Don’t worry about the sharks
September 12, 2024 12:14 PM Subscribe
I'm just going to point out that it is 32 nautical miles (as stated in the first caption of the article) off the NC coast. Middle of the Ocean is pushing it.
posted by Snowishberlin at 12:37 PM on September 12, 2024 [3 favorites]
posted by Snowishberlin at 12:37 PM on September 12, 2024 [3 favorites]
But that's far enough to feel like it, especially to a landlubber.
posted by Greg_Ace at 1:02 PM on September 12, 2024 [5 favorites]
posted by Greg_Ace at 1:02 PM on September 12, 2024 [5 favorites]
I worked as a fire lookout in California for two seasons, and it was my favorite experience ever. I would stay here tomorrow.
posted by mykescipark at 1:37 PM on September 12, 2024 [4 favorites]
posted by mykescipark at 1:37 PM on September 12, 2024 [4 favorites]
The Ocean is infinite; once you are out of sight of land, with no usable instruments, you are in the middle of it. It’s just the middle is really big and inclusive.
posted by GenjiandProust at 2:27 PM on September 12, 2024 [25 favorites]
posted by GenjiandProust at 2:27 PM on September 12, 2024 [25 favorites]
I was out of sight of land with W.C. Fields. With no usable instruments we were forced to play the accordion!
posted by stet at 2:59 PM on September 12, 2024 [11 favorites]
posted by stet at 2:59 PM on September 12, 2024 [11 favorites]
That was a really interesting read. I'm happy to know the owners want to keep it accessible to scientists instead of cashing in and squeezing every possible dollar out of it. Seems like a real labor of love to these guys. I'd love to visit for the stargazing and the absence of city noise.
posted by Kangaroo at 3:35 PM on September 12, 2024 [5 favorites]
posted by Kangaroo at 3:35 PM on September 12, 2024 [5 favorites]
Guests can sign up for a volunteer trip ($900)
This is a curious usage of the term "volunteer" that I am less familiar with.
posted by deadbilly at 4:02 PM on September 12, 2024 [6 favorites]
This is a curious usage of the term "volunteer" that I am less familiar with.
posted by deadbilly at 4:02 PM on September 12, 2024 [6 favorites]
mykescipark, I've always wanted to do the Frying Pan as well as some time in a fire tower . . . I think, probably, for the same reasons, even if I can't always express what they are . . .
posted by pt68 at 4:33 PM on September 12, 2024 [1 favorite]
posted by pt68 at 4:33 PM on September 12, 2024 [1 favorite]
"I'm just going to point out that it is 32 nautical miles (as stated in the first caption of the article) off the NC coast. Middle of the Ocean is pushing it."
I'd be willing to bet that everyone on this site (and everyone reading the article) knows that the ocean is more than 64 miles across.
posted by jonathanhughes at 7:08 PM on September 12, 2024 [10 favorites]
I'd be willing to bet that everyone on this site (and everyone reading the article) knows that the ocean is more than 64 miles across.
posted by jonathanhughes at 7:08 PM on September 12, 2024 [10 favorites]
I'd be willing to bet that everyone on this site (and everyone reading the article) knows that the ocean is more than 64 miles across.
And I'm willing to bet that if you actually visit this structure, you're going to feel like you're in the middle of the ocean.
posted by mollweide at 7:19 PM on September 12, 2024 [7 favorites]
And I'm willing to bet that if you actually visit this structure, you're going to feel like you're in the middle of the ocean.
posted by mollweide at 7:19 PM on September 12, 2024 [7 favorites]
While I'm in agreement with the mathematician/geographers that 32 nautical miles is not the middle of the ocean, this is still a big goddamned NOPE as far as I'm concerned. Out site of land? check. Lots of sea predators that will eat me? check. Meals mainly of seafood? check.
I'm glad there are people that love the ocean, but I live in Colorado FOR A REASON.
I think I'll go get some non seafood to eat and enjoy not swimming.
posted by evilDoug at 8:42 PM on September 12, 2024 [5 favorites]
I'm glad there are people that love the ocean, but I live in Colorado FOR A REASON.
I think I'll go get some non seafood to eat and enjoy not swimming.
posted by evilDoug at 8:42 PM on September 12, 2024 [5 favorites]
Technically, Frying Pan is in international waters, so the owners could turn the tower into anything they want–a casino, a bordello, even its own sovereign nation. But they just want to make sure Frying Pan continues to be a resource to the maritime and scientific communities.
Look what happens when libertarians aren't put in charge.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 9:18 PM on September 12, 2024 [12 favorites]
Look what happens when libertarians aren't put in charge.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 9:18 PM on September 12, 2024 [12 favorites]
technically the ocean is a volume so if you really wanted to be in the middle of it . . .
posted by logicpunk at 10:21 PM on September 12, 2024 [13 favorites]
posted by logicpunk at 10:21 PM on September 12, 2024 [13 favorites]
From the article: "K-9-like incisors". I'm just curious, as an ESL speaker, is this a stylistic choice by the author, or have people forgotten about the word "canine"?
posted by gakiko at 4:12 AM on September 13, 2024 [4 favorites]
posted by gakiko at 4:12 AM on September 13, 2024 [4 favorites]
Great read, thank you for sharing!
posted by obfuscation at 4:30 AM on September 13, 2024 [2 favorites]
posted by obfuscation at 4:30 AM on September 13, 2024 [2 favorites]
From the article: "K-9-like incisors". I'm just curious, as an ESL speaker, is this a stylistic choice by the author, or have people forgotten about the word "canine"?
I expect the author is trying to say that barracuda teeth are like the teeth of attack dogs specifically. Which, for some misbegotten reason, they imagine are somehow notably different from snuggly golden retriever teeth or that they aren't just bigger versions of chihuahua teeth.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 5:21 AM on September 13, 2024 [5 favorites]
I expect the author is trying to say that barracuda teeth are like the teeth of attack dogs specifically. Which, for some misbegotten reason, they imagine are somehow notably different from snuggly golden retriever teeth or that they aren't just bigger versions of chihuahua teeth.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 5:21 AM on September 13, 2024 [5 favorites]
Technically, Frying Pan is in international waters, so the owners could turn the tower into anything they want–a casino, a bordello, even its own sovereign nation.
step 1: declare yourself a sovereign nation
step 2: establish a socialist government
step 3: have u.s. military come to "liberate" you
step 4: never have to worry about private funding to maintain the tower again
posted by Aya Hirano on the Astral Plane at 5:25 AM on September 13, 2024 [3 favorites]
step 1: declare yourself a sovereign nation
step 2: establish a socialist government
step 3: have u.s. military come to "liberate" you
step 4: never have to worry about private funding to maintain the tower again
posted by Aya Hirano on the Astral Plane at 5:25 AM on September 13, 2024 [3 favorites]
Maybe barracuda can shoot laser beams from their teeth like K-9 from Doctor Who?
posted by RonButNotStupid at 6:13 AM on September 13, 2024 [4 favorites]
posted by RonButNotStupid at 6:13 AM on September 13, 2024 [4 favorites]
...structural supports beneath the living quarters that are reaching the end of their shelf life.
Sounds cozy!
posted by Earthtopus at 7:10 AM on September 13, 2024 [1 favorite]
Sounds cozy!
posted by Earthtopus at 7:10 AM on September 13, 2024 [1 favorite]
About the middle of the ocean:
One thing I really enjoy about being out at sea, beyond sight of land, is that it's a literally timeless place.
You could be a million years back in time, or a million years forward in time, and it would look exactly the same.
It's like being in Schrödinger's time machine. You simply can't tell if you're still connected to the world you thought you were. Until the day you make landfall or another ship appears on the horizon, and the wave function collapses, it's easy to imagine that you might just be in some completely different age, because it's completely indistinguishable.
Which made it particularly funny that one time when the next thing to appear on the horizon was this ship.
posted by automatronic at 7:38 AM on September 13, 2024 [8 favorites]
One thing I really enjoy about being out at sea, beyond sight of land, is that it's a literally timeless place.
You could be a million years back in time, or a million years forward in time, and it would look exactly the same.
It's like being in Schrödinger's time machine. You simply can't tell if you're still connected to the world you thought you were. Until the day you make landfall or another ship appears on the horizon, and the wave function collapses, it's easy to imagine that you might just be in some completely different age, because it's completely indistinguishable.
Which made it particularly funny that one time when the next thing to appear on the horizon was this ship.
posted by automatronic at 7:38 AM on September 13, 2024 [8 favorites]
I don't know if anyone else is curious about this, but the other two remaining towers seem to be the Chesapeake Light Tower (a popular fishing site) and the Diamond Shoals Light Station.
posted by box at 8:33 AM on September 13, 2024 [2 favorites]
posted by box at 8:33 AM on September 13, 2024 [2 favorites]
From the article: "K-9-like incisors". I'm just curious, as an ESL speaker, is this a stylistic choice by the author, or have people forgotten about the word "canine"?
I expect the author is trying to say that barracuda teeth are like the teeth of attack dogs specifically. Which, for some misbegotten reason, they imagine are somehow notably different from snuggly golden retriever teeth or that they aren't just bigger versions of chihuahua teeth.
To spell it out,
(all canines are beautiful)
posted by zamboni at 8:56 AM on September 13, 2024 [1 favorite]
I expect the author is trying to say that barracuda teeth are like the teeth of attack dogs specifically. Which, for some misbegotten reason, they imagine are somehow notably different from snuggly golden retriever teeth or that they aren't just bigger versions of chihuahua teeth.
To spell it out,
K-9is frequently used as an identifier for police dogs, which is what the author is trying to evoke.
(all canines are beautiful)
posted by zamboni at 8:56 AM on September 13, 2024 [1 favorite]
This is a curious usage of the term "volunteer" that I am less familiar with.
And I'm curious about your definition/usage.
posted by zamboni at 9:09 AM on September 13, 2024 [1 favorite]
And I'm curious about your definition/usage.
posted by zamboni at 9:09 AM on September 13, 2024 [1 favorite]
great read! I would love to go there.
I have swum in "open water" with Barracudas before, they pretty much ignore you. (sounds like maybe leave the jewelry at home!)
posted by supermedusa at 11:20 AM on September 13, 2024 [1 favorite]
I have swum in "open water" with Barracudas before, they pretty much ignore you. (sounds like maybe leave the jewelry at home!)
posted by supermedusa at 11:20 AM on September 13, 2024 [1 favorite]
I have as well...
But they are scary fucking fish to have swimming next to you...
posted by Windopaene at 1:07 PM on September 13, 2024 [1 favorite]
But they are scary fucking fish to have swimming next to you...
posted by Windopaene at 1:07 PM on September 13, 2024 [1 favorite]
sounds like maybe leave the jewelry at home
I just came from the Red Bill bike thread where they were using the phrase "jimmies" for that.
posted by DreamerFi at 12:32 AM on September 14, 2024 [1 favorite]
I just came from the Red Bill bike thread where they were using the phrase "jimmies" for that.
posted by DreamerFi at 12:32 AM on September 14, 2024 [1 favorite]
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My high school Marine Biology teacher and her husband were scuba divers. She would definitely agree with this statement, 'cudas scared her way more than sharks.
posted by Greg_Ace at 12:35 PM on September 12, 2024 [1 favorite]