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shisasan · 2 years

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Fresh Water Meets Sea Water This is the Fraser River Delta just in front of Vancouver BC Canada where sea water meets fresh water. The river water from Fraser River, flows into the ocean water of the Strait of Georgia. Modern Science has discovered that in the places where two different bodies meet, there is a barrier between them. This barrier creates a noticeable line, as each water body has its own temperature, salinity, and density.

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#nature #sea water #fresh water #fraser river #vancouver #canada #strait of georgia #water #sea #river #wonders of nature #u

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unofficial-sean · 2 years

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This paper is very similar to the last, and is even authored by the same researchers. Using a stereo-camera construction at the Flora Islet reef wall, they were able to measure the total length of 35 free-swimming Hexanchus griseus and also examine scars on the sharks.

The length-frequency relationship observed resembled a bell curve, with the most frequently occurring total length being 180cm-299cm. That makes most of these shark subadults and juveniles. 13 of the 35 H. griseus bared scars similar to those caused by commercial fishing gear.

#chondrichthyes #selachii #hexanchiformes #hexanchidae #hexanchus griseus #h. griseus #bluntnose sixgill shark #cowshark #bc #british columbia #strait of georgia #flora islet

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frothytundra · 1 year

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Across the Strait of Georgia

When you visit the Surf Lodge Pub on Gabriola Island, you will be amazed by the massive size and beauty of the wooden joists and beams that support the roof above you. When you leave the Surf Lodge Pub on Gabriola Island, you will be in awe of the view of the Strait of Georgia that greets you. In the distance are pastel suggestions of the mainland, and in between there and you is the deceptively…

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#Gabriola Island #Salish Sea #Strait of Georgia #Surf Lodge Pub

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boneszphoto · 7 months

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some photos from the ferry

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midnight-star-world · 7 months

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#CountryMusic

CMT Summer Sessions/CMT Stages/CMT Summer Camp 2023

So today on the MSR (Midnight Star Review), I would to review the Summer of 2023 for CMT (Country Music Television). This includes CMT Summer Sessions, CMT Stages, & CMT Summer Camp. So let's begin right now.

CMT Summer Sessions.

The series premiered on 7/7/23 and the first episode we will talk about is the one with Chris Janson. Chris Janson's episode on Friday July 14th, 2023 at 9pm EST (Eastern Standard Time) on CMT.

Set list. Good vibes. Fix a drink. Done. The outlaw side of me. All I need is you. Tap that. 21 forever. Buy me a boat.

Now we jump to the July 28th, 2023 episode featuring Summer Jams/covers or favorite soundtrack to the Summer. And this was at 9pm EST.

Set list. Lee Brice - (John Michael Montgomery cover) - Be my baby tonight. Ashley McBryde - (The Kentucky Headhunters cover) - Walk softly on this heart of mine. Breland - (Shania Twain cover) - Man! I feel like a woman! Tanya Tucker - Delta Dawn. Chris Janson - (Brooks & Dunn cover) - Boot scootin' boogie.

Now we bounce to CMT Stages featuring Scotty McCreery at 9:30pm EST on Friday July 28th, 2023. This show talks and showcases some of Scotty's biggest hits of his career.

Set list. Damn Strait. I love you this big. Southern belle. Five more minutes. It matters to her.

CMT Summer Sessions featuring Jordan Davis at 9pm EST on Friday August 4th, 2023. So what's see what Jordan played for us.

Set list. What my world spins arounds. Almost maybes. Singles you up. Damn good time. Slow dance in a parking lot. Take it from me. Next thing you know. Tucson too late. Buy dirt.

Here is the next episode which aired on Friday August 11th, 2023 at 9pm EST. Lee Brice plays some of his biggest hits for us now.

Set list. Soul. On your way out. Hard to love. Memory I don't mess with. I don't dance. Rumor. Boy. One of them girls.

Now we go to CMT Summer Camp featuring Tyler Hubbard. He is one half of Florida Georgia Line (FGL) and the show took place at 10pm EST at Friday August 11th, 2023.

Set list. 35's. 5 foot 9. Me for me. Small town me. Cruise. Out this way. Tough. Dancin' in the Country.

And we will go to our final episode of CMT Summer Sessions that we will talk about. Which is the 90's hosted by Lee Brice and aired on Friday August 18th, 2023 at 9pm EST.

Chris Janson - (Tim McGraw cover) - Down on the farm. Breland - (Deana Carter cover) - Strawberry wine. Ashley McBryde - (Pam Tillis cover) - Maybe it was Memphis. Lee Brice - (Travis Tritt cover) - Here's a quarter (Call someone who cares). Tanya Tucker - It's a little too late.

And that's a wrap for all the shows that I wanted to highlight for you guys. And I picked the episodes that I would be interested in. And on the MSR (Midnight Star Review), I would give all these shows a 3 out of 5 stars. It was good having something to watch during the Summer. Thanks for taking the time to read this review. See ya all next time.

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trua23 · 10 months

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Two new calves in apparent good health have been born into the endangered Southern Resident killer whale population in the Strait of Georgia, in British Columbia, according to the Center for Whale Research (CWR), in Friday Harbor, Washington.

Researchers said the two calves, identified as L126, from mother L119, and L127, from mother L94, were encountered during a survey of a group of whales containing members of J pod and the L12 subgroup in the Strait of Georgia on June 30.

#killer whale #orcas #orca #killer whales #cetaceans #ocean #southern resident orcas #southern resident killer whales #salish sea #srkw

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allthecanadianpolitics · 9 months

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A blind B.C. man completed an 11-hour-long swim from Sechelt to Nanaimo on Sunday, raising over $120,000 for people in need of guide dogs.

Scott Rees, 39, was greeted at Pipers Lagoon in Nanaimo with a warm welcome from dozens of friends, family members, and supporters.

"Hearing the cheers on the beach gave me the fuel, the fire I needed for the last 200 or 300 metres," Rees said after the swim.

He arrived around 5 p.m. after just under 11 hours — exceeding his expectations of making the crossing in under 12.

Rees noted he felt "banged up" and was happy to be back on dry land. [...]

Tagging: @politicsofcanada

#cdnpoli #British Columbia #Nanaimo #Sechelt #disability rights #healthcare

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naturesfirstgreenisgold · 6 months

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Childhood lovers with Jake ‘H_ngm_n’ Seresin

All the Pretty Girls- Kenny Chesney

American Kids- Kenny Chesney

Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not- Thompson Square

Austin- Blake Shelton

Beautiful Crazy- Luke Combs

Buy Dirt- Jordan Davis, Luke Bryan

Carrying Your Love With Me- George Strait

Chicken Fried- Zac Brown Band

Cover Me Up- Morgan Wallen

Cowboy Take Me Away- The Chicks

Crash My Party- Luke Bryan

Craving You- Thomas Rhett, Maren Morris

Diamond In My Pocket-Cody Johnson

Die A Happy Man-Thomas Rhett

Dirt On My Boots-Jon Pardi

Dirt Road Anthem-Jason Aldean

Do l- Luke Bryan

Drunk On You-Luke Bryan

Even Though I'm Leaving-Luke Combs

Fast Car- Luke Combs

Feathered Indians- Tyler Childers

Fire Away- Chris Stapleton

Footloose- Kenny Loggins

Forever & Ever Amen- Randy Travis

Galveston- Glen Campbell

God Gave Me You- Blake Shelton

Greatest Love Story- LANCO

Hard To Love- Lee Brice

Heading South- Zach Bryan

Head Carolina, Tails California- Jo Dee Messina

Heartache On The Dance Floor- Jon Parti

Heart Like A Truck- Lainey Wilson

He Could Be The One- Hannah Montana

Hold My Hand- Lady Gaga

Home- Blake Shelton

Hometown Girl-Josh Turner

Honey Bee- Blake Shelton

Hotel California- The Eagles

I Ain’t Worried- OneRepublic

I Don’t Dance- CHAD, Ryan, Disney

I Don’t Dance- Lee Brice

I Don’t Want This Night To End- Luke Bryan

I Drive Your Truck- Lee Brice

If I Didn’t Love You- Jason Aldean, Carrie Underwood

If I Was Your Man- Blake Shelton

I Like The Sound Of That- Rascal Flatts

I’ll Name the Dogs- Blake Shelton

I’m Comin’ Over- Chris Young

I’m In A Hurry (And I Don’t Know Why)- Alabama

I Wish Grandpas Never Died- Riley Green

The Kind of Love We Make- Luke Combs

Last Night- Morgan Wallen

Life in the Fast Lane-Eagles

Life’s a Dance- John Micheal Montgomery

Like I Love Country Music- Kane Brown

Love Like Crazy-Lee Brice

Lovin' On You Luke Combs

Meet In the Middle-Diamond Rio

Must Be Doin' Somethin' Right-Billy Currington

My Maria-Brooks & Dunn

New Kid In Town - Eagles

Night Shift- Jon Pardi

Nobody But You- Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani

ONE BEER- HARDY, Lauren Alaina, Devin Dawson

One Of Them Girls- Lee Brice

One of These Nights -Eagles

One Thing At A Time- Morgan Wallen

Playing with the Boys -Kenny Loggins

Play It Again- Luke Bryan

Renegade- Styx

Rhinestone Cowboy-Glen Campbell

Rumor- Lee Brice

Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)-Big & Rich

She Got the Best of Me- Luke Combs

She Had Me At Heads Carolina-Cole Swindell

She's Country- Jason Aldean

Sixteen-Thomas Rhett

Slow Dance In A Parking Lot-Jordan Davis

Small Town Boy- Dustin Lynch

Sold- John Michael Montgomery

Somebody's Problem-Morgan Wallen

Something in the Orange-Zach Bryan

Song of the South-Alabama

Southern Nights- Glen Campbell

Stay-Florida Georgia Line

Strawberry Wine-Deana Carter

Sure Be Cool If- Blake Shelton

Take It Easy -Eagles

Take My Breath Away -Berlin

There Was This Girl-Riley Green

Things a Man Oughta Know-Lainey Wilson

Thought You Should Know-Morgan Wallen

Til You Can't- Cody Johnson

Two Dozen Roses- Shenandoah

Unforgettable- Thomas Rhett

Wagon Wheel- Darius Rucker

The Way I Talk -Morgan Wallen

What Ifs- Kane Brown, Lauren Alaina

Why Don't We Just Dance-Josh Turner

Write This Down-George Strait

You Should Be Here-Cole Swindell

#playlist #spotify #top gun fandom #sereshaw #hangman x reader #jake hangman seresin #jake seresin #country #country music

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scapegrace74-blog · 10 months

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A wonderful Canada Day gift.

The critically endangered Southern Resident Killer Whale population has increased by 2. Two new babies in L pod were officially recorded for the first time yesterday in the Strait of Georgia (between Vancouver and Vancouver Island). They are estimated to be about 2 months old and look healthy.

The number of SRKW alive in the wild now stands at 76.

(Source)

#orca #srkw #british columbia

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unofficial-sean · 2 years

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We return to the Pacific Northwest with this 2003 paper from renowned diver and sixgill enthusiast Zielinski!

This study took place on a shallow reef of the Flora Islet from June 2001 to July 2002. A time-lapse camera was fixed to the reef wall 40m down and recorded an image every 9s. By doing so, they were able to get 240h of data on a 4h footage tape (yes, tape! Like a VCR!). The storage medium was fix at 20m on the reef wall. The recording period was 12h each day from 06:00 to 18:00. The reason for this is visibility. Outside these hours, it would not be possible to distinguish shapes on the film. That being said, this data does not account for nighttime activity. Only daytime activity.

So, what did they find? The most Hexanchus griseus activity on the reef (measured in inbound sharks per hour) occurred in the afternoon from mid-June to mid-July. No daytime activity was seen between October and May. None of the recorded H. griseus were mature, based on estimated TL from footage. Thus, this activity was not based on reproduction. No feeding activity was observed, either, despite the presence of known food items, such at Hydrolagus colliei, Squalus suckleyi, and Phoca vitulina. There's some ambiguity on the conclusion here. Just because this one camera angle didn't capture feeding doesn't mean feeding didn't occur. The likely reason for this pattern of diurnal activity, thus, is temperature regulation. The water temperature between 75 and 200m in the Strait of Georgia is about 8-9 degrees Celsius year round, whereas surface temps can get as cold as 6-7 in Winter and as high as 16-18 in the Summer.

This is really valuable information. If this can be confirmed, it could inform conservation efforts for Hexanchus griseus in the face of ocean temperature increase from climate change and global warming. The reef itself has seen a decline in biodiversity and fauna size over the last 150 years. This is altogether interesting, considering that Hexanchus griseus were thought to stay quite deep during the day, even in Summer.

#chondrichthyes #selachii #hexanchiformes #hexanchidae #hexanchus grieus #h. griseus #bluntnose sixgill shark #cowshark #strait of georgia #cascadia #british columbia #canada #flora islet

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cursedwithgloriouspurpose · 1 year

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#We got a bit salty about something #so we're making our own here #maybe this is just most iconic if you're over 35 #but ffs #country music #look even i didn't want to put george strait or garth brooks on this given what they're like these days #but you can't tell me people don't recognize their songs when they hear them

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boneszphoto · 2 years

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nanaimo estuary at sundown

#west coast #vancouver island #nature #bc #nanaimo #golden hour #sunset #ocean #estuary #horizon #islands #georgia strait

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wickedlittlecritta · 11 months

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#music #jolene is not on the list bc it came out in 73

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birdsofvalhallablogs · 1 year

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Golden Fleece Glittering in the Sky

There’s an old phrase “all that glitters is not gold” from William Shakespear. The phrase meant to point out that outward appearances don’t always mean the true value of the item or person. Throughout history and myths gold is used to represent the eternal, unending, incorruptible, and embracing the powers of the divine. Sif, goddess of fertility and the harvest, had hair of gold that was so coveted by the gods. As a prank, Loki cut the golden locs from her head and they grew back black as night. Golden apples granted youth to the gods and goddesses in Norse Mythology as well. Olympus was a series of palaces made of marble and gold. Anything gold was deemed divine, and so there was always a bit of demand for gold. The color of gold even still is associated with the sun, and this is where we start with the story.

Many generations ago, the gods were present in all aspects of life. Hestia looking after the hearth and home, Athena guiding wartime strategies and knowledge, Hades judging the dead and keeping the underworld contained, Persephone aiding her husband and providing spring and bountiful harvests, and so many more. Poseidon, god of the sea, found a granddaughter of Helios, the titan of the sun, and took her as his consort. Using his divine abilities, he transformed them both into sheep so that her suitors could not find her as the god had his way with his mistress. She bore a son, a ram with glittering fleece of gold that glittered in the sun. He was named Chrysomallos, and he had wings that could carry him great distances. This golden fleeced, winged ram would bring salvation, joy, and death to individuals in its lifetime.

A cloud nymph who was made by Zeus in the image of Hera to trick a lustful guest at one of his feasts, Nephele was indeed beautiful. Her beauty allowed her to marry King Athamas and together they had twins, a boy named Phrixus and a girl named Helle. After a few years, Athamas grew tired of Nephele and sent her away, marrying another woman, Ino, instead. Ino hated her step-children and vowed to get rid of them somehow. So she devised a plot to get the king to slaughter his own son as a “sacrifice to the gods”. She roasted all the seeds meant to be planted, making sure they would not sprout. Then when the citizens went to the oracle, Ino bribed the men who made the trip to tell the rest of the people that Phrixus needed to be sacrificed. Nephele watched as her son was about to be slaughtered and she sent the winged ram Chrysomallos to save her children. The ram descended and picked up Phrixus and Helle before making his way back to his home. However, on the journey, somehow Helle fell from Chrysomallos’s back and died when she drowned in the water. The place that she fell became known as Hellespont, now called Dardanelles or the Strait of Gallipoli. Phrixus on the other hand, safely made it away from Athamas and Ino, as Chrysomallos spoke words of encouragement to him as they fled. When they were finally safe, in what’s now modern day Georgia, on the eastern most coast of the Black Sea, Phrixus sacrificed Chrysomallos to the gods, sending him back to his father, Poseidon. Poseidon put the ram into the sky as the constellation Aries so that all would know they would be watched over. Phrixus gave the golden fleece to a king in exchange for the hand of his daughter. That king would put it in a sacred garden of Ares, where Jason and the Argonauts would try and retrieve the item.

Aries season starts the zodiac cycle as it begins on the Vernal Equinox. Astronomical Spring, March 21st, begins the springtime season and is one of two days that is equal daylight and darkness. From March 21st to April 19th, Aries get their time to shine. They are the cardinal fire sign, the very first fire sign in the zodiac. This makes their temperament very dominant. Aries usually have a lot of problems with the head as that is their body part and they are ruled by the planet Mars. Aries are prone to headaches when there is too much energy around and they’re known for great drive in starting tasks and projects, but not at the followthrough and completion. Aries are known for their mantra of “I Am” as they view themselves as highly important and first in all things. For those who are great with the completion but not starting tasks, having an Aries in your life is the best thing. They will make sure you know how to do what needs to be done and then they will start helping, but leave you to finish it all up which is just the way you like it. Aries can be courageous, determined, confident, optimistic, passionate, enthusiastic, and bluntly honest when you look at them completely. On the flip side, they’re known for being impatient, moody, impulsive, short-tempered, and even aggressive on some occasions. The best thing for Aries when you get one in your life are to make sure they have comfy clothes, a leadership role of some kind, that they can engage in physical challenges, and that they can play individual sports like tennis. The things to never let happen with an Aries are inactivity, delays, and giving them work that doesn’t use their talents.

Aries people get along best with Leos and Libras and their lucky colors are red and mustard. The luckiest numbers are one, eight, and seventeen. Aries usually have their best days on Tuesdays and they align with the tarot card, the Emperor. This soap, colored with ethical micas and activated charcoal, swirls the vibrant reds with darker shades and of course that dark black to make things pop. Nestled in the corner of the soap is a pressed emblem of ram’s horns, painted golden with mica powder, to signify the golden ram Aries. This natural soap is the first in the twelve bar series of the zodiac line and is scented in black violet and saffron. Smelling this soap gives you a seductive scent of amber and herbs with the light floral notes. The geranium and bergamot notes blend into a bouquet of violets and roses all nestled on top of the woodsy and deep saffron base note. In between all these fragrances, hints of leather and vetiver poke through and add a bit of mystique and sultry luxury into your senses and collection of fragrances. This soap wouldn’t be complete without the shining carnelian tumble on the top of each bar. Each tumble is hand selected by the CEO and placed with care to ensure it doesn’t escape during curing and transit. Carnelian is a stone used for protection, just as Chrysomallos protected Phrixus, which makes the choice of the reddish stone perfect for the soap. You can buy your bar here on the website or here on Etsy. And don’t forget a few more things! There are wax melts and pendants for Aries that you can grab for that excellent birthday gift bundle. You don’t want to miss out on this opportunity to give the greatest birthday gift.

#birdsofvalhalla #handmade soap #soap #natural soaps #small business #norse #norse pagan #norse theme #handmade soaps #soapmaking #aries #aries season #aries zodiac #aries zodiac sign #zodiac

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blowflyfag · 3 months

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WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT/FEDERATION MAGAZINE: OCTOBER 1996

EL SID!

THE POTENTIAL IS ABOUT TO BE TAPPED

By Vince Russo

In the early 1990s I just didn’t buy it. This man didn’t belong in anyone’s shadow. Especially a champion who had by far seen his better days. In my opinion, I will always view WrestleMania VIII as a disappointment. It should have been Sid's day… Sid’s year… and Sid’s era. Instead, a voodoo man, a Warrior, and immaturity crashed and ruined his party, thus forcing him almost into obscurity.

In 1992, at WrestleMania VIII, Sid Eudy should’ve, would’ve and could’ve beat Hulk Hogan. He was bigger, stronger, faster and smarter than the then champion. Unfortunately, in his own words, he was not ready for the “big time”. A hometown boy from Arkansas, Sid was not quite prepared for the lights, cameras and action of the World Wrestling Federation. As a matter of fact, before a deserved rematch could have even be issued, Sid had already packed his bags and headed back to “Razorback Country”.

After some extensive soul searching, a more grown-up, seasoned Sid made his comeback to the World Wrestling Federation three years later in 1995. Little did he know that the hurdle that would stand in his way this time was not himself, but rather something that would be far beyond his control. His “greenery” was small potatoes when compared to the professional jealousy that Sid would have to overcome in order to get to the place he wanted to be… the top. Kids, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again–WRESTLING = SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT = BIG BUSINESS = POLITICS and with politics comes jockeying for position. Yes, there are many Willie Shoemakers at TitanSports, both outside…and INSIDE the ring. When Sid made his long awaited return, those who ruled the ring at the time may have been intimidated by him… in more ways than one. He was the new kid on the block, not to mention the new “BIGGER” kid. Fans immediately began cheering him because he was “cool,” and that became threatening to many of his peers. I was at Monday Night Raw in Macon, Georgia, on February 20, 1995, when Sid debuted as the new bodyguard of Shawn Michaels. To say the place became an asylum would be an understatement! When Sid made his way down that aisle, the patients went beyond CRAZY! They ripped off their strait-jackets and got ready to rock!

Folks, to certain individuals–THIS WAS NOT GOOD.

“Warning, warning, Will Robionson. An intruder is looking to steal our spotlight!” That’s right, IN MY OPINION, a certain number of Sid’s peers may have been shaking in their boots. If Eudy were, by chance, to become more popular than them, it would be devastating… devastating to their egos, of course, NOT to the business as a whole! So, in more ways than one, they saw to it that Sid was buried. And, buried he was. Left out to rot… fossilize… chum for the maggots.

For the next six months, Sid would lie low. IN MY OPINION, he had become a victim of “circumstance”. For understandable reasons, he may have become sour with the business. The politics seemed to have pushed him into the “could have been” category. He even went so far as to announce his retirement from the squared circle. If this truly was the case, then it would be nothing short of a tragedy. A wasteful loss not only to the World Wrestling Federation, but to the business as a whole.

But wait, at the end of the tunnel you could hear the firing of a match. Yes, there was light.

The balance of power shifted among the ranks of the World Wrestling Federation, largely due to the almighty buck. Those who may have buried Sid earlier were not being buried themselves in a gushing flood of undeserving greenbacks. Remember, those who tore Sid down behind his back said it was for the “good of the company”. Well, my question is, “Where was the ‘good of the company’ when you were negotiating behind the boss’ back?!”

You know what, scratch that. I’m not going to get up on my soapbox because that is not what this commentary is about. This commentary is about SID. And, for the reasons I am about to mention, I strongly believe that Sid’s time has arrived!!!

Along with Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels is probably the most “confident” individual I have ever known. He doesn’t worry about the “threat” of others overthrowing his Kliq because as the World Wrestling Federation Champion he realizes what he brings to the dance. He doesn’t have to tear down others to build himself up, because he already is the tallest skyscraper in the city! He has no shortcomings. Nothing to hide or protect. He has the belief in himself that no man is going to knock him off his perch. It’s the security of himself. Shawn Michaels knows that Sid is good for the “business”. He’s a monster with a personality and people will pay money to see him! Sid will help everybody–including Shawn Michaels–in the long run.

With Shawn Michaels on top, there is no question in my mind that Sid’s time is NOW! Politics can take a beat seat and let him do the driving! The potential has only thus far been tapped… but now it will EXPLODE!!!

Yes, Sid Eudy just may soon… “RULE THE WORLD”!

#psycho sid #sid justice #sid vicious #wwf #world wrestling federation #magazine scan #magazine transcript #wwf magazine #killing Vince Russo because of his shitty writing killing killing

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ccohanlon · 6 months

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from my bookshelf

Pytheas of Massalia was a Greek geographer, explorer and astronomer from the ancient Greek colony of Massalia — modern-day Marseille, France. In the late 4th century BC, he voyaged from there to northwestern Europe, but his detailed account of it, On The Ocean, survives only in fragments, quoted — and disputed — by later authors such as Strabo, Pliny and Diodorus of Sicily. The Extraordinary Voyage Of Pytheas the Greek by the noted British historian of ancient maritime Europe, Barry Cunliffe, attempts to draw out the reality of what was an extraordinary sea journey, from the Western Mediterranean north along the Atlantic coast of Europe to the British Isles, then even further north, to the near-mythic land of Thule. Cunliffe makes a strong case for Pytheas being “the first European explorer”, while identifying the most likely locations of Thule, sought so avidly by 19th and early 20th century adventurers and artists.

James Hamilton-Paterson’s Seven-Tenths: The Sea And Its Thresholds, published in 1992, more than two thousand years after Pytheas’s On The Ocean, is an ambitious, expressive exploration of the vast aqueous wilderness that covers three-quarters of our planet by a writer of remarkable literary accomplishment (he was one of Martin Amis’s professors at Oxford). Plumbing humanity’s complex, multi-faceted relationship with the sea, Hamilton-Paterson writes vivid, meditative passages about, well, everything — fishing, piracy, oceanography, cartography, exploration, ecology, the ritual of a burials at sea, poetry, and even his own experiences living for extended periods on a small island in the Philippines.

Tom Neale’s autobiography, An Island To Oneself: Six Years On A Desert Island, describes an altogether smaller, more solitary world: the island of Anchorage, part of the Suwarrow Atoll in the South Pacific. Born in New Zealand in 1902, Neale spent most of his life in Oceania: after leaving the Royal New Zealand Navy, he worked for decades aboard inter-island trading vessels and in various temporary jobs ashore before his first glimpse of his desert island home. He moved to Anchorage in 1952 and over three different periods, lived in hermitic solitude for 16 years, with rare visits from yachtsmen, island traders, and journalists. Among the last was Noel Barber, a close friend of my late father: he gave my father a copy of Neale’s book, in Rome, shortly after it was published in 1966 (I still have it). Neale was taken off his beloved island in 1977 and died not long after of stomach cancer.

The Starship And The Canoe by Kenneth Brower, published in 1978, is an unlikely dual biography of a father and son that draws intriguing parallels between the ambitious ideas of renowned British theoretical physicist and mathematician Freeman Dyson — who, in the early 1970s explored concepts for interstellar travel, settlements on comets, and nuclear rockets that might propel mankind to the outer reaches of the universe — and his wayward son, George, who lived in a self-built tree house 30 metres up a Douglas fir overlooking the Strait Of Georgia, in British Columbia and devised large canoes based on Aleut baidarkas in which to paddle north to the wild, uninhabited littoral of southern Alaska. Brower’s descriptions of long passages with the younger Dyson in the cold, sometimes fierce tidal waters between Vancouver Island and the Canadian mainland are gripping and I have read them again and again. It is, unarguably, my favourite book.

The late, New Zealand-born doctor and sailor, David Lewis, is not as widely known as he was half a century ago, even by avid readers of sea stories, but from his earliest memoirs in the 1960s — of his participation in the first-ever singlehanded trans-Atlantic race (The Ship That would Not Sail Due West), and of incident-prone voyages to far-flung coasts with his young family (Dreamers of the Day, Daughters of the Wind, and Children Of Three Oceans) — to his practical, first-hand studies of instrument-less ocean navigation among South Pacific islanders, (We, The Navigators and The Voyaging Stars) in the 1970s, Dr. Lewis was not only the late 20th century’s most remarkable and intelligent writer on the sea and small-boat voyaging but also one of its most adventurous. My favourite of his several books: Ice Bird, published in 1972, an account of a gruelling, almost fatal voyage from Sydney, Australia, in an ill-prepared, steel, 32-foot yacht to achieve the first singlehanded circumnavigation of Antarctica.

It’s said that spending time anywhere with Lorenzo Ricciardi, late ex-husband of Italian photographer Mirella Ricciardi, was an adventure. A film-maker and former senior advertising executive, once described by a British writer as “a penniless Neapolitan count”, he gambled at roulette to raise enough money to buy an Arab dhow, which, in the 1970s, with little seafaring experience and plenty of mishaps, he sailed from Dubai to the Arabian Gulf, and from there down the Arabian to coast of Africa, where the dhow was shipwrecked among the Comoros Islands. The Voyage Of The Mir El Ah is Lorenzo’s picaresque account (illustrated by Mirella’s photographs). Astoundingly, several years later, Lorenzo and Mirella Ricciardi completed an even more dangerous, 6,000-kilometre voyage across Equatorial Africa in an open boat — and another book, African Rainbow: Across Africa By Boat.

Italian madmen aside, it used to be that you could rely on surfers for poor impulse control and reckless adventures, on the water and off. Back in the late 1990s, Allan Weisbecker sold his home, loaded his dog and a quiver of surfboards onto a truck, and drove south from the Mexican border into Central America to figure out what had happened to an old surfing buddy — in between checking out a few breaks along the way. In Search Of Captain Zero: A Surfer's Road Trip Beyond The End Of The Road is a memoir of a two-year road-trip that reads like a dope-fuelled fiction but feels more real than William Finnegan’s somewhat high-brow (and more successful) Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life.

Which brings me to Dana and Ginger Lamb. In 1933, these newly-weds would certainly have been looked at askance by most of their middle-American peers when they announced that they weren’t ready yet to settle down and instead built a 16-foot hybrid canoe-sailboat and set of on what would turn out to be a 16,000-mile, three year journey down the Pacific coasts of Mexico, Guatemala, Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica to the Panama Canal. Dana’s 415-page book, Enchanted Vagabonds, published in 1938, was an unexpected New York Times best-seller and today is more exciting to read than the ungainly, yawn-inducing books produced by so many, more commercially-minded, 21st century adventurers.

First published in Sirene, No. 17, Italy, 2023.

#sea #seafaring #travel #books #adventure #biography #history

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