Website launch
The Beacon is proud to announce the launch of its new website at bvibeacon.com. The interactive site boasts features including photo galleries and other multimedia, and it allows readers to comment through their Facebook accounts and to submit information for inclusion on an events calendar. New online advertising options are available as well. Beaconites hope readers will check out the site soon and e-mail any feedback to bvibeacon@gmail.com — or simply provide it through the site’s “contact” option. More features are slated to be added to the site in the near future — including digital subscriptions and photo sales — and Beaconites are keen to hear what else readers want.
Lacoste iguana
The Anegada ground iguana made international headlines last week when the clothier Lacoste chose to feature it — and nine other endangered species — on its iconic polo shirts. Since 1936, Lacoste’s crocodile logo has been the only animal to grace any of the brand’s shirts. But the French clothing company recently decided to expand the circle by launching a line of limited-edition polos supporting the “Save Our Species” campaign. To really drive the message home, the company only produced a number of shirts for each species that reflect how many of the animals survive in the wild. In other words, the Gulf of California porpoise only got 30 shirts, while the Anegada iguana had the most: 450. Sadly, anyone who wants one will have to hope Lacoste makes another batch: Only 1,775 total shirts were available and they’ve already sold out. Though some already are available on e-Bay, bids range from $246 to more than $1,000.
Pointlessness
For the third week in a row, a Beaconite would like to devote his reporter’s notebook to pointing out pervasive pointlessness in the private sector. So far, he’s focused on coffee shop wifi password secrecy and the congestion-creating receipt checking that’s happening at each grocery store. This week, he’d like to turn his crosshairs towards the recently reopened movie theatre. While the Beaconite is happy that U.P.’s Cineplex is able to screen films once again, he was disappointed in the lack of organisation and friendly customer service he found while attending a Sunday evening Black Panther showing. Because the Beaconite hadn’t eaten dinner, he elected to spend $20 for a “VIP” ticket that came with a nicer seat, a hot dog, popcorn and a drink. No one who worked there, however, seemed to understand what that ticket actually entailed, and as a result they ran out of hot dogs for people who had spent extra money. Also, the popcorn and sodas were delivered throughout the running time of the movie, so everyone in the “VIP” row and above was subject to people walking back and forth and whispering for the duration of the film. Why not create a separate queue in the concession line for people to redeem those tickets pre-curtain-call, so people aren’t subject to as much commotion during the movie?
Dynamic duo
A resident recently met a Beaconite for the first time. “I saw you on the beach at Cane Garden Bay other day,” he said. Confused, she replied, “But I wasn’t on the beach the other day. I was on the other side of the island.” But he kept insisting. “No, it was you.” By this time, the Beaconite was starting to catch on to what had happened, and gave her standard response to a phenomenon that has become common enough to warrant a “standard response.” “You must have seen my coworker, [other female Beaconite].” He nodded, and the Beaconite was relieved, since it seemed he finally understood. Then he smiled. “I should have come over and said hi to you.” As this illustrates, an astonishingly large number of people seem to think that there is only one female Beacon reporter. For the record, there are two. And although they do apparently share some of the same superficial physical characteristics, this does not, in fact, mean they are the same person. One of these days, they will appear in the same room to collaborate on a story, but until that happens, you will have to take their word for it.