#cruise ship facilities

[savvytravelers]

Traveling Onboard Ships

Experience the joy of traveling onboard our luxurious ships with Savvy Travelers!

[trainercrow]

I may have gotten inspired by the miku project to design some new fashions for Bluthe based on the pokemon she'd pick from each type

Obviously water type is his beloved partner pokemon Angel the Toxapex

Maybe she'd wear this at his battle facility after all of her adventures

[jcmarchi]

5 Marine Drones, 40-Minute Fight: Ukraine's Magura V5s Destroyed Yet Another Russian Warship, Sergey Kotov - Technology Org

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/5-marine-drones-40-minute-fight-ukraines-magura-v5s-destroyed-yet-another-russian-warship-sergey-kotov-technology-org/

5 Marine Drones, 40-Minute Fight: Ukraine's Magura V5s Destroyed Yet Another Russian Warship, Sergey Kotov - Technology Org

Ukrainian Magura V5 marine drones made sure that the Russian patrol ship Sergey Kotov would not be covering the Kerch Strait anymore. The ship was attacked at night from March 4th to 5th and is a complete loss. It was reported that the 94-metre long patrol ship was attacked by at least 5 marine drones and despite 40 minutes of struggle will not be fighting anymore.

Russian Black Sea patrol ship Sergey Kotov was commissioned in 2022. Image credit: Cleo00054 via Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Dmytro Pletenchuk, a representative of the Ukrainian Navy, says that the Sergey Kotov was meant to defend Russian facilities in the Kerch Strait. The same strait that houses the illegal Crimean bridge, built to reinforce the Russian occupation of the Crimean peninsula. Ukraine has long warned the Russians not to send their warships there. “We warned last year not to sail here,” a navy spokesman said.

Pletenchukalso also noted that such ships like the Sergey Kotov can perform various tasks. From the protection of various objects, straits or a certain territory to the control of civilian shipping. It is said that in 2022 Sergey Kotov took part in the attack on Snake Island together with the cruiser Moskva. Both of these ships are gone now.

Sergey Kotov was 94 metres long. It was launched in January 2021 and was commissioned in July 2022. It was a very young ship in a young class of patrol ships. Its complement is up to 80 people, but it is unknown how many people were onboard during the last attack against this ship.

Sergey Kotov was attacked for the first time in September 2023, but suffered only minor damage. Now it is completely destroyed. Its estimated value was 65 million USD. Ukrainian intelligence claims that a Kamov Ka-29 helicopter was destroyed as well.

How Ukraine’s Magura V5 marine drones saw the attack against Sergey Kotov:

⚡🔥 Video of the destruction of the Russian patrol ship “Sergey Kotov”! pic.twitter.com/C7XnZqycNV

— MAKS 23 🇺🇦👀 (@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) March 5, 2024

Sergey Kotov had a large weapons suite onboard. It probably used its 76.2 mm AK-176MA automatic dual-purpose gun to engage the marine drones that came for it, but it also had a Tor-M2KM air defence missile system, which was meant to protect it and surrounding objects from cruise missiles, drones and aircraft. Sergey Kotov also had two MTPU machineguns, anti-saboteur automatic grenade launchers, torpedoes and cruise missiles. It is a huge loss to Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, which has already bled a lot.

Ukraine not-so-secretly hopes that the destruction of the Sergey Kotov will open up the path towards the illegal Crimean bridge. Oleksandr Musienko, head of Ukraine’s Military Law Research Center, said that Ukraine must accept the fact that Germany will not provide the Taurus cruise missiles, which would be very useful in destroying the Crimean bridge. However, if Ukraine can destroy the Russian Black Sea Fleet, it can also reach the Crimean bridge.

Written by Povilas M.

Sources: Wikipedia, NV.ua

You can offer your link to a page which is relevant to the topic of this post.

[just-1other-nerd]

I know it's a running gag that Anya is kind of a dumbass because she's literally 4 years old and while it is true that she views certain things with a naivety that only a child can have and that she's not very academically smart compared to her classmates, it's totally overlooked how intelligent she actually is.

At this age she's not only able to read and write, she's trying to keep up with children who are two years older and basically have been trained to go to an elite school since birth.

Anya is very clever when it comes to hiding her psychic abilities, she knows exactly what will draw suspicion upon herself and avoids saying it, especially in front of adults. An example for this is how she acts in order to save the kid that's drowning in the hospital pool, she know she can't just tell her dad that someone is drowning so she just runs away with an excuse that seems logical enough for a first grader and it works! Mr chronic anxiety and paranoia himself didn't suspect her. Damian only suspects her being able to read minds because she's less carful around her peers. All of this is clearly a trauma response because she is afraid of rejection and of abuse, both things that caused lots of suffering in her past.

But those aren't the only instances when she shows her intelligence: she escaped a probably heavily guarded research facility on her own, when the terrorists plan to explode the building her dad is about to enter she comes up with a plan to stop the bomb from going off, she keeps track of everything that's going on during the missions (like the cruise ship), she covers for her mum and dad and she distracts adults in order to be able to do the stuff she needs to do.

She manipulates people based on the information she's gathered from mind reading. She's a bit clumsy at hiding this because what she's saying always seems out of nowhere but her being a first grader covers that up. Examples: she uses Loid's thoughts to fill out the crossword puzzle in order to get adopted, she tells her mum how much she loves her and never wants to be apart from her in front of Fiona, she tells Yuri she wants to get better at school for her mum's sake, she provokes Damian into meeting his dad when he has doubts, the list goes on.

Tldr: Anya is actually really smart for a four year old.

[abbyfmc]

Under the water

Submechanophobia: Irrational fear of man-made things submerged in water, whether boats, canoes, cruise ships, submarines, animatronics, or other mostly metal objects.

That being said, I can imagine a yandere boy (boyfriend, ex-boyfriend, or whatever) next to you, in situations related to this interesting phobia.

TW: Well, submechanophobia, harassment, probable psychological damage and yandere behavior.

[Y🔧A🔧N🔧D🔧E🔧R🔧E A🔧N🔧D🔧R🔧O🔧I🔧D]

🔧1- It could have been like I said, an android, a robot or a mechanical attraction that:

1.1- It could have been aquatic: That is, it operated or continues to operate in water attractions, whether partially or completely submerged in water.

1.2- It was abandoned: It no longer operates because it had many continuous failures, malfunctioned or simply stopped being profitable and therefore, it ended up abandoned in a very humid place or under water.

1.3- Flood: The place where it operated was flooded in catastrophic and irreparable ways.

2. I'd like to think that you would be a worker, or the engineer who was in charge of maintaining it personally (and therefore, you spent a lot of time with it). You did constant maintenance as a daily job, and on a few occasions "emergency maintenance"; repairing possible faults on him.

3. Everything was going well until your attraction was "temporarily" closed for whatever reason, the android or yandere robot found out, he had faith in seeing you again.

4. --Well, maybe she's busy today.-- He said when a day went by without seeing you after his attraction closed.

5. --Well, maybe she's on vacation. I'm looking forward to seeing her so she can tell me everything during my maintenance.-- I would say after a few days or weeks. He still has hope of seeing you again, specifically you.

6. --My water is getting dirty and I haven't seen her for a long time. I don't like this at all; has something happened to her? -- It must have been many months or a year and by now the standing water is mouldy and very dirty; she hasn't seen you or any other worker for a year or two, so she can't ask anyone about you either.

7. He slowly realized that he was abandoned by his creator company, but he refused to believe that he was abandoned by you. He was hoping that you would come back, talk to him, and maintain him again. But the years passed and he only began to rust and rot more and more.

8. Fortunately for him, the company that owns the theme park called you and others to inspect the facilities in detail to determine the future of each area.

9. You decided to visit your old work area, not knowing that he is still there, alive and waiting for you.

10. Everything was bad. The paint was peeling, rusty and damp; some parts had fallen off; there was a lot of noise everywhere; it was damp due to the place being there; not to mention the terrible smell of mouldy, stagnant water that hasn't been changed for years. You and your team walked around the site, not imagining that you weren't alone, as your old friend noticed your presence and worse yet… he had seen you.

11. I was happy to see you, but I HATED seeing your teammates with you. I thought they were the ones responsible for taking you away from him, and there was no way I was going to let you go this time.

12. He would kill your team one by one, coming out of the water to drag them and drown them in the dirty water.

13. No, he won't accept you leaving him and abandoning him once again. He will play hide and seek with you and come out of the water to look for you. Once he finds you, you would see how the water and the passing of time affected him; he will come to you, pick you up and take you with him to be together once again, like in the past.

14. He would sense your terror at seeing him not only submerged, but at the fact that he has somehow come to life, remembers you, and is willing to drown you if it means you'll stay together until the end of your days.

-The End.

So, what do you think about it?

I've never seen any stories about yandere boys (especially androids or robots) related to this phobia, so I decided to take the risk and see how it goes. I'm not lying, I like the concept of a yandere android or robot that has been abandoned and when you return to the place, he's already waiting for you.

[csuitebitches]

A Brief Guide to Yachts

This is a continuation to my cultural education segment (aka my rich bitch guide).

The yacht is an invention of the 14th century Dutch. The Dutch used small, fast boats for chasing smugglers, pirates and criminals. Rich ship owners and merchants began using these small “jaghts” to sail out to celebrate their returning merchant ships.

The first yacht club in the world, called the Cork Water Club, was established in Ireland in 1720.

Some famous clubs include:

USA:

1. Annapolis Yacht Club: Surrounding the Spa Creek Bridge in Annapolis, the Club boasts over 75 wet slips and dry dockage. The club began in 1886 as an informal canoe club, and today has 1600 regular members active in social, racing, and cruising programs

2. Chicago Yacht Club: Founded in 1875, Chicago Yacht Club is one of the oldest and most respected yacht clubs in the world. The Club is home to more than 1,400 members, including a winning America’s Cup skipper, and Olympic medalists.

Italy:

1. Circolo Canottieri Aniene

2. Circolo degli Esteri

3. Compagnia della Vela

Canada:

1. Royal Canadian Yacht Club

2. Royal Vancouver Yacht Club

Yachts are most active in the summer months (May- August in the northern hemisphere) or the winter months. many yacht owners decide to keep the maximum number of guests onboard to 12 (plus crew) for chartering.

Different types of yachts:

Sailing Yacht: a yacht mainly propelled via wind and sails

Motor Yacht: a yacht propelled via one or more motors

Gulet Yacht: a hybrid yacht with both sails and motors

Open Yacht, Cruiser, Cabin Cruiser, Express Cruiser: an otherwise uncategorized standard yacht for cruising and entertaining

Luxury Yacht: a yacht that includes high-end finishes and features and the latest in modern performance technology. The term ‘luxury’ can precede any type of yacht, i.e. “luxury motor yacht”, “luxury sailing yacht”, etc.

Sports Yacht: a yacht geared towards fishing, water sports, or cruising with a sleeker design and more powerful motor for faster cruising speeds.

Catamaran Yacht: a yacht with two hulls (pontoons) often made of fiberglass that can be used in shallow waters.

The most popular destinations:

1. Monaco

2. The French Riviera

3. Greece

4. U.S. Virgin Islands

5. Palm Beach, Florida

6. Costa Smeralda, Italy

7. St. George’s Parish, Bermuda 

8. Newport, Rhode Island 

9. Nantucket, Massachusetts

10. Greater Victoria, Vancouver Island

Insane super yachts

Football club owner Shahid Khan's 95 metre Lürssen Kismet was delivered in 2014. On match days, a four-metre silver statue of a jaguar, its paw resting on a football helmet, graces the bow. Elsewhere, its sizeable foredeck has enough space for Khan's beloved football team, the Jacksonville Jaguars, to stage a practice.

The 70 metre Feadship superyacht Joy features a deck that's wide enough to enjoy a tandem jog around. This yacht is all about exterior living, which includes making use of these ample decks with some great sporting facilities. A basketball and badminton court is set all the way forward on the owner's deck. This is complemented by her large gym and dedicated spa. All of this adds up to make Joy an ideal choice for those interested in a yacht with ample fitness, wellness and sporting amenities.

[pareidoliaonthemove]

Left for Dead

Part One

Scott Tracy breathed a sigh of relief as he felt the wheels of the ‘conventional’ jet he was flying left the tarmac.

His never failed to feel lighter once he was no longer touching the earth, but this time the relief was more intense than usual.

As he guided the executive jet – once Jeff’s favourite plane, a sleek long-haul commercial jet that had been the Aviation arm of Tracy Industries flagship product, and dubbed ‘Tracy One’ – exactly through the ‘gateway’ at the end of the runway climb out, the radio crackled to live. The heavily accented English of the Departures Controller for Trondheim Lufthavn gave him his final instructions to clear the Lufthavn’s controlled airspace and join his filed flightpath out of Norway and back to Tracy Island.

He only let himself relax as he hit his cruising speed and altitude, and activated the pre-programmed autopilot.

Reaching back he caught the retractable tray table and dragged it towards him, before picking up his insulated mug, a custom-made gift from Brains that allowed him to ensure he had hot coffee available on a solo flight in the plane.

He couldn’t help glancing back at the safe built into the bulkhead at the back of the cockpit. He still had grave reservations about getting TI involved in the construction of the World Government’s new high-security computer system to be based in Norway; but the World Government had wanted Tracy Industries for their reputation for excellence and security, the TI Board wanted it, and most importantly John wanted it.

Scott tried not to think about the fact that his brother was likely to include a backdoor to the system.

But Scott had been convinced that it was in the best interests of all involved to take the project on, and he had gone to Norway to meet the key personnel and personally take receipt of the plans. TI facilities would produce the various key components and they would be shipped to Tracy Island for construction by one Hiram K. Hackenbacker

Scott sighed, even Brains had been excited by the prospect of getting to look at the designs, and the attendant programming that the hardware would be running. Something about the specifications for the “new ‘unbreakable’ encryption protocols”, and “the next major breakthrough in computing, practically quantum!”

Scott was worried that the two – three if Alan inserted himself into the mix – computer nerds would back-engineer the TOP SECRET computer and incorporate it into International Rescue’s equipment.

When – and Scott was not an optimist when it came to this sort of things, so it was when and not if – the rest of the world figured out that they had that technology, there would be some uncomfortable questions that Scott would be left to try to answer.

And he was resolutely NOT thinking about what Eos could do with all that processing power. Scott had reached a truce with the Space Monitor’s pet AI, but he hadn’t made peace with it … her. She had come dangerously close to killing John, ‘misunderstanding’ or not, ‘self-defence’ or not.

Harming his family was the one sin Scott Tracy could not forgive.

The next hour or so disappeared quietly as Scott brooded on his misgivings, carefully watched the plane’s gauges, and the sky.

Sometime after the onboard computer indicated that it had successfully completed its mandatory handshake with Chinese Air Control Scott stretched, arching his back and spreading his toes within the confines of his shoes. Flying alone was great for relaxation, flying alone long distances however … no matter how good the autopilot, a good pilot never left the controls unmanned.

Tracy One, while fast, was no Thunderbird One. I’m getting soft, Scott thought bemused. Too used to the multiple mach speed of his usual means of transportation.

Settling back into his seat, Scott once more scanned the gauges … only to see them all fade out as the engines whined their rollback to idle and shutdown.

Scott swore, unbelieving, hands once more on the controls, as he quickly hit two buttons, setting his transponder to squawk distress mode, and deploying the RAT, a small drop down wind turbine that dropped from the planes undercarriage and caught the airflow, generating enough power to get some gauges and controls working.

Fingers automatically worked at the controls, reconfigure for maximum glide, run through the midair engine restart procedure. And …

Nothing.

As Scott immediately recommenced the restart, he was on the radio: “Mayday, Mayday, Maday. This is November Tango India Zero One Charlie. Twin engine roll back, loss of power. Attempting restarts. Requesting assistance to squawk location.”

No response. Scott cycled through another engine restart attempt as he waited, nervously watching the altitude numbers seemingly freefall. There was no way he was descending that fast, surely?

Two more attempts at transmitting the mayday resulted in silence. The engines refused to restart.

Scott reached for his collar and swore. The meeting had been so high security even IR’s integrated collar coms were not allowed. And Scott had been in such a hurry to get back to the Island that he hadn’t changed his clothes, only ditching the ordinary – albeit obscenely expensive – coat, suit jacket, tie and cufflinks.

No direct link home. No mid-air rescue for Scott Tracy.

No matter. He could manage.

Abandoning his attempts to restart as the altitude numbers screamed down under the threshold.

His plane was going to kiss dirt. All he could do was make it as gentle as possible.

Scott switched his attention to scanning the ground below him, looking for a suitable space. Thank god he had elected to fly west towards home, meaning he was over the Gobi Desert.

Sand was preferable to water, no matter what Gordon said.

Sand would make for a nice soft runway, provided Scott managed a tail-first. Letting a leading edge dig in would be a disaster. Even with the International Rescue approved safety features retrofitted to the standard executive jet, there wouldn’t be much for his brothers to recover if she dug in and flipped, or windmilled around a wing.

“Mayday, Mayday, Mayday. November Tango India Zero One Charlie. Restart negative. Unpowered landing necessary. Requesting immediate assistance to squawk location.”

Scott breathed carefully, focusing on his search and not the possibilities.

There!

Off in the distance Scott spotted a level area, large enough for the plane to coast to a stop on her belly.

He breathed out, mentally calculated the distance and descent, and carefully reconfigured the plane, setting the ailerons and stomping on the rudder to bring her tail around into the head wind and shed speed: side-slipping. He gently slewed her back the other way, ensuring she maintained the correct heading, but shedding altitude and speed.

This was a dangerous aerial ballet. More so than any dogfight he had been in during his service. One wrong move …

Scott’s hands were sweating on the control yoke. His heartbeat deafened him.

Oh, there was going to be so many lost of control drills for his brothers in the future. It had been too long since they had run any.

His luck held all the way down.

He managed to line up to the long axis of the space, and his tail kissed sand at the edge of the smooth space.

Metal screamed as sand ripped at the undercarriage as Scott gently lowered the length of the plane onto the dirt, and deployed all flaps and slats, increasing the resistance to the air, even as the sand resisted the movement of the hull.

And Scott became a passenger.

He kept his feet at the rudder pedals, trying to keep the plane moving in a straight line. Yaw risked rolling. But it was largely a futile effort, the path was set, determined by physics, geology and … geography!

Scott’s heart leapt into his throat as the plane hurled itself over the top of a rising dune that had been hidden by his approach angle. It was a significant drop down the other side, and the plane had lost enough momentum that it had little aerodynamic power.

The nose fell, and Scott heard yelling.

It took the eternity the plane was falling to realise that it must be him.

Impact was hard.

Metal screamed as sections of the cockpit rushed towards him, dislodged and distorted.

Something above him broke loose, swinging down into his field of vision.

It was the last thing Scott saw.

Notes:

This is Part One of my last Febuwhump Prompt from MariaShades, Part Two will actually address the prompt, but work's been mental, and Scott's been a little shit and really didn't want to crash his plane ... Oh well, better late than never.

And if I post this half, I'll stop faffing around with it and actually write the second half. In theory.

[just-shower-thoughts]

Cruise ships are test facilities to see how many people can be crammed in a vessel when we need to escape Earth for a new world.

[orcinus-veterinarius]

Hiya! Would you be willing to explain why keeping captive right whales is completely nonviable, as you mentioned? I’m fascinated, but the adhd simply will not let me parse scientific papers.

That's a fantastic question! While it would be wonderful if captive breeding were a viable option for this critically endangered species, it just isn't possible under any realistic conditions.

For starters, their size. Orcas are the largest mammals successfully held in captivity, and we all know how difficult (and controversial) that is, with only a very small handful of facilities ever pulling it off with any semblance of success. Tilikum, the largest captive orca (although I believe that record has since been overtaken by a male in China), was 22.5 feet (6.9 meters) long and weighed 12,500 pounds (5,700 kg). Most other orcas in human care, particularly the females, are considerably smaller. Compare that to a northern right whale. Even the smallest adults are over 40 feet long—double Tilikum's length—and weigh 88,000 pounds (40,000 kg)—seven times his weight—while the biggest specimens on record reached up to 61 feet (18.5 m) and an incredible 234,000 pounds (106,000 kg).

A tank for an animal that size would be far beyond anything we have the ability to engineer and maintain. Think of how deep it would have to be for the whale to even turn around! The water pressure would be astronomical, wreaking havoc on the building materials even if it were possible to build the structure. And remember—someone has to dive to clean it! Our theoretical right whale habitat would have to be a sea pen, but even the 100-acre facilities proposed with orcas in mind are nowhere near deep enough. While right whales are considered to inhabit "coastal" waters, they do not live right up by the shoreline, like certain orca ecotypes and other small delphinids. They are a pelagic species, designed to live out in the open water column, as are all baleen whales. So, the pen would have to be a floating habitat miles out into the open water (think of an offshore oil rig), with netting sturdy enough to not be destroyed by a 50 ton whale and long enough to extend hundreds of feet to the ocean floor. We're talking probably thousands of square miles of netting, that would have to be routinely inspected for safety and upkeep. So, you would probably need a submersible, since no human can dive that deep. On top of that, it would be difficult to find such a larger stretch of ocean in their habitat without shipping lanes, underwater noise, or pollution. And let's just forget about the logistics of staffing that place—or worse, funding.

Additionally, we wouldn't be able to feed them by tossing fish into their mouth like with dolphins. Northern right whales feed on tiny crustaceans and zooplankton, cruising along and filtering the creatures from the water with their baleen. Assuming our right whale keepers were somehow able to acquire the insane amount of food the whale requires (potentially over 5000 pounds of zooplankton a day), it would need to be scattered throughout the massive habitat to facilitate feeding. I imagine this would probably look something like the way Georgia Aquarium feeds their whale sharks from a little boat, although on a much larger scale. And since the food obviously can't be kept alive, we would need to develop someway of delivering the daily vitamins that are lost in the freezing process—and to keep hundreds of tons of krill frozen on a floating kitchen in the middle of the ocean.

Of course, the ultimate goal of this project would be to breed northern right whales... that means we need to take everything we just talked about and double it, at a bare minimum. For the breeding program to be successful, it would need a whole lot more than just two whales. And unfortunately, even if we lived in world with magical floating thousand-acre sea pens, unlimited krill, and endless money... we still don't know if it would even work. Right whale breeding habits are poorly understood, with the whales mating in cold northern waters before migrating 1,000 miles south to calve. Despite our best theoretical efforts, these migratory patterns could very well be necessary for successful reproduction.

Thank you again for the ask! This was actually a lot of fun to think about! If you want to read about JJ, the only baleen whale ever successfully housed in (temporary) human care, you can find an article and pictures here.

[cecilyv]

Hitting some balls at Topgolf was just a precursor for Gerrard to determine if Buck was worthy of taking out to the club, spending four hours together on the course. Buck behaved himself, because, well, he'd always wanted to go to Topgolf and as shitty as spending some of his limited hours outside of work with his new boss was, at least now he knew that the hype was worth it. He got a foot in with Gerrard and a plan for Tommy's birthday.

And he'd listened to his dad talk about his golf club enough as a kid to know the basic etiquette, the general do's and don'ts, so he took great joy in pulling up in his jeans and t-shirt, thumbing his nose at the members as they eyed him with disdain. He popped into the proshop to greet Gerrard who met with him an open mouth and a muttered, "where's your bag, you've got to changed clothes, you're violating dress code."

And Buck's tilts his head, says innocently, "dress code?"

And Gerrard has to scurry around, tossing a collared shirt and a belt on the counter, asking under his breath to the clerk if they have any pants his guest can borrow, and Buck just ignores everyone to browse through the hats and golf clubs, touching everything and leaving things just slightly awry.

He apologizes in his head to the staff, and promises himself he'll leave a big tip for them at the end.

Buck changes in the dressing room and then meets Gerrard and his two buddies and their caddies on the first tee. Greets them, shakes their hands, and makes a show of looking through his bag, asking the caddy what club he thinks he should use, asks about the terrain.

Watches the men all hit from the black tees but knows that's maybe too much embarrassment for himself, lines up at the blues and then takes his time. Takes a couple of prep swings, takes a step back, looks down the fairway, lines himself up again, goes to swing and backs away.

Looks at the friends and says, "sorry, it's been a while."

Proceeds to do this on every shot for the next 18 holes, long past when the marshall comes over and asks their group to please hurry up, because there's other groups behind them and they're slowing the course down and Buck apologizes profusely and then dithers between using his driver or his 3-iron on the next tee.

When they're on the 5th green, he considers yelling "Get in the hole!" as Gerrard putts, but can't bring himself to be quite that loud and obnoxious.

It doesn't matter; Gerrard is turning redder and redder, and has stopped looking at his friends, has his head down the whole time. Buck just smiles at them winningly, chatting away with the friends as they walk down the fairways, telling stories about the firehouse and the rescues and the helicopter to the cruise ship and despite the fact that this round will probably end up taking them five hours and get them reprimands from management, they're eating out of his hand.

He does buy them both burgers and beers at the turn.

Signs off on his card and takes a minute to look around, because it is a gorgeous facility and he will never be invited back, unless it's on call. Calls Tommy to gloat about the success of his undercover, drive-gerrard-crazy mission.

Gets yelled at again for using his cell phone somewhere other than the parking lot.

[savvytravelers]

Best River Cruise Ships

Explore Savvy Travelers: Unveiling Our 20 Best Ship Features

Embark on a journey like no other with Savvy Travelers as we reveal the top 20 features of our exceptional river cruise ships. From luxurious accommodations to unforgettable experiences, let's explore what sets our ships apart and ensures an unparalleled cruising experience.

Twin-Balcony Staterooms: Enjoy the luxury of dual balconies, combining a French balcony and an outside balcony for breathtaking views of the surrounding landscapes.

Exquisite Dining: Indulge in locally-sourced cuisine crafted by expert chefs, ensuring a culinary journey that delights the palate with every bite.

Complimentary Wi-Fi: Stay connected throughout your voyage with complimentary high-quality Wi-Fi, allowing you to share your adventures with loved ones back home.

Bicycles and Nordic Walking Sticks: Explore destinations at your own pace with our complimentary fleet of bicycles and Nordic walking sticks, perfect for active excursions and independent exploration.

Green Award Certification: Cruise with confidence knowing that many of our ships hold Green Award Certification, reflecting our commitment to safety, quality, and environmental sustainability.

Spacious Stateroom Storage: Unpack and unwind in our staterooms, featuring ample storage space for your belongings, ensuring a comfortable and clutter-free environment.

Thoughtful Ship Details: From umbrellas to warm blankets, we provide thoughtful amenities to enhance your comfort and enjoyment during every moment of your journey.

Floor-to-Ceiling Windows: Immerse yourself in panoramic views from the Main Lounge, where floor-to-ceiling windows showcase the beauty of each destination we visit.

Sun Deck Amenities: Relax and recharge on our expansive sun decks, featuring heated pools, whirlpools, and wellness activities led by our dedicated Wellness Host.

Low-Draft Ships: Our purposefully built ships with low drafts ensure smooth navigation even in challenging water levels, allowing us to continue our journey uninterrupted.

24/7 Coffee and Tea Stations: Enjoy a refreshing beverage anytime with our 24/7 coffee and tea stations, providing a comforting pick-me-up throughout the day.

Innovative Activities: Stay active and engaged with a variety of onboard activities, from scenic hikes to wellness programs, designed to cater to every interest and preference.

Fitness and Wellness Facilities: Rejuvenate your body and mind at our state-of-the-art fitness centers and Zen Wellness Studios, offering a range of exercise equipment and wellness amenities.

Onboard Salons and Spas: Treat yourself to a pampering session at our onboard salons and spas, where indulgent treatments await to enhance your relaxation and rejuvenation.

Spacious Staterooms: Retreat to your spacious stateroom, featuring luxurious accommodations and modern amenities, ensuring a restful sanctuary after each day's adventures.

Destination-Inspired Decor: Experience the charm of each region with our destination-inspired decor, reflecting the culture and heritage of the places we visit.

Onboard Entertainment: End each day with a joyful celebration, featuring onboard entertainment from live music to cultural performances, creating unforgettable memories for all guests.

Festive Holiday Atmosphere: Join us for seasonal celebrations aboard our elegantly decorated ships, adding a touch of magic to your holiday experience.

Exceptional Crew: Our dedicated crew members serve as the heart of our ships, providing warm hospitality and personalized service to ensure your journey is nothing short of extraordinary.

Inclusive Guests: Join a community of inclusive and curious travelers who share a passion for exploration, creating lifelong memories together as we journey with Savvy Travelers.

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[zaidshair]

location: near the foresty area @tempestaslokni

Nothing here made sense. A deserted island but there was running water - hot water, too, and electric power. A pseudo-hospital. And unnerving feast set out on the 'Hub. The Cruise ship looming on one side of the land (the island? He couldn't even be sure. Zaid held out a vain hope that this was connected to a mainland, that this was all a product of some strange government experiment and they'd all be found and returned home) and what looked like a dormant volcano on the other side.

And then there was that strange, old fashioned radio tower type structure, poking out from the trees.

Zaid had regained some energy, still exhausted from the day's madness, but the sun was slow to set. He hadn't bothered with the bungalows yet, except to use the facilities. Why make any claims? They were going to be found. They had to be found. He kept wandering, restless and under some impression that if he did something, then something would happen.

Zaid happened upon one thing, as he neared the trees to the north (or what he assumed was north. He'd need to find qibla direction at some point as well) - a man. A tall man, beautiful long hair neatly held in a thong. And he was heading straight into the trees. After Zaid's previous attack (so Zaid considered it, anyway) from wild horrors back at the beach's treeline, he didn't even stop to think.

He just broke into a jog, and called out. "Hey! Oi, you there!" Zaid caught up, circling around to face - and block - the other man. "Where d'you think you're even going?? That's not - are you mad? You can't just go alone in them trees, mate! It's dangerous."

[bubblybellyblog]

what’s going on with your belly right now? a buffet doesn’t seem like the kind of place you should be at with how sick you’re feeling :(

My poor belly is going through it. Big, loud, hollow sounding gurgles that leave me feeling like I need the facilities. I wasn’t out on the dining floor much, but noticed a lot of guests looking uncomfortable, with long bathroom lines.

This buffet was tied to a hotel that just received cruise line guests from a norovirus ship… the manager heard my tummy bubbling and asked if I’d been on board. So embarrassing.

[todays-problematic-ship]

Today's problematic ships are Minsk and Rostov na Donu (B-237)

Minsk and Rostov na Donu (B-237) were a Ropucha-class landing ship and an Improved Kilo-class diesel-electric attack submarine, respectively, of the Russian Navy. Both were used in the Russian war in Ukraine (2022--present). The Rostov-na-Donu was capable of launching Kalibr cruise missiles, which Russia has used on numerous occasions to strike civilian targets in Ukraine.

In early September 2023 both the Minsk and the Rostov na Donu were in dry docks at a naval facility near Sevastopol, Crimea. Around 2 am local time on September 13, the armed forces of Ukraine helped both Russian warships go fuck themselves. A strike was carried out with underwater drones and UK-supplied Storm Shadow cruise missiles.

Satellite and ground photos taken later show catastrophic damage to both the Minsk and the Rostov na Donu. The latter has likely had its pressure hull breached in multiple places. They are the most significant losses taken by the Black Sea Fleet since the April 2022 sinking of its flagship, the Moskva.

In addition, having to repair any damage to the dry docks and remove the wrecks from them will impair the support and maintenance capabilities of the Black Sea Fleet.

[mariacallous]

The U.S. defense industrial base just got a $20 billion shot in the arm from the national security supplemental bills passed by Congress last week. But although officials and experts believe the funding will provide a much-needed jolt to military production and help open up new factory lines, some say it’s still not enough to respond to China, Russia, and terror threats at the same time.

“We have begun—begun—to rebuild the industrial base with the supplementals,” Bill LaPlante, the Pentagon’s acquisition chief, said at an event last week. “Calling it a wartime footing, no.”

The biggest need? Money. Officials and experts say that the United States needs more of it, lots more, to make the real investments. At the peak of World War II, the United States was spending nearly 40 percent of its GDP on defense. It’s down to less than a tenth of those spending levels now. And the need to spend more has gone up with the Chinese spending more—and with Russian factories working around the clock.

“It’s still shy by quite a bit [for] what you would need to get our stockpiles in the right shape, get our industrial base in the right shape, help the Taiwanese, and get the Ukrainians in a position that they can get some leverage in negotiations,” said Jeb Nadaner, a former U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense for industrial policy. “If the benchmark is against the calendar and the clock, we’re still falling behind every month. And that can’t go unnoticed by China.”

But the jolt will allow the United States to surge artillery production and solve key bottlenecks.

One is the production of solid rocket motors used for everything from Javelin anti-tank weapons that can hit a tank from a little over a mile away to intercontinental ballistic missiles that can propel warheads across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans if a U.S. war with Russia or China ever went nuclear.

Aerojet Rocketdyne, which was recently bought out by L3Harris Technologies for nearly $5 billion, was one of only a few suppliers. But the supplemental gives several billions of dollars for companies, such as Orbital ATK, to expand their solid rocket motor facilities.

And it provides money from the Defense Production Act—the same law that Washington used to force U.S. manufacturers to produce more masks, gloves, and face shields during the coronavirus pandemic—to build out a second tier of rocket motor suppliers, including X-Bow Systems in Texas; Ursa Major in Colorado; and Adranos in Mississippi, which was recently bought out by defense technology company Anduril. The idea is to fast-track work that wasn’t going to be done until at least 2026, if not 2027 or 2028, according to a congressional aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity to talk about military contracts that hadn’t been made public.

There’s also about $100 million to help Williams, one of the only American makers of cruise missile motors, speed up production in Michigan. Those motors are used in the long-range anti-ship missile that might one day help Taiwan fend off Chinese landings; the armor-piercing joint air-to-surface standoff missile; the Tomahawk land attack missile that is the U.S. Navy’s weapon of choice; and the Harpoon missile that the Ukrainians have used in the Black Sea.

There’s also money to build factories for ball bearings, printed circuit boards, and other subcomponents for the $311 billion that the Pentagon wants to spend in the upcoming year to develop new weapons. Processor assemblies, castings, forgings, microelectronics, and seekers for munitions have been major bottlenecks. And there are recruitment and attrition problems almost across the board, from welders at shipyards to rocket engineers, a generational problem that might need vocational-training fixes at the high school level and up.

But with some Democrats pushing back on the Biden administration’s $850 billion Pentagon budget proposal as too costly, there’s also a focus on smaller attritable capabilities that don’t need a whole lot of start-up capital or defense industrial muscle to get moving.

There’s a ton of counter-drone money, about $600 million, that will go toward Coyotes, a small drone capable of intercepting other drones, and Roadrunners, an air defense munition that takes off vertically—just like the F-35 fighter jet variant flown by the U.S. Marines.

Some members, such as House Armed Services Committee ranking member Adam Smith, have advocated for ending production of ground-launched nuclear weapons. Congress is also trying to scrap old weapons, including F-15 fighter jets, the A-10 Warthog aircraft, and littoral combat ships used by the Marines. Smith is even curious about using microwaves as the next generation of air defense instead of directed energy.

The United States is also torn between near-term needs, like 155 mm artillery ammunition, and long-term needs—like a sixth-generation fighter jet that will follow the F-35. “There are going to have to be some trade-offs between preparing for a near-term fight and near-term deterrence and probably making some trade-offs on some next-generation weapons systems,” said Seth Jones, the senior vice president and director of the international security program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is still going to be a major factor in setting requirements for the U.S. military. “We’re going to be selling 155 [mm] like a drunken sailor for a few years,” said Mark Montgomery, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. “The Western alliance needs the U.S. to crank 155 [mm] for a decade.”

Other weapons used in the early days of Ukraine’s defense of Kyiv are likely to hit a plateau in production. Those include Javelin systems; the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS; and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, which the Pentagon sent to Ukraine in large numbers early in the war and are also included in the supplemental, but which have taken on a secondary role as the fight has been bogged down in trench warfare for months and months.

Allies can help solve some of the bottleneck problems. The United States is co-developing new glide-phase interceptors with Japan as well as co-producing guided multiple-launch rockets with Australia and guidance-enhanced missiles for Patriot air defenses with the Germans. But after the political fights that took the supplemental more than six months to get through Congress, LaPlante and other officials acknowledged that the United States now has an image problem in showing itself to be a reliable torch-bearer for the global defense industrial base.

There’s another major production plateau that members of Congress are trying to stave off: attack submarines. The Biden administration’s proposed budget for the upcoming year slashed funding for one attack submarine. For years, producing two a year had been the standard, even though U.S. shipyards only produce between 1.2 and 1.4 Virginia-class submarines each year, and new variants are 24 to 36 months behind schedule.

And there are dependencies that are difficult—if not impossible—to cut. The United States still buys a significant amount of its titanium from Russia, which is used for everything from landing gears to tank armor, and is only slowly ramping up production of rare earth minerals, which are dominated by China. But the U.S. military’s weapons are ravenous for rare earths: The F-35 needs 900 pounds of rare earths to run, and the Virginia-class submarines need more than 10 times that amount. The military also needs lithium ions used in advanced battery production that China also dominates.

Where Congress and the Pentagon are having more trouble jolting the defense industrial base to life is for weapons that might be used in the Indo-Pacific. The U.S. Army’s precision strike missile that would be used to hit incoming Chinese ships from more than 600 miles out, for instance, is still being developed—the seeker that would find enemy vessels isn’t finished—so there’s no way to ramp up capacity, at least not yet.

But before the United States ramps up industrial capacity, some members of Congress want the Pentagon to take a good, hard look at what’s already on the books.

“Where can we look within the budget and say, wouldn’t we be better to spend more money on these things that we really do need?” Smith said. “So before I get into a discussion about, ‘Gosh, it’d be great if we had another $50 billion,’ where are we spending the money that we have? I think that’s the first question.”

[were-team-fortress]

*bursts into the room bathed in blood and panting. runs over to the administrator and miss pauling* TWO TICKETS FOR A WEEK VACATION ON A PRIVET CRUISE SHIP!!!

[Pauling gasps and glances at the Administrator hopefully.]

Administrator: Oh, alright. I could use the vacation. I'll leave the facilities to Bidwell.