Trash Bugs in Cobble Hill

 These bags were piled up on Court Street in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, in front of a private school on Thursday.

Upon closer inspection, we saw they were labeled, "Trash bugs do not open."

So many thoughts. About the shape of the bags, what was in them, what kind of bugs, how many ...

We did not open the bags. We took the photos and then walked quickly away.

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Officials: Ebola Patient Went Bowling in Brooklyn, Took the Subway and Uber, but Probably Wasn't Contageous

Dr. Craig Spencer. LinkedIn

Dr. Mary Travis Bassett, commissioner of the New York City Department of Health, confirmed Thursday that the first Ebola patient in New York City, Dr. Craig Spencer, did indeed visit Williamsburg bowling alley The Gutter Wednesday.

"He did bowl," she said during a televised news conference. "He wasn't feeling symptoms, he had no fever" at that time, she said. Only symptomatic patients can spread the disease, officials said.

"Out of an abundance of caution, the bowling alley has been closed," she added.  (Let's hope they find that special bowling ball.)

About his travels on mass transit: "To get there he took the A train and the L train," she said. Officials have his MetroCard and will analyze his movements.

"When he was on the subway he did not have a fever," Dr. Basset emphasized. "He did not have a contagious disease" while he was on the subway. Ebola is only contracted through contact with an infected person's bodily fluids.

He rode home in an Uber car. The driver of the car is not expected to get sick, since he had no contact with Dr. Spencer. Three other contacts are in isolation.

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September 11 Space Weather Alert from NOAA Warns of Solar Flare

NOAA

NOAA has issued several Space Weather Alerts for those who might be flying on high-altitude flights or on spaceships today or tomorrow.

On Wednesday a high intensity solar flare erupted from the sun and shot towards Earth. It may affect high frequency (HF) radios and electronics for an hour or so -- but what NOAA is specifically warning about is the unusual amount of " Proton 100MeV Integral Flux," which presents "increased biological risk to astronauts or passengers and crew in high latitude, high altitude flights."

It also puts satellite systems at risk if they suffer a direct hit.

____________________________________

For those who talk geek, here's the warning:

Space Weather Message Code: WARPC0
Serial Number: 78
Issue Time: 2014 Sep 10 2322 UTC

WARNING: Proton 100MeV Integral Flux above 1pfu expected
Valid From: 2014 Sep 10 2330 UTC
Valid To: 2014 Sep 11 2100 UTC
Warning Condition: Onset
Potential Impacts: An enhancement in the energetic portion of the solar radiation spectrum may indicate increased biological risk to astronauts or passengers and crew in high latitude, high altitude flights. Additionally, energetic particles may represent an increased risk to all satellite systems susceptible to single event effects. This information should be used in conjunction with the current Solar Radiation Storm conditions when assessing overall impact.

Space Weather Message Code: WARPX1
Serial Number: 433
Issue Time: 2014 Sep 10 2105 UTC

WARNING: Proton 10MeV Integral Flux above 10pfu expected
Valid From: 2014 Sep 10 2115 UTC
Valid To: 2014 Sep 11 2100 UTC
Warning Condition: Onset
Predicted NOAA Scale: S1 - Minor
Potential Impacts: Radio - Minor impacts on polar HF (high frequency) radio propagation resulting in fades at lower frequencies.


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This Is Why We Needed Occupy Sandy: NY State's Emergency Services Too Devastated and Demoralized to Function

Sandy volunteers in Red Hook. Photo: MK Metz

A post-Sandy report obtained by the Albany Times-Union offers a scathing peak peek inside the operations of New York State's Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services during and after Superstorm Sandy.

What it reveals is a demoralized agency operating out of a cold-war bunker in Albany using a computer system incapable of communicating with other systems, trying to cope after its most experienced and knowledgeable staff -- fully 50 percent of its personnel -- took early retirement after being labeled "non-essential" the year before the storm.

The report (posted below, click on the bottom right rectangle to expand) exists in two versions. The one below contains additional text in blue, bolded type meant only for the eyes of DHSES Commissioner Jerome Hauer.

While the report is couched in terms non-critical of Gov. Cuomo, it paints a clear picture how his demand to set up a "regional" OEM center for himself in Manhattan caused chaos, sucking the "A team" out of HQ in Albany, and leaving a resentful and understaffed "B team" trying to function without its most experienced leaders.

This may also explain why a study of Brooklyn's critical surge-capacity hospital and health needs has never been carried out.

Sandy "Notes" After-Action Report

Also mentioned in the Huffington Post.

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