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. 

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 

$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)