#Shark week 2018

[reasonsforhope]

Article

As he peered over a secluded cove off the coast of San Francisco, Gerry McChesney couldn’t believe the scene that was unfolding in front of him. 

Fur seal pups — hundreds of them — had taken over the inlet at the Farallon Islands National Wildlife Refuge and were bobbing on the surface of the water in a shiny, blubbery mass, likely hiding from great white sharks as they waited for their mothers to return from the sea to nurse. The sight wasn’t exactly unheard of — island biologists at Point Blue Conservation Science had first noticed the older seal pups using the cove as a covert hideout sometime last year, McChesney, a manager for the refuge, told SFGATE. But he was on the island one day in late October when biologist Jim Tietz delivered the news: The seals were back in full force, and in numbers they had never seen before. 

McChesney decided to go take a look for himself.

“I was amazed to see them all piled in there, getting tossed around like they were in a washing machine,” he told SFGATE in an email, adding that he counted 440 in all. “They looked pretty content and like they were having a good ol’ time.”

The video McChesney captured was shared by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service on social media earlier this week, garnering thousands of comments on Instagram and Facebook, with users referring to the phenomenon as “seal pup daycare” and “nature’s mosh pit.” 

To the biologists, it’s a sign of “a truly remarkable recovery.” 

The rookery’s history

The Farallon Islands host one of just two fur seal rookeries south of Alaska (the other being San Miguel Island in Santa Barbara County) after the species was completely wiped out from the area in the early 19th century. There was extensive seal hunting between about 1810 and 1838... In the first few years of widespread hunting, he estimates that over 150,000 fur seals were slaughtered (“The rookery must have been huge,” he noted) and soon, no fur seals could be found at the islands at all.

But large-scale market hunting came to an end by the mid-19th century, he said. In 1911, the United States signed the Northern Fur Seal Treaty, banning the hunting of marine mammals at sea. The Marine Mammal Protection Act, which prohibits killing and disturbing animals including seals, was established in 1972, further aiding in the protection of the species. Two years later, 141 acres of the islands were designated the Farallon Wilderness and were closed to the public in an attempt to mitigate human disturbance so the seals could return and “breed unfettered,” McChesney said. Large breeding colonies still persisted on the Pribilof Islands, Alaska, and the Commander Islands off eastern Siberia, and in 1996, a female fur seal from a recovered colony on the Channel Islands made her way back to the Farallones, giving birth to the first fur seal pup there after more than 150 years of the species’ absence.

Since then, “the Farallon population has been growing rapidly,” McChesney said. Within 15 years, the local population had boomed to 476 individuals, Bay Nature reported in 2018. Initially, they clustered in one area on the west end of the islands — but now, they’re beginning to expand.

Pictured: A photo of a northern fur seal in Alaska.

A seal surge

Pupping season runs from June to August, with most of the seals born in July and remaining in the breeding colony for a few months before they are weaned, usually by the end of November. Then, the newly independent animals go out to sea on their own. 

Farallon Island biologists from Point Blue Conservation Science have been documenting the population, and this year recorded 2,133 fur seals in total, including 1,276 pups, which McChesney called “the highest pup count yet.” 

“Given that the entire colony can’t be seen, this was a minimal count and there were certainly many more,” he noted.

Pictured: The Farallon Islands off the coast of San Francisco.

Though Point Blue biologists have never documented white sharks feeding on fur seal pups (they typically go for juvenile northern elephant seals and sea lions) the “threat of shark attacks on the seal pups is certainly there and I’m sure the pups are aware of that,” McChesney said. “The cove where the video was taken provides a secluded spot to swim and play without worrying about the sharks.”

When the mothers return, they find their pups by using a distinctive call. But in the meantime, the pups seem not to mind the hours away in their secret hideout where they can splash and play to their hearts’ content.

“It was so much fun to watch,” McChesney said. “And knowing that the sight represents such an amazing comeback for their population made the sight mean so much more.”

-via SF Gate, December 23, 2024

[damianbugs]

with all this gotham war stuff (most recently the comic sc you posted on your twt with jason and bruce), can u explain what is actually going on? like, i’m not that far so i haven’t read it, but… like is it actually bruce saying all that stuff about the kids? or is it this zur person people keep talking about?

oh my friend, it's crazy around here, but i will try my best to explain it!

A GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING TO BATMAN IN GOTHAM WAR:

firstly, the comic reading list to catch up with gotham war is: as of 01/10/23 (the ones in italics are core issues to the story)

for some background on what happens leading up to gotham war:

Batman (2016) #125-136

(Optional) Knight Terrors: Batman

(Optional) Knight Terrors: Catwoman

and then the actual gotham war story:

Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War - Battle Lines

Batman (2016) #137

Catwoman (2018) #57

Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War - Red Hood #1

this is everything that is out right now, but from the third of october to halloween we will also be getting: Batman #138, Catwoman #58, Gotham War: Red Hood #2, Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War - Scorched Earth.

secondly... who is Zur En Arrh.

Zur En Arrh taking over Bruce, Batman (2016) #126

zur en arrh, in the simplest way of explaining, is this alter ego/personality (it's unclear) bruce created for himself should batman (bruce wayne) ever be psychologically compromised or brainwashed. it's not him, but a more sadistic and crueler person that is the "ultimate batman" who doesn't care about anyone or anything but getting the mission done.

during Batman #125-130, zur takes over the role of batman because bruce was losing very badly to the robot Failsafe (which is zur's own creation, that bruce has no memory of making). after getting vaporised by failsafe and sent travelling through dozens of alternate universes, losing his hand and fighting a flying shark (Batman #131-135), bruce returns to gotham incredibly mentally unstable.

During a peaceful dinner with his family, Bruce suddenly imagines the entire world on fire, Batman (2016) #136.

during everything, bruce managed to mentally fight back and kind of... merge their ideals together in order to survive and win in the moment.

and then successfully trapping failsafe back into his mind where he can no longer take over!

Bruce uses some sort of mental technique to lock Zur away in his mind, Batman (2016) #136.

except he didn't succeed! at all!

you see, when travelling through all those universes, bruce somehow brought back every single version of zur en arrh with him. now all of then combined, plus his already deteriorating and weak mental health from the last few years, bruce is currently operating under the impression that he's locked zur away, when he actually hasn't.

zur is the one partly, or even entirely, in control. right now, he's just pretending to stay locked away so bruce continues to do what he thinks is 'right' despite them being incredibly out of character for the run.

During his eight week coma, Bruce sees Zur 'locked away' and he is, apparently, not alone, Gotham War: Battle Lines (2023)

an example is when zur referred to robin as batman's solider, bruce mentally fought back to make it clear that tim was his son. but then, a few issues later, bruce refers to his children as his soldiers and that they've all betrayed him, implying that zur has always had control and isn't locked away.

Bruce and Zur get into a fight inside his mind about Robin [Tim Drake], Batman (2016) #127

so yeah, zur is not bruce! they're both batman, but zur en arrh is like his somehow unimaginably even worse twin. if you're interested more in him, i would suggest giving his character history a read! be warned it gets changed A LOT and is definitely not everyone's cup of tea (personally i hate him and need him shelved for another forty years).

now that that's all done and explained, the current state of gotham war is Bruce (thinks he's okay) fighting everyone else (except Damian) because in his (Zur's) point of view, they're all against the mission and therefore are now his enemies (he's lost his mind). totally not convoluted.

to answer your original question, yes, this is all bruce saying and doing these things but he is being HEAVILY influenced by Zur. we can't tell for certain how much of this is bruce and how much is zur, but we can definitely prove zur is partially or completely controlling him again.

even jason points it out after bruce implants that fear toxin chip into him in Batman (2016) #138:

like we can see the intention is to keep jason out of this, because compared to everyone else, jason was the most directly opposed to bruce. but zur is twisting how this concern gets expressed, since forcing jason into feeling fear everytime he gets an adrenaline rush is hardly the reformation bruce is usually encouraging. the other batfam members also talk about how uncharacteristically violent bruce is being.

"He's out of control." / "He's gone [In more ways than one.]" Batman (2016) #137

as the story progresses we see more and more of zur replace bruce, but because he can't have bruce trying to stop him again, zur is playing along and convincing bruce he's locked away. so really, bruce is at war with not only his entire family, but also his own mind. just another average tuesday for batman. he's being tricked and is unknowingly doing exactly what he was trying to prevent.

to understand what the actual war in gotham war is, give the comics listed above a read! if you find the story boring/ridiculous/stupid, don't worry, it is! the social commentary leaves a lot to be desired, as does most of the characters writings (especially selina's).

bruce and his one sided battle with zur is sort of an overarching story happening alongside it (along with a bunch of other ongoings. i don't even understand how detective comics and batman and robin are going to tie into this once it starts up again).

sorry the answer isn't a simple one, but unfortunately nothing is ever simple with bruce. also apologies in advance if any of the future gotham war comics come out and completely debunk all of this! who knows what will happen in this dramatic family drama.

[myrquez]

Do you know what's dovquez relationship like currently? Ik marc has said (in preseason maybe?) that he wants to ride with dovi and they have a good relationship(but idk where is this from) also i saw a post where dovi said that he and marc have a "special" relationship but they aren't friends and he regrets it(in his book maybe) or maybe i'm hallucinating ( sorry i'm new to this)

HI AND WELCOME TO THIS WHOLE MADNESS ANON

Don’t worry, I got you!! This will be LONG but I hope it’s also gonna be helpful if you want to “dig” into their lore a bit more!!!

As for the two episodes you mentioned, first one was in the Gresini Team Presentation on January 20th in Riccione, and if you want to watch the whole thing its here!! They did ask Marc if he had any plans to go training in some of the motocross tracks in Romagna, like the 04 Park, while he was there. And Marc said that just that morning he thought something like, “Im gonna call him and ask him if he’s busy?”, but then he basically had no time so he couldn’t actually go. And then he said something like “I would still like it very much, especially to go riding around Dovizioso’s track, whom I have a beautiful relationship with!”. And then we all cried. (me, i cried)

As for the book! Yes, he did say that he would’ve liked to have relationships and connections with other riders in general, because there’s not many people in the world that have the privilege to share their same experiences. He spoke a lot about how the relationships work in the paddock, which he describes as a shark tank basically (literally says minefield). And he said it’s a shame he basically had no friends within the motogp environment, but it’s how it works, because in that world everything it’s about money and feral competition. About Marc (the book was published in 2018 if i’m not wrong, so as for their relationship in 2018 at least) he said they’ weren’t technically friends, but they thought highly of each other, respected each other, smiled to each other when one saw the other one! He spoke a lot about how the connection grew stronger in each one of their battle. How at the end of every race he felt like they just climbed a mountain and they arrived right at the peak together. “The connection has deepened. The relationship was preserved”. It’s one of my fave part of the book, maybe I’ll try to translate the whole thing!

And finally!, as for their current relationship, I’d say it’s still… very good? Dovi was in Mugello this year, and he had this beautiful interview with SkySport Italia where he praised Marc for his outstanding work. If you want to watch it, it’s here! He never stops showering that little menace with compliments. He cannot help it.

Apart from this, no new crumbs? FOR NOW!! Motogp will be in Misano for a few weeks since Kazakhstan got cancelled, so we basically have 1st race in Misano, Misano tests and THEN 2nd race in Misano again which means pleeeenty of time to go and have a bit of fun at the 04 Park i guess <3 manifesting this so hard anon

If you feel the need to have some more lore to dig and stuff, here there’s a beautiful post with some fun facts AND a list of people on the motogpblr that basically are the Dovquez scholars, so there you will find everything you need to know and even more. Have fun!!! <3

[puckpocketed]

i wasn’t even joking about the thomas speer princess treatment btw. btw. i know the sharks have a Reputation for goalie breaking but to give you all some counter propaganda… he did good work with kahkonen and blackwood and i expect given the chance he’ll do the same for georgiev

Published October 17 2023, How a coach’s visit in Toronto helped Mackenzie Blackwood get comfortable with the San Jose Sharks - by Curtis Pashelka (link)

SAN JOSE – Mackenzie Blackwood was about a week away from leaving Toronto and heading to the Bay Area last month for the start of training camp when he got a visit from San Jose Sharks goalie coach Thomas Speer.

The two had previously only talked on the phone, and that was after Blackwood had been acquired by the Sharks last June and subsequently signed to a two-year contract extension. So Speer’s visit gave the two a chance to get to know each other a bit better and get on the same page prior to camp.

It was also a personal gesture that Blackwood appreciated.

“That shows a lot,” Blackwood said Monday. “To come and spend some time and go out of your way to come work with me. Yeah, I was appreciative.”

Speer, now in his second season with the Sharks, is tasked with helping the team solve its goaltending woes after years of being well below average. The Sharks haven’t had a team save percentage over .901 since the 2017-2018 season and last year, that number sunk to an NHL low of .881.

So far, the Sharks are off to a better start, with Blackwood stopping 51 of 52 shots in the Sharks’ 2-1 shootout loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday. After the game, Blackwood was quick to credit his teammates for keeping most shot attempts to the perimeter, but also Speer for the work they’ve done together over the last several weeks.

“He’s been good. Lots of help for me, working on keeping my game tight, not overplaying stuff, and keeping my feet underneath me a little bit more,” Blackwood said. “If you get stuck, re-adjust, and keep moving. Staying square. So just a lot of little stuff that we’ve kind of chipped away at, but it all adds up to something big.”

Not surprisingly, Blackwood will get the start again on Tuesday when the Sharks face Brent Burns and the Carolina Hurricanes at SAP Center. But with the way the Sharks’ schedule unfolds this month, with seven games over the next 13 days, both Blackwood and Kaapo Kahkonen figure to get a fair amount of work.

Speer worked with Kahkonen last season, helping to change his game and improve his confidence. Kahkonen had a .895 save percentage in his final 18 games last season compared to a .869 mark over the first 19 games.

Kahkonen played well in the preseason and aside from one goal late in the second period, Quinn felt the Finnish-born netminder had a positive outing in the Sharks’ 4-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights last Thursday.

“The one thing about (Speer), he cares so much about the guys he coaches,” Quinn said. “Great tactician, but he has the ability to connect with the people he’s coaching and that’s what makes him a great coach.

“He doesn’t coach everybody the same. He knows every guy’s a little bit different. … But the connection he creates with his goalies is pretty special.”

Quinn said that after Saturday’s game, no one was happier for Blackwood than Kahkonen.

“Big hug, big smile,” Quinn said. “To me, you can’t win (on the ice) until you win in (the locker room). We think we got two guys that could do that, which would make it difficult for the coach. But those are great problems to have.”

Certainly, that’s where the Sharks want to get to under Speer. who is in his 11th year as a goalie coach, working with both amateurs and professionals at a variety of levels. Before he came to the Sharks, Speer spent three seasons with the Stockton Heat, the former AHL affiliate of the Calgary Flames.

“I’ve had coaches that I’ve gotten along with, but it’s nice to have a guy here that you get to spend every day with that knows the game, knows my game, and knows what I need to do. Very detailed,” Blackwood said. “And you get to know him, he’s a great guy. So far, everything has been great.”

[goryhorroor]

do you have the full list for horror movies condemned by the church? Thank you

so there's kinda seperate lists for it, ones condemned by the Legion of Decency, during the years of

Legion of Decency (before it was stopped in 1978):

Rosemary's Baby (because it depicts satanism)

The Devils

The Wicker Man (promotion of sexuality & violence)

Lemora, A Child's Tale of Supernatural

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (promotion of sexuality)

Carrie

The Omen (because it depicts that idea that there is an antichrist in the book of revelations)

J.D.'s Revenge

Dawn of the Dead

The Exorcist (this one is so-so because it was still banned for its profanity & sexual situation, but it's not like they hated the idea that it promoted the catholic church; no the church did not help the exorcist production)

These modern ones morally offended the Catholic Church (this list is offically complete from starting in 2003-July 2022, since OSC News took them over to do movies reviews)

28 Weeks Later

30 Days Later

The Belko Experiment

Black Swan

Brightburn

The Cabin in the Woods

Candyman (newer one)

Child's Play (remake)

The Collection & The Collector

The Crazies (remake)

Crimson Peak

The Descent

The Devil's Rejects

The Devil Inside

The Evil Dead (remake)

Final Destination 3 & 5

The entire of the Purge movies

Freaky

Friday the 13th (remake)

Friend Request

Fright Night (remake)

The Green Inferno

The Grudge (remake: 2019)

Halloween (remake: 2007) & Halloween II

Halloween (2018) & Halloween Kills

Hell Fest

High Tension

The Hills Have Eyes (remake)

Hostel & Part 2

The Hunt

It Follows

It Chapter 2

Jennifer's Body

Jigsaw (2017)

The Last House on the Left (remake)

Let me In

Ma

Malignant

Midsommar

Mother!

My Bloody Valentine (remake)

My Soul to Take

A Nightmare on Elm Street (remake)

One Missed Call (remake)

Pet Sematary (remake)

Piranha 3d

Prometheus

Ready or Not

The Ruins

All Saw movies

Scream (2022) & Scream 4

Shark Night 3D

Silent Hill

Slither

Sorority Row

Spiral

Splice

The Stepfather (remake)

The Strangers: Prey at Night

Studio 666

The Texas Chainsaw 3D

Tusk

Underworld series

Unfriended

We Summon the Darkness

Wolf Creek

X

You're Next

Zombieland 2

[salvatoraes]

name : mirissa. nickname / s: rissa, riss to people closer to me ! height : 5"2. nationality : american. favourite fruit : strawberries !!!! 🍓 favourite season : summer !!! but fall too. favourite scents : campfire smell, lavender, lemon grass, fresh linens, cinnamon ... some more i can't think of. favourite animals : foxes, tigers, sharks, dogs. tea, coffee, hot cocoa :  iced coffee <333 average hours of sleep : usually like 8 - 9, sometimes way less when my brain won't shut off lmao. when my blog was created : this one is only a couple months old but i've had stefan since 2017 or 2018 perhaps ? # of followers : 350+ & i love all of you so much <3 random fact :  i was supposed to be born on halloween but i came early, coulda been a witch for real </3 favourite food : mashed potatoes, anything chocolate, pasta, steak, ice cream ... favourite t.v. shows : friends, tvd ( sometimes ) , gilmore girls, degrassi, chilling adventures of sabrina, bob's burgers, how i met your mother, buffy the vampire slayer, superstore, new girl ... god i have so many & this isn't even it ?? favourite movie :  titanic is my all time favorite but scream & nightmare before christmas are close behind. sexuality :  a proud bi - sexual heh. pronouns : she + her. favourite book series : ooo probably acotar or the hunger games ! favourite video game / s :  fortnite, mario odyssey, dreamlight valley ( really need to get back on omg ) & sometimes the sims. favourite subject :  in high school it was my digital media classes & college it was photoshop & my art ones. guys or girls :  both ! last time I cried :  a week or so ago i sobbed watching a movie lmao what I should be doing :  writing lol heh ... favourite fandoms :  i don't think i have any ???

tagged : nobody, i stole it from an old blog lol. tagging : @kwsatz , @forbaes , @klaeus , @neptunc , @nuks , @snnynatural , @wiredsmile , @chth0nia , @malka-lisitsa , @milleroptimism , @saralans & you, tag me !

[beatdisc]

Here's a round-up of some of our favourite re-issues & anniversary editions through the shop in the past couple of weeks! Highlights include long overdue repressings from Ryuichi Sakamoto, Ween, Billy Woods and Something For Kate (more info below); plus another batch of ROCKtober releases; the early albums of Hermanos Gutierrez and a 2nd batch of Butthole Surfers re-issues.

Ryuichi Sakamoto 坂本龍一 - Coda - $65 - WEWANTSOUNDS reissue of Sakamoto's 1983 album featuring Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence for solo piano. First vinyl re-issue in over 30 years!

Ween - Chocolate And Cheese (30th Anniversary) - $150 (3LP) - Deluxe & Expanded 30th Anniversary 3LP remaster of the excellent 1994 studio release featuring Voodoo Lady, I Can't Put My Finger On It etc. Includes a bonus 3rd LP of previously unreleased demos and soon-to-be classics from the personal archives of Dean & Gene Ween.

Mac DeMarco - Salad Days (10th Anniversary) - $80 (Holographic 2LP) - 10th anniversary expanded edition of Demarco's lauded 2012 album. Pressed on unique Holographic black 2LP vinyl with bonus Salad Days Demos LP.

billy woods & Kenny Segal - Hiding Places - $70 - Re-press of the previously out-of-print 2019 collaboration on Backwoodz Studioz

Something For Kate - Beautiful Sharks (25th Anniversary) - $60 (Silver LP) - 25th anniversary reissue of their 2nd album from 1999 with new cover art and pressed on silver vinyl.

RHINO Rocktober 2024 releases: - Wilco - Summerteeth - $80 (Electric Blue 2LP) - Iggy And The Stooges - s/t (John Cale Mix) - $60 (Red LP) - Ramones - Pleasant Dreams - $60 - Ramones - Animal Boy - $60 - Morphine - Cure For Pain - $60

Hermanos Gutierrez: - 8 Anos (2017) - $65 (Sky Blue LP) - El Camino De Mi Alma (2018) - $65 (Gray LP) - Hoy Como Ayer (2019) - $65 (Desert Dawn LP) - Eternamente (2021) - $80 (Desert Dust Gatefold LP)

Butthole Surfers x Matador Records re-issues: - Cream Corn From The Socket Of Davis (1985) - $45 - Locust Abortion Technique (1987) - $50 - Hairway To Steven (1988) - $50

#ryuichisakamoto#ween#chocolateandcheese#macdemarco#saladdays#billywoods#somethingforkate#buttholesurfers#hermanosgutierrez

[luke-r-gillespie]

May 23 - Osaka / Kaiyukan Aquarium (Freeday) + Media Reflection

Freewriting

Today was another (and our final) full free day! It was a little unideal to have our two free days in Kyoto on days two and four in Kyoto, but it is what it is. I of course took full advantage of this opportunity to sleep in until 10 (I know, crazy stuff!) After rousing from my slumber, I ate two croissants (purchased from family mart yesterday,) before getting ready to head to Osaka with Zachary, Griffin, and Noah. Leaving the hotel, no one was super eager to navigate to Osaka, so I offered (rookie mistake on all of our parts to be honest.) I lacked the insight to find the aquarium's official name (Kaiyukan Aquarium) and assumed that Osaka Aquarium would be sufficient (it was not.) After about two hours of train rides, while waiting for our bus to "Osaka Aquarium," Noah decided to double check our destination and it turns out that "Osaka Aquarium" is a pet store about an hour away (by train) from the actual aquarium (oops.)

So, after catching ANOTHER train we arrived on the correct island and grabbed food in a shopping mall (which was probably the coolest mall I have ever been in) before heading into the aquarium. The island itself was super cool and had way more to do than just the aquarium, but we kept our eyes on the prize.

We split up in the mall and Zachary and I went to a beef place while Noah and Griffin decided on Wendy's. The restaurant we ate at was called ビフテキ (Beef Teki) and it was delicious (I have attached an image to rub it in!)

After eating, we finally went to the aquarium (roughly three and a half hours after out initial departure from Kyoto.) The aquarium was amazing (best aquarium I have ever been to hands down.) The standouts for me were definitely the penguins and whale sharks, although the seals doing tricks were also pretty cool.

We spent about two full hours exploring the aquarium before catching a few trains back to Kyoto (the journey back took significantly less time, I was not the one navigating.)

After getting back to Stay SAKURA, I chilled out for twenty minutes before grabbing dinner at a little place around the corner with Griffin and Zachary. No picture this time as I was pretty hungry and inhaled my food. It is now 10 and I plan on watching some TV for a little before getting an early night, as our meeting tomorrow is at 8:10 (meaning I will be waking up at 7:10.) Overall another eventful and fun free day in Kyoto!

Independent Excursion: Media Reflection (Jujutsu Kaisen & Kaiyukan Aquarium)

Jujutsu Kaisen is an extremely popular Japanese manga series (with an equally popular anime adaptation) written and illustrated by Gege Akutami. The series has been serialized in the popular weekly manga magazine, Shonen Jump since March of 2018. As of May 26 of this year, the well received manga has 261 chapters and is currently ongoing. Since 2020, Jujutsu Kaisen has been in the top four of Shonen Jump's most popular serializations, only losing out to One Piece for the first place spot for the past two years (2022 & 2023.)

I am a huge fan of Jujutsu Kaisen and after seeing Kaiyukan Aquarium and its iconic whale sharks be beautifully depicted in chapter 70 of the manga (as well as Season 2 episode 3 of the anime,) I knew this was a location that I had to visit while I was in Japan.

The section of the "Hidden Inventory" story arc that depicts Osaka, follows the main cast as they travel to Osaka to rescue a kidnapped character. Despite Jujutsu Kaisen being a Shonen series and centering around a fictious power system called "cursed energy," the series depictions of locations in Japan (such as all of Shibuya and much of Osaka) are extremely accurate. Much of the Japanese culture depicted in the show (by the high school and older aged characters) is also authentic to what I have experienced in my time here. After spending two weeks in Tokyo and two weeks in Kyoto, it is clear to me that Gege Akutami inserts his fictional characters into nonfiction settings. Perhaps this is a part of why his series is so successful in Japan, as well as in other countries.

Within the Osaka and Kaiyukan Aquarium sections of the Jujutsu Kaisen story, Riko Amanai is enjoying her final day of life with her new friends before she is to be absorbed (which is most likely to lead to her death) for the good of Japan and the world (within the world of the series obviously.) While walking in the aquarium and gazing at the whale sharks, she has an epiphany about how large the world is and how little of it she has actually seen up to this point. This ultimately leads to her making the decision that she wants to keep on living and see more of what the world has to offer. Below is the two page spread of Amanai walking past the whale sharks tank.

While in Japan, I have had a similar realization. Japan has totally changed my world view and opened my eyes up to how people live in other parts of the world. Prior to this trip, I had only traveled within Europe and the United States and all of the countries that I had visited had similar ideals to the United States and were set up in a similar way. Japan is the first major departure from this that I have experienced myself and it makes me excited about what else the world has to offer. Having struggled with my own mental health in the past, I relate to Amani's epiphany in seeing the beauty of things that were before, unbeknownst to oneself.

While at Kaiyukan Aquarium, I searched for the exact location of the manga panel that I previously mentioned. While I could not recreate the exact shot, I am still happy with the level of accuracy Gege Akutami provided within his work.

The vibe and feeling of the aquarium were dead on, aside from Amani being the only one there in the manga, as it was quite busy when I went (however, this is not an issue in the anime.) I would certainly say that Jujutsu Kaisen provided a reasonable depiction of the real world location, with almost no slippage between the media and reality.

[thesaleswhisperer]

B.S.ers Are SOL in Copywriter Jeff Putnam's World

Professional Sales Tips you'll learn today on The Sales Podcast ...

Listen to Jeff Putnam’s first interview on The Sales Podcast, episode 510, back on June 23, 2021, and see the change he’s made

Deep down, he always wanted to be a writer

He did a project as a kid on Ernest Hemingway and saw a picture of him smoking a cigar and hunting a shark with a machine gun that lit a fire

In December 2018, he got the idea for Rugged Legacy and launched it in early 2019

He didn’t want to work for anyone else

He had to learn copywriting so his business wouldn’t die

Then, he started teaching people how to do it

Wrote two books, and he reads all the time

Related episodes and posts

Find The Best CRM For Your Team and Budget

Start Your Free 12 Weeks To Peak™

Working on a novel and is about 1/3rd complete

Most people suck at writing so they pay him to write

Now 99% of his income comes from writing for others

He focused on Twitter rather than building a “personal brand”

He got so busy with work that he didn’t have the time or interest in building a brand

He no longer promotes himself online

People know who he is

He has a great network now

He has some coaching clients

He wakes up at five am, takes his huskie for a walk, gets some coffee, reads for four hours, then starts his day writing for clients

Vince Flynn/Mitch Rapp series

Jack Reacher series by Lee Child

Loves Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa

Will reference a business book but doesn’t sit and read them

Does not like the appeal of the “digital nomad” lifestyle

He doesn’t want to live out of seven suitcases

He spent nearly five years hustling and grinding and perfecting his writing craft

A customer of his asked him if he’d help with their website, and that became his first paying copywriting client, but he was visible and active online and on Twitter, so they knew him

He Googled typical prices for copywriting and added 20% to that

Then he raised his prices until people balked, and then he dropped his prices 5%

He’ll include three revisions, but the fourth is 50% of the original invoice

He doesn’t design websites, but he writes the copy

He loves writing long-form content like 80-page white papers

He’ll write 16k-20k words every ten days or so

Many people confuse niche and industry

He can research any industry and write about it

A Web 3 startup paid him $60k upfront ($5k/mo) to do all of their content, and he had no experience in that space

The Web 3 client saw an article Jeff wrote on marriage and reached out to him

If clients are jerks, he cuts them loose

He charges 6-7 cents per word

He just does words

He uses AI as a style guide by uploading something like a five-paragraph description the client provides

“Additionally…in a fast-paced world…”

He loves 3-piece suits

Anchoring…

He’ll sometimes wear his suit to write to anchor himself

“Okay”

Zuby

“I’m a serious Catholic”

Adoration and Holy Hours and Mass

He carries his rosary always

He has Catholic cigars, Incensum Cigars

He converted to Catholicism last year

There are only 450 TLM churches in the U.S.

His wife is Hispanic who grew up in New England and is Catholic

He spent 18 months writing a book on Catholic masculinity

He decided to go to Mass May 7, 2023, which was two months after he launched the book

His wife was a lapsed Catholic, but now they go weekly

He’s in RCIA and entering the Catholic Church fully this Easter

Sales Growth Tools Mentioned In The Sales Podcast

Have Me Take a Look at Your Business Processes

Get This $19 CRM

Get 10% The Best Beef You’ll Ever Put In Your Mouth

Send Drunk Emails: ...that get opened and get you paid!

Phone Burner: work the phone like a machine so you can be a human when you connect.

GUEST INFO:

Guest Twitter

PODCAST INFO:

Podcast website

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

YouTube

SUPPORT & CONNECT: Check out the sponsors above; it’s the best way to support this podcast

Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheWes

Twitter: https://twitter.com/saleswhisperer

Instagram: https://instagram.com/saleswhisperer

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thesaleswhisperer/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesaleswhisperer

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thesaleswhispererwes

Check out The Sales Podcast's latest episode

[xtruss]

About one-third of all shark species are threatened—and tens of millions are killed each year ​by commercial fishing industries. Photograph By David Maupile/Laif/Redux

Sharks Are Still Being Killed At High Rates—Despite Bans On Finning

Shark fishing regulations, including bans on cutting off fins, increased tenfold since 2000. Yet a new study shows that deaths may have actually ticked up as new markets for shark meat emerge.

— By Tim Vernimmen | January 11, 2024

In 2019 at least 79 million sharks died in fisheries, and at least 25 million of those belonged to threatened species—numbers that have stayed steady or even risen in the past decade.

Compared to 10 years ago, fewer of those sharks died because people cut off their fins and threw them back into the sea—a practice known as finning that is now prohibited in about 70 percent of countries and overseas territories. But regulations that have reduced the frequency of finning have not saved shark lives, an international research team reports in the journal Science this week.

“If anything, global shark mortality has slightly increased,” says Boris Worm, a marine ecologist at Dalhousie University in Canada. Now most sharks are landed whole, and a growing demand for shark products has driven fisheries to continue catching the animals.

Worm and seven colleagues spent the past three years collecting data on shark mortality and fishery regulations. “This was really a challenge,” he says, “as shark fisheries are notoriously underreported. We compiled everything we could find, from catch numbers to data from observers on boats in international waters to estimates of coastal fishing that include recreational, artisanal, and even illegal fishing.”

Employees of the Kowalski fishing industry in Santa Catarina, Brazil, wash sharks recently caught in ocean fishing. Photograph By Victor MoriyamaFor National Geographic

A counter in a Chinese medicine shop in Taipei sells shark fins. Photograph By Michael Wolf Estate/Laif/Redux

The global analysis reveals that even though there has been a tenfold increase in regulations on shark fishing and finning, mortality in the past decade remained more or less the same, with estimates of 76 million dead sharks due to fishing in 2012 and at least 80 million in 2018. Given that not all catches are reported in sufficient detail and some aren’t recorded at all, the researchers say, the number of deaths is likely to be significantly higher.

A Shark 🦈 Market

Marine ecologist Nicholas Dulvy of Simon Fraser University in Canada, who has not involved in the study, points out finning regulations did help “to ensure many catches could be identified to the species level, which is necessary for catch and trade limits” and also aids research. “Regulation of international trade has now begun, with the protection of over 100 shark species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora,” he says.

While these trade regulations appear to have led to fewer sharks getting killed in international fisheries, coastal fisheries have started catching more sharks.

To try to understand why that might be, the researchers interviewed 22 experts including scientists, conservationists, and people working in fisheries or companies that process shark products. “They’ve told us that existing markets for shark products have expanded,” says marine conservation scientist Laurenne Schiller of Carleton University in Canada, a co-author of the study. “Which may be due in part to the increased availability of sharks resulting from anti-finning regulations.”

Shark meat, even from endangered sharks, is increasingly found in a variety of food products, and not just in still-popular shark fin soup. Shark is also often used in fish and chips, in ceviche, or as a fraudulent alternative for swordfish.

In addition, shark cartilage and liver oil are common ingredients in the medical and cosmetics industries. “Many beauty products contain squalene,” Schiller says, “which usually, but not necessarily, derives from sharks. So it’s good to look for products that use plant-based alternatives instead.”

The researchers say that that to save sharks, anti-finning laws clearly do not suffice, and there need to be more extensive fishing regulations.

“There are 29 countries and overseas territories that have already prohibited shark fishing in their waters,” says Worm. “The Bahamas, for example, have discovered that sharks were worth much more as a dive attraction for the ecotourism industry, which is booming. On average, we see such prohibitions are the only tool that consistently reduced mortality, so we would encourage that.”

Fishermen go out fishing sharks in Cananeia, a coastal town in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Restrictions on species allowed for fishing have led many local fishermen to specialize in other fish and crustaceans such as shrimp and sea bass. Photograph By Victor MoriyamaFor National Geographic

Gillnets Kill

In places where people depend on fisheries for their livelihoods or sustenance, bans may not be appropriate, but keeping fisheries at sustainable levels is crucial to maintaining wild populations.

“This includes, of course, science-based catch limits for sharks,” says Schiller. “But many interviewees also told us about the dangers of unselective fishing gears, like gillnets.” These walls of netting that hang vertically in the water column are designed to catch fish by their gills, and they tend to entangle every animal that is too large to fit through the mesh. “Our own analyses show they are commonly used in the places we identify as mortality hotspots. So phasing them out and encouraging more selective practices in places like Indonesia, Brazil, Mauritania, or Mexico could have a big impact,” Schiller says.

“We know that shark populations are under enormous pressure from fishing throughout much of the world’s oceans,” says marine biologist Colin Simpfendorfer of James Cook University in Australia, who was not involved in the study, “and the data presented in this new paper add further evidence.”

While finning regulations have not led to decreased shark deaths, Simpfendorfer points out they weren’t designed to reduce catches, but to prevent suffering and the waste of sharks being killed for their fins alone.

Without increased efforts to protect sharks, at least one in three species will face the threat of extinction, and many more are suffering population declines.

“I have many colleagues who are oceanographers, and they tell me that in the 70s and 80s, there were always sharks following the vessel because of the kitchen scraps they threw overboard—typically oceanic whitetips, a formerly very abundant species that is now endangered and hardly ever seen. I’ve never seen one in my life,” says Worm. “That’s when you get that sinking feeling that something is really wrong with the way we’re treating them. We should fix that, and we can.”

[ausetkmt]

Police dogs are often portrayed as harmless, loveable members of the local police. But many departments across the country use dogs as weapons, training the animals to bite thousands of people every year, causing serious and even fatal injuries.

A new investigation from The Marshall Project, AL.com, IndyStar and the Invisible Institute exposes the widespread use—and abuse—of dogs in police departments across the U.S.

Here are six takeaways from our findings, based on data from departments across the country, thousands of pages of documents, videos and scores of interviews with victims, police officers and experts. The main article based on the investigation contains more information. We will publish more reporting in the coming weeks.

People are bitten across the country, but some cities use biting dogs far more often than others. There’s no national database of police dog use and who is bitten. Our reporting found bites in nearly every state, though data from more than 50 police departments shows the numbers vary widely by city. Police in Chicago almost never deploy dogs for arrests and had only one incident from 2017 to 2019. Washington, D.C., had five. Seattle had 23. New York City, where policy limits their use mostly to felony cases, reported 25. By contrast, Indianapolis had more than 220 bites and Los Angeles reported more than 200 bites or dog-related injuries. The Sheriff’s Department in Jacksonville, Florida, had 160 in this period.

Bites can cause life-altering injuries, even death. Dogs used in arrests are bred and trained to have a bite strong enough to punch through sheet metal. Their bites can be more like shark attacks, according to experts and medical researchers. When they are used on people, they can leave harrowing scars, torn muscles and dangerous infections. A woman’s scalp was torn in California; a man’s vocal cords were damaged in Colorado; an Arizona man’s face was ripped off. Occasionally, someone dies after an encounter with a police dog. Most recently, a 51-year-old handyman bled to death after being bitten by a police dog in Montgomery, Alabama, in 2018.

Many people bitten were not violent and were suspected of minor crimes—or no crime at all. While many police agencies say they use dogs only to capture people accused of violent crimes or when officers are in danger, our review of bites around the country found the dogs are frequently used in minor cases: traffic violations, shoplifting, mental health checks, trespassing and running from police.

Police officers sometimes can’t control the dogs, worsening injuries. Even when dogs are trained to release their bites with a verbal command, they sometimes don’t let go. While training experts say bites should last seconds, we found numerous cases that lasted minutes as handlers struggled to pull off the dogs. Some experts said that makes injuries worse, tearing flesh as the dogs are pulled away.

There’s little accountability or compensation for many bite victims. Excessive force lawsuits over dog bites are difficult to win. Police officers are often shielded from liability, and federal civil rights laws don’t typically cover bystanders who are bitten by mistake. It can also be hard for someone who pleads guilty or gets convicted of resisting arrest, or a similar crime, to file a lawsuit. Even when victims can bring cases, lawyers say they struggle because jurors tend to love police dogs.

Read the main article. In addition, our reporters will continue publishing stories from this investigation in the coming weeks, including the story of a Washington, D.C., woman who went for a walk, then encountered a police dog; an examination of the police department with the worst dog-bite rate among the nation’s 20-largest city agencies; and an examination of police dog use in Alabama and the state’s most dangerous K-9 unit.

Correction: An earlier version said a Maryland woman was bit while on a walk. She lives in Washington, D.C.

[icharchivist]

wait crotchery again what do you mean gbf is an adults only game, i thought it was just some character collect-n-battle kind of thing?? am i missing something here

I meant by that that the rating had changed from Teens and Up to Mature in the app store basically.

GBF is still a Gacha RPG Visual Novel first and foremost. you go through a main story and side stories event in Visual Novel form, you have to fight battles to get further into the plot, and to collect items that'd make you stronger, and for that you need to collect the gacha characters who each have features to approach the fights in the game.

The change in rating was done because GBF became increasingly more gore as the years went by and eventually started to tackle more and more serious subject. Sexuality is not the main reason of the rating going up, but it sure didn't help.

When GBF started back in 2014 it was rated Teen And Ups. In events from 2014 to 2018 the gorest you'll get is like, if someone gets stabbed their sprite will tremble and the description will tell you a quick thing about what's going on. Sexually speaking we had characters like Metera who were extremely flirty and would moan to fluster you but that's a bit standards even by gacha standards.

in 2018 What Makes the Sky Blues part 2 came out, with a huge gamble: Visually showing a major character death by showing his beheaded head, and having Belial as a major antagonist while he is always talking about sex. Even the English translation actually toned down his speech by a lot. ("so you're here for the sodomy?" was translated "oh you're ready to get down and dirty with me?" for example).

It was a major gamble at the time that was extremely well received by fans and it encouraged the company to do more and more as time went by. Villains introduced since Belial have had a tendency to be trying even more of the edge to see how far they can get away with. Gore scenes are visually illustrated on the screen as vividly as possible for a Visual Novel. Beheading, and such.

It culminated eventually in 2021 when the character of Ferdinand was introduced, a cannibal abuser and groomer who moans everytime something goes his way. (a throughout explanation of Ferdinand can be found here). At the same time, Lobelia (a serial killer who has orgams everytime he tortures people because he gets off on the sounds of screamings. he's a friend btw.) got a summer skin in which tapping on the screen will have you hear a woman screaming to her death as she's eaten by sharks.

I think those were two of the major points which had the censors especially decide to do something (especially the Lobelia thing that actually was quite the scandal at the time), though technically it's been a while since this type of things have been going on in the game. (it just that it was quite the timing, i think the rating really went up a few weeks after Lobelia's skin came out and a couple month after Ferdinand was introduced/right before he became a major focus also).

And that's when the app stores all decided to raise the content from Teen And Up to Mature, specifically, +17 people.

So at least it's Rated so that young players shouldn't play GBF.

GBF is mostly a browser game though (the app is only available in Japan but genuinely it's easier to play on browser, both on computer and on phone), so it's not really something Granblue concerned themselves with.

But as it is, the moment they had their rating raising, they kinda went, well, fuck it, if our attempts at being PG are not good enough, then YOLO.

And it's when we started to have extremely sexual units and arts. Summer Belial's crotch. Valentine Wilnas's ass. Yukata Ilsa or Yukata Narmaya.

So what i meant by adult game is in the sense that the rating is actually not recommanded for teens, and that the game is going ham to prove it, but it's mostly in question of gore and questionable content. Sexual stuff are still also a reason but it's actually not the major reason for it all.

But. We know for a fact it all started with Belial. he was considered the riskiest move from the company they almost scrapped him at the time. but since he was so well received, they decided to keep pulling those risks and here we are now.

And that's what you missed on granblue fantasy o7

[thorntonkrell-blog-blog]

It's been a very rainy/indoorsy week down here in Charlotte so today we're getting oudda house. We're going to Birkdale to see Asteroid City, the latest Wes Anderson extravaganza.

I'm not a huge fan of Anderson. My three favorite Anderson movies are; "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou", "The Royal Tenenbaums", and "Fantastic Mr. Fox"

Anderson has a loyal and hip fan base. I am neither lyal nor hip so there's the first problem. Fortunately I probably won't have to put up with the over exaggerated in theater response from his fand who love to siganl how much they "get it" as I imagine our theater will be almost empty.

Asteroid City looks like another yet another aesthetic collision of idiosyncratic characters cast symetrically against an oddly saturated color palette who seem to be speaking in a coded language meant to suggest comedic subtlety.

Anderson illustrates one of the liabilities of the autueur theory. When we notice too many directorial touches, that stylization can come at the expense of the film most partiuclarly in terms of characterization and story telling. This lack of depth in characterization is part and parcel of ensemble casting and the cast for Asteroid City is about as attractive, eccentric and idiosyncratic as it can get in these days of cinematic decline. Let me drop a few names; Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Margot Robbie, Steve Carell, Edward Norton, Jason Schartzman, Jeff Goldblum and Tilda Swanson. All we need for a complete carnival would be the addition of Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Gwyneth Paltrow and or Adrian Brody. Thank God for semi-discipline.

So yeah, we're gonna give it a try.

Wes Anderson is a highly regarded American filmmaker known for his distinct visual style, meticulous attention to detail, and offbeat storytelling. Here are some notable films directed by Wes Anderson:

"Bottle Rocket" (1996): Anderson's directorial debut, a quirky comedy about a group of friends who plan and execute small-scale heists.

"Rushmore" (1998): A coming-of-age comedy-drama centered around an eccentric high school student named Max Fischer, played by Jason Schwartzman, and his friendship with a wealthy industrialist, played by Bill Murray.

"The Royal Tenenbaums" (2001): A dysfunctional family comedy-drama featuring an ensemble cast that includes Gene Hackman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Stiller, Anjelica Huston, and Luke Wilson.

"The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" (2004): A comedic adventure film about an oceanographer, played by Bill Murray, who sets out to exact revenge on a mythical shark that killed his partner.

"The Darjeeling Limited" (2007): A visually stunning comedy-drama that follows three estranged brothers, played by Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, and Jason Schwartzman, as they embark on a train journey across India.

"Fantastic Mr. Fox" (2009): An animated adaptation of Roald Dahl's children's book, featuring the voices of George Clooney, Meryl Streep, and Bill Murray. It tells the story of a cunning fox and his efforts to outwit three evil farmers.

"Moonrise Kingdom" (2012): A nostalgic coming-of-age film set in the 1960s, revolving around two young lovers who run away from their New England town, prompting a search party to find them.

"The Grand Budapest Hotel" (2014): A whimsical comedy set in a fictional European hotel, following the misadventures of a legendary concierge, played by Ralph Fiennes, and his apprentice.

"Isle of Dogs" (2018): Another stop-motion animated film by Anderson, set in a dystopian future Japan where a young boy searches for his lost dog on an isolated trash island.

These films showcase Wes Anderson's distinctive visual style, symmetrical compositions, vibrant color palettes, and eccentric characters. His work often blends comedy with poignant moments and explores themes of family, love, and the human condition.

what are his more current filmsChatGPT

As of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, Wes Anderson's most recent film was "The French Dispatch" (2021). However, please note that there may have been subsequent releases or announcements since then that I'm not aware of. "The French Dispatch" is a comedic anthology film set in the fictional French city of Ennui-sur-Blasé. It features an ensemble cast including Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, Frances McDormand, Owen Wilson, and many others. The film tells various stories published in the eponymous magazine, each presented as a separate article. It encapsulates Anderson's signature visual style and storytelling approach.

why some people aren't fans of WesChatGPT

While Wes Anderson has a dedicated fan base and is highly regarded by many, it's important to acknowledge that not everyone may appreciate his films or become fans. Here are a few reasons why some people might not be fans of Wes Anderson:

Quirky and idiosyncratic style: Wes Anderson's distinct visual style, meticulous compositions, and eccentric characters can be polarizing. Some viewers may find his aesthetic choices, such as symmetrical framing or exaggerated color palettes, to be too stylized or artificial, which may detract from their enjoyment of his films.

Slow pacing and dry humor: Anderson's films often have a deliberate pacing and dry humor that might not resonate with everyone. The emphasis on dialogue-driven storytelling and subtle comedic moments may not appeal to those who prefer fast-paced, action-packed narratives or more overt humor.

Lack of relatability or emotional connection: Some viewers may find it challenging to emotionally connect with Anderson's characters or find them relatable. His films often feature idiosyncratic and quirky characters that can be seen as detached or emotionally distant, which may make it difficult for certain audiences to engage with the story on a deeper level.

Repetitive themes and stylistic choices: Critics argue that Wes Anderson's films can be formulaic, with recurring themes, visual motifs, and character archetypes. While this consistency is appreciated by many fans, others may feel that his work lacks innovation or becomes predictable over time.

Overemphasis on style over substance: Detractors of Wes Anderson sometimes claim that his meticulous attention to visual detail and stylization can overshadow the substance or depth of his storytelling. They argue that his films can prioritize style and aesthetic choices at the expense of character development or thematic exploration.

It's essential to remember that personal preferences in film are subjective, and not every filmmaker or style will resonate with everyone. While Wes Anderson has a dedicated following, it's natural that some individuals may not connect with his films for various reasons.

[diningwiththeasquiths]

In my other Ireland vacation post I promised a separate post about the eco marine tour we went on. So here it is.

This tour's starting point is in Ventry, on the Dingle Peninsula, and I highly recommend it. The people are very friendly and experienced, and clearly care deeply about the wildlife. (This has also been my experience during two Cornwall boat tours in 2018, passionate people who respect nature are the best tour guides imo. ❤️)

Our trip got postponed by one day, ensuring that we had the best possible conditions. And even though the waves were still a bit rough, the weather was lovely and the sightings were plentiful!

We explored the Blasket Islands, some were blanketed in clouds and others looked so dramatic they reminded us of the Jurassic Park island.

We passed a beach where a grey seal colony lives.

They were so cute!! This one says ''hello''.

Next they took us over to the bird areas of the islands. Here we saw lots of razorbills and puffins, both beautiful and amazing animals! Sadly puffins are threatened with extinction. One of our guides said that if nothing changes we will be the last generation to see puffins in the wild. 😭😭

During the tour we also saw gannets, a peregrine falcon and Manx shearwaters. As for other non-bird related wildlife, we saw a bunch of common dolphins, including little ones, some swimming along with our boat!

And I kept the most incredible encounter for last. This has been a dream of mine for many, many years... WE SAW BASKING SHARKS 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

They described this first one we saw as 'a smaller specimen'. Mind you, when they are born they are already 1,5 - 2 meters long. So it was still an impressive sight! 🤩 We encountered some more basking sharks later on, but those went under rather quickly (perhaps they heard me say 'IT'S SO BIG!' lol). I did see a giant dorsal fin up close since one of them swam close to the boat (hence my exclamation 😆).

So yeah it was one of the best and most awesome days of my life and I wish I could go on tours like these at least once a week, because I absolutely ADORE basking sharks and yearn to see them up close all the time. (It takes lots of luck to get the place and timing right though.)

Feeling so blessed 🥰🥰🥰 (And at the same time craving more boat tours *heavy breathing* Maybe next year in Scotland... 👀)

[ivankahasbeentreatedsounfairly]

The New York Times

By Lisa Friedman

President-elect Donald J. Trump has tapped Mark Burnett, the producer who helped turn him into a household name with “The Apprentice,” as special envoy to Britain.

“With a distinguished career in television production and business, Mark brings a unique blend of diplomatic acumen and international recognition to this important role,” Mr. Trump wrote in a social media post, noting that Mr. Burnett had won 13 Emmy Awards.

Mr. Burnett, 64, is perhaps best known for reshaping American television with the reality TV hit “Survivor” in 2000. He also helped produce shows like “Shark Tank,” “The Voice” and “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?”

But it is “The Apprentice” that will forever bind Mr. Burnett and Mr. Trump. The show, which debuted in 2004 on NBC and ran through 2017, was credited with rehabilitating Mr. Trump’s image after it was tarnished by financial difficulties. As The New Yorkerput it, the reality show “mythologized him anew, and on a much bigger scale, turning him into an icon of American success.”

The show presented Mr. Trump as the ultimate successful, self-made billionaire. On it, contestants competed to prove their business skills through a series of challenges. One would be eliminated at the end of each episode with Mr. Trump’s catchphrase, “You’re fired!” He wielded it on the campaign trail, too. “Kamala, you’re fired!” Mr. Trump said frequently at his rallies this year.

The show eventually spawned a spinoff, “The Celebrity Apprentice.” Mr. Trump initially hosted that program, too, but he ended up being fired himself. In 2015, NBC severed ties with himafter he referred to Mexican immigrants as rapists and murderers in a speech announcing his bid for the White House.

Mr. Burnett played a pivotal role in one of Mr. Trump’s first major scandals, when several women came forward in 2016 to say they had been groped or assaulted by Mr. Trump, and a video surfaced of Mr. Trump boasting that he could sexually assault women and get away with it. Mr. Burnett resisted intense pressure to release footage from the “Apprentice” set that some former crew members said could reveal Mr. Trump acting in vulgar ways.

But days after Mr. Burnett said in a statement in October 2016 that he did “not have the ability nor the right to release footage or other material from ‘The Apprentice,’” he also distanced himself from Mr. Trump.

“I am not now and have never been a supporter of Donald Trump’s candidacy. I am NOT ‘Pro-Trump,’” Mr. Burnett said in a second statement.

“Further, my wife and I reject the hatred, division and misogyny that has been a very unfortunate part of his campaign,” he added.

But, by year’s end, he was involved in planning the festivities for Mr. Trump’s inaugural week.

It is unclear what Mr. Burnett’s duties as special envoy will be. Mr. Trump has already named Warren Stephens, an investment banker and billionaire, as his choice for ambassador to Britain.

Mr. Trump said that Mr. Burnett, who was born in London, would “work to enhance diplomatic relations, focusing on areas of mutual interest, including trade, investment opportunities and cultural exchanges.”

Also unknown is whether Mr. Burnett’s prospective role will require Senate confirmation. Since 2023, special envoys have required Senate confirmation if they meet a specific standard set out in U.S. law, but Mr. Trump and a Republican-controlled Senate could decide that Mr. Burnett’s position does not meet that standard.

Mr. Burnett served as president of United Artists Media Group from 2014 to 2018 and as chairman of MGM Worldwide Television Group from 2018 to 2022. The only child of Ford factory workers, Mr. Burnett was raised in Dagenham, Essex. He served in the British Army and in 1982 immigrated to the United States.

Mr. Trump has announced several ambassadorial and special envoy positions over the past week, including one for his former ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell, whom he chose as envoy for “special missions.”

On Saturday, Mr. Trump also named Tilman J. Fertitta, the billionaire owner of the Houston Rockets, to be his ambassador to Italy. Mr. Fertitta is the owner of the restaurant group Landry’s, and he became the star of the CNBC show “Billion Dollar Buyer.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/21/us/politics/mark-burnett-special-envoy.html

[xprojectrpg]

This Day in X-Project - August 15

2015: Hope A. comes across Warren and his assistant Jolene at a party and manages to impress the billionaire. Amadeus post a video as revenge for the Russians messing with his social media feeds. Marie Ange posts a list of why she needs coffee. Molly leaves Wade a handmade gun holster for his birthday. Alex and Lorna talk about what happened when he was captured and their relationship. Wanda emails Doug and Emma about finding a way to save Simon’s reputation. It’s Greek To Me: Clint and Molly examine the Atlantean tech; Clint emails Scott and Wanda about moving some equipment around and taking a look at the tech respectively.

2016: Marie-Ange "accidentally" snoops through Quentin's mail and offers him some makeup tips.

2017: Warren texts Hope A. non-stop. Tabitha wonders about everyone’s survival plan for the year.

2018: An experiment goes awry for Molly and Reed and they literally get stuck in the lab; Logan is reluctant to try to cut them free after previous experiences and gets Sue instead. Amanda and Jean-Paul share some spiked coffee and have a chat about Topaz.

2019: Nat makes a journal entry reminding people, especially Clint, that it’s Shark Week. Kyle texts Terry about sneaking out for her gala. Kyle also makes a journal post seeking help with his suit game.

2020:

2021:

2022: Jean-Phillipe emails Marie-Ange concerning her birthday weekend dinner plans. Namor emails Quentin and Terry about publicity. Arthur asks for good vibes memes. Clarice posts a journal requesting a sparring partner. Forge finds Matt in the Chapel basement and the possibility to expand upon accessibility occurs.

2023: Clint and Gabriel meet up for an intel swap and Clint ends up explaining the portal to Gabe. Garrison and Haller discuss Jessica's previous living situation where Warren overhears and offers his help in the matter. Sharon S. encounters Kurt, ever elusive, as she strolls the mansion at night and plies him for answers to his mutation. Topaz and Alani discuss bringing help into the library.