December 11, 2009 - The Patrick administration has a goal of producing 2,000 megawatts of wind power in Massachusetts by 2020, enough for 800,000 homes. The 130 turbines Cape Wind proposes for Horseshoe Shoal in Nantucket Sound will produce an average of 182.6 megawatts. More wind power is desired and plans for additional wind farms in the area are now being considered. One proposal would locate 166 turbines in waters close to Cuttyhunk and Noman's land within easy sight of of Martha's Vineyard's western shores. Residents of Cuttyhunk support the plan. Some people on MVY object to it. Here's the story from David Abel of the Boston Globe.

And in waters to the south a group called Deepwater Wind has just closed a deal to sell power to Rhode Island from a proposed wind farm located near Block Island. Privately held Deepwater is interested supplying wind energy to markets in New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts. Here's the story from Reuters at CNET.

November 11, 2009 - The Mayflower Compact, an agreement among the Pilgrims on how they would organize their society in the New World, was signed in Provincetown Harbor on November 11, 1620. Its brevity is remarkable:

In the name of God, Amen. We whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, etc.

Having undertaken, for the Glory of God and advancement of the Christian Faith and Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the First Colony in the Northern Parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually in the presence of God and one of another, Covenant and Combine ourselves together into a Civil Body Politic, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute and frame such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions and Offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the Colony, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cape Cod, the 11th of November, in the year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord King James, of England, France and Ireland the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Domini 1620.

Notes: 1. "dread" in reference to the King means awe-inspiring and revered. 2. The Pilgrims intended to land in Virginia. Arriving at Cape Cod they tried to head south but were unable to get past Monomoy Point. Provincetown Harbor was their first home in America.

More than a few people have asked about old images from the Coast Guard Beach web cam. We haven't been saving them. Once an image is gone from the last 10 images page it's gone forever. If you see an image you like you can save it easily yourself by right clicking on the image and saving it on your own computer. If you see (and save) a great cam image... like a monster tuna jumping out of the water please send it to us.

We might set up a way to save images in the future. But even then we would need a way of knowing which images are special.

October 7, 2009 - Five Somali pirates are in custody after mistaking a French naval vessel for a "harmless" commercial cargo ship in the Indian Ocean. A military spokesman said today that the blundering pirates attacked the Somme, a naval command and fuel supply ship, from two small skiffs last night. The 515 foot long Somme is used as the command center for all French military forces in the Indian Ocean. Admiral Christophe Prazuck said that the Somme, which is equipped with a range of cannon and machineguns, repelled the attack and immediately gave chase, seizing one boat and capturing five pirates after an hour-long chase. Here's the full story from the UK's Times Online.