHRISTMAS PICKLE
on December 18, 2019
Why the pickle ornament isn’t just a cute food trend. “A very old Christmas eve tradition in Germany was to hide a pickle [ornament] deep in the branches of the family Christmas Tree. The parents hung the pickle last after all the other ornaments were in place. In the morning they knew the most observant child would receive an extra gift from St. Nicholas. The first adult who finds the pickle traditionally gets good luck […]
CHRISTMAS BELLS
on December 11, 2019
Traditions of Christmas Bells Bells, especially Church Bells, have traditionally been associated with Christmas for a long time. In the Anglican and Catholic churches, the church day starts at sunset, so any service after that is the first service of the day. So a service on Christmas Eve after sunset is traditionally the first service of Christmas day! In churches that have a Bell or Bells, They are often rung to signal the start of […]
GETTING COMFORTABLE ON YOUR BOAT
on December 4, 2019
Towels For After-Swim Drying Light colors reflect sunlight while dark colors absorb it. That absorbed light turns into thermal energy, making dark towels dry more quickly. Ideally, this gives you a dry towel rather than a damp one for your second dip of the day. Clear Vision Salt spray can quickly coat the lenses of eyewear. Dim vision is the result, often accompanied by eyestrain. An easy solution is a small trigger bottle filled with […]
CARVING YOUR BIRD
on November 27, 2019
Carving the Perfect Turkey Every year, countless families cringe as the annual carve the turkey debate rages on. So in the interest of harmony and Thanksgiving, here’s what the pro’s say. Six steps to serving the perfect Thanksgiving bird by Gerry Brown Carving, and serving, the perfect turkey Many beautiful Rockwellian Thanksgiving feasts have been spoiled when the golden brown turkey is hacked to pieces by an improperly trained carver. Whether you are looking to […]
STUFFING THAT BIRD
on November 20, 2019
LETS’ TALK TURKEY…. STUFFING THAT IS Many experts recommend baking the stuffing outside the bird, where it can easily be cooked to 165°F and is less likely to harbor bacteria. However, many people who grew up eating stuffing from inside the bird find it lacking moisture and flavor when it’s baked in a casserole dish, without the benefit of the turkey’s juices. Luckily, whichever method you prefer, there are ways to get around the problems. […]
WE SPEAK FOR THE BOAT
on November 13, 2019
An independent marine surveyor speaks for the boat. A marine survey is also a useful tool for buyers when negotiating price based on what repairs or upgrades the boat needs. And finally, insurance and lending companies that need to know the true condition and fair market value of a vessel often require it. Insurance company underwriters carefully read through a marine survey to make a determination as to whether the vessel is a good risk, […]
THE STATE OF MARITIME CYBER SECURITY
on November 6, 2019
In short, its not good, In June 2017 Maersk, the maritime transportation conglomerate (130 countries and 88,000 employees) was attacked by a malicious piece of computer code that infected computers rapidly and fatally. It was a destructive worm that destroyed all the data in the infected computer, for good. Immediately, employees around the world were ordered to shut down computers, some 800 ships were idled. It took three weeks and $300 million to get back to […]
HALLOWEEN
on October 30, 2019
THE STORY OF HALLOWEEN Halloween is one of the oldest holidays with origins going back thousands of years. The holiday we know as Halloween has had many influences from many cultures over the centuries. From the Roman’s Pomona Day, to the Celtic festival of Samhain, to the Christian holidays of All Saints and All Souls Days. Hundreds of years ago in what is now Great Britain and Northern France, lived the Celts. The Celts worshipped […]