Shark Awareness Day - July 14, 2021

DIANE'S CORNER .. 

Celebrate Shark Awareness Day

Contrary to what you might expect, the purpose of Shark Awareness Day is not to stand on the beach and shout out warnings to terrified swimmers and surfers, despite the hours of mischievous fun that could provide!

Like top predators in any ecosystem, sharks play an essential role in keeping the seas healthy and productive, and yet various threats make these ocean oligarchs a persecuted and vulnerable species. While no one is suggesting we go out and hug a great white on Shark Awareness Day, it’s the least we can do to respect these wonderful creatures and help protect them.

A short summary of sharks

From the mako to the basking, from the great white to the hammerhead, from the nurse to the tiger, sharks roam our oceans (and in a couple of cases our freshwater rivers) the world over. These toothy fish, which are closely related to rays, live for around 30 years on average, but some species make it to over 100, with one Greenland shark discovered to be at least 272!

Their most distinctive feature is of course their razor-sharp teeth – sharks can have as many as seven rows of gnashers and go through up to 30,000 of them in their lifetimes. Another key weapon in their hunting arsenal is their electrical sensitivity, able to pick up on electromagnetic fields better than any other animal. This allows them to seek out their prey, even if hiding or camouflaged.

With so many species found all over the globe, it’s no wonder that these water-dwellers also possess a few weird and wonderful quirks! Did you know, for example, that bamboo sharks can’t actually swim (instead they push themselves along the sand with their fins) or that frilled sharks’ pregnancies last a lengthy 3.5 years? Did you know that hammerheads have a 360-degree vision or that female sharks will occasionally reproduce via parthenogenesis (essentially a type of cloning)? It’s nothing short of enthralling whenever it comes to sharks!

History of Shark Awareness Day

Sharks are one of the oldest species on the planet, with fossil records showing they were cruising our oceans at least 420 million years ago. Modern-day sharks have been around for about 100 million years – even that’s back when the dinosaurs existed!

Nowadays there are over 500 species of shark, ranging from the tiny dwarf lantern shark, able to fit into the palm of your hand, to the gigantic whale shark, which can clock in at up to 10m. However, this is nothing compared to the megalodon, a now extinct relation of the modern-day great white, which may have reached sizes of a whopping 20m!

Some cultures, such as Hawaiian and Pacific Island cultures, have long revered and respected these impressive hunters and predators, with various legendary tales and mythologies. Unfortunately, however, cultural depictions of these creatures have by and large been a significant contributing factor to the fear and stigma surrounding them. You’re hard-pressed to find a shark film that doesn’t portray these animals in at least a partially negative light, and the majority of Hollywood blockbusters, from Jaws and Deep Blue Sea to The Shallows and 47 Meters Down, have perpetuated the idea of sharks as bloodthirsty, vengeful monsters.

Those familiar with sharks will know that this unfair reputation is far from the truth, and the sad fact remains that these magnificent creatures are threatened far more by us humans than we are by them. In fact, while there are around 10 fatal shark attacks a year (for context, cows kill 20 people a year, ants kill 50 and falling coconuts kill 150!), the various dangers they face all combine to mean an estimated 100 million sharks are killed by humans each year.

These include overfishing and bycatch (through which their food source is depleted and they’re often killed as collateral damage in the fishing process), pollution, the worldwide demand for commodities such as shark-fin soup and shark-tooth medallions, and an inflated sense of threat at beaches and other coastal regions where sharks are known to swim the waters, leading to excessive culls.

Shark finning in particular is an especially cruel and wasteful practice, in which just the fins are taken for food and the live animals thrown back into the sea where they will soon drown or be eaten by another predator.

As a result of these activities, experts believe that over the past 50 years shark numbers have declined by more than 70%, a devastating loss to the biodiversity of our oceans. And that’s why Shark Awareness Day is so important, helping to preserve these vital fish now and well into the future.

Shark Awareness Day aims to both dispel the fear, stigma, and misinformation surrounding sharks and also raise awareness of this creature’s plight, inspiring people all over the world to take action in their defence.

When Dylan Scalet inherited a collection of photos from his grandfather Jack Sharp, he wasn’t exactly thrilled. In fact, it was only during the Covid-19 lockdown that he got around to digitalizing the film, and he was in for a surprise! What he found was a treasure trove. The incredible photos of Sharp vividly depict the street life of Europe, more than half a century ago. 

JOKE OF THE DAY

thanks, Jill

There once was a farmer from Leeds,
Who swallowed a packet of seeds.
It soon came to pass,
He was covered with grass,
But has all the tomatoes he needs.

Jack Sharp was a British engineer by trade, working in Geneva, Switzerland. In his free time, however, he was a street photographer and a talented one at that.

WORD OF THE DAY

chamber of horrors

MEANING:

noun: A collection of horrifying things, ideas, people, etc.

ETYMOLOGY:

After the Chamber of Horrors, a room in Madame Tussaud’s waxwork exhibition in London. It displayed waxworks of notorious criminals and other infamous historical figures. Earliest documented use: 1849.

USAGE:

“Dr Charles Eugster: Old age can be a chamber of horrors but it’s never too late to change your life and try something new.”
Aine McMahon; “Work Is Fundamental for Longevity,” Says 94-Year-Old; Irish Times (Dublin); Jun 28, 2014.

The photos were taken everywhere around Switzerland, but mostly in Geneva, Lausanne, and the western regions.

TODAY'S ARTIST 

thanks, Natalie

Jean Tabaud (5 July 1914 – 3 December 1996) 

was a French portrait painter and war artist.

IDIOM OF THE DAY

What does 'Bad taste in your mouth' mean?

Meaning: If something leaves you with a bad taste in your mouth, you feel there is something wrong or bad about it.

DAILY SQUEEK

If You Were Born Today, July 14

You are a very focused person, with some obsessive qualities, but as you gain life experience, you learn to ease up and enjoy yourself more. You often have a cause that you're passionate about and certainly enjoy helping people or opening others' eyes - teaching them to see the world differently. You are communicative, busy, and often on the go. You love to travel, but your home base is very important to you. Famous people born today: 

1868 Gertrude Bell, British archaeologist (Desert & The Sown), born in Washington Hall, County Durham, England (d. 1926)

1910 William Hanna, American animator (Hanna-Barbera, Tom and Jerry, Scooby Doo), born in Melrose, New Mexico (d. 2001)

1913 Gerald Ford [Leslie King], 38th US President (R: 1974-77) and 41st US Vice President (R: 1973-74), born in Omaha, Nebraska (d. 2006)

1918 Ingmar Bergman, Swedish stage and film director (Cries & Whispers), born in Uppsala, Sweden (d. 2007)

1985 Phoebe Waller-Bridge, English actress, writer and director (Fleabag), born in London, England

thanks, Ellie

(Not So) TOTALLY USELESS FACTS OF THE DAY

Snails take the longest naps, some lasting as long as three years.

Applesauce was the first food eaten in space by astronauts.

The smallest country in the world takes up .2 square miles, it is the Vatican City.

READERS INFO

1.

1968 -

American baseball great Hank Aaron hit his 500th career home run.

2.

thanks for the Offbeat Holiday, Patty

July 15th - Gummi Worm Day

Held annually on July 15, Gummi Worm Day celebrates and honors these chewy and yummy creepy crawly sweet treats.

3.

Coronavirus Style by Sylvia, CAN DO Correspondent

Lemon Pudding Cake

COFFEE

thanks, Ella

PICTURES OF THE DAY

The Central Arizona Project Aqueduct is a diversion canal in Arizona in the United States. The aqueduct diverts water from the Colorado River from Lake Havasu City into central and southern Arizona. The Central Arizona Project is a multipurpose water resource development and management project that was designed to provide water to nearly one million acres (4,000 km²) of Indian and non-Indian irrigated agricultural land areas as well as municipal water for several Arizona communities.

Snapper party

For several days each month, thousands of two spot red snappers gather to spawn around Palau in the western Pacific Ocean. The action is intense as the fish fill the water with sperm and eggs, and predators arrive to take advantage of the bounty. Captured here is a dynamic arc of spawning fish amid clouds of eggs in the oblique morning light.

knit .. Christmas in July
thanks, Eve

Christmas Stocking

knit .. Christmas in July
thanks, Martha

Christmas Bells Banner

knit .. Christmas in July

Frosty's Christmas Kids

knit .. Christmas in July

Bitty Baby Santa Suit

knit .. Christmas in July

Holiday Gift Bag Set

KNIT PATTERNS OF THE DAY

thanks, Valerie, Canadian Correspondent

How To Knit A Market String Bag

Mohave Slouchy Tote Bag

crochet .. Christmas in July
thanks, Tara

Hanging Santa pattern by Amy Skinner

crochet .. Christmas in July
thanks, Laura

Gingerbread Christmas Stocking

crochet .. Christmas in July

Poinsettia Scarf

crochet .. Christmas in July

Christmas Snowman Tree Skirt

crochet .. Christmas in July

Falling Snowflakes Crochet Scarf

RECIPE

thanks, Shelley, New York Food Correspondent

Classic Caesar Salad Recipe

PANTRY RECIPE

thanks, Debbie

Braised Beef Short Ribs

CROCKPOT RECIPE

thanks, Mindy

Slow Cooker Brisket Smoked Paprika

VEGAN/ VEGETARIAN RECIPE

Both vegetarian and vegan diets may provide health benefits, including reduced body weight, lower cholesterol levels, and decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. However, it is important for vegetarians and vegans to ensure that they are meeting all of their nutritional requirements.

thanks, Alice

Stewed Peppers and Tomatoes with Eggs

COPYCAT RECIPE 

thanks, Jenny

Duncan Hines Copycat Moist Deluxe Cake Mix

RETRO RECIPE

thanks, Ann

SWEETS RECIPE

thanks, Abby

Raspberry Chocolate Chip Cookies

ICE POP

thanks, Michelle

Blueberry Ice Cream

ADULT COLORING

FUN .. Spot the Differences

Tom Brady & Gisele Bundchen - 5 Differences

 

answer:

CRAFTS .. Christmas in July

thanks, Kay 

How to Make Christmas Stockings

CHILDREN'S CORNER .. Christmas in July

thanks, Lucy

Tin Can Snowman

PUZZLE

Rope Cleat Hitch Jigsaw Puzzle

WORD SEARCH

annoy cart chat chemistry cling contribute

decree depart doubt ensure event executive export extent

feature general gleam health

interfere irksome pester poise power print

recent relate release sphere super temple tier tiger

SUDOKU .. easy

solution:

thanks for the pics, Kitty

ICE BREAKER

thanks, Kris

You can use 'ice breaker questions' to build a rapport, enabling strangers to engage in back and forth conversion. With a little practice and possibly a beer or two, you’ll be breaking more ice than the Titanic. 

What Animal Would Be Cutest If Scaled Down To The Size Of A Cat?

QUOTE

thanks, Marilyn

CLEVER 

thanks, Nina

In the summertime, a favorite destination for ants is often a pet’s food bowl. Here’s a simple way to keep them out of your dog or cat’s food. Set the dish in a pan of water. Not only does it keep the ants out of the pet food, but your pet can take a gulp of water from the pan whenever he or she needs a drink. 

EYE OPENER 

thanks, Ella

Gypsy Moth Caterpillars Are Ravaging Our Trees

Someone's calculator is busted

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

Literature encourages tolerance -- bigots and fanatics seldom have any use for the arts, because they're so preoccupied with their beliefs and actions that they can't see them also as possibilities. -Northrop Frye, writer and critic (14 Jul 1912-1991)

OPTICAL ILLUSION

Don't be afraid, this dog isn't on fire, he's just covered in some holi powder (the colorful powders used during the Indian Holi festival)

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