8-foot Hammerhead at Eastern Dry Rocks, Key West, FL

The most amazing thing about this short footage is not that I swim within five feet of this 8-foot hammerhead shark; it's that this was recorded at the reef, about seven miles SW of Key West, and was the first of its kind that had been seen there by myself or any member of the crew on the boat: 29 years cumulative experience in this area!

Now, I know most people might think swimming in the water with a shark of this size is a crazy (much less swimming down twenty feet to swim at its side), but for me it was bliss.

So what happened was this: Out at the reef here off of Key West, a great hammerhead showed up. As a local, I was just there catching a lift with one of the public charter boats for a quick snorkel on a perfect Saturday morning. As it is, I picked the right day, I guess.

There were about 80 people in the water and 20 on the big catamaran when this big shark made its appearance. Then I calmly called up to the captain, "There's an eight foot hammerhead right here!" Sticking my head back in the water, I heard someone yell, "Shark!!!" I was later told that the numbers reversed in an instant.

By luck, the hammerhead swam right next to the port side of the boat and everyone could see the shark in contrast to me from the boat, and it dwarfed me.

To me, sharks are majestic. Just look at how it moves! My heart was racing, I tell you, not pounding, racing. It was honestly better than sex. It was that good.

I had to consciously think to relax. What I was experiencing—the excitement!—is what gets sharks interested! (As a species, they have developed a sensitivity to racing hearts and increased electrical activity.) My first thought was disbelief. My second thought was that I was as happy as a little kid and that even while snorkeling I had a goofy grin that just would not quit. It was that good.

Aside from my buddy Pete, whose last day town it was and was why we went out when we did, the person I have to thank the most is the boat's captain, Wesley. As captain of the snorkel charter boat I was on that day, he saw the whole thing taking place, and he kept everyone's cool and watched over everything else. His actions insured that the experience I had was world-class. When I got back on his boat, he was so excited for me - "I wanted to jump right in with you but I knew it would scare it away!" - that I knew that I owed his a share of gratitude. As I said, from the deck of the big boat, the size of the shark could clearly be seen in contrast beneath and besides my meager 6 1/2 feet. The shark was big enough to wrap my arms around. But it was Wesley's professionalism that made the day.

Now, the shark was heading away from the boat, and the current was heading that way, as well. Soon I realized I was heading out to deeper water (30ft and deepening). It was now or never. That's when I dove down to swim besides the hammerhead.

As I did, I looked at the video camera, studied the display counter and prayed, "Be recording this. Please be recording this."

And thankfully it was.

The hammerhead definitely knew I was there. It glanced at me catching my eye once and gave me the once-over, but it was non-threatening. I never once felt threatened. Next to it, I felt natural.

In fact, the only time I felt any trepidation was heading back to the boat. Swimming backwards against the current with the large shark now out of sight, that's when I got a slight chill. Just out of alertness while swimming backwards, I did keep my eyes open on my way back on-board, where an adventurer's welcome awaited.

Mike Mongo on Danger Charters

This weekend, I worked at Danger as a fill-in mate during the long 4th of July holiday weekend.

To tell, the truth, I needed the break. For what it's worth, the two full days of sun, sea, water, and work was good for my soul. More to the point, it was good for my spirit.

While I love working on computers and websites and all things tech-related, there is a downside. And that is, I get little real physical work-out putting out fires on laptops and desktops, or building networks and websites. In fact, consistently I feel as if I have been put through the wringer when I wake up in the mornings: No physical relationship to my work and the physical aspect of my being falls apart.

Working on Danger is non-stop physical activity for crew, particularly mates. Raising sails, lifting anchors, swimming, kayaking, carrying trays, serving drinks, running the length of the ship all day, it is a wonderful experience. By the end of the day, what I feel is complete physical reward and satisfaction.

For me, the mental side of being a mate is draining. There is as much attention paid to the guests as a good school teacher pays to a class of students. Only it's a class that lasts four-to-six hours at time, and twice a day. (Plus, for some with alcohol!)

But where the experience is unlike a school or classroom, is that this is vacation. The guests who come out on Danger appreciate the degree of learning, research, and experience that the Danger crew brings to the experience yet the idea is to present entertain rather than educate. Any education which transpires—and believe me, much does!—is an added bonus. In fact, it is commonly understood among all members of the Danger crew that a "great trip" is one where genuine transformation occurs for one of the trip's guests. This too happens more often than on any other excursion on the Island. This of course is why I was successful at Danger in the first place.

Nonetheless, working this weekend was a vacation for me. Imagine! A vacation of labor. That is exactly what it was. I met some wonderful people, and I saw (and did) some of my favorite things: Sailing, snorkeling, kayaking, and—most of all—educating.

Still, for me, the perfect job is teaching in a setting that fosters both physical and mental growth.

Update: Computer Drive for Students of Brampton Primary, Trelawney Parish, Jamaica

Our "weekend" computer drive is entering its third week. Today, we got yet another desktop PC. Yesterday, a laptop arrived in the mail....from Wisconsin! [See below]

When we began this, I had no expectations. As I stated previously, seeing as there are so many computers either laying around—or worse, being thrown away—any number of which I see day-to-day while on rounds making repairs on them for clients and friends island-wide, as well as how wonderful the people are with whom I work here on the island, my hopes were high.

Here's where we stand: As of this morning, eight computers, four printers, fifteen monitors, two scanners, and a box of random accessories. That's four desktop PCs, two desktop Macs, and two laptop PCs. ollege students/summer residents/computer geniuses Daniel and Ben have begun piecing them into cleaned and functioning independent workstations.

What now? Well, now that we have really got this ball rolling, it is my belief we can get seven more computers. In fact, if the three others which have been promised materialize, then we are just four short of goal!

That would be the total to fifteen workstations for ninety students. Clearly, this this is exactly the right number to get things rolling for students who have yet to use a computer much less use Google! Fifteen will entire classes to make use of them together and at one time.

So I post this to let everyone know what a fantastic success we have had so far, and to remind everyone who thought of recycling their old computer that we are having the drive one more weekend, and to spark anyone else who may know of anyone else who has an unused computer that could be put to good use. And one of the most important "R's" of recycling is re-use!

We are accepting computers, software, and peripherals again all week-long at Conch Town Cafe [map link] at 801 Thomas Street, across from Blue Heaven Restaurant. As a matter of fact, pictured here is Conch Town Cafe and Lincoln Thomas (whose wife is a teacher at Brampton Primary, and who had the inspiration for the drive in the first place).


Or , if you would prefer—and can resist having an excuse to stop-by and pick-up one of Conch Town Cafe's Jamaican curries or some maybe some conch salad—I will come to you, and that unused or discarded computer can be picked up.

To me, this is such a great effort. When I see all this gear that may have been wasted or lost to a landfill instead being made good important use of, I get really charged! All the people who are helping to make this happen, you're the best!

Lastly, while all the contributions are wonderful and appreciated, this laptop holds a special place in my heart. Watch the video and you'll see why:

Very Large Land Crab

Key West Computer Drive for Students in Trelawny, Jamaica

[Trelawny Students photo by Ian G]

To get where we are going, I'd like to share some things about me with you.

First of all, computers are my life. I repair them, I use them, I get people on the internet—helping them get websites, or by getting their computers and internet up-and-running.

The other thing you must know is I am dedicated to a future where kids can dream of space travel. That's why I wrote HUMANNAIRES! Mike Mongo's Astronaut Instruction Manual for Pre-Teens. [link]

Lastly, I recycle. I recycle or re-use everything I use that I can. And I work to help others who want do the same.

Recently, an opportunity which combines all three of the above presented itself.

Seeing as we are a prosperous Island nation, here on the de facto center of the Conch Republic's capital, Key West, while I am out repairing computers and/or being "computer tutor," I often see unused computers. What more, I regularly see computers sitting by the roadside, discarded by new computer owners.

We have so many computers here on Key West they sit unused or get thrown away! That's good news and bad to me. I am happy we are so prosperous here, yet unhappy that things that can be put to good use are being wasted.

Seeing as this is something that I think of all the time, three weeks ago I was telling one of my client's whose "sick" computer I was cleaning and bringing back up-to-speed. "My wife is a teacher for elementary kids in Jamaica," he tells me. "They have one single computer for ninety kids, and it belongs to one of the other teachers. Why not collect the unused computers and we can ship them over there?"

At first, it seemed impossible. But you know how these things go here in the Conch Republic. Three weeks later, the owners and staff of Conch Town Cafe and I am are lining up shipping and internet sponsorship for the school—Brampton Primary in Trelawny Parish [link]—and suddenly the time has come for a computer drive!

Remarkably, this weekend is also Juneteenth [link]. What an auspicious weekend to "increase our network"!

We are collecting computers—desktops or laptops—and monitors and peripherals. Likewise, if you have CD copies of Windows that are being unused, we will take them, too. Several visiting college computer science students and I will then spend next week piecing together complete work stations to be shipped to Trelawny Parish. I will then escort them there next month and install the computers myself at the school, and spend a week training the kids and adults in their use. Officially, this is to be the first HUMANNAIRES! outreach project.

The drop-off is Conch Town Cafe [link] in Bahama Village, 801 Petronia Street (across the street from Blue Heaven). They will be the accepting station for donated computers all weekend long. Get some fried conch while you are there, or a $3 smoothie.

If getting your disposed or unused computer to the restaurant is a challenge for any reason, then I will come to you. My friends at Blue Heaven have donated the use of a transportation vehicle for this purpose.

Often, I assist in placing computers for kids (and adults) here on the Island who need them. But now there are computers at the schools and community centers and just about everywhere. Pretty much anyone here on Key West who wants internet access has it or can get it. This is an opportunity to bring internet and the benefits that go along with it to a group of kids on a neighboring Island who have yet to have it, and I am really grateful to be part of this effort.

See, if anyone knows the value of computers to a young mind, it's me. Computers opened doors for me. Computers and the internet change people's live.

If a single child in Trelawny takes advantage of the presence of internet and computers, and then make an opportunity for their self, this project is worthwhile. Imagine: For kids in rural communities, the internet can be a genuine lifeline.

Will you help us "bring the google" to kids from a nearby island who are presently off-network?

Baby Iguana

It was about six inches long, and looked heavy enough to 1) stop me in my tracks, 2) really look formidable though adorable. And it let me video it, so I caught this excellent footage of it last Sunday.

Iguanas are not "indigenous" to the Keys, yet here they are, and they "work": It's like they belong here. Indeed, though heck on many of the plants around here—which is why they are considered by many to be a "nuisance"—they are far less bothersome than say the presence of Burmese pythons. And they have been here for as long as I can remember. I really like them.

One cool thing about iguanas is that they are all over our golf course. So you have to "play through" lizards that are over 4 feet in length. Talk about a hazard!

Another cool thing is I have seen one be inside a mailbox when the mail deliverer opened the door on the box and it stuck it's head out. Needless to say, scream, letters flying, great hilarity.

Here's a story about the "invasion" on NPR from a few years ago.

Mynah Birds in Key West

Mynah birds in Key West? Yes.

It's been a while since I have seen any around here in islands (since I was a kid?), and to recall this is the first time I have seen any in Key West, but here they are.

And a mating pair! Seeing as they mate for life, that's exciting.

The song was lovely on my ears, it's what drew my attention to the pair in the first place.

If you are here on the island, and want to see for yourself, just stop by the Pier One at Winn-Dixie Plaza on N. Roosevelt. Look in the Pier One sign on the front of the buidling. Their nest in in the "e".

"Faroese People: Killing and Eating Whales...Is Making You DEVOLVE!"

Usually, I get upset with individuals who injure, maim, or kill animals in a wanton and inhumane manner. But when it is an entire community or sub-culture pitted against another species, it feels as if getting angry is wrong. Instead, it feels more like the modern world is working to get through...but somehow is not being heard.

Up until today, I had no idea that an annual drive hunt against pilot whales was taking place in a. But because I was searching for video of New Zealand celebrity dolphin Moko's amazing rescue effort of a mother and off-spring pygmy sperm whale by Hawke's Bay, Mahia.

In my effort, I landed upon this video [WARNING: Depiction of graphic blood-letting of live intelligent creatures]....

....of the annual Faroe Island hunt drive of pilot whales, and my heart broke a little. What the video shows are living breathing intelligent homo sapiens crowding intelligent mammals into a single bay/harbor, and then slaughtering them bloody murder. It is as if the Hellraiser movies become real. And it's humans such as we are doing unspeakable things to other living creatures using hooks and great knives.

I read up on the situation in the entry found at Wikipedia, which led me to this next 20-year old animated film (narrated by Anthony Hopkins)....

....which shows that this has been going on and disturbing people globally for some time.

The Faroe Islands are an autonomous province of Denmark. They have become more and more autonomous since after "World War II" in 1948, and are now dedicated to the premise of independence. Be that at it may, the Faroese people are unfortunately slaughtering whales. Perversely, it it now shown that the eating of the slaughtered whales—which are laden in mercury—is causing the people to literally become mentally retarded, and to be exterminating the Faroese people.

And now it is learned that the whale meat these residents are eating has been poisoning them with Mercury for generations. This is the sort of poisoning that leads to mental retardation in forming human fetus. They are actually taking their ownselves out of the game—by the process of devolution! In fact, two studies, this 20-year (1984-2004) Harvard study of 1,022 Faroe Islands mothers and children from 2004—including this letter from the the chief physician for The Faroese Hospital System stating the mercury found is "not from fish but specifically pilot whale", and this study released last year [PDF] at the International Conference on Foetal Programming and Developmental Toxicity (PPTOX), shows this to actually be the case! In fact, PBS aired this video report on the subject last year. By consuming Pilot Whales, residents of the Faroe Islands are systematically and routinely institutionalizing physical disability and mental retardation!

I am unable to be angry with an entire nation, to be polarized against an entire, unmodernized culture. That sort of anger is uesless—other than to start a fight.

But what I want to do is encourage a change of spirit, and to encourage human growth! Instead, I write this letter to the Faroese people of the Faroe Islands:

Dear Island people of Faroe,

Reconsider.

If you knew what you were doing, you would stop. The fact is that these are entire families—of whales—you are massacring, generations and families together, and you are doing it with such tremendous violence, and the pain and suffering being caused is without limit. In order to participate in the 21st Century, all of us have had to make changes, and this is one being necessary of you for your entry into our new modern world. From a perspective on this side of that necessary leap, the step you must take to make it here is worth it.

No one wants whale meat. In fact, the animals you slaughter you yourself no longer yourselves use. The EU will not buy products made from whales, for it is tainted morally and now poisonously. Worse of all, as a consequence of whale-killing, your children are being emotionally hampered and amputated, and physically weakened and diminished. Killing whales is to the 21st Century what enslaving people was to the 19th, and restricting human rights was to the 20th. It is wrong, and we know it now.

For your own sakes, as well as for the sake of the intelligent and emotionally sophisticated creatures being caused mortal anguish and harm to perish, stop killing whales.

These are not some hogs, cows, or chickens. They are intelligent just as you and I. And they are not yours to kill. They belong to all of us. Just as you are to us and us to you, they are this world's. Killing whales is wrong. And I am one of at least a billion who are asking you to stop and look at it this way. Just look and see.

Signed,
Mike Mongo
on behalf all of us who care

BTW, politely emailing may help. Let the Faroese people know that whaling is in fact murder of whales. The Prime Minister Jóannes Eidesgaard's email address is info@tinganes.fo

And lastly, here is a petition to sign. Even this does help as it lets the Faroese people know how many of us care enough about whale killing to be counted as against it.

PETITION TO STOP WHALE KILLING IN FAROE ISLANDS

Sperm whale surprise next to underwater oil rig cam

The video says it all. There is no background on the story that I have located as of yet, but I'm looking into. Great footage! SURPRISE!

Sea Shepherd Battling Illegal Whalers

Sea Shepherd Battling Illegal Japanese Whalers

David Gallo at TED: Cephalapods video

Dolphins Blowing Rings

Dolphin Blows Bubble Rings

Add to My Profile | More Videos
My Danger Charters colleague (and good friend) Wade Miller sent me this link.

While I am familiar with this from Beluga Whales, I am astounded at the skill with which dolphins manipulate these thing rings of air around the water. Enjoy!

SHARKWATER Returns to Key West

Last year when writer/director Rob Stewart and friends came out with us on Danger Charters, we had an amazing time. All of us got to interact with several sharks during the snorkel. Jump forward a year, and Rob's pro-shark documentary, SHARKWATER, is an international hit documentary. At last, the plight of sharks worldwide has begun getting attention. In a year's time, Rob has become the de facto worldwide poster boy for shark conservation.

Here on the island of Key West, our entire economy hinges upon the health of the ocean. Sharks are integral to that. Sharks keep the ocean running and in good health. But for years, catching and killing sharks had been a cheap thrill for a large portion of our charter boat community. It has taken responsible fishermen decades to even begin to fight the insane fear and blood-lust that films such as Jaws and Open Water have instilled in our mainland-dwelling counterparts.

Due to its timely and sane message, many of my colleagues feel Rob's film is especially relevant to us and our charter boat community. For instance, on Danger we see and hear "sharkphobia" almost every trip. Subsequently, our crew has been promoting SHARKWATER daily on our backcountry eco-trips as "an antidote to anti-shark hysteria." Obviously, as stewards of the Florida National Marine Refuge, we are all big fans of Rob and his crew for taking on this responsibility.

Speaking with Rob recently, Danger and the SHARKWATER team have begun to foment a Florida Keys Shark Conservation campaign. Towards this end, we are promoting the Saturday night 8 PM showing of SHARKWATER at Tropic Cinema. Most of the Danger crew and our friends will be there.

If you have anytime over the next four days — December 21 through 24 — please make a point of getting to the Tropic Cinema for SHARKWATER. And if you are free Saturday evening at 8 PM, think about joining us for the screening of this very Key West relevant and awe-inspiring documentary.

SHARKWATER official movie site.

Sharkwater opens November 2nd

It's been a year since we reported on Rob Stewart's coming out with his film Sharkwater, and in that time the film has been discovered and re-discovered over and over. It's been blogged about, reviewed in showbiz newsdaily Variety, and currently enjoys a very respectable "77%" rating on RottenTomatoes. Amazing accomplishments for such a simple work. Sharkwater is "the little big shark documentary that could."

Oddly, it has yet to even open! That's right, Sharkwater opens this weekend in the US.

This is thrilling. After all the build-up and momentum Sharkwater has achieved, it is possible that Rob's movie is making a tremendous impact above and beyond the awareness to the plight of the oceans — and more specifically, sharks — Sharkwater has already garnered. Watching this unfold everyday before my eyes on the Internet, and on the boats of Danger Charters, it is a dream come true. A person follows their dream, pursues their passion, and in the process of being rewarded makes a difference in our world.

Congratulations Rob, Tyler, and the entire team with Sharkwater Productions. It has been an amazing year, your work is making a difference, and the best is yet to come!

Linda Whitehurst, Intelligent Human

The terrific thing about this story is that the woman, Linda Whitehurst, kept her head about her and fought off the shark — by remembering that she was smarter than the shark.

Bravo, Linda! Some sharks are big, and they are intelligent, of course. But in this type of situation, the only way to come out on top is to remember: We are higher on the evolutionary ladder!

Giant Slug eats Flower

Time Lapse Showing Earth's Rotation

Baby Octopus versus Dudes

Octopus Camoflage

Size of Planets and Stars in the Solar System and Universe

Studying astronomy for the past three months, I was often over-awed by the magnitude of different celestial events/objects. This video captures the idea here really well. Not only is earth tiny, but the sun is, too!