It’s a shark attack and to claim otherwise is really just a matter of semantics. I took issues with this article “That viral shark attack video is everything we get wrong about sharks.” I responded to the article on their website because I gave the article a “thumbs down” and I was hit with a prompt to explain why. I just wanted to hit the thumbs down and figuratively just walk away. But, anyone that knows me, knows I can rant at the drop of a hat. Since they asked for my opinion, I gave it to them.
This was my quickly written, frustrated remarks. I would also like to note that in my haste I referred to Mick Fanning as “Mic” a few times. I saw it, just as clicked the submit button. It was too late, such as life, unless it’s Google Mail, what has been “clicked” cannot be “un-clicked.” I left it uncorrected below as well.
Well, just because there wasn’t a bite doesn’t mean it wasn’t an attack. When Christopher Neff says that sharks don’t normally splash when they attack is ridiculous. From the footage I’ve seen splashing is occurs when the attack is near the surface of the water. He was correct that the board wasn’t bit and neither was Mic. But, it was conveniently left out that the shark did bite through the cord connecting Mic to his surfboard in what was mostly likely an exploratory bite. And sorry to inform Neff but exploratory bites are still considered attacks.
I love sharks, I will agree that the media plays important part in the way some may perceive sharks. I will agree that they do a horrible job presenting the facts about sharks. But, I don’t know how anyone can say with a straight face that this wasn’t an attack. I don’t know what video some of these people were watching but it clearly wasn’t the one that shows Mic being attacked by the shark.
For example, someone could attack me but right before they get to me, I leap out of the way. We could say that since I leaped out of the way that I wasn’t really attacked but at this point it’s just semantics. It was clearly an attack. And, that doesn’t mean it’s the sharks fault. These people are knowing swimming in some of the most shark infested waters in the world. What is most important to note is how rare shark actually are. This article did do that. But, maybe that should have been the focus of the story instead of bashing the media coverage and trying to claim this wasn’t a shark attack. I understand that a scientist saying they don’t know what the sharks intentions were. That is true. However, all you have to do is watch the video and it becomes pretty clear what the intentions probably were. We have a person in the water, a shark and the surf leash it bit through. There doesn’t have to be blood to make an educated guess that it was for all intents and purposes, a shark attack.
What we should be looking at is why did this attack occur? Did it have anything to do with the near fluorescent yellow looking bottom of his surfboard? Did the cord connecting Mic to the surfboard maybe look like a fish to the shark? There’s a lot of questions but to go after the coverage of this because people are calling it an attack is simply petty and more than likely completely wrong in my humble opinion.
Ok, I can be fair about this. After giving this more than my initial knee jerk reaction, I am willing to not call this a shark attack if we can agree on shark “assault” instead. In these times of ridiculous political correctness I think it’s the best course of action with regard to this specific incident.
And, if you decided to not read the referenced article and have not yet seen this incredible video the Shark Assault, here it is…
I watch a lot of news. Read a lot of it online. I check my sources before I post things. I pride myself on it. While I see some friends make ridiculous posts on Facebook and Twitter about everything from politics to pseudo-science. I’m the guy that will stop and research what they have ignorantly and sometimes quite innocently claim is fact.
I don’t fact check my friends posts as much any more just because I have a life, I was spending all day researching their idiotic posts and it was just driving me crazy. And, to be honest, I know it was pissing them off. No one wants to look like an idiot and it’s hard sometimes to correct someone and not make them look like a complete dumbass. And, it’s even harder to to correct someone and not make yourself look like a complete asshole.
So last night as climbed into bed I was scrolling my notifications on my cheap and old Samsung tablet. I pretty much only use it as TV. It sits on my nightstand and I use it primarily to fall asleep to a TV show or movie. However, as I am scrolling through all the news updates I had received throughout the day, picking and choosing the ones I want to click on to read more about I can’t help but think all the bad news there was today. I think maybe I spend too much reading and watching the news? Maybe I take life too seriously? Maybe I take myself too seriously?
As I continue to scroll through my alerts it’s then that life reminds me that I’m not always such an uptight and raging intellectual asshole. As I come to the end of alerts, there it is, a reminder that no matter how smart I think I am, no matter how sophisticated I kid myself that I am. At the end of the day, I’m just a guy that still finds a good fart sound funny…
My Internal Struggle With Immortality vs Finality…
The idea of long life or immortality has fascinated me for as long as I can remember. Who doesn’t at least day dream about it from time to time? Imagine being able to survive anything, cancer, a car wreck, a plane crash and so on. Or, just thought about living for a really long time thus being able to see the world and it’s inhabitants evolve. To see the events that will come like when we first land on Mars, artificial intelligence is a biggie. I’m guessing that in the next 30 years we’re going to have robots and androids that appear nearly human that will do functions like clean our house and even offer intellectual companionship. It’s on the way and living a long life will ensure us a chance to witness it all. I would imagine that if one lived long enough they could even witness a time when they Raiders don’t suck.
Today I was saddened and inspired when I read a tweet by an ABC News affiliate that announced, “Happy 116th birthday to Susannah Mushatt Jones, who is now the world’s oldest living person.” Can you even imagine that? Seriously, she was born so long ago that she lived through the invention Henry Ford’s first Model-T, Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, Prohibition, The Great Depression, World War II, Bonnie and Clyde, Al Capone, The Cold War, the Space Race, The Berlin Wall coming down, Hippies, the assassination of JFK, MLK and Malcolm X, the Moon Landing, Jackson’s Thriller video, the Challenger disaster, the 9/11 attacks and the legalization of of gay marriage. She’s lived through all that and much, much more. How incredible is that?!
There however is a downside to it all and that would be eventually losing everyone you have ever loved. You’re parents, friends and even your children will eventually die and there’s no escaping it. And, if you’re not careful you will find yourself living eternity completely alone and disconnected from society.
I learned this in some small way when I was in High School a long time ago. My high school was a 3 year school. 10th, 11th and 12th. I had made a lot of friends that were Jr.s and seniors when I was a sophomore. I didn’t hang out with many kids younger than myself. I was terribly shallow in that respect. I wanted to be older, the thought of hanging out with those younger me? No way! Then, my senior year came along and I was pretty much alone. My closest friends had graduated and I was surrounded by mostly people I didn’t know at all. School became so boring, all work and no play.
When I think of immortality I actually crave it. I have faced death several times in my life. I’ve stared right into its eyes and came out the victor each time. I can’t comprehend not being here. But, I have two kids and though I don’t get to see them as much as I would like I can’t imagine a world that they did not exist and I literally have no desire to exist in a world without them. When I lived through a really dark time in my life, it was because of them that I didn’t pull the trigger to end my sad, sorry existence.
Granted times have since changed and I actually love life now. I survived those dark times and am so thankful I didn’t end it. There was literally no hope for me back them. There was no way out of the situation I had gotten myself into and my very existence was only hurting the ones I loved. But, I rode it out with one simple thought. “What if?” What if I through some amazing cosmic turn of events things could change for the better? I didn’t pull the trigger and unfortunately they got much, much worse. But, they eventually got better and my thirst for life is strong and hopeful. I really don’t know how I could survive the loss of my children. I honestly don’t think I could and for that reason I am torn with wanting to live forever and not wanting to live long enough to lose everyone I love.
I am forever torn when I question Immortality vs Finality. I can’t wait to see what comes next for the world. Will we choose a path of exploration and knowledge or devolve back into a society that respects tradition and mysticism over logic and science. The future is exciting and full of possibilities that I hope to see… as long as I can share it with those I love.
I have thought for a long time now that NBC should part ways with Donald Trump for several reasons. One, he’s an idiot. Sure, he’s an idiot with money. And, how he’s managed to make so much money after having filed for bankruptcy 4 times is now? Seriously, that is worthy of rant of it’s own but I am not hear to talk about that. Two, he’s pretty much outted himself as a racist now. And, sadly he’s too shallow to even understand why everyone but other racists are angry with him. Now that Trump has been fired, it’s time they get a better host for The Celebrity Apprentice. Sir Richard Branson should host Celebrity Apprentice…
I will admit that I love the Celebrity Apprentice. The only thing I haven’t liked about it is that Trump himself was on it. The man is such a train wreck of a human being. From raising two sons that get off on killing endangered animals to that stupid haircut. It’s like some weird fucking animal died on his head. Seriously, if you’re hair looks so bad that everyone thinks that it’s a toupee, it’s probably time to get a fucking haircut. But more importantly than that. He is so philosophically shallow it’s offensive and his most recent racist comments against Mexico and it’s immigrates are unbelievable! The worst part is that he is completely unapologetic about it. It’s been days since he called Mexican immigrants “rapists” and he has since stated several times that he stands by what he says!
Anyways… So why should NBC go with someone like Sir Richard Branson to host the popular show. Well, he’s not a douchebag, so he’s already got Trump beat. He actually tries to help humanity. I’m not saying he’s perfect. No one is. It’s just that he’s on the cutting edge of today’s business world. He’s innovative, seems to care about his fellow man and when he donates to charity he actually seems like he does it because he wants to and not because he has to.
I realize that one of the reasons people watched The Celebrity Apprentice was because it was fun to watch trump fire people because he’s just such a douchebag and so full of himself it’s almost hypnotic in some strange way. But, just imagine actually having someone host the show that actually gave a shit about it’s contestants. That presented challenges for the celebrities that not only were designed to raise money for charities but perhaps the challenges themselves could be more useful. Instead of every challenge being about creating an ad for some business that really doesn’t need any help, how about they do it for some charities and business that do need help.
How about a challenge that is designed to raise awareness for a cause. As of right now the celebs are tasked with creating some kind of ad for a corporation and the best ad wins some money for their charity. Why not make the challenge have some depth from time to time. Why not make a challenge that requires the celebrities to create ads for a charity. How interesting would it be to see these celebrities have to get their hands dirty and spend a few days creating ads for local homeless shelters or food banks? Another challenge could be to create an ad for a local small business. Because let’s be honest, LG doesn’t need the Celebrity Apprentice to create an ad for them. Why not create an ad campaign for a small business that could really use the boost. Now that would be fascinating! Have these celebrities fly into small town USA and help create an ad for Joe’s Hardware. It could literally change people’s lives forever.
There are so many ways the show could be improved to be not only fun but important. Thought provoking even. And, someone like Sir Richard Branson would be an ideal candidate for the show because that’s what he does already in so many ways.
That’s my idea to save the show. NBC has a great chance to do something worthwhile and entertaining. I’m hoping they choose to wisely.
So after watching Donald Trump make an ass of himself during his presidential coming out speech I found myself wanting to laugh but could not. I mean he has to be joking right? No one could really be that fucking stupid could they? It would appear so because since Trump made his racist remarks he has had multiple times to correct himself and refused to each time. He has instead chosen to stand by his racist remarks. Thus making him a racist. Something he can no longer deny that he is. I couldn’t laugh that. I instead found it sad, frustrating and offensive.
It got me thinking about all the other stupid things this man has said. So, in case we all forgot, here’s a few of the moronic and stupid crap that has come out of his mouth…
“I will be the greatest jobs president that God ever created.” –Donald Trump, announcing his campaign for president.
“I have a great relationship with the blacks.” –Donald Trump
“I’ll tell you, it’s Big Business. If there is one word to describe Atlantic City, it’s Big Business. Or two words – Big Business.” –Donald Trump
“You know, it really doesn’t matter what [the media] write as long as you’ve got a young and beautiful piece of ass.” –Donald Trump
“I’m not a schmuck. Even if the world goes to hell in a handbasket, I won’t lose a penny.” –Donald Trump
“Why doesn’t he show his birth certificate? There’s something on that birth certificate that he doesn’t like.” –Donald Trump on the View Talking about President Obama’s birth certificate.
Trump continued his attack on Obama by telling everyone he was going to release his own official birth certificate exclusively to Newsmax. He produced his birth certificate and it was rejected because it wasn’t an official document. Once again, Trump talking about shit he simply knows nothing about. The man is so stupid he doesn’t even know the difference between a birth certificate and an “Official” birth certificate.
“The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.” -Donald Trump on Twitter 12:15 PM – 6 Nov 2012
“It’s freezing and snowing in New York–we need global warming!” – Donald Trump on Twitter 12:24 PM – 7 Nov 2012
“Our great African American President hasn’t exactly had a positive impact on the thugs who are so happily and openly destroying Baltimore!” -Donald Trump on Twitter 9:38 PM – 27 Apr 2015
“While @BetteMidler is an extremely unattractive woman, I refuse to say that because I always insist on being politically correct.” -Donald Trump on Twitter 8:59 AM – 28 Oct 2012
Oh, I could go on all day with the outrageously stupid things this jackass has said over the years. It’s just so easy when nearly every single time he opens his mouth a mass of stupidity flies out. It’s like he goes out of his way to sound like a dickhead.
