Blah, so today was a pretty draining day. Work was killer, easily the busiest day since the summer. Could hardly walk at certain times during the day. Assisted with helping a little girl who slammed her eye into the touch tank sink, helped fish a toy school bus out of the seal tank, rambled on about sharks like usual, did a whole bunch of other stuff that I don't remember, came home, ate dinner, showered, and now I'm just sitting here typing. Talk about the final day of my winter break haha... So as I said this is my last day of break which is kind of a drag, but eh, I gotta get the education to actually move on in life otherwise I'm just going to be spinning my wheels going nowhere. Ugh so much work to do, but oh so much time to get it done in.
I guess a plus side to all this is that my energy level has been really high during the day lately and with real early classes this semester, I should be more than good to go, tomorrow will be a good read on how I'll be able to deal with back to back classes. Last semester I had back to back classes, but one of the classes was only an hour and fifteen minutes as opposed to the near three hours these classes are each. I guess I luck out with two of my 5 classes like this are all about war.
So my taste in music continues to be about as consistent as the weather this winter. I'm going through these weird phases where I am really into different types of music just to go back and prefer other types. Example: Last week I was really into 80's music. Now I'm back into older Avenged Sevenfold and Bleeding Through. I dunno, I guess I just like a very broad range in music. That or I've just listened to way too much My Chemical Romance lately that everything else is just not as satisfying. Whatever. I'll just go with it.
Speaking of changes in taste... One thing has not changed at all and that's what I watch on TV. Still the only shows I really go out of my way to watch are South Park, Whale Wars, Invader Zim, Futurama, Family Guy, and Aqua Teen Hunger Force. That's literally it outside of Hockey and Football. American Football. Like the kind with the oval shaped ball with the big laces and large men killing each other. Yeah that one.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
Sing It For The World
I haven't done a conservation based blog in a while, so here goes...
What's new for me in the world of ocean conservation? Well there's quite a bit to talk about so lets get started.
Dolphins: Ever since watching "The Cove" I have become very aware as to what is going on in Japan and their annual dolphin slaughter. I've already posted a blog with rather graphic photos and an explination on what's going on over there, so I'm not going to do that again. However, when it comes to dolphins I have continued to inform people about what is going on in Japan and other nations around the world. These animals are supposed to be the smartest animals in the world next to humans, but here we are killing them by the thousands. Not only that, but we're resorting to barbaric practices to do it? I mean come on it's the year 2011 and we're using spears to kill dolphins, and it's being called "painless" to the animal. I am happy to see though that despite all kinds of harassment, there is one conservation group currently in Japan recording and documenting the annual dolphin slaughter, and sure enough that group is the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. The "Cove Guardians" are keeping track of the barbaric slaughter and, though they cannot legally do anything about it, their presence is known throughout the nation and literally hundreds of Japanese citizens are taking trips to the cove everyday to try and get a glimpse of the horror for themselves. The average Japanese citizen does not support this slaughter at all, but it is another money making tool for the Japanese government and in the end, the dollar is what really matters to the Japanese government and not the overwhelming population voicing their opposition or lack of knowledge that this is even happening inside their own country. Much like sharks, dolphin has an incredibly high mercury level, that is certainly not safe to be eaten and in response, the Japanese government added it to public school lunch menus. That has since been reversed, but come on how insane is that. The Japanese government was willing to poison their own future in an attempt to sell some of the dolphin meat from overstocked warehouses.
On another front though, I do support some dolphins in captivity. I don't think there is a reason to have a large scale dolphin trade like there is, but I do agree that dolphins in captivity is a great way to inform the public about these majestic creatures as well as their situation out in the wild. If there were no dolphins in captivity, I'd be really interested to see just how many people would even care about them. If Flipper never existed, what are the odds that the countless number of people who love dolphins today would even exist. I've got a gut feeling that movies like 'The Cove" would never have existed because frankly, I don't think too many people would care half as much as they do today. I for one will be continuing to be a voice for dolphins from here in Point Pleasant, NJ. It may not be much spewing information out on the internet, but the fact is that people are seeing what I put out, and if I make one person aware and actually care, even a little bit, then I have done my part for these animals. One person can make a difference.
Seals: Not much to say here. I'll be joining up with the Marine Mammal Stranding Center next week, so I will be able to officially go out and assist with seal rescues here in New Jersey. It does sadden me though, that the amount of people whom have no idea that seals come to New Jersey is so high. It is also sad to me that people think that seals MUST be in the water or they'll die. When they see a seal on the beach they try to chase it back into the sea. Seals are mammals people and just as we breathe air, so do they, so no, they do not have to be in the water at all times. Hopefully once joining with the stranding center I'll be able to learn more about these animals and be able to educate people about them.
Elsewhere... Canada, being unable to sell seal meat to it's own people, has started to move it's disgusting product overseas to China in a move that once again shows that the people of Canada do not want to eat seals. The Canadian government refuses to let one of it's barbaric practices die without a fight. Much like the situation in Japan, countless lives will be given up for the all mighty dollar. It's a sad truth that I am really starting to see with the Canadian Seal Hunt. It has nothing to do with tradition or culture. It's just a brutal murder that occurs every year in Canada, one of the last places on Earth where seals are brutally clubbed to death.
Whales: The save the whales movement is incredibly strong in the world today. However there are still nations that feel the need to go out and hunt whale. Personally I think it's totally uncalled for. Whaling nations like Japan and Norway try to justify their whaling programs by saying that the whales are eating too much fish and soon there won't be enough for people to eat. They are right in that there soon will not be enough fish in the world, but on that same page... It will not be the fault of any animal that lives in the oceans, whales included. Sea Shepherd continues to be the only conservation group making annual trips to the Southern Ocean to disrupt the illegal Japanese Whaling operations. Just about every nation in the world is against whaling, yet Japan and Norway continue to whale at their own leisure despite restrictions by the International Whaling Commission. With the amount of footage that Sea Shepherd has at their disposal, and have shown the world through the television series "Whale Wars", I cannot for the life of me figure out how the members of the IWC still allow the whaling nations to get away with what they do, even in a whale sanctuary in the Southern Ocean.
There are literally videos taken from the Sea Shepherd helicopter of Japan's "research." The videos have members of the whaling fleet skinning and cutting up the whale and tossing organs overboard. With organ tissue being thrown off the ships, just how much studying of the internal workings of the whale can be done? It just makes no sense to me.
After the IWC failed to outright ban whaling last summer because of the objection of not even a handful of nations, I jumped on board with another one of Sea Shepherd's beliefs, that being that the IWC is another corrupt organization that will take any money it can get, in this case bribes and literally sexual favors from the Japanese government. After President Obama promised to see an end to commercial whaling, he went back on his word and actually helped put on the table, a plan that would actually make commercial whaling legal again. President Obama has gone back on his word in reguards to the whaling situation and probably would have gotten some kind of reward from Japan if the plan actually passed, which it did not. Wikileaks also leaked out that Obama had been in talks with Japan's government to tax Sea Shepherd, which is a non profit organization and cannot be taxed. Japan has openly admitted that Sea Shepherd is a huge threat to their "scientific whaling program" and that can be seen this season as I type this, there are only four Japanese vessels in the Southern Ocean, two of which are behind two Sea Shepherd vessels, so really there are only two vessels on the run and most likely have not been able to whale at all. Japan refuses to stop their whaling program despite having literally hundreds of warehouses full of whale meat, some of which is now been frozen for several years. The Japanese public for the most part no longer support whaling or even eat whale.
With that all being said, I will continue to support Sea Shepherd and all of their actions in the Southern Ocean. I just wish that Greenpeace would put their personal feelings aside and send one ship down to the Southern Ocean to make it an even four ships against four. Sadly though I don't expect that to happen anytime soon because it seems that Greenpeace would rather sit and collect their donations to "fight whaling" without really doing anything.
Sharks: Sharks have FINALLY gotten some help in the world. The United States has made a new law that will prevent any sharks from entering the country with their fins cut off. Likewise, fins cannot be removed at sea or brought onto shore without the rest of the shark's body intact and attached to the fins. Basically, the shark must be taken to port before anything can be done to it. This will eliminate most, if not all shark finning in the United States. Yes, even here in the United States, shark finning is a problem. In fact, just last month, two sand tiger sharks were found in the Delaware Bay with their fins cut off. Yep, just a little more than an hour and a half from Point Pleasant, finned sharks have been found. Finned sharks have also been washing up on the beaches of states like Texas.
I'm continuing to fight for these animals as hard as I can while staying in school. There really is not much I can do right now, but between the internet and work, I know I am making some kind of impact. I just have to keep doing what I'm doing, keep talking about sharks and their plights in the world today. Once again, if sharks die we will die as well. So it is incredibly important that we save these animals while we still can!
Again, I just wanna say that I am not racist at all towards Japanese, Canadian, or Chinese people. It's just that their governments are so wrapped up in multiple dangerous practices that can really lead to the end of life as we know it on Earth. Thanks for reading and have a great day!
What's new for me in the world of ocean conservation? Well there's quite a bit to talk about so lets get started.
Dolphins: Ever since watching "The Cove" I have become very aware as to what is going on in Japan and their annual dolphin slaughter. I've already posted a blog with rather graphic photos and an explination on what's going on over there, so I'm not going to do that again. However, when it comes to dolphins I have continued to inform people about what is going on in Japan and other nations around the world. These animals are supposed to be the smartest animals in the world next to humans, but here we are killing them by the thousands. Not only that, but we're resorting to barbaric practices to do it? I mean come on it's the year 2011 and we're using spears to kill dolphins, and it's being called "painless" to the animal. I am happy to see though that despite all kinds of harassment, there is one conservation group currently in Japan recording and documenting the annual dolphin slaughter, and sure enough that group is the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. The "Cove Guardians" are keeping track of the barbaric slaughter and, though they cannot legally do anything about it, their presence is known throughout the nation and literally hundreds of Japanese citizens are taking trips to the cove everyday to try and get a glimpse of the horror for themselves. The average Japanese citizen does not support this slaughter at all, but it is another money making tool for the Japanese government and in the end, the dollar is what really matters to the Japanese government and not the overwhelming population voicing their opposition or lack of knowledge that this is even happening inside their own country. Much like sharks, dolphin has an incredibly high mercury level, that is certainly not safe to be eaten and in response, the Japanese government added it to public school lunch menus. That has since been reversed, but come on how insane is that. The Japanese government was willing to poison their own future in an attempt to sell some of the dolphin meat from overstocked warehouses.
On another front though, I do support some dolphins in captivity. I don't think there is a reason to have a large scale dolphin trade like there is, but I do agree that dolphins in captivity is a great way to inform the public about these majestic creatures as well as their situation out in the wild. If there were no dolphins in captivity, I'd be really interested to see just how many people would even care about them. If Flipper never existed, what are the odds that the countless number of people who love dolphins today would even exist. I've got a gut feeling that movies like 'The Cove" would never have existed because frankly, I don't think too many people would care half as much as they do today. I for one will be continuing to be a voice for dolphins from here in Point Pleasant, NJ. It may not be much spewing information out on the internet, but the fact is that people are seeing what I put out, and if I make one person aware and actually care, even a little bit, then I have done my part for these animals. One person can make a difference.
Seals: Not much to say here. I'll be joining up with the Marine Mammal Stranding Center next week, so I will be able to officially go out and assist with seal rescues here in New Jersey. It does sadden me though, that the amount of people whom have no idea that seals come to New Jersey is so high. It is also sad to me that people think that seals MUST be in the water or they'll die. When they see a seal on the beach they try to chase it back into the sea. Seals are mammals people and just as we breathe air, so do they, so no, they do not have to be in the water at all times. Hopefully once joining with the stranding center I'll be able to learn more about these animals and be able to educate people about them.
Elsewhere... Canada, being unable to sell seal meat to it's own people, has started to move it's disgusting product overseas to China in a move that once again shows that the people of Canada do not want to eat seals. The Canadian government refuses to let one of it's barbaric practices die without a fight. Much like the situation in Japan, countless lives will be given up for the all mighty dollar. It's a sad truth that I am really starting to see with the Canadian Seal Hunt. It has nothing to do with tradition or culture. It's just a brutal murder that occurs every year in Canada, one of the last places on Earth where seals are brutally clubbed to death.
Whales: The save the whales movement is incredibly strong in the world today. However there are still nations that feel the need to go out and hunt whale. Personally I think it's totally uncalled for. Whaling nations like Japan and Norway try to justify their whaling programs by saying that the whales are eating too much fish and soon there won't be enough for people to eat. They are right in that there soon will not be enough fish in the world, but on that same page... It will not be the fault of any animal that lives in the oceans, whales included. Sea Shepherd continues to be the only conservation group making annual trips to the Southern Ocean to disrupt the illegal Japanese Whaling operations. Just about every nation in the world is against whaling, yet Japan and Norway continue to whale at their own leisure despite restrictions by the International Whaling Commission. With the amount of footage that Sea Shepherd has at their disposal, and have shown the world through the television series "Whale Wars", I cannot for the life of me figure out how the members of the IWC still allow the whaling nations to get away with what they do, even in a whale sanctuary in the Southern Ocean.
There are literally videos taken from the Sea Shepherd helicopter of Japan's "research." The videos have members of the whaling fleet skinning and cutting up the whale and tossing organs overboard. With organ tissue being thrown off the ships, just how much studying of the internal workings of the whale can be done? It just makes no sense to me.
After the IWC failed to outright ban whaling last summer because of the objection of not even a handful of nations, I jumped on board with another one of Sea Shepherd's beliefs, that being that the IWC is another corrupt organization that will take any money it can get, in this case bribes and literally sexual favors from the Japanese government. After President Obama promised to see an end to commercial whaling, he went back on his word and actually helped put on the table, a plan that would actually make commercial whaling legal again. President Obama has gone back on his word in reguards to the whaling situation and probably would have gotten some kind of reward from Japan if the plan actually passed, which it did not. Wikileaks also leaked out that Obama had been in talks with Japan's government to tax Sea Shepherd, which is a non profit organization and cannot be taxed. Japan has openly admitted that Sea Shepherd is a huge threat to their "scientific whaling program" and that can be seen this season as I type this, there are only four Japanese vessels in the Southern Ocean, two of which are behind two Sea Shepherd vessels, so really there are only two vessels on the run and most likely have not been able to whale at all. Japan refuses to stop their whaling program despite having literally hundreds of warehouses full of whale meat, some of which is now been frozen for several years. The Japanese public for the most part no longer support whaling or even eat whale.
With that all being said, I will continue to support Sea Shepherd and all of their actions in the Southern Ocean. I just wish that Greenpeace would put their personal feelings aside and send one ship down to the Southern Ocean to make it an even four ships against four. Sadly though I don't expect that to happen anytime soon because it seems that Greenpeace would rather sit and collect their donations to "fight whaling" without really doing anything.
Sharks: Sharks have FINALLY gotten some help in the world. The United States has made a new law that will prevent any sharks from entering the country with their fins cut off. Likewise, fins cannot be removed at sea or brought onto shore without the rest of the shark's body intact and attached to the fins. Basically, the shark must be taken to port before anything can be done to it. This will eliminate most, if not all shark finning in the United States. Yes, even here in the United States, shark finning is a problem. In fact, just last month, two sand tiger sharks were found in the Delaware Bay with their fins cut off. Yep, just a little more than an hour and a half from Point Pleasant, finned sharks have been found. Finned sharks have also been washing up on the beaches of states like Texas.
I'm continuing to fight for these animals as hard as I can while staying in school. There really is not much I can do right now, but between the internet and work, I know I am making some kind of impact. I just have to keep doing what I'm doing, keep talking about sharks and their plights in the world today. Once again, if sharks die we will die as well. So it is incredibly important that we save these animals while we still can!
Again, I just wanna say that I am not racist at all towards Japanese, Canadian, or Chinese people. It's just that their governments are so wrapped up in multiple dangerous practices that can really lead to the end of life as we know it on Earth. Thanks for reading and have a great day!
Sunday, January 2, 2011
A New Start
Wahoo I made it to another year. 2010 is dead and 2011 has begun. Soooo lets first look back at some ups and downs and favorites of 2010.
Favorite Album: Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys by My Chemical Romance. Yeah I bet you were probably thinking I'd choose Avenged Sevenfold here right, but as I continue to grow and change I've become much more drawn to MCR. In fact, despite Danged Days coming out much later in the year than Nightmare, it's been played much more both in my car and at home. Overall an amazing album with amazing songs that are incredibly addicting.
Favorite Song: Buried Alive by Avenged Sevenfold.
Despite Danger Days being my favorite album, A7X still provided me with my favorite song of the year. The song makes me think about my transformation from the depressed individual that I was to the person that I am today. One who really does not care for any stupid crap that people may throw at him.
Favorite Game: Epic Mickey/Donkey Kong Country Returns (Wii)
Coming out late in 2010, usually does not bode well for a game being my favorite of the year. Up until November, House of the Dead 2 and 3 Returns was probably going to be my favorite, but then Donkey Kong and Epic Mickey came out. Epic Mickey was fantastic in every way that I had hoped, and perhaps a little more. It's the only game that I have ever purchased a special edition for and by all means it was worth getting some old cartoons of the mouse and his brother Oswald. Donkey Kong should speak for itself if you've known me for any amount of time as the DK Country series has always been my favorite SNES series.
Favorite Movie: Toy Story 3
FINALLY SOME CLOSURE. That's all that has to be said. Incredible movie.
So those are a couple favorites. I was also very lucky this past year to meet some new people at school whom I hope to continue to get along with this upcoming semester.
Anyway... Enough about 2010, what about 2011? Ideas and hopes for the new year include.... coming close to finishing my bachelors in history, looking at a vet tech program for the future, playing the sax more, continue to be strong in school, Lauren's back issues improve, swim with whale sharks, get back in shape, keep all pets healthy, continue to educate people about sharks, throw some stuff away, score a 150 in bowling, go more places, become more useful around the house, and that's about all I can think of at the moment.
If the first couple days are any indication, 2011 is going to be a crazy year, but in a good way. I'm going to continue what I was doing towards the end of 2010 and that's not letting my emotions get the best of me. If a friend ditches me, whatever I'll let it roll off my shoulder because I can't let it affect me. On that same page though I have to continue to realize when enough is enough and not be taken advantage of, which as of late I've been doing very good with.
At work I hope to keep doing what I'm doing and I should be fine with that. I'm happy with where I'm at and I can't complain about much, so I wont.
Overall, 2011 looks like it should be a good year overall. Some things that I already have planned include going to Mexico with Lauren and her family, joining a gym, and managing my time better when there's nothing to do. It's a new year and a new start again, so I'm just going to go with what life gives me. Take opportunities when they appear and get over obstacles when need be too.
Favorite Album: Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys by My Chemical Romance. Yeah I bet you were probably thinking I'd choose Avenged Sevenfold here right, but as I continue to grow and change I've become much more drawn to MCR. In fact, despite Danged Days coming out much later in the year than Nightmare, it's been played much more both in my car and at home. Overall an amazing album with amazing songs that are incredibly addicting.
Favorite Song: Buried Alive by Avenged Sevenfold.
Despite Danger Days being my favorite album, A7X still provided me with my favorite song of the year. The song makes me think about my transformation from the depressed individual that I was to the person that I am today. One who really does not care for any stupid crap that people may throw at him.
Favorite Game: Epic Mickey/Donkey Kong Country Returns (Wii)
Coming out late in 2010, usually does not bode well for a game being my favorite of the year. Up until November, House of the Dead 2 and 3 Returns was probably going to be my favorite, but then Donkey Kong and Epic Mickey came out. Epic Mickey was fantastic in every way that I had hoped, and perhaps a little more. It's the only game that I have ever purchased a special edition for and by all means it was worth getting some old cartoons of the mouse and his brother Oswald. Donkey Kong should speak for itself if you've known me for any amount of time as the DK Country series has always been my favorite SNES series.
Favorite Movie: Toy Story 3
FINALLY SOME CLOSURE. That's all that has to be said. Incredible movie.
So those are a couple favorites. I was also very lucky this past year to meet some new people at school whom I hope to continue to get along with this upcoming semester.
Anyway... Enough about 2010, what about 2011? Ideas and hopes for the new year include.... coming close to finishing my bachelors in history, looking at a vet tech program for the future, playing the sax more, continue to be strong in school, Lauren's back issues improve, swim with whale sharks, get back in shape, keep all pets healthy, continue to educate people about sharks, throw some stuff away, score a 150 in bowling, go more places, become more useful around the house, and that's about all I can think of at the moment.
If the first couple days are any indication, 2011 is going to be a crazy year, but in a good way. I'm going to continue what I was doing towards the end of 2010 and that's not letting my emotions get the best of me. If a friend ditches me, whatever I'll let it roll off my shoulder because I can't let it affect me. On that same page though I have to continue to realize when enough is enough and not be taken advantage of, which as of late I've been doing very good with.
At work I hope to keep doing what I'm doing and I should be fine with that. I'm happy with where I'm at and I can't complain about much, so I wont.
Overall, 2011 looks like it should be a good year overall. Some things that I already have planned include going to Mexico with Lauren and her family, joining a gym, and managing my time better when there's nothing to do. It's a new year and a new start again, so I'm just going to go with what life gives me. Take opportunities when they appear and get over obstacles when need be too.
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