Dawn Brancheau, 40, was killed Wednesday, February 24th, by a killer-whale at SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida. The Whale, named Tilikum, has been associated with the deaths of two other people in 1991 and 1999.
-How many animals in zoos or aquariums have been involved in human deaths and are still on display? Do the injuries or deaths usually occur to staff and gamekeepers, or to visitors?
-What are the real dangers involved in dealing with wild animals? What are some of the risks taken by gamekeepers and trainers? What are some true stories of attacks by animals?
-Why are groups like PETA opposed to caging wild animals? How do zoos and aquariums adhere to animal protection rights? Why do animals sometimes attack their trainers?
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Who am I?
I was born far away is a desert. Then, when I just a boy I was taken away from my mother to start training. I made friends, and fell in love with a young queen.
But all that changed. All I care about now is power. After my accident it has been difficult to dress normally. Doctors created a special suit for me that will keep me alive. And since most of my body was burned I prefer to wear a mask.
When I walk, it is usually loud because of my boots, but everybody gets out of my way, because they know that I can kill them just by thinking about it. People usually don’t address me directly, but when they do, I reply in constrained monotone sentences. Since the fire damaged my lungs too, I have to breathe through a special machine in my suit.
The only regret I have is that my son doesn’t know who I am, and that my daughter’s birth was kept a secret from me.
But all that changed. All I care about now is power. After my accident it has been difficult to dress normally. Doctors created a special suit for me that will keep me alive. And since most of my body was burned I prefer to wear a mask.
When I walk, it is usually loud because of my boots, but everybody gets out of my way, because they know that I can kill them just by thinking about it. People usually don’t address me directly, but when they do, I reply in constrained monotone sentences. Since the fire damaged my lungs too, I have to breathe through a special machine in my suit.
The only regret I have is that my son doesn’t know who I am, and that my daughter’s birth was kept a secret from me.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
The Rock Star is dead
Besides Keith Richards falling out of a hammock in his usual drunken Quaalude induced stupor a few years ago, there is nobody taking the reigns in 72 hour, cocaine, hotel-room carnage.
The alpha male front-man of today’s popular bands are post-pubescent, pale-faced, eye-liner pretty boys whose balls are held so tight by their super-conglomerate record label's hands that they cant help but sing two octaves higher than any man whose name isn’t Prince or Aaron Neville ever should.
The almost godlike status of previous rock-stars upheld their image by face-melting solos and live jam sessions while managing to stand on their feet with enough alcohol and cat tranquilizer to take down an elephant.
Today’s musicians and pop stars are too busy with their manicures and personal clothing lines to write a masterpiece on acid.
Besides that, mainstream “music” has undoubtedly shifted towards rap and hip-hop. I use “music” in quotes because as far as I can remember music is defined as pleasant sounds from musical instruments played with skill along with melodic, in-tune singing. Granted at the onset of hip-hop, rappers had a credible sense of timing, were understandable and lyrics were generally about bettering their surroundings and making something out of themselves.
In recent years however, people have forgotten about the message music is supposed bring to the people. For generations music has been a political and social outlet for forward thinking and awareness.
It is inevitable for fans to believe in what is being said, and brainwashing the masses to believe 24-inch rims, bling-bling, Hummers, Chrystal, hustling and booty is the key to life’s happiness, can be detrimental to an entire generation’s motivational and moral drive.
Music has truly become an industry, driven by what little profit is left from record sales. Selling mostly sex instead of talent, music has become more of a spectacle than an auditory experience. A visual aid is needed to sell the music, not the music itself.
The alpha male front-man of today’s popular bands are post-pubescent, pale-faced, eye-liner pretty boys whose balls are held so tight by their super-conglomerate record label's hands that they cant help but sing two octaves higher than any man whose name isn’t Prince or Aaron Neville ever should.
The almost godlike status of previous rock-stars upheld their image by face-melting solos and live jam sessions while managing to stand on their feet with enough alcohol and cat tranquilizer to take down an elephant.
Today’s musicians and pop stars are too busy with their manicures and personal clothing lines to write a masterpiece on acid.
Besides that, mainstream “music” has undoubtedly shifted towards rap and hip-hop. I use “music” in quotes because as far as I can remember music is defined as pleasant sounds from musical instruments played with skill along with melodic, in-tune singing. Granted at the onset of hip-hop, rappers had a credible sense of timing, were understandable and lyrics were generally about bettering their surroundings and making something out of themselves.
In recent years however, people have forgotten about the message music is supposed bring to the people. For generations music has been a political and social outlet for forward thinking and awareness.
It is inevitable for fans to believe in what is being said, and brainwashing the masses to believe 24-inch rims, bling-bling, Hummers, Chrystal, hustling and booty is the key to life’s happiness, can be detrimental to an entire generation’s motivational and moral drive.
Music has truly become an industry, driven by what little profit is left from record sales. Selling mostly sex instead of talent, music has become more of a spectacle than an auditory experience. A visual aid is needed to sell the music, not the music itself.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
All About Me
I did not grow up in California, so I love it here.
My passion has always been cars and bikes and guitars, so what better place to come to.
I bought a 1967 Mustang when I came out to the Bay area that was built in the original San Jose Ford factory and never left the state. I have been investing most of my time and money into it as I want to restore it to a vintage GT race car style.
Lately I have gotten into old bicycles and 1920's board-track style motorcycles. I restored a couple mid 60's Schwinn bicycles and installed air cooled 80cc 2-stroke engines on them to give them a real vintage look, I even sold two of them.
Besides that I have been playing guitar for the last 10 years and I find myself leaning towards older delta blues and classic rock. I have some basic recording equipment and I recently built a reproduction Fender Telecaster with hand-wound Wilkinson Pick-ups.
Now as to why I am in the Journalism department, well that is a mystery even to me;
I have always had a love of reading and writing, a family driven passion for travel, and a particular appreciation for photography. While I didn't see myself following one of these paths individually, I found Photojournalism to be a challenging compromise. Having to learn new writing styles and have the opportunity to use professional photographic equipment seemed like the logical choice to further my ambitions.
My passion has always been cars and bikes and guitars, so what better place to come to.
I bought a 1967 Mustang when I came out to the Bay area that was built in the original San Jose Ford factory and never left the state. I have been investing most of my time and money into it as I want to restore it to a vintage GT race car style.
Lately I have gotten into old bicycles and 1920's board-track style motorcycles. I restored a couple mid 60's Schwinn bicycles and installed air cooled 80cc 2-stroke engines on them to give them a real vintage look, I even sold two of them.
Besides that I have been playing guitar for the last 10 years and I find myself leaning towards older delta blues and classic rock. I have some basic recording equipment and I recently built a reproduction Fender Telecaster with hand-wound Wilkinson Pick-ups.
Now as to why I am in the Journalism department, well that is a mystery even to me;
I have always had a love of reading and writing, a family driven passion for travel, and a particular appreciation for photography. While I didn't see myself following one of these paths individually, I found Photojournalism to be a challenging compromise. Having to learn new writing styles and have the opportunity to use professional photographic equipment seemed like the logical choice to further my ambitions.
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