Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Ocearch "Mary Lee' Great White Shark Tracking-Update

#Ocearch #GreatWhiteshark "Mary Lee" Update.
Well Mary Lee surprised many by making her way up a local bay in Queen Sound, Virginia ( Chincoteague area) recently May 5th. Now she is about 20 miles off into the ocean. Waters in the bay there max 30 feet deep but filled with all kinds of good fish food for her.
According to Maggie from #CaptainBob'sMarina no one has any idea why she is in the area. No one has seen here but her pings are indicative of her presence. No specific offshore species like yellowfin nor bluefin in that area either. So, other than the 64-66 degree temps which is the normal good sharking degree water, no one has come forth with a reason for her working it here.
If you do, let me know.
Here is shot of the Queen Sound bridge. Just like any other tidal bay area, Imaging seeing here in this water. Yow!
See here entire pinging/tracking below. Pretty cool Mother nature


Saturday, January 31, 2015

Weather: Forecast, Prediction or Fortune telling?

The art of Fortune telling or ‪#‎Weatherforecasts‬!

‪#‎Forecasting‬ is an extrapolation of past into the future while prediction is judgmental and takes into account changes taking place in the future. Therefore, ‪#‎prediction‬ is utilized more in business and economics while forecasting takes place in weather and earthquakes.

Unless you believe in Ancient priest idolatry, glass balls or witch doctors, take all predictions and forecasts with a skeptical eye and understand That Nature has her own way when she finally gets down to it.


Example of snow tomorrow night: ” said the National Weather Service’s New York office in Upton of Sunday night and Monday. ”Highest across southern CT and lower Hudson Valley...lowest across Long Island. However...these specific snow amounts are uncertain and the confidence level is around 40-45 percent...the higher percentage being across the interior zones.”

Feel better now? Me, I like the crystal ball.

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Meeting Neil Young

Neil Young fans only!
The picture of Neil is fuzzy, much like my memories of the past years.
I had chance to spend a few minutes with him and Daryl Hannah as they passed by NY enroute from Iceland to LA.

Have to say that ‪#‎NeilYoung‬ has held onto his 60’s laid back demeanor and dress more than most icons of those days but remains trending with his new ‪#‎PONO‬ music file format.. Other than a sporty pork pie hat, he wore a sweater, short sleeved tee shirt and has mutton chops like Martin Van Buren.
I mentioned to him that the last time I saw him and CSN at ‪#‎Woodstock‬. He looked at me and said “you haven’t changed”. LOL. I asked him did he enjoy it, and he replied “ it was OK”. “ Did you spent all days there” he asked. Told him I spent 2 days in mud and living in a Teepee. He laughed.
Neil carried his threadbare guitar case and burlap bag and couple of large duffels with personal stuff. Daryl and he held hands as they strolled to the security checkpoint where he refused a scanner and prefered a pat down. Daryl was [protective of him and looked cute in her stocking feet and black Indian-like dress. Not much like the Mermaid in ‪#‎Splash‬ back in the 80’s. Both were busy hydrating themselves with bottled water before entering TSA territory.
Neil commented that “They love” ‪#‎Iceland‬ where he has done a couple of concerts. According to him, “It is very clean and no crime.” He repeated the clean part twice!
There was one Failed moment. He did not want to do a ‪#‎selfie‬ with me! “Don’t do photos” he said decisively.
I held my hands high” Don’t shoot” I thought.
Oh well, “Bummer” as we used to say. I think that is what we used to say. Like I mentioned all a bit fuzzy!

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Goodbye to DiRobertis-Village Oldie

Just read today that 110 yr East Village old bakery #dirobertis is leaving us. Apparently the dollar equivalent of 6 million cannolis was just too much dough to turn down. I understand the cash out after soon many espressos, baba rums and delectable were served in their white tiled floors to then of thousands of visitors. I myself used to stop by after a night at the #Electric Circus or #FilmoreEast shows. I imagine there were many nights of early career discussions at a wooden table sipping coffee with #bobdinero and #martyscorsese. Singers as #thefugs #bobDylan and writers #alanginsberg probably sat and contemplated their ideas, songs and existentialism in the tiny sitting room. Not to mention mayors #Lindsay and #koch.

The is just another vanishing piece of important NYC history that will be missed.
Nothing against other cafes but the original and simple ambiance is disappearing rapidly under continued gentrification.  So be it. I wish the family well and thank them for being there for all the important times of my life. 

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Not Looking Forward to Possible Last Big Winter Blast!

It is the Winter of 2014 that seems that will never go away!
This feeling of oppression is being felt from many of us living in the Mid-Atlantic region from inland to the coast.
We seem to have forgotten the cold winters of our childhood or that of our parents. Perhaps they were exaggerated but this past winter is one they compare to the "ole" days.

Just as the crocus have begin to appear after fighting off the layers of blankets of snow it appears possible that will be hit with one very big storm midweek. I hear the groans of friends from miles away, on Facebook and Twitter all praying for a pass.
Image courtesy weatherbell.com

 We shall see but here are some images and forecasts as of Sunday Noon, March 23.
Of particular note is the marine forecast. This Hudson Canyon area is where the 44066/Texas Tower Buoy is located. It has broken loose 2x before after only being in the water for 3 years. We'll have to see how it fares during the offshore barrage. It is also the area where in 1961 a major Nor'easter bashed and sunk the Texas Tower early warning system taking 28 seamen down to Davey Jones locker along with it. Hence the tribute to it along with the buoy number 44066.


This is also the are where thousands of us recreational anglers go during the season to catch tuna, swordfish, mahi, wahoo and marlin. Gives me chills just to think of the weather that might hit this area and envisioning us being tossed and over-washed in our small boat if we were out there.

 HUDSON CANYON TO BALTIMORE CANYON INCLUDING THE WATERS W OF 39.3N
 71.9W...SW TO 37.7N 72.9W-
TONIGHT
 N WINDS 20 TO 25 KT. SEAS 4 TO 7 FT...HIGHEST SE.
 CHANCE OF SNOW. LIGHT FREEZING SPRAY AFTER MIDNIGHT.

 MON
 N WINDS 15 TO 25 KT...DIMINISHING TO W TO NW 5 TO 15 KT IN
 THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 4 TO 8 FT...SUBSIDING TO 3 TO 6 FT...HIGHEST
 SE. LIGHT FREEZING SPRAY EARLY IN THE MORNING.

 MON NIGHT
 VARIABLE WINDS LESS THAN 10 KT...BECOMING S TO SW
 AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS SUBSIDING TO 2 TO 4 FT.

 TUE
 SE WINDS 10 TO 20 KT...BECOMING N AND INCREASING TO 30 TO
 40 KT LATE. SEAS 1 TO 3 FT...BUILDING TO 7 TO 13 FT LATE...
 HIGHEST E.

 WED
 NW WINDS 30 TO 40 KT...DIMINISHING TO 20 TO 30 KT IN THE
 EVENING. SEAS SUBSIDING TO 5 TO 10 FT LATE...HIGHEST E.

 THU
 W TO NW WINDS DIMINISHING TO 10 TO 15 KT...THEN BECOMING S
 TO SW 15 TO 20 KT IN THE EVENING. SEAS SUBSIDING TO 3 TO 6 FT.
 
If you would like to follow the waves and seas forecast and ocean data goto:
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=44066
 Scroll down to see almost real time activity. Pray that the data continues 
to stream., If it stops, then something bad has happened to the buoy!  Another buoy to
to watch is 44017 located off Montalk Point. Just type in that number in the box in the 
upper left of the page. Updated weather forecasts are also on each of the buoy pages.
 
Having said all this, it is possible that this storm will barely miss us and 
instead bring sold cold weather and maybe some flurries.
But that would be a welcome alternative.
 
Be safe, stay warm and see you on the other side!
 
I am looking forward to this instead:
 
 
 
You can also engage with me on Twitter @bigmahi 
 
 

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

$8 Tax Credit on ACA #Obamacare

How is everyone doing with signing up for #aca #obamacare? Deadline extended through Tuesday. Got mine done. Really not bad. Not much different from before. Best part are the limit of features that gave insurance companies way too much discretion in allowing coverage. I chose #HealthRepublic in NY. It was a bit of hassle with NY Gov website that did not allow me to proceed even though I had completed info. I had to go on a couple of times to complete it. The website for NY is not that easy and not forgiving. But then again, what bureaucratic site is.Apparently an edit confused it and I was not able to see plans.  I was on hold for more than an hour. But a very nice, helpful woman in support spent time with me and supervisor on phone to correct the glitch in the programming on my particular instance.  Then came the daunting effort to go through Gold, Silver, Platinum and Bronze plan choices. I spend about an hour comparing, re-comparing then finally choosing a compromise between cost and coverage. In my income bracket I was able to get financial aid of $8 per month! Hmm, not the credit I was expecting nor the affordable premium I was expecting but then again no worse than before. I was told that I could change plans if I did so BEFORE paying the first premium. Thank you. Can't imagine the stress they are experiencing today.

I really don't invite ranting over this program. It is what it is. Yes some wealthier people may have to spend more but I am sure they will find other tax loopholes to make it a wash. I hope all of you are able to get it done.

Monday, November 11, 2013

Veteran's Day Commemoration to 28 Men Lost Aboard Texas Tower 4

Veteran's Day. It is great to see how many people are celebrating this day with posts on Facebook and Twitter. Many are showing photos of loved ones, alive and deceased. Many are grainy images 50 years old. Many show youthful faces filled with smiles. Now so many are old, faces creased with memories both wonderful and sad. My tribute goes to the 28 men aboard the Texas Tower 4 who perished mmiserably in the tower collapse in a horrible winter Nor'Easter 75 miles SE o f NY Harbor.
TT4 was the closest of (3) offshore Defense Early Warning System (DEWS) structures located along the Mid-Atlantic coast. It was crippled from the start with a bad third leg which was repaired a few times but ultimately failed during a horrible Nor’easter on January 15, 1961. This unique structure was initially deployed to watch the skies for a surprise Russian invasion and to offer the mainland an early warning of potential invasion.
It was a horrible storm. Calls for help were made but were unable to be answered due to the severity of the winds and waves. One minute the radio aboard was transmitting then all of a sudden it wend dead. Waves had toppled the massive structure and all men went down. Buried withing the mound of decaying structure on the ocean bottom, the remains of these men rest.
In 2009, the National Weather Service along with the NDBC positioned a 24/7 weather buoy not miles away from the disaster and co-named it the 44066/ Texas Tower 4 in memory of these men and their service to their country. This buoy sent continuous data to the NWS in providing regular ocean forecasts
To read more about this DEWS system and the history of our offshore security see the links below.
Thank you to the men who gave their lives to this country in such a unique and sad way.
Thanks to the USCG and Capt. Kennedy for proactively performing the ceremony of deploying this buoy.




This buoy honors these men who served their country in the early moments of Homeland Security”.
  Weather Buoy Dedication aboard USCG Cutter Elm 
Additional Information
-http://texastower.com/
-http://www.radomes.org/museum/documents/TexasTower.html
-http://www.cgi2you.com/members/message/texastowerassoc/45.shtml
-http://museumofnjmh.org/texastowerpresentation.html   (NJ)
-http://www.city-data.com/forum/new-jersey/1433047-texas-tower-4-a.html (NJ)
-http://www.sportfishermen.com/board/f9/pres-obama-officially-recognizes-fallen-men-texas-tower-4-a-1210018.html