Tuesday, May 27, 2025

Rising Sea Levels: A Major Threat to The Bahama Islands

 
Sea rising around island

 "Rising Sea" - Bahamas AI Art
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 
 

Rising Sea Levels: A Major Threat to The Bahama Islands

Introduction

The Bahama Islands, a sprawling archipelago of over 700 islands and cays in the Atlantic Ocean, sit just a few meters above sea level. Their low-lying nature, combined with their dependence on coastal ecosystems, makes them acutely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change—chief among them, rising sea levels. As polar ice melts and ocean temperatures rise, sea levels are climbing at an accelerating pace, threatening to reshape or even erase entire communities in The Bahamas. This essay provides an in-depth examination of how rising sea levels pose a severe and growing threat to the Bahama Islands, analyzing the causes, the direct and cascading impacts, and the urgent need for adaptation and mitigation strategies.

Monday, May 26, 2025

Summer House - PC Wallpapers

 
Summer House on tropic shore

"Summer House" - Bahamas AI Art
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 
Download full size: 5376x3072
 
 
Summer House on tropic shore

 "Summer House" - Bahamas AI Art
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 
Download full size: 5376x3072

Wildflower Meadow - PC Wallpaper

 
Wildflower Meadow

"Wildflower Meadow" - Bahamas AI Art
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 
 Download full size: 5376x3072

Sunday, May 25, 2025

Secrecy, Trade Deal Secrecy, and Financial Secrecy in Governments: A Danger and Threat to an Open Democracy

 
Hands shaking and passing money.

 "Deal" - Bahamas AI Art
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 
 

Secrecy, Trade Deal Secrecy, and Financial Secrecy in Governments: A Danger and Threat to an Open Democracy

Introduction

Democracy thrives on transparency, accountability, and informed citizen participation. These are not optional features—they are structural necessities. Without them, democracy risks becoming a hollow performance rather than a system of genuine public power. However, in modern governance, secrecy—especially in the areas of trade deals and financial decision-making—has become normalized. Governments often cloak key negotiations and fiscal operations behind closed doors, claiming national interest or economic strategy as justification. But this secrecy, when left unchecked, undermines democratic institutions, concentrates power, and erodes public trust.

This essay explores the dynamics of government secrecy in the domains of trade deals and financial operations. It examines how such secrecy operates, why it persists, and how it threatens the integrity of open democratic societies. It also considers real-world cases, analyzes the structural enablers of secrecy, and outlines ways in which democracies can confront and curb this growing threat.

Friday, May 23, 2025

Tropic Art Gallery - PC Wallpaper

Tropic Art Gallery
 
"Tropic Art Gallery" - Bahamas AI Art
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 
 Download full size: 5376x3072
 
 
Tropic Art Gallery
 
"Tropic Art Gallery" - Bahamas AI Art
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 
 Download full size: 5376x3072
 
 
Tropic Art Gallery

"Tropic Art Gallery" - Bahamas AI Art
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 
 Download full size: 5376x3072

Thursday, May 22, 2025

The Problem of Derelict Vehicles and Roadside Mechanics in The Bahamas: Causes, Consequences, and Solutions

Derelict Roadside Vehicle on tropic island road

 "Derelict Roadside Vehicle" - Bahamas AI Art
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 
 

The Problem of Derelict Vehicles and Roadside Mechanics in The Bahamas: Causes, Consequences, and Solutions

Introduction

The presence of derelict vehicles and unregulated roadside mechanics is a growing concern across The Bahamas, especially in densely populated areas such as Nassau and Freeport. Abandoned vehicles—rusting shells left on roadsides, in vacant lots, or even on sidewalks—are more than just an eyesore. Coupled with informal auto repair operations springing up in residential and commercial zones, these issues affect public health, safety, the environment, and the overall urban landscape. This essay explores the roots of this multifaceted problem, the risks it poses, and practical solutions that could bring order, efficiency, and safety to Bahamian streets.

Good Morning Bahamas

 
Sunrise over tropic sea and beach

"Good Morning Bahamas" - Bahamas AI Art
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 
 Download full size: 720x960



Sunrise over tropic sea and beach

"Good Morning Bahamas" - Bahamas AI Art
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 
 Download full size: 720x960

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

We Are Stardust

 
Nebular sky over tropic sea

 "Nebular Tropic Night" - Bahamas AI Art
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 
 

We Are Stardust

In the crucible of cosmic dawn,
Where light was yet to be reborn,
A spark, a pulse, a primal flame,
Ignited life without a name.
From nebulae, vast clouds of gas,
Through eons’ dance, through time’s morass,
We rose from ash, from starlit pyres,
Born of celestial, ancient fires.

 
I. The Genesis of Light
In the void, where silence held its reign,
Before the stars had earned their name,
A singularity, compressed, divine,
Held all that was—space, matter, time.
Then burst the cosmos, fierce and free,
A symphony of energy.
Protons swirled, and quarks aligned,
The universe, in chaos, designed.


Hydrogen bloomed, helium soared,
The elements of life were forged.
In stellar wombs, where heat embraced,
The seeds of us were interlaced.
Carbon, nitrogen, the breath of stars,
Iron to fuel our beating hearts—
Each atom crafted in that blaze,
A billion years, a billion days.

Morning Rise

 
Sunrise over tropic sea and beach

"Morning Rise" - Bahamas AI Art
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 
Download full size: 1024x1024
 

Sunrise over tropic sea and beach

"Morning Rise" - Bahamas AI Art
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 
Download full size: 1024x1024

Tuesday, May 20, 2025

The Power of Imagination: The Importance and Significant Contribution of Creative People and Creative Industries to a Country

 Imagination is more important than knowledge - Albert Einstein
 
Artist with stall painting picture on beach.

 "Artist on Duty" - ©A. Derek Catalano
 
 

The Power of Imagination: The Importance and Significant Contribution of Creative People and Creative Industries to a Country

In any nation, the pulse of progress is often measured in terms of economic output, technological innovation, and infrastructure development. Yet, beneath these concrete indicators lies a vital, often underappreciated force: creativity. Creative people and creative industries—artists, writers, poets, designers, filmmakers, musicians, dancers, architects, game developers, advertising professionals, bloggers and countless others—are not just cultural ornaments. They are economic drivers, social transformers, and national assets. Their meaningful contributions permeate every aspect of society, shaping identity, stimulating growth, and fueling innovation. This essay explores the multifaceted importance of creative individuals and industries, highlighting their economic, cultural, educational, and societal impact on a country.

Summer House - PC Wallpaper

 
Summer House on tropic shore

"Summer House" - Bahamas AI Art
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 
 Download full size: 5376x3072

Summer House on tropic shore

"Summer House" - Bahamas AI Art
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 
 Download full size: 5376x3072

Summer House on tropic shore

"Summer House" - Bahamas AI Art
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 
 Download full size: 5376x3072

Monday, May 19, 2025

Rite of Passage

 
College Student working in dorm room.

 "College Student" - Bahamas AI Art
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 
 

Rite of Passage: Meaning, History, and Modern Relevance

 

Introduction

Across cultures and centuries, human societies have used rituals to mark the transition from one stage of life to another. These are more than just ceremonies — they serve as emotional, social, and psychological thresholds. We call them rites of passage. While some are ancient and sacred, others have evolved into modern practices that still serve the same core purpose: to signify growth, change, and entry into a new role or identity. This essay explores what rites of passage are, where they come from, how they appear today — including something as seemingly mundane as moving away to college — and why they matter now as much as ever.

Tropic Bug

 
VW Bug car on tropic beach

"Tropic Bug" - Bahamas AI Art
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 

Sunday, May 18, 2025

Report: How to Make Money Using AI

 
Robot using laptop with dollar signs floating.

"AI Money" - Bahamas AI Art
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 

This report provides a comprehensive roadmap for making money with AI. For further assistance or tailored advice, explore the listed resources or consult with AI professionals in your chosen field.

 

Report: How to Make Money Using AI
Introduction

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming industries, economies, and individual opportunities for wealth creation. From automating tasks to generating creative content, AI technologies—such as machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision—are enabling entrepreneurs, freelancers, and businesses to unlock new revenue streams. This report provides an in-depth exploration of why AI is a powerful tool for making money, specific methods to monetize AI, resources and platforms to support these endeavors, actionable tips for success, and a concluding perspective on the future of AI-driven income generation.

 

The accessibility of AI tools, many of which require minimal technical expertise, has democratized opportunities for individuals and organizations to leverage this technology. Whether you’re a developer, content creator, or business owner, AI offers scalable, innovative ways to generate income. This report is designed to guide beginners and experienced professionals alike through the process of making money with AI in 2025.

Thursday, May 15, 2025

The Importance of Conserving Energy

 
Lightbulb on solar panel on beach

 "Energy Conservation" - Bahamas AI Art
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 
 

The Importance of Conserving Energy

Energy powers our lives. From lighting our homes and fueling our cars to running the industries that drive global economies, energy is essential. But it comes at a cost—environmentally, economically, and geopolitically. Conserving energy is no longer just a personal virtue; it's a global necessity. The importance of conserving energy extends across multiple domains: environmental protection, economic efficiency, energy security, and public health. This essay explores these dimensions in detail, breaking down why conserving energy is critical and how individuals, businesses, and governments all play a role.

Moonlight Hut - 4K HD PC Wallpaper

 
Hut on moonlight tropic beach

"Moonlight Hut" - Bahamas AI Art
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 
 Download full size: 5376x3072


Hut on moonlight tropic beach

"Moonlight Hut" - Bahamas AI Art
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 
 Download full size: 5376x3072

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

Pink Orchid - PC Wallpaper

 
Pink Orchid in black pot

"Pink Orchid" - Bahamas AI Art
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 
Download full size: 5376x3032

Buy Me a Coffee

 
Colorful coffee mug with coffee

Thank you for your support: Buy Me a Coffee

The Rain is Here

 
Rain over cottage by the sea shore

 "The Rain is Here" - Bahamas AI Art
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 
 

The Rain is Here

A poem about the rainy season in The Bahamas

The rain is here. At last, it comes—
A hush, then drums on rooftops’ tin,
A whisper first across the palms,
Then all at once, the wild begins.

The sky unzips its silver coat,
Clouds spill their bellies, fat with grace.
From long months baked by searing sun,
The islands lift their thirsty face.

The ground, once cracked like ancient clay,
Now darkens, softened, kissed awake.
The brittle leaves of tamarind
Drink deep, and every branch will shake.

Forward, Upward, Onward

 
Four flying Flamingos

"Forward, Upward, Onward" - Bahamas AI Art
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 
Download full size: 1024x1024


Three flying Flamingos

"Forward, Upward, Onward" - Bahamas AI Art
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 
Download full size: 1024x1024

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Gaslighting: What It Is, How It Works, and How to Break Free

 
Puppet on strings

 "Puppet on Strings" - Bahamas AI Art
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 
 

Gaslighting: What It Is, How It Works, and How to Break Free

 

What Is Gaslighting?

Gaslighting is a psychological manipulation tactic in which one person causes another to question their perception of reality, memory, or sanity. It’s a slow, calculated form of emotional abuse often used to gain power or control. The term has expanded beyond its clinical roots and now describes a wide range of deceptive behaviors, from toxic relationships to institutional and political manipulation.

At its core, gaslighting is about undermining another person’s confidence in their version of events. The gaslighter may insist things didn’t happen, claim the victim is imagining things, or twist facts until the victim doubts their own mind. This manipulation can make someone feel confused, anxious, and isolated. Over time, victims may become so uncertain of their thoughts that they rely entirely on the gaslighter for the “truth.”

Caribbean Barbie - Phone Wallpapers

 
Caribbean Barbie doll

"Caribbean Barbie" - Bahamas AI Art
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 
 Download full size: 3072x5376
 

Caribbean Barbie doll

"Caribbean Barbie" - Bahamas AI Art
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 
 Download full size: 3072x5376

Monday, May 12, 2025

Don't Give Up

 
Man climbing mountain peak

 "Reach the Top" - Bahamas AI Art
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 
 

Don't Give Up


Good morning, good afternoon, good evening—wherever you are in life right now, this message is for you.

If you're tired, frustrated, overwhelmed, or just plain stuck, I want you to stop for a moment and hear me loud and clear:

Don’t. Give. Up.

Moon Over Beach

 
Moon Over Beach

"Moon Over Beach" - Bahamas AI Art
 ⒸA. Derek Catalano
 
 View my Tropic Gallery

Sunday, May 11, 2025

Happy Mother’s Day

 
Woman sitting in chair with her children

"Happy Mother with Children" - Bahamas AI Art
 ⒸA. Derek Catalano
 

Happy Mother’s Day

Not just a day, but a lifetime earned—
In quiet hours, in bridges burned.
In scraped knees wiped, in hard truths told,
In arms that shield, in hands that hold.

You are the engine that never stalls,
The steady step when the burden calls.
The softest touch, the sharpest mind,
The one who waits, the one who finds.

You made a home out of fractured things—
A coat of warmth, with broken wings.
You read the room when no one spoke,
And bore the weight so we wouldn’t choke.

Saturday, May 10, 2025

Ākāra - A Bijayini Satpathy's Choreography

 
Dance performance poster

 Ākāra - A Bijayini Satpathy's Choreography
 
My son Carlito will be dancing in Utah. 
 
Ākāra is retelling of quintessential dances of Odissi when it emerged as a national dance - expressed through young global practitioners of today, whose life and realities are far and unfamiliar to the land of Orissa. - View Instagram post.
 
Related article: Shirley Bass Foundation Sponsors Bahamian Dancer

Who Pushed the Button

 
destroyed wasteland city

 "The Horror" - Bahamas AI Art
 ⒸA. Derek Catalano
 
 

Who Pushed the Button


We built the bombs to keep the peace—
as if extinction was a shield,
as if the threat of total death
could keep the battlefield sealed.
Steel death we worshipped underground,
wired for silence, not for sound,
stacked neatly in their silver tombs—
our faith misplaced in lethal rooms.

We told ourselves it kept us safe,
this balance born of mutual fear.
A thousand warheads humming deep
in silos far and near.
Each one a god, asleep but armed,
a curse disguised as charm,
a guardian that held its breath
to keep us balanced close to death.

But how could peace be built on edge,
on trembling hands at history’s ledge?
We had the codes. We drew the lines.
We played with fire. We mined the mines.
Bombs for the East, bombs for the West,
bombs for the ones who claimed they’d bless
the Earth with order, law, and pride—
a genocide all justified.

Thursday, May 8, 2025

Don't Make Up Facts

 
People at table drinking and telling exaggerated stories

 "Don't Make Up Facts" - Bahamas AI Art
 ⒸA. Derek Catalano
 
 

Don't Make Up Facts

Don’t make up facts—
not to win a fight,
not to sound smart under neon light,
not to dress your doubts in borrowed suits,
or twist the root to bear false fruits.

Don’t claim the sky was red last June
just to own the room.
Don’t fake the tide, or bend the moon
to fit your chosen tune.

There’s power in “I don’t know,”
in silence, in letting the real thing grow.
Lies are loud and cheap to sell,
but truth is slow—
and rings like a bell.

Tropicscape - PC Wallpaper

 
Colorful tropic beach scene

"Tropicscape" - Bahamas AI Art
 ⒸA. Derek Catalano
 
 Download full size: 5376x3072
 
 
Colorful tropic beach scene

 "Tropicscape" - Bahamas AI Art
 ⒸA. Derek Catalano
 
 Download full size: 5376x3072

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

The Bahamas as an Unincorporated U.S. Territory: An In-Depth Analysis

I've heard it suggested before that The Bahamas should become a part of the United States. Let's explore.
 
 
US flag and Bahamian flag over tropic beach.

 "Flags Flying" - Bahamas AI Art
 ⒸA. Derek Catalano
 
 

The Bahamas as an Unincorporated U.S. Territory: An In-Depth Analysis

Introduction

The idea of The Bahamas becoming an unincorporated territory of the United States is a provocative one, raising a mix of geopolitical, economic, cultural, and legal questions. While such a transformation is purely hypothetical at present, analyzing its potential implications offers a useful lens through which to examine issues of sovereignty, U.S. territorial policy, Caribbean geopolitics, and economic integration. This essay explores the ramifications of such a shift, examining its historical context, legal feasibility, political implications, economic outcomes, social and cultural impacts, and international response.

Beach Living

 
Colorful wooden beach house

"Beach Living" - Bahamas AI Art
 ⒸA. Derek Catalano
 

Tuesday, May 6, 2025

Firefighting and Firefighting Services: A Comprehensive Overview

 
Firefighters battling fire of colonial building.

 "Firefighting" - Bahamas AI Art
 ⒸA. Derek Catalano
 
 

Firefighting and Firefighting Services: A Comprehensive Overview

 

Introduction

Firefighting is both a profession and a critical public safety service. At its core, it involves the suppression of fires to protect life, property, and the environment. But firefighting today is much more than just putting out fires. It encompasses a broad set of responsibilities including rescue operations, hazardous material response, medical emergencies, disaster preparedness, fire prevention, and public education. As urban populations grow and climate patterns shift, the demands on firefighting services are increasing in complexity, scope, and risk.

Pastel Sky - PC Wallpaper

 
Sunset over tropic sea with sailboats and seagulls.

"Pastel Sky" - Bahamas AI Art
 ⒸA. Derek Catalano
 
Download full size: 5120x2880


Sunset over tropic sea with sailboats and seagulls.

"Pastel Sky" - Bahamas AI Art
 ⒸA. Derek Catalano
 
Download full size: 5120x2880

Monday, May 5, 2025

Fire, Fire Safety Precautions and Effects on People

 
Colonial stylesd building on fire by tropic shore.

 "Fire!" - Bahamas AI Art
 ⒸA. Derek Catalano
 
 

Fire, Fire Safety Precautions and Effects on People

 

1. Introduction

Fire is a chemical reaction involving rapid oxidation or combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products such as carbon dioxide, water vapor, and smoke. While fire is essential for energy, industry, and daily life, it poses significant risks to human safety, property, and the environment. Effective fire safety precautions are critical for preventing fires, minimizing damage, and protecting lives.