OK which is the shark responible for the most fatal attacks on humans?
a)Tiger
b)Port Jackson
c)Great White
d)Reef blacktip
e)Oceanic whitetip
f)Whale
g)blue
h)Mako
i)Pool shark
I'll try just adding this down the bottom so these are continually linked. The answer is....
e) The Oceanic Whitetip shark. (not to confused with common reef whitetip sharks which are smaller and thinner and have smaller fins)
The oceanic whitetip shark, Carcharhinus longimanus, is a large pelagic shark of tropical and warm temperate seas. It is named after its oceanic habitat (living in deep waters), and the white tips of its fins. It is a stocky shark, most notable for its long, rounded fins.
This aggressive but slow-moving fish dominates feeding frenzies, and has attacked more humans than all other shark species combined — it is a notable danger to survivors of oceanic ship wrecks and downed aircraft. Recent studies have shown that its numbers are in steep decline — its large fins are highly valued as the chief ingredient of shark-fin soup and, as with other shark species, the oceanic whitetip faces mounting pressure from fishing throughout its range (Wikipedia)
Famed oceanographic researcher Jacques Cousteau described the oceanic whitetip as "the most dangerous of all sharks". Despite the greater notoriety of the great white shark and other sharks habitually found nearer the shore, the oceanic whitetip is considered responsible for more fatal attacks on humans than all other species combined, as a result of predation on those shipwrecked or from aircraft downed in the open ocean. These incidents are not included in common shark-attack indices for the 20th and 21st centuries, but would appear to total in the thousands worldwide, with one incident alone, the torpedoing of the USS Indianapolis on July 30, 1945, giving a minimal figure of 60–80 killed by sharks. Also during World War II, the Nova Scotia, a steamship carrying approximately 1000 people near South Africa was torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine. There were only 192 survivors, and many deaths were attributed to the oceanic whitetip shark.
Even though the oceanic whitetip is highly opportunistic and aggressive; and has been known to attack humans for food, divers have swum with this shark repeatedly without being harmed (it is a popular draw for dive tourism because of its size and the perceived danger). However, divers are advised to approach the shark only with extreme caution, not spear fish near this shark and if the shark comes too close or gets too inquisitive to get out of the water as soon as possible. It is generally suggested that if a shark starts to push the diver, then to hit it on the snout, gills or eyes, but anecdotal evidence suggests that this may be less effective in deterring whitetips than with other species of sharks.
So there you go. Even a spearfishing friend was suprised by this so i hope everyone has learned something.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Respect the Official, Sport
Well people have been complaining that I need to update my blog as they need something to read at work. Lacking inspiration I turned to a certain housemate of mine who did journalism and he suggested I write on Couples who when they hook up spend all their time with each other and never see their other friends. Had a thought about it and thought yeah- I haven't seen Stevo since he got engaged really. But then i thought about the irate responses i might get from a certain house in riverside gardens (I'm not talking about scooter's house) and chickened out. Besides there are far bigger issues at the moment.
THE ISSUE of course is that lack of respect for anyone shown by Andrew Johns. While I'll acknowledge he is a very good player over the years he has consistently failed in his duty to rugby league. That's right duty to rugby league. In any sport if you make it You have a responsibility to promote the sport. This was shown by the socceroos. After probably the most intense playing schedule of any sport in the world and following the world cup how did some of the biggest names spend their month off? They came back to Oz and did promotional work. Not only that but they are investing their own money back into Australian Soccer developing young talent at the grass roots level.
As a person involved in sport I understand that some times in the heat of the battle you can loose it but twice in two weeks? The NRL had to draw a line somewhere and I believe has errored in reducing the sentence give to him. Especially given the circumstances surrounding it. Far enough it was a big call but to follow the Touch judge sarting straight at him and swear at him like that. And what was his first statement: I wasn't swearing at the touch judge I was just swearing, A tune he changed pretty quickly when he saw footage of him deviating his path to make sure the touchie had to run around him.
Andrew Johns over the years has been the poster boy of rugby league and how has he repaid it- Well there was the time when he was involved in a Punch-up with a forward who is now at manly over certain impropieties at the forward's wife. (This one was easily covered up because it was at the same time as Wayne Carey). And a few years ago who he was having an early end to the season because of neck problems- some one in the rugby league world and confirmed by another claimed it was for testing positive to Cocaine but the NRL wanted to protect its image and that of its star. An upstanding citizen I'm sure.
We could excuse him for sounding off once- but it was the 3rd time in 3 months. No other sport tolerates any sort of umpire abuse. Greg Williams in Carlton was suspended for 8 weeks for umpire abuse. Any soccer player who abuses a ref is red carded. Are these sports anymore intense than rugby league? No
However I don't think that the lack of respect given officials is limited to one player you only have to listen to Phil Gould with his consistent umpire criticism in his commentary. I believe the NRL should also hand out fines for his comments or better yet get him removed.
The thing we are all forgetting though is umpires are real people too. No body should be talked to like that in any circumstance. Walk up to any authority figure eg. a policeman and say the same words to him and see if you don't locked up in the slammer. I am an umpire for social soccer and in the time i have worked there I have been verbally abuse- people have swung punches at me and some days have been scared to walk around in my shopping centre because I've reconised people and even in one case had a guy whom I had red carded came at me. And where do you think these people are watching every Friday night? I rest my case.
THE ISSUE of course is that lack of respect for anyone shown by Andrew Johns. While I'll acknowledge he is a very good player over the years he has consistently failed in his duty to rugby league. That's right duty to rugby league. In any sport if you make it You have a responsibility to promote the sport. This was shown by the socceroos. After probably the most intense playing schedule of any sport in the world and following the world cup how did some of the biggest names spend their month off? They came back to Oz and did promotional work. Not only that but they are investing their own money back into Australian Soccer developing young talent at the grass roots level.
As a person involved in sport I understand that some times in the heat of the battle you can loose it but twice in two weeks? The NRL had to draw a line somewhere and I believe has errored in reducing the sentence give to him. Especially given the circumstances surrounding it. Far enough it was a big call but to follow the Touch judge sarting straight at him and swear at him like that. And what was his first statement: I wasn't swearing at the touch judge I was just swearing, A tune he changed pretty quickly when he saw footage of him deviating his path to make sure the touchie had to run around him.
Andrew Johns over the years has been the poster boy of rugby league and how has he repaid it- Well there was the time when he was involved in a Punch-up with a forward who is now at manly over certain impropieties at the forward's wife. (This one was easily covered up because it was at the same time as Wayne Carey). And a few years ago who he was having an early end to the season because of neck problems- some one in the rugby league world and confirmed by another claimed it was for testing positive to Cocaine but the NRL wanted to protect its image and that of its star. An upstanding citizen I'm sure.
We could excuse him for sounding off once- but it was the 3rd time in 3 months. No other sport tolerates any sort of umpire abuse. Greg Williams in Carlton was suspended for 8 weeks for umpire abuse. Any soccer player who abuses a ref is red carded. Are these sports anymore intense than rugby league? No
However I don't think that the lack of respect given officials is limited to one player you only have to listen to Phil Gould with his consistent umpire criticism in his commentary. I believe the NRL should also hand out fines for his comments or better yet get him removed.
The thing we are all forgetting though is umpires are real people too. No body should be talked to like that in any circumstance. Walk up to any authority figure eg. a policeman and say the same words to him and see if you don't locked up in the slammer. I am an umpire for social soccer and in the time i have worked there I have been verbally abuse- people have swung punches at me and some days have been scared to walk around in my shopping centre because I've reconised people and even in one case had a guy whom I had red carded came at me. And where do you think these people are watching every Friday night? I rest my case.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
What I want to be when I grow up
Who decided when someone is grown up? In Jewish Community your bar mitzah signifies the coming of age (14 I think), In some places your aren't an adult until you have killed your first lion. In Western society we have this ridiculous view that when you have completed uni that you are 'all grown up' but some people's obvious lack of maturity after finishing uni destroys that view while others hold the view that when you get a job. Again ridiculous. And vice versa when i eventually finish uni I hope to work in sort sort of aquatic scenario or setting. Does this make me more grown up than my years of work in the church or time serving in Christian union? I think not. One line of work or life goal I am NOT striving towards is one that is being under took by a miss Lohan. What movies she is in I dunno as I do not watch such genre but she said "I wanted to do what Marilyn Monroe did, when she went and just set up a stage and did a concert for the troops by herself," Lohan said. "It's so amazing seeing one woman just going somewhere, this beautiful sex kitten, who's basically a pinup, which is what I've always aspired to be." Well that's one thing I've never aspired to be.
Another occupation which I will not be undertaking is a career with Greenpeace. Although many of their causes are dear to my heart and I believe need action- I have been booted out of this esteemed membership. Due to Apparent apathy- I was a member for 4 years w/o attending one protest (hey JCU gave me free membership) and I did tell the local area committee head that turtle tastes like a seafood Lamb. And I did kind of say that their methods didn't really appear in the bible. :)
On a slightly related note my little brother is wanting to do something with photography when he grows up. As such he was kind enough to take photos of me and stuff on my recent trip to png. I'm still updating plus some photos seem to have appeared more than once- so have a look now and again to see if there is any difference and I'll try and let u know when I'm finished. Here is the link.
Now Purists may argue that I never answered the original statement. Well I don't really know but it will be gospel work- We are not commanded to sit in our little world waiting for a call but actively Proclaiming Christ in every situation we find ourselves in.
Another occupation which I will not be undertaking is a career with Greenpeace. Although many of their causes are dear to my heart and I believe need action- I have been booted out of this esteemed membership. Due to Apparent apathy- I was a member for 4 years w/o attending one protest (hey JCU gave me free membership) and I did tell the local area committee head that turtle tastes like a seafood Lamb. And I did kind of say that their methods didn't really appear in the bible. :)
On a slightly related note my little brother is wanting to do something with photography when he grows up. As such he was kind enough to take photos of me and stuff on my recent trip to png. I'm still updating plus some photos seem to have appeared more than once- so have a look now and again to see if there is any difference and I'll try and let u know when I'm finished. Here is the link.
Now Purists may argue that I never answered the original statement. Well I don't really know but it will be gospel work- We are not commanded to sit in our little world waiting for a call but actively Proclaiming Christ in every situation we find ourselves in.
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