Pro Vision
A Beaconite believes that anyone involved in promoting the territory’s tourism industry should check out the new Apple Vision Pro virtual reality headset. As an unapologetic electronics nerd, he has been absolutely enthralled with the point-of-view videos popping up on social media showing what the device can do. Over the years, he has been tracking VR innovation — beginning with the Sword Art Online anime centred around a population of gamers stuck inside a headset, through the rise of headsets made by Oculus VR, which has been purchased by Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta. Now, Apple has finally gotten in the game, releasing the latest take on the future of virtual and augmented reality. The Beaconite must admit that he is smitten. Apple’s innovative adjustment knob allows the user to change from an augmented view of the world — with classical web browser-style windows laid over the real world — to complete virtual reality with no outside light. In his view, it is a game changer. With little in the way of wires and extraneous bits, the Virgin Islands could employ this technology in the tourism sector at the very least. Imagine: The traveling cohort of government tourism officials who flew to Monaco recently could have packed a bag with a new Apple Vision Pro. Interested parties could be immediately transported back to the VI to see what it’s like to use the territory’s world-class mooring fields or experience a sunset in Carrot Bay. If readers have yet to come across videos of the Apple Vision Pro, the reporter implores them to perform a Google search.
In the trenches
Though the newest Beaconite did not quite know what to expect for her first week working in the Virgin Islands, she certainly did not expect to be running out to Flemming Street, camera in hand, to cover an armed robbery. She hails from the United States, where gun violence is not uncommon. But the Friday armed robbery of Aladdin Store was the first instance she covered such a crime firsthand. Like many, she saw the videos of the robbery circulate quickly after the crime occurred. And when she arrived at the scene, she was surprised by how few uniformed officers were present. Many bystanders were continuing with business as usual as police cordoned off the scene and closed much of the road. Luckily, the police tape did not block the entrance to the Rite Way Food Market, which may have caused many more people to attempt to cross the tape to do their shopping. As she watched people walking in and out of the Rite Way against the backdrop of police tape and a crime scene investigator taking photos, she was reminded of how life goes on no matter what occurs in the day.
Day of love
Yesterday was Valentine’s Day, and the grocery stores of the Virgin Islands appeared to have been swept up in labours of love. A Beaconite described one Road Town store as if Cupid had vomited inside — in a good way, of course. He, however, couldn’t help but crack a smile at the sight of hanging hearts and flowers on display. He found it difficult to not be put in an anticipatory mood: Feb. 14 is just two days before his birthday. With 23 Valentine’s Days under his belt, this year’s was no different than any other. Far away from family, he was without his usual chocolate truffles from his mom, and he was too far away to present her with the (semi)annual handmade card. In fact, he thinks Valentine’s Day is less a day for significant others than it is for family. It’s healthy, he believes, to celebrate traditional holidays — no matter how arbitrary. And he would like to remind his readers of a personal truth: Love is in the air because it’s always in the air — Valentine’s Day just reminds us of that fact.