Thursday, November 15, 2007

Gulfstar 44 Boat move from RI to VA

We moved a Gulfstar 44 from Warren RI to Mobjack VA starting on November 5th and arriving on the 12th.
The only problem was an anchor line caught on a prop that required a diver to release the boat and to replace the props.








Tuesday, October 30, 2007

ONBH fox hunt video

Double click on the arrow to see the video.



Wednesday, October 10, 2007

ONBH blessing of the hounds

On September 29, 2007 the Old North Bridge Hounds fox hunt held the blessing of the hounds performed by a native American accompanied by a drum group.


To see the video click on the arrow in the center of the picture. You may have to click twice.



Mr Ferro of Ancient Echos provided the following description. It would be my pleasure to explain the song's to you. Many were very old Southern prayer and honoring songs. We also sang a few Northern style dance songs or better known as Intertribal's. We are very active within the Native Community with drumming and singing through out all New England, New York State and Pennsylvania. We have two Drum Groups we travel with at different times. The Gentleman in the Red Eastern Native Regalia is(White Thunder) who blessed the Riders', Horses and Hounds and also the (drum keeper) of the Southern drum we used and sang with Saturday. We are all Proud members of that drum group which is known as Ancient Echo's. We sing mostly Southern style songs on that drum. We are also proud Members of another drum group that is a Northern style of singing and drumming called Kicking Wapiti, or (kicking elk). I am drum keeper for that group. There is a profound difference in the pitch of singing and drumming between both, Southern and Northern being higher vocables, The energy levels are quite high on both drums. All the members of both drum groups are like our big family ,we always enjoy having a great time together either performing at Powwows or just hanging out together. We love what we do because we are teaching and preserving our culture through the songs, drumming and dancing

Thursday, September 27, 2007

ONBH fox hunt in Lincoln MA

double click on the arrow to see the video


Sunday, September 23, 2007

A motorcycle is needed

A motocycle is needed

Click twice to see the video

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Is this a real fox hunt?

Clikc twice to see the video

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Rotary Club Talk Like a Pirate Day

The Merrimack Valley Rotary Club met in Chelmsford MA on September 19th 2007 for:

Click twice on the arrow to see the video


Monday, September 03, 2007

Windchaser Ericson 35 sailboat for sale

An incredible value

Double click on the arrow to see the video




For more information please contact:
Suzanne M. Elllis
South Freeport Yatch Sales
31 Main St.P.O. Box 56South Freeport, ME 04078

Suzanne@sfys.us

and clik on the word "link" below to see the full listing

Sunday, September 02, 2007

Was Dracula right - blood links to reduce aging



In the time of Vlad Tepes, the real Dracula, a countess existed (ERZSÉBET (ELIZABETH) BÁTHORY) who bleed and killed young girls because she thought that their blood would reduce her own aging.




She may have been right. Recent studies have shown that attaching a young mouse to a old like "siamese twins", the old mouse gains regenerative capacity close to that of a much younger mouse. When the link is broken the effect is lost. So, the old cells have the capacity to repair but the correct molecular signaling is missing.


A video lecture "Stem cells and the end of aging" from the Howard Hughes medical institute gives a full explanation of the data that supports this analysis is available at:

http://www.researchchannel.org/prog/displayevent.aspx?rID=16092&fID=567


It doesn't say anything about Dracula.


also mentioned:
Fish can repair their damaged hearts much better than us.
Thymosin beta 4 looks promising for repair of myocardial infarctions.

Monday, August 20, 2007

Walk of Surenden Farms in Groton MA to plan trails

Today we walked through briers and all sorts of underbrush trying to find and plan trails.

Our path is as shown below:



Boating in the Basin Casco Bay Maine

Saturday was spent on the Auriga with friends eating lobster among other activities

click twice on the arrow to see the movie




Friday, August 17, 2007

Moving a Selene 47 passagemaker from RI to MA


I helped some friends move their passagemaker from thier dock in RI to one nearer their home in Onset to get ready for a trip downeast.

To view the movie click twice on the arrow



An early morning start

The boat and owners

Food for the party

The party in full force

A child dancer from the Nutcracker and the prima ballerina

Sunday, August 12, 2007

Sailing in Boothbay Maine

Jim and I sailed from South Freeport Me to Boothbay Harbor. Below are pictures and a couple of YouTube videos of the trip.

Jim at the wheel


A great meal for hungry sailors

Below are two Youtube videos from the trip
You may have to click twice on the arrow to see the video.

Passing through the Southport swing bridge


Boothbay harbor Yatch Club






A tribute to Snoopy sailed by


Friday, August 10, 2007

RNA - the secret of current Life and its origin






This week I had the pleasure of hearing a talk by Craig Mello about his work in the exciting field of RNAi which this year won the Nobel Prize in medicine. It seems to be at the center of our development and the control of our biochemistry. -RNA in general may also be the chemical that provided the transition between non-living chemicals and the earliest forms of life. It can carry genetic information like DNA and catalyze chemical reaction like proteins. It is the missing link that solves the chicken and egg problem of which came first, DNA or protein. The answer is neither, it was RNA.

The following link provides a background on RNAi:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3210/02.html

This link covers RNA and the origin of life.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3210/02.html

http://www.panspermia.org/rnaworld.htm

Sunday, June 24, 2007

My Jeep hits 300,000 miles

My old 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited has just completed 300,000 miles and indicated by the photograph of the odometer taken at the critical moment. Although a number of items such as the air conditioner and water pump have been replaced, it is still relatively intact with little in the way of rust. My friends keep telling me to get a new one but that would require money and making a decision. We will hold off for now or until a rod goes through the engine wall.


Monday, June 18, 2007

A Night on the Windchaser in Casco Bay Maine

After working hard waxing and performing other commission activities I prepared a nice dinner and settled in for the night on the mooring. While a beautiful environment in which to just sit and relax, DVDs played on a laptop and the internet by WiFi are also options.




Tuesday, June 12, 2007

How long is now?

Stephen King wrote a book that became a TV show called “The Langoliers” http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112040/ . These many toothed things eat up reality for a while after now is done and are seen by a group of airplane passengers when they pass through some type of time warp after leaving LAX. The Twilight Zone TV show also had an episode with a similar theme called “A matter of Minutes” The Twilight Zone TV show also had an episode with a similar theme called “A Matter of Minutes" http://www.tv.com/the-twilight-zone-1985/a-matter-of-minutes/episode/75277/recap.html .

While interesting stories, one wonders what modern physics has to say about the length of the current instant. Is now infinitely small or does it have some duration. The shortest time know is one tick of the Planck clock (related to the Planck constant) which is very short indeed. However, relativity defines time as a dimension and all other dimensions have a finite length. It would seem to me that “now” cannot be infinitely small as if so time would not exist. If we consider time as the surface of an expanding balloon then one can ask, how thick is the surface of the balloon? Is the inside of the balloon empty or does the past always exist but is just not accessible to our conscious self?

Food for thought.

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

Trip to the Galapagos Islands






Being a geneticist I feel an obligation to visit the Galapagos. A couple of days ago I met a women at the Main Street cafe who will soon leave on the trip described below. There is still room this year on the tour described below but considering my recent travel, I should probably hold off till next year. James said that two vacancies may be available on this year's trip.





EDventures.
38 Old Orchard Road JAMES R. SERACH
Groton, MA 01450 Director
(978) 448-9597 jserach@lacademy.edu
Darwin's Enchanted Islands: The Galápagos
June 11 – 21, 2007

The Galápagos Islands were made famous when young Charles Darwin, naturalist on the H.M.S Beagle, visited them for five weeks in 1835. Here Darwin saw numerous species of birds, lizards, and plants that though they seemed familiar, were also quite unique. There were mockingbirds and finches that looked slightly different on each island, giant tortoises, and those "imps of darkness," the black marine iguanas that ate algae, underwater, from the intertidal rocks!

These remote islands, over 600 miles out in the Pacific from the coast of Ecuador, were called Las Encantadas – the Enchanted Islands – by early mariners and Yankee whalers. Modern-day travelers and naturalists continue to fall under the spell of this wondrous place. Fur seals, sea lions, penguins, flightless cormorants, iguanas, and the variety of native land bird species, many of them endemic, provide a myriad of photographic and observation opportunities. These isolated oceanic islands are also rich in unique plant and marine life. Because of their location on an active tectonic area, it is possible to study geology in a way that no textbook could match!

Cruise with us to nine of the islands and explore their dramatic volcanic landscapes, enticing beaches, and observe and photograph the unique and fascinating flora and fauna. The cruises between islands offer the opportunity for onboard discussions and reflection and, of course, to observe pelagic bird species and marine life. Snorkeling is possible at most islands and visitor sites as well and the beaches of white, red, green, or black sand are pristine and inviting.

While within the Galápagos National Park, we will live aboard the M/Y Daphne, a luxurious 70’ motor yacht with double air-conditioned cabins; a friendly crew, including a full kitchen staff; and a certified English-speaking naturalist guide. Veteran science teacher and tropical biologist, Jim Serach, will lead on-board discussions about the islands’ natural and cultural history, their fascinating geology, and the unique wildlife.

In addition to our Galápagos adventure, we will spend two days in Quito, Ecuador, a quintessential Latin American city. A city tour is included and there will time for personal exploration and shopping. You can even visit and straddle the Equator itself!

TRIP COST: $3500 (from Miami)

Includes: Roundtrip airfare from Miami to Quito and to Galápagos, ground transportation and airport transfers in Ecuador, all meals on the boat, double accommodations on the boat and in Quito (including breakfast), city and Equator Museum tours, naturalist guide, Galápagos National Park entrance fee. Not included: Personal tips, drinks and other personal expenses, lunches and dinners in Quito, and exit tax (US$31.60).

Registration is limited to 15 participants! Please return the attached registration form with a deposit ($800 per person) to Jim Serach at the address above as soon as possible. Please make checks payable to: EDventures.
EDventures
38 Old Orchard Road JAMES R. SERACH
Groton, MA 01450 Director
(978) 448-9597 jserach@lacademy.edu

Darwin's Enchanted Islands: The Galápagos
June 11 – 21, 2007

TENTATIVE ITINERARY


June 11 (Mon) Depart from Miami to Quito, Ecuador (Hotel Villa Nancy)
(American Airlines Flt 931 Departs 3:30 pm)

June 12 (Tues) Quito – City Tour (Hotel Villa Nancy)

June 13 (Wed) Travel from Quito to Galapagos – BALTRA
PLAYA LAS BACHAS

June 14 (Thur) PLAZAS and SANTA FE

June 15 (Fri) ESPAÑOLA – Pta. Suárez and Gardner Bay

June 16 (Sat) FLOREANA – Pta. Cormorant and Post Office Bay

June 17 (Sun) SANTA CRUZ – Conway Bay
Visit Darwin Research Station and the highlands (Los Gemelos, lava tubes, wild tortoises)

June 18 (Mon) GENOVESA – Prince Philip’s Steps and Darwin Bay

June 19 (Tues) SANTIAGO – James Bay and BARTOLME ­– Sullivan Bay

June 20 (Wed) Return to BALTRA via SEYMOUR NORTE
Fly to Quito – last-minute shopping! (Hotel Villa Nancy)

June 21 (Thur) Return to U.S. via Miami
(American Airlines Flt 966 Arrives 1:00 pm)

Sunday, June 03, 2007

ONBH hunter pace

Check out the ONBH blog at http://onbh.blogspot.com/ for pictures of the hunter pace run today at Great Brook park in Carlisle MA. The Merrimackvalley Rotary club sold hot dogs as shown below. It was great being able to use Deb's trailer as a base.