Huge spill in southern Chesapeake Bay caused by ship's pilot

Once again, I have been quiet here on my reporting. The reason has been two-fold. First, I learned through a former colleague of mine that the Central Government had found a way to discover the source of all Internet postings, mail, and other applications. Frankly, I didn't want to disappear over a few words wasted on a blog. Second, we had a local catastrophe here along the shores of the southern Chesapeake Bay, and I've been involved in some of the response.

Here's what happened.

Earlier this month, I think it was the 7th, actually, the container ship MARIA MAERSK was getting underway from the new container terminals here in Portsmouth. The MARIA MAERSK, a huge container ship more than 700 feet long, was outbound from Hampton Roads after off-loading containers and taking a few aboard. The officers of the vessel, all from Holland, and the crew, all from China, were aboard, as was a captain from the Chesapeake Bay Pilot Association. A captain from the CBPA is aboard every merchant vessel underway in the Bay; the situation on the MARIA MAERSK was no different. The pilot for this trip was Reginold Samuels, a pilot of more than two decades here in the southern bay. Captain Samuels, who'd lived his whole life here in Hampton Roads and had sailed these waters for nearly as long, came aboard a little after 6AM. The MARIA MAERSK was due to get underway at seven for the outbound trip down the Elizabeth River, into the Hampton Roads, past the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel, into the lower Bay, past the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, and out into the Atlantic. Nothing unusual; this kind of stuff happens on a daily basis... well, daily before and daily now that the Central Government has exerted some control.

Anyway, Captain Samuels got the MARIA MAERSK underway. There was no security platoon from the Internal Security Force (Maritime) -- what we once would have called the Coast Guard -- as outbound vessels don't generally rate a security detail. Inbound, yes. But, outbound, no.

So, shortly after 7AM, the MARIA MAERSK got underway and headed out.

As we learned later, Captain Samuels, a radical Christian and a Constitutionalist, had decided that this was going to be his last run as a pilot for the CBPA. Once the vessel cleared the remains of the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel and headed into the lower bay, Captain Samuels was able to disarm the bridge watch using some sort of a chemical agent. He locked all the entrances to the ship's bridge, and he took the helm himself.

And he drove the MARIA MAERSK on the "first island" of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel complex, the southern entrance to the southern tunnel of the CBBT. The MARIA MAERSK, fully loaded with bunker fuel for the trip to Kuwait, was ripped open and more than 2.3 million gallons of fuel spilled, within hours, into the bay.

As you may know, the CBBT is a regular fishing spot, and it was recently re-opened for fishing, although boats aren't allowed within 500 yards of the bridge or tunnels.

In the ensuing confusion -- and there was plenty, for sure -- Captain Samuels made his way off the ship's bridge and was able to lower himself over the side of the MARIA MAERSK onto a waiting fast sport fisher. The last anyone saw of Captain Samuels, he was headed north in the bay. Rumors are that he's in an enclave on the Eastern Shore or perhaps on one of the islands in the middle bay or perhaps somewhere on the Northern Neck. It doesn't matter. He got away, and the bay was covered in oil.

The jihadists came around looking for volunteers to help clean up the oil which had reached the shore, and I volunteered. While I may hate the Central Government and the jihadists and everything else about the last couple of years, I'm not one for allowing our environment to be ruined. Although, I do have to admit, I was somewhat ambivalent about the whole thing. What a great weapon: to use a merchant vessel to do significant damage and to bring world scrutiny to the situation here in the new Republic of the United States of America.

Clean-up has been pretty basic. I'm amazed that we haven't come up with a better way to clean shoreline than carting away sludge and using shovels, and sea shells, to pick up the heavy oil.

I can't believe the tale I'm going to tell

sad little commando
Originally uploaded by Kodak Agfa

I'm at a lose for this one.

We have suicide bombers here in Portsmouth. Someone went down to the PCGB (that's Portsmouth Central Government Building, also formerly known as the PFB, or Portsmouth Federal Building) and was able to get in pretty close, and took out an inner screening point, a couple of dozen people, and the windows all up and down the street.

Years ago we saw this kind of thing in the Middle East, but never here. Even Timothy McVey didn't set out to be an immediate martyr. He thought he could do the deed and get away.

And, that being the American way, he almost did but for a lucky traffic stop.

Anyway, today's suicide bombers are fundamentalist, radical Christians. I don't know if there have been any Catholics yet, but plenty of Baptists and other strongly fundamental protestant sects have participated. Well, not here... until this week. But in other places like Atlanta and other hot-beds of Christian fundamentalism. But this week, it here in Portsmouth for the first time. They'd hit, scattered about, particularly in Chesapeake and Virginia Beach, but not here.

I can't believe that "turn the other cheek" has become "take your soul and others, too." It's twisted.

I've been in the clink

Nightmare followed by isomnia + ....
Originally uploaded by !borghetti

Shortly after my last post, I was rounded up by the provincial authorities. I wasn't alone. Nearly every male over the age of 15 was arrested. Well, they wouldn't call it arrested, merely detained. My claim to be a God-fearing citizen of the RUSA was met with a sly grin; the rolled up prayer rug didn't keep them from putting me in shackles and tossing me in the back of a 2-ton truck along with my neighbors. Thankfully, Andrew was away, and he was able to remain on the lam.

I wasn't so lucky, and I was tossed in a 6-foot square cell... with three other men from Olde Towne. Needless to say, it was a tight squeeze. We spent the better part of four weeks in our cell; everybody was in the same boat.

The guards, all jihadists (I didn't see a single official official), fed us twice a day. It was nearly the same every day: a thin, bean-based gruel and a hunk of bread. For the first two weeks, each of us was removed from the cell for interrogations. They'd last from 15 minutes to 15 hours. While I didn't experience it, my cellmate, Paal, was waterboarded. He came back from the experience a broken, drenched man. He was in the cell for about ten minutes, mumbling to us, and then they came to take him again.

We never saw him after that.

I can't imagine what would have happened had I been boarded. I'd have confessed to setting off a nuclear device in Medina. And, no, it wasn't me, but I'd have admitted to it. Thankfully, the most harsh treatment I received was a few slaps and bright lights.

I don't know why I didn't get more.

Anyway, I'm back home. Some of my male neighbors are also home, although not all of them. Paal's wife heard through the grapevine that Paal was killed, beheaded, as an unlawful combatant against the RUSA. But, she's heard nothing official. We can only hope the rumor was false.

Power outages

March 18, 2006 - 18:42
Originally uploaded by Hugo*

We've been having periodic power outages here in Portsmouth the last week or so. And with the heat, it's been unbearable.

But I don't mind, too much.

I'm helping cause them.

A group of us have been hitting electric infrastructure, causing power outages. Our main purpose hasn't been to make our own lives unbearable, but to hit the Republic forces. I've talked about the former Portsmouth Federal Building before, but there are other former federal facilities in Portsmouth that we've been trying to hit. They are, after all, centers of gravity in the old Clausewitzian paradigm. There's what used to be the naval hospital, and there's the old naval shipyard, and across town is the old coast guard base.

I went out the other night to help strike at the power leading to the old naval hospital. There's still a hospital there, but it also serves as a detention facility. We had this notion that with the power down, some of the detainees might be able to get loose. Well, we took down the power... but didn't figure they'd have the whole place rigged with back-up generators.

The bad news is that the neighborhood outside the facility doesn't have back-up generators; well, at least the whole neighborhood isn't rigged for back-up.

Sucks to have no power when the heat climbs to over a hundred.

Of course, at least I'm still alive. A couple of us weren't so lucky. A buddy of mine, I'll call him Paul H., cut his fuse a little too short and became engulfed in the explosion of the substation. And, as we were heading back to the rendezvous point, we came upon a fairly substantial patrol from the ISF. Randy was shot in the throat. I was able to evade by actually jumping in Scott's Creek...er, it's not called Scott's Creek anymore... now it's Nu'man Creek.

When I got home, dawn was just breaking, and I looked like a drowned rat. But at least I was alive.

Trip to the mall; a bridge too far

P4230159
Originally uploaded by Tidewater Muse

This week with the summer upon us, my wife wanted to take the boys to the park to run some energy off. But, since it was so hot, and because Jack has just yesterday started to crawl, Jenny decided taht she'd go to the mall and the indoor play place.

Remember how over at MacArthur (Now named the Mojhamid Mall), there's that play area for children... right near the food court

Anyway, we hadn't been to the mall for nearly a year. With the Downtown Tunnel out from the attack on our infrastructure, the Midtown Tunnel (you may remember the attackers headed for the Midtown got caught in traffic. When the alert went out, they closed the Midtown, and the guys caught pulled over by a cop. So, anyway, Jenny and I headed to the Mall.

Going through the Midtown Tunnel -- still called the Midtown Tunnel... I guess they only changed offensive names -- took 90 minutes, what with the security backups. When we got to the Mall, we had to pass through a security checkpoint in order to park in the lot. They even had a bomb sniffing dog check out our car.

Going from the parking garage to the Mall was another checkpoint. They have the latest technology in scanners. They use the one that can actually peel back layers of fabric and metal, layer by layer, while at the same time it's sniffing for bombs (they tell us its both bombs and drugs, but I know that the machines actually don't check for drugs; they'd rather have us cracked-up and dying from drugs than actually having to deal with us, but I guess that's what happens when you are able to walk in almost by magic.

Once we were inside, it was okay, except women have to be fully clothed with just eyes showing. I think it's a bit extreme, but that's the way it is.

I heard of a new company, Bathing Ape, which sells cool hoodie-tops that hide all but the eyes. They're hip and cool, and women of all ages are willing to shell out $400 for a single top.

The boys played for about an hour, and then we headed back home... We didn't have to pass through an examination point to get out of the Mall or the parking garage, but there was a nearly 2 hour wait at the tunnel. There's been some sort of threat posted on the Internet and the Office of Transportation Security is taking it very seriously.

Understatement of the day: It's not like it was in the old days.

I can remember when this would have been the way it was

In the "old days"
Originally uploaded by THNguyen

But that time is not anymore. July 4th is just another day; this year it's just another Wednesday. Some people are celebrating what it used to mean, but they're not doing it in public. Any picnics and sparklers are being held behind closed doors.

There was a protest near the old federal building here in Portsmouth, but it lasted all of about 45 seconds from what I've been told. A group of people, including parents and their children, attempted to stage something of an Independence Day rally. From what I've been told, they unfurled a couple of stars & stripes, and were unmercifully attacked by a group of black-stocking-headed jihadists. My understanding is that provincial and central government law enforcement officers literally turned their backs to the attack.

This is what has become of our country. This is what has become of our country because we thought the world was ours. What some of us have learned is that the world is not ours, and neither is our own land anymore.

This evening, I reread the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, all the while wondering where in former USA these documents still mean something other than a hope or a distant dream.

I want a normal life back

I want to be able to drive to the grocery store without passing through three checkpoints, all manned by armed persons wearing different uniforms.

I want to be able to allow my son to walk to his "favorite" park to play.

I want to be able to not have to worry about what I say in the fear that I'll get whisked away to some dark hole.

I want a normal life back.

Visitors to my humble abode

I had some visitors to my abode this morning. Seems there was an explosive device along Portsmouth Boulevard that caused a fair amount of havoc when it went off yesterday. The Central Government is working with the jihadists to find out who planted the device. My home, along with everyone else in my neighborhood, was searched. I was almost taken away, but thankfully I was able to convince the young black-hooded jihadist, who was supported by a squad of heavily armed police officers, that I as a loyal citizen of the RUSA. I think it helped that I was able to show a prayer blanket prominently rolled up on my living room coffee table.

It seems that when the device went off, a convoy was mid-way through the kill zone. When the device went off, it caught the tail end of a police tactical vehicle and the front of a jihadist vehicle that was carrying a prominent imam who is working with the Central Government.

I was able to tear-up at the new that the imam died when my visitors told me. I had to step on a tack in my bare feet in order to get the tears running down my cheek; nobody seemed to notice my limping afterwards.

My heart jumped with joy. Not that I would wish anyone dead, but they have brought such death and destruction to us that I am somewhat joyful when they are paid back.

Last night was "the bomb"

I felt energized. It reminded me of when I was in uniform: the planning, the execution, the adrenalin.

Anyway, my neighbor had been arranging for an improvised explosive device. He finished it a couple of days ago, and we decided to place it last night.

Down on London Boulevard, they're redoing some of the road, making repairs and filling in holes. We decided to take advantage of it.

Now, I have to say that there haven't been many roadside IEDs in Portsmouth. The Constitutionalists have kept to other sorts of tactics. But they've decided that roadside devices, targeted to the roving patrols from the central government's armed forces.

Anyway, we struck out after dark, and after the curfew. We kept to the shadows. A couple of times we had to stop and hide to keep out of sight of passing patrols. Thankfully, there weren't any dismounted patrols. My neighbor had earlier picked out a spot near the other side of the Adbul-Qawi (formerly the Martin Luther King, Jr.) overpass; we got there between midnight and one, and we laid the charges and arranged the detonation system.

I was most impressed with the detonation system. The system involved several sensors, including three cameras allowing for remote viewing of the road leading to the detonation zone along with the one showing the detonation zone. Everything is wireless and digital, sending signals in quick bursts rather than analog and continuous like traditional radio. We set it up and then got back home by sunrise.

I was pretty excited, and glad that I have taken the step to become actively involved in helping get rid of the jihadists and other occupiers.

I've made a decision

This was not easily reached. I am an American, but I have been mostly quiet these past few years. I have sat back and watched. I have decided that I will no longer sit by. Quiet, yes. But I must act.

The America I knew is gone, at least from the Commonwealth of Virginia. I know there are bits and pieces of the former United States of America which still follow the Constitution.

Anyway, I have decided to throw my lot in with the Constitutionalists. The other night, I was talking with a neighbor; I said I was fed up with things. That even when President Bush suspended habeas corpus throughout the United States, even when President Bush acknowledged he'd ordered massive electronic wire taps on Americans throughout the land, even when we learned those wire taps covered all voice communications and also all the bits and bytes flying through the Internet is packets upon packets... even during those times, things weren't as bad as they are now.

My neighbor asked if I'd ever thought of acting rather than just bitching.

I replied that I would, if I could. I wasn't willing to throw my life away, but I was willing to take managed risks in action.

Turns out he is already a man of action.

We go out tonight for my first mission. Assuming all goes well, I'll post tonight.

I'm okay... neighborhood has gone to hell, however

Silence on my end. Sorry. I've been overtaken by events and unable to blog.

There was a suicide bombing shortly after my last post. Someone tried to get into the Portsmouth Federal, er, the Portsmouth Central Government Building. They made it past two checkpoints, or so I heard. Then they started to draw suspicions, and the guy set it off. Some sort of new-fangled explosives compliments of the True Americans.

Anyway, it caused a lot of damage and killed more than fifty people. One shot. All dead. Even collapsed part of the single-story portion of the building.

Well, the response was overwhelming. My home was searched by jihadists, the RUS Army, and the ISF. And they didn't even have the decency to coordinate searches or even be content with one trip through.

And, I've been worried that my electrons can be traced, but I talked to a buddy of mine who said the program I'm using is foolproof. I hope. One of my neighbors was dragged away for questioning by some uniformed jihadists; he's been gone for three days now. It's not a pleasant thought.

Taking a trip across town

In the old days -- for me, that means pretty much anytime before May 1st, 2005 -- picking up my sons from my former spouse's home was pretty much a breeze. Three miles and that was that. Well, it's still three miles, but that's not that, at least anymore.

Now I have to decide what route I'm going to take. Each decision point leads me to the possibility of a check-point which could turn out to be fatal.

I've given up driving Crawford Street between North and the pavilion. The Portsmouth Federal Building is still the federal presence in Portsmouth, albeit a slightly different "federal." Now the building is the Portsmouth Central Government Building, and it doesn't house the U.S. Coast Guard any more, either. And there's no post office there, of course. That wouldn't make sense: let's have a post office where no one can get to it.

The PCGB is behind layer and layer of security; it's not possible to drive within three blocks of the building, at least for us regular Joes. The PCGB is home to several agencies of the RUSA, including the Border Services Agency. I guess you could say that the Coast Guard is still housed there, since the BSA subsumed parts of the Coast Guard.

Anyway, getting back to trips to get my sons. I don't get to see them as much, now, since the trip is sometimes problematic. Today, I took the most direct route, straight down London Boulevard. Thankfully, I had to only pass through one checkpoint staffed by members of the Internal Security Force. There were no problems... getting into the neighborhood where Dianne lives, was a little more difficult. There was a neighborhood-staffed checkpoint, the sort that just folds up and disappears when the uniforms show up.

Sunday morning checkpoints

Well, it was nothing the other night, just zoomers using the Elizabeth River like the helicopters of the U.S Navy & U.S. Coast Guard did before...

Went to church today. We were going to go to Saint Christopher's over in Churchland, but Sunday morning usually has more than its fair share of checkpoints set up. We didn't have time due to a late start; we walked to Trinity instead.

There were patrols along the road, and there was a checkpoint at Court and London, along with the semi-permanent, sand-bagged checkpoint a mere block away at Court and High. As we walked past, I checked out the defenses. Doesn't matter how many times the insurgents attack, it always comes back. I noticed there were new bomb craters down High Street, and the jihadists had put snipers on the roof of Trinity Church. The irony escapes most everyone, I think.

2 years of this...

It's been two years now since the USA was invaded, the jihadists and the Marderoddiates launching seemingly coordinated strikes against us.

I am starting this blog, anonymously, because I know my comments will, if attributed to me, likely result in my death. I started this blog now because I have just discovered how to cover my tracks electronically and remain anonymous.

Anyway, it's been two years now; I'm hoping this blog will document what's been going on... all told from my local perspective.

I live in Portsmouth, Virginia, in the Republic of the United States of America. Things have certainly changed here over the last two years. Portsmouth used to have maybe 20 or 30, in a really bad year, violent deaths (ie, murder) annually. We're running that much a month, now.

More on that later. Logging off now as I hear zoomers overhead.