Old and Interesting Gas Stations

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Funny Definitions

Aquadextrious:

The art of turning the bathtub tap on with your toes.

Pain:

A cat licking your sunburn.

Budget:

A method for going broke methodically.

Willpower:

The ability to eat only one salted peanut.

Profanity:

The linguistic crutch of inarticulate idiots.

Boat:

A hole in the water surrounded by wood into which one pours money.

Bachelor:

One who treats all women as sequels.

Cigarette:

A pinch of tobacco, wrapped in paper, fire at one end, fool at the other.

Flashlight:

A case for holding dead batteries.

Taxpayer:

Someone who doesn't have to take a public service exam to work for the government.

Consciousness:

That annoying time between naps.

Stress:

The confusion created when ones mind overrides the body's basic desire to choke the living daylights out of some idiot who desperately needs it.

Jury:

Twelve people who determine which client has the better lawyer

Chickens:

The only animals you eat before they are born and after they're dead.

Hospitality:

Making your guests feel at home, even if you wish they were.

Adult:

A person who has stopped growing at both ends and is now growing in the middle.

Source: Internet

Fun And Facts

Fact: 50% of the doctors practicing in this country
today graduated in the lower half of their class.

Doctor: "Mrs. Larson, you're not going deaf in your
left ear, you seem to have a suppository stuck in there."

Mrs. Larson: "Well now I know what
happened to my hearing aid."

Actual Doctors' Names

Dr. Barker...Veterinarian

Dr. Hacker...Surgeon

Dr. Skinner...Dermatologist

Dr. Born...Ob-Gyn

Dr. Groth...Oncologist

Dr. Butt...Gastroenterology

Dr. Tickles...Pediatrician

Dr. Looney...Psychiatrist

Dr. Bone...Orthopedics

Dr. Gore...Emergency Medicine

Dr. Kidd...Pediatrician

Dr. Foote...Podiatrist

--------------------------------------------------

If you've got your health, you've got everything.
And if you don't have your health,
sooner or later your doctor has everything.

Source: Internet

Louisiana Ghost Story...

Even if you're a non-believer... you need to read this!
Louisiana Ghost Story ... (A true story)
This happened about 6 months ago on Louisiana Hwy 57, just outside of Dulac, a little town in the bayou country of Louisiana, and while it sounds like an Alfred Hitchcock tale, it'sreal.An Ohio businessman, Saul Rubins, abandoned his disabled vehicle on the side of the road, and attempted to hitchhike.The night was pitch dark in the middle of a thunderstorm. Time passed slowly and no cars went by. It was raining so hard he could hardly see his hand in front of his face.

Suddenly, through the sheets of rain, he saw a car moving slowly, approaching and appearing ghostlike in the rain. It slowly and silently crept toward him and stopped. Desperately needing a ride, Saul jumped in the car and closed the door. Only then did he realize that there was no one behind the wheel and no sound of an engine to be heard over the rain.

Again the car crept silently forward and Saul was terrified, too scared to think of jumping out and running.. He saw that the car was approaching a sharp curve and, still too scared to jump out, he started to pray and beg for his life; he was sure the ghost car would go off the road and into the bayou and he would then drown!

But just before the curve, a shadowy hand appeared at the driver's window, reached in and turned the steering wheel, guiding the car safely around the bend. Then, just as silently, the hand disappeared through the window and Saul was alone again.

Paralyzed with fear, Saul watched the hand re-appear every time they reached a curve.Finally, scared nearly to death, Saul had all he could take, jumped out of the car, and ran to town..

Wet and in shock, he went into Schmoopy's. Voice quavering, he ordered two cups of coffee, black, and then told everybody about his recent supernatural experience. The room became silent and everybody got goose bumps when they realized Saul was telling the truth (and not just some drunk). About 30 minutes later two Cajuns, dripping wet, walked into Schmoopy's and one says to the other,
"Look, Boudreaux, ders dat idiot what rode in our car when we wuz pushin' it in the rain!!!" =============

Source: Internet

SS Oceanic (1965)

Oceanic in Helsinki, June 2009

SS Oceanic is a cruise ship owned and operated by Peace Boat. She was built in 1965 by Cantieri Riuniti dell' Adriatico, Monfalcone, Italy for Home Lines. Between 1985 and 2000, she sailed for Premier Cruise Line under the names Starship Oceanic and Big Red Boat I, before being sold to Pullmantur Cruises and reverted to her original name. In 2009 she left the Pullmantur fleet for Peace Boat.

Concept and construction

Oceanic was the first newbuilt ship ordered by Home Lines. She was ordered from the Cantieri Riuniti dell' Adriatico shipyard at Monfalcone, Italy. She was designed as a combined two-class ocean liner and one-class cruise ship, running line voyages from Cuxhaven, Southampton, and Le Havre to Canada during the northern hemisphere summer and cruising during the winter.

According to William H. Miller's book, Greek Passenger Liners, the main designer behind the ship was in fact Home Lines' executive vice president, Charalambos Keusseuglou, who drew up the plans together with Mr. Constanzi, who had designed the SS Galileo Galilei and SS Guglielmo Marconi of Lloyd Triestino. The ship included many forward-looking features that are still included in present-day cruise ships, such as a magrodome covering the pool area, and life-boats located not on the top of the ship, but on separate lifeboat bays, lower on the hull.

Oceanic was launched from drydock on 15 January 1963. She was originally to be launched a week before, but due to unusually cold weather in Italy, the launch had to be delayed. Her fitting out took over two years, until the ship was finally delivered to Home Lines in March 1965. By this time, the company had decided to abandon transatlantic service due to falling passenger numbers and the establishment of the associated Hamburg Atlantic Line. As a result, Oceanic never in fact was used on the Europe–Canada service. Home Lines (incorrectly) marketed her as "the largest ship ever designed for year round cruises". In their marketing material, Home Lines also used British tonnage measurement for the ship (giving her tonnage as 39,000 GRT), even though she was registered in Panama, and by Panamian measurements she was only 29,000 GRT.

Service history

1965—1985: Career with Home Lines

Oceanic was delivered to Home Lines in March 1965. On 31 March, she left on a transatlantic crossing with fare-paying passengers (only 200 of them) from Genoa to New York City. She made a short series of transatlantic crossings, following which she entered cruise service from New York to the Bahamas on 24 April 1965, operating in tandem with the company's older SS Homeric. During summers, Oceanic ran seven-day cruises from New York to the Bahamas with longer cruises to the Caribbean during the winter. Oceanic was one of the most successful cruise ships of her time, operating consistently at 95% capacity with cruises booked up to one year in advance.

In 1982, Home Lines took delivery of the new MS Atlantic, which supplanted the Oceanic as the company flagship. Another new ship, MS Homeric, was slated for delivery in 1986. In preparation for this, Oceanic was sold to Premier Cruise Line in 1985.


StarShip Oceanic in her first Premier Cruises livery

1985—2000: Career with Premier Cruises

Following sale to Premier Cruise Line, Oceanic was renamed the StarShip Oceanic and initially placed on three and four-day cruises from Port Canaveral to Nassau and Salt Cay in the Bahamas. This cruise could be combined with a stay at Walt Disney World.[citation needed] Later, during her career with Premier Cruises, she was often marketed as "The Big Red Boat", and in 2000, she was renamed Big Red Boat I. However, Premier Cruise Line went bankrupt in September 2000. The Oceanic was detained by port authorities at Freeport, Bahamas, laid up and placed for sale.


Oceanic photographed during her service with Pullmantur Cruises

2000—2009: Career with Pullmantur Cruises

On 30 December 2000, the Big Red Boat I was acquired by the newly-founded, Spain-based Pullmantur Cruises. She reverted back to the name Oceanic and sailed to Cadiz, Spain for refurbishment. Following completion of her refurbishment, the ship entered service on cruises from Barcelona in May 2001. During her career with Pullmantur, Oceanic was gradually rebuilt by removing flammable materials so that the ship would be better in keeping with the new SOLAS regulations coming into effect in 2010.

Oceanic was reportedly due to be withdrawn from service with Pullmantur in September 2009. In March 2009, the ship was sold to the Japan-based Peace Boat, with delivery date already in April 2009.

2009 onwards: Career with Peace Boat

Oceanic entered service with Peace Boat on 23 April 2009, departing Yokohama on an around-the-world cruise that was due to conclude in Yokohama on 6 August 2009. Oceanic's circumnavigation was Peace Boat's 66th "Global Voyage for Peace", and the first to feature extensive visits to various ports in Scandinavia, with a goal of learning about the northern European welfare and education systems.

Sometime during the week between 3 and 9 May 2010, the Oceanic came under attack by pirates while off the coast of Yemen. The ship was attacked by grenades, but managed to avoid being boarded by adopting zig-zag manoeuvres and blasting the pirates with high-pressure water hoses. Reportedly the pirates were subsequently apprehended by NATO forces.

Design

Decks and facilities

As the Oceanic in Premier Cruise Line service, with decks from bottom to top:

Bahamas Deck - Outside and inside cabins

Atlantic Deck - Purser's office, outside and inside cabins

Restaurant Deck - Dining room, infirmary, outside and inside cabins

Continental Deck - Beauty salon, children's playroom, outside and inside cabins

Lounge Deck - Showroom, shops, casino, game arcade, pub, discotheque, enclosed promenade

Premier Deck - children's playroom, sundeck, swimming pool, suites, inside cabins

Pool Deck - Observation lounge, cafeteria, sundeck, bar swimming pools, jacuzzis, suites, inside cabins

Sun Deck - Gym, sundeck, suites


The SS Oceanic as the StarShip Oceanic in Premier Line colors and NCL's(at the time Norwegian Caribbean Line) Sunward II in September 1987; most likely docked at Nassau, Bahamas

Links:

Brochures



Source: Internet

Norwegian Epic

Norwegian Epic passing Calshot Spit light buoy in the Solent, outward bound from Southampton on its maiden voyage, bound for New York on 24 June 2010

Norwegian Epic, also known under the project name F3, is the sixth largest cruise ship in the world, owned by the Norwegian Cruise Line and built by STX Europe Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. Two ships in this class were ordered by NCL in November 2006, with an option for a third vessel that was not exercised. A dispute between NCL and STX initially resulted in the construction of both ships being placed on hold until a new agreement was reached in which the first ship will be completed and the construction of the second ship was cancelled. Delivery of the sole remaining ship was scheduled for June 2010.

Norwegian Epic was delivered to NCL on June 17, 2010. She set sail on her Maiden Voyage on Thursday June 24, 2010 from Southampton to New York and arrived on July 1. This is the largest cruise ship to ever dock in New York Passenger Ship Terminal.

Overview

The Norwegian Epic surpasses the Jewel-class as NCL's largest vessel by almost 60,000-GT. Norwegian Epic represents the "third generation" of Freestyle cruising vessels and its size allows NCL to have a ship that is in the "mega-class" of their competitors at Royal Caribbean International and Carnival Cruise Lines, though still 32% smaller by gross tonnage than Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, the world's largest and longest passenger vessels. The ship has 4100 passenger berths, with 100% of outside cabins having balconies. NCL had stated that this ship would have 60% more passenger space than their then largest ships.

Norwegian Epic has the only tube and bowl water slide at sea in its Aqua park. It also has a rappelling wall, as well as two three-lane bowling alleys. It also has a 17-degree ice bar.

The F3-class ship was built by STX Europe at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. The last ships delivered to NCL that was not at least partially built at a German shipyard was the Windward of 1993. Since that date and until this order, NCL's newbuildings have been built at the German Meyer Werft, Lloyd Werft, Bremer Vulkan and Aker MTW shipyards.

On April 13, 2010 NCL CEO Kevin Sheehan along with Macy's, Inc CEO Terry J. Lundgren and NBC CEO Jeff Zucker announced that the Macy's 34th Annual 4th of July Fireworks would take place on the Norwegian Epic (The fireworks were off on another Ship) The NBC One-Hour Telecast of the Event was broadcast from the Norwegian Epic.

Concept and construction

Norwegian Epic is reported to feature several innovative design features. The vessel utilizes a diesel-electric set up, with the six long-stroke MaK engines providing a total of 79.8 MW for ship propulsion and on-board electricity supply. These engines then drive high-torque density induction motors which turn two conventional (non-azimuthing) screws.

In September 2008 dispute over the price of the first F3 vessel (at the time approximately 25% complete) arose between Norwegian Cruise Line and STX France. Reportedly the sale of 50% of NCL to Apollo Management in August 2007 resulted in Apollo making several changes to the designs, resulting in higher cost for the first vessel. It was reported that the construction of the second ship was unaffected by the dispute, but ultimately it was announced that the first ship will be completed and the construction of the second ship will be canceled.

The sea trial of Norwegian Epic occurred over four days beginning on February 10, 2010. During the sea trials, 300 technicians and engineers from Aker Yards France, along with 30 Norwegian Cruise Line representatives, checked more than 60 aspects of the ship's performance by running trials of the ship's speed, maneuverability, hydrodynamics and propulsion in the Atlantic Ocean.

A second round of sea trials was conducted on June 11, 2010, which finalized all the aspects of the ship.

Fire

In early May 2010, a fire broke out in a provisioning area aft on Deck 4; firefighters were able to contain the fire before it spread, with the only damage to an area of cabling. The conditions were found to be suspicious (there was no welding or other 'hot' work in the area, and the extinguishing system was non-operational), and the event was investigated by Saint-Nazaire police as an arson attack. Despite the damage, Norwegian Epic was delivered on time.

Current & Future Cruises

The Norwegian Epic is currently sailing out of Miami to sail 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruises. After in 2012 will continue her 7-night Western Mediterranean sailings. Based out of Barcelona, Rome & Marseille.

Source: Internet

MS Oasis of the Seas

MS Oasis of the Seas is an Oasis-class cruise ship in the fleet of Royal Caribbean International. The first of her class, she was joined by her sister ship Allure of the Seas in December 2010. Both vessels cruise the Caribbean from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She set a new record of carrying over 6,000 passengers.

The ship surpasses the Freedom-class cruise ships (also owned by Royal Caribbean) as the largest cruise ship in the world.

History

The vessel was ordered in February 2006 and designed under the name "Project Genesis". Her keel was laid down on 12 November 2007 at STX Europe - a subsidiary of the South Korean industrial chaebol STX Corporation - (formerly Aker Yards) in Turku, Finland. The company announced that full funding for Oasis of the Seas was secured on 15 April 2009.

The name Oasis of the Seas resulted from a competition held in May 2008.

During the first float-out of the vessel the tugboats that were pulling the ship from its dock failed to control the ship, resulting in the port side of the ship colliding with the dock. This resulted in some cosmetic damage and minor damage to the hull, which was repaired and did not affect the final delivery date of the vessel.

The ship was completed and turned over to Royal Caribbean on 28 October 2009. Two days later, she departed Finland for the United States. While exiting the Baltic Sea, the vessel passed underneath the Great Belt Fixed Link in Denmark on 1 November 2009. The bridge has a clearance of 65 m (213 ft) above the water; Oasis normally has an air draft of 72 m (236 ft). The passage under the bridge was possible due to retraction of the telescoping funnels, and an additional 30 cm (12 in) was gained by the squat effect whereby vessels traveling at speed in a shallow channel will be drawn deeper into the water. Approaching the bridge at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph), the ship passed under it with less than 2 feet (60 cm) of clearance.

Proceeding through the English Channel, Oasis stopped briefly in the Solent so that 300 shipyard workers who were on board doing finishing work could disembark, then left on the way to her intended home port of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The ship arrived there on 13 November 2009, where tropical plants were installed prior to some introductory trips and her maiden voyage on 5 December 2009.

While Royal Caribbean's chief of captains William S. Wright was in command of the ship's journey across the Atlantic and also for the first few sailings, navigation of the Oasis of the Seas is regularly handled by Trym Selvag and Thore Thorolvsen. The ship was featured in an episode of the second season of Mighty Ships, a production of Discovery Channel Canada which aired during the summer of 2010.

Oasis had a minor refit in winter 2011, adding the DreamWorks Experience which is when passengers are able to interact with characters such as Shrek on board the ship. The Oasis class also now features 3D movies. Oasis is scheduled to enter dry-dock in Spring 2014.

As of November 14, 2011 Royal Caribbean has stated that Starbucks will now be featured on the Oasis of the Seas. Therefore now all the Oasis class ships have a Starbucks since Allure of the Seas has had one since its inaugural sailing. Since Starbucks has been added to the Oasis class ships on Allure of the Seas Starbucks has raised sale percentage up 3.9 % since June 2011.

Technical Details

The gross tonnage of the Oasis of the Seas is 225,282. Her displacement—the actual mass of the vessel—is estimated at approximately 100,000 tons, about the same as that of an American Nimitz-class aircraft carrier.

To keep the ship stable without increasing the draft excessively, the designers created a wide hull. About 30 feet (9 m) of the ship sits beneath the water, a small percentage of the ship's overall height. Wide, shallow ships such as this tend to be "snappy", meaning that they can snap back upright after a wave has passed, which can be uncomfortable. This effect, however, is mitigated by the vessel's large size. The cruise ship's officers were pleased with the ship's stability and performance during the transatlantic crossing, when the vessel, in order to allow finishing work to go on, slowed and changed course in the face of winds "almost up to hurricane force" and seas in excess of 40 feet (12 m).

The ship's power comes from six marine diesel engines, three Wärtsilä 16-cylinder common rail diesels producing 18,860 kilowatts (25,290 hp) each and three similar 12-cylinder engines each producing 13,860 kilowatts (18,590 hp). The fuel consumption of the main engines is 1,377 gallons of fuel oil per engine per hour for the 16-cylinder engines and 1,033 gallons per hour per engine for the 12-cylinder engines. The total output of these prime movers, some 97,020 kilowatts (130,110 hp), is converted to electricity, used in hotel power for operation of the lights, elevators, electronics, galleys, water treatment plant, and all of the other systems used on the operation of the vessel, as well as propulsion. Propulsion is provided by three 20,000-kilowatt (26,800 hp) Azipods, ABB's brand of electric azimuth thrusters. These pods, suspended under the stern, contain electric motors driving 20-foot (6 m) propellers. Because they are rotatable, no rudders are needed to steer the ship. Docking is assisted by four 5,500-kilowatt (7,380 hp) transverse bow thrusters.

The ship carries 18 lifeboats that hold 370 people each, for a total of 6,660 people. Inflatable life rafts provide for additional passengers and crew.

Amenities

Oasis of the Seas offers passengers features such as two-story loft suites and luxury suites measuring 1,600 sq ft (150 m2) with balconies overlooking the sea or promenades. The ship features a zip-line, a casino, a mini-golf course, multiple night clubs, several bars and lounges, a karaoke club, comedy club, five swimming pools, volleyball and basketball courts, theme parks and nurseries for children.

Onboard recreational, athletic, and entertainment activities are organized into seven themed areas called "neighborhoods", a concept which bears resemblance to theme park planning. These neighborhoods are:

Central Park features boutiques, restaurants and bars, including access to the Rising Tide bar, which can be raised or lowered between three decks. It has the first living park at sea with over 12,000 plants and 56 trees.

The Pool and Sports Zone features a sloped-entry beach pool and two surf simulators.

Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center features a spa for teens.

Boardwalk features a handcrafted carousel, restaurants, bars, shops, two rock-climbing walls, and a temporary tattoo parlor. Its outdoor 750-seat AquaTheatre amphitheater hosts the ship's largest freshwater pool.

Royal Promenade features restaurants and shops and is viewable from a mezzanine.

Youth Zone features a science lab and computer gaming.

Entertainment Place

Naming ceremony and launch party

The ship was formally named on 30 November 2009 during a charity sailing for Make a Wish Foundation. At this ceremony the ship was sponsored by seven "godmothers", each representing one of the seven neighbourhoods on board. The godmothers were Gloria Estefan, Michelle Kwan, Dara Torres, Keshia Knight Pulliam, Shawn Johnson, Jane Seymour and Daisy Fuentes.

On 1 December 2009, a four-night pre-inaugural sailing began from Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, calling at Labadee in Haiti (3 December) and returning to Port Everglades, before the ship left Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on 5 December 2009 on its maiden voyage, calling at (8 December) St. Thomas, (9 December) St. Maarten, and (11 December) Nassau.

Source: Internet