–

Republic of BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA – Serb administration

stamp: 2,50 yugoslav dinars

year: 1997

mammal: weasel / otter

30

Absoloute Tw@t  They should amuptate his limbs !!!!

Uncle of meningitis amputee toddler stole £315,000 from her trust fund to pay for holidays… leaving just £239

Claims he didn’t know the £250,000 worth of cocaine capsules found in his stomach was drugs…..What a Di**head !!!

Love This Table

Drug smuggler who swallowed 67 packages of cocaine caught because of his bulging belly

A drug smuggler swallowed 67 packages of cocaine in an attempt to get through British customs. Student Fidelis Ozouli, 30, risked his life trying to hide the 1kg haul of the class A substance in his stomach. He later claimed he did not know the packets contained drugs. Officers at Manchester Airport became suspicious because Ozouli looked unnaturally bloated.  They carried out X-rays on his stomach and discovered a quantity of cocaine equivalent to two bags of sugar. It is one of the largest amounts ever found internally by UK customs officers. The drug, hidden inside scores of condoms, was 78 per cent pure and had a street value of £250,000. Ozouli left officials and a court baffled by claiming: ‘I didn’t know they were drugs.’ He added: ‘I just did not know what they were. I thought I was swallowing something else to take into Britain as a favour for a pal.’ At Manchester Crown Court, Ozouli, who is from Nigeria but lives and studies in London, pleaded guilty to importing class A drugs and was jailed for ten years – but continued to deny knowing what the haul was. Judge Thomas Gilbart QC told him: ‘I do not accept your evidence and do not believe it is credible. ‘The story is fantastical and I don’t believe a word of it. This was a calculated decision on your part to solve your money worries.’ Ozouli, of Kennington, South London, was stopped by UK Border Agency officers on his arrival at Manchester from Switzerland on September 5. He claimed he was on a business trip from Zurich on behalf of a pharmaceuticals company but inquiries revealed he had taken a lengthy and unusual route back to the UK from countries in Africa. He was arrested and the case was passed to customs officers who interviewed him. Later he was taken to a nearby hospital where he was X-rayed to ensure all the packages had been recovered.

Mike O’Grady, assistant director of criminal investigation for Revenue and Customs said yesterday: ‘Forensic tests showed that the purity of this cocaine is significantly above what we would normally find. ‘Swallowing any drugs puts the courier at risk, but with purity levels this high he was putting himself at considerable risk of death. ‘Criminals dealing in drugs with high purity levels are thinking solely of increased profits, to further fund their illegal activity.

Mr O’Grady added: ‘They show utter disregard for the damage drugs do to individuals and communities. ‘Customs is working closely with our partners in the UK Border Agency, police and other law enforcement agencies such as the Serious Organised Crime Agency to protect the public from the significant and damaging effect drugs have on our communities.’ The biggest ever recorded haul of cocaine found in a smuggler’s stomach in Britain was 1.5kg found inside 39 packages in 2003.

2 Lucky Guys

The independent Treasure Valuation Committee reached the figure after meeting at the museum.

The money will be split equally between the finder Terry Herbert and the landowner Fred Johnson, the museum said.The two men and the two museums which hope to acquire the hoard, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery and the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery in Stoke-on-Trent, have all approved the valuation, a spokesman added.Professor Norman Palmer, chairman of the Government-appointed committee, said: “The task of valuing this hoard required the Treasure Valuation Committee to analyse a very large amount of information in order to arrive at a fair market price and I am personally indebted to my fellow members whose energy and expertise made this result possible in so short a time.”He added: “All finders of treasure can take encouragement that the most valuable treasure find ever made was dealt with so speedily and yet so scrupulously by all parties concerned, given that the hoard was discovered only in July.”It is of course immensely important that this extraordinary hoard is acquired for public benefit and I know that the two museums are anxious to raise the funding to keep the hoard in the West Midlands as soon as they can.”

A fundraising campaign is being launched to help the two museums buy the hoard, highlights of which are currently on display at the British Museum in London.British Museum Press has published a book about the find, called The Staffordshire Hoard, and £1 from every sale is going to the appeal fund.A selection of objects from the hoard will also go on display at the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery from February 13 to March 7 next year.Mr Herbert, 55, from Burntwood, Staffs, a jobless council tenant on disability benefit, discovered the hoard while searching the field near the M6 toll road between Lichfield and Tamworth on July 5 using his 14 year old metal detector.He has described unearthing the treasure as “more fun than winning the lottery” and said he hopes to buy a bungalow with some of his windfall.Mr Johnson, 65, described the valuation as a “fair and reasonable figure”.He said: “The public have to raise that money and I don’t think we could have expected anything more.”The haul of over one thousand items – most of it gold and silver and thought to date back to between 675 and 725AD – has been hailed as a hugely important find.Experts believe it was buried at the site by its owners at a time of danger and then never recovered.

Horrendous

Ten students at North Naples Middle School were sent home for a day after a girl told the head teacher that she believed she had been kicked for being Jewish, prompting further instances to come to light. Florida passed strict anti-bullying laws last year and schools that do not do enough to stop it risk losing their state funding. Margaret Jackson, the school’s head teacher, has responded to the kicking incident by setting aside the first 20 minutes of each day to teaching students – aged 12 to 15 – about kindness, respect and ways of preventing bullying. David Barkey of the Florida Anti-Defamation League said the organisation had been consulted over the incident. “You are talking about an incident that has anti-Jewish bias if not anti-semitism. You have Jewish students being singled out, harassed and assaulted,” he said. Last year, four pupils were suspended from a middle school in St Louis over a “Hit a Jew Day” in which one Jewish student was slapped in the face. The “day” had been the culmination of a “Spirit Week” organised by pupils which included “Hug a Friend Day” and “Hit a Tall Person Day”.Some believe the idea for such behaviour originally came from the satirical cartoon show South Park which featured a “Kick a Ginger Day” in an episode.

Mad…But Very Sad

The 55-year-old man from a small town in the central province of Quang Nam opened up his wife’s grave in 2004, moulded clay around the remains to give the figure of a woman, put clothes on her and then placed her in his bed, Vietnamnet.vn said. The man, Le Van, told the website that after his wife died in 2003 he slept on top of her grave, but about 20 months later he worried about rain, wind and cold, so he decided to dig a tunnel into the grave “to sleep with her”. His children found out, though, and prevented him from going to the grave. So one night in November 2004 he dug up his wife’s remains and took them home, Vietnamnet reported. The father of seven said neighbours did not dare visit the house for several years.”I’m a person that does things differently. I’m not like normal people,” he was quoted as saying.

Princess of whales: A diver’s magical encounter with a smiling giant of the Arctic deep

Hitching a ride on a Beluga whale’s back, a daring diver glides through the icy waters of the Arctic.In an extraordinarily rare encounter between a human and this beautiful giant of the deep, the white whale is perfectly at ease with her new companion – and even appears to be smiling.Which is just as well – as no one really knew how the Beluga would react to human company before Julia Petrik made this dazzling dive.

For these muscular 16ft whales can get agitated if subjected to unwanted contact and aggressively defend themselves.Thankfully, this magnificent individual was only too happy to let Miss Petrik gently cling on to him and took her for a spin through the deep.The incredible pictures were shot beneath the pack ice in Russia’s White Sea, where a pod of the magnificent Belugas are being studied for a conservation programme.Miss Petrik is an expert free diver and is able to hold her breath for minutes at a time. This avoids the need to use bulky scuba tanks, which release bubbles that can disorientate the whales.

The lack of kit also gives her more freedom to move and synchronise her movements with the whale. The only downside is that free diving in icy cold water takes a heavy toll on the diver’s respiratory system.Julia Petrik had to saw through more than a foot of solid ice just to reach the freezing water below and wears a thick rubber suit to guard against the extreme conditions.Beluga whales – the name is Russian for ‘the white one’ – can survive here because they are able to use their powerful bulk to butt through the ice to breathe oxygen, before submerging once again into the abyss.Their domed foreheads contain a waxy substance, thought to be involved in their ability to communicate.They ‘chatter’ by whistling to each other – so much so that sailors and fishermen call them the ’sea canaries’.Divers can spend weeks searching for Belugas in the wild, but some of the whales are being kept in a large netted enclosure to be studied. Due to its high salinity, the water here freezes at a lower temperature than fresh water and can drop to a bone-chilling minus 2c. But Julia Petrik, given the ride of her life by this giant of the deep, soon forgot about the cold and was having a whale of time.

Sorry Britney…But You Look Crap!!!

And in In The Jungle…..

I’m A Celebrity: Is this the most vile trial ever as Kim and Joe drink pulped kangaroo anus and cockroach juice?

Kim Woodburn and Joe Bugner were seen last night taking part in one of the most vile and stomach-retching trials the campmates have ever seen.They had to drink pulped cockroaches, pureed kangaroo anus and pulped crocodile foreskin during the Jungle Arms task.

TV presenter Kim took offence at being voted to do yet another and said: ‘You are very mean, it’s my fourth one – it’s a test of my mettle.’

Down the hatch: Kim Woodburn downs a shot full of pulped witchetty grub… then retches…

…and is sick, leaving her with slime down her chin

The first drink was Castlemaine Four Legs, a combination of pulped cockroaches and mealworms with a couple of live cockroaches as a garnish.The pair toasted each other and attempted to drink the vile mixture. But while retired boxer Joe seemed to have no trouble downing the drinks, and even seemed to like them, Kim stuggled.The second round was ‘Foreskin and Tonic’.Host Ant McPartlin told them: ‘This is pulped crocodile foreskin, garnished with a crocodile penis stirrer, once again each one is worth one star. You only have to drink the drink.’

Joe swiftly drank his, but it took Kim several goes. She branded it ‘vile’ while Joe said it merely tasted like washing-up liquid and then pretended to use the penis stirrers as fangs.’You have to pull yourself together. You’re crackers,’ Kim snapped at him.Their third round was Bum and Cokes -  pulped kangaroo anus and water.But while Joe thought it tasted like popcorn, Kim admitted it was more like ‘very sour rotten water that had pee in it’.Their fourth round was Croc-Tail – pulped crocodile tail with a croc tail stirrer.

‘The smell is atrocious, it smells like poo. The smell is so bad you could die,’ said Kim as she gagged on the drink.For the fifth and final round, Joe downed an Eye-ball – a glass of crushed crocodile eyes.But Kim had to drink a Sam-Puka – pulped Witchetty grub. She managed to drink the shot glass-full but then gagged and threw up the slimy mixture to the delight and disgust of Ant and Dec.’I’ve sicked a little bit but not much,’ she confessed.

But Ant told her: ‘We can’t take that one, will you give it another go?’Joe offered to do it for her, but was not allowed and she finally downed it after telling Ant and Dec ‘Boys: Stand aside. This is repulsing me.’The pair won all nine stars for the campmates plus an extra treat of chocolate.Joe said afterward: ‘It was disgusting but if I had to live on it, I would.’But Kim added: ‘If I had to live on it, I’d hang myself from the nearest tree.’Meanwhile the campmates are determined that actor Stuart Manning and singer Sabrina Walsh begin a romance in the jungle.Gino D’Acampo has been the chief teaser and is convinced that they fancy each other.He joked to Stuart that he thought the actor had dreamt he’d bought a new car because he kept calling out ‘Sab, Sab!’

But the pair deny anything is going on.

The two sat together on the love seat and Stuart said to her: ‘We’re just good mates, I’d understand it if I was always trying to touch you or something but nothing has happened at all.’People are obsessed, two people have got to get together – why are they so intrigued? I’m not in it to have a relationship.’And while Sabrina smiled and coyly agreed, she did look a little disappointed… Until Stuart asked her: ‘Do you want to lie down?’

Night task: Sabrina and Gino had to stay awake all night after drinking beer and eating sausages in order to turn back the hands on a clock and win a chest

She laughed it off but the glances between them continued.Sabrina said in the bush telegraph: ‘I don’t know what they are trying to do but I think it’s hilarious and I get on with Stuart just like everyone else.’Gino, in an impish mood, then starting singing Let’s Get It On as Sabrina was pushed by the campmates to massage Stuart.The chef said in the bush telegraph: ‘I know that they fancy each other. They know they are being watched by everyone so they are probably not realising their love at the moment but I know it’s there!’

Gino and Sabrina also completed an overnight challenge to win a celebrity chest for the group.They had to trek through the jungle, walk along a tightrope across a ravine and then stay awake all night in order to win treats for camp.They were given sausages and beer for the evening and spent the time staying awake in shifts, trying to prevent the hands of a clock ticking for more than 30 minutes.Inside the chest were tins of food for the camp, including a can of Spam which Gino cooked up.

Justin said: ‘Who knew that a staple tin of spam could send the entire camp into such rhapsodies.’Meanwhile George Hamilton has been regaling the campmates with tales of his famous friends such as Frank Sinatra, Anthony Hopkins, former lover Sharon Stone, Marilyn Monroe and even Puff Daddy.He said: ‘Elizabeth Taylor, we went out together, we worked together.  Elizabeth is an extraordinary human being and she’s an amazing friend.’And he added: ‘[David] Niven said one of the best things about Errol Flynn ever.  He said you can always count on Errol Flynn to let you down.’

Jimmy White asked George about Marilyn Monroe. He said:  ‘You went on a date with her didn’t you George?’George said: ‘Yeah, she was forever getting ready.  She’d come out and she’d say does my hair look… and she’d go back fiddle with the hair some more.’He told Sabrina that he was a friend of Puff Daddy. He said: ‘Puffy’s a very good friend of mine.  Puffy’s a really good friend.  I like him a lot.  Do you want me to speak to him.  Would you like that?’And he said: ‘My first movie with Robert Mitchum, he said “You know they say I don’t know any lines.”  He says, “It’s not true.  I’m just too drunk to say ‘em.”‘Meanwhile, one of three celebrities will be voted off on tonight’s show.Sam Fox, Sabrina Washington and Jimmy White were told they were all up for the vote.

Justin Ryan sobs as he misses partner Colin McAllister, who was evicted on Tuesday

The Future Mrs Robbie Williams ?

Danish possession of GREENLAND

stamp: 2 krone

year: 1975

mammal: whale / narwhal – Monodon monoceros

DESPERADOROCKARNA Whale har problem. Allt började i höstas när Cia Berg, Gordon Cyrus och Henrik Schyffert kom tillbaka till ett hotellrum i Berlin efter att ha fått pris vid MTV Awards.

- Vi var jättefulla och ville göra något vilt, minns Henrik. Så vi städade hotellrummet innan städerskorna kom. Vi putsade, bäddade, vek fina snibbar på toalettpapperet och skruvade fast korkarna på flaskorna i minibaren. Det var helt crazy.

Rockstjärnor förväntas slå sönder saker när de bor på hotell. Därför blev städpersonalen förvirrad och arg. De talade med Whales manager Cameron McVey och fick en ursäkt. Men Whales svårigheter var inte slut.

- Gordon fick ett återfall, berättar Henrik. Han tömde askkoppen i ett flygplan i en liten plastpåse som han slängde när vi landat.

Beteendet kallas »compulsory cleaning«, ett nytt knark i rockens självförbrännande värld.

- Vi vet att det är onödigt att hålla på med sant här skit, erkänner Henrik. Men är man ung, dum och kåt så är man. Man vet inte hur man ska få utlopp för all sin energi. Det kan vara svårt att kanalisera den.

Ella Niia, jurist på Hotell- och Restauranganställdas Förbund, tror inte att hotellpersonalen blir överflödig till följd av den nya trenden.

- Artisterna kan ändå inte städa lika bra som städerskorna. De kan knappast släpa med sig dammsugare och nya lakan när de checkar in. Städerskor har dessutom tillgång till en hel del professionell städutrustning som rockbanden saknar.

Hon ser »compulsory cleaning« som ett positivt inslag i rockkulturen.

- Om det är ett tvångsbeteende kanske det är farligt. Men det måste finnas plats för många djur i herrens trädgård, säger Ella.

Whale vet att de lever på gränsen. Frågan är bara om fler hamnar i städträsket när deras debutalbum »We Care« släppts.

Uppmuntrar ni era fans till det här?

- Absolut inte! Stay away from it! Vi vill att andra lär sig av våra misstag.

Hur kommer ni att tackla det under er turné?

- Vi turnerar med Teddybears och de tycker att vi ska lägga av med det. Men det skulle vara jävligt kul att rocka loss med dem en kväll och städa ett hotellrum eller kanske hela turnébussen. Det är ju så med rock’n'roll, ibland spricker det liksom bara.

Part I – Part II

The Whale on the Surface (Part III)
16 August 2009
Somewhere off the coast of Montauk, NY

The remote and largely inaccessible Kimberley coast is one of the last remaining wilderness areas in the world.

Characterised by a broad continental shelf, the area is dotted with reefs, shoals, banks and near shore islands, often fringed with coral reefs.

At least 2,815 surveyed and mostly uninhabited islands extend through the Bonaparte and Buccaneer Archipelagos.

The Kimberley coast is rich in species habitats, ranging from mangroves, to seagrass beds, fringing reefs, mudflats and sandy bottoms. In addition, the Kimberley boasts an extraordinarily large tidal range of more than ten metres. This results in two major effects; an extensive tidal zone, and strong currents, exceeding five knots at times. The currents also stir up silts deposited by the large rivers of the Kimberley, causing high water turbidity, particularly inshore during Spring Tides.

Dr Gerald Allen and Roger Steene, in their excellent Indo-Pacific Coral Reef Field Guide state that “Increased sea temperatures have only had adverse effects since 1980, when El-Nino boosted temperatures exceeded the thermal tolerance of corals and their symbiotic algae.” When the upper limit of heat tolerance is reached by the algae that give corals their colour, deaths will occur with the corresponding bleaching of the coral host. Besides colour, the algae also provide sugars and other nutrients leaked into the tissue of the coral host. Global warming is believed to be a major factor in coral bleaching, and may herald the beginning of the end of coral reefs as we know them.

1. Survey of the Aquatic Fauna of the Kimberley Islands and Reefs, Western Australia, Edited by Gary Morgan, Western Australian Museum, April 1992.

2.

2.Indo-Pacific Coral Reef Field Guide, Dr Gerald R.Allen and Roger Steene, Tropical Reef Research, 2002.

Kimberley marine fauna consists of a largely Indo-West Pacific element, typical of Northern Australia marine faunas. Many species are either widespread throughout the tropics and sub-tropics, or more confined to the Indo-Malaysian, New Guinea and Australian sub-province1. This coast boasts a high diversity of corals and marine molluscs, which are at severe risk if sea temperatures are raised due to global warming. Click here for marine images.

To date, exploration in the marine science of the Kimberley coast has been limited by time and funding, thus there no doubt remains much to be discovered. Our own explorations have revealed many species known to exist elsewhere in the Indo-Pacific, but also found on the Kimberley coast.

There is exciting work to be done on identification of all manner of marine and terrestrial flora and fauna, including sponges, anemones, nudibranches, flatworms, corals, marine flora, crustaceans, acquatic insects and fish.

Click here to view an album of coastal fauna and marine images. We welcome input on species identification. Please email us.

The remote and largely inaccessible Kimberley coast is one of the last remaining wilderness areas in the world.

Characterised by a broad continental shelf, the area is dotted with reefs, shoals, banks and near shore islands, often fringed with coral reefs.

At least 2,815 surveyed and mostly uninhabited islands extend through the Bonaparte and Buccaneer Archipelagos.

The Kimberley coast is rich in species habitats, ranging from mangroves, to seagrass beds, fringing reefs, mudflats and sandy bottoms. In addition, the Kimberley boasts an extraordinarily large tidal range of more than ten metres. This results in two major effects; an extensive tidal zone, and strong currents, exceeding five knots at times. The currents also stir up silts deposited by the large rivers of the Kimberley, causing high water turbidity, particularly inshore during Spring Tides.

The Kimberley coast is rich in species habitats, ranging from mangroves, to seagrass beds, fringing reefs, mudflats and sandy bottoms. In addition, the Kimberley boasts an extraordinarily large tidal range of more than ten metres. This results in two major effects; an extensive tidal zone, and strong currents, exceeding five knots at times. The currents also stir up silts deposited by the large rivers of the Kimberley, causing high water turbidity, particularly inshore during Spring Tides.

Dr Gerald Allen and Roger Steene, in their excellent Indo-Pacific Coral Reef Field Guide state that “Increased sea temperatures have only had adverse effects since 1980, when El-Nino boosted temperatures exceeded the thermal tolerance of corals and their symbiotic algae.” When the upper limit of heat tolerance is reached by the algae that give corals their colour, deaths will occur with the corresponding bleaching of the coral host. Besides colour, the algae also provide sugars and other nutrients leaked into the tissue of the coral host. Global warming is believed to be a major factor in coral bleaching, and may herald the beginning of the end of coral reefs as we know them.
Dr Gerald Allen and Roger Steene, in their excellent Indo-Pacific Coral Reef Field Guide state that “Increased sea temperatures have only had adverse effects since 1980, when El-Nino boosted temperatures exceeded the thermal tolerance of corals and their symbiotic algae.” When the upper limit of heat tolerance is reached by the algae that give corals their colour, deaths will occur with the corresponding bleaching of the coral host. Besides colour, the algae also provide sugars and other nutrients leaked into the tissue of the coral host. Global warming is believed to be a major factor in coral bleaching, and may herald the beginning of the end of coral reefs as we know them.

1. Survey of the Aquatic Fauna of the Kimberley Islands and Reefs, Western Australia, Edited by Gary Morgan, Western Australian Museum, April 1992.

2.

2.Indo-Pacific Coral Reef Field Guide, Dr Gerald R.Allen and Roger Steene, Tropical Reef Research, 2002.

Kimberley marine fauna consists of a largely Indo-West Pacific element, typical of Northern Australia marine faunas. Many species are either widespread throughout the tropics and sub-tropics, or more confined to the Indo-Malaysian, New Guinea and Australian sub-province1. This coast boasts a high diversity of corals and marine molluscs, which are at severe risk if sea temperatures are raised due to global warming. Click here for marine images.

To date, exploration in the marine science of the Kimberley coast has been limited by time and funding, thus there no doubt remains much to be discovered. Our own explorations have revealed many species known to exist elsewhere in the Indo-Pacific, but also found on the Kimberley coast.

There is exciting work to be done on identification of all manner of marine and terrestrial flora and fauna, including sponges, anemones, nudibranches, flatworms, corals, marine flora, crustaceans, acquatic insects and fish.

Click here to view an album of coastal fauna and marine images. We welcome input on species identification. Please email us.

The remote and largely inaccessible Kimberley coast is one of the last remaining wilderness areas in the world.

Characterised by a broad continental shelf, the area is dotted with reefs, shoals, banks and near shore islands, often fringed with coral reefs.

At least 2,815 surveyed and mostly uninhabited islands extend through the Bonaparte and Buccaneer Archipelagos.

The Kimberley coast is rich in species habitats, ranging from mangroves, to seagrass beds, fringing reefs, mudflats and sandy bottoms. In addition, the Kimberley boasts an extraordinarily large tidal range of more than ten metres. This results in two major effects; an extensive tidal zone, and strong currents, exceeding five knots at times. The currents also stir up silts deposited by the large rivers of the Kimberley, causing high water turbidity, particularly inshore during Spring Tides.

Dr Gerald Allen and Roger Steene, in their excellent Indo-Pacific Coral Reef Field Guide state that “Increased sea temperatures have only had adverse effects since 1980, when El-Nino boosted temperatures exceeded the thermal tolerance of corals and their symbiotic algae.” When the upper limit of heat tolerance is reached by the algae that give corals their colour, deaths will occur with the corresponding bleaching of the coral host. Besides colour, the algae also provide sugars and other nutrients leaked into the tissue of the coral host. Global warming is believed to be a major factor in coral bleaching, and may herald the beginning of the end of coral reefs as we know them.

1. Survey of the Aquatic Fauna of the Kimberley Islands and Reefs, Western Australia, Edited by Gary Morgan, Western Australian Museum, April 1992.

2.

2.Indo-Pacific Coral Reef Field Guide, Dr Gerald R.Allen and Roger Steene, Tropical Reef Research, 2002.

Kimberley marine fauna consists of a largely Indo-West Pacific element, typical of Northern Australia marine faunas. Many species are either widespread throughout the tropics and sub-tropics, or more confined to the Indo-Malaysian, New Guinea and Australian sub-province1. This coast boasts a high diversity of corals and marine molluscs, which are at severe risk if sea temperatures are raised due to global warming. Click here for marine images.

To date, exploration in the marine science of the Kimberley coast has been limited by time and funding, thus there no doubt remains much to be discovered. Our own explorations have revealed many species known to exist elsewhere in the Indo-Pacific, but also found on the Kimberley coast.

There is exciting work to be done on identification of all manner of marine and terrestrial flora and fauna, including sponges, anemones, nudibranches, flatworms, corals, marine flora, crustaceans, acquatic insects and fish.

Click here to view an album of coastal fauna and marine images. We welcome input on species identification. Please email us.

The remote and largely inaccessible Kimberley coast is one of the last remaining wilderness areas in the world.

Characterised by a broad continental shelf, the area is dotted with reefs, shoals, banks and near shore islands, often fringed with coral reefs.

At least 2,815 surveyed and mostly uninhabited islands extend through the Bonaparte and Buccaneer Archipelagos.

Kimberley marine fauna consists of a largely Indo-West Pacific element, typical of Northern Australia marine faunas. Many species are either widespread throughout the tropics and sub-tropics, or more confined to the Indo-Malaysian, New Guinea and Australian sub-province1. This coast boasts a high diversity of corals and marine molluscs, which are at severe risk if sea temperatures are raised due to global warming. Click here for marine images.

To date, exploration in the marine science of the Kimberley coast has been limited by time and funding, thus there no doubt remains much to be discovered. Our own explorations have revealed many species known to exist elsewhere in the Indo-Pacific, but also found on the Kimberley coast.

There is exciting work to be done on identification of all manner of marine and terrestrial flora and fauna, including sponges, anemones, nudibranches, flatworms, corals, marine flora, crustaceans, acquatic insects and fish.

Chapter 100: The Pequod, of Nantucket, meets the Samuel Enderby, of London
I saw the Moby Dick exhibit at at the CCA Wattis Institute today. Loved the Rockwell Kent illustrations.

By LiveScience Staff posted: 24 November 2009 08:52 am ET                 Ok I know what you’re thinking, not a word….

Our daily lives are filled with instant connections of all sorts . . . facebook, texting, e-mails, etc.  But how often during the day do we take advantage of the ultimate “instant connection” . . . talking with God? 

In the book of Nehemiah, it talks of how Nehemiah “spontaneously” prayed eight times. (Neh. 2:4, 4:4, 5 & 9, 5:19, 6:14, 13:14, 22 & 29).  My study Bible explained that Nehemiah knew he could “confidently pray throughout the day because he had established an intimate relationship with God during times of extended prayer.  And that God is always present, is always in charge and always hears every prayer.”

 Some may say that they don’t have time to pray, or are never in the “right” place to pray.  If Jonah can pray from inside the belly of a whale, the rest of us should be able to pray wherever we are!  Finding the time to pray is not always easy either, but we should always make an effort to do so – even if we have to get up very early in the morning.  Mark 1:35 says, “Jesus awoke long before daybreak and went out into the wilderness to pray.” 

I like to think of prayer as just an on-going conversation with God.  I can speak to him at anytime throughout the day, in earnest for very important requests, to say “thank you” when I see the stars in the night sky or a beautiful sunset.  God wants us to be instantly connected to him.  We are to “come boldly (or to come with reverence) to the throne of our gracious God.  There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it.”  (Hebrews 4:16) Or as my study Bible states, “Come also with bold assurance because he is your Friend and Counselor.”

Yellow fin tuna (Thunnus albacares) and short-beaked common dolphin in a diorama of the eastern tropical Pacific at the AMNH's Milstein Family Hall of Ocean Live. (Image/R. Mickens/AMNH)

Next time you head out to your favorite sushi restaurant, you might want to think twice about ordering the tuna. There’s a good chance the fish on your plate could be an endangered species.

A new study by the American Museum of Natural History conducted DNA investigations on tuna at restaurants in New York City and Denver and found that nearly 30 percent of the tuna tested was actually endangered bluefin, and less than half of that was labeled as such.

A single bluefin tuna can sell for tens of thousands of dollars at market, a popular draw for the fishing industry. But that popularity comes with a price. Western stocks of northern bluefin tuna now hover around 10 percent of their “pre-exploitation” numbers. And last October, the country of Monaco nominated northern bluefin tuna for a listing under a complete international trade ban by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), according to a press release.

The serving up of a critically endangered fish is not necessarily on the shoulders of the restaurants. They might not know they’re doing it, just as consumers might not know they’re eating it. This is because the eight species of tuna are so genetically similar – closer than humans are to chimpanzees – that even with DNA testing, it’s hard to distinguish the difference, and once tuna arrives to the U.S. market, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved marketing label is simply “tuna.” A new and improved method of genetic detective work just might help change all that.

“When you eat sushi, you can unknowingly get a critically endangered species on your plate,” says Jacob Lowenstein, a graduate student affiliated with the Museum and Columbia University in the press release. “But with an increasingly popular technique, DNA barcoding, it is a simple process for researchers to see just what species are eaten at a sushi bar.”

DNA barcoding can be used to identify what animal became which product, even down to the origin of a leather handbag, according to the press release. In the case of the bluefin tuna, DNA barcoding defines a genetic key of 14 nucleotides exclusive enough to identify whether the tuna being served is bluefin. A similar method has been used to identify endangered whales on the Asian market and wildlife being sold in the African bushmeat trade.

With any luck, researchers will develop a handheld barcoding machine that can be used to identify fish on-site.

This study can be found in the current issue of PLoS ONE.

Book Review: The Tangled Bank: An Introduction to Evolution by Carl Zimmer

Price: US$43:16
Hardcover: 394 pages
Publisher: Roberts and Company Publishers; 1 edition (October 15, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0981519474
ISBN-13: 978-0981519470

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This Tuesday is the 150^th anniversary of the first publication of Charles Darwin’s book “On the Origin of Species“. And earlier this year we celebrated the 200^th anniversary of his birth.

These anniversaries have been marked by publication of books about Darwin’s life, his ideas and various aspects of evolutionary science. Most of these are aimed at the adult reader. But here is one which will appeal to school children and young adults – an important section of readers.

The Tangled Bank is an introductory text book. It will be ideal for introductory classes on evolution and biology. But it is also going to appeal to many adults, and especially to families.

More than a text book

This is no dry old text book. Carl Zimmer is a science journalist who has already published several popular science books. His communication skills are evidence here. Zimmer’s writing is lively and readable, but still very informative. This makes the book a joy to read and it will appeal especially to young adults and newcomers to this subject.

The book is richly and appropriately illustrated throughout. I liked the useful timeline on the inside front and back cover sheets. This portrays evolution of the planet and of life from 4.6 billion years ago. Many diagrams were prepared especially for the book to explain recent findings and they show attentive work by the team of artists, editors, science advisers as well as the author. This helps to make it a helpful family resource as well as a text for undergraduate introductory courses. It is a book which growing children and students will read at home for pleasure as well as for project help.

I liked the way each chapter began with depictions and descriptions of the work of named scientists. Thepersonal link does a lot to show the excitement and adventure in the scientific process. It also helps explain the rapid expansion and empirical basis of knowledge in this dynamic science. I believe involvement of personalities and their work in the narrative will help motivate young people towards a career in scientific research.

Transitional fossils

For example, Zimmer describes the work of Neil Shubin, author of “Your Inner Fish,” and his team in the discovery of transitional fossils showing evolution of tetrapods from their marine ancestors. They found fossils of the Tiktaalik which lived 375 million years ago. Transitional forms in evolution of the whale are illustrated by Hans Thewissen’s discovery of fossils of the Ambulocetus from 47 million years ago (see figure below from book). Zimmer describes these evolutionary transitions in more depth in his book At the Water’s Edge.

The Tangled Bank also explains observation of evolutionary transitions as they occur in modern-day laboratory experiments. Zimmer describes the 20-year experiment in which Richard Lenski showed microbial evolution in Eshericia coli. This illustrates how individual mutations favoured by natural selection can be identified and verified.

Carl Zimmer provides an extensive overview of evolutionary science in 370 pages. Starting with a description of what we mean by evolution, through a brief history of evolutionary ideas, geological evidence, phylogeny, molecular biology, the nature of mutation, genetic drift and selection. The role of genes, speciation extinctions and radiations, interspecies adaptions and the benefits of sex and families. He also covers evolution of behaviour in humans and other animals, emotions and society.

Attacks on evolutionary science

Maybe Zimmer could have said more about current attacks on evolutionary science. After all, few students will be unaware of what is happening at the political and social level. He does have a 2-page spread “How Not to Study Evolution” which summarises the essential problem of the creationist approach. And there are also other one or two page boxes on subjects like “What is Science?”, “The Present and the Past in Science” and “How do Scientists Study Evolution.”

This book is full of information without being intimidating to the non-biologist.  It has a useful glossary and, for those wanting to go further, 14 pages of references – all related to the individual chapter and section headings.

So a readable, informative and up-to-date introduction to evolutionary science. With the added benefit of being an attractive family reference book. One that children will happily read as they grow.

I reckon it would be a great Christmas present for the science-friendly family.

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Pour les dix prochains jours, je me retrouve dans la peau d’une guide touristique.  Je fais découvrir à une copine les meilleurs endroits de l’ile Nord et par la même occasion cela me permettra de finir de visiter les régions de Wanganui, Manawatu et Wellington que je ne connais pas. Après un long footing le matin, on a quitté Auckland vers midi pour prendre la direction de la région de Coromandel peninsula afin de visiter Hot Water Beach et Cathedral Cove.

Hot Water Beach est célèbre pour ses sources chaudes à un endroit précis de la plage, une heure avant et une heure apres l’heure de marée basse. L’eau chaude remonte à la surface par infiltration.Il suffit de venir avec sa pelle et de creuser son propre spa dans le sable.

Cathedral Cove est une crique réputée où la mer a creusé un énorme passage voutée dans une falaise calcaire. Ce jour là, on a eu la chance de d’observer de la plage des orques (Killer Whale). Ce fut un agréable moment de les voir entrer et sortir de l’eau. La nageoire dorsale peut atteindre les deux mètres pour ce cétacé, ce qui est impressionnant.

On terminera la journée par la visite d’ancienne mine d’or…

Everyone has it. That one film they never admit to liking in public.  When asked to list your top 10 films, it’s not on there, despite the fact you’d happily watch it on a loop for a week.  It’s time to get it out in the open, and my guilty pleasure film is Free Willy.

I’ve loved orca whales for so long I can;t remember if I love the film because of the whale or if it’s the other way around. What I do know is that even though there is nothing that special about it, Free Willy makes me happy.  It’s the perfect film to watch on a wet afternoon or when you’re half asleep, and it never fails to cheer me up.  Perhaps it’s because it reminds me of my childhood, or because I still kind of wish I had a pet whale too.  All I know is that when those opening shots of the whale pod come on screen and that simple harmonica theme starts playing I’m hooked.

It might not feature among the greatest films of our time, but in fairness Free Willy does have a lot going for it.  While the idea of an angry disadvantaged child finding something to relate to in an equally messed up animal isn’t unique (I’d draw comparisons with Kes if I was less afraid of the ensuing outrage ) it’s done really well in Free Willy; not making a big deal out of the fact that Jesse has no family while at the same time using it as the device for why the pair understand each other.  Of course, a lot of why the film is successful is that orca whales really are beautiful (take that Flipper) but I reckon you’ve got to hand it to 13 year old Jason James Richter for what is a remarkably strong performance in such a young actor.  Pretty much the whole film sits on is shoulders and he carries it effortlessly.  Oh, and any film that can make Micale Madsen seem friendly has to get bonus points.

So there you go. I’ve admitted it.  Now it’s your turn.

The amount of wild animals caught or eaten each year is close to or possibly even exceeding the species’ maximum yield levels. One day, they’ll be driven to extinction due to human intervention. The extinction of these animals will cause us losing our rich biological system forever. Read more here.

The Whale Coast is situated along a stretch of ocean famed for its fishing and fresh seafood. With gastronomic options ranging from five-star dining at a gourmet restaurant in Gansbaai to a more-ish fish and chips dish at a seaside fish shop, the Whale Coast has much to offer every palate. Travellers to the Whale Coast can expect a truly delicious array of cuisine on offer from an area thriving in delectable seafood, traditional “boerekos” (Afrikaans for farmers’ food) and fine wines.

After an active day enjoying the many exciting adventures which the Whale Coast has to offer, or one of the more relaxing pleasures of the area, the perfect finish should be provided by a delicious meal.

Along the Whale Coast, this can be a daily bliss for visitors to enjoy. Many establishments grow their own ingredients and due to the nearby farms and supply of seafood, even the meat and fish is as fresh as the herbs picked straight from the garden.

The Whale Coast has many different events celebrating the fantastic culinary offerings of the area. From mid-November to mid-April, the West Coast rock lobster is in season and thriving in abundance. Fishing for these tasty crustaceans is extremely popular during this time.

Gansbaai, a town along the Whale Coast hosts a Kreef (crayfish) Derby for those attending to sample many tasty versions of crayfish dishes, as well as other seafood such as perlemoen (abalone), snoek and calamari. The derby is hosted in April, just before the crayfish season closes, so that locals and visitors are left with a memorable taste of what is to come from the crayfish season when it reopens later in the year!

Among the many notable restaurants, an establishment in Hermanus is worthy of a mention. Whilst not a gourmet and fine dining restaurant, Bientang’s Cave is situated alongside the sea in a carved out cave. Patrons can sit gazing at the ocean and the whales playing in the surf while sipping on a cocktail or ice cold beer, followed by some freshly caught seafood, grilled over an open fire – something for which the restaurant is famous for.

Another mentionable establishment, De Oude Werf is in Gansbaai, decorated with antiques and other quirky items, serving fresh fish including crayfish and abalone, but most memorable being the garlic mussels available. Other restaurants are too many to mention but all provide a taste of delicious seafood and other culinary delights amongst incredible and unforgettable settings, whether in a game farm overlooking the ocean or a seaside restaurant.

The climate in the Walker Bay and Whale Coast region is reasonably cool. The wine making facilities and wine production is increasing every year, with more and more wines being created annually. Connoisseur’s favourites include a number of crisp dry white wines including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc. Despite being in its infancy, the viticulture industry in the area is increasing rapidly.

Close to the Whale Coast are many wine farms which are open for tastings and purchasing. Many of the local wines are featured in local fine dining restaurants, allowing visitors to sample what the Whale Coast’s winemakers have to offer.

The Whale Coast is not just a stretch of scenic views, unforgettable fun and a relaxed atmosphere. The area is famed for its culinary delights and fine wines. Visitors find great appeal in learning and experiencing the local culture, and food and wine is a large part of this. Without experimenting with local dishes and styles of cuisine, the local culture has not been explored to its full potential.

A holiday to the Whale Coast that offers children’s activities can be just what a busy family needs to replenish their spirit. Modern day living requires tight and busy schedules, long working hours and many stresses. The Whale Coast offers child-friendly accommodation in the Cape in a relaxing environment with beautiful views and plenty of entertainment to keep adults and children entertained.

The problem with not accommodating children
Many families find that when taking a holiday, many upmarket accommodation establishments don’t accept youngsters and the presence for children seems to require them to participate in adult activities, which many children find boring and frustrating.

On the Whale Coast however, there are many establishments offering family-friendly accommodation, allowing children to enjoy a holiday away just as much as their parents. Child-friendly accommodation also allows parents access to baby sitting services and crèches.

There are many activities available on the Whale Coast which are perfect entertainment for the whole family. With the many beaches, beautiful scenery, wonders of nature, exciting festivals and other outdoor adventures, a family will always have fun activities to take part in.

Beaches and water
The beaches along the Whale Coast are usually pristine and warm, with the deep blue Indian Ocean meeting silver sand beaches. Whilst Southern Right Whales and dolphins frolic in the water, the sandy beaches are a magnificent spot for families to spend a day fishing, walking along the shore, collecting interesting shells or hunting for other delights which nature has left for excited youngsters to find and ponder over. Many beaches have safe tidal pools, eliminating the risks of strong currents and shark attacks, meaning that a family day spent in the sunshine, swimming and adventuring can be enjoyed safely.

Whales and marine life
Due to the location of Dyer Island being in close proximity to Walker Bay, the largest bay along the Whale Coast, the Great White shark makes the Whale Coast its comfortable home; hence it is not suggested to swim in the ocean, but rather in a tidal pool. Boat charters can be taken out to the island to see the massive colony of Cape Fur seals and African penguins which inhabit the island. Shark cage diving is a popular activity along the Whale Coast but is not available to children, yet youngsters find the sight of the Great Whites swimming close to the boats an exciting experience! The sharks are easily visible when people are cage diving, giving children the exciting opportunity of witnessing them in their natural habitat from the safety of a boat.

From June to November, the Southern Right whales venture close to the shore to mate and calve, creating a spectacular whaling season. The Whale Festival is usually hosted in August in Hermanus, a bustling town very popular with family holidaymakers. The Whale Festival is an incredible sight with land based whale watching of such good quality that it is envied world wide. Watching from the shore, families can enjoy the sight of the whales showing off their acrobatic skills with their lob-tailing, tail slapping and water spouting displays. Children and adults find these magnificent creatures fascinating and rather adorable. For such giant creatures, their peaceful, friendly and playful characters are simply heart warming for all who are fortunate enough to witness this incredible feast of activity.

Fun along the Whale Coast
Hermanus is the ‘main’ town along the Whale Coast and is a hub of activity, hosting food festivals, the Whale Festival, incredible beaches, interesting little shops and craft markets and much more. Restaurants in the area offer an extensive range of cuisine ranging from five-star dining experiences to a plate of good old fish and chips, appealing to the youngest appetite.

The Whale Coast is steeped in interesting history, famous and legendary tales and many museums which capture the rich background of this thriving community. Ghost tales of the Flying Dutchman, fables and legends are aplenty along the Whale Coast and many of these are captured in the museums, providing thrilling entertainment to industrious youngsters!

The Whale Coast has a ghost tour hosted in April in Gansbaai. The tour takes participants along the Strandveld to hear about the folklore, myths and legends of the area. Families can also enjoy horse riding, gentle hikes with fantastic views, water skiing, surfing and mini golf to name a few.

The Whale Coast is truly a magical spot for activities for children and child-friendly accommodation. Towns such as Hermanus, Gansbaai, and Arniston have a range of fun activities for children available as well as offering accommodation that is child-friendly.

The weird converter is a site which includes a converter that converts any given weight to the selected interesting weight-equivalent. If you want to find out your weight comaprison to a whale testicle, this converter is a must have bookmark!
Go to site

Hello World! 

I’m a whale! Not even a proper big whale where everyone knows your a whale, more  like a baby whale that gets laughed at, I’m, like, a sperm whale erh! Blergh!

So why am I a socially handicapped/ridiculous whale then?  Well I’m twenty years old (just out of my teens! kinda -  well, facing my 21st birthday in a few months!) and i’m a finalist at college here in England.  And, well more than anything, Im just starting to get what being a woman is all about. 

But I have one more thing I think I need to get a handle on before I leave uni as an adult woman.  My eating habits.

These posts are here to be many things, hopefully, to many people.  But most of all they are here to be a record of my progress as I endeavor to get super skinny! And ultimately super healthy with it!  How I feel, what i’m eating, how i’m exercising, if i’m even exercising! 

It’s all going to be here on this blog!  Words, photo’s, comparisons, everything! I am by nature a very lazy person, but even my sleeping paterns have gotten beyond a joke recently -who needs 14 hours every night?  Really?!

So, please take a good look around my site.  If you have lost weight, are mid plan, whatever!  Hopefully this site can hold some relevancy to you from a confirmed gym loathing, diet hating, cheeseburger munching, chocolate loving fat pig.

This is going to hurt, probably lots, feel free to coment! go on!  …point and laugh at my wobbly thighs! my jiggly bum! my delightful bingo wings!  Say your worst, -and hopefully they won’t be there too much longer haha!

Lots of love, your new favourite Sperm Whale,  

Jiggly

xoxo (I couldn’t resist!) 

Cattail photo in Winter 2007

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French overseas collectivity of MAYOTTE

stamp:  5,20 francs  / 0,79  €

year: 2000

mammal: whale

Thursday

PRaP 11-19-2009

“Something Smells Fishy”

Do you have a message from the LORD for the people of today?  Were you given explicit instruction on where you are to be?  Have you been coming up with excuses on why you have not delivered?  Are you putting it off?  May I direct your attention to Jonah?  He too was given instruction on where to go and he didn’t want to do it.  Jonah got on a boat and sailed out into the ocean to get away from his task and then God came along and there was a great storm and after the crew found out it was because of Jonah he was tossed overboard and a big fish swallowed Jonah.  Now I am not here to debate if it was a fish or a whale or whatever kind of animal it was the fact is he was running and God stopped him from running.  When the storm stopped after the crew threw Jonah off they began to be believers and worshipped God from that day forward so even if you get swallowed up by the big fish God will be glorified.  My recommendation to you is to get off your high horse and get busy.  Something smells fishy and it isn’t me.  Time to get to your Nineveh and deliver the message that the Lord has given you to deliver and quit lollygagging around and get moving.  I mean come on; you may be the one to save a life in the process?  What if you don’t deliver and someone gets hurt or worse?  You will miss out on the blessing, is that what you want to do?

Jonah 3

Key Verse:

Jonah 3:10
When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.
Jonah 3:9-10 (in Context) Jonah 3 (Whole Chapter)

Jesus Bless you,

Pastor Steve

This is a story I photographed this October but not everyone has seen it so I thought I would share it again.

Dead whale pulled ashore at Ft. De Soto | Tampabay.com – St. Petersburg Times

Click above for a LINK to the full story on the St. Petersburg Times online.

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