Access Data (AD) recently formed a partnership with e-Fense, the creative masterminds behind the Helix program, and the computer forensics community is eagerly awaiting their next move. Will AD run Helix into the ground like they have their own software? AD has shown very little expertise in anything but advertising over the last few years. I will admit that FTK 3 is a huge improvement over FTK 2.2, but they really only had one way to go-it couldn’t have gotten much worse.

Up until the end of this summer Protegga was still using FTK 1.8 for some investigations. After testing 2.2 we determined that the license was still useful and would retain it, but we would only use 1.8. The new platform was slow, the indexing was incomplete, and the database was unstable. How can a tool like this be taken into court with any confidence?

When FTK 3 came out in October, we quickly downloaded it in anticipation of huge improvements and advancements in the platform. However, our excitement was quickly crushed when we discovered that the Oracle database used with the software was not able to be installed on Windows 7. Protegga has been testing Windows 7 since March of this year and recently made the switch on our workstations to the new operating system. Did AD not see Windows 7 coming? Why would they release their new product and not make sure it was compatible with the newest operating system? I put a call into support to get some of my questions answered, but support was less than, well…supportive. My questions were quickly answered with, “we are aware of the incompatibility and are unable to help at this time.” That was it.

So Protegga set forth to figure out how to install Oracle on Windows 7. 20 pots of coffee and 2 days later we had FTK 3 up and running and have been testing it ever since. If it only took us 2 days to figure out, why didn’t AD do that prior to release? Were they incapable? Well, since the issue has since been resolved, I don’t think that was the problem. The truth is AD has been making some terrible business decisions over the last few years and this new partnership with e-Fense could spell the end to the open-source forensic tool Helix.

Our community went up in arms when it was announced that Helix would no longer be free to the public, and the $150 price was deemed excessive by many (we did not mind paying for such a useful tool). AD has been raising the price on their licenses while continuing to run their product into the ground. I don’t see this new partnership benefiting either company or the computer forensics community as a whole.

New Helix separation system filters dirt and debris and protects the motor and fan. Easy empty dirt container. Features include: 12A, 5 height adjustment, 13-1/2″ foot sweep, turbo brush, HEPA media filtration, 27′ power cord, 8′ wire reinforced hose, ext

It passed the Black Sofa Test 
The vacuum just came in. I took it out of the box, and it took all of two minutes to assemble. I ran it over the rugs of my two-bedroom apartment and it picked up everything in its path. I noticed the tank needed to be dumped more than my Hoover Wind Tunnel, but it’s a good trade-off, because once the bottom of the Wind Tunnel’s tank got full, it just gave up.
What I was really looking to give it–being a pet owner–was the extreme test on my black, cloth, sofa. Unlike other vacuum’s that come with a nozzle surrounded by brushes that just seem to push the pet hair around, this comes with a turbo brush, which is like a mini version of the vacuum’s main turbo brush. It cleaned off the sofa in minutes and left it spotless.
I know it’s new, so as to how it wears, I can’t tell you. But, I normally can tell within a few minutes whether I’ve spent well, or spent bad.
I would say this was money well spent…..Read more

DNA strains in different designs and colors. Useful as clipart for arcticles concerning dna, medicine or medical themes.

I spent the day in Athens, Georgia on Friday, and it was a wonderfully nostalgic trip. JD and I lived in Athens the first three years of our marriage while he was in law school at UGA. I worked for the best hospital in Athens and made several friends there along the way. I was back in town on Friday to celebrate the impending arrival of my good friend Misty’s new baby Hayden, and I enjoyed catching up on all the sites and stops that I had not seen in over two and a half years.

I stopped by Helix and Frontier, my two favorite downtown shops (sorry that I missed you, Toula’s and Homeplace)and documented a few items I wanted to research more. I’ll detail that in later posts this week, but I don’t feel like I can kickoff Athens’ finds without talking about r. wood studio ceramics first.

While an Athens resident, I had the chance to take a tour through the shop and studio. The work produced there is so great: simple colors, beautifully unique shapes, and a thin but sturdy weight. The bowls, plates and platters are peaceful… I don’t think that makes sense at all, but, to me, that describes them perfectly!

The collections are huge. Here’s a sampling of her work (click each picture to follow the link to their page):

I know the studio has received a lot of acclaim: she has been featured in the Sundance catalog and twice in Design*Sponge (early in the blog’s existence and recently in Rebecca Wood’s home for a “Sneak Peek”). When I found a platter and some bowls at Frontier, it was strange to see them again since I hadn’t located them in Nashville yet.

Also a great feature on the website is the wedding registry. Boy! If I had known about this before I registered for our wedding in 2004…

Regardless, I was glad to stumble on pieces from the collection again and wanted to share it with you. Keep an eye out the rest of the week for more Athens’ finds!

Μια λίστα με ορισμένες από τις πάρα πολλές δημοσιεύσεις για το Διεθνές Φεστιβάλ Θεάτρου Δρόμου βρίσκεται σ’ αυτόν τον σύνδεσμο.

Επειδή όμως είναι βέβαιο ότι υπάρχουν κι άλλες που μπορεί να μην έχουμε εντοπίσει, παρακαλούμε να μας ενημερώσετε αφήνοντας ένα σχόλιο.

I swore, for quite some time really, that I was never going to be a programmer. I had this stereotypical idea of what good programmers were like, and I just didn’t see myself that way. You know the typical world view of the programmer; the nerdy guy who sits in his basement all day drinking Mountain Dew and eating Doritos. The guy with absolutely no interest in physical activity or the theatre or… well I am sure you get the idea. So, simply put, I was an idiot, and I really should have known better.

This idea stuck in my head made me do a lot of things to avoid calling myself a programmer. First, I tried something completely different. I went and started college majoring in Broadcast Media.  Then I changed to Computer Engineer, but I swore up and down that I was a hardware guy. I really just wanted to work on hardware theory and design. Well, to keep this long story from getting longer, my first job out of college sucked, in so many ways it is hard to describe. Desperate to work somewhere else I took a job as a software developer. I found that I loved the work, though I am sure it didn’t hurt that I really like working with the people at my shop too.

The thing that really excited me about programming was the problem solving. I found I just loved attacking the problems other people thought were hard and just finding answers to them. So I kept exploring the topic and finding out more about it. I decided I really wanted to push and create something unique. So I started looking long and hard at the different languages and frameworks out there…

Putting it simply, there wasn’t a single one that made me really happy. As I rather ineloquently put it to a coworker. It just seemed like they all “sucked.” So I decided that I want to make something better. Something I thought would really fit the bill and do the work I wanted to do well. Maybe it is a bad case of “not built here syndrome.” But so what? This is for my enjoyment so I might as well start to explore something I find interesting. So what you will be reading about over the next few months is my adventure into language theory and concepts, probably sprinkled with quite a bit of operating and server design, and my own random thoughts on software development.

Honestly, there is a decent chance that I am going to be doing all of this writing for nothing but my own simple expression, but who says there is anything wrong with that.

Το ιστορικό κέντρο της Αθήνας γέμισε με περισσότερους από 250 καλλιτέχνες και 60 ομάδες θεάτρου δρόμου και όχι μόνο από όλο τον κόσμο οι οποίοι έδωσαν 200 παραστάσεις μέσα σε τέσσερις ημέρες (16-19 Οκτωβρίου 2009).

Η φαντασμαγορική τελετή έναρξης πραγματοποιήθηκε στις 16 Οκτωβρίου στο Παναθηναϊκό Στάδιο με την παράσταση Αιών από Θέατρο Δρόμου HELIX. Αμέσως μετά στο Ζάππειο ακολούθησε η πρωτότυπη παράσταση Carmen από τον πολωνικό θίασο “Teatr Biuro Podróźy” η οποία και τελικά βραβεύτηκε από την κριτική επιτροπή.

Για τρεις μέρες η Πλάκα, το Θησείο, η πλατεία  Καπνικαρέας, η πλατεία Κλαυθμώνος και άλλοι δρόμοι του ιστορικού κέντρου της Αθήνας γέμισαν με καλλιτέχνες απ’ όλον τον κόσμο οι οποίοι ζωντάνεψαν την καθημερινότητα των δρόμων της Αθήνας.

Την τελευταία μέρα οι δρόμοι από την οδό Μακρυγιάννη ως το Θησείο γέμισαν από μια κεφάτη και πολύβουη παρέλαση με όλους τους καλλιτέχνες που συμμετείχαν στο Φεστιβάλ. Μετά το πέρας  της παρέλασης ακολούθησε η απονομή των Βραβείων και η γιορτή τελείωσε με ξέφρενο πάρτι.

Η αποδοχή του φεστιβάλ από τον κόσμο ήταν τεράστια και η διοργάνωση του 1ου Διεθνούς Φεστιβάλ Θεάτρου Δρόμου έθεσε τη βάση για τη συνέχεια, το 2ο Διεθνές Φεστιβάλ Θεάτρου Δρόμου!

Το Φεστιβάλ ήταν διαγωνιστικό και δόθηκαν στο σύνολο τέσσερα βραβεία.

Για το κεντρικό Φεστιβάλ δόθηκαν δύο ισότιμα βραβεία.

Βραβείο «Σκηνοθεσίας και συνολικής σύλληψης».
Βραβείο «Πρότασης για θέαμα σε δημόσιο χώρο».

Τα βραβεία αυτά συνοδεύτηκαν από χρηματικό έπαθλο 4.000€ έκαστο.

Ένα βραβείο δόθηκε αποκλειστικά σε ελληνική ομάδα και συνοδεύτηκε από πρόσκληση σ’ ένα Διεθνές Φεστιβάλ του εξωτερικού. Για την φετινή περίοδο έχει οριστεί το Διεθνές Φεστιβάλ Θεάτρου Δρόμου και Κουκλοθέατρου “PUPPET FAIR”, που γίνεται στη Σόφια της Βουλγαρίας.

Ένα τέταρτο βραβείο απονεμήθηκε σε ομάδα ή καλλιτέχνη του open προγράμματος, και ισοδυναμεί με πρόσκληση για το Κεντρικό Φεστιβάλ της επόμενης χρονιάς και χρηματικό έπαθλο 2.000€.

Οι  επιτροπές αποτελούνταν από τους:

Για το Κεντρικό (main) Φεστιβάλ:

- Χριστίνα Μπάμπου-Παγκουρέλη, Αντιπρόεδρο του Διεθνούς Ινστιτούτου Θεάτρου (iTi Worldwide), μεταφράστρια

- Κυριάκο Αργυρόπουλο, Διευθυντή του Puppet Fair Festival στην Σόφια της Βουλγαρίας

- Floriane Gaber, συγγραφέα, ερευνήτρια, δημοσιογράφο, δασκάλα και πολιτιστικό σύμβουλο. Σχολιάστρια και κριτικός του θεάτρου δρόμου, παραστάσεων μίμου, τσίρκου και θεάτρου

- Ελευθερία Ντεκώ, σχεδιάστρια φωτισμών, μέλος του Δ.Σ. του Ε.ΚΕ.ΘΕ.Χ.

- Γιώργο Πεφάνη, Επίκουρο Καθηγητή στο Τμήμα Θεατρικών Σπουδών Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών, κριτικό θεάτρου

Η επιτροπή απένειμε τα Βραβεία:

«Σκηνοθεσίας και συνολικής σύλληψης» στην Πολωνική ομάδα “Teatr Biuro Podróźy” για την παράσταση Carmen

«Πρότασης για θέαμα σε δημόσιο χώρο» στην Γαλλική ομάδα “Carnage Productions” για την παράσταση S.W.A.T. (G.I.G.N)

Το Βραβείο που συνοδεύεται από πρόσκληση για συμμετοχή σε Φεστιβάλ του εξωτερικού που γι’ αυτή την χρονιά είναι το Διεθνές Φεστιβάλ Θεάτρου Δρόμου και Κουκλοθέατρου “PUPPET FAIR”, στη Σόφια της Βουλγαρίας, δόθηκε σε δύο Ελληνικές ομάδες αντί για μία, στην Ομάδα «Πλεύσις» για την παράσταση Αόρατες Πόλεις και στην Ομάδα «Object0» με την παράσταση Non+.

Για το ελεύθερο (Open) Φεστιβάλ:

- Κωνσταντίνα Ζηροπούλου, Δρ. Θεατρολογίας, Φιλόλογος, Ταμίας του Δ.Σ. του Ελληνικού Κέντρου του Διεθνούς Ινστιτούτου Θεάτρου

- Ειρήνη Μουντράκη, κριτικός θεάτρου, θεατρολόγος

- Όλγα Ποζέλη, σκηνοθέτις, ηθοποιός, αναπληρώτρια Ταμίας του Δ.Σ. του Ελληνικού Κέντρου του Διεθνούς Ινστιτούτου Θεάτρου

- Χρίστο Λύγκα, σκηνοθέτης, ηθοποιός, Καλλιτεχνικός Διευθυντής Θεατρικού Οργανισμού «Πρώτες Ύλες».

Η επιτροπή απένειμε το χρηματικό έπαθλο των 2.000€ και την πρόσκληση για το Κεντρικό Φεστιβάλ της επόμενης χρονιάς στον Alvaro Ramirez Marquez για την παράσταση Διασκεδάστε και εσείς μπορείτε!

last month we visited Big Bear and Helix tore open one of her dew claws while chasing a squirrel. There was really no way to repair it besides removing it so we had the other removed at the same time. since she’s full grown, it’s a bigger ordeal than if she was only a 10 day puppy. poor girl was in a lot of pain the following day, waiting for us to carry her from room to room because it hurt to walk. but she’s as good as new now.

Riuniti con la formazione originale gli Helix pubblicherano questo 17 ottobre Vagabond Bones. Intanto gustiamoci il video. Il brano non e` niente male.

Clax

Αρχίζει σε λίγες μέρες το 1ο Διεθνές Φεστιβάλ Θεάτρου Δρόμου της Αθήνας, μια πρωτοβουλία και διοργάνωση του Θεάτρου Δρόμου Helix με την υποστήριξη του Εθνικού Κέντρου Θεάτρου και Χορού.

Η επίσημη ιστοσελίδα του φεστιβάλ βρίσκεται στη διεύθυνση http://www.istfest.gr. Αυτό το μπλογκ δημιουργήθηκε για να διευκολύνει τον καλλιτεχνικό διάλογο μεταξύ διοργανωτών, συμμετεχόντων και κοινού. Περιμένουμε τη συμμετοχή σας…

Zum Samstag gibt es einen neuen Bad Taste Bear, den es sich zum Vorstellen lohnt: HELIX

I made these two Walnut stools for an antiques dealer who had acquired a sumptuous Flemish tapestry at auction which provided sufficient material to cover both new stools.

There is nothing extraordinary about the construction of the stool frames – the frames were constructed, devoid of glue, using normal mortice and tennon joinery and draw-bored – but I thought some may find the turning of the legs interesting.

I am aware of an American tool that adapts a hand-held router for the purpose of turning spirals, flutes and reeds etc., but a) I don’t have one of those contraptions and b) the bland, uniform appearance of routed work would be unacceptable for these stools. Even though this pair of stools would probably never be compared side-by-side with an original, they still needed to be constructed in a proper time-honoured manner.

I turned the leg and stretcher blanks to their respective overall dimensions on the lathe. The first stage in creating a new bine was to count the number of turns on one of the original ‘barley twist’ components. A length of string was then taped to one end of the stock mounted in the lathe which was then slowly revolved the required number of rotations by hand while stretching the string towards the opposite end. Before the loose end of the string was finally taped down, it was gently patted along its length to ensure it settled along the most direct path around the cylindrical portion.

Using a soft lead pencil, the string line was followed leaving a dark, easily visible thread around the stock. With a turning gouge in hand, the lathe was started at a slow speed and the gouge introduced to the start of the thread. One has to be confident and determined when turning bines as there are obviously no second chances.

Once a rough helix has been cut, subsequent passes with the gouge open it up.

Further working with gouges and chisels transforms the square-edged helix into the familiar barley twist form.

Successive sandpapering completes the job.

The frames were sympathetically coloured and appropriately aged.

The stool frames ready for upholstering.

Une gymnopédie, a tender lilting: a series

of vibrantly colored still-frames, flickering.

An old film

on its reel, spinning and weaving impressionistic helices

of parallel serenity and silent quivering.

The serene: a countryside kindling a calm, surreal stillness

upon open eyes, then vanishing upon their closing—flashes.

These flashes: an ancient rusted road worn by footsteps, flitting

like butterflies in lavender shade beneath jade trees, wandering

into viridian willows atop emerald hills and beneath

a vast azure marine.

The quivering silence: Between notes, urging on, anticipating the emergence

of an arising multi-phonic vibration—a rebirth,

a dance.

This dance: a coalescing semblance; a patchwork

respiration—the piecemeal resolution of eternal returning,

self-assembling, woven together with the space of silences,

born in the calm of this countryside,

breathing beneath its wildflowers in the Spring;

its dry vagrant dust in the Summer; the nudity of trees

and leaves deceased, the premonition of Winter in Autumn.

Come Winter,

a cold silence.

A fire; a single flame;

an ephemeral cinema; a single handwoven ceremony

of life burgeoning at its fringes, tearing out and backwards into itself

in an endless metamorphosis.

Now a voice, barely audible: heat on skin, whispering primally

that, while it clings to, gives the appearance of, rigidity: there is dancing. Everywhere

dancing: a single dynamic body to the quivering crescendo

that incites and becomes;

breathing.

On July 7th, 1984, Helix released Walkin’ the Razor’s Edge, (their 4th album/on Capitol Records). I was very much the fan of Helix back then… still am. You see, Helix is one of those Heavy Metal Bands that always liked to put the (gasp) fun into Heavy Metal Music. I used to own this album… on vinyl too. This Helix album is another one I would like to find again on vinyl, (yup, I got rid of this album for some insane reason years ago), only I want an original pressing from 1984 and at a thrift store price too. I will find this album again on one of my Metal hunts… I can feel it. For now, I am Metal psyched to at least own a digital copy of the single Rock You from Walkin’ the Razor’s Edge. This is one cool and fun – Heavy Metal song from 1984. Rock You started playing in my head earlier today, therefore, I cranked up this song on my stereo system and it served me right. This is a tried and true, Classic Heavy Metal Anthem that still works for me. Rock You is my Heavy Metal song for this weekend of September 12/13 of ‘09. I have compiled the lyrics below, just to prove my point as to why this song is fun. LONG LIVE HELIX and… ROCK YOU!

ROCK YOU:

(chorus -1)

Give me an R-O-C-K 
Whatcha got (ROCK) 
And whatcha gonna do (ROCK YOU) 
Gimme an R-O-C-K 
Whatcha got (ROCK) 
And whatcha gonna do (ROCK YOU) 
Hot as a pistol 
Loaded like a gun 
Waiting for some action 
Gotta have my fun 
Don’t just sit there 
C’mon get up and move 
If you want to 
Tell ya’ what we’re gonna do 

(chorus-2) 

Rock you (ROCK YOU) 
Rock You (ROCK YOU) 
I’ve been waiting for so long 
For the outcome 
Gotta play it strong 
So just don’t sit there 
C’mon get up and move 
If you want to 
Tell ya’ what we’re gonna do 
(chorus-2) 
(chorus-1) 
(solo) 
Rock you 
Don’t just sit there 
C’mon get up and move 
If you want to 
Tell ya’ what we’re gonna do 
(chorus-2-out)

To the best of my Metal research, here is the current 2009 lineup of Helix:

主持：公民社會網絡 (ALLIBER、HELIX)
嘉賓：香港中學生聯盟 (YUKI、DERUISH)

反校園驗毒等如有吸毒? 校園驗毒計劃的各種謬誤
自願還是不自願, 中學生如何自處
學校與學生之間的互信危機

節目下載

PvP kann frustrierend sein, kann spassig sein und manchmal…

Eben auf dem Rückweg eines leider erfolglosen Roamings traf ich eine Myrmidon am Gate. Der Charakter erst von Februar, ich dachte mir, schau mal, was er macht. Mein outgoing Gate aligned und den AB angemacht.
Da ich ja blinky bin, hat er mich auch direkt brav aufgeschaltet und seine Killertruppe an Dronen ausgeschleust (1* Hobgoblin I, 2* Hammerhead I, 2* Ogre I !!!).

Trotzdem Rifter vs. Myrmidon? No way, also warpe ich ans Outgoing, konnte mir aber nen kleinen Kommentar nicht verkneifen:

[20:16:39] Rage Starwalker > ^^
[20:17:50] Rage Starwalker > A shame i’m just in a rifter
[20:17:57] Rage Starwalker > this would have been fun
[20:18:11] Dai Connie > lol maybe u should get closer
[20:18:39] Rage Starwalker > maybe ^^

Also, warum nicht? Im Zweifelsfall nur ne Rifter verloren, dachte ich mir und er kam auch brav hinterhergewarpt.
Orbit auf 500m und da kam auch schon seine Killertruppe. Natürlich war die auch wieder schnell weg, nur eine Ogre hat überlebt, da sie irgendwann auf ca. 11 km hinterherhinkte. Ich wechsele also die Munition, nehm die Myrmidon selbst aufs Korn. Sein Shield nahm schnell ab und bald fing ich an, an seiner Armor zu knabbern. Ohne die Dronen machte er mir keinerlei Schaden, deagresste aber nicht sonder hielt brav den nutzlosen Point auf mir.

Meine Armor war nur leicht angekratzt, der Shield schon wieder halb regeneriert, da warpte ein Allykollege meines Opfers in einer Brutix dazu. Ich bekam einen Schreck, aber da sie mir auch keinerlei Schaden machte, schoss ich weiter und arbeitete mich langsam durch die Armor der Myrm. Die Dritte im Bunde war dann eine Helios, die aber lieber schnell cloakte als mich anzugreifen.

Als schliesslich noch eine Malediction zu der illustren Truppe stiess, dachte ich mir, es wäre doch mal Zeit Feierabend zu machen. Also deagresste ich gemütlich und sprang  mit der Hälfte meiner Armor durchs Gate, die Myrmidon hatte nur noch ein Drittel Armor übrig. Verfolgt wurde ich nicht, aber es gab noch eine Aufforderung zum Abschied von ihnen:

[20:29:52] Rage Starwalker > o/
[20:30:08] Rage Starwalker > That was pathetic
[20:30:23] Dai Connie > dude stay out of ETG space man
[20:30:35] Rage Starwalker > 2 BC and am Assaultfrig and u can’t get me down?
[20:30:50] Rage Starwalker > ETG?
[20:31:24] Rage Starwalker > Oh, your Ally, I c
[20:31:32] Dai Connie > ya
[20:31:55] Rage Starwalker > So what do u do to keep me from coming into ur space?
[20:32:51] Dai Connie > just consider ur self luck that i wanst fit to take down ur rifter
[20:32:59] Rage Starwalker > ^^
[20:33:13] Dai Connie > anyways gf
[20:33:20] Dai Connie > dont com e back
[20:33:24] Rage Starwalker > neither you, nor the Brutix, nor the Helios, nor the Malediction?
[20:33:58] Rage Starwalker > i WILL come back, be sure of that!
[20:34:10] Rage Starwalker > That was way too much fun ^^

Also fassen wir mal zusammen:
Rifter vs. Myrmidon & Brutix & Helios & Malediction –> UNENTSCHIEDEN!
Ein Riesenspass mit gelegentlichen Schüben von Adrenalin und wenn die Malediction nicht gekommen wäre hätte ich die Myrmidon möglicherweise sogar erledigt! Da sag mal noch einer PvP in einer Frig ist nicht möglich

Ich freue mich schon auf den nächsten Ausflug in das Gebiet der Elite Trade Group.  Was fahren die erst auf, wenn ich mit nem Cruiser komme? ^^

Des de l’illa de La Palma, increiblement maca i amb una varietat de paisatges i climes sorprenent (avui hem estat a la part mes alta de La Caldera de Taburiente, on els nuvols deixaven una  visibilitat d’uns 50 metres i totes les plantes estaven cobertes per una capa de gel, mentre que al port on tenim el barco fondeijat, 2500 m mes avall, la gent es banya) us desitjo unes bones festes i un bon 2005 i aprofito per fer-vos arribar un resum del que ha estat la nostre singladura fins aquí:

Deixavem Barcelona el 30 de setembre d’una manera un tant subrepticia, sense nocturnitat i alevosia, pero quasi, com si estiguesim fuigint dels acreedors. La
causa real no era cap acreedor sino unes dificultats “administratives” de darrera hora que ens varen complicar molt les coses.
Despres d’uns dies al Varador de Vilanova, on ferem els darrers ajustaments al Talula, el 16 varem salpar cap a Cambrils. Nomes sortir es va aixecar un vent de
proa important que, juntament amb una inoportuna averia del motor, va fer que una travesa que debia de ser fàcil i ràpida fora llarga i “ entretinguda”. De
Cambrils sortirem cap un sur a definir el qual, despres d’una altre castanyeta important al golf de Valencia, va ser Cartagena. D’alli varem salpar cap a Gibraltar, pero un avis de temporal ens va fer fer una parada prudent a Marbella. Quan, finalment, arribavem a Gibraltar, tornava a començar un altre temporal de
ponent i, surtosament, malgrat estar totes les marines de la Roca plenes, varem aconseguir un foradet a un pantalà destartalat.
Vam haver d’esperar quasi 15 dies a Gibraltar per que remitis el perseverant llevant que, des de Vilanova, ens anava possant pals a les veles, com si no vulgues
deixar-nos marxar. Per tal d’amenitzar l’espera vam fer una visiteta a Tánger, on haguerem de dedicar la meitat del temps a mirar d’aconseguir un plànol de la
ciutat, tasca ingent en aquelles latituds.
Finalment varem trobar el moment (amb l’inestimable ajuda del nostre tàctic a terra, l’Oriol) per passar l’estret, molt a poc a poc, per cert,  i dirigir-nos
cap a les Canaries. 5 dies i ½ de travessa, quasi 4 dels quals a motor per falta de vent, ens varen portar a Lanzarote, illa volcánica preciosa pero que, si voleu

visitar, val més que us afenyeu doncs aviat, de tants hotels, apartaments, superficies comercials, etc, no hi aura lloc pels humans.

De Lanzarote varem fer un petit salt a Fuerteventura on una estància que va començar força be, va acabar força malament: uns pijets que estaven participants en una regata, durant la nit ens varen deixar anar una amarra i varen llençar-nos toballoles i trajos de bany a l’aigua; sospitem que el seu genetic afan de tocar els collons va ser esperonat per la senyera que portem al mástil, per les polèmiques declaracions d’en Carod i el Madrid potser-olímpic i per la derrota, aquella mateixa nit, del Madrid en peus del barça.
De Fuerteventura vam anar a Gran Canaria on vam passar-nos dues setmanes + dedicats a fer reparacions al Talula que a visitar l’illa (entre les coses que
sempre hi ha pendents en un vaixell i els problemes nous que surten, has de dedicar un temps important al “manteniment” de la “closca”; aquesta és una de les
coses que no sabia a la meva anterior travesia).
Una navegada amb un fort vent del traves ens va portar a Tenerife i, mentre el Talula es dirigia follat cap a Santa Cruz, la Laura s’estrenava en els misteris de la
vomitada. Aquí també vam haver de fer bricolage nàutic pero també vam dedicar un temps a visitar l’illa que ens va permetre, entre altres coses maques, veure un
Teide totalment nevat i anar a buscar rovellons (amb un èxit acceptable).
Una altra travesa de característiques i circumstàncies semblants ens va dur a Santa Cruz, aquest cop de La Palma. No obstant, una desafortunada entrada en el
port d’aquesta ciutat  (on pretenien que tiresim l’ancle en un espai reduït,  ple de barcos amarrats a boies i posats de través al vent, va fer que acabessim enredant l’helix a un cap i que, despres de la consegüent capbuçada meva per lliurar l’helix, regalimant adrenalina per les orelles, mentre el Talula es barellava a cops amb un catamarà i la Laura intentava heroicament separar-los, al preu de innumerables futurs blaus, ens vam decidir a donar la volta fins l’altre costat de l’illa, on hi ha un port una mica mes civilitzat.

Demà, dia de Nadal, si tot va be, salparem cap a Gomera, on farem la darrera escala abans de sortir cap el Senegal (a 1ers d’any, si Deu i companyia plauen).
Un cop alla, mes cròniques.