#superyachts

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Clarence Thomas and the generosity of a far-right dark-money billionaire

Clarence Thomas has set some important precedents in his career as a Supreme Court justice — for example, the elevation of the unrepentant rapist Brett Kavanaugh to the bench could never have occurred but for the trail blazed by Thomas as a sexually harassing, pubic-hair distributing creep boss:

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/10/01/30-years-after-her-testimony-anita-hill-still-wants-something-from-joe-biden-514884

If you’d like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here’s a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/04/06/clarence-thomas/#harlan-crow

Today, Thomas continues to steer the court into new territory — for example, he’s interested in banning same-sex marriage again:

https://www.politico.com/news/2022/06/24/thomas-constitutional-rights-00042256

And of course, he’s set precedent by hearing cases related to the attempted overthrow of the US government, despite the role his wife played in the affair:

https://www.npr.org/2022/03/30/1089595933/legal-ethics-experts-agree-justice-thomas-must-recuse-in-insurrection-cases

Thomas is not alone in furthering the right’s mission to destroy the morale of constitutional law scholars by systematically delegitimizing the court and showing it to be a vehicle for partisan politics and dark money policy laundering, but he is certainly at the vanguard:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/03/25/consequentialism/#dotards-in-robes

Today, Propublica published an expose on the vast fortune in secret gifts bestowed upon Thomas by the billionare GOP megadonor Harlan Crow, who is also one the most significant funders of political campaigns that put business before Thomas and the Supreme Court:

https://www.propublica.org/article/clarence-thomas-scotus-undisclosed-luxury-travel-gifts-crow

The story, reported by Joshua Kaplan, Justin Elliott and Alex Mierjeski is a masterwork of shoe-leather investigative journalism, drawing on aviation records, social media posts and other “open source” intelligence to expose the illegal, off-the-books “gifts” from a billionaire to an unaccountable Supreme Court justice with a lifetime appointment.

Here are a two of those gifts: a private jet/superyacht jaunt around Indonesia valued at $500,000; and a $500,000 gift to Ginni Thomas’s Tea Party group (which pays Ginni Thomas $120,000/year).

On top of that are gifts that are literally priceless: decades’ worth of summer vacations at Camp Topridge, Crow’s private estate, with its waterfall, great hall, private chefs, 25 fireplaces, thee boathouses, clay tennis court, batting range, 1950s-style soda fountain and full-scale reproduction of Hagrid’s hut.

Summer retreats to Topridge allow business leaders like Leonard Leo — the Federalist Society bankroller and mastermind who set Trump up to pack the Supreme Court — to coordinate in private with Thomas:

https://pluralistic.net/2020/09/29/betcha-cant-eat-just-one/#pwnage

They also allow top execs from PWC, Verizon and other corporations who may have business before the court to establish a warm, collegial relationship with a judge whose decisions can make billions for their employers. In its reporting, Propublica points out that Thomas got to hang out on Crow’s superyacht with Mark Paoletta, who was then general counsel for Trump’s OMB, and who has opposed any tightening of ethics rules for Supreme Court judges: “there is nothing wrong with ethics or recusals at the Supreme Court.”

Crow and Thomas also hobnob together at Crow’s Texas ranch, and at the Bohemian Grove, the Bay Area’s ultra-luxe retreat for rich creeps. Crow bought Thomas a private superyacht cruise through New Zealand, another through the Greek islands, and a river trip around Savannah, GA. He also traveled around the country on Crow’s private jet — even a short private jet trip is valued around $70,000.

Crow also makes many donations on Thomas’s behalf, from a $105,000 donation to Yale Law School for the “Justice Thomas Portrait Fund” to paying for a 7 foot tall, 1,800 lb bronze statue of the nun who taught Thomas in the eighth grade, which now stands in a New York Catholic cemetery.

This is without precedent. No Supreme Court justice in US history received comparable gifts during their tenure on the bench. Federal judges quoted in the story call it “incomprehensible,” noting that US judges bend over backwards not to owe anyone any favors, going so far as to book restaurant reservations without using their titles.

Virginia Canter, a former US government ethics lawyer of bipartisan experience said Thomas “seems to have completely disregarded his higher ethical obligations,” adding “it makes my heart sink.”

The Supreme Court’s own code of ethics prohibits justices from engaging in conduct that gives rise to the “appearance of impropriety,” but the code is “consultative,” and there are no penalties for violating it. But US judicial officers — including Thomas — are legally required to disclose things like private jet trips. Thomas did not. In general, justices must report any gift valued at more than $415, where a gift is “anything of value.” This includes instances in which a gift is given by a corporation whose owner is the true giver.

Crow is a Red Scare-haunted plutocrat who says his greatest fear is “Marxism.” He was a key donor to the anti-tax extremists at the Club For Growth, and has served on the board of the American Enterprise Institute — climate deniers who also claimed that smoking didn’t cause cancer — for 25 years.

Crow is a proud dark-money source, too, whose $10m in acknowledged donations to Republican causes and candidates are only the tip of the iceberg, next to the dark money he has provided to groups he declines to name, telling the New York Times, “I don’t disclose what I’m not required to disclose.”

Crow claims that the vast sums he’s lavished on Thomas — who, again, presides over the test cases that Crow is helping to put before him — are just “hospitality.” Crow called the private retreats with business leaders and top government officials “gatherings of friends,” and added that he was “unaware of any of our friends ever lobbying or seeking to influence Justice Thomas” while at his private estates or on his superyacht or private plane.

For his part, Thomas publicly maintains that he hates luxury. In a Crow-financed documentary about Thomas’s life, Thomas tells the camera, “I prefer the RV parks. I prefer the Walmart parking lots to the beaches and things like that. There’s something normal to me about it. I come from regular stock, and I prefer that — I prefer being around that.”

Judges often have to make determinations about conflicts of interest, and lawyers have an entire practice devoted to preventing conflicts from arising. I doubt whether Thomas himself would consent to have a dispute of his own tried in front of a judge who had received millions in gifts from his opponent.

The Supreme Court’s power comes from its legitimacy. The project of delegitimizing the court started with the right, and Democrats have been loathe to participate in any activity that would worsen the court’s reputation. As a result, the business lobby and authoritarian politicians have had free rein to turn the court into a weapon for attacking American workers, American women, and LGBTQ people.

It doesn’t have to be this way. When the Supreme Court blocked all of FDR’s New Deal policies — which were wildly popular — FDR responded by proposing age limits for Supreme Court judges. When the Supremes refused to contemplate this, FDR asked Congress for a law allowing him to appoint one new Supreme Court judge for every judge who should retire but wouldn’t.

As the vote on this bill grew nearer, the Supremes reversed themselves, voting to uphold the policies they’d struck down in their previous session. They knew that their legitimacy was all they had, and when a brave president stood up to their bullying, they caved.

https://theconversation.com/packing-the-court-amid-national-crises-lincoln-and-his-republicans-remade-the-supreme-court-to-fit-their-agenda-147139

The Supreme Court has moved America further away from the ideals of pluralistic democracy than we can even fathom, and they’re just getting started. They are taking a wrecking ball to the lives of anyone who isn’t a wealthy conservative, and they’re doing it while accepting a fortune in bribes from American oligarchs.

Have you ever wanted to say thank you for these posts? Here’s how you can: I’m kickstarting the audiobook for my next novel, a post-cyberpunk anti-finance finance thriller about Silicon Valley scams called Red Team Blues. Amazon’s Audible refuses to carry my audiobooks because they’re DRM free, but crowdfunding makes them possible.

Image: Mr. Kjetil Ree (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:US_Supreme_Court.JPG

CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en

[Image ID: An altered image of Clarence Thomas, standing in gilded judicial robes on the steps of the Supreme Court. Looming over the court is a line-drawing of a business-man with a dollar-sign-emblazoned money-bag for a head.]

[nando161mando]

[tomorrowusa]

The richest 1% flaunt their excessive wealth by polluting on the rest of us. These mega wealthy individuals have been dubbed "the polluter elite".

The richest 1% of humanity is responsible for more carbon emissions than the poorest 66%, with dire consequences for vulnerable communities and global efforts to tackle the climate emergency, a report says. The most comprehensive study of global climate inequality ever undertaken shows that this elite group, made up of 77 million people including billionaires, millionaires and those paid more than US$140,000 (£112,500) a year, accounted for 16% of all CO2 emissions in 2019 – enough to cause more than a million excess deaths due to heat, according to the report. For the past six months, the Guardian has worked with Oxfam, the Stockholm Environment Institute and other experts on an exclusive basis to produce a special investigation, The Great Carbon Divide. [ ... ] The Oxfam report shows that while the wealthiest 1% tend to live climate-insulated, air-conditioned lives, their emissions – 5.9bn tonnes of CO2 in 2019 – are responsible for immense suffering. Using a “mortality cost” formula – used by the US Environmental Protection Agency, among others – of 226 excess deaths worldwide for every million tonnes of carbon, the report calculates that the emissions from the 1% alone would be enough to cause the heat-related deaths of 1.3 million people over the coming decades. Over the period from 1990 to 2019, the accumulated emissions of the 1% were equivalent to wiping out last year’s harvests of EU corn, US wheat, Bangladeshi rice and Chinese soya beans. The suffering falls disproportionately upon people living in poverty, marginalised ethnic communities, migrants and women and girls, who live and work outside or in homes vulnerable to extreme weather, according to the research. [ ... ] “The super-rich are plundering and polluting the planet to the point of destruction and it is those who can least afford it who are paying the highest price,” said Chiara Liguori, Oxfam’s senior climate justice policy adviser. The twin crises of climate and inequality were “fuelling one another”, she said.

The Top 1% may be bad, but the Top 0.1% are proportionately far worse.

The report says this is bad news for the climate on multiple levels. The extravagant carbon footprint of the 0.1% – from superyachts, private jets and mansions to space flights and doomsday bunkers – is 77 times higher than the upper level needed for global warming to peak at 1.5C. The corporate shares of many super-rich are highly polluting. This elite also wield enormous and growing political power by owning media organisations and social networks, hiring advertising and PR agencies and lobbyists, and mixing socially with senior politicians, who are also often members of the richest 1%, according to the report.

By owning large media entities, they exert great influence on public policy by manipulating the news narrative. We're looking at you Rupert Murdoch and Elon Musk.

They want to distract you with irrelevant trivia rather than let you focus on their complicity in the problems they themselves perpetuate. Culture wars and glib irrelevancies like "but her emails!" and "Biden's age" are components in the toolkit of the climate-denying industrial complex.

[kurtarrigo]

On assignment capturing superyacht MY Samar off the coast of Gozo. . . . #theexquisite #yacht #yachts #motoryacht #superyacht #superyachts #megayacht #megayachts #boat #boats #yachtlife #yachtclub #yachting #yachtparty #yachtdesign #yachtmaster #yachtcharter #yachtinglifestyle #yachtworld #yachtinglife #yachtlifestyle #yachtshow #yachtweek #yachtstyle #yachtcharters #yachtingmagazine #yachtlover #yachtsales #yachtbroker (at Gozo) https://www.instagram.com/p/CeO5vX6q3G0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[buysuperyacht]

buy superyacht, global-jobs.com, https://www.global-jobs.com

[allfivesenses]

Just a simple little family style tropical inspired lunch Coffee & chili spice rubbed grilled tenderloin With grilled zucchini and broccolini NZ yellowtail tatami style with mango, cucumber, lime jalapeño dressing Salad bouquets with vegetables, herbs, edible flowers and rosè vinaigrette Tropical semifreddo trio of passionsfruit, mango, and key lime with crumbled amaretti #allfivesenses #yachtlife #superyachtchef #lunch #tropicalvibes #travel #luxury #superyachts #yum #eattheworld #chefsofinstagram #cheflife #glutenfree https://www.instagram.com/p/CjyO1mFLcC1/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[privatesunsetcruise]

Reasons to Reserve a Private Sailing Charter for the Entire Day

The wonderful weather and breathtaking natural beauty that envelop the US Virgin Islands draw in the majority of visitors. Going on a private sailing excursion with Shades of Blue Charters is the ideal way to really appreciate all of that natural beauty.

As the wind picks up speed and carries you towards your first snorkel stop at Lovango Cay, everything will grow quite silent. The coral at Lovango is incredibly healthy, making for excellent snorkelling. After preparing you for snorkelling, Capt. Tim and his crew will let you have some light food and beverages as they cruise to the next location. The crew will give you historical information about the Virgin Islands and point out important locations while you're travelling. At your second stop, you can continue your snorkelling or just unwind on the cosy bean bag chairs on the deck while the sun (or shade) is shining.

You'll savour a delectable prepared lunch here. There's generally time for one more stop after this before returning to the marina. The final stop is sometimes at Christmas Cove, where you can swim, snorkel, or just kick back on the deck and take in the stunning surroundings.

The Details

Water, drinks, and snorkel gear will be provided on outings.

We provide healthy snacks and a prepared lunch for the full-day excursion.

We provide small lunches for the half-day excursions.

Remain Basic

Our aim for this vacation was to keep things simple.

Remain Basic

Our aim for this vacation was to keep things simple. Our goal was to give you an amazing full-day experience free from any worries. Simply show up, and leave the rest to Captain Tim and company. For your next trip to the USVI, reserve a full-day sailing charter with Shades of Blue Charters; it will be the highlight of your trip!

[werewolfetone]

Dear god. please make all superyachts explode tomorrow. amen.

[gulfcraftinc]

Nomad 101 is an epitome of the new-gen yachts focused primarily on enjoying the journey to pristine destinations. Her extraordinary volumes and vast deck expanses guarantee a fun-filled, relaxed, and comfortable cruising experience. While the Nomad 101’s fine bow cuts through the chop as she ploughs through at a max speed of 19Knots; The sweet spot for this SUV of the sea lies at an economical speed of 10 Knots, wherein fuel consumption is optimum and the range can be a brilliant 1000NM.

Enjoy breath-taking views from the upper deck forward lounge or bask on the flybridge sun loungers, experience delectable meals under the fully shaded aft cockpit or lay back for a family movie night at the main salon; Nomad 101 has environments to create treasured memories for a lifetime. Be it charter or ownership the she can handle all your yachting needs without any problems at all!

[nando161mando]

[tomorrowusa]

Ukraine’s priority is to protect those serving in its armed forces. Russia’s priority is to stuff money into Putin’s overpriced pockets.

Putin is not just a dictator, he's a greedy kleptocrat who rules with the approval of equally greedy oligarchs. As a result, he has a shit army with shit equipment and shit supplies. When his 3-day invasion of Ukraine began almost 9 months ago, Russian soldiers were given rations with expiration dates of 2015.

The outdated Russian rifle shown in the meme above is at least in better condition than the rusty ones given to recent Russian draftees.

Putin has a superyacht worth $700 million. Russian conscripts are forced to buy their own supplies.

Vladimir Putin has a total disregard for human life, and that includes Russian lives. He rules like a medieval monarch whose subjects and vassals have only one purpose – to glorify him while enriching him.

Russia will never move forward as long as Putin and his minions are around.

[superyachtshipyard]

Superyacht Shipyard To Host Superyacht Design Contest

Superyacht Shipyard To Host Superyacht Design Contest July 26th, 2023 - Superyacht Shipyard LLC, a superyacht shipbuilding company based in Florida, has announced a Superyacht Design Contest for young designers who aspire to create innovative and elegant vessels. The contest will challenge participants to design the exterior of a new 50 meter superyacht that will be built by Superyacht Shipyard. The contest is open to designers aged 18 to 35 who have a passion for superyacht design and a vision for the future of the industry. The contestants will have to submit their designs by October 15, 2023, along with a brief description of their concept and inspiration. A panel of experts from Superyacht Shipyard and other partners will evaluate the entries and select the best one based on criteria such as originality, feasibility, aesthetics, functionality, and environmental impact. The environmental impact criteria will assess how the design minimizes the carbon footprint, energy consumption, waste generation, and noise pollution of the superyacht. The winner of the contest will receive the opportunity to see their design come to life as Superyacht Shipyard will use the design and build the winning superyacht according to the specifications provided by the designer. The winner will also be invited to attend the launch ceremony of the superyacht and will receive recognition from Superyacht Shipyard. Kambiz Mostofizadeh, the Managing Director of Superyacht Shipyard, said "Superyacht design takes in to consideration various design elements and this contest is aimed at promoting awareness around the importance of superyacht design. Engineering principles do matter and the design has to be realistic and be based on efficiency. We are excited to see what the young designers will come up with and how they will shape the future of superyacht design. This is a unique opportunity for them to showcase their talent and creativity and to make their mark in the world of luxury yachting."

Superyacht Shipyard is an Engineered To Order shipbuilding company based in Florida.

Follow: https://www.facebook.com/SuperyachtShipyard https://www.youtube.com/c/SuperyachtShipyard https://www.linkedin.com/company/SuperyachtShipyard

Contact: Kambiz Mostofizadeh, kambizmostofizadeh1@gmail.com

[universalinfo]

The rising importance of fuel testing for Superyachts

Owning a superyacht is something that many people dream of luxurious lifestyles, chartered trips, and the immediate sense of exclusivity it brings. But when you’re operating such an expensive piece of equipment with potentially hundreds or even thousands of guests on board, fuel testing needs to be taken seriously. 

With access to technology now available for any size vessel, fuel testing has become increasingly important for the owners of these vessels to maintain maximum performance, efficiency, and overall safety. In this article, we’ll explore why more boat owners should make fuel testing a priority and what they can do if ever faced with a potential problem.

Why fuel testing is important for superyachts?

If you’re a proud owner of a superyacht, you know how important it is to ensure that everything is in top shape. One of the critical components of this is fuel testing. This is a process of analyzing the fuel quality to ensure it’s safe to use and won’t damage your vessel’s engine or other components. 

Fuel testing is critical because contaminated or low-quality fuel can cause significant problems, including engine failure, clogged filters, and decreased performance. So, if you want to avoid unexpected breakdowns and ensure that your superyacht runs smoothly, it’s essential to invest in fuel testing regularly.

The role of chemical laboratories in fuel testing for Superyachts

Chemical laboratories play a crucial role in fuel testing for superyachts. Superyachts are typically powered by diesel engines that require high-quality fuel for optimal performance and to meet environmental regulations. Also, the fuel used in superyachts must be tested to ensure that it meets specific standards and is free from contaminants that could damage the engines or cause environmental harm.

Chemical laboratories perform a variety of tests on fuel samples. The results of these tests are critical in determining whether the fuel is suitable for use in superyachts. In addition to testing fuel, chemical laboratories can provide advice and recommendations on fuel quality and assist in identifying any issues or potential problems with the fuel.

Overall, chemical laboratories play a critical role in ensuring that superyachts are powered by high-quality fuel that meets environmental regulations and ensures optimal performance of the yacht’s engines.

Types of fuel tests for Superyachts

There are several types of fuel tests for superyachts to ensure the quality and compliance of the fuel being used. Some of the most common fuel tests include:

Density and Viscosity Tests: These tests measure the density and viscosity of the fuel, which determines the fuel’s quality and compatibility with the engine. This test is essential as it helps to determine if the fuel is within acceptable limits for use.

Flash point test. This test determines the minimum temperature at which fuel will ignite. The flash point of a fuel is an essential safety aspect that must be monitored and kept within acceptable limits to avoid accidents.

Water content test. It measures the amount of water in the fuel, which is critical in preventing engine damage caused by water.

Sulfur content test. This test measures the amount of sulfur present in the fuel, which is critical for compliance with environmental regulations and reducing emissions.

Microbial contamination test. This test is used to detect and identify microorganisms that can grow in fuel tanks and cause damage to engines.

Stability test. It determines the fuel’s ability to remain stable over time and avoid issues such as fuel degradation.

Compatibility test: This test determines whether the fuel is compatible with the engine and fuel system. Compatibility issues can lead to fuel system problems, engine damage, and reduced performance.

Cold flow properties test. Lastly, this test measures the ability of the fuel to flow at low temperatures, which is critical for cold weather operations.

Benefits of regular fuel testing on superyachts

If you own or operate a superyacht, you know just how important it is to ensure that everything is running smoothly. Regular fuel testing on superyachts provides several benefits, including:

Ensuring fuel quality: Regular fuel testing ensures that the fuel used in superyachts is of the highest quality and free from contaminants that could damage the engine or cause environmental harm.

Preventing engine damage: Fuel testing helps to identify potential issues with the fuel that could cause damage to the engine. By catching these issues early, preventive measures can be taken to avoid significant engine damage and costly repairs.

Reducing downtime: A fuel-related issue that leads to engine failure can cause significant downtime and delays in the yacht’s schedule. Regular fuel testing helps to prevent such issues, reducing downtime and ensuring smooth operations.

Complying with environmental regulations: Fuel testing helps to ensure that the fuel used in superyachts meets environmental regulations and reduces emissions. Compliance with these regulations is essential to avoid penalties and damage to the yacht’s reputation.

Optimizing performance: High-quality fuel is critical to optimizing the performance of the engine and achieving the desired speed and range of the yacht. Regular fuel testing helps to ensure that the fuel used is compatible with the engine and provides optimal performance.

Ensuring safety: Fuel testing helps to ensure the safety of the yacht’s crew, passengers, and the environment by identifying potential safety hazards related to fuel quality.

Conclusion

Fuel testing is essential for any superyacht’s ongoing maintenance and safety to mitigate long-term potential damage and risks that can come from ships having fuel integrity issues. Not only does it reduce the possibility of engine destruction, but preventative fuel testing can also identify other unseen problems, such as contamination or microbial life, that can wreak havoc if left unattended. 

Additionally, high-quality fuel testing can save yacht owners time and money. As the structure and technology within the marine industry continue to progress and evolve, so should the importance that is placed on fuel integrity. Regular testing is necessary to ensure not only operations remain smooth sailing but lives remain safe and secure as well.

Content Source: https://veritylabsltd.com/sb/importance-of-fuel-testing-for-superyachts/

[trekking123]

boating

Alleppey or Alappuzha fondly nicknamed Venice of the East is most often considered the Citadel of Houseboats in Kerala. With a labyrinth of inland canals, beaches, and lagoons, Allepey is the most often than not considered the starting or ending point to most Houseboat tours.The traditional houseboat of Kerala is known by the name Kettuvallam. The greatest areas in Kerala for houseboat vacations include Alappuzha, Vembanad, and Kollam. These houseboats are highly known for their overnight houseboat tours and for making fast trips through backwaters.