Yesterday we saw a pod that was in less of a hurry. One of the whales, probably an adult female, was lolling in front of us. I wanted her to know we were there, so I tossed a snowball out to her. My throw was off: it tapped her on the side, and the dry snow vaporized with a muffled “pat.” In response, she hesitated, and then, to my surprise, she started pushing around a piece of ice that was a couple of feet across. At one point she flicked it with the end of her snout, and it broke in two. She disappeared for a minute and brought back a replacement chunk of ice — about the size of a volleyball. This time, when she arched her head back and snapped it forward, the ice flew out of the water and several feet ahead. For five minutes she motored around the small pond in front of us, repeatedly launching her ball of ice, before she lost interest and went on her way. I had to wonder: Did I just show a killer whale how to throw snowballs?
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Snow Ball Fight Anyone?
The last thing you think of when you hear snow ball fight is killer whales.
Monday, February 9, 2009
I'm Calling It Green
Haveil Havalim-The Real 203rd Edition.
I'll post pictures tomorrow of the fig tree I'm planting today for Tu B'Shvat. It's the new year for trees!
I'll post pictures tomorrow of the fig tree I'm planting today for Tu B'Shvat. It's the new year for trees!
Fair Play
When of the things I've always loved about the United States was it's sense of fair play on issues of justice. But some things that have happened in the past 20-30 years have made me wonder about the direction our country is going. With the advent of the War on Drugs, some of our precious freedoms were lost and there was hardly an out cry. When someones money and property can be confiscated by the government on the mere suspicion of drug use or trafficking, something is terribly wrong. In far too many cases, these people are not even charged with any crimes.
California voted in the 3 strikes you're out law in which those criminals with prior convictions had to serve mandatory sentences if they had two prior convictions. This was not justice and I believe it has since been rescinded.
I'm currently reading John Adams by David McCullough. John Adams was the lawyer for the British soldiers arrested for their part in the Boston Massacre. When asked why, he stated "The reason is because it's of more importance to the community, that innocence should be protected, than it is, that guilt should be punished".
The Supreme Court recently ruled on a case which may and can lead to the erosion of more precious rights. We are a country that seeks fair play even for those charged with crimes. We provide money for lawyers to those who cannot afford them. Defendants do not have to testify against themselves. Those charged are considered innocent until proven guilty.
There have been trends to erode these time honored traits of American justice. I do not like it when someone is freed on a technicality. However, like Adams, I believe that innocence should be protected than guilt be punished. When a case is thrown out because of a technicality, it protects all of us from a court system that could all to soon become grossly unfair if those safeguards are loosened the least bit.
I want the safeguards in place. I want our court system to be a place of justice and one that adheres to fair play.
California voted in the 3 strikes you're out law in which those criminals with prior convictions had to serve mandatory sentences if they had two prior convictions. This was not justice and I believe it has since been rescinded.
I'm currently reading John Adams by David McCullough. John Adams was the lawyer for the British soldiers arrested for their part in the Boston Massacre. When asked why, he stated "The reason is because it's of more importance to the community, that innocence should be protected, than it is, that guilt should be punished".
The Supreme Court recently ruled on a case which may and can lead to the erosion of more precious rights. We are a country that seeks fair play even for those charged with crimes. We provide money for lawyers to those who cannot afford them. Defendants do not have to testify against themselves. Those charged are considered innocent until proven guilty.
There have been trends to erode these time honored traits of American justice. I do not like it when someone is freed on a technicality. However, like Adams, I believe that innocence should be protected than guilt be punished. When a case is thrown out because of a technicality, it protects all of us from a court system that could all to soon become grossly unfair if those safeguards are loosened the least bit.
I want the safeguards in place. I want our court system to be a place of justice and one that adheres to fair play.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Time for a Change
UNRWA Lords of Misery
The NYT Delivers
Richard Benkin Has Even More
Poor Palestinians
It is long past time for UNRWA to be disbanded.
The NYT Delivers
Richard Benkin Has Even More
Poor Palestinians
It is long past time for UNRWA to be disbanded.
Art Break
There is something about Monet's Garden at Sainte-Adresse that keeps drawing me. I have an inexpensive print of it in my room. It reminds me of the pier at the Biloxi Small Craft Harbor with all the people, the boats, and the flags.
I still don't get Picasso. I did find Courtesan With Hat. I can add this the ones I like.
I hope to do these more frequently. It has been over a year since my last art break.
I still don't get Picasso. I did find Courtesan With Hat. I can add this the ones I like.
I hope to do these more frequently. It has been over a year since my last art break.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Never Again?
Every time Israel does something to defend itself, people around the world screech and protest against the 'Nazi Zionists'. Iran now has the capability to launch into space. Iran has made repeated threats to wipe Israel off the face of the map and has been busily trying to build a nuclear arsenal.
There are around 6 million Jews living in Israel. That is the same number murdered by Hitler's Nazis. After World War II and when the death camps were finally opened and the atrocities, the ash piles, the mountains of clothes, the skeletal frames on those who survived were exposed, the world said "Never again". And yet, we are almost in the same situation as in 1939. Hitler made his threats to exterminate the Jews and nothing was done.
Country after country closed their doors to those Jews who desperately tried to escape from Hitler's menace in Europe. World leaders and most everyone could not conceive that Hitler would implement his 'Final Solution'.
Iran is gathering their final components for their 'Final Solution'. Iran would have no compunction using nuclear weapons against Israel even if it meant millions of Palestinians would be killed as well. Iran could care less if Jerusalem was destroyed. Iran's leadership has threatened all those living in Israel. Iran has held 'conferences' denying the Holocaust. They scream kill the Jews.
Never again?
There are around 6 million Jews living in Israel. That is the same number murdered by Hitler's Nazis. After World War II and when the death camps were finally opened and the atrocities, the ash piles, the mountains of clothes, the skeletal frames on those who survived were exposed, the world said "Never again". And yet, we are almost in the same situation as in 1939. Hitler made his threats to exterminate the Jews and nothing was done.
Country after country closed their doors to those Jews who desperately tried to escape from Hitler's menace in Europe. World leaders and most everyone could not conceive that Hitler would implement his 'Final Solution'.
Iran is gathering their final components for their 'Final Solution'. Iran would have no compunction using nuclear weapons against Israel even if it meant millions of Palestinians would be killed as well. Iran could care less if Jerusalem was destroyed. Iran's leadership has threatened all those living in Israel. Iran has held 'conferences' denying the Holocaust. They scream kill the Jews.
Never again?
Earth
Sometimes, we tend to forget just how wonderful is our Earth. From Life image archives of the 1960's:
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