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Specials and Events
Last night's TV news on Channel 7 and Channel 5
Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and the Dickie Bradley Specials
The San Pedro Sun
Doctor Love: Paranormal Activity
Yes. Someone asked about paranormal activity. The good Doctor has some experience in that...
Editorial- Holding Elected Officials Accountable for Their Actions
Some of us hold jobs that put us in the public light, and in some cases our public actions and behavior can reflect poorly on our employers. Although we are all entitled to our own lives outside of the workplace, it’s a tough position to be in at times when you may feel your actions are “censored” just because of who you work for. The bottom line is being accountable for your behavior and in circumstances when an employee is found publicly offensive or inappropriate the result can be reprimand by the embarrassed employer or even termination. Of course these are choices that each individual is free to make; what is more important, unabashed, unapologetic behavior or a job that most likely holds some social status, is intellectually challenging and pays above average?
This situation especially holds true for those who choose to politically serve the community, fully knowing that their private life and public actions will fall under the scrutiny of their constituents and those who voted for them. Who do these public servants have to answer to when their behavior is disappointing when in essence we, the public, are their employers?
Woofer: Hot Dog
Language barriers can really cause a problem. For example, what is a hot dog?
Misc Belizean Sources
King of the Hills Bicycle Race
The King of the Hills bicycle race, sponsored by Belikin, was yesterday. They got some pictures of the event, including the winners receiving their awards. Congratulations, Giovanni Choto of Belikin Western Spirit, for winning the race.
SFDC Deciennial Celebration Pictures
The Succotz Festival Drum Corps had quite an event yesterday. D Russell Photography captured some great shots. Looks like there was quite a band turnout.
Ok the dog did not really eat my homework, that is an excuse for Dr Al as to why I did not finish my Corozal part 2 post yet because I know he is waiting for it ASAP After a full day of rest yesterday, I was feeling a bit better and intending to finish it this morning, but I decided in the interest of recuperating from my head cold that I needed some private pool time instead. Normally I would not go swimming when sick bit it has been so hot the past few days and there is nothing like a good float relax and feel better.
Rushing off to a conservation meeting/brainstorming session up north and part 2 will have to wait till tomorrow.
Two Favorites on Ambergris Caye: Ak’Bol Yoga Retreat & Eco Resort and the Belize Chocolate Factory
Favorite #1: Yesterday I went to the best swimming dock on Ambergris Caye…Ak’Bol Eco Resort about 1 and 1/2 miles north of the bridge. Each morning, there is a yoga class out on this GORGEOUS dock and though I have never been, I can only imagine the experience is transcendental.
We took the Coastal Express water taxi from Amigos Del Mar dock in town.
It’s a really quick ride…less than 10 minutes. If you are in town, you can also easily ride a bike to Ak’Bol…it’s only a few miles.
Let me just post my pictures for you. I didn’t really pick & choose because in my mind, this giant dock with it many levels and perfect sandy bottom swimming area and smooth, cool palapa and beach bar with great food and drinks is just well…perfect.
It’s Official – Belize is a Very happy Country
The Lodge at Chaa Creek’s events planner, Denise Duran, said that discovering that Belize was listed as one of the top five happiest countries on earth according to the global Happiness Index, comes as no surprise to her.
“At Chaa Creek I speak with visitors to Belize all of the time, and they constantly remark on how cheerful Belizeans are,” Ms Duran said, “So I’m not really surprised to hear that we’re officially very happy.”
The Happiness Index is an annual report compiled by the New Economics Foundation that for 2013 measured the wellbeing of 151 different nations using a variety of indicators such as global data on life expectancy, experienced well-being and ecological footprints to rank countries according to a Happy Planet Index (HPI).
According to this year’s report, Costa Rica was the happiest country, with an HPI of 64.0, with Belize coming in at number four with an HPI of 59.3.
“Guests often remark that Belize and Costa Rica are similar, in that we have large protected wildlife areas, beautiful beaches, and a relaxed, peaceful feel, so I can understand that.” she said.
How an Unexpected Delay Led to a Wonderful Trip to San Ignacio, Belize
Sometimes, when it seems like things are going from bad to worst, all you gotta do is hang in there for a bit until the sun comes out again.
After barely being allowed into Belize, we were able to get to the insurance office on time. At 3:00p.m. we were still harboring hopes that we’d be able to get down to Belize City in time to catch the 4:30p.m. Water Taxi to Caye Caulker.
“So, Insurance Guy, how far are we from Belize city?”
Insurance Guy, who looked suspiciously Guatemalan, responded in perfect Belizean-accented English:
Oh, about 2… maybe 2 and a half hours.”
Our hopes dashed, I mentally made a note to check the wireless signal on my Guatemalan Tigo modem when the vehicle’s paperwork was complete.
After meeting the all-Black crew manning the Customs’ entry port, I assumed, like an idiot, that the guy was a Guatemalan guy that lived across the border. So, I asked Insurance Guy where he was from.
“Brass in Pocket” in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize.
Got up yesterday morning really looking forward to the day ahead of me. This is the state of mind I generally have but yesterday was different. It was the start of the Premiership season and Arsenal’s first game, a home one against Aston Villa.
Sitting on my veranda with a mug of black coffee I had a sense of trepidation. How will Arsenal fare this season with a lack of any meaningful acquisitions? Also would I be able to access their game on the TV? Why was I concerned about this? Because screening rights for the EPL (English Premier League) moved this season from Fox Soccer (which I have always been able to find/access on the TV) to NBC? Last season Fox Soccer televised at least three games simultaneously. Would this be the case for NBC?
By 08.00 hours (the local time for kick-off) I had located the NBC channel (103 for anyone that is interested). Even better than that – (or so I thought at the time)- the Arsenal match was the game that was going to be screened. Ninety minutes later (actually throughout most of the ensuing ninety minutes) I wished it hadn’t been. “Why?” I can ‘hear’ you ask. Because Arsenal were abjectly and maladroitly poor and, not surprisingly, lost the game.
International Sources
Cockscomb Basin: Where the big cats are
Jaguars roam Belize’s tropical Cockscomb forest, the heart of a pioneering plan to carve a green corridor linking the big cat species across the region.
As humans increasingly destroy big cat habitats around the world, this breathtaking Central American wilderness offers conservationists a rare piece of good news.
Compared to the dire fate of lions and tigers, jaguar numbers remain relatively healthy. And nowhere has a denser population of the Western Hemisphere’s largest feline than the sprawling, primeval landscape of Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary.
This 128,000-acre expanse of tropical forest — reminiscent of a scene from Jurassic Park — offers the solitary cats their perfect environment of virgin jungles and rivers in which to hide and a rich diet of peccary (a pig-like mammal), paca (a rodent the size of a large terrier), and armadillos.
Just as importantly, locals largely respect the laws prohibiting hunting jaguars — other than farmers on those rare occasions when the carnivores attack their livestock.
No wonder, then, that scientists believe Cockscomb is home to as many as 80 breeding-age adults, with others regularly coming and going from neighboring protected areas in Guatemala and Mexico.
Norwegian doubles up on islands
I just don’t know why cruise lines didn’t go ahead and rebuild most of the Caribbean. Of course, I’m kidding — well, a bit.
Yet another cruise line is building its own port.
Norwegian Cruise Line is taking the big step this time, buying 75 acres on the southern side of Belize. This will be the second port built by Norwegian.
Carnival built one in Roatan, and Royal Caribbean built one in Jamaica, at Falmouth.
Now here is what makes me a little apprehensive. If Norwegian is going to build a second port does that mean if, say, there are four stops on a 7-day cruise will two of them will be ports owned by the cruise line. If that’s the case, well…it’s not such a good idea. I can cope with one on a 7-day cruise and that’s it. Most lines do have one and sometimes, depending on the brand, they share another.
I want to experience the “real” Caribbean and West Indies. I love ports like Barbados, St. Maarten and many others and, as long as I don’t miss out on the real thing, I’m okay. The new destination will be
Norwegian Cruise Line plans to develop eco-friendly destination in Belize
Norwegian Cruise Line has announced that it has purchased approximately 75 acres in Southern Belize for the planned development of an eco-friendly cruise destination. The land, called Harvest Caye, is made up of two adjoining islands in the Stann Creek and Toledo districts that had previously been approved for a resort development with anair strip. Norwegian plans to invest $50 million in the project.
“As our fleet continues to grow to 15 ships by 2017, we expect that we will double the number of guests sailing on our Western Caribbean itineraries and, once this new destination is complete, bring four times as many guests to Belize than we do today,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s president and CEO. “In our quest to continuously look for new and exciting destinations for our guests, we plan to develop a cruise destination focused on sustainable design and eco-friendly principles that will retain the natural beauty and local culture of this tropical paradise.”
Norwegian has retained IDEA Inc. of Orlando, Florida to design the destination and bring the project to fruition. IDEA is an industry leading designer of branded ports of call and branded destinations for the hospitality, entertainment and tourism industries. IDEA has worked with private developers, government ministries, and independent agencies to create branded destinations in Alaska; Florida; St. Lucia; St. Maarten; Mexico; St. Kitts; Honduras; Bahamas; and Jamaica.
Three arrested over Kiwi's death in Belize
Three men have been arrested over the murder of an elderly New Zealand man in Belize.
Barry Blayney, 76, was found dead at his grocery shop in the village of Crooked Tree last week, l7 News Belize reported.
His hands and feet had been bound and his mouth had been taped.
Local websites reported that say Blayney had been killed by thieves who had targeted his store, which he had run for several years.
Village View Post reported that the three young men taken into custody did not come from Crooked Tree.
Rudolph Crawford, from Crooked Tree, told 7 News Belize: "[Blayney] had a little pretty shop, nothing much - just to keep him going and I have the belief that they thought he had money, that's all I could think."
30 things to do before you die
MOST bucket lists include things like 'go on an adventure in a far-off land', 'learn a new language' or 'buy a dream car'. While all of these experiences can make our lives more exciting, the reason we crave these activities goes a little deeper.
What drives each of these desires is one common connector, an innate yearning to belong and to feel love. When we do what we love, we become an expression of love and our happiness is infectious.
As I check off my own adventure list - skydiving, going swimming with wild dolphins, climbing Mayan Ruins in Belize - I find that with each activity I complete, I feel a sense of accomplishment, purpose and self-worth.
Which led me to think about our human desire to make a difference and live life more fully. All of us want the same thing: to be happy and live a wonderful life. But how we meet this need often differs from person to person.
Breaking Bad "Buried" Review: Home Is Where the Hurt Is
As the Belize Tourism Board sounded the alarm to undo all the damage Saul Goodman did in "Buried," the stellar follow-up to the Season 5b's premiere "Blood Money," so too were the sirens blaring for Walter, Hank, and Skyler. Breaking Bad is showing complete disregard for the health of America's hearts as it moves along in its final season intent on giving the pacemaker industry more business than it can handle.
If last week was the slap in the face for Heisenberg's unmasking unhatting, this week was when the sting was felt. And "Buried" showed that sting would be felt where it could hurt Walter most: by everyone within spitting distance of him. Sure, the meat of Breaking Bad's final season is watching eagerly to see if Walter the drug kingpin meets a grisly fate or if he ends the series out on top, but there's also the matter of how big the crater is where Walter's home and family life used to be when all is said and done.
Fun in Belize with the Kids
Belize is known to be a paradise for many people who have been there, given the natural beauty of the place. The hot sun and the cooling waters of the beach coupled with various places of interests and fun things to do make the place truly a nice addition to anyone’s travel bucket list – even for those with kids.
Yep, the picturesque sunsets and beaches give the place a romantic air about it, but those are not the only things that Belize can offer as it also has various activities that the whole family can enjoy.
The One Time Electronic Equipment Absolutely Belongs on the Ocean Floor
Like an underwater Google Street View, a new project studies our declining coral reefs by capturing them up-close, on film. It is hard to find clearer waters in the Western Hemisphere than those off the coast of Belize. During an hour-long ride in a rubber Zodiac moving fast over the light blue shallows—whether headed for Turneffe, Lighthouse or Glovers reef—these waters would seem to be among the least troubled on the planet.
But looks can be deceiving.
It is no secret that reefs around the world are at great risk: Estimates of how many have already been lost range from 40 to 80 percent.
Despite the aquamarine waters, the famed reefs off Belize have not escaped harm. Across the Caribbean, it’s estimated that 80 percent of the coral has been lost during the past half century thanks to overfishing, pollution and a changing climate, which is heating up the ocean and turning it more acidic. A 2009 survey off Belize showed its reef badly damaged, with up to 75 percent of it at risk of dying off.
Thanks to an innovative new study—the Caitlin Seaview Survey—evidence this summer suggests the damage to the reefs off Belize may have leveled off, and they are even showing some signs of a comeback.
AmbergrisCaye.com 
