(no subject)

[petermarcus]

As tired as I was when I got home, I had to run out yesterday evening and do some work (side-job work, which is good, as opposed to day-job work, which is still kinda tricky right now.)

I drove deeper into midtown with the skyline lit on my left, and the thin edge of a crescent moon setting on the right. The crescent was so narrow, it was almost a Bailey's Beads sort of collection of holes and bright points. The rest of the moon was lit with earthshine, and as the new moon sat cradled in the old moon's arms, I parked my car in the underground parking of one of the tallest buildings in Atlanta.

Almost finished the job, too. More work today, then things might be ready for prime-time.

Slept nine hours last night, in the bliss of one's own bed, dreaming dreams of blue New Zealand seas and glowing crescent moons.

Comments

[washell.livejournal.com]

Have you been to New Zealand? It's the most beautiful place in the world.

[petermarcus.livejournal.com]

No, I haven't, just for some reason I was dreaming about it last night, and I knew that was where I was. Strange :)

[pookfreak.livejournal.com]

I love how you described the moon. When I was out yesterday evening with galestorm and she was driving I noticed that I could see the rest of the moon as a shadow and the sliver was (obviously) very visible. But I like the description of earth shine.

Just curious - you dreamt of New Zeland seas? Have you been to NZ? I'm going at the end of the year for a month on sabbatical and if you've been I'd love to hear about your experience.

I've been to New Zealand

[washell.livejournal.com]

Where abouts are you going in New Zealand?

Re: I've been to New Zealand

[pookfreak.livejournal.com]

All over - I've got about 30 days set aside for NZ (I've got 6 weeks time) and am going to go thru both islands.

Where'd you go and what'd you do?

[petermarcus.livejournal.com]

Never have, though I once had a customer there and I almost went once or twice. Hope you have fun, that definitely sounds like a nice sabbatical!

[sherahi.livejournal.com]

[How come men always portray 'karma' as a fickle female?!]

For your interest: http://www.naplesnews.com/02/03/naples/d599686a.htm

[petermarcus.livejournal.com]

Actually, I think you planted that idea in me, "Carmen" ;)

That is one of the strangest articles I have ever read. Red tide, I've seen (and smelled.) Phosphorescent alga, I've seen (and played with.) But that black water that goes all the way down? That's just strange, even for ocean life. What do you think it is? Sounds like some organism. Plankton? Bacteria?

Re:

[sherahi.livejournal.com]

I have no idea.

Ocean reports are... difficult to take literally. The lighting out there is always crazy and most people just aren't used to it, (really messes with bird ids,) nor used to the ocean enough that they can be relied upon to accurately describe a phenom. And there is still plenty of odd stuff out there that hasn't been thoroughly documented. *shrugs*

[My suspicion always lies with illegal dumping. There is SO SO SOOOOOO much illegal dumping going on at sea, of EVERYTHING, that I wouldn't be surprised. Its ... insane and 200% out of control. Some of the oiled wildlife networks have only begun to document a TINY fraction of it. There are so many 'mystery' spills of toxins and oil, that its really shocking when you look at the numbers and just the obvious visible signs we can find, knowing that its only the tip of the iceberg. The tinest fraction of what's happening worldwide.]

Did you see video of that giant female sturgeon which washed ashore in Georgia, or Florida or someplace? I love sturgeon. They have to be in the top ten of 'coolest fish around'. So so underrated and prehistoric looking. Love em. (They're smart and affectionate too.)

Re:

[petermarcus.livejournal.com]

I've seen sturgeon in aquariums -- the Tennessee aquarium in Chattanooga has a pair. Haven't seen any in the wild yet, at least of any size. The Everglades have these prehistoric gar that are very cool and fun to watch. Their scales are square; very, very old configuration. I wouldn't call gar affectionate, though ;)

Could be dumping. There are dead zones in the Rockies where methane and CO2 leaks up from vents and kills off stuff in the area. I'd guess something like that, but the Gulf of Mexico isn't very geologically active.

Re:

[sherahi.livejournal.com]

Oh, so you've personally documented every hydrothermal vent (which its not, probably,) on the eastern coast and gulf of mexico?? I'll let the DEWY people know, they could use you as a reference. :)

Re:

[petermarcus.livejournal.com]

I haven't felt any earthquakes or tremors on this coast lately, how has your state been?

;-P

Re:

[sherahi.livejournal.com]

No, DEWY is one of three (and I'm sure more,)small submersables that various universities/staff (etc) contract out to do hydrothermal vent work. :) UCSB used to be big on deep sea biology, I have no idea if anyone there still specializes in that enough that they could get that kind of serious funding. (I did coral work as an undergrad.)

Re:

[sherahi.livejournal.com]

(Huey, Dewy and Luey. Dewy is the largest. It takes 3 people... I forget the name of the company who owns them.... it used to be something like 'Open Ocean Enterprises' or something goofy like that.)