Hey, guys! In case you haven't heard by now, the bitter end has arrived. The die has been cast, Tourism Queensland has spoken, and they've chosen Ben Southall from the UK to live in the Blue Pearl Villa on Hamilton Island for the next six months...playing in the sun...with the dolphins, and sea cows, and pretty coral, sipping exotic drinks with little umbrellas to keep the ice from melting in them - I'm not jealous, no not me! I've got much better things to do in Nashville. Uh, I'll let you know when I think of them.
Really, it's not bitterness, I just have a melancholy personality, you know Eyeore - a dark cloud behind every silver lining. Why do you think I was researching poisonous creatures in the Great Barrier Reef? Eyeore Complex. NOTHING can be that paradisical (new word), not even the GBR. I don't even really have the heart to tell you about the rest of those VPC's that I promised. The best I can do is give you a link to them HERE.
So, Ben, congratulations! I'm sure you'll be a much more cheerful caretaker than I would have been. My approach wasn't working - how do you attract people to a place by telling them all the ways they could die or contribute to medical research? No, you're the man Ben! Just wear your nylons and watch out for those tiny little invisible floaties waiting to send you to the Hereafter...
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Monday, March 2, 2009
I Can Finally Tell the Truth...
The truth is, I knew two days ago I wasn't gonna be in the top 50. But I felt like I should wait til it was "official"...and, now it is. Check out www.islandreefjob.com for the top 50, and if you want, follow them to the bitter end!!!
And to all you who have been reading this blog, or at least visiting from time to time, thank you so much for stopping by!!! I intend to keep blogging, now that I've started, and the topics for this blog will be based around my travel and visual arts pursuits. I will, however, be finishing my blogs up about the TEN MOST POISONOUS CREATURES on the reef before leaving the the reef behind as a major topic.
It has been a fascinating and fun journey since I started this thing a month ago (it's only been a month??) In regard to my video, as soon as I turned it in and slept for a few hours, I saw things I really wish I had changed, but alas there was no time left! As it turns out, those things would have been very helpful, but most of what we do in life is a matter of learning by trial and error.
Life is like an iceberg. Most of the successes that people see above the surface are undergirded by a far greater number of "failures" beneath the surface. They aren't failures, really, just opportunities for reassessment, adjustment, and refinement of the way we live and the things we do. There will be another time.
In the meanwhile, I'll still be writing, and shooting, and traveling, and learning, and sharing! There's too much to do just to sit around and wish I'd been the one snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef for $100 grand...(isn't there??) =)
And to all the applicants who applied, and those who are still kicking, congratulations on making the effort. I can see the icebergs rising!
And to all you who have been reading this blog, or at least visiting from time to time, thank you so much for stopping by!!! I intend to keep blogging, now that I've started, and the topics for this blog will be based around my travel and visual arts pursuits. I will, however, be finishing my blogs up about the TEN MOST POISONOUS CREATURES on the reef before leaving the the reef behind as a major topic.
It has been a fascinating and fun journey since I started this thing a month ago (it's only been a month??) In regard to my video, as soon as I turned it in and slept for a few hours, I saw things I really wish I had changed, but alas there was no time left! As it turns out, those things would have been very helpful, but most of what we do in life is a matter of learning by trial and error.
Life is like an iceberg. Most of the successes that people see above the surface are undergirded by a far greater number of "failures" beneath the surface. They aren't failures, really, just opportunities for reassessment, adjustment, and refinement of the way we live and the things we do. There will be another time.
In the meanwhile, I'll still be writing, and shooting, and traveling, and learning, and sharing! There's too much to do just to sit around and wish I'd been the one snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef for $100 grand...(isn't there??) =)
And to all the applicants who applied, and those who are still kicking, congratulations on making the effort. I can see the icebergs rising!
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Finding Nemo Finds a Home
Hey, folks. Just thought I'd let ya know that the DVD Finding Nemo is making it's way to Colorado24, the winner of stage 1's drawing!! Hope Nemo likes it over there!
Tomorrow, I will officially announce the results of Stage 2 thus far...
Wishing a wonderful evening to all.
Tomorrow, I will officially announce the results of Stage 2 thus far...
Wishing a wonderful evening to all.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Ice Cream Cone + Gastropod = Our Next VPC
Hi, y'all. I've been checking out our latest VPC (Very Poisonous Creature) for a couple of days. Aside from getting sidetracked on YouTube watching videos of the Loch Ness monster for a couple of hours, I have learned some very interesting things about this ocean gastropod, known as the Cone Shell.
photo: wickipedia.org Textile Cone
The snail is so named because the shell resembles an ice cream cone - except that's not ice cream in there. It's a big, muscular foot, and a big siphon tube mouth, and a couple of stalk eyes - oh yeah, and some nasty harpoon teeth.
Doot-De-Doo, hohum, hohum, along slides the snail, beautiful and harmless looking, with that proboscis sticking out, smelling the water. For what? For dinner. Then along comes a hapless little fish, or human hand or foot (curiosity killed the FILL IN THE BLANK), and chemicals secreted by the curious victims enter the proboscis of the snail.
It does a little searching with that long, skinny mouth/nose, and then...BAM!!! BAM, BAM!!! Dinner is served. Or in the case of the human hand, that little harpoon tooth has just delivered the goods. Which, of course, isn't really good at all, even if you've got a hold of such a pretty shell...
The story of the monkey who stuck his fist in the jar and then got beat over the head comes to mind...
Cone shells are very common. There are over 1000 species of cone shells, which have varying diets. They may eat other mollusks, sea worms, crustaceans, or small fish. Mostly, they are from 2 to 4 inches long, but the ones that eat fish grow up to 10 inches long. These fish-eating cone shells are the most dangerous to humans. Fortunately, there are only a few of these types - among them, the Textile Cone and Geography Cone. When their harpoon teeth are injected into the victim, they inject a milky venom which is a neurotoxin.
This venom will cause fish to be paralyzed in a few seconds, and to get a free slidey ride down a snail gullet. In humans, it causes blurred vision, slurred speech, numbness, and difficulty breathing (sounds like a few too many beers). If it is severe enough, it will cause respiratory failure in a few hours, and sometimes death.
There is no antivenin for the venom, so the only cure is life support and time, which allows the toxins to finally be dissipated by the body. Some say that about 20% of all cone shell stings result in death, more than the percentage for the cobra snake.
Although the bigger cones can be deadly, only fifteen deaths can be confidently attributed worldwide to the cone shell in the record books. The smaller ones (the vast majority of the cone species), produce a sting no more painful than that of a bee.
In spite of the downside to the venom of the cone shells, there is a great upside. The venom is very promising in serving as a basis for some very powerful and beneficial drugs. At the moment, there is research being conducted on its use as a cure for Alzheimer's disease, as well as a pain killer 1000 times more powerful than morphine, but without any side effects.
So on your next visit to the Great Barrier Reef, where there are 18 species of cone shells, a good rule of thumb is to keep your thumbs off of them. This will save you from a painful trip to the ER and being another guinea pig in cone shell venom research!!
Happy Snorkeling!
photo: wickipedia.org Textile ConeThe snail is so named because the shell resembles an ice cream cone - except that's not ice cream in there. It's a big, muscular foot, and a big siphon tube mouth, and a couple of stalk eyes - oh yeah, and some nasty harpoon teeth.
Doot-De-Doo, hohum, hohum, along slides the snail, beautiful and harmless looking, with that proboscis sticking out, smelling the water. For what? For dinner. Then along comes a hapless little fish, or human hand or foot (curiosity killed the FILL IN THE BLANK), and chemicals secreted by the curious victims enter the proboscis of the snail.
It does a little searching with that long, skinny mouth/nose, and then...BAM!!! BAM, BAM!!! Dinner is served. Or in the case of the human hand, that little harpoon tooth has just delivered the goods. Which, of course, isn't really good at all, even if you've got a hold of such a pretty shell...
The story of the monkey who stuck his fist in the jar and then got beat over the head comes to mind...
Cone shells are very common. There are over 1000 species of cone shells, which have varying diets. They may eat other mollusks, sea worms, crustaceans, or small fish. Mostly, they are from 2 to 4 inches long, but the ones that eat fish grow up to 10 inches long. These fish-eating cone shells are the most dangerous to humans. Fortunately, there are only a few of these types - among them, the Textile Cone and Geography Cone. When their harpoon teeth are injected into the victim, they inject a milky venom which is a neurotoxin.
This venom will cause fish to be paralyzed in a few seconds, and to get a free slidey ride down a snail gullet. In humans, it causes blurred vision, slurred speech, numbness, and difficulty breathing (sounds like a few too many beers). If it is severe enough, it will cause respiratory failure in a few hours, and sometimes death.
There is no antivenin for the venom, so the only cure is life support and time, which allows the toxins to finally be dissipated by the body. Some say that about 20% of all cone shell stings result in death, more than the percentage for the cobra snake.
Although the bigger cones can be deadly, only fifteen deaths can be confidently attributed worldwide to the cone shell in the record books. The smaller ones (the vast majority of the cone species), produce a sting no more painful than that of a bee.
In spite of the downside to the venom of the cone shells, there is a great upside. The venom is very promising in serving as a basis for some very powerful and beneficial drugs. At the moment, there is research being conducted on its use as a cure for Alzheimer's disease, as well as a pain killer 1000 times more powerful than morphine, but without any side effects.
So on your next visit to the Great Barrier Reef, where there are 18 species of cone shells, a good rule of thumb is to keep your thumbs off of them. This will save you from a painful trip to the ER and being another guinea pig in cone shell venom research!!
Happy Snorkeling!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
A Day In the Life of Me...
Well, here you go folks. Figured I'd put together a little video of what my typical day looks like. Probably very boring to those of you who don't know me, and a little boring to those who do, but it was fun to make! Besides, that's why they have that handy fast-forward button...
Monday, February 23, 2009
And The Winner Is...
As promised yesterday, I have (with the assistance of a trusted accomplice) drawn a winner for this stage.
And the winner is...(CUE TRUMPET BLAST). COLORADO 24! Yes, you know who you are. All you need do to claim your prize is email me your address, along with the film of your choice having anything to do with AUSTRALIA (either actors from or the film itself located Down Under). It will be delivered to your doorstep along with my sincere thanks for your continued support!!
For those of you who missed out this time around, there's always stage TWO (which we are now in). All that is required for you to enter is at least one comment on my blog, and a public following.
Congratulations, Colorado 24!
Finally, as a reminder, here are the crucial dates for this whole shindig.
March 2 - Announcement of 50 shortlisted candidates
April 6 - Announcement of 11 shortlisted candidates
May 3 - week of interviews with 11 in Queensland
May 6 - announcement of the winning candidate
July 1 - start date for the new "Caretaker of Hamilton Island"
If we make it past the first cut over 34,000 other candidates, that will be cause for incredible celebrating. If not, well, we can walk away knowing more than we ever thought we would about one of the greatest places on earth! See you tomorrow!
And the winner is...(CUE TRUMPET BLAST). COLORADO 24! Yes, you know who you are. All you need do to claim your prize is email me your address, along with the film of your choice having anything to do with AUSTRALIA (either actors from or the film itself located Down Under). It will be delivered to your doorstep along with my sincere thanks for your continued support!!
For those of you who missed out this time around, there's always stage TWO (which we are now in). All that is required for you to enter is at least one comment on my blog, and a public following.
Congratulations, Colorado 24!
Finally, as a reminder, here are the crucial dates for this whole shindig.
March 2 - Announcement of 50 shortlisted candidates
April 6 - Announcement of 11 shortlisted candidates
May 3 - week of interviews with 11 in Queensland
May 6 - announcement of the winning candidate
July 1 - start date for the new "Caretaker of Hamilton Island"
If we make it past the first cut over 34,000 other candidates, that will be cause for incredible celebrating. If not, well, we can walk away knowing more than we ever thought we would about one of the greatest places on earth! See you tomorrow!
Sunday, February 22, 2009
LAUNCHING STAGE TWO!
Great News!!! I just got my official acceptance today from Queensland Tourism. My application video is now online!
SO, what this means is that all of you who are following my blog will have one and possibly two opportunities to give me a big push towards the Reef.
HOW? you ask? By voting for my video as most popular. Yes, even when we're all grown up we play silly popularity games. But, I didn't make the rules, I'm just trying to take advantage of them!
So follow this link, and five star that sucker!! my video application!
Unfortunately, it runs more slowly (especially so on the island reef job site) on YouTube. Very frustrating of course after all the effort to see the video skip and lag so far behind the audio, but you work with what you've got right? =)
For a truer run, watch it in my blog here below. But don't forget to rate it 5 stars at the official site as that's how they'll know you guys are actually out there!!
FINALLY, some business to take care of. For you guys who have been with me from the start, thank you, thank you! As promised, I will be drawing a name and delivering up the winner a DVD of their choice having to do with Australia!!! You tell me what it is and it's YOURS!
I will make the announcement in tomorrow's blog! What will it be? Crocodile Dundee? Steve Irwin's Crocodile Hunter the Movie? The original Mad Max? Ah, the Man from Snowy River! OR, you may choose a movie that has an Aussie IN it! You pick, I send. Badabing, badabang!
See you all tomorrow, and don't forget to rate that video!
SO, what this means is that all of you who are following my blog will have one and possibly two opportunities to give me a big push towards the Reef.
HOW? you ask? By voting for my video as most popular. Yes, even when we're all grown up we play silly popularity games. But, I didn't make the rules, I'm just trying to take advantage of them!
So follow this link, and five star that sucker!! my video application!
Unfortunately, it runs more slowly (especially so on the island reef job site) on YouTube. Very frustrating of course after all the effort to see the video skip and lag so far behind the audio, but you work with what you've got right? =)
For a truer run, watch it in my blog here below. But don't forget to rate it 5 stars at the official site as that's how they'll know you guys are actually out there!!
FINALLY, some business to take care of. For you guys who have been with me from the start, thank you, thank you! As promised, I will be drawing a name and delivering up the winner a DVD of their choice having to do with Australia!!! You tell me what it is and it's YOURS!
I will make the announcement in tomorrow's blog! What will it be? Crocodile Dundee? Steve Irwin's Crocodile Hunter the Movie? The original Mad Max? Ah, the Man from Snowy River! OR, you may choose a movie that has an Aussie IN it! You pick, I send. Badabing, badabang!
See you all tomorrow, and don't forget to rate that video!
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