WE ARRIVED INTO HILO

Well, the Silver Whisper has docked at Pier 1 in the Port of Hilo. 

Waved HI! to Captain Julian Albici from my veranda.

Tours are in the $500 range, and I've seen a dozen eruptions in my life.  On the other hand, can you believe this timing?  From Google AI:

Kīlauea volcano is currently experiencing precursory activity and overflowing lava at the Halemaʻumaʻu summit crater as scientists monitor the buildup to episode 55, according to the U.S. Geological Survey - USGS. [1, 2, 3]

Current Activity and Status

Alert Level: The U.S. Geological Survey has set the volcano alert level to WATCH and the aviation color code to ORANGE. [1, 2]
Summit Overflows: Low-level eruptive activity and repeated overflows from the north vent in the Halemaʻumaʻu crater began on September 7, with activity continuing into September 10. [1, 2, 3]
Lava Flows: Two primary lava flows formed from recent overflows, with one traveling about one kilometer southwest and another moving less than one kilometer to the northeast. [1]

IN OTHER WORDS, IT LOOKS LIKE KILAUEA WILL ERUPT TODAY!!!  There is a good chance that a tour from the Silver Whisper will get to see fountains of lava....maybe up to 1000 feet, as in Episode 50, below.

Click on USGS to view photos and videos of this activity.  This is living vicariously. I think you looking at a LIVE V1cam of the USGS of West Halemaumau Crater, Kilauea Volcano.  This could be the from the east.  Or from the south.  Here, the latest USGS news.

More about the Big Island tomorrow.  Today, what we do on the Silver Whisper  Simply, eat, get entertained and sleep.  This posting begins with dinner two nights ago.  Here is what part of the menu looked like.

Started with the Canneloni ai Funghi Porcini and a cup of Minnestrone Soup.

Main course of Osso Bucco

Gave us a nice big bone with a lot of marrow.

My dessert was Illy Coffee and Chocolate Mousse Trilogy.

Went to see Lovena B. Fox in Broadway Visions.

There have been teams constructing small boats for a race across the pool.

Then to lunch.

With a second course of Genoa Spaghetti.  Wonderfully al dente.

Next, two enrichment lectures,  First Stephen Coggeshall on What's the Matter.

BY THE WAY, I'VE MENTIONED THIS BEFORE:  YOU CAN GET A BETTER VIEW OF THESE YOU TUBE VIDEOS BY CLICKING ON THOSE TWO ARROWS IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT HAND CORNER.  THEN WHEN OVER, CLICK ON THOSE SAME ARROWS.

Next, Kevin Soden on Medical Controversies.

There is that frequent comparison we al make between two pain pills, Aetaminophen, like Tylenol, and Ibuprofen, like Advil and Motrin.  They work differently and can affect your liver for the former, and kidneys/stomach for the latter.  Thus, Advil, improperly taken, can give you ulcers.

Sweat, for example is mostly water, and cools you, while excreting waste like salt and urea,  Wearable sensors can monitor you health by reading sweat.

Genetic drugs, which are affordable and are FDA approved.  However, watch out for these pills from China and India.

More and more are taking supplements,  Speaker provided warnings, but recognized that some make good sense,

Asked....what is the most dangerous animal to humans?  Mosquitos.

 Just when you thought that all the hurricanes have gone away, here comes another one, Norbert.

Just formed yesterday and is still a tropical storm at 40 MPH.  However Norbert will become a hurricane on Monday and head straight for Hawaii.

About Lowell:

• September   1    First became a hurricane.
• September   2    Strengthened into a Super Hurricane at 160 MPH.
• September   4    Weakened to 125 MPH.
• September   5    Strengthened back into a Super Hurricane at 160 MPH and began to turn north,
• September  7   Weakened to 120 MPH and the eye passed 30 miles west of Niihau and 90 miles  from Kauai.
• September   9    Became a tropical storm at 60 MPH.
• September 10    Today, strengthened to 65 MPH.
• September 13    Predicted to still be a tropical storm, and will make an unusual turn SOUTH.

Any chance that Lowell could return to Hawaii as a hurricane?  Something like this has never happened before.

Had to add this news story because things are getting serious in the Strait of Hormuz,  This could escalate into a bigger war.

Oil prices jumped 6% today, with both major benchmarks trading at over $100 a barrel as the biggest spike in attacks on shipping since the Iran war began fed worries among traders about further disruptions to already tight supplies.

Brent crude futures hit their highest since mid-May, rising $5.87, or 5.8%, to $107.08 a barrel by 1:20 p.m. ET (7:20 a.m. Hawaii time). U.S. oil topped $100 a barrel for the first time since May as West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose $5.57, or 5.8%, to $101.62.

Both benchmarks have surged by more than 30% from lows touched in early August as a permanent agreement between the U.S. and Iran to cease attacks never materialized and fighting resumed.

My big question of today is do I bother to go into the town of Hilo?  It is a two-mile walk, but the Silver Whisper provides a free shuttle back and forth.  It is raining,  Maybe some photos tomorrow if I go,

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