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Blacktip Island Weather
Wahoo Reef weather station
Sunday, January 12, 2025
Temperature: 78
Humidity: 61%
Precipitation: On its way
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Blacktip Island Weather
Wahoo Reef weather station
Sunday, January 5, 2025
Temperature: 80
Humidity: 62%
Precipitation: In your dreams
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Blacktip Island Woman Assaults Husband Over Holiday Gifts
A Blacktip Island woman was arrested Sunday after physically attacking her husband when he gave her five iguanas instead of five golden rings on the fifth day of Christmas. (photo illustration by Wendy Beaufort / BTT staff)
A Blacktip Island woman was arrested Sunday on assault charges after she beat her husband for not giving her five gold rings on December 29, the fifth day of Christmas.
“I responded to a domestic violence report at a residence south of Eagle Ray Cove,” Island Police Constable Rafe Marquette said. “Upon arrival, I found a woman beating a man about the head and shoulders with a distressed iguana. After separating the two people and freeing the iguana, I jailed her on charges of assault and animal cruelty. She has since posted bond and been released.”
The woman, longtime Blacktip resident Lucille Ray, defended her actions.
“Giving me a dump chicken on Day One was bad enough,” she said. “But it got worse from there—two booby birds, three land crabs, then four zenaida doves. It was worth it, though, ‘cause I knew those rings were next. And what did he do? Give me five nasty-ass iguanas. Damn right I walloped him with one.
“What am I supposed to do with zenaida doves and a bunch of mini dinosaurs?” she said. “Can’t put either on my finger. Billy, he set high expectations, then crashed ‘em down on me. Cheap is what he is. He’s lucky he didn’t get worse.”
Her husband, Billy Ray, claimed there was a misunderstanding.
“I figured I’d do something different, give her thoughtful gifts I worked to get rather than just buying something,” he said. “I used the 12 Days of Christmas song as a rough guide, but never led on that I’d be giving anything from the actual song. I thought everything was going swimmingly, then she started whacking me with a pissed-off lizard.
“Took a lot of work to get those gifts,” Ray said. “You ever try to catch boobies? And those iguanas bite. I got scars from all that. The least Lucille could do is be appreciative. Instead, she’s hired herself a lawyer.”
The attorney retained by Lucille Ray said civil charges will be filed.
“It’s breach of contract, pure and simple,” Ferris Skerritt said. “A social contract, to be sure, but still a contract. The implication of Mr. Ray basing his gifts on a well-known carol created the expectation of more valuable gifts in the future. Mrs. Ray was totally within her rights to interact with Mr. Ray in the manner she did.”
Island People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals condemned the gifts and the assault.
“It’s a horrific idea, catching wild animals to give as gifts,” PETA president Harry Pickett said. “Nothing short of animal cruelty, really, and we’ll be filing criminal complaints to that affect. But the use of a local rock iguana as an offensive weapon goes beyond the pale. Someone who would use an iguana in that fashion could well use a human as a weapon, too.”
The Tiperon assizes courts will hear the criminal and civil cases in early February.
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Blacktip Island Weather
Wahoo Reef weather station
Sunday, December 22, 2024
Temperature: 86
Humidity: 62%
Precipitation: 0.0% chance
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Blacktip Island Musician Creates New Coral-Saving Carol
Blacktip Island ecologists hope a new Christmas song, composed entirely of coral reef sounds, will encourage coral growth on the small Caribbean island’s reefs. (photo courtesy of Toby Hudson)
A Blacktip Island musician this week released a recording of healthy-reef sounds crafted into a Christmas carol, to be played on underwater speakers and hummed by scuba divers, in an attempt to rejuvenate the small Caribbean island’s coral reefs.
“There’s been several studies the last few years showing how broadcasting sounds recorded on healthy reefs can restore damaged coral,” Leigh Shore said. “We were already working on doing that here when I thought, ‘why not turn reef sounds into Christmas music?’ I just spliced together a bunch of sound files, and, voila, we’ve got the Carol of the Coral.
“All the sounds are what you’d hear on a vibrant reef— crackles and pops, parrotfish crunching coral, pistol shrimp snapping, and the like,” Shore said. “It’s a bit like that dogs-barking-jingle-bells song, but underwater. There’s no words yet, but that’s in the works. So far all I have is, ‘hmmm, hm, hmmmm, hmm-mmm, hm, hm.’”
Experts are divided on the idea.
“We know healthy reef sounds encourage coral growth,” Tiperon University-Blacktip marine biology professor Ernesto Mojarra said. “Worst case, this particular mix of reef sounds will have no effect, so it’s worth a try. And the dive guests really enjoy humming along. It sounds a bit like the A Coventry Carol.”
Others opposed the project.
“Dropping speakers on the reef, then piping garbled sounds into a so-called melody will do more harm than good,” ichthyologist Goby Graysby said. “Natural reef sounds would have been fine, but mounting hydrophones on the reef and blasting random holiday noise will inhibit coral growth. And right now, that’s the last thing our reefs need.”
Scuba divers visiting the island praised the music.
“It’s quite lovely, hearing all the fishy sounds turned into a song,” Suzie Souccup said. “My favorite part is in the chorus, when they use the sound of parrotfish pooping sand to create and awesome refrain. And it feels great to hum along and know I’m helping the reef. I’m going to add it to my Christmas playlist when I get back home.”
Local establishments are also taking advantage of the new song.
“We’re playing it at the bar, and folks love it,” Last Ballyhoo bar owner Willy Bottoms said. “The standard Christmas carols get massively overplayed, so having something fresh and new like this is a great addition. The fact it’s reef themed makes it even better.”
Shore said the carol will soon be available on music streaming services. All proceeds from sales will go to underwater speakers.
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Happy Baby Dolphin Learning to Jump Day to all who observe
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Blacktip Island Weather
Wahoo Reef weather station
Sunday, December 15, 2024
Temperature: 84
Humidity: 61%
Precipitation: Not today
Filed under best scuba diving novels, Caribbean, Scuba Diving
The Blacktip Times 