Stuff you need to know...

EBM says it like it is, L,G,&M has a good point, and a cartoon that pretty much says it all...

Regarding voting in the US of A.

Listening to Brandy Clark

So it goes...

How time flies...

A comparison of plagues worth reading, an interesting point being made, and a country I might just point my boat toward...

1000 days since Hurricane Maria and Puerto Rico is still waiting.

Read all about it here.

Listening to Sessa

So it goes...

on enabling a problematic side of cruising...

Something worth watching, a very good point about riots, and a needful read for the perspective of privilege...

On the night that Obama won the election in 2008, we were sailing between Sint Maarten and St Thomas listening to a radio program from St Kitts on the early night watch. I was happy to see out the end of a war-mongering presidency and excited by the idea that a president of color would be a much-needed thing and help put down the ongoing thread of racism that poisons the American dream.

In point of fact, that night I was a very happy camper. That said, the DJs in St Kitts were downright ecstatic and doing the happy dance over the fact that the US of A had just elected a black man and that in their eyes a better day was soon come. So, I listened to Obama via St Kitts give his acceptance speech, and fiddled with the self-steering gear. It was a great night.

Well, unless you've been in hibernation, you're more than aware that a black president did not so much bring about that better day. Racism was a lot more deeply entrenched in the American psyche than I thought and instead of withering away as I expected it became stronger, more in your face, and dog-whistles became bullhorns.

The worst part for me is I saw this bloom of up-front racism manifesting itself in the cruising community. Cruisers saying things in public that were cringeworthy and hateful both about Obama and anyone that was not white or shared their religion. One day standing in line waiting to do customs & immigration, a couple of cruisers began talking to another cruiser on how inept and stupid the ladies working there were and how things would run better if they just used monkeys. Of course, the folks having this excretable conversation were speaking loudly enough for the various officials to hear and I am in awe at how the officials continued to perform their duties while being confronted by such blatant assholery.

Not too much later in Sint Maarten, a well kept American-flagged Bendytoy came into the lagoon and anchored with a middle-aged black couple onboard. The next morning on the morning VHF net another American boat got on the radio and informed the net that there was a black couple on the boat so it must be stolen, in the drug business, or criminals of some sort so be aware. The couple in question happened to be a surgeon and a college professor from Chicago.

Judging from what I see in the cruising community is that it's pretty much a whites-only affair and folks of color are not exactly welcomed with open arms.

This is not to say that all cruisers are racists but there is a big enough chunk of folks who are to be problematic. While I hope the majority of cruisers are not racistly inclined, the fact that cruisers often choose to ignore racist behavior to avoid confrontation and embarrassment. Ignoring racist behavior just empowers and enables it.

Any wonder why you don't see a more diverse racial mix out sailing or cruising?

Just saying.

Listening to an Iron Leg radio show

So it goes...

World Wildlife Day...

A good reason to rethink Biden, something on the subject of denial, and the question I think just about everyone is asking at the moment...



Listening to a whole lot of Richard Thompson

So it goes...

On a subject of interest...

Badtux getting it right, fewer fish in the seas, and a question which still keeps me up at night...

Mollymawk (always a good read) has a cautionary tale and call to action that everyone should read.

Yes, that means YOU.

Listening to Le Groupe Obscur

So it goes...

Yep, I'm 64 and truly pissed off...

Obama makes a point, something in the "seems like a pretty good idea" department, and, oh yeah, Patagonia has something important they want you to know...

I'm taking the day off.

Listening to Hot Rats (It being Zappadan and all)

So it goes...

A trailer of note...

Dorworth on karma, a very interesting program on shipping containers, in the "This really sucks" department, and speaking of karma of the negative sort tRump adds to his balance sheet...

Something for the need to watch file.



Listening to Dizzy Sunfist (nothing puts me in a better mood than Japanese Skatepunk music)

So it goes...

An apology to non-USA readers...

Some needful reading, a depressing agenda, just basic logic, and Moldy Chum...

...has

...some

...Real

...Good

...ADVICE
Boat stuff will resume tomorrow.

Listening to Pegi Young and the Survivors

So it goes...

Something you need to watch...

A better way of looking at economics, an empathy free zone in Idaho, and in the "Racism has many forms" department...


Reef or Madness from Julie Hollenbeck on Vimeo.

Listening to Amos Lee

So it goes...

A film you should check out...

This is a positive development, a seriously fucked up development, and has it really been 50 years...



Listening to Carolina Gold

So it goes...

Something you should watch/know...

Badtux making some needful sense, a riveting read, and just in case you need to escape reality...



Listening to Mashrou' Leila

So it goes...

Get angry and write some fucking letters...

Someone making sense, an interesting/better alternative to open carry, and a very good point being made...


Free Lolita | #16425DaysASlave from Ian W. McGee on Vimeo.

If you're reading Boat Bits you obviously have some spare time to write a couple of letters and just generally kick some ass.

So, get to doing!

Listening to some good music for a good cause

So it goes...

You could say I'm not a happy camper today...

Something I found worthwhile, an interesting riff on intelligence, and a truly great post from Antonio Dias...

Last night I saw that the French powers-that-be are back on the "Let's tax boaters for anchoring so they'll all go away" bandwagon. You can read more about (if you don't read French simply run the page through Google Translate) it over on the Voile magazine blog and more importantly there's a petition  that you should add your voice to. Seriously, this is important stuff if you're someone who ever plans to go cruising.

Really...

Speaking of important stuff in the same vein, Dave Z (of TriloBoat infamy) recently said a lot of important stuff that very much needs to be said. You should read it and give the content some very serious thought and then share it with others... It's more than time to get seriously proactive on this sort of stuff before we find our favorite anchorages either disappeared or with a MegaYachts only sign.

Listening to Soko



So it goes...

and in the not-everyone-wants-you-to-anchor department...

Unspeakably heinous acts in California, stuff you need to know, and something worth the time it takes to read...

Over at SailFeed there's a very good piece about anchoring laws in Florida and everyone really needs to read it. More importantly, folks on boats really should get vocal with the various Powers That Be and let them know how you feel... It's important.

Just to show you that political anti-anchoring skullduggery is not just a Florida thing but a problem worldwide... Voile Magazine has a story about 20 Euro a meter anchoring charges per night (or in non metric that's $228. a night to anchor your 32-foot boat). Being that, if it were to happen, it would also include a sizable chunk of the Caribbean (St Martin/Martinique/St Barts/Guadeloupe) so you might find it a needful read. For those who don't read French you'll find that Google Translate does a good enough job to make sense of it all.

Talk about interesting times...

Just in...
Good news about the twenty Euro a day anchoring tax is that it did not go through (more information here and here). That said, it does not mean they won't try it again...

Listening to Bob Dylan covering Frank Sinatra

So it goes...

Vote...

Very much worth a watch, some rather bothersome news about shrimp, and a timely post for today...

I'm sure you're all too busy voting to need something to read so I'll leave you to it.

Listening to Fairport Convention

So it goes...

A film to be on the lookout for...

A quick music business reality check, on saying "NO", and who can resist a good sale...



Listening to Tower of Power

So it goes...

A good cause...

I like Eastwood guitars...

You know why?

The Philippines has just had a hellacious tropical storm, Typhoon Haiyan, that has left a path of death and devastation and folks there could use some help...

I sorta/kinda expected some members of the marine trades to step in and do a little something to help out but so far I'm not seeing anything. The only folks showing some concern and doing something to raise money to help the victims of Typhoon Haiyan in my mailbox is Eastwood guitars.

Good people who make good guitars...

They want to raffle off a guitar and, as it happens, it's a pretty nice guitar. Five bucks is all it takes and you might get lucky or spend some more and your chances are even better. That said, I should warn you that I WANT THIS GUITAR and I'm feeling lucky!

So, why not do some good and see if you can beat me...

something everybody should read...

A hurtful thing, some good advice, and your tax dollars at work...

I was just reading the other day about someone on his way to Hawaii who abandoned his boat and was "rescued", you might say it was depressing reading. I mention this because it is something you really should read as it is something of a wake up call about stuff we mostly gloss over when discussing cruising and long passages.

I know it made me stop and think...

Listening to Sons of Bill

So it goes...

A good cause...

Big business in court (well sorta/kinda), obviously a smart move entrusting the Affordable Care Act to the insurance companies, and as long as shareholders profits are OK...

I'm not a big fan of yacht racing in general. I do however, really enjoy various long distance races but the element of rich people behaving badly is enough to keep me from being a fan. As for the old adage of sail racing being good for developmental design, I think it's more along the lines of a disease masquerading as a cure that has mostly set design back or killed off promising avenues.

As bad as yacht racing can be, it is nothing compared to sail racing media which is mostly a lot like something I'd find in my composting toilet... Of course, there's one exception that jumps to mind and that's Sailing Anarchy, which while not perfect, does make sail racing both interesting and thought provoking.

I mention this because Sailing Anarchy needs some help and as it is such an important resource for racers and non-racers alike, the world would be a much worse place without it.

Give them a hand...

Listening to Bailey Cooke

So it goes...

A movie of note...

Just say NO, something scarier than HIV/AIDS, and exactly what century are we in...

Hey, here's a great idea, let's decimate a thriving important ecosystem for short term profit!

See the movie and tell your friends!

Listening to Parquet Courts

So it goes...