CapeCodToday Blog Chowder

Bass River Boat Rides and Broiled Eggplant

    Some weeks ideas come quickly other times they don't. Working 55-60 hour weeks right now in order to be able to play later is taking its tole. So sorry not much of a story this week.  This week just a quick note of memory land. We had friends that had a power boat that they kept docked on bass river. Every now and then they would invite us to come over and go out with them for an evening ride off Uncle Freeman's Landing. We would slowly ride up and down the river looking at a all the nice homes on both sides of the river and you could get rather close to those bigger boats and see really beautiful they were. The first time I ever drove a boat  and learned to steer one was north of the RT 28 bridge. If you like the Army you would have loved my steering,, right, left, right,,, but we all survived and even my father did not get sick.
    We never had the money growing up to own such a luxury of a boat of any size. So to be asked by someone to go out on their boat was a real treat and an experience that we as a family did not get to do very often. These friends were kind enough to ask us on many occasions to go out with then and we always had a wonderful time, whether in the day time, enjoying the sun and the water, or on an occasional late evening for a full moon ride. Here is the friends and Cape Cod memories.     
    EXTRA EXTRA: Recipe Special Week : This week I pull one out of my own, this is one that my family loves and is not hard at all. We do not do a lot of fried foods and typically egg plant is fried, and also we do not need the extra calories. So I decided to try changing the coating up a little and broil instead of fry.
     Recipe : Broiled EggPlant

•     2                          Egg plants ( Nice size, but not overly large)
•     3                          eggs
•     2    tsp.               worcestershire sauce
•     2    tsp.               water
•     1-2    dashes    hot sauce ( your choice, I use different bands for different dished depending on your tastes, for this I normal use Franks Red Hot)
•     1-2    cups        plan bread crumbs
•     1    Tbls             oregano
•     1/2    Tbls        Old Bay Seasoning
•                                 Pepper

    First a warning, once you peel and cut egg plant it will start to brown quickly. So first take your eggs and put in a larger bowl along with the water, worcestershire sauce and hot sauce and beat well. Once beaten add Old Bay Seasoning, and some ground pepper (to taste) and mix into egg mixture.  Next peel egg plant and cut into slices and put in egg mixture to soak for a few minutes. In another bowl put down about 1/4 of your bread crumbs then move one by one your egg plant slices into the bread crumbs then sprinkle more crumbs on top till covered. Then put breaded slices on a cookie sheet and sprinkle a little oregano over top. once you have a full cookie sheet of egg plant place under the boiler and cook. Keep and eye on then as once they start to turn color they will crisp quickly, pull out turn them over and repeat on broiling. Once done serve quickly as egg plant cools quickly.

Protection Money

Ever wonder why they called it "The Commission"?

The Cape Cod Commission was designed to protect each Cape town from the impacts of development happening in another. Thus the term DRI-Development of REGIONAL Impact . Instead, it's turned into a way for towns to protect themselves from developments that they just don't like and a back door way of getting mitigation money, which they can't do on their own. (State law prohibits both.)

But the real problem is that the Commission is preventing towns like Yarmouth from improving its commercial tax base. The result is the over reliance on residential taxes to fund town budgets.

It's the regulation that we object to most, but the Commission's planning isn't that good either.  Yarmouth can save $200K a year by getting out of the Commission. We can use the savings to fund our own town departments' review of development.  I trust the Planning Board, Appeals Board, Health Board, Conservation Commission, et. al.  to do their job.  Or if Yarmouth eventually does leave the Commission it can use the $200K to hire a planning and Economic Development staff, to encourage appropriate development that will pay more commercial taxes, and lessen the reliance and burden on the homeowner taxpayer. 

Like the Hotel California, "You can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave".

But even after a Yes Vote to get out of the Commission, nothing will really happen.  Getting out of the Commission still requires an act of the Legislature.  Very clever when they put that in the enabling legislation.  With State Senator O'Leary, the Commission is a religion, so it may also take an act of God to get out. Voting to leave will only be a pyrrhic victory. 

Maybe Yarmouth can use the vote to get out, as a negotiating tool to get what it wants out of the Commission, but Yarmouth will still be in, still regulated and still paying the tax. Maybe a better way to contain the Cape Cod Commission short of getting out,  is for all Cape towns to stop sending it discretionary referrals. 

But I'm still in favor of getting out. Yarmouth: Vote YES on Question 5, May 6th.

Crumpled Paper

Two pages of crumpled paper, representing two story ideas that never quite developed:

Page One - Prokofiev and Cigarettes

The scene is a small pub. In the background, Prokofiev's "Lieutenant Kije's Suite" is playing...

At the back of the joint is a small, wobbly, round table, around which sit three communists and a professor from the local community college. The communists are smoking cigarettes; the professor is drinking a draft beer.

A woman approaches and asks the professor for a cigarette. The professor explains that he does not smoke, but that perhaps she should ask one of the communists instead. Eager to be of assistance, the communist sitting in the middle arises, producing a lone cigarette, which he hands to the woman. The woman puts the cigarette to her lips.

Next, the communist to the left stands and lights a match. The woman takes a long drag from the cigarette and then tosses it to the floor, extinguishing it beneath the toe of her shoe. Turning, she walks away humming a melody that the professor is certain is from Tchaikovsky's "Romeo & Juliet."

The communist in the middle does not agree, claiming that the melody is from Prokofiev's version of "Romeo & Juliet."

An argument ensues, which is finally ended when the communist to the right exclaims, "Tchaikovsky! Prokofiev! What does it matter - they were both Russian!!"

The communists resume their smoking; the professor hails the waitress for another draft beer. From the kitchen comes the sound of broken glass, followed by elevated voices of a foreign persuasion, perhaps Slavic. Somewhere in the distance, a solitary dog barks.

The curtain closes.

Page Two - Satie and Coffee

The scene is a coffeehouse. In the background, Satie's "Gymnopédie" is playing...

Her sudden appearance surprised me, causing me to spill my coffee, burning my hands and spattering the floor. A smile appeared on her face, which erupted into a playful chuckle.

"Be careful," I muttered in my embarrassment. "I spilled some coffee on the floor here."

"I noticed," she said with a laugh, stepping past me toward the counter. I stood there, staring at the back of her head - a cascade of brunette locks, not knowing what to do next. After a few seconds I approached the counter for some napkins.

"Sorry, Kay, I messed up your floor," I stammered.

"That's okay, honey," said the older woman from behind the counter. "It's not every day a beautiful woman walks through the door and causes you to spill your coffee."

I glanced nervously over at the younger woman. She turned toward me, smiled, and then pointed at my chest.

"You've got some coffee on your jacket," she remarked rather nonchalantly.

I looked down at my jacket, to the spot where she was pointing, nodded, and reached for the napkins.

"Don't worry about cleaning up the floor, honey," said Kay as she slid a large mug of steaming hot cocoa across the counter to the young woman. "These floorboards are over a hundred years old. They've seen a lot of spilt coffee in their time."

With that I moved away from the counter and made my way over to a small table near the window. Resting my coffee down carefully, I removed my jacket, placed it on the back of the chair, and then, with some degree of caution, rested myself down. There ... I'm seated ... no more mishaps! Phew! Just as I was lifting the cup to take a first sip she appeared before me suddenly, causing me to burn my lips.

"Mind if I join you?" she asked, laughing at my continued clumsiness.

"Please," I replied as I moved past her to pull out a chair. Moments later we were seated across from one another. She took a sip of her cocoa, and then spoke.

"Ah ... I love Erik Satie. His music is so ambient, so atmospheric, so poetic. Especially this piece of music - Gymnopédie No. 1, if I'm not mistaken."

"Yes, I like Satie as well," I added. "I like all the Impressionists - Satie, Debussy, Fauré, Ravel. Actually, though, this is Gymnopédie No. 3."

"Hmmm ... I don't think so," she answered with a cocky grin. "I believe this is No. 1."

"No, no, no," I rebutted, shaking my head, though attempting to keep the mood light and playful. "This is clearly No. 3. I took a course in impressionistic music at the conservatory last fall. This is definitely Gymnopédie No. 3."

"Oh, you're pretty sure of yourself, aren't you?" was her comeback, a look of seriousness now invading her earlier playful face. "Well I used to play the cello in the symphony orchestra, and I can tell you for certain that it's Gymnopédie No. 1."

"How could you possibly think it's No. 1?!" I argued with arms now crossed. "I'm afraid you and your cello are wrong. This is No. 3."

"You're the one who's wrong," she said as she arose from her seat. "It's Gymnopédie No. 1. Oh and by the way, you spilled some coffee on your shirt, too! Idiot!!"

After she left the coffeehouse I just sat there and sipped my coffee and went over and over the doomed conversation in my mind. In time Kay came out from behind the counter and walked over to my table.

"How could you be so stupid!" she said angrily.

"I know, I know, I always find a way of chasing away women," I replied.

"That's not what I meant by stupid!" barked Kay as she wiped down the table. "Any fool knows that the piece of music was Gymnopédie No.2!!"

Finis.

Jack Sheedy

The Pilgrims were latecomers here; Local pets available to see online; Do-it-yourself motel?

Columbus was a lousy navigator and the Pilgrims were latecomers

Albert Beirstadt's 1858 Oil Painting entitled: "Gosnold at Cuttyhunk, 1602", where the Gosnold set up a camp but gave it up when he was unable to find sufficient food for the winter and sailed back to England. Note the bark Concord moored offshore on left.

In Love With the History Our Teachers Never Told Us

Oddly, considering that he now lives on Martha's Vineyard, one place that Mr. Horwitz writes about but did not visit is Cuttyhunk, right nearby, where the British explorer Bartholomew Gosnold established a short-lived colony in 1602.CUTTYHUNK ISLAND, Mass. - Tony Horwitz's new book, "A Voyage Long and Strange," is about the American history most Americans never learned, including the story of the short-lived, early-17th-century colony established on this windswept island eight miles west of Martha's Vineyard.

The book starts with the Viking discovery of North America, dispels a number of myths about Columbus (a much lousier navigator than we were taught) and then traces the various Spanish and French explorations of America before turning to the English settlements at Jamestown and Plymouth.

That the Pilgrims were very tardy latecomers is one of the themes of "A Voyage Long and Strange," just published by Macmillan. Another is that much of what we think of as heroic exploration was bumbling and misguided. And a third is that large chunks of our past are preserved these days less by scholars than by passionate amateurs. Who knew, for example, that some evangelicals in Jacksonville, Fla., were keeping alive the memory of the French Huguenots who settled there and were massacred by the Spanish?...  NY Times.
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Seasonal Worker Slump
Immigrant labor is the backbone of the summer tourism industry, a remaining bright spot in a dire economy. But a federal crackdown could mean trouble

Fewer people will be bustling in the kitchen and making beds in restaurants and hotels across Cape Cod this year. Like other US tourist destinations, the Cape is suffering from a seasonal worker shortage, due to a lack of H-2B visas, which allow temporary seasonal workers to fill unskilled, entry-level positions...

"There aren't too many people who want a summer seasonal job. It's too long for high school and college students and school teachers." - Greg StoneIn 2005, small business owners nationwide lobbied Congress for the Save our Small and Seasonal Businesses (SOS) Act, which divided the 66,000 available visas in two, 33,000 for each half of the fiscal year. The SOS Act had a built-in provision for returning H-2B visa workers: It allowed returning temporary workers to, well, return, not counted as part of the 33,000. But the returning worker provision ran out in October 2007 and was never renewed for 2008, leaving just 33,000 temporary visas for the whole country in the second half of FY 2008, including the tourist-heavy summer months.

On January 2nd, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that the H-2B program had reached the 33,000 cap for the second half of 2008... Greg Stone, owner of the Lighthouse Inn in West Dennis, has employed 18 to 20 Jamaican workers on H-2B visas for the past 10 years. This year, he's short-staffed. He'll be able to fill a few slots with Jamaican workers from winter resorts, since the H-2B program does leave room for extension from one season to the next. It won't be enough, though. Stone is already considering cutbacks, like opening his dining room for only breakfast, rather than dinner as well, on Memorial Day weekend... dig.
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Local Pets for Adoption

These adorable pets are currently available for adoption from the Animal Rescue League of Boston's branch in Brewster on Route 6A.  You can search for breed, gender, age, etc. right here on capecodtoday.com.

Like Maddy on right at the Brewster shelter who is described like this:

I'm a sweetheart who LOVES attention. I'll reach out to grab you with my paws if you're ignoring me. I was originally a stray and was all matted up when I came here. Now I need someone willing to brush me every day, so I don't get matted again - that's no fun!

Give one of these furry, feathery, or scaly(!) creatures a forever home! (Links open in a new window on Petfinder's website.) Go to our new Pet Page here.

Pedestrian struck in Eastham; Motorcyclist critical after Hyannis crash; Two crashes in Harwich; Hyannis fire; Fire drives two families out in Vineyard

Car vs pedestrian in Eastham
EASTHAM - A pedestrian was struck by a car around 9:20 p.m. in Eastham. The crash happened on Route 6 by the Valero Gas Station. A Medflight helicopter landed behind the Eastham Fire Station and flew 46-year old Charles P. Flack of Eastham to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Two people in the vehicle were evaluated at the scene. The driver is identified as 66-year old Nancy Swanson of Provincetown. No charges have been filed in the crash which remains under investigation by Eastham Police along with the Cape Cod Accident Reconstruction Team and the Barnstable Sheriff's Office.

Motorcycle vs car in Hyannis

    ^{A motorcyclist was critically injured when he collided with a Toyota Rav4.}
HYANNIS - A motorcyclist was critically injured when he collided with an SUV on Route 132 by the Festival Plaza around 7 p.m. Witnesses said the motorcycle was speeding and may have run a red light before crashing into a Toyota Rav4. The biker 18-year old Jesse Rivera of Mashpee was rushed to Cape Cod Hospital. Two people in the Rav4 were also taken to CCH for evaluation. Traffic was detoured while Barnstable Police reconstructed the crash. At right, one of the SUV occupants in an ambulance. Below, Barnstable Police reconstruction officer Neil Gearin surveys the scene. Story and photos by Frank Paparo.

Two-vehicle crash on Route 6 in West Barnstable
WEST BARNSTABLE - Two people were injured in a crash on Route 6 in West Barnstable. The crash happened about 9:20 a.m. on the eastbound side before exit 6. The injuries do not appear life threatening. Firefighters had to deal with a large fuel spill from one of the vehicles. State Police are investigating the crash. It appears a Ford pickup truck driven by 21-year-old Jonathan Robohm of Onset lost its axle and rolled over. A car driven by 45-year-old Lisa Moravec of Eastham struck the axle and spun out.

Two-vehicle crash on Lower County Road in Harwich

     ^{The driver of this car apparently lost control after hitting a pickup truck and struck a tree.}
HARWICHPORT - Two people were transported to Cape Cod Hospital Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. after an accident on Lower County Road and Ships Haven Road.

A Pontiac Grand Am traveling west on Lower County Road attempted to pass a White GMC pick-up causing the truck to slam into a NStar pole at Ships Haven Road. The driver of the sedan John Melanson of Brewster lost control of his vehicle sending him down an embankment, wiping out a fence, and hitting a tree at 6 Ships Haven Road.

At right: Deputy Fire Chief Norman Clarke, Jr. speaks to Peter Barca of Harwich the driver of the GMC truck who was not injured.

Lower right: Mr. Melanson awaits transfer to CCH by the Harwich Fire and Rescue.

A female passenger in the sedan was also transported to the hospital.

Harwich Police officer Aram Goshgarian cited Mr. Melanson for improper passing that caused the accident.

Story and photos by Jake O'Callaghan

Two-vehicle crash on Route 39 in Harwich

HARWICH - A two-vehicle crash Wednesday morning at 7:40 a.m.  sent one person to Cape Cod Hospital with a head injury.  Dinu Alexandresco of Romania was coming out of a driveway onto Route 39 near Randolph Lane when his Hyundai Elantra was struck by a Ford Explorer driven by Tom Yarbro of Harwich.

Mr. Alexandresco will be charged with driving with no license and failure to grant the right of way to Mr. Yarbro.  Mr. Alexandresco's head struck the windshield (see photo above) causing the injury. 

Story and photos by Jake O'Callaghan.

Firefighters prevent major blaze in Hyannis
HYANNIS - The quick thinking by employees of the newly renovated SRI Boutique and quick response by Hyannis Fire stopped a fire in the store from expanding and causing major damage to the newey renovated building at 702 Main Street Hyannis, part of the Hyannis Business Improvement District . The fire set off the alarms and sprinklers and Several racks of womens clothes were damaged and had to be brought on the front deck of the store. Story by Frank Paparo.

Two families lose home in early morning Martha's Vineyard fire

EDGARTOWN - An early morning fire in Edgartown puts two families out of their home. Fire crews from Edgartown and Oak Bluffs arrived #12 North Fourth Street at approximately 5-am this morning to find the single story house and two-story garage completely engulfed in flames.

José Olivera rented a room in the house with his wife Maria. They shared the house with another family of 5. According to Mr. Olivera, the fire started in the garage at about 4:30 in the morning and spread quickly to the rest of the dwelling. An alert housemate was able to wake everyone and get them out in time.

It took firefighters nearly three hours to clear the structure and leave the residents to begin trying to salvage what they could.

On right the Red Cross was on scene to provide assistance and as residents filled out paperwork, neighbors made their way over and began to offer places to sleep, clothes, toys and help. A team of investigators will be working over the next few weeks to determine the cause of the blaze.

Story and photos by Ezra Sherman, MVOL.com.

Yarmouth Police Department Recognizes National Volunteer Week
YARMOUTH - National Volunteer Week is the time to thank one of America's most valuable assets - volunteers - and call the public's attention to all that they do to improve our communities.

Last year our Volunteers in Police Services (VIPS) provided 2,756 hours of support services that directly assisted the Yarmouth Police Department in providing professional and effective community policing to all members of our community.

In honor of National Volunteer Week-April 27 - May 3, 2008-the Yarmouth Police Department recognizes the following citizens who have provided exceptional volunteer police services to our community in 2007.

Peter Coccaro
Aimee Falcone
Barbara Garulay
Susan Harrison
Joanne Jackson
Lawrence R. Holmes
Mary M. Manwaring
Gerald P. McMahon
Nanse Meade
Sally Place
Richard Young

CWN Weather alert: Frost advisory in effect from midnight to 7 a.m.

Kids Artwork wanted for Museum Exhibit - UPDATE!!

Hi Folks,
A progress report on "Gone Fishin"!

It took a while, but I've figured out that getting photos at this time of the year is probably not going to float for many of us.

So, in order to make it easier for your child to submit work for the exhibit, we're expanding the criteria to include any type of 2-d media.

So, if your 6 y.o. (or younger) to 18 y.o. would like to paint, draw or collage a piece (8" x 10" please!) for inclusion in the exhibit, we would be thrilled to put it on display!

For those who may have missed the original post, here it it.

**Gone Fishin**
Do you know a young artist, age 6 to 18, who might like to see their work on display at the Cape Cod Maritime Museum? If so, please tell them about this unique opportunity!
 
Cape Cod Maritime Museum and Women of Fishing Families (both local non-profit organizations) are working together to create a new exhibit called Gone Fishin', which will be on display at the Maritime Museum throughout 2008. This exhibit is sponsored by a grant from the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod.
 
We are asking local youngsters to take photographs or create pictures of scenes that reflect their views and opinions about the Cape's fishing industries past, present and future. They should then write a short explanation to accompany the photo, describing what it is and what it symbolizes.
 
Themes could be anything "fishy" - commercial fishing, lobstering, shell-fishing, harbors, aquaculture or even whale-watching.
 
Images can be either digital (jpeg or PDF, 300 dpi or better) or - better still -  hard copy.
 
Photos, paintings, drawings etc., explanations and full contact details should be emailed to Cathrine Macort at Lchmacort@yahoo.com or snail-mailed to Cape Cod Maritime Museum, 135 South Street, Hyannis MA 02601.
 
We will do our best to ensure that every image we receive will be included in the exhibit, so don't be shy - just let the camera do the talking!
 
Closing date is May 15th, 2008. Exhibit will open May 27th, 2008 at the Cape Cod Maritime Museum, 135 South Street Hyannis - overlooking the Harbor!
 
Call Cathrine at 508 775 1723 x3 for more information.

WHOI helps whales swim safely through our waters

New whale detection buoys will help ships take the right way

Collaboration between researchers, regulators, and industry will aid in the protection of an endangered species

Researchers from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and the Bioacoustics Research Program (BRP) at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology have teamed up with an international energy company and federal regulators to listen for and help protect endangered North Atlantic right whales in New England waters.

Working in the recently renovated Coastal Research Laboratory at WHOI, engineering assistant Paul Fraser puts finishing touches on a surface buoy for the right whale autodetection system. Click the photo above to see how the system works. (Photo by Tom Kleindinst, WHOI)Building on advances in ocean mooring design, underwater acoustic systems, and telecommunications, the team built and installed ten "auto-detection buoys" to listen for the calls of right whales along the main shipping lanes into Massachusetts Bay and Boston Harbor.

The array of instruments-conceived by biologist and engineer Christopher W. Clark of the Cornell Lab and engineer John Kemp of WHOI-was largely funded by Excelerate Energy, L.L.C., as part of its environmental compliance associated with its Northeast Gateway deepwater port for liquefied natural gas (LNG). The import facility is set to begin operations in spring 2008.

The new listening system allows researchers to detect the location of whales in real time and alert ship operators and coastal resource managers to their presence. With advance warning, ships can be slowed or re-routed to prevent collisions, which is the most common cause of death for the iconic New England whale.

Saving the few and the mighty

Marine biologists estimate that only 350 to 400 right whales remain in the North Atlantic.

"North Atlantic right whales migrate through a highly industrialized part of the coastline, and we need creative solutions to help them survive," said Kemp, an engineer in WHOI's Department of Applied Ocean Physics and Engineering. "The challenge was to develop a mooring that could stand up to the stresses of harsh New England waters while keeping an acoustically quiet environment for the hydrophones."

Mandated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the whale-detection system was installed along a 55 nautical mile segment of the Boston Traffic Separation Scheme (primary shipping lanes) leading to Boston Harbor.

The Northeast Gateway is located approximately 13 nautical miles south southeast of Gloucester, Mass., and 1.8 nautical miles from the western border of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary (which is managed by NOAA).

Since the route to the LNG terminal takes vessels through prime whale habitat, researchers and regulators from the sanctuary and NOAA Fisheries worked with the Port's licensing agencies (the US Coast Guard and the Maritime Administration) and Excelerate Energy to develop a plan to keep whales and LNG ships out of each other's way in Massachusetts Bay.

Excelerate Energy then entered into a partnership with the Cornell Lab and WHOI to develop the remote auto-detection system. To further reduce the operational risk of ship strikes, Excelerate Energy has trained its crew members to watch for marine mammals and sea turtles as their vessels travel to and from the port.

"Can you hear me now, Moby Dick?"

Each auto-detection buoy is instrumented with an underwater microphone-or hydrophone-to carry underwater sounds to the surface via specially designed cable that WHOI technicians playfully call it the "Gumby hose." The stretchy, hose-like cable has data-conducting wires woven into its walls.

More importantly, the Gumby hose can stretch to at least twice its normal length, a special mooring design created at WHOI to overcome harsh sea states and keep the buoy above water. In typical winter storm conditions in the North Atlantic, wave heights in coastal waters can swell to 10 meters (33 feet), putting dangerous strain on traditional mooring lines and creating excessive noise that would make whale detection nearly impossible.

Data from the hydrophones are relayed through the Gumby hose to customized computers on the surface buoy, which continuously analyze underwater sounds to detect possible right whale calls. Every 20 minutes, these acoustic detections are sent by cellular or satellite phone to a server at Clark's lab, where they are validated by whale call experts.

In the process, researchers can determine whether right whales have been detected within range of each buoy and then alert Excelerate Energy and, perhaps eventually, other ships using maritime telecommunications networks.

"Thanks to these efforts, for the first time, ship captains can receive continuous information on where the whales are so they can slow down and avoid tragic collisions," said Clark, lead scientist on the project. "Scientific studies indicate that the death of just one or two breeding females a year will lead to the population's extinction. Slowing down for whales will make a big difference."

The WHOI Mooring Operations, Engineering, and Field Support Group has been designing, building, and deploying scientific instruments in the sea for decades, making dozens of installations around the world each year for researchers from WHOI and many other institutions and companies.

Kemp and Clark have been working together on the whale-detection system since 2003, testing several different hydrophones and mooring designs. The team recently deployed three whale detection buoys in Cape Cod Bay for the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries and two off the coasts of Georgia and Florida.

The effort to detect and protect whales in Massachusetts Bay is part of a larger effort by scientists and personnel from the New England Aquarium, Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies, NOAA's Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, WHOI, and other members of the Right Whale Consortium.

Absolutely Nuts

By the way, we are not making this up.  We wish we were.  This is a real television commercial.  Really.  If you don't believe us, see for yourself...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ohc37DKtZMc

Whale-watch boats endanger whales; RI votes for 24-hour gambling; Cape Cod pork

Whale-watching boats are putting whales in jeopardy, study says
Skippers ignoring speed limits in effort to wow passengers

"I want to see whale watching, but it has to be done in a way as safe as we can make it."
 - Dave Wiley, report authorIn the lush waters of Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, whale watching is one of the region's most beloved - and jaw-dropping - experiences. When one of the animals is spotted in the dark, cold waters, boats filled with awestruck tourists make a beeline to watch the leviathan feed and, if luck is with them, breach.

But a new study says whale-watching boats are going too fast near whales, endangering them and disregarding a decade-old pledge to slow down...

As part of the study, published this month in the journal Conservation Biology, researchers went undercover 46 times in 2003-2004 on ships owned by New England's whale-watching companies. Armed with global positioning system units, the observers recorded time, speed, and location at 5-second intervals. Every trip exceeded the voluntary speed limits, sometimes more than threefold, they found. The whale-watching companies are not named in the study... Globe.
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House adds spending to budget plan during debate
$100K for Cape head-injury program

House lawmakers were adding millions in spending during their second day of budget debate.  Lawmakers retreated to a back room to hash out which of dozens of proposed amendments related to human services, mental health and mental retardation programs would make it into the final House version of the state budget.

Lawmakers emerged with a single consolidated amendment that set aside money for specific programs, including $3.3 million for housing for the homeless mentally ill and $2.5 million for a child psychiatric access project.  There were also smaller earmarks, including $100,000 for the Special Olympics and another $100,000 for a Cape Cod head injury program.  Herald.
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24-hour gambling OK'd on weekends in RI

The Rhode Island House and Senate yesterday approved 24-hour gambling at the state's two video-slot emporiums on weekends and holidays, after a raucous debate in which critics accused the Assembly's Democratic leaders of violating both the Constitution and the wishes of people living in Newport and Lincoln who have repeatedly said "no" to more gambling.

Along the way, the lawmakers rejected amendment after amendment that would have required voter approval, a larger appropriation for problem-gambling and a hike in the state's legal gambling age to 21.

As is the custom at the Rhode Island State House, members of the Senate still have to approve the House version of the bill, and vice versa if one or both is to become law. So overnight gambling is not yet allowed in the state, but it's moving quickly in that direction... The track is owned by a consortium that includes Kerzner International, Starwood Capital and the Waterford Group in Connecticut. Two of the principals - Sol Kerzner and Len Wolman - are backing the proposed Mashpee Wampanoag casino in Massachusetts... Providence Journal.

You know, it really would be easier if they decided it like this...

The front page (or whatever we call it online) poll from CCToday concerns the recent Obama/Clinton fight on WWE Raw. Here's the video of how it all went down;

It was a pretty good match. Hillary- who looked nothing like the actual candidate, but who could wrestle a bit- managed to slam Obama, and then hit him with a devastating running leg drop that was one fat ankle away from RFKing Obama right out of this race.

Obama countered with not only a Ba-Rock Bottom, but he went off the ropes and tried to hit a People's Elbow on the former First Lady. Interference from former President Clinton saved the day for the overmatched Senator from NY.

It was all for naught, though... as Umaga the Samoan Bulldozer then interjected himself into the match, chasing Bill Clinton away before gorilla-pimping each of the democratic candidates.

In all, it was about as dignified as a Willie Horton commercial, and I left the TV that night thinking that Bill should be running.