MANITOWOC – Wisconsin Maritime Museum will host a public ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of the loss of USS Lagarto a submarine built in Manitowoc during World War II and the 20th anniversary of the submarine's discovery "The tribute honors the 86-man crew who were lost on May 3 during Lagarto's second war patrol in the Pacific," the news release from Wisconsin Maritime Museum said a flower placement and the tolling of a memorial bell Read more: Remembering Manitowoc subs lost during WWII The program also includes a flag presentation to the family members of a Lagarto crew member and a salute from USS Cobia Lagarto was the 21st of 28 submarines built in Manitowoc during World War II during which she sank a Japanese submarine Lagarto was ultimately sunk by the Japanese minelayer Hatsutaka in the Gulf of Thailand a ship that had also depth-charged USS Cobia according to the Wisconsin Maritime Museum The Hatsutaka was later sunk by USS Hawkbill Read more: ‘All my love’: A WWII love story from sailor aboard Manitowoc-built USS Lagarto, lost in 1945 Lagarto's wreck was discovered in May 2005 in the Gulf of Thailand The Wisconsin Maritime Museum collaborated with professional divers to study the site and spent more than a decade locating and connecting with the families of the lost crew the USS Lagarto is honored as the official state boat of Wisconsin a lasting tribute to her story and the men aboard," the news release said Alisa M. Schafer is a reporter for the Herald Times Reporter in Manitowoc. She can be reached by email at aschafer@gannett.com Register with Scientific Computing World and gain unparalleled access to premium content and invaluable resources designed to keep you informed and ahead of the curve Propel your career and projects forward with full articles and exclusive content Sign up now to unlock Scientific Computing World’s premium access You can see our full privacy policy here. Lagarto Cigars, a new brand from ZR Cigars in La Romana, Dominican Republic, will make its debut next month at the 2025 Total Product Expo in Las Vegas, Nev. The new brand is debuting with the Lagarto Cigars Colección Edición Limitada, a 16-cigar sampler that contains one of each of the brand’s four blends in four different sizes. As for those four blends, the binder and filler are not being disclosed, only the wrapper and corresponding foot ribbon: All four blends are offered in the same four sizes: a 5 x 52 robusto, a 6 x 52 toro, a 6 x 52 belicoso and a 6 x 60 gran toro. Pricing for the sampler is set at $280, with 1,000 boxes produced each year. They will begin shipping to stores during the trade show, which runs from Jan. 29-31, 2025. A company representative says that, at this point, there are no plans to sell or package the cigars individually. That said, they are telling retailers that cigars from the collection can be sold individually at an MSRP of $17.50. the new species pays tribute to the emeritus professor Orlando J Torres Fundora from the Faculty of Biology at the University of Havana By An international team of scientists identified a new species of lizard in Cuba, named Anolis torresfundorai sp. nov, according to a study published in the journal Vertebrate Zoology previously mistaken for another similar species (Anolis porcatus) has unique characteristics that justify its classification as a distinct species Led by scientist Javier Torres from the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Kansas in the United States the study confirmed that Cuba is home to three species of the subgroup Anolis carolinensis: A porcatus (now restricted to the west and center of the country) The species was dedicated to the emeritus professor Orlando J. Torres Fundora, from the Faculty of Biology at the University of Havana, “in recognition of his life devoted to the study and conservation of Cuban nature, as well as to the training of generations of scientists” at that academic institution, expressed in a post on his Facebook profile by Juan Daguerre naturalist curator at the Institute of Ecology and Systematics in the Cuban capital which challenges previous notions about the distribution of A was made possible through a detailed analysis of geographical records and ecological characteristics of the carolinensis subgroup with its small body and uniform green coloration had a continuous distribution throughout Cuba porcatus is actually divided into two separate lineages: one in the central-western region there is a distribution gap in the province of Las Tunas where only one unverified case has been reported This separation of at least 50 kilometers between populations supports the recognition of two distinct species while the eastern populations have been formally described as Anolis torresfundorai sp although it shows a much more limited overlap with A reinforcing the ecological and geographical distinction between the three species scientists analyzed 80 museum specimens based on detailed measurements of their physical characteristics They complemented this data with genetic analysis of mitochondrial DNA and ecological niche modeling which demonstrated that each species inhabits an environment with specific climatic conditions The discovery brings the total number of native anolis species in Cuba to 66 highlighting the island's significance as a center of reptilian diversity the study exemplifies how species that appear very similar can evolve separately The full article "A revision of the Anolis carolinensis subgroup supports three species in Cuba, including a new cryptic species", with all the details of the research, is available open access in the journal Vertebrate Zoology Anolis porcatus is a species of lizard in the family Polychrotidae and commonly but erroneously referred to as a chameleon It is endemic to Cuba but has been introduced to other regions such as the island of Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), the Florida Peninsula (USA), the island of Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain), and the state of São Paulo in Brazil It thrives in a warm and lush climate that is conducive to its life cycle The new species of lizard discovered in Cuba is called Anolis torresfundorai sp This species is endemic to eastern Cuba and was identified due to unique characteristics that set it apart from other similar species The discovery of Anolis torresfundorai is important because it increases the number of native anolis species in Cuba to 66 which reinforces the significance of the island as a center of reptilian diversity it contributes to the understanding of cryptic speciation where very similar species can evolve separately The Anolis torresfundorai differs from the Anolis porcatus because it has smooth or only slightly keeled sublabial scales the Anolis torresfundorai displays a color pattern with darker dorsal stripes took detailed measurements of their physical characteristics and supplemented this data with genetic analyses of mitochondrial DNA and ecological niche modeling A team of journalists committed to reporting on Cuban current affairs and topics of global interest we work to deliver truthful news and critical analysis Among these historic vessels is USS Lagarto (SS 371) the 21st submarine built by the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company Lagarto was lost with all 80 crew members aboard This year marks the 80th anniversary of its loss and the 20th anniversary of the wreck’s discovery in May 2005 Related: Remembering Manitowoc subs lost during WWII He pursued an engineering degree at Purdue University before beginning a career in Fort Wayne as Hal awaited his submarine duty assignment he was assigned to a brand-new vessel — USS Lagarto Hal departed Manitowoc aboard the submarine Rae donated the heartfelt letters she and Hal exchanged after Lagarto departed Manitowoc These letters offer a poignant glimpse into their love Following are snippets from Hal’s letters to Rae written between November 1944 and April 1945 — his final words to the woman he loved 1944 (Mississippi River): I miss you sumpin awful — and I’ve been away for such a short time by the calendar What will it be like when I’ve been gone for munts [months] and munts don’t let anything happen to my little sweetheart I love her too much to have anything happen.) Either you ain’t in good shape or the P.O singled me out to lose my mail from my wife … Darlin little gal it will now definitely be a long time between letters I’d like to tell you all about the big way I love you and talk about a name for our lil girl That is the most important thing to me personally but I gotta be sharp because tomorrow the safety of a lot of men and a boat may depend on me (And I’ll pray Awful hard for you) don’t worry — we have lots of luck Sweetheart — we really do have a marriage that no one else has It seems that all the other guys always talk about their wives from strictly a wife standpoint; by that I mean they have the “old married feeling” even tho they’ve been married a short time I’m not inferring that I don’t feel married — quite the contrary — but I constantly think of you more as the “girl” I’m still courting rather than just the gal who cooks my meals when I am home everything we’ve done has been a real memory and something to remember with pleasure when I’m lonesome I’m on pins and needles … has Mike [baby’s nickname] appeared … just remember that I’m praying for you and hope you have an easy time How I wish I could be there to hold your hand and take care of you It’s lots easier to fight a war than to be away from my li’l gal USS Lagarto departed Subic Bay for its second war patrol the submarine fired a torpedo at a Japanese minelayer — and was never heard from again While this is just one love story from World War II it reflects the experiences of countless couples and families who endured the heartache of war honoring their sacrifice and offering insight into the personal struggles of wartime Related: Manitowoc-built WWII submarine USS Puffer survived one of the most intense depth-charge attacks on record Karen Duvalle is submarine curator at Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc My son and I have been talking about sustainable and affordable building techniques and materials to adapt to climate change and market disruptions I grew up in Santa Fe with a long tradition of building adobe houses Adobe makes perfect sense there because the only materials for your walls are just dirt and water and a foot-thick adobe wall helps maintain a comfortable temperature inside the building It doesn't require shipping materials from elsewhere The carbon footprint of an adobe brick is almost zero How resilient is adobe? Taos pueblo is a four-story adobe structure nearly 1000 years old (800 to 1100 years depending on who you ask) that has been continually in use and stood the test of time.  Click through the slideshow of images at the top of the article and marvel at how much light and warmth is let into the structure and how inviting the space seems The photo at the head of this diary is a Google Street View image of a house my father built in 1989 We used a compressed-earth adobe machine that compressed dirt into a brick sized mold at 240,000 psi The bricks were 10" x 14" by 3 1/2" and weighed 45 lbs each and my teenage job was grabbing them off the conveyor belt and stacking them on pallets we’d forklift them into place and the whole crew would start laying them to build the walls A crew of 6 built the house from first shovel in the ground to finished move-in in just 3 months 3 bedroom house with the living room custom designed to hold the owner's art collection The Street View image is recent and the house still looks like that today I love being able to look at that picture and say "I built that!" Not signed up for Daily Kos yet? Create a free account The Constitutional Chamber has mandated the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) to intervene in ongoing works affecting mangroves and wetlands in the Lagarto River estuary at Sámara Beach This directive was issued in the court’s latest ruling The court upheld a writ filed against the Ministry of Environment and the Municipality of Nicoya citing the elimination of marine ecosystems in ecologically sensitive areas that are part of the State’s Natural Heritage despite community awareness of these activities authorities have failed to implement measures to recover and protect these valuable resources The appeal was filed on February 6 against the Ministry of Environment and Energy (Minae) and the Municipality of Nicoya It stemmed from SINAC’s lack of response to an environmental complaint lodged on April 8 and the delimitation and restoration of affected areas The claimant stated, “Both SINAC and the municipality have neglected their environmental obligations particularly regarding wetland restoration and adherence to the Principle of Irreducibility The inaction of competent authorities has led to despair as we doubt SINAC’s ability to implement ecological restoration measures or respect the Principle of Irreducibility in this environmentally fragile area.” SINAC contended that the Sámara Beach-Río Lagarto area has faced longstanding issues complicating the identification and classification of wetlands the Constitutional Court has ordered SINAC to provide a definitive solution within the next 12 months regional director of the Tempisque Conservation Area (ACT) are ordered to: a) adopt and take necessary actions to provide an appropriate response to the appellant’s complaint within one month of this sentence’s notification This court order marks a significant step towards addressing environmental concerns in the Sámara Beach area putting pressure on relevant authorities to take swift and decisive action to protect Costa Rica’s natural heritage 2027ISO 9001:2015 Cert No.: CIP/5365/18/06/1061 – July 12 by | Apr 4, 2025 | Centralian Link Central Philippine University (CPU) proudly celebrates the achievements of one of its esteemed faculty members a part-time professor at the CPU College of Arts and Sciences and a Social Welfare Officer IV at the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VI Lagarto was recently recognized with the Program on Awards and Incentives for Service Excellence (PRAISE) Award 2024 securing the Regional Winner title for Best Technical Social Worker and 2nd Place at the National Level The National Awarding Ceremony took place on March 14 while the Regional Awarding was held on March 27 the PRAISE Award 2024 was given in 2025 as part of the program’s anniversary celebration recognizing outstanding performances over three consecutive years (2022-2024) The PRAISE Award 2025 awardees will be honored in 2026 during the next anniversary celebration Lagarto shared that the award is a testament to God’s faithfulness in her life “This is a reward given to those who serve with dedication and compassion with joy in service and love in action,” she stated The PRAISE Award acknowledges exceptional public service contributions and productivity within government agencies Lagarto’s selection was based on several key factors and pursuit of professional and personal development Her role as Social Welfare Officer IV/Section Head of Case Management and Social Services Section as well as her designation as Regional Case Management Focal Person has been instrumental in ensuring the effective implementation of national program operations at the regional level She provides technical assistance to Provincial Operations Offices ensuring national guidelines are clearly translated into regional memorandums Lagarto sees this award as a testament to God’s grace and guidance in her career When asked about her advice to CPU students aspiring to enter the field of social work Lagarto emphasized the importance of faith quoting Matthew 6:33: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.” She encouraged students to always put God first in their endeavors especially in serving marginalized communities Passionate about mentoring future social workers she remains committed to educating and inspiring young minds at CPU sharing her expertise and experiences to shape socially responsible professionals She also revealed her plan to pursue further education specializing in Social Work Case Management to enhance her contributions to the field Lagarto attributes much of her success to the values instilled in her by CPU I was honed to live the Christian faith based on the Gospel The university inculcated the values that Christ is the center of my life and my purpose is to serve Him through my work,” she shared Her education at CPU has equipped her with the knowledge and passion to serve society’s most vulnerable sectors through DSWD while also fulfilling her calling as an educator Her remarkable achievements serve as an inspiration to the CPU community and aspiring social workers demonstrating the impact of faith-driven service and unwavering dedication to social welfare : +63 (33) 329-1971 or +63 (33) 330-7200 local 2129Mobile No : +639217602647Email Us: infocenter@cpu.edu.phFacebook Messenger: Central Philippine University – CPU Chronicles / Rights / elders and youth from the Siekopai (Secoya) nation of the Ecuadorian Amazon embarked on a historic five-day canoe journey and paddled 160 kilometers (100 miles) to the sacred lagoons of Ñakomasira the heartland of their ancestral territory – Lagartococha – on the border between Peru and Ecuador indigenous photographers Jimmy Piaguaje and Ribaldo Piaguaje from the Siekopai nation share moments and memories from their incredible journey within this mega-diverse labyrinth of blackwater lagoons and learned about the history and ancestral lands of their people Their journey marks an important step forward as part of the Siekopai’s struggle to reclaim sacred lands they were forcibly displaced from during a border-war in the 1940s between Peru and Ecuador and the Siekopai’s attempts to return have all been derailed by a lack of formal land rights within what is now a national park an area so critical to their physical and cultural livelihood that without it their existence is imminently threatened the Siekopai hope to pave the way for other indigenous nations to do the same One of the many water corridors in Lagarto Cocha named for the abundance of alligators within it slithers and weaves through black water lagoons that reflect the forest like a mirror hidden deep in the Amazon on the border between what are now the territories of Ecuador and Peru This territory is the spiritual center of our ancestors it is the cradle of our yage (ayahuasca) drinkers and our connection with the aquatic world Lagartococha is the spiritual origin of our people – the Siekopai From the time war broke out in 1941 between Peru and Ecuador We were uprooted from our ancestral territory we live in a small territory surrounded by oil companies nearly 200 kilometers upriver from where our grandparents were born and raised Siekopai show the map of their ancestral territory of Lagartococha during a meeting with Ecuador’s Ministry of Environment The Siekopai have made a legal claim to title their land have always kept the memory of Lagartococha alive It is here that the bones of our ancestors rest Our elders still recount the stories of our ancestors who navigated along the waters of Lagartococha This is why we are fighting for the Ecuadorian government to recognize our right to our ancestral territory our people have been dreaming and fighting to recover their ancestral territory Our people on one of the beaches of the Aguarico river preparing for the long canoe journey to Lagarto Cocha Our people paddled in canoes down the Aguarico River And so we began this journey in order to make our struggle visible to others their legends and their knowledge about our ancestral territory the youth of our nation reconnected to the territory of our ancestors young Siekopai paint their faces with traditional designs Canoe journey down the Aguarico River towards Lagartococha on the border between the Ecuadorian and Peruvian Amazon our elders’ voices would wake us up in the early hours of the morning before dawn a beverage made from the scrapings of a vine while we listened to the stories and advice of our elders for the days ahead A grandfather squeezing the juice of the yoko The forest is thick and it is home to a great diversity of animals Lagartococha is not only a place of great spiritual importance The forest gives us fruits and many medicinal plants and the river abounds with fish to feed our families Scenes of everyday life on the Lagarto river A mother bathes her baby in the community of Mañoco on the banks of the Lagarto River on the Peruvian side Young people enjoy a swim in the river alongside the community of Mañoco this journey marked their first visit to Lagartococha and we felt a lot of happiness when some of our families were reunited with their relatives on the Peruvian side of our ancestral territory a wise and legendary Siekopai shaman who was born in Lagartococha awaits departure for the journey to visit the emblematic Ñakomasira lagoon After five days of sharing stories and visiting ancient village sites and sites of ceremonial lodges while listening to the experiences of our parents and elders we arrived to the legendary and sacred Ñakomasira (Wounded Eye) lagoon which is home to several beings and spirits of the aquatic world Writings in the river with rafts in the waters of the Ñakomasida lagoon Our canoe journey to Lagartococha will be forever engraved in the memory of our nation’s young generations These are important steps to recover our memory as a people and to unite ourselves in order to ensure that the legacy of our ancestors can continue to be passed down from generation to generation We want to maintain our spiritual connection with the place of our origins we will continue this struggle to recover our roots so that the future generations do not forget and understand what it means to be truly Siekopai Jimmy and Ribaldo in a lagoon in Lagartococha during the trip There is no excerpt because this is a protected post Originally Published in Spanish in: EL PAÍS Perhaps that’s why so many governments and businessmen… 28 April of 2025  Investigation of UNDP’s Social and Environmental Compliance Unit uncovers a… The Achuar and Sapara Nations of Ecuador held extraordinary assemblies to make decisions about their… the Ecuadorian State has denied A’i Cofán children of the… Edited by Daniel Voskoboynik and Sophie Pinchetti A Peruvian court has issued a landmark on… Thank you for standing with the Indigenous movement will you maximize your impact and donate to support Indigenous-led action to defend the Amazon Join the movement and stay informed about the latest news & stories from the frontlines of the fight to protect the Amazon rainforest Join over 200,000 rainforest defenders worldwide can you spread the word to your friends and family This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Show Comments Load More Legend of Lake George “El Lagarto” and the Men That Made Her Great is set to be published in the next few weeks Bowers says the book “sets record straight” on the story of the famous wooden Lake George speedboat owned by George Reis was the mechanic who worked with and for Reis over the lifetime of El Lagarto Bowers grew up listening to the stories of El Lagarto and its world famous distinction as the winner of the top races in the power boat world during the 1930s and the Lake Winnipesaukee Sweepstakes (to name a few) 1935 (in Bolton Bay on Lake George) and in 1936 Bowers assembled a collection of photographs that highlight the story of a champion power boat and those who made it The book is available via pre-order in softcover for $30 plus $2.10 tax A limited number of hard covers will be available Orders can be sent with a check to 50 Gurney Lane Orders should include the number of books ordered Books can also be purchased with credit card by calling the Society at (518) 734-0734 from Tuesday through Thursday The Warren County Historical Society will call when the books will be ready for pickup. For an additional $5 each, books can be mailed. For more information, visit their website Stories under the Almanack's Editorial Staff byline come from press releases and other notices Send news updates and story ideas to Alamanck Editor Melissa Hart at editor@adirondackalmanack.com This article interested me because my dad used to take me for speedboat rides when we vacationed in the Adirondacks in the 1950’s A Wikipedia search redirected me to “Hacker-craft” an article about speedboats designed and built by the Hacker Boat Company in Detroit Hacker seems to have been very important in the development of speed boats in the early 1900’s The 1928 Hacker-craft Dolphin which is mentioned in the same Wiki article with the El Lagarto is going for $199,000 as is and a practically new 2015 33″ Hacker-Craft Limo Tender is attractively priced at $699,900 The Adirondack Almanack is a public forum dedicated to promoting and discussing current events nature and outdoor recreation and other topics of interest to the Adirondacks and its communities We publish commentary and opinion pieces from voluntary contributors as well as news updates and event notices from area organizations Contributors include veteran local writers and outdoor enthusiasts from around the Adirondack region views and opinions expressed by these various authors are not necessarily those of the Adirondack Almanack or its publisher We were renting an apartment next door to a Silicon Valley tech giant (the rent cost approximately 65% of my monthly take home pay) This was taken from the stairwell of our 3rd-floor walkup With options and destination fee they typically ran about $235000 We always knew when the tech giant next door paid out their annual bonuses transport trucks would show up delivering the new Porsches Today’s prices for hypercars generally start over $1 million The Koenigsegg Gemera is designed to be comfortable 4-seater priced at $1.7 million The Rimac Nevera introduces EV sustainability and performance to the hypercar market at $2.2 million An Aston Martin Valkyrie Spider starts at an even $4 million The Bugatti La Voiture Noire will set you back an eye-watering $18.7 million.  A quick Google search listed 24 cars in the us with an MSRP over a million dollars and over 50 different models world wide Car makers can’t make them fast enough to keep up with demand those prices aren’t eye-watering; they’re chump change While the rest of us work longer and longer hours to keep falling slightly farther behind these guys throw more money away in a week than any dozen of us combined make in a year.  we’re in deep doo-doo—and that doo-doo’s being run over by some very expensive tires South Florida is on alert due to the presence of a new invasive reptile: the giant lizard known as the black and white Tegu whose impact could be devastating for local wildlife The Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges complex reported on its social media about the first verified sighting of this invasive lizard in northern Key Largo last Tuesday Scientists have warned residents and tourists near the Card Sound Road area in North Key Largo to be on the lookout for these impressive lizards which can grow to nearly five feet (1.5 meters) long has become a threat due to its ability to prey on vulnerable species in the region It is known that these lizards attack animals such as the American crocodile and the Key Largo woodrat in addition to consuming juvenile gopher tortoises The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has declared that tegus are an invasive species due to their negative impact on the state's native wildlife Although some of these lizards are kept as pets due to their high intelligence and trainability, their release into the wild jeopardizes the ecological balance of the region, as reported by Local 10 Although Tegus are not a direct threat to humans their presence is concerning due to their predatory behavior and ability to quickly adapt to new environments which allows them to move easily between different habitats The animal is not venomous and rarely attacks humans but it can be aggressive if it feels threatened Its bite is painful and can cause injuries It has sharp claws that it uses to defend itself Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant and report any sightings of these lizards to the FWC's Exotic Species hotline by calling 1-888-Ive-Got1 Monitoring and reporting these sightings is essential to curb their spread and protect local species from predation it is recommended not to attempt to capture it if the person lacks experience as this makes them more likely to approach inhabited areas The threat of invasive reptiles in Florida The black and white Tegu is not the only invasive reptile disrupting Florida's ecosystem another invasive reptile that has wreaked havoc on wildlife Tegus represent a new concern in the fight to protect the state's biodiversity although Tegus do not pose a direct threat to humans their impact on the local wildlife can be devastating Authorities continue to work to contain the spread of this species and protect Florida's native fauna The black and white tegu is a threat because it preys on vulnerable species Its presence destabilizes the local ecosystem as it is an invasive species with a high capacity for adaptation and predation Although Tegus do not pose a direct threat to humans they can be aggressive if they feel threatened These lizards have a painful bite and sharp claws which can cause injuries if you get too close you must report the sighting to the FWC Exotic Species Hotline by calling 1-888-Ive-Got1 It is important not to attempt to capture or feed it as this could encourage its approach to inhabited areas and jeopardize ecological balance the Burmese python is another invasive species that has wreaked havoc on Florida's wildlife Both species pose a significant challenge to the conservation and protection of local biodiversity Laura Perez and her son Sergio Ramirez own and operate Lagarto Boots and Western Wear Latest UpdatesCountries Why Join?IL MagazineFree Daily E-LetterVideoOur ExpertsTestimonialsFAQsTopics where they’ve built their permanent home in the tiny Maya village of Ek’Balam Mexico: Everything You Need to Know in 2018The Yucatan Peninsula is bordered by the Gulf of Mexico to the north and west historical colonial cities like Merida and Valladolid and thousands of underground freshwater springs (called cenotes) Just offshore of the tiny fishing village of Rio Lagartos (River of Alligators) on the windy north coast of the state of Yucatan lies a resource-rich area of mangroves and shallow backwaters this unique spot also hosts an abundance of crocodiles below the waterline and shocking-pink flocks of flamingos above it this part of Mexico is home to the largest concentration of flamingos in the country swelling to populations of 40,000 at the peak The area surrounding Rio Lagartos has been designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve which means it is of “unusual scientific and natural interest.” This gateway to the biosphere is a bird watcher’s paradise with dozens of species making their home here Learn more about Mexico and other countries in our daily postcard e-letter Simply enter your email address below and we’ll send you a free special report – Mexico: The Perfect Close-to-Home Retirement Haven who will encourage you to stop and talk to them They are each pitching boat tours to view the flamingos located about 40 minutes through the mangroves They will hand you an informational flyer and the more entrepreneurial among them will personally guide you to the harbor and ensure you get aboard the correct boat that he represents Some are operated by certified guides wearing special shirts with identifying patches Others are local fishermen whose families (for many generations) have grown up in this area and are well-qualified to provide tours Providing these tours is an important part of the local economy as these individual operators rely on them for income While the flamingos are a big draw for the small tour boats of nearly equal interest are the bright pink waters of nearby Las Coloradas Tour boats will usually ask if you want to see them are used for the commercial production of sea salt Salt production in this region dates back more than 1,000 years as the Mayas used it for flavoring as well as food preservation and it was a valuable trading commodity Large commercial production of salt from this region has resulted in large rectangular portions of flat land shallow tables (only about a foot deep) and left to evaporate The public no longer has access to these commercial ponds but the guides from Rio Lagartos can take you to several natural areas where smaller versions of these ponds still exist But beware—the extreme salt content of these ponds can sting your skin The pink color comes from algae growth as well as the presence of tiny bright-pink brine shrimp that thrive in this super-saline environment pink shrimp by the flamingos that give the birds their pink coloration The appeal of Rio Lagartos does not come from the village but rather from the access it provides to the biosphere The town has a malecon that runs along the small boat harbor I have seen fishermen with a wheeled cart full of fish come into a restaurant and sell those fish fresh off the boat a fresh catch could be served to you in any number of ways Ceviche and seafood cocktails are a couple of my favorites but it’s tough to find any seafood meal that is bad in Rio Lagartos be sure your camera has fresh batteries and make the short drive to another coastal gem as Mexico has many small towns named San Felipe This small town is unique among Mexican small towns in that the houses are made primarily of wood…hardwood like cedar Most are small cottage-like structures painted in the brightest of colors San Felipe is among the most photogenic of all Mexican towns create an amazing pallet and the simple architecture of these small cottages with old boats propped up in the yard and nets drying in the sun It was in San Felipe where I first tried corn ice cream It is a three-hour drive from Cancun and about two hours from the colonial city of Valladolid There is a bus that runs from Cancun but with the numerous stops and delays Rio Lagartos does offer a number of modest hotels and fishing charters for those wishing to spend a night or three in the area Mexico Deep DivesBeachfront Property in Mexico Medicare Benefits for U.S. Citizens Living Abroad One Million Americans in Mexico Can’t All Be Wrong Your Ads Privacy ChoicesIMDb the city was just booming and alligators inhabited a man-made pond in the town’s square There are several stories about how alligators arrived to the Chihuahuan Desert including that an alligator was gifted to a city councilman at the time he wanted to have a live alligator swimming in the water at San Jacinto Plaza,” said Robert Diaz immediate past president of the El Paso County Historical Society Diaz said more alligators arrived to San Jacinto in pairs “There was a pair named Chama and Zal in the '60s Oscar and Humpy among some of the names discovered through our research Oscar the alligator became a college student of sorts when he was kidnapped by a group of students at the University of Texas at El Paso “It [the prank] was perpetrated by the Alpha Phi Omega engineering fraternity members There were seven of them that were involved in this thing,” said Willie Quinn a UTEP engineer alumnus and volunteer at the UTEP Heritage House The names of the perpetrators behind the prank were kept silent for more than two decades. One of the perpetrators, Samuel Vandiver, wrote a detailed story about the legendary night Dec Howard Quinn’s office in the Geology building “We thought back then and we still think till this day it was just innocent fun,” said Willie Quinn The alligators were removed from San Jacinto Plaza around 1965 due to reports of people abusing the animals and in some cases even killing them breezes blowing in from the ocean and simple food made on a grill set over a bonfire building a bigger grill and a more varied menu which now includes stuffed squid or whole lobster—both grilled Information on this page, including website, location, and opening hours, is subject to have changed since this page was last published. If you would like to report anything that’s inaccurate, let us know at notification@afar.com. AFAR participates in affiliate marketing programs which means we may earn a commission if you purchase an item featured on our site.© 2025 AFAR LLC By Meg Jones of the Journal Sentinel Especially the subs that plied the seas during World War II They were basically torpedoes where men lived and worked forgoing privacy and sharing sleeping bunks with whoever happened to work the opposite watch Pretty much everything on board World War II submarines was necessary to function as a fighting machine: engines ammunition and navigation and steering equipment But Frank Latta managed to bring his wheels with him wherever he traveled as a submarine commander He loved his Harley-Davidson motorcycle so much that he stowed it aboard the USS Lagarto disassembling it each time he left port and putting it back together when the Wisconsin-built submarine made it back to land It wasn't surprising to see a Harley in far-flung locales The company's product line already had a strong international presence before World War II Latta was commander of a crew of 85 assigned to the ship as it was being built at the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co the sub sunk a Japanese submarine and cargo vessel telegrams began arriving at the homes of the 86 men on board but he came all the way up the house — it was a long driveway — parking in front and knocking on the door That was a bad sign," said Mike Latta who was 8 when his father vanished on the Lagarto Mike Latta only has one photo of his father astride his Harley He doesn't know where or when his dad bought the motorcycle "I know he and the machinist's mate would tear it down to its basic parts and put the pieces in parts of the submarine where they would be out of the way and no one knew They had R&R in Durban (in South Africa) After the telegram arrived with the news that the Lagarto was overdue and likely lost life went on for the families of the missing in action it was learned from a radio transmission of the Japanese minelayer Hatsutaka that it had sunk an American sub in the area where Lagarto was on patrol in the shallow waters of the Gulf of Thailand The Hatsutaka was sunk days later by the USS Hawkbill But nothing was ever heard from the Lagarto Thai fishermen had complained about their nets snagging on something but it wasn't until 2005 that a British diver looking for shipwrecks discovered the Lagarto sitting upright in 236 feet of water a huge hole punched in the side of the outer shell near the petty officers' quarters and forward torpedo room All of the men believed to be entombed inside This story is an excerpt from "World War II Milwaukee," a new book published by The History Press by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Meg Jones The book focuses on some of the interesting warriors witnesses and workers from Milwaukee who helped win World War II Meg Jones is a general assignment reporter who specializes in military and veterans issues. Meg was part of a team that was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2003, and is the author of “World War II Milwaukee.” More "Lost And Found: The Legacy Of The USS Lagarto" recounts the discovery of a WWII U.S Lagarto and her crew of 86 men vanished during war patrol in the Pacific in 1945 who discovered an unknown sunken German U-Boat near New Jersey described in the best-seller "Shadow Divers," take viewers to the final resting spot of the American sub at the bottom of the Gulf of Thailand Producers Harvey Moshman and Chuck Coppola also explore more than 60 years worth of emotional wounds still felt by fellow submariners and families of Lagarto's crew "Lost And Found" details how Midwestern dairy farmers and cherry pickers were recruited to learn welding and pipfitting to build submarines in the tiny shipyard of Manitowoc The program shows the town's sacrifice and pride then and now a submarine and families intertwined who show that it is never too late to honor those who've gone before us is already fascinating due to its colourful gob but researchers have discovered its secret power the lizard uses its tongue as a warning to predators But it's the final throes of the skink's defence that has excited researchers: As a last-ditch attempt which is more UV-intense and luminous compared to the front That could be a useful defence against its main predators The research, led by Martin Whiting of Macquarie University in Australia, has been published in Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology the blue-tongued skink is usually camouflaged but researchers sought out to find out how the lizard wards off attackers which is used to measure the intensity of light researchers measured the tongues of 13 skinks where they found the back of the tongue was twice as bright as its tip Attacks were simulated on the skink using a snake a bird and other threats to see how it would react when it was discovered the UV-intense part of its tongue was only revealed right at the very end of its efforts "This type of display might be particularly effective against aerial predators for which an interrupted attack would not be easily resumed due to loss of inertia." a display may break the lizard’s camouflage and attract unwanted attention by predators and increase predation risk," Badiane added [h/t CNET] Mashable Australia's Web Culture Reporter.Reach out to me on Twitter at @Johnny_Lieu or via email at jlieu [at] mashable.com MULBERRY | Expectations were high for Lakeland's Cody Burnett heading into Sunday's mountain bike race The George Jenkins sophomore finished first in the 11th 6-Hours of El Lagarto endurance race on Sunday at Loyce E 1 in the nation by USA Cycling in the 16-year old age group mountain cross country category three division "I feel drained and my legs are fatigued and tight," Burnett said after finishing the race was one of four cyclists riding solo for Leroy's Bike Works/CycleYouth team Burnett took a brief water break after every lap as he competed against the adults It took Burnett 10 laps to complete 71 miles "I used to outdo him and now he is outdoing me," said Jeff Adams a 48-year old Bartow firefighter who has been training with Burnett for the past four years "I love to see his hard work and dedication," said Christie Burnett placed first in the junior division (12-18 year olds) He finished fourth last year in his age group "I am pretty happy I got first," Connell said "I improved from last year and reached my goal of 70 miles." visit www.redtrailracing.com or www.firstplaceracing.com Jim MacPherson (AJ's Outside Sport) 9 laps.; 04 Michael Unklesbay (The Bike Shop Ormond Beach) 9 laps.; 05 Michael Christopher (Bents Cycling & Fitness).; 08 Patrick Judy (Bent's Cycling & Fitness) 7 laps.; 12 Roy Lewis (Champion Cycle of Jacksonville) 7 laps.; 15 Mike Hall (Team Outspoken Bikes) 7 laps.; 16 Tony Timonere (Top Gear Bikes) 7 laps.; 17 Stephen Karras (Leroy's Bike Works) 6 laps.; 20 Freddy Viera (Cupcake Factory Racing Team) 6 laps.; 21 Jason Luque (Champion Cycling) 6 laps.; 23 Gregory Todd Jones (Team Jonzy) 4 laps.; 32 Denver Liabenow (Creative FAB) 2 laps.; 35 Troy Zimmerman (Bents Cycling & Fitness) 8 laps.; 02 Steve Bents (Bents Cycling & Fitness) 6 laps Holly Horner (Bike Works Orland) 7 laps.; 03 Birdsong Adams (LeRoy's Bike Works) 7 laps.; 04 Tim Wisner (Shiman Team Green) 7 laps.; 03 Steve Mace (Super Slow Single Speeders) 9 laps.; 02 Matt Foxenberger (Super Slow Single Speeders) 9 laps.; 03 Ansberto (Broken Spokes/NY Life Insurance) 8 laps.; 06 Jonathon (We Still Love Lance) 7 laps.; 07 David (Bents Cycling & Fitness) 9 laps.; 02 Mitch Harvey (Bring the Pain “Team Bents”) 9 laps.; 03 Brian Hastings (Team Grip Shift) 9 laps.; 04 Ryan Relue (Back in the Saddle) 9 laps.; 05 Anthony (AJ's Exquisite Corpse) 9 laps.; 07 David Collins (LeRoy's Bike Shop) 10 laps.; 04 Jim Doan (Team Bents Corporate) 10 laps.; 05 Johnny Chapa (Manasota AJ's Bike & Boards) 9 laps Matthew Thomas (LeRoys Bikeworks) 9 laps.; 11 Corey Craw (West Coast Cycling Suncoast Trailside) 7 laps.; 15 Frank Coker (LeRoy's Bikeworks) 7 laps.; 16 Anthony Deal (Team Bike Works) 6 laps.; 20 Rick Viscogliosi (Shake and Bake/Road & Trail Bicycles) 7 laps.; 05 Anothony Hechler (LeRoy's Bike Works) 7 laps.; 06 John Lamanna (LeRoy's Bike Works) 7 laps.; 07 Craig Skiles 6 laps.; 10.; Alexander Strouhal 6 laps.; 11 Michelle Allgire (Gearlink Racing Team) 9 laps.; 02 Adrienne Encinosa (Champion Cycling) 8 laps.; 04 Chelsea Echavarria (Wait For Me) 6 laps.; 07 Mike Curry (LeRoy's Bike Works) 9 laps.; 03 Joel Mailly (David's World Cycle) 7 laps.; 04 Alex Laursen (LeRoy's Bike Works) 5 laps.; 10 Sam Connell (LeRoy's Bike Works) 10 laps.; 02 Jordon Karras (CycleYouth LeRoy's Bike Works) 9 laps Dylan McKenna (Cooper's Hawk/CycleYouth) 6 laps.; 06 Taylor Pilington (Bents Cycling & Fitness) 5 laps Shiochi Ohto (David's World Cycle) 10 laps.; 03 Raymond (Bent's Cycling & Fitness) 10 laps.; 04 Bryce (CycleYouth Parent's With Cash) 10 laps.; 06 Elias Posth (Top Gear Bicycles) 9 laps.; 10 Aaron Rothstein (The Kidney Stones) 9 laps.; 12 Gary Cors (LeRoy's Bike Works) 8 laps.; 16 Adrian (Team CycleYouth/LeRoy's Devo) 8 laps.; 23 Wyatt Wilt (Team Dorkfish/LeRoy's Bike Works) 8 laps.; 25 Jameson Audette “Meatball” (LeRoy's Bike Works) 18:38.; 04 The Barcelona Supercomputing Center – Centro Nacional de Supercomputación (BSC-CNS) presented the new Sargantana chip the third generation of open source processors designed entirely at the BSC The development of Sargantana is a crucial step forward in reinforcing BSC’s leading position in RISC-V open source computing technology research in Europe Sargantana (the name of the lizard in Aragonese and Catalan) is the third generation of the Lagarto processors the first open source chips developed in Spain in the framework of the DRAC project (Designing RISC-V-based Accelerators for next generation Computers) and is one of the most advanced open source chips in Europe at the academic level The new Sargantana features better performance than its two predecessors – Lagarto Hun (2019) and DVINO (2021) – and is the first processor in the Lagarto family to break the gigahertz barrier in operating frequency The fact that the instruction set architecture (ISA) of these new processors is open source and therefore non-proprietary and accessible to all reduces technological dependence on large multinational corporations by enabling innovation through the collaboration of companies and institutions without the limitations of proprietary architectures could bring about a technological revolution in the hardware world like Linux did in the software world “The launch of Sargantana is a further step forward in the development of European RISC-V based technology an embryo of the future European high-performance processor This open hardware will be vital to ensure technological sovereignty and maintain European industrial competitiveness and consolidates the BSC’s role as a pioneer in Europe in the introduction of open source for chip design,” said BSC director Mateo Valero the European Union identified the lack of own hardware as one of the main vulnerabilities due to the risk of industrial espionage posed by an over-reliance on chips designed and produced outside Europe The BSC was then tasked by the EU to lead the scientific development of future European chips to provide the market with an open and local alternative the automotive sector and the internet of things Learn more Thank you!We have emailed you a PDF version of the article you requested You can also addnewsletters@iflscience.comto your safe senders list to ensure you never miss a message from us IFLScience HomeVideo: The Moment A Frilled-Neck Lizard Attacks An 18-Year-Old Trying To Help ItComplete the form below to listen to the audio version of this article IFLScience needs the contact information you provide to us to contact you about our products and services You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time For information on how to unsubscribe, as well as our privacy practices and commitment to protecting your privacy, check out ourPrivacy Policy IFLScience HomeJoin for Exclusive FacebookemailJames is a published author with four pop-history and science books to his name. He specializes in history, strange science, and anything out of the ordinary. FacebookemailFacebook/Ricky Mackenzie via Storyful Credit: Facebook/Ricky Mackenzie via Storyful This is the moment a frilled-neck lizard attacked a wildlife photographer in the outback of Australia 100km (62 miles) northwest of Fitzroy Crossing in Western Australia The 18-year-old attempted to move the animal to safety but before he could do that the animal turned on him and chased him down the road I tried to help but he didn’t want a bar of it," Mackenzie said The (pretty terrifying) video shows Mackenzie running away from the lizard whilst giggling at the situation before the lizard catches up with Mackenzie and starts to climb up his body animalsWhere Have All The Penis Bones Gone? We’re Looking At You, Natural History Museums2 days ago36link to article plantsTrees Reported To Align Their Electrical Signals During A Solar Eclipse As If Cooperating2 days ago88link to article T. Rex Leather, Glow-In-The-Dark Gas Clouds, And Musical Sea Lionslink to article The Five Most Common Headacheslink to article © 2025 IFLScience. All Rights Reserved. RSS Learn more about our work across the world Solving the world's greatest problem—lostness Learn how you can get involved in the Great Pursuit ECUADOR—The impoverished parish of Lagarto nestled near the coast in the province of Esmeraldas thanks in part to a dozen Texas Southern Baptist churches that discovered that to break down barriers The SBTC’s Barry Calhoun with Lagarto schoolchildren in background The Ecuadorian partnership was connected to the International Mission Board’s emphasis on reaching unreached people groups and primarily involved churches in the Dallas Baptist Association The churches — including 10 predominantly African-American congregations — sent teams to Lagarto for the past four years under the coordination of Barry Calhoun Southern Baptists of Texas Convention mobilization director and church planting associate The black Texans ministered to black Ecuadorians the bulk of Lagarto’s population and a group Calhoun called historically “marginalized and disenfranchised.” Calhoun said that one translator from Quito helping his groups even announced that she had “never been around black people before.” During the first two years of the partnership teams focused on providing English as a Second Language (ESL) classes at the local high school the classes provided English instruction in the town where the elementary school did not offer the subject although Quito schools had taught English for decades as Lagarto public schools now include English for the elementary students missions teams emphasized discipleship instead of ESL hosting VBS programs and Bible training for adults the middle school Unidad Educativa Aurelia Becerra de Quiñonez remained vulnerable to vandals and transients who stole from both school and teachers we decided to the finish the wall,” Calhoun said Texas churches provided funding to complete the other two sides of the wall with parents of the students providing the labor Little did they know the significance of this gesture which provided needed security for the schoolchildren The new wall at Unidad Educativa Aurelia Becerra de Quiñonez frustrated by the government and school system’s repeated failure to complete it had boycotted the major local festival in protest earlier that year “That tells you how big a deal the wall was to them,” Calhoun said poured into the schoolyard for a three-hour celebration featuring special foods and cultural dances “It was their celebration of thanksgiving to us,” Calhoun explained “It was really special for us to see this.” a bench inscribed with the school’s name formalizes the building of the wall by the African American churches of the SBTC for the people of Lagarto and the children of the school While the formal Ecuadorian partnership is ending after its planned four-year run relationships between the African American churches and the Afro-Ecuadorians will continue vice-president of the board of trustees of the parish of Lagarto Calhoun and teams have agreed to return next year to participate in the Life Transformation Conference addressing community concerns such as drug and alcohol abuse and teenage sexual promiscuity adding that incidences of ten-year-old girls becoming pregnant had even occurred The outdoor event will include from 1,500 to 2,000 kids and adults Calhoun plans to use the “True Love Waits” curriculum from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and other resources We’ve got to change the culture of the parents before we can change the culture of the kids,” he said adding that a logo had already been sent to organizers in Lagarto to show Ecuadorians that “the American churches are coming to help.” Calhoun summed up the Lagarto experience with one word: Hope He noted that discussions were in progress with a young local man who had expressed a desire to become a pastor And Texas Baptists continue their mission partnerships While the Ecuadorian partnership is formally ending To learn how your church can partner with missions work to reach people groups in the Americas, email info@imb.org Jane Rodgers is a correspondent for the Southern Baptist TEXAN. This story first appeared on the TEXAN site here SBC | The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering® is a registered trademark of Woman's Missionary Union 2005 – 60 years after the submarine disappeared – Macleod and fellow diver Stewart Oehl sent down a weighted line when their bottom sounder detected an anomaly rising some 15 meters from the seabed the bow of the submarine was right in front of me Then I moved aftward and found the 5-inch gun and the conning tower and too close to be anything other than the Lagarto submarine right on top of where the Lagarto was reportedly last seen are millions to one Lagarto was a Balao-class submarine built and launched in Manitowoc was a veteran of nine war patrols and received the Navy Cross the submarine was ordered to the Gulf of Siam Lagarto received a report from USS Baya (SS 318) alerting it to the presence of a nearby Japanese convoy but enemy escorts detected Baya and drove it off with gunfire The submarines rendezvoused the next day and planned another attack: Lagarto would dive on the convoy’s track to make contact at 1400 while Baya was 10 to 15 miles farther along But Lagarto failed to respond to contact reports and the submarine was announced as “overdue from patrol and presumed lost” Aug Japanese records revealed that the minelayer Hatsutaka believed to be one of the two radar-equipped escorts of the enemy convoy Hatsutaka was sunk 12 days later by USS Hawkbill (SS 366) whose commander was a friend of Latta’s and requested permission to divert from his patrol for a revenge strike when Lagarto was reported overdue The submarine and its crew weren’t forgotten especially in Lagarto’s birthplace of Manitowoc Submarine Veterans of World War II assigned each of the 52 submarines lost during the war to a different state for the purpose of establishing memorials with California and New York each taking two but in 2006 – pressured by Lagarto families and SUBVETS – the Navy sent USS Salvor and a team of divers to confirm that Macleod’s find was the submarine that disappeared in May 1945 Twin 5-inch gun mounts and “Manitowoc” labeled on the propellers left no doubt Macleod has visited Lagarto several times since the discovery and speaking to World War II submarine veterans at a convention in Green Bay in September he says there’s now a clear picture of what sank it he thought damage to the port bow had only dented the submarine’s pressure hull but reaching underneath the superstructure suggesting Lagarto fired a torpedo before sinking Macleod and other experts believe the submarine went down fighting Because the bodies of Lagarto’s crew lie entombed in sealed compartments and diving activities are subject to Navy permission Penetration and artifact recovery are prohibited Lagarto’s location makes frequent diving unlikely and she’s 150 miles away from our nearest port She’s not going to be a tourist attraction it’s going to be people interested in precisely what happened to Lagarto and helping us do what I call ‘gardening’ – taking off the ugly nylon nets that drift past and get caught now and again we keep the coordinates extremely close to our chest Macleod met with relatives of Lagarto’s crew who thanked the diver for helping answer questions that have haunted them for decades “One lady said to me that she was worried her husband had been taken prisoner and rotted away in a prison camp somewhere,” he says “Another thought maybe her husband escaped met a young Siamese girl and lived on an island the rest of his life It’s important for them to get things squared away.” submarines have been found: Flier (SS 250) The fate of Grunion and its 70-man crew was perhaps the greatest mystery keynote speaker and president of the USS Cod Submarine Memorial in Cleveland recounted the search for the sunken vessel when it reported sinking three Japanese destroyers and encountering heavy antisubmarine activity The Gato-class submarine was ordered back to Dutch Harbor but was not heard from again It remained on the books for 65 years as missing Bruce and Brad Abele sought clues to what happened to Grunion a Japanese naval historian named Yutaka Iwasaki provided them with an English translation of a Japanese military officer’s report about his merchant ship The crew returned fire with two machine guns and a deck cannon and later claimed that a shell had hit the sub’s conning tower and sunk it After researching probable locations for Grunion the Abele brothers hired a Seattle ocean-surveying firm and chartered a crabbing boat with experience sailing the region’s volatile waters two weeks of sonar scans finally revealed an oblong shape with features that resembled a conning tower and periscope mast whose extensive knowledge of Cod – a submarine with blueprints virtually identical to Grunion’s – convinced them there was a good likelihood they had located their father’s resting place “They went back a year later with a remotely operated vehicle using a high-definition video camera and there’s no question it’s a submarine,” Fakan says after examining three hours of underwater video and 700 digital photos the Navy confirmed that Grunion had been found Extremely cold water and a lack of oxygen have preserved much of the submarine revealing an open aft-battery hatch and separated bow The Abeles posted an analysis of the wreckage online and input from experts and others in the submarine community has generated a handful of plausible theories as to what sank Grunion The most recent is that a circular dud torpedo hit the periscope shears and that a rear dive plane jammed in the dive position made it impossible for the submarine to blow the forward ballast tanks in time to stop its descent What is absolutely certain is that Grunion went below crush depth and imploded skidding down an underwater mountain starting at 2,000 feet and coming to rest at about 3,200 feet “Seventy families knew nothing about what happened,” Fakan said “Three women called ‘sub ladies’ managed to make contact with every one of them we conducted a memorial gathering on Grunion’s sister ship in Cleveland.” Ohio is the state charged with remembering Grunion and its crew As for the next World War II submarine to be found – 47 others remain “on eternal patrol” – it’s anybody’s guess But thanks to divers like Macleod and the persistence of families who want closure Matt Grills is managing editor of The American Legion Magazine The American Legion National Headquarters:  Subscribe to The American Legion's e-newsletters to receive important updates and special offers tailored for veterans and their families COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER The Ocaso Festival returns to Costa Rica for its seventh edition The event will take place at The Bohemian Lagarto in Playa Lagarto equipped with a state-of-the-art Funktion One sound system Some of the standout acts for the 2024 Ocaso Festival include Sama’ Abdulhadi Backing them up are rising local talents such as Diana Vasquez the festival’s allure isn’t just about the lineup The immersive stage setups and scenic locales play a pivotal role in shaping its unique ambiance the festival’s organizers have mastered the art of delivering this experience and every year it organizes beach clean-ups before and after the event in partnership with Tamarindo Clean Wave the Ocaso Festival has been a meeting point for lovers of music Being socially conscious and environmentally respectful and experience paradisiacal locations with world-class music,” detailed the organization The origins of the Ocaso Festival can be traced back to a complimentary event in Tamarindo in 2017 Its impressive maiden year showcased performances from top artists like Cristoph Later editions boasted artists like Solomun the festival provides attendees with special promotions on transportation attendees can anticipate enhanced dining options and more chances to explore local attractions Not only will guests be able to enjoy incredible music but also explore Costa Rica’s unique and wonderful natural gems Costa Rica has become a popular destination for electronic music festivals around New Year’s with events like Envision and BPM also occurring in the nation each January the European Jiu-Jitsu begins to take shape and the names confirmed until this date leave fans eager to compete in the adult black belt in Lisbon To sign up for the first big IBJJF championship of 2015, click here. the Ecuadorian Francisco Iturralde (Alliance) wants to reign over Caio Almeida (Ryan Gracie) Thomas Oyarzun (Alliance) and Alexandre Vieira The title of the category belongs today to Claudio Calasans (Atos) which has not yet officially signed up for the tournament Maximiliano Carvalho (GB) appears in the light heavyweight list Okan Bulut (Icon JJ) and Jarkko Jouni (Hilti BJJ) The heavyweight has the young Erberth Santos (Lloyd Irvinto) who have had a glorious year so far wining weight category and absolute at the PanAms and IBJJF Worlds still as a brown belt This will be his first tournament as a black belt the star Lucio “Lagarto” Rodrigues is the only fighter confirmed in the super heavyweight yet and Anna Louise Mayne (CFS BJJ) are the women enrolled in the female elite will fight or have already fought in the European Comment here your experience in the Old Continent Pragmatic88Slot Gacor Lagarto at the 2011 European Championships winning his weight division One of the black belt divisions at the 2012 IBJJF Long Beach Open currently lists one of the best competitors in the super-heavy division on its roster Lucio “Lagarto” Rodrigues is a known name in the United Kingdom where he resides as well as his home country Brazil however his lack of presence in American competitions has limited his exposure and recognition in 2007 he came back to training after one month of chemotherapy and began competing shortly after completing his treatment In 2011 he had a great run as the 2011 European weight division champion Abu Dhabi World Pro Trials weight division and absolute champion and Abu Dhabi World Pro Cup division champion winning over some of the top names in the sport today like Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida he had planned to attend the 2011 World Championships in Long Beach CA however was unable to obtain a visa for the trip Lucio “Lagarto” Rodrigues on the podium at the 2011 Abu Dhabi World Pro Cup he has high hopes that he will be able to get to the states for the 2012 IBJJF Long Beach Fall Open on December 8 at the esteemed Long Beach Walter Pyramid  as he his applying for his visa and will know the results shortly The Long Beach Open is the last chance for athletes to win a gold before the year ends and for Lagarto which is happening the night of the Long Beach Open is an invitation only event that combines the weight classes down to 4 separate categories with cash prizes for first and second place The brackets have been filled except for the spots available for those who win their weight divisions at the Long Beach Open earlier in the day on December 8 Currently Lagarto is the only person in his division ensuring his spot into the Pro League brackets along with Bruno Bastos Gustavo Pires and Roberto “Tussa” Alencar to name a few he speaks to GRACIEMAG.com about his eagerly awaited result of his visa application as well as his excitement towards finally competing in the U.S.: Lucio “Lagarto” Rodrigues against Leonardo Nogueira at 2011 European Championships If you have not registered yet for the 2012 IBJJF Long Beach Open you can still confirm your spot! Don’t forget to do so; you have until Friday, November 30 to sign up. Go to www.ibjjf.org to register Don’t miss the last chance of the year to put your competition gi to use MANITOWOC— Manitowoc is well known for its rich maritime history including the 28 submarines Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company built for World War II The 25 submarines that saw action in the Pacific collectively sunk 132 Japanese ships only four were lost to enemy action in the South Pacific With the conclusion of Manitowoc's Subfest activities it is only appropriate we take the time to remember the Manitowoc submarines lost during World War II Each of the lost submarines has a unique story one of the four submarines lost during the war sank in May 1945 in the Gulf of Thailand with 86 men on board during the final weeks of World War II According to a Herald Times Reporter article on April 25 the condition of the boat included a large rupture in the portside bow area made by a depth charge an open torpedo tube revealed a torpedo had been fired Japanese records released following the end of the war show the submarine was sunk by a Japanese minelayer The Lagarto was discovered sitting upright in 225 feet of water the families of those lost on the Lagarto did not know what happened to their loved ones The discovery of the submarine brought closure to those families The other three Manitowoc submarines lost during the war — the USS Robalo USS Kete and USS Golet — have never been located The USS Golet never returned after its second patrol It is likely that the Golet suffered from a depth charging on June 14 It took with it the only Manitowoc sailor to be killed on a Manitowoc submarine — Eugene Sieracki Sieracki was a torpedo man on the submarine and The USS Kete served two war patrols and sank three Japanese ships The Kete was lost in the South China Sea in March 1945 The final lost Manitowoc-built submarine is the USS Robalo earning her two Battle Stars — she never returned from her patrol The Robalo was sunk from an explosion — likely the result of striking an enemy mine — on July 26 Manitowoc’s submarines are certainly an accomplishment to be proud of but it is also important to remember the lives of the crewmen who were lost on the four Manitowoc submarines USS Kete and USS Lagarto and their crews are now on Eternal Patrol Alexandra Brendemuehl is program coordinator at Manitowoc County Historical Society and can be reached at programs@manitowoccountyhistory.org Lagarto outpointed Bochecha 5 to 0 in the final Lucio “Lagarto” Rodrigues put the internet aside in Abu Dhabi during the World Pro 2011 He explains: “The internet at the hotel cost fifty dollars for five days,” the Gracie Barra teacher living in England said with a grin Lagarto had a sterling campaign in conquering the over-92-kg division overcoming the likes of Xande Ribeiro and Marcus Bochecha a big established name and an up-and-coming star the fierce but friendly athlete told GRACIEMAG.com what it was that made the difference for him and compared Roger Gracie to a three-dimensional television What was the mood at the championship like in Abu Dhabi but I felt that everyone was fighting like it were the final of the World Championship right from the very first fight At the start of the competition my Japanese opponent was a no-show for the first match none other than Xande Ribeiro stepped up to fight me You’ve been training with Roger Gracie a lot in England Roger knows so much and is super simple – just like his Jiu-Jitsu He has a broader vision than the others do Let’s just say he’s a 3D wireless TV with Blu-Ray and the rest of us are old black-and-whites (laughs) And by training I’m trying to be at least a color TV It’s a banner year for pink flamingos with a record 21,960 nests counted in Yucatán’s Rio Lagartos Biosphere Reserve And now those nests are filled with eggs that have begun to hatch at the reserve which encompasses 233 square miles in the northeast corner of the Yucatán Peninsula or “el rosado del Caribe,” is one of the six species of flamingos in the world Chicks hatch with white feathers that turn gray The pink color of its plumage occurs because it feeds on small crustaceans called artemia flamingos arrive at the biosphere reserves at Ria Lagartos Celestún or Los Petenes; or the the Flora and Fauna Protection Area of Yum Balam Flamboyances — the collective noun for flamingos – are usually found near Uaymitun but a new population started to form in summer 2017 around the population center and port city of Progreso the pink birds arrived in search of a new food source and descended upon the mangroves near the beach Not only is this a new location for flamingos The mangroves are 20 meters/66 feet from the road They change location depending on the season they are found in mangrove forests in the fall and winter months before moving to places like Rio Lagartos in the spring and summer A healthy population of flamingos is an indicator that the ecosystem in this case the mangroves of the Área Natural Protegida (Natural Protected Area) Mangroves are ecosystems rich in biodiversity and are the habitat in which the development of early stages of fish more than 395 species of resident and migratory birds The National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP) in coordination with the nonprofit Pedro and Elena Hernandez Foundation The foundation has been in place since 2002 A healthy flamingo grows up to measure 140 cm/4.6 feet in height and 150 cm/five feet in wingspan it requires low water with varying salt concentrations But the iconic flamingo remain strangely mysterious we don’t know much about them,” says Chris Brown curator of birds at the Dallas Zoo and Children’s Aquarium who studies the flamingos on the Yucatán Peninsula Scientists postulate that it has to do with the way the birds rest And because they live in remote areas and migrate as feeding grounds flood or dry out researchers have a hard time counting and tracking them—or learning how they may be affected by drought and fluctuating water levels due to climate change or coastal development What is known is that flamingos are gregarious and fiercely loyal gathering them into crèches for protection while both Mom and Dad fly off to search for food thousands move as one—a ballet that gives them a “leg up” on survival in a dangerous world Yucatán Magazine has the inside scoop on living here. Sign up to get our top headlines delivered to your inbox every week The federal government will consider building a large park at La Plancha but it has not said whether it will follow a 200-page master plan created by neighbors and activists and approved in 2017 The Gran Parque de La Plancha will be incorporated into the Mayan Train project roving veterinarian clinic makes its eighth return to Yucatán in February who since coming here has become a cable TV star Claudio Contreras Koob has been obsessed with flamingos since he was 4 years old but we have family here in Yucatán so we used to come every chance we got I fell in love with the Peninsula right away and have not been able to keep away since,” says Claudio… At least 50 historical buildings and facades in the historic center will be restored in 2016 to some people — will be shipped from Yucatan to the Asian market this year In time for the Vatican’s Jubilee Year flights to Rome will soon be departing Mérida’s international airport which opens up a multitude of travel connections between Yucatán and Europe Advertise With Us Friends of Yucatán’s famed pink flamingos have broken the 2011 record in the number of birds banded for study The National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP), in coordination with the Fundación Pedro y Elena Hernández, A. C. coordinated the banding of 595 pink flamingos in the Ria Lagartos Biosphere Reserve the world’s largest and most important colony of flamingo contains about 70,000 pink-plumed inhabitants A healthy population of flamingos indicates that the mangrove ecosystems are in good condition Mangroves ecosystems are rich in biodiversity more than 395 species of resident and migratory birds as well as fish scientists and trained residents of local communities were aided by technicians and specialists in addition to veterinarians flamingos chicks must be between 75 and 80 days old The ideal time to band is the last 10 days of August A group of experts weighs and measures them that the flamingo will wear for this rest of its life The plastic ring has a series of 4 letters the alphanumeric identification code of the bird with contact information for the foundation blood samples and feathers were examined to determine the health status of the population In this task, the civil organization Fundación Pedro y Elena Hernández has actively involved since 1999 The participation of local people is essential so the CONANP in coordination with this organization seek to guide communities in conservation actions they have joined a group of women from the community of Coloradas in Ria Lagartos in the training process for monitoring the species The Caribbean Pink Flamingo is one of six flamingo species in the world They can live 25 to 30 years in the wild and 50 in captivity They lay one egg a year to hatch in 28 to 30 days a flamingo requires shallow water and freshwater streams The pink color of its plumage is due to its intake of small crustaceans called brine shrimp which is a flamingo’s favorite food and contains high amounts of carotenes The White City ranked high — as did many cities in Mexico — in a Travel & Leisure “World’s Best Awards 2016” survey Mérida has kicked off an international Pok ta Pok tournament also known as the “Mayan ball game” World Cup Mayor José Isabel Cortés Góngora told a local newspaper that he has learned entrepreneurs are interested in opening a casino in Progreso Despite Quintana Roo’s tourist hot spots on the Caribbean Less ambitious train projects elsewhere have taken longer than Lopez Obrador will be in office The pair behind the travel blog Wandertooth have published an adult coloring book depicting the vibrant streets and landscapes of Mexico The popular coastal community of Rio Lagartos has unveiled its revamped boardwalk Local and state authorities hope that the improvements will help attract tourists back to the coastal community in large numbers once the COVID-19 sanitary emergency has passed Rio Lagartos is a popular destination for activities such as kayaking and observing birds such as the pink flamingo.  The improved boardwalk is 583 meters long and now has improved parking wheelchair ramps and a new drainage system.  a children’s park was also repaired after it was badly damaged during the intense 2020 hurricane season.  The area is flanked by several seafood restaurants and fishermen in small motorized boats who double as tour guides to the area’s mangroves.  At the inauguration ceremony, Yucatan Gov Mauricio Vila Dosal also announced the completion of improvements to the roads which connect Rio Lagartos with the municipalities of Panabá and San Felipe Senior Editor Carlos Rosado van der Gracht is a Mexican expedition/Canadian photographer and translation degrees from universities in Mexico While coronavirus infections in Yucatán topped 50,000 a large group at the beach chose to party on State government personnel followed up on a surveillance operation by closing down a party at Chicxulub Puerto where around 300 guests were packed together and mostly unmasked Earlier: COVID deaths include more people… The yellow-green butterflies have exited stage left Now the black witch moths have entered in their place Dubbed locally as the “mariposa de la muerte” or “butterfly of death,” the Majanás are moths that have begun to appear across Yucatan and that’s why famous people appear to enjoy it After more than two years of hiatus under pandemic protocols The city’s main square is once again alive with food stalls the city’s daily cultural calendar has been restored after COVID precautions shut it all down in March 2020 And now Merida’s austerity measures have eliminated patriotic ornaments that normally line city streets each September green and white lights will bathe the Monumento a la Patria and the overpass further up the prolongación according to the Public Services department The coronavirus pandemic has forced both state and… television show sent a correspondent to Merida to talk to a group of American women who settled there because their husbands were deported Lucio Lagarto is one of the aces in the Copa Pódio Heavyweight GP Now in the final stretch of training for his Jan 13 challenge at the Copa Pódio Heavyweight GP Lucio “Lagarto” Rodrigues can’t wait to hit the mats at Rio de Janeiro The seasoned Gracie Barra black belt is in the Green Group alongside his black belt counterparts Bruno Bastos Alexandre Souza and brown belt João Gabriel And in a recent chat he had with GRACIEMAG.com about training he came off as plenty confident in himself: “If I were to point out a favorite to win the GP title To watch the Copa Pódio event over the internet, click here GRACIEMAG: What are you doing to prepare for the six-minute matches at Copa Pódio LUCIO LAGARTO: A six-minute match means you can’t make mistakes You have to be intelligent about the game plan the one to make the least mistakes will prevail and all my training partners are highly competent both guard playing and passing in an all-around way I believe I have a lot of surprises to show everyone not to mention that my diet is going accordingly There’s nothing but aces in the whole championship I’m stoked and feeling 100% for this competition What everyone can expect from me is Jiu-Jitsu that can handle any situation The Copa Pódio Heavyweight GP brackets (photo by Gustavo Aragão/ GRACIEMAG)