Sunday Spin – Shark Savers

Posted by 4amWriter

Welcome to Sunday Spin, where I blog about life beyond the realm of writing.

Shark Photo courtesy of Terry Goss Photography.

Shark photo attributed to Terry Goss.

Last weekend my sister and I went to Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard to see our brothers and their families. All around the cape and the vineyard I saw posters protesting a Monster Shark Tournament that is being held this weekend. At first I thought the tournament was directly related to the incident where a shark trailed a kayaker off the coast of Cape Cod.

But, I discovered that this is an annual tournament held in Oak Bluffs, Martha’s Vineyard. This will be the 26th tourney.

I understand there are fishing tournaments of all kinds, and the shark tournament is classified as a fishing tournament. However, I can’t help thinking there is some sort of rage behind the hunt. It goes beyond pleasure or competition. And to me, that makes it wrong. The very fact people actively protest this particular tourney, and don’t protest fishing in general is a red flag.

I don’t know what the people do with the sharks once they’re caught. Perhaps they’re sold to restaurants? Sometimes, I see shark on menus. I do know that in the case of shark fin soup, only the fins are used and the shark is left to drown in the ocean. That is inhumane.

I don’t consider myself a fanatic when it comes to conservation. I mean, I enjoy my salmon, cheeseburgers, Thanksgiving turkey. But I don’t tolerate hunting for sport. And if that’s what is really going on behind the Monster Shark Tournament, then I side with the protesters.

Anyway, I found this cool site, Shark Savers, which educates people about the importance of sharks in our ecosystem. When you access the site, scroll down to the bottom to see a link where you can sign a petition to protect sharks. I hope you have fun exploring the site; there are some tidbits about mantas, too.

Don’t forget to check out the photography website of Terry Goss, too. Lots of wonderful images.

If anyone has more specific information about the Monster Shark Tournament that might shed some light, I would love to hear from you.

How do you feel about shark tournaments? Do you consider them humane or not?

Sunday Spin-Grandmother Musings

Posted by 4amWriter

Welcome to Sunday Spin, where I blog about life beyond the realm of writing.

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The other day, hubs asked me to spray the weeds along our fence line. He’d bought this enormous sprayer (the kind you can strap on to your shoulders) and quarts of Roundup for the job. This is when I discover how serious he is about killing weeds.

So, I went out and pumped poison all over the unsightly weeds when I spied movement. I ceased spraying. I peered down into the long tendrils of overgrown grass. A fat toad hopped out into open space.

Immediately I knew I had doused him with Roundup. Without even contemplating my next move, I dropped the weed killer contraption, scooped up the endangered toad into my hands, ran into my house, and washed him off in the kitchen sink. Yes, I bathed a toad.

I eventually released him into the woods behind our house and he seemed okay. I mean, he wasn’t gasping or oozing pus or convulsing. But maybe the poison works slowly? Or perhaps it starts internally? Or maybe I didn’t kill him, but I crippled him. Yes, these distressing thoughts were filling my mind. I was sure this toad was doomed, and it was all my fault.

So, I decided we would ban Roundup and all chemicals from our gardens. I went searching online and stumbled upon Grandmother Musings where I found a weed killer recipe made of natural ingredients.

Now, I’m not sure that toads are safe from this recipe, but they probably have a better chance with vinegar than with glyphosate, isopropylamine salt or diquat dibromide.

Sunday Spin: Rebecca in the Woods

Posted by 4amWriter

Welcome to Sunday Spin, where I blog about life beyond the realm of writing.

Yesterday, we went to a fair where booths were set up by local businesses. One of the booths was run by the Center for Wildlife, a private, non-profit organization that rehabilitates and provides sanctuary for injured wild animals, and to promote respect for wildlife and the environment.

The girl running the booth had a snake, known as a corn snake, red and orange and black. He reminded me of a sunset, just gorgeous. It is not native to New Hampshire, rather it lives in the southeastern portion of the states. The snake’s name was Zipper, and it was coiled all around her arm, looking at us and flicking out its tongue.

I ADORE snakes. So, I was all over this. She let us pet it, and when I reached my hand out it slithered onto my arm. My kids got a big kick out of it. Hubby nearly fainted.

This blog post by Rebecca in the Woods was rather timely. She didn’t come across a corn snake, but the way that snake is coiled seems to be how snakes prefer to lounge.

And I echo Rebecca’s plea: Don’t kill snakes.