$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.

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”.

-http://youtu.be/hzUQwy7bhjo

  Weather Buoy Dedication aboard USCG Cutter Elm 

Additional Information

 http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=44066

-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

Barefoot Surfcasting in November

Gotta love it! Nov 1, barefoot and in shorts surfcasting. After a great morning of getting a couple of stripers, Doug and I spotted a sh*t load of birds was in the distance. Like cowboys we saddled up on the bikes, surf rods in hand, and headed West. After a grueling fast ride we parked the bikes then spied the birds another 3 blocks down the beach. Huffing and laughing we reached the birds which were feeding on nothing! Normally they find the fish. In this case the jerked us around and we casted for 30 mins without a bite. But, the sky was amazing and the clarity piercing. Totally skunked we biked up and rode back in the shadow of the trees all the while smiling and grimacing at our freezing toes. Back at the house we laughed again and joked about finding our youth again. Like a couple of teenagers we were drawn by inspiration and adventure. As far as I am concerned, got to have passion and inspiration, no matter how trivial, in your life. Grasp it, struggle with it and let it take you away-just like that nice striper did last week! Gotta love it.

 

A $1500 Mistake-Never Again!

A $1500 mistake. Never Again.

The fog was pretty thick as we made our way under the Ponquogue Bridge 3:35 am Saturday morning. Our tuna target area was the shelf between the Fishtails and W. Atlantis. Why? Because the reports have been sketchy, scattered and few over the past several days. Cold 66 degree water was spread out from Montauk to the Hudson so why work that water. Bossman decided to look at the leading edge of the new water coming in from the East, and besides it was 20 miles closer that the Hudson. For a day trip that is two hours of fishing time. Rather have that window fishing than running.

So, we motored slowly from Shinnecock Inlet towards the edge and what seemed like an eternity we finally got daylight and opened her up.

We reached 66 degree water, which was surprisingly blue many miles before the temp break of 71 degrees. So, with all hands eager to get to work we deployed the spread and hoped for a quick blast. Minutes past but nothing. We wondered if we made a good choice since nothing came tight and not one boat is sight. As we began to share disappointing thoughts, bam, outrigger goes off. Two LF on, one brought to the boat. Seemed like a nice fish. However, a lot smaller when gaffed. Decent longfin. I forgot that every time we go out, the first fish always feels like twice the size! But hey, the skunk was off, and we cheered up immediately.

After trolling the area for a while nothing else happened so we decided to work SSE to deeper water. The temp began to rise and soon we were in the 71 degree zone. Shortly we get a three banger. Lots of Chinese drill maneuver s and we got deck cleared and landed a couple more LF. Within minutes we have deck sprayed clean and once again deploy lines. We are now marking nice fish at 450 feet. Damn, are these bigeyes? Got to get them up we all agree. Captain Stan is doing the Barta bigeye dance, gunning and slowing and making “S’ turns to engage these deep marauders. Nothing. OK, we begin to swear at the sea gods and we are not getting one fish to zoom to the surface lures. All of a sudden we get another three banger. Port side one fish; starboard side 2 fish on. Starboard fish one unbuttons. The all of a sudden like a hand from heaven the shotgun rod is lifted clear out of the holder and flies up to the outrigger. Both Stan and I watch with our mouths open as it pauses for a second 15 feet high in mid air then makes a quick huge splash and disappears into the blue off the stern of the boat. WTF! Bossman starts to swear like a pirate and we all are in a startled state of mind. Wow. Never saw that coming. But we did not have more than a minute to brood but continued to bring in lines from the port side and get in the remaining fish. With speed we rushed and got the albie into the boat but damn, that bar is tangled with another bar. Where did that happen? That can happened when trolling 10 bars when fish hit. But we want to both forget the loss of the $1500 rod and reel and focus on getting the lines back in. But first we have to hand line in the rest of the mono from the other tangled bar. Hand-over-hand Nick and Brian bring in the line but then Bossman takes over. He thinks there may be a fish on the other end. Wrong. As he pulls the end of the line closer we see color. Gold. Yes Gold. The color of the International 80 that went for a swim minutes earlier. Can you believe it? No lie. There was the jettisoned rod at the end of the other bar! How the hell did that happen? Well, you can imagine the yelps of surprise and awe and we could not believe it. That was certainly going to be the best catch of the day.

So, we again got to work, and got another three hook-up. Landed one; lost another and had the third one on. As I said, they always seem bigger. And this one was. I had to shot of taking her in from the rear rod holder. After 10 minutes of a good fight, well.. you can imagine the rest. Tell you that story another time.

Anyway, trip ended 5/10 on LF to 40lbs. Great 37 knot fast ride home and we all laughed, and busted chops on a great day on the water with Ed, Stan, Breadman, Brian, Nick and myself.

Moral of story. You got it. Use safety lines. You never can tell what will happen out there. Don’t assume you will luck out like we did. Tight lines!

Finally a One-Stop Site for Mid-Atlantic Ocean Buoy Observations and Weather Conditions

Years ago I got involved with a group call Macoora, now called Maracoos.org. It is a part of NOAA under IOOS whose mission is to provide regional ocean observations. The mission was broad and it was up to the regional partners, including Rutgers, Stevens, UDelaware,UConn, Dartmouth, Monmouth and many others educational, private institutions and the public to determine informational needs for the various stakeholders in the Mid-Atlantic region.
I got involved as a stakeholder for recreational fishing fighting for a needed offshore buoy 6 years ago.
Through incredible luck and government cooperation we were able to get the 44066/Texas Tower 4 buoy in place which was sort of a miracle since it involved so many different government and public interests but our resolve prevailed.
Another important identified need was to have a one site place where anglers could get a good view of all sea conditions that the NDBC and other buoys provide. The idea was to have one place for information rather than having to jump from site to site or page to page.
I am happy to report that now that site exists due to the efforts of many top educators, and computer geeks gathered together under the umbrella of Maracoos. This is a public site, is free and provides excellent and simple to use point and click functions. To begin, you goto http://mymaracoos.org/fish/ Start by clicking on Buoys and Stations and you can see real time conditions from buoys all along the east coast.
From there you can take you time to discover the goodies which this site offers.
Feel free to email me your comments which I will relay to the developer.
A lot of time and resources over the past two years was put it making this right for us ocean going enthusiasts.
A big round of applause goes to Maracoos team that has put together a really valuable tool for us anglers, and all mariners who transit the Mid-Atlantic.
Hope you enjoy this service.
( Right now the NDBC operates normally. Hopefully all the behind the scenes governmental support will not affect this during this time of sequestration maneuvers)

Bigmahi

Coimbra Bluefin July 2013

So far it has been a very slow tuna season off of Long Island.
No eddys to bring YF in and the bluefin have stayed way south out of range.
Until now...
The Boss III had enough of sitting at the dock and as soon as it was possible made it to the Coimbra area Saturday. Expectations were both high and low-high because of all the fish caught over the past week and low because the hot runs always peter out, and especially on the weekends!
Boss Ed had visualized the spread for days with each bar and bally strategically located. Always good to have a plan A, and B while fishing.
The hour run from Shinnecock was a welcome change to the 4 hr runs to the deep Hudson, and the fishing has been great for at least 2 weeks as you all have heard.
We dropped lines 2 miles short of the wreck area and withing 30 mins had a screaming run off- the kind we all do now and then. This fish was slowly dumping a 70VS by the time all our lines were cleared. I jumped on the fish, got a belt on and locked in to the chocks. This fish was a NICE one I could not stop the run, was afraid to increase the drag too much so let it tire out. 10 mins later I had to drop into low gear just to gain a bit on her.
Slowly reeling her in while keeping her nice and tight, I thought I had her close to the boat. Could not see color but the angle looked good do as I continued to steadily put on
pressure. I shouted to the captain to go into neutral and kept her tight.The whole crew was mesmerized by the strength of the fish and fantasized about the behemoth to soon be brought aboard. We were all amazed at our luck at getting a big fish so early.A few minutes later I thought the fish had decided to turn towards the boat since the pressure had let up. Like a swordfish, I reeled as quickly as I could. To my surprise I realized that more than half the reel line was still out there. I reeled faster and faster hoping to beat the fish to the boat. However, to no avail. You know the rest. Got the bar to the boat and half way between the hook bait and first squid was a cut in the line! Damn, we had heard from others similar stories but this one did not enter our minds. So, we all dropped our heads in frustration. Our shot at a monster was over for the morning.
Long story short we trolled all day in 69 degree water and watched boats here and there fighting fish. Based on our three friends out there and others, it seemed we were all consigned one decent bluefin for our 8 hour trolling efforts.We were lucky to get one 9lb mahi and a 52" BF we figured was a good 74 lbs.
I give kudos to Boss Ed, Capt Stan, Nick, Greg for the great team effort in running the boat and lines and nice gaff shot by Matt.
It is always good to fish on the Boss, and thanks for the hospitality.
JOIN OUR GOOGLE + circle. Go to Saltwater Angling and post your own comments etc.

Pledge Against Violence

I am posting for my dad who is 90 and wishing to join with other in the effort to end violence.

The Pledge Against Violence:

I pledge that I will not do anything physically harmful to any one around me.
i pledge I will not commit any hurtful or violent act for any possible reason.
Some ideas to hurt others may feel great and exciting and compelling, but they are not right.
It cannot be right to get revenge on blameless children and adults in violent action. I must have the strength and courage to resist these urges.
I pledge I will not act on them, instead i will talk with a person that i respect to share these feelings and to get advice.


I am a psychiatrist, Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, no longer in private practice. I turned ninety on January 6th of this year.
I had been watching TV as were so many others, riveted to the news of the Newtown massacre and the ensuing discussions regarding the problem of violence in America particularly on a mass scale such as in Newtown.

Much attention turned towards the use of guns in these episodes of violence, rightfully so. As a psychiatrist I thought about what could be done to help prevent these violence-prone individuals from acting out their fantasy's, regardless of their psychopathology or their choice of weapons.
I conceived the "pledge against violence"(C.R.12/12) as a simple, potentially effective method, among others, to decrease the tendency to become violent.

I can envision "The pledge" being adopted by schools to be recited daily by classes of older children so that they would become inculcated, over time, with non-violence.
I wanted to send it to you and others for your consideration and other possible applications.
Thank you,

Dr. Alvin Yapalater

Offshore Buoy 44008 Loose and On the Move-Portugal?

Here we go again. Another of the NOAA/NDBC weather buoys, 44008,  has broken loose from its location SE of Nantucket and is drifting towards Europe. It joins (2) other buoys, both the original 44066/TexasTower 4 and its replacement, each which broke loose 18 months ago and are drifting Eastward as well.Now we have (3) bright yellow buoys working their way towards Europe. The first two are non functional at this time but the 44008 is transmitting its data payload regularly.While not particularly useful where it is currently located about 600 miles from its original mooring, seeing its data is interesting in terms of ocean observations and conditions. It is cool to envision what seas it may be crossing and what ships, fish and other long lost ship debris they may pass.

You can see the small "x" on the left image which indicates the original position of 44008, and the "x" on the right of both images indicating today's, March 22, position. The image on the left is from the Maracoos site and shows the underwater typography and the other image is from Rutgers Cool Room showing the dark band of the Gulf Stream as well as patchy colorful areas of warmer 66 degree water.

Right now is is drifting along the 39th latitude parallel which is the northernmost edge of the Gulf Stream. Not surprising is the fact that both other buoys worked their way along this same edge since the currents are perpetually similar. Under the water where 44008 is now drifting near the line of seamounts that dot the area in the deep off the continental shelf. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_England_Seamount_chain) ( Bear, Kelvin and Manning mounts).
This area is a major underwater crossroads for the warm waters of the Gulf and the cold waters of the Antarctic which clash here and produce the vibrant south west moving eddies that hold our bait and pelagic game fish we all love to hunt throughout the season.

If the buoys that broke loose back in 2009-10 and the current 44008  continue their general direction, they all would be found eventually along some stretch of beach along Portugal's coast. Would be fascinating, no doubt, to be beach combing one day and find of of these large buoys resting on the sand nearby. Does this find count as salvage? Does finders keepers? We'll have to wait and see what Maritime law comes into play if and when they are found.

But the real downside to this new buoy break-off is the lack of important data that it sends to the National Weather Service and to mariners who ply the offshore waters. These buoys, along with several others that are moored between 20 and 100 miles offshore are the backbone of our weather forecasts and hourly sea conditions reports we find online.

The National Data Buoy Center is responsible for the servicing of these buoys. According to the NDBC maintenance schedule this buoy is intended to be recovered from its drift. But if past experience is any indication, a newly build one will be deployed sometime within a year from now. You may follow the current schedule here http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/ops.shtml .

In the meanwhile, if any of you intend to visit Europe by oceanliner this year or plan to be in the Azores or Portugal, keep an eye out and let me know if you are the first to sight one of these important buoys.

44066/TexasTower4 NDBC Buoy Back in Action

Gotta thank NDBC/NOAA/NWS for getting the 44066/TT4 buoy back in the water over the weekend. This is the third actual deployment since first dropped in the water in June 2009. A series of mis-haps lead to two of them floating away and three repair service calls. A very important buoy for all mariners transiting the ATLANTIC  and working the offshore fishing grounds.
This re-deployment was no small effort given the state of economy and ever cutting back on resources. We got in right before sequestration cuts will begin to affect so many of our services. So, once again, let's give a thumbs up to the NDBC in particular.
It is so nice once again,  to be able to visualize what is happening out there even if we can't gt there or want to at this time.


Here is a copy of some of the observations of an hour or so ago, 7:50 am Feb 27 in the midst of an unusually windy day both on land (30-40knots) and sea.
Nothing like a fixed instrument to make you feel good again.
Here is data from this am from 44066.
Not a good day to be tile fishing!

Station 44066 - Texas Tower #4 - 75 NM East of Long Beach, NJ Image indicating link to RSS feed of recent meteorological observations for station 44066

39.584 N 72.600 W (39°35'1" N 72°35'59" W)

Sea temp depth: 0.6 m below site elevation
Water depth: 82.3 m

Regional HF Radar Surface Current Observations
Conditions at 44066 as of
(7:50 am EST)
1250 GMT on 02/27/2013:
Unit of Measure: Time Zone:
Wind Direction (WDIR): SE 130
Wind Speed (WSPD): 19.4 kts
Wind Gust (GST): 25.3 kts
Wave Height (WVHT): 17.4 ft

Air Temperature (ATMP): 54.3 °F

FOR MORE NDBC BUOYS INFORMATION GOTO
 http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=44066

FOR MORE OCEAN OBSERVING INFORMATION BY REGION GOTO
www.ioos.gov

TO READ REGULAR BLOG AND PERSONAL BIGMAHI OBSERVATIONS FOLLOW ME
@bigmahi on Twitter

Let Freedom and Civility Ring

Today is a day for Civil Rights. Not in the strict sense of the words of racial equality but more of freedom of speech,

and being civil with each other.

We have been in a constant sea change of social ways and interactions since the beginning of our Country. Yes, we are a divided country politically with harsh words and sometimes unnecessary cruelness, but today is a day deserving of civility. Today we celebrate another Presidential Inauguration. Something as a country we have the deepest roots and appreciation of our beginning and our future.

We witness the great traditions of welcoming a new presidential term. Watching TV we can see tens of thousands of Americans lined up all along the motorcade route waiting to catch a glimpse of the first Afro-American President who won the electorate over not just once but twice.

This speaks to the innate civility and belief in optimism that Americans are bound together on a day like this. It shows that despite our differences on a daily basis, we come together for a day of celebration of our values in freedom, free speech and fairness.

We have passed the torch of change again. Marin Luther King and others spoke of having a dream. On a day such as today, we all are dreaming of a better life. The President will speak to our reality and of our dream for the coming four years.

Let us all offer the President, leaders, our neighbors, family and friends our warmest form of support on this day.

Let Freedom and civility ring loud and clear.

52nd Anniversary of Collapse of Texas Tower 4 and death of 28 Men

Today is the 52^nd Anniversary of the collapse of Texas Tower 4 (TT4) and the death of 28 seamen on January 15, 1961, 75 miles offshore of NYNJ. 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.

Located in 180 feet of water and standing just 90 feet high above the sea surface, waves and winds buffeted the tower during that storm. Helicopters and emergency vessels were called in but to no avail. The weather was too extreme to undertake an emergency rescue. 28 men were aboard the doomed tower and radioed SOS calls repeatedly. After several transmissions one short burst of a call for help the radio ashore went silent and they were never heard from again. The tower collapsed and is now a mound of rubble.

In 2009, the National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) which is part of NOAA placed a 24/7 in water weather buoy named 44066/Texas Tower 4 in recognition of these men. In 2011 President Obama officially recognized their service to this country.

At time of this writing the 44066/TT4 buoy has been ripped from its mooring two times by severe weather that regularly occurs in this location during the winter months. The third replacement is tentatively scheduled for deployment in February of this year.

It is the first offshore buoy at the Hudson Canyon dedicated to the safety and well being of all

LI, NJ, RI, CT and Mass Mid-Atlantic offshore mariners. The approximate location is 39.35N 072.36W or about 75 miles from NY Harbor. This buoy transmits sea wave height, wind speed and direction as well as water temperature which are important climate data to all mariners.

This deployment is the success of collaboration between government and stakeholders.

The U.S. integrated ocean observing system (IOOS), in partnership with the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association (MACOORA/Maracoos), the National Weather Service (NWS), and the National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) are proud to be partners in announcing this re-positioned and important continental shelf buoy placement.

This buoy honors these men who served their country in the early moments of Homeland Security”.

Additional interest information:

-http://youtu.be/hzUQwy7bhjo  Weather Buoy Dedication aboard USCG Cutter Elm

 http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=44066

-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