Mad Mariner - Articles

Ida Reaches Hurricane Force Near Nicaragua

The Associated Press — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) — Tropical Storm Ida grew to hurricane force just off Nicaragua's coast on Thursday, forcing more than 2,000 people to flee their homes and knocking out power to some parts of the impoverished region.

The hurricane was forecast to slash into Nicaragua's Atlantic coast within hours, then cut across Honduras before emerging over open water on Saturday — a still-tentative path that could carry it near Mexico's resort of Cancun by midweek.

Vietnam Storm Death Toll Rises to 91

The Associated Press — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — The death toll from Tropical Storm Mirinae rose to 91 in Vietnam on Wednesday as authorities stepped up rescue and relief operations in the country's central region.

In the hardest-hit province of Phu Yen, 26 more deaths were reported as information trickled in from isolated areas, bringing the death toll there to 65, disaster official Dang Thi Lanh said. An additional 13 people were missing.

Crack a Book

Elaine Dickinson — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Lest the winter doldrums set in, boating writers have been quite prolific lately, churning out a host of new marine-related books to whet our nautical tastes and help us stuff Christmas stockings. From a mystery-thriller to true hair-raising tales of rescues at sea, here are a few picks:

Tropical Storm Kills 23 in Vietnam

The Associated Press — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Tropical Storm Mirinae unleashed severe flooding in parts of central Vietnam, killing 23 people, leaving two missing and stranding families on rooftops, disaster officials said Tuesday.

The death toll in the hardest-hit province of Phu Yen was 15 after the storm drenched the region with heavy rain Monday, said disaster official Dang Thi Lanh.

"Many villages remain cut off by rising waters and we expect the death toll to rise," she said.

Major Storm Slams Vietnam

The Associated Press — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Tropical Storm Mirinae slammed into Vietnam's central coast Monday, unleashing heavy rains and winds and forcing more than 80,000 people to evacuate before losing steam as it moved inland.

The storm was packing winds of 63 miles per hour as it made landfall in Phu Yen province Monday afternoon, toppling trees and utility poles and causing blackouts, said Nguyen Ba Loc, deputy chairman of the provincial People's Committee.

Bluegame 60

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Typhoon on Track to Hit Flooded Manila

The Associated Press — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Typhoon Mirinae, the fourth cyclone to wallop the Philippines in a month, was barreling toward the capital of Manila, where some districts are still submerged by recent massive flooding, forecasters said Friday.

Authorities closed schools, grounded ferries and army troops mobilized a battalion with rubber boats ready for rescue operations in the capital and more than 25 other provinces. Trucks with food and other relief goods were dispatched to northern provinces in the typhoon's path.

Wet Weather Forecast to Persist

The Associated Press — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Wet weather was forecast to persist over the Central U.S. on Thursday as a system moved over the Rockies and into the Plains.

The system could create a strong frontal boundary that could sweep toward the Mississippi River. Warm and moist air pouring in from the Gulf of Mexico was expected to create a warm front that could stretch eastward.

The system was forecast to kick up moderate to heavy thunderstorms that could track northward through Mississippi and Tennessee. Some of the storms could turn severe with periods of heavy rain likely in areas of strong storm development.

George Buehler's Diesel Ducks

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400

The Ethanol Controversy

Capt. Art Pine — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400

If you have a gasoline engine in your boat and you think you've resolved the ethanol problems that plagued you a few years ago, hold on to your grab-rails: the federal government is considering increasing the amount of the corn-based additive in your fuel.

The move stems from a petition filed March 6 by Growth Energy, the ethanol industry's trade association. The group wants the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to raise the limit on ethanol content in "blended" gasoline to 15 percent, from 10 percent now.

By law, EPA has until mid-December to rule on the industry's request, and probably won't decide until just before the deadline, lobbyists familiar with EPA procedures say. If EPA does approve the petition, it could take months or years for the change to take effect.

While the agency itself hasn't hinted which way it will go, the Obama administration has been visibly friendlier to environmental interests than was George W. Bush. President Obama repeatedly has praised ethanol's perceived benefits.