tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82592379631197860822024-03-05T09:22:51.758-05:00* All Things Fish *News, resources, conservation, discoveries, and personal insightsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger297125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259237963119786082.post-29320901306388970982022-05-15T10:26:00.005-04:002022-06-01T07:19:01.684-04:00Hello, Blog<p> Hello, Blog. It's been a while~!</p><p>To get you up to speed:</p><p>1) 2019: I finally broke free. YAY!!! I finalized and published two (count 'em TWO) books: <i><a href="https://www.vafreshwaterfishes.com/" target="_blank">Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes of Virginia</a></i>, and <i><a href="https://www.tunasandbillfishes.com/" target="_blank">Tunas and Billfishes of the World</a></i>. According to my editor, no author that she knows of has ever published two books in the same year. Well, I'm Val Kells, and I've accomplished many feats that no one has before. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqeQ-adHnb9rMNtUeVvveQ4fiJ75IwfXvGTMKveaQC9s8yH3PGMm-SyhRWcm_iY5wR-5ExMExcP8-jAjh0XDJoPCi1Hw2ycofyY15oTgV4xxIU8rJoMTnqoVV8wZ-yrYDwkHwqB2SezgbdbLga7h3EMbJwkvMj8fdvG--ZnmgmMbaQgJQFQZBXBSw3UQ/s2070/Screenshot%202022-05-18%20at%207.47.42%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="903" data-original-width="2070" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqeQ-adHnb9rMNtUeVvveQ4fiJ75IwfXvGTMKveaQC9s8yH3PGMm-SyhRWcm_iY5wR-5ExMExcP8-jAjh0XDJoPCi1Hw2ycofyY15oTgV4xxIU8rJoMTnqoVV8wZ-yrYDwkHwqB2SezgbdbLga7h3EMbJwkvMj8fdvG--ZnmgmMbaQgJQFQZBXBSw3UQ/w400-h175/Screenshot%202022-05-18%20at%207.47.42%20PM.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiptvRBczvUq4Ff1JvW_DB9ekwi2s6Os52ofSKEZJNh8oonyHlgIRFRYVd2zxXaqEY2ezYIfR3lldmxUnymF52Y6GL-m4quirFU8xMo7r94kqTuUW3AXvi0XCB48B4NhzDdzgH4dlrMcronuqhM8LLZ9T8k0rByKrOiPqNrCuq2cfQiXqCnbV3gFVC2uw/s2065/Screenshot%202022-05-18%20at%207.47.58%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="2065" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiptvRBczvUq4Ff1JvW_DB9ekwi2s6Os52ofSKEZJNh8oonyHlgIRFRYVd2zxXaqEY2ezYIfR3lldmxUnymF52Y6GL-m4quirFU8xMo7r94kqTuUW3AXvi0XCB48B4NhzDdzgH4dlrMcronuqhM8LLZ9T8k0rByKrOiPqNrCuq2cfQiXqCnbV3gFVC2uw/w400-h175/Screenshot%202022-05-18%20at%207.47.58%20PM.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>2) 2020: Sold the house and moved everything out...by...my...self. Big job. (While I was working on my new <i>Caribbean</i> book, no less.) Below is the aftermath of the snow I dug out of to make room for electrical, plumbing, and and various other trucks that needed to get in to work on the house. "Snow" is a four-letter word in my world...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbbG1cgFWQi0zAuNLURTQiq2eXywh_MMXhRoNvhlUopgD-HnVxkbpxXhlvp8wIKRSqLNeSTZu8NXAy9BsSmy6RYX6DhnfL2iqlUcMOZLItt0SPiPgE6L1Z70lZSuzIgqRml8TauYSvMyKP0UAhurZ-sgi6B_2zVR7YYlVDELbPs1rv_3svOjXjRWPHQ/s4000/Spider%20Hollow%20snow%20storm.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbbG1cgFWQi0zAuNLURTQiq2eXywh_MMXhRoNvhlUopgD-HnVxkbpxXhlvp8wIKRSqLNeSTZu8NXAy9BsSmy6RYX6DhnfL2iqlUcMOZLItt0SPiPgE6L1Z70lZSuzIgqRml8TauYSvMyKP0UAhurZ-sgi6B_2zVR7YYlVDELbPs1rv_3svOjXjRWPHQ/w400-h300/Spider%20Hollow%20snow%20storm.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p>3) Moved to Freak Union, aka, Free Union (inside joke). Lovely place, but still too far from the ocean.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxlvvlxw7ZF9pIcIMnQ27lU59_7RksObfZq27AdVpyhjmZtHwTjF0gtiJqfirXunCEKcmJFgsh936tiPyudWUfFh2J0Ml_lfsRgPWJ7Nj-7QDIedpx5kFmn5Sh12DTUEiSj1uy56euiKWS0yXY9UyjtX0SKrKV7fAIfsgRRETkQhVvOqMeDrdjnd7cdw/s4000/Free%20Union.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2643" data-original-width="4000" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxlvvlxw7ZF9pIcIMnQ27lU59_7RksObfZq27AdVpyhjmZtHwTjF0gtiJqfirXunCEKcmJFgsh936tiPyudWUfFh2J0Ml_lfsRgPWJ7Nj-7QDIedpx5kFmn5Sh12DTUEiSj1uy56euiKWS0yXY9UyjtX0SKrKV7fAIfsgRRETkQhVvOqMeDrdjnd7cdw/w400-h264/Free%20Union.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p>4) Finally got officially free. BIG YAY!!!! Best money I ever spent :) Freedom means: peace, happiness, quiet, calm, independence, tranquility (same as peace?), and safety. Ahhh... Oh yeah, <i>Tunas and Billfishes</i> book won the Smithsonian Science Achievement Award, and we we honored and awarded at the VA AFS meeting for <i>VA Freshwater Fishes</i>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-LsQEB8Y2MXvOWwsf4-pD-y28hmUpGtM_Fz-1wF5zHSVmpL49T7cgiSKBjlAxAKx3ABSlMMK7lQE3QCwaNfmzuKe7fyPTiTpRW53CvfpFr3U6S0DsS2KLAf04VLUQb5iz_U5J57Lx_qRaJwmmHJqFBu_UT8fD4X6TUCqFZohyBtasqrNxa932v5vpw/s960/VA%20AFS%20awar%20ceremony.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="588" data-original-width="960" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-LsQEB8Y2MXvOWwsf4-pD-y28hmUpGtM_Fz-1wF5zHSVmpL49T7cgiSKBjlAxAKx3ABSlMMK7lQE3QCwaNfmzuKe7fyPTiTpRW53CvfpFr3U6S0DsS2KLAf04VLUQb5iz_U5J57Lx_qRaJwmmHJqFBu_UT8fD4X6TUCqFZohyBtasqrNxa932v5vpw/w400-h245/VA%20AFS%20awar%20ceremony.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p>5) 2021: After traveling up and down the East Coast in search of my permanent home, I had an epiphany: Outer Banks. This made total sense. The OBX is familiar, wonderful, and I had fishy friends there. I got super lucky, landed an amazing home in Kill Devil Hills, and moved to a drop-dead gorgeous slice of sea-level heaven with great neighbors, quiet and calm, and a fantastic view of Kitty Hawk Bay from the Fish Cave. Yee Haw!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi24F-qBRYtWXM-K3Z3LXor5QFBCwaHYt_f7DSogFIqQNmYiYo1VXI3X7jS2AYu45X-pPtGtZYvOt9G0v5X8cUhk0RNs8rIsBkM2QbSYBe_5tGHzUQKrj3Q8LliUDraApm1xXHwY4BawIg4-W2KWDGZukb__Kdb-oJ5zZkVmR2KAbd7VToIee4siELZsg/s4032/Kitty%20Hawk%20Bay%20sunrise.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi24F-qBRYtWXM-K3Z3LXor5QFBCwaHYt_f7DSogFIqQNmYiYo1VXI3X7jS2AYu45X-pPtGtZYvOt9G0v5X8cUhk0RNs8rIsBkM2QbSYBe_5tGHzUQKrj3Q8LliUDraApm1xXHwY4BawIg4-W2KWDGZukb__Kdb-oJ5zZkVmR2KAbd7VToIee4siELZsg/w400-h300/Kitty%20Hawk%20Bay%20sunrise.jpeg" title="Sunrise over Kitty Hawks Bay" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">6) I continued working on <i>A Field Guide to Coastal Fishes of Bermuda, Bahamas, and the Caribbean Sea</i> while exploring and re-discovering new and old OBX haunts with new and old friends.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNb2C8X25u1Edh85fVSNaAxXEqcLwgma9qL2GtyWMjMuRf43C6YWJ9njkuyjw9DM9o6xINHrQevgBkik5Luzz9_ZfCT6E1RbAmBBxHbfkGrHzDllVZxFlJsq-GHTOr8NBoKT9PHGeq9GlwpWEViNq1Jqtv1M2gGZqnn4QtbICDfgAcW4joSaYoARnhAw/s4032/The%20Squid%20Mobile%20at%20Oregon%20Inlet.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNb2C8X25u1Edh85fVSNaAxXEqcLwgma9qL2GtyWMjMuRf43C6YWJ9njkuyjw9DM9o6xINHrQevgBkik5Luzz9_ZfCT6E1RbAmBBxHbfkGrHzDllVZxFlJsq-GHTOr8NBoKT9PHGeq9GlwpWEViNq1Jqtv1M2gGZqnn4QtbICDfgAcW4joSaYoARnhAw/w400-h300/The%20Squid%20Mobile%20at%20Oregon%20Inlet.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">7) In the Fall of 2021, I was interviewed by the North Beach Sun and my illustrations wound up on the cover to boot. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://issuu.com/northbeachsun/docs/214_retail" target="_blank">Link Here</a>.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7tHKbahbwHURHX-_DI_99g9R-HUo4n_Jgb8r6u4wCMojAyfQ2ml1nYZO0a8F-H5E6cuoV31Qd-fqR7eK1IiXA3lugdejIASSiHDYYnRAcXlgL0By6HTovAbTca7fIIBDQMdqJK-5U1RjQ3eWAvausfKI_VO65oKjuWkw1oT_ulbtFIdfFT2SQqoflA/s2570/Screenshot%202022-05-15%20at%2010.03.12%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1671" data-original-width="2570" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7tHKbahbwHURHX-_DI_99g9R-HUo4n_Jgb8r6u4wCMojAyfQ2ml1nYZO0a8F-H5E6cuoV31Qd-fqR7eK1IiXA3lugdejIASSiHDYYnRAcXlgL0By6HTovAbTca7fIIBDQMdqJK-5U1RjQ3eWAvausfKI_VO65oKjuWkw1oT_ulbtFIdfFT2SQqoflA/w400-h260/Screenshot%202022-05-15%20at%2010.03.12%20AM.png" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">7) 2022: In March, gave a presentation at Jennette's Pier for the annual American Fisheries Society meeting:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8VT7xecvRkXbnKlfgiEchLYxuZw7U-Qqh2Phy1NjzY4RxqIvfLvrgyxkxvg-ZtA-9ca8_LDu0_r7tYnUOUc5er6Cq8Q5Epr7TYmUy2UE9uWnm7mOPBroAGx91sKynVcf3qBW4avqzvypw1aS94L5kUoa-5uAnBCstmtNyvGJqhgBUu0nqDGq3cyt70g/s1080/AFS%20presentation.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8VT7xecvRkXbnKlfgiEchLYxuZw7U-Qqh2Phy1NjzY4RxqIvfLvrgyxkxvg-ZtA-9ca8_LDu0_r7tYnUOUc5er6Cq8Q5Epr7TYmUy2UE9uWnm7mOPBroAGx91sKynVcf3qBW4avqzvypw1aS94L5kUoa-5uAnBCstmtNyvGJqhgBUu0nqDGq3cyt70g/w400-h300/AFS%20presentation.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Then I wrapped up the <i>Caribbean</i> book, and sent it to my publisher. (That's 5 years of work in that little yellow box!)<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiekvwjezrzYebqe--hfNGuScQyXn8O2IUglUiWfcBIXj1tSpH4MSzMOHcn1qNyk8_B9jXpjk3QJKn9Z41uV51-Tn3Q2lhK5ytnS_lLVLQho4RAu7IWHfNVtg90ReMfgI1tFeoF0tcaQqXS6Y8GIwXz4vTpmpaBq4uhgyjmc4GNZZTv4FWNIZV2rmBRXQ/s4032/sending%20the%20Caribbean%20Book.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiekvwjezrzYebqe--hfNGuScQyXn8O2IUglUiWfcBIXj1tSpH4MSzMOHcn1qNyk8_B9jXpjk3QJKn9Z41uV51-Tn3Q2lhK5ytnS_lLVLQho4RAu7IWHfNVtg90ReMfgI1tFeoF0tcaQqXS6Y8GIwXz4vTpmpaBq4uhgyjmc4GNZZTv4FWNIZV2rmBRXQ/w400-h300/sending%20the%20Caribbean%20Book.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span> Two days after I'd sent the Caribbean book, my <i>Encyclopedia</i> proposal was approved by the JHUP board. I went under contract the following week, and began working on <i>Encyclopedia of Marine Fishes of North America</i> (another HUGE book, never been done before. Yes, I'm a bit insane, very driven and motivated, but really just fulfilling my destiny ;)<br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span> In April, I fished for three days in the Ocracoke Invitational Surf Fishing Tournament. So much fun!</span><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxoQm49faX7gchpvTWqZAyq6zaKUV8rP1dX7hY9YmDT9Go0H8N0LNssZzyJIkvbTlJQQipQSx9zkyApUyX9AtPMH3z_njsSecN-cNfZK4O3cp_EVVDFj7ycIlDuNNVc-wYlKn70oRJqZqENPVkcRLXM4rdXMA1MsyeNGzvE4lYkk2Y4rZcFMPBfjJBmA/s960/OISFT.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="728" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxoQm49faX7gchpvTWqZAyq6zaKUV8rP1dX7hY9YmDT9Go0H8N0LNssZzyJIkvbTlJQQipQSx9zkyApUyX9AtPMH3z_njsSecN-cNfZK4O3cp_EVVDFj7ycIlDuNNVc-wYlKn70oRJqZqENPVkcRLXM4rdXMA1MsyeNGzvE4lYkk2Y4rZcFMPBfjJBmA/w304-h400/OISFT.jpeg" width="304" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span><span> And, I celebrated my 60th spin around the sun~!</span><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_-bpFq-HI4GSaAUgFgl7XPl2KS3TQtu5horS9F_dEiDn7wWC6jJXMuaeTKV24rOcOBa7HvKRhw6WKyfMa1THcW0-6PN_ABRq-ctdpeyZd77TyO8XbHWCcmA1j0uC9uGwZ_P0hvH3_NPZWF4ecvNXg2KoaGxd3yDqhFOlACvw6uOyn2gnLY7XrZfrFBA/s4032/Avalon%20Pier.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_-bpFq-HI4GSaAUgFgl7XPl2KS3TQtu5horS9F_dEiDn7wWC6jJXMuaeTKV24rOcOBa7HvKRhw6WKyfMa1THcW0-6PN_ABRq-ctdpeyZd77TyO8XbHWCcmA1j0uC9uGwZ_P0hvH3_NPZWF4ecvNXg2KoaGxd3yDqhFOlACvw6uOyn2gnLY7XrZfrFBA/w400-h300/Avalon%20Pier.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span> Plans are in place for our annual trip to Ocracoke in August.</span><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span> Car camping at Oregon Inlet and Frisco.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span> And lots and lots of fishing and seining in between....</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSUTlgFXPferRiTbYNc9q36JklzbK3Enm4Ct4h8WpSBOIN-15oqrYhCGR9wXIVNXoU7VDMgrAUAfRQZrfBj7TMMt0MM7SAOLqFsS5ZY2DF4vcVqcibsKewgh2TQVWIaRprgSaGj--dMAblOYOXG_rc9q8LHRV2_lYCemiQSDo2R3eGWsswKvpSJqhayQ/s4032/Fringed%20Filefish.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSUTlgFXPferRiTbYNc9q36JklzbK3Enm4Ct4h8WpSBOIN-15oqrYhCGR9wXIVNXoU7VDMgrAUAfRQZrfBj7TMMt0MM7SAOLqFsS5ZY2DF4vcVqcibsKewgh2TQVWIaRprgSaGj--dMAblOYOXG_rc9q8LHRV2_lYCemiQSDo2R3eGWsswKvpSJqhayQ/w400-h300/Fringed%20Filefish.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span> Oh, yeah, all while working on the <i>Encyclopedia</i>....<br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There were many many other events in and between the above, but the sun is shining, the ocean is calling, so I'm loading up the Squid Mobile and heading to Oregon inlet.... Who knows what I'll find or who I'll meet. It's all good.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Cheers!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><*}}}}><</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span> </span><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span> </span><br /></span></div><br /><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259237963119786082.post-68683694032322279662020-04-16T08:31:00.002-04:002020-04-16T08:31:45.011-04:00Life Goes On... Nature Prevails!<iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="476" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FAudubonEvergladesScienceCenter%2Fvideos%2F565917390596028%2F&show_text=0&width=267" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="267"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259237963119786082.post-68864446010895034242020-02-21T19:34:00.000-05:002020-02-25T08:55:11.331-05:00ATTENTION Artists! Protect your Rights!I write this post to hopefully help other illustrators and artists protect their rights and avoid an excruciating, exhausting, stressful, and expensive divorce experience. I also hope to educate and enlighten illustrators and artists of all walks of life: sculptors, photographers, poets, wood workers, novelists, and jewelers alike. If it came out of your mind, and onto a canvas, a piece of paper, or a lump of clay, you are an artist, and you have rights. And your soon-to-be ex-spouse has rights, too, and which he or she might flex, unless you are protected.<br />
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Here therefore is a cold and harsh legal reality:<br />
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<b>>></b>ARTWORK CREATED <b>BEFORE</b> MARRIAGE IS <u><b>SEPARATE</b></u> PROPERTY. Artwork created before marriage is Separate and belongs to artist alone, and it's value and royalties are not subject to division in a divorce.<br />
<b>>></b>ARTWORK CREATED <b>DURING</b> MARRIAGE IS <u><b>JOINT</b></u> PROPERTY. Artwork created during marriage is considered Joint Property, and it's value and royalties are considered as assets owned by both parties and are subject to division by both the artist AND the artist's spouse in a divorce. Royalties may be subject to division, even going forward, in perpetuity. (Suck!)<br />
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You may think or you may have thought that everything you created is yours alone during your marriage. Nope. You may own the copyright (if you haven't sold it or bequeathed it), but the physical or intangible piece of art created during marriage is jointly owned under the law (depending on your state). This may not make sense, and it may not seem fair, but unfortunately, this is the truth.<br />
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To re-iterate and expand on this: You may have created the paintings. They all may have come out of your mind, hands, eyes, and your body. You may have pushed the paint, alone. You may have done the research, alone. You may have done the marketing, alone. You may have wrote and/or illustrated your books....alone! You may have taken a blank canvas or piece of paper and created a piece of art each day...on...your...own. But, should you face divorce, you may find yourself asking your attorney: "How in the world can they claim half of the worth of my work if I was the only one to pick up a paint brush? I did all the work. I pushed the paint. I invested my time and energy. How is this possible?"<br />
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You may have devoted 30+ years to your career. You may have created hundreds, or thousands, of pieces of art. You may love your job and find it beyond fulfilling and rewarding....it might be very important to you.<br />
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None of that will matter. You will likely be told, "the law is not emotional, the law is the law." The law does not distinguish between a painting or an afghan. In the face of the law, any work of art created during a marriage is considered joint property and the opposing could demand half of the art's worth and half of any royalties. Period. (To prevent this scenario, please see Part 2). Praying this won't happen doesn't prevent it from happening. Divorce has a way of bringing out the pitbull in certain people: they just get mean and nasty, and they will not care about your feelings or your future. So, brace yourself for the worst.<br />
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Your worst nightmare might come true.... the opposing party and their lawyer might do exactly that: go after what you thought was yours alone. Why? Your art has value. Adding value to your assets could whittle down any settlement by using the value of your art against you.<br />
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This reality might gut you. But, you will likely be told to comply to all requests by the opposing, otherwise a judge (if it comes to that) might see you as "un-cooperative" and that would not bode well.<br />
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This said, here now are warnings to every artist and illustrator out there. Please read carefully. This list might scare you into taking preventative measures, and therefore save you a lot of money, heartache, and pain.<br />
<u>IF YOU DO NOT HAVE AN AGREEMENT IN PLACE TO PROTECT YOUR ART, ITS VALUE, AND ANY ROYALTIES YOU GENERATE FROM LICENSING, YOU MIGHT HAVE TO ENDURE THE FOLLOWING:</u><br />
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1. You might have to make all of your joint artwork available for appraisal.<br />
2. You might have to endure an appraisal by an unqualified AOA appraiser.<br />
3. You might have to hand over copies of your contracts––even if they are out-of-date and protected by confidentiality clauses––which, if they don't have confidentiality clauses, will have to be protected by the court.<br />
4. You might have to provide any and all correspondences, emails, and invoices.<br />
5. Your spouse might lift information and/or copies of your stock list, and/or your for sale list, from your website to use as a spring board of valuation of your work.<br />
6. The unqualified appraiser might use a blog (a BLOG) as basis of valuation of your prints made from your art, even if the blog art looks nothing like yours.<br />
7. The appraiser might also used other illustrators who's work is not in any way similar to your work to valuate your work, without even talking to the other illustrators.<br />
8. You might have to endure a financial evaluation (which you will have to pay for).<br />
9. You might have to hire your separate appraiser, or a qualified AAA, ASA, ISA appraiser to disqualify the unqualified appraisal (which you will have to pay for).<br />
10. You might have to give up half of the value of your artwork, and half of any royalties you earn from that artwork.<br />
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Sound like fun? NOT!<br />
That said, you will survive the divorce experience. You will get on the other side of divorce, re-create your life, pick up where you left off, and create new art!! That will be YOURS!<br />
Coming soon in Part 2 of this post: <u>How to Protect Yourself, and your Art.</u><br />
<br />
Peace! - ValUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259237963119786082.post-73968812277824236552020-02-12T20:35:00.001-05:002020-02-12T20:45:43.832-05:00It's Raining Fishes in the Fish Cave!I'm swamped. And it's all good.<br />
In short, 2019 was one for the books...!<br />
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<li>I moved myself and my sons out of our home of 28 years (all by myself!) </li>
<li>I relocated to the mountains outside of Free Union, VA</li>
<li>I completed all of the edits for two new books</li>
<li>I illustrated the Tidepool critters of California</li>
<li>I got divorced (<b>YAY!!!!</b>)</li>
<li>My sons and I had a great fishy vacation on Ocracoke</li>
<li>I completed a new job for the Maymont Center in Richmond</li>
<li>I partnered with the Fish Print Shop <a href="https://prints.fish/" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a></li>
<li>I published two new books: "A Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes of Virginia" <a href="https://www.vafreshwaterfishes.com/p/events.html" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> and "Tunas and Billfishes of the World" <a href="https://www.tunasandbillfishes.com/" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>.</li>
<li>And, I launched a curated collection of prints on Etsy <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/ValKellsNaturePrints?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=717977788" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>.</li>
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Beginning in September, my VA co-authors and I undertook a joyful sequence of events, signings, and presentations. "VA Freshwater Fishes" is now in its second printing, and "Tunas" is on track for sales projections. Who says books are out of fashion?<br />
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On top of all this, I continue working on our new Caribbean field guide, and I'm contracting more new projects including two new Apps in the US and abroad.<br />
I love my job! Working 12-hour days is so tremendously satisfying. I can't imagine more fulfilling life.<br />
Live, Love, Fish!<br />
Cheers.<br />
Val<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259237963119786082.post-10804955227566436182019-09-24T07:39:00.000-04:002019-09-24T07:39:33.882-04:00Rebuilding Ocracoke.<style>.mcclatchy-embed{position:relative;padding:40px 0 56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;max-width:100%}.mcclatchy-embed iframe{position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%}</style><div class="mcclatchy-embed">
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259237963119786082.post-66527630817804435342019-09-15T12:45:00.000-04:002019-09-24T07:40:21.762-04:00Ocracoke Strong!<style type="text/css">
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<span class="s1">Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love Ocracoke. I started visiting this glorious island 20 years ago with my then very young sons. They are grown and on their own now, but we still make our way to Ocracoke every summer to spend precious family time together. The experiences they had there helped them become the men they are today! There is no other place like Ocracoke...</span></div>
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<span class="s1">The community of Ocracoke is strong and tight-knit that is accustomed to weather events ranging from thunder storms to major hurricanes. However, Hurricane Dorian dealt a blow unknown since the 1940s. On September 6, 2019, this storm blew a 7-foot storm surge across the island that inundated homes, businesses, and infrastructure. No body on the island was spared in Dorian’s wake. The reports coming from the island are heart breaking.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-converted-space">While the storm pummeled Ocracoke, I was stuck far away, and unable to help in any way except in notes of support. When the storm moved on, I wanted to help my friends dig out from under the rubble. But that wasn't possible either. I felt pretty darned helpless and worthless. Then, I remembered! While fishing with my friend, Norman, he said in passing, "You need to get your fish on T-shirts." </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-converted-space">Suddenly, I realized I wasn't frozen or unable to help. I called my friend, Candice, and told her about my epiphany. She jumped on board and enlisted her friend, Mel, who runs Bread and Butter Screen Printing. Mel joined the team, and together we developed this fund-raising T-shirt. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><a href="https://ocracokestrong.bigcartel.com/" target="_blank">“Tight Lines, Tight Community” Hurricane Relief T-shirt</a> features my original Red Drum illustration, and is professionally designed and produced by Bread and Butter Screen Printing.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Each durable shirt is custom made, on a high-quality 100% cotton Gilden T, and is available in Mint Green, Sky Blue, and Ash Gray. They will stand the test of time, and proudly show your support toward recovery!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">100% of profits will go to the Outer Banks Community Foundation for Ocracoke hurricane relief.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Check out their great work at https://www.obcf.org/</span></div>
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<span class="s1">You can further help by making a direct donation, or order multiple shirts to share with your circle of friends and family who love or support Ocracoke.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Every little bit helps rebuild this special island.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><a href="https://ocracokestrong.bigcartel.com/" target="_blank">“Tight Lines, Tight Community. Ocracoke Strong.”</a></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Thank you for your support!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">LIVE, LOVE, FISH!</span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259237963119786082.post-39808968752093191292019-07-07T19:48:00.001-04:002019-07-07T19:48:27.726-04:00Mola MolaPeople often ask me which are my favorite fishes to illustrate. Hands down: the weirdos and oddballs. Fishes that don't look like your average Joe fishes, don't behave like your average schooling Joe fishes, fishes named after other animals! Batfishes, Frogfishes, Squirrelfishes! Fishes that walk, crawl, croak, and otherwise do their fishy thing in their weird fishy way. See: Searobins. (So cool.) I also love illustrating fishes that mimic bottom glop, or sponges, seaweeds, or... other fishes. Colorful, crazy, messed up fishes.<br />
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Then there is the Mola. It's super boring in terms of color. It's body and fins are not challenging to render. No crazy scale rows, no intricate patterns. It's kind of dull. Except... it's NOT!<br />
This is one of the coolest and most highly evolved fishes in the sea.<br />
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Here's an amusing little primer on this super cool fish:<br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vVHyafcpssk" width="560"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259237963119786082.post-36790060104582441942019-06-25T10:32:00.000-04:002019-06-25T22:02:36.328-04:00Jessie Grove: A Tribute to a Great Lady<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FZoYK9tJ8tQ/XRIu0Jr6omI/AAAAAAAAB0E/Vg49uecOeRcvTO5mNkxu6eVALxcBV3NkACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FZoYK9tJ8tQ/XRIu0Jr6omI/AAAAAAAAB0E/Vg49uecOeRcvTO5mNkxu6eVALxcBV3NkACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_0126.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jessie dressed to the nines for the most casual of family gatherings. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Jessie Grove was born over 103 years ago. On June 22, 2019, Jessie left this world for another. Her life was extraordinary, exemplary, and full of joy, love, kindness, and laughter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Jessie was known affectionately as "Grandmom" by her three grandchildren, her six great grandchildren, and her sons- and daughters-in-law––myself included. She was raised in Kansas and attended a one-room school house. Details of her childhood are, unfortunately, sparse. Jessie had one daughter––Betty––at a very young age. Times were economically challenging for Jessie. She was fortunate to have the support of a family in Detroit, Michigan, who offered to raise her daughter. Despite the distance, Jessie was devoted to her daughter and traveled extensively to see her. They remained very close for the duration of her life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Jessie met and married Bob Grove and together they traveled the world. Their stops and journeys were marked with pins and threads on an antiqued plastic globe of the Earth. Bob was an entrepreneur, a military man who traveled in service, and a sheer wizard with tools. Bob and Jessie settled in Fort Meyers, Florida, and enjoyed a life full of work, friends, and fishing. Some time around 1986, Bob and Jessie retired from Florida and moved into a country house surrounded by gardens in White Hall, Virginia. This location suited them well, as they were able to host and partake of regular lunches, dinners, and holidays with their growing family of great grandchildren.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OnJ8PwFd7tE/XRLKEI9nTRI/AAAAAAAAB0k/xcs3ZkPlDzgKm3S5fJ_CSfLQjGa-sevRACLcBGAs/s1600/Grandmom%2Band%2BGraddaddy%2BFt%2BMeyers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="972" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OnJ8PwFd7tE/XRLKEI9nTRI/AAAAAAAAB0k/xcs3ZkPlDzgKm3S5fJ_CSfLQjGa-sevRACLcBGAs/s320/Grandmom%2Band%2BGraddaddy%2BFt%2BMeyers.jpg" width="193" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bob and Jessie Gove in their Fort Meyers heyday!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Jessie and Bob downsized again in a move to University Village, in Charlottesville, Virginia. Bob and Jessie were not deterred by condo living and continued with their outdoor pursuits. They built a water feature complete with plants and goldfish for all the residents to enjoy. They also built a garden below their balcony, fed the hummingbirds, made many many friends. Bob also built –– by hand! –– a fanciful playhouse out in Free Union, VA, for family friends. It stands today as a fine remembrance of his handiwork.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWeg2l5Dt1m34ti4VBKYmPR3WhAHeSsrl4lr2UeCacLMZgUudEqACRd156WpZmF_j1ItfnveX_iGAIfUvDnMqI8MFgARq2tMAkp0B03WpTBQoVSExea0jZrMDvYqAkSddXqchjcGepRb4/s1600/Grandmom+Granddaddy+Drew+baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1034" data-original-width="1499" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWeg2l5Dt1m34ti4VBKYmPR3WhAHeSsrl4lr2UeCacLMZgUudEqACRd156WpZmF_j1ItfnveX_iGAIfUvDnMqI8MFgARq2tMAkp0B03WpTBQoVSExea0jZrMDvYqAkSddXqchjcGepRb4/s320/Grandmom+Granddaddy+Drew+baby.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Granddaddy Grove and Grandmom with their second great grandchild, Drew.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbPR0R3Ci4MTRR1-_672XK36dHVDK6Y_jL-eaiqLG6eL-S8VB8jJGu2ZIqEyNSZOCSC2XTC3l0vAw6TuFPOzS0m7I4L_dU74WDPlFInf57x2WOLcMeKCWxuJAVyLkDgzBOt515XxyKaBg/s1600/Granddaddy+Grandmom+Dave+baby.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1037" data-original-width="1298" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbPR0R3Ci4MTRR1-_672XK36dHVDK6Y_jL-eaiqLG6eL-S8VB8jJGu2ZIqEyNSZOCSC2XTC3l0vAw6TuFPOzS0m7I4L_dU74WDPlFInf57x2WOLcMeKCWxuJAVyLkDgzBOt515XxyKaBg/s320/Granddaddy+Grandmom+Dave+baby.tif" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Granddaddy Grove and Grandmom with their fourth great grandchild, Dave.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Bob passed away around 20 years ago. Jessie, in her characteristic way, lived on always with a cheerful, positive, and kind manner. She often talked of and joked about Bob as if he were sitting next to her. Her stories flew from her memory with clarity and warmth. Jessie was not one for regret, sorrow, or remorse. Jessie did not have a mean, spiteful, angry, or bitter bone in her body. Jessie was always kind, loving, gentle, sweet, and <u>super</u> funny. She never, ever complained, and she never left the house without lipstick on! Jessie was cheerful to her core and always quick to laugh.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6ay9S0GKy3c/XRLLxyoRgzI/AAAAAAAAB08/lDi82QXC-u057YyD6xlYNEVln5JvVjXyACLcBGAs/s1600/VK%2BDave%2Band%2BGrandmom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6ay9S0GKy3c/XRLLxyoRgzI/AAAAAAAAB08/lDi82QXC-u057YyD6xlYNEVln5JvVjXyACLcBGAs/s320/VK%2BDave%2Band%2BGrandmom.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandmon at Grandparent's Day with her great grandson, Dave (and me).</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Jessie eventually fell and wound up in the hospital. Although she longed to live independently as she alway had, she moved into assisted living without complaint. She continued to share in family dinners and was visited often by her clan of grandchildren and great grandchildren.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Jessie Grove was a fine lady full of grace, charm, warmth, and kindness. She lived a long, prosperous, and full life. Jessie loved well and was well loved in return.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Godspeed, Grandmom!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L02QV6k0-o4/XRIvo1YKvSI/AAAAAAAAB0Q/lrwkH3BCniYYZrawtpPHaKsi6ltfazzQACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20150213_185747747_HDR%2Ba.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1262" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L02QV6k0-o4/XRIvo1YKvSI/AAAAAAAAB0Q/lrwkH3BCniYYZrawtpPHaKsi6ltfazzQACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_20150213_185747747_HDR%2Ba.jpg" width="252" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jessie's 101 birthday celebration with all her adoring friends and family.</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259237963119786082.post-40967208778351692642019-06-04T11:05:00.001-04:002019-06-04T11:05:11.212-04:00Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes of Virginia!Whew!<br />
It's been a VERY busy couple of years.<br />
No time to post here... but... I'm baaaack! (At least for now)<br />
After 6 years of development, <i>Tunas and Billfishes of the World </i>is in press and due to be available in September.<br />
<i>Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes of Virginia</i> is also in press, and due out this Fall, too!<br />
Like I said, I've been super busy...<br />
<br />
I just launched the website for Freshwater Fishes of Virginia, below.<br />
Please check it out!<br />
Cheers,<br />
Val<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.vafreshwaterfishes.com/">https://www.vafreshwaterfishes.com/</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259237963119786082.post-47354277830717728332018-01-19T19:44:00.000-05:002018-01-19T19:44:19.406-05:00Ban Balloons!I noticed an event on FB that will be held in memory of persons to be un-named. It was dubbed "Balloons and Beers." Apparently, the organizers wanted to join up, release balloons in memorial, then reconvene for beers. In my town. Just a few miles away from my home. I sent them a note and asked them NOT to let balloons fly.<br />
<br />
Balloons and their tethers are B-A-D! They choke, they strangle, they entangle, they slice, they suffocate, they cause blockages and deaths to birds, mammals, reptiles, fishes... and on and on.<br />
<br />
Made from rubber (a source built on the destruction of forests), and twine (what the heck goes into that horrible twine?), balloons represent another one-and-done, use-it-once-throw-it-away, unnecessary, wasteful, human trifle. What's the point? Yay! We let a bunch of rubber and plastic loose into the environment to "celebrate" XYZ.<br />
<br />
The movement is at hand. People are wising up.<br />
Plastic straws? Your days are numbered.<br />
Plastic bags? Ditto.<br />
Balloons? I wish they were gone from this planet forever.... beginning now.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://balloonsblow.org/photo-gallery/" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> for Balloonsblow.org<br />
Warning: The imagery is grotesque.<br />
<br />
<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sjYnhYPD5Wc?rel=0" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
PS: Just heard that the organizers have rethought the event and have decided not to let balloons fly. YAY!!!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259237963119786082.post-24864984209404471122018-01-13T19:05:00.002-05:002018-01-13T19:05:58.719-05:00Sh-thole Countries???<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">Every morning I brace myself for more vitriol, negativity, attacks, destruction, and lies from the alternate reality that this nation's highest office seems to live in. When the news exploded over T-rumps "Sh-thole" comments, I was enraged. But I soon realized I was wasting my energy. Nothing is likely to change in the next three years. The dye is cast and I am better off spending my energy in positive ways.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">Thankfully, at least one of my Facebook friends put a cynical (and hysterical) spin on recent events.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">I hope this make you laugh as loud as I did.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: small;">Enjoy!</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span>__________</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">"Shithole Countries throughout history that have seen mass immigration to the US:</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">1619-1865 - Slaves, West Africa. Forced to come to, what would have been to them at the time, a shithole country.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">1620 - Puritans, English. Left shithole England because of religious intolerance.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">1840’s - Irish. Left shithole Ireland due to massive famine.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">1800’s - Germans. Left shithole Germany due to overcrowding and lack of opportunity. (Trumpf is of German descent, Bavaria to be precise. F. Trump left the shithole of Bavaria because he was a Calvanist in a mostly Catholic country). Bavaria was such a shithole it doesn’t exist anymore.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">1850’s - Chinese. Left shithole China due to lack of opportunity and in search of riches. Many were ’Shangaied” as indentured slaves.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">1870’s - Russia. Russians occupied what is now Alaska looking to escape the shithole Czars and revolution.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">1880-1920 - Central, Eastern & Southern Europeans. Italians due to shithole economy and Jews due to shithole pogroms.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">1940-1950’s - Germany. Germans left their destroyed shithole country.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">1940-1950’s - Poland. Poles left their destroyed shithole country.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">1960’s - Cuba. Cubans leave their shithole country because of Communism.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">1990’s - Haiti. Haitians leave Haiti due to an unending procession of storms and Dictators. I’ve left out other shithole countries in South and Central America (too many to count).</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "SF Optimized", system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; letter-spacing: -0.12px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<style type="text/css">
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Helvetica; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000}
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span.s1 {font-kerning: none}
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</div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">We seem to be a nation populated by shithole people from shithole countries."</span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259237963119786082.post-8836278796324406422018-01-01T20:26:00.001-05:002018-01-19T19:53:10.494-05:00Revisiting the Salmon QuestionI don't eat Salmon. I won't serve Salmon. I've banned Salmon from my home and openly shame my immediate family members for even considering Salmon on a restaurant menu.<br />
<br />
As I dug and read and conducted research for a project on NW Atlantic and NE Pacific cetaceans, I became even more distressed over how important Salmon are in the ecosystem. A conversation with a person-who-will-remain-anonymous ensued, in which she said, "Don't tell me, I don't want to know. And anyway, there's nothing I can do." I replied, "Yes, there is something you can do. The alternative is bury your head in the sand." As a big Salmon eater, I knew I would not sway her. Instead, I'll do my small part to spread a little knowledge....<br />
<br />
<u>Feed:</u> Farm-raised Salmon are fed pellets made from either all or some of these ingredients:<br />
grains, animal byproducts, and fish meal. Before harvesting, the amount of fish meal fed to the pen-raised Salmon is increased from about 30% to 90% to increase the amount of Omega-3. Farmed fishes are being fed wild fishes at the bottom of the food chain that would otherwise be eaten by wild fishes, marine mammals, and sea birds in other parts of the world.<br />
<a href="http://www.fao.org/fishery/affris/species-profiles/atlantic-salmon/feed-production/en/" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> for FAO information page.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ib3BgbdkALU/WkrZbX9Hy9I/AAAAAAAABwk/CVVbv03gen8zufpgMaw5CFKSJT-O39leQCLcBGAs/s1600/salmon%2Bfeed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="476" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ib3BgbdkALU/WkrZbX9Hy9I/AAAAAAAABwk/CVVbv03gen8zufpgMaw5CFKSJT-O39leQCLcBGAs/s320/salmon%2Bfeed.jpg" width="253" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: FAO</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<u>Color:</u> In the wild, Salmon are carnivores and derive their food entirely from natural prey high in fatty acids, vitamins and carotene. To make up for this gap, farmers add artificial or synthesized supplements to enhance the flesh color before harvesting.<br />
<a href="http://www.dsm.com/markets/anh/en_US/products/products-carotenoids/products-carotenoids-carophyll/products-carotenoids-carophyll-fishandshrimp.html" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> to read about CARROPHYL (R) a color enhancer.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l1dYQR7APjY/WkpwnOfKpYI/AAAAAAAABwU/vTxduJAkjjMhsENJ75p7QUkmTdyUry8FACLcBGAs/s1600/salmon%2Bflesh.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l1dYQR7APjY/WkpwnOfKpYI/AAAAAAAABwU/vTxduJAkjjMhsENJ75p7QUkmTdyUry8FACLcBGAs/s320/salmon%2Bflesh.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: K. Ganter</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<u>Water Quality:</u> Farm-raised Salmon live, feed, and excrete in large, semi-enclosed pens. The excrement and left-over food accumulates or disperses in the surrounding water and on the bottom below, creating changes in the local environment. Pens located in high-current areas are flushed more often and are more environmentally sustainable, but labeling still doesn't require this disclosure.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NfqNXmx-Ebk/WkraLS07LfI/AAAAAAAABws/3v3ycK-6sD42ug0wu0FkpyTcNXygEvlogCLcBGAs/s1600/Salmon%2Bwater%2Bquality.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="589" data-original-width="550" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NfqNXmx-Ebk/WkraLS07LfI/AAAAAAAABws/3v3ycK-6sD42ug0wu0FkpyTcNXygEvlogCLcBGAs/s320/Salmon%2Bwater%2Bquality.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image credit: Dr. George Pararas Carayannis</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<u>Non-endemic:</u> Northeastern Pacific, farm-raised salmon are Atlantic Salmon which do not occur naturally in Pacific waters. Escapes and pen failures have allowed non-native introductions, and with that, introduction of viruses, diseases and infections which are treated with antibiotics. These illnesses may put wild salmon at further risk.<br />
<a href="http://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/in-a-first-deadly-disease-diagnosed-in-b-c-salmon-1.11579555" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> for Times Colonist article.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yZFQM8Ieojo/WkrfEUqIHMI/AAAAAAAABxM/IoX93H63eRszsTFYqW1osvLiqMkfZ_QMwCLcBGAs/s1600/Salmon%2Bfan.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="744" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yZFQM8Ieojo/WkrfEUqIHMI/AAAAAAAABxM/IoX93H63eRszsTFYqW1osvLiqMkfZ_QMwCLcBGAs/s320/Salmon%2Bfan.png" width="317" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little additive color with your dinner? Photo credit: Guide to Safe Salmon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<u>Reproduction:</u> Most wild, anadromous Salmons die after spawning. They don't re-enter the ocean and return again to natal streams to spawn a second time. They are a one-and-done species. Each wild salmon taken from the ocean takes away a potential future generation. Additionally, the carcasses of dead Salmons return vital nutrients into streams.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-czvZiNGSa1Q/Wkrbhg--syI/AAAAAAAABw4/vW7MNRZTursVOhe-iSGJbonBKDW5WElHQCLcBGAs/s1600/Dead%2BChinook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="680" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-czvZiNGSa1Q/Wkrbhg--syI/AAAAAAAABw4/vW7MNRZTursVOhe-iSGJbonBKDW5WElHQCLcBGAs/s320/Dead%2BChinook.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: FishWithJD</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<u>Predators:</u> Many species prey naturally on wild Salmon: bears, sea birds, pinnipeds, sharks, and Killer Whales. The Southern Resident Killer Whales are known to prey primarily on energy-rich salmon. Atlantic Killer Whales also feed on salmon. Take the salmon out, take the whales out with them... The further Salmon stocks decline, the more these whales are in peril.<br />
<a href="http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/podcasts/2013/12/killer_in_distress.html#.Wkrb2FQ-c0o" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> for a podcast and information from NOAA.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-neLnvtqtYwI/WkrcCvoYtAI/AAAAAAAABxA/Dr9jFHStTIIfWghtqjbbmx9T9rwYRldFwCLcBGAs/s1600/Orca%2Bwith%2BSalmon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-neLnvtqtYwI/WkrcCvoYtAI/AAAAAAAABxA/Dr9jFHStTIIfWghtqjbbmx9T9rwYRldFwCLcBGAs/s320/Orca%2Bwith%2BSalmon.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: NOAA</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Offshore Killer Whales have been shown to feed on sharks. There teeth wear down over time from the abrasive skin. These elderly whales then rely on food sharing within the pod. They have been shown to feed on Pacific Sleeper Sharks, Blue or Whitetip sharks, Opah, and halibut. Sleeper sharks are opportunistic feeders and will prey on a wide variety of fishes, marine mammals, and carrion. Large halibut prey primarily on fishes, including... you guessed it... Salmons.<br />
<br />
In conclusion, if ignorance is bliss, then knowledge is power. Power to make informed decisions, lifestyle changes, and little changes that do make a big difference.<br />
<br />
If you care to pick up a great book on the broader subject, check out "Four Fishes" by Paul Greenberg. Good read.<br />
<br />
Cheers and Best Fishes for a fresh New Year!<br />
-ValUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259237963119786082.post-6026909444793471352017-12-08T08:06:00.000-05:002017-12-08T08:06:21.869-05:00The vanishing VaquitaThe Vaquita is a small porpoise endemic to the Gulf of California. It coexists with the Totoaba, a fish targeted for their valuable swim bladders that are thought to be highly medicinal in China and trade for thousands of dollars on the Black Market. Under pressure from conservation groups and the US government, the Mexican government has placed tight restrictions on fishing in northern GOC, but they are difficult to enforce, and the local people struggle to survive and may continue to succumb to the draw of Black Market profits. And so, the Vaquita continues to decline. It's population is not estimated at 30... a number that may not allow for recovery.<br />
<br />
It's a sad, but true story of greed, abuse, and short sightedness. The current US administration has demonstrated a blind eye to important environmental issues, and have relaxed protections put in place by previous administrations. That is not to say we no longer have a voice and with enough support and pressure, can help turn the tide before this animal vanishes on our watch.<br />
<br />
What can we do to help?<br />
Support The Center for Biological Diversity <a href="http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/mammals/vaquita/" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a><br />
Support the World Wildlife Fund <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/vaquita" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a><br />
Visit the Marine Mammal Commission for more information <a href="https://www.mmc.gov/priority-topics/species-of-concern/vaquita/" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a><br />
<br />
Watch this:<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="234" src="//fave.api.cnn.io/v1/fav/?video=cnnmoney/2017/12/06/vaquita-the-business-of-extinction-documentary.cnn&customer=cnn&edition=domestic&env=prod" width="416"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259237963119786082.post-81076891136885853472017-11-10T09:38:00.000-05:002017-11-10T09:38:04.066-05:00Fishy Friday! Evolution of CichlidsCichlids are one of the most successful and diverse family of fishes (eclipsed only by Gobies and Cyprinids) with roughly 112 genera, and at least 1,350 species. In Africa, there are at least 900 species alone, with concentrations in the three African lakes that contain more species of fishes than any other lake in the world! Their diversity is mind-blowing.<br />
<br />
Some are mouth-brooders, others lay eggs and defend nests, and others combine both methods of reproduction. While primarily a freshwater fish of the tropics, some live in brackish waters.<br />
<br />
Because they are small, easy to capture, observe, and test, they have been the subject of much research.<br />
<br />
Here now, a superb presentation given by Axel Myer:<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/O4Gm62x6NWg?rel=0" width="560"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259237963119786082.post-35616463562961137152017-09-20T20:27:00.000-04:002017-09-20T20:27:04.490-04:00of Doughballs and YouTube buttons<span style="font-size: large;">I've recycled and experimented with all kinds of left-over food as bait: bread, ham, bacon, shrimp, turkey.... "Whatever that guy over there just wasted, may I have it for bait?" Yes, I've actually asked servers to give me left overs so I can go fishing.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Sand fleas? They do NOT need to be fresh to be effective. We've microwaved them and frozen them. Yep, they still catch fish.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Doughballs catch just about any small-mouthed fish I've come across: bass, brim, suckers, shiners, trout, and yes... grunts, snappers, chubs etc. "What are you using?" "Left-over doughballs from my airport sandwich." "No kidding?" "No kidding." Doughballs are even better with a little mayonnaise :)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">However, I've never experimented with hardware. Honestly, it never occurred to me. Until now.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">This is inspired... and very funny~!</span><br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="650" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FUncutAngling%2Fvideos%2F1794425473930959%2F&show_text=1&width=560" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="560"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259237963119786082.post-57670388937573922402017-09-14T21:24:00.000-04:002017-09-14T22:06:46.060-04:00OMG! Science Geeks Rock!<span style="font-size: large;">This made me laugh so hard, tears ran down my face. Totally relate. I still regularly put my patient and nature-loving sons through a "fact check" in the most embarrassing places: grocery store, gift shop...restaurant... </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Ahi Tuna is a fake name. It doesn't exist, boys. And don't get me started on the bycatch or Salmon." </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Mom, we know. Can we just order?"<br />Love this!</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="1000" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FDevonLBowker%2Fvideos%2F10212763103530674%2F&show_text=1&width=560" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="560"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259237963119786082.post-49620335077780481272017-09-11T12:36:00.000-04:002017-09-11T12:36:00.151-04:00After IrmaThis needs no further explanation...<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="521" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FStormChasingVideo%2Fvideos%2F10155145687552695%2F&show_text=1&width=560" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="560"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259237963119786082.post-4865816729816770332017-09-10T07:26:00.000-04:002017-09-11T19:36:41.991-04:00Storm Surge - Part 2A friend of mine described this phenomenon on Currituck Sound after a hurricane blew through the Outer Banks of North Carolina. His description was eerie. This video makes hurricane force clear.<br />
<br />
Here is the original Facebook post:<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "sf optimized" , , , , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: -0.12px;">Long Island, Bahamas ! There is no more ocean ! As far as the eye can see . And they don't know where it went ! Wow .... Irma is more powerful than people think</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; display: inline; font-family: "sf optimized" , , , , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: -0.12px;"> ! Be safe guys . <span class="_5mfr _47e3" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://www.facebook.com/images/emoji.php/v9/f7c/1/16/1f64f_1f3fc.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: -3px;" width="16" /><span class="_7oe" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0px; width: 0px;">🙏🏼</span></span><span class="_5mfr _47e3" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://www.facebook.com/images/emoji.php/v9/f7c/1/16/1f64f_1f3fc.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: -3px;" width="16" /><span class="_7oe" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0px; width: 0px;">🙏🏼</span></span><span class="_5mfr _47e3" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://www.facebook.com/images/emoji.php/v9/f7c/1/16/1f64f_1f3fc.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: -3px;" width="16" /><span class="_7oe" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0px; width: 0px;">🙏🏼</span></span> P.S. This is not me filming ..... </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "sf optimized" , , , , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: -0.12px;">Update: Long Island has the all clear .. The sea is gradually coming back! Praise God....</span><br />
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Meanwhile, in the Florida Keys:<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sbpC0bIOuo4/WbUkj4eiPoI/AAAAAAAABuc/MjTW1TPbgDY8XIIgCSV0Z1wtTage-Z7dQCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-09-10%2Bat%2B6.40.02%2BAM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="1094" height="198" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sbpC0bIOuo4/WbUkj4eiPoI/AAAAAAAABuc/MjTW1TPbgDY8XIIgCSV0Z1wtTage-Z7dQCLcBGAs/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-09-10%2Bat%2B6.40.02%2BAM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259237963119786082.post-91552082891150052572017-09-08T09:26:00.001-04:002017-09-08T09:52:11.795-04:00STORM SURGEFlashback: Ocracoke Island, August 16. A low pressure system had been hanging off the coast for a few days. The ocean was BOILING. It sounded like a freight train. We headed for the beach anyway, anxious to get in and recoup a lost year away from it!<br />
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When we pulled up, I took one look and said, "Um. Nope! This is not good. I don't like the look of this. Not a good idea to get in that water."<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Storm surge, Ocracoke 2017</td></tr>
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My son, Dave, ignored my pleas, threw on some sun block, grabbed his surf board and headed into the water.<br />
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I implored: "Dave, this makes me very nervous! Please don't go in!"<br />
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He was undeterred: "Mom, it's fine."<br />
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The fear reduced me to tears.<br />
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He fought his way through the surf, was justly pummeled, and returned about 10 minutes later.<br />
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"You were right, Mom. It's too big."<br />
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"Number one, I'm always right. Number two, you made me cry!"<br />
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Soon after, the Park rangers stopped by each car to tell everyone to stay out of the water. Unbeknownst to us and just up the beach, a man had drowned the previous day in the rip current while attempting to save another man caught in it.<br />
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Jump ahead to today: <b>Hurricane Irma</b> has already flattened parts of the Caribbean and now threatens the Florida Keys and South Florida. NOAA is predicting up to 9-foot storm surge in parts of South Florida. This storm surge dwarfs the surge above. According to NOAA Hurricane Center (<a href="http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at1+shtml/093751.shtml?inundation#contents" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> for link) and the map below, 9-foot storm surge inundates a huge portion of oceanfront.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">South Florida with potential 1- to 9-foot storm surge</td></tr>
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<br />While I sit high and dry in the Fish Cave––many miles from the ocean, reading posts on Facebook from friends who plan to ride out the hurricane––I'm reminded of ocean's power and destruction. It's real. It's unfeeling. It can knock down buildings, wash out bridges, rip up trees, toss boats and trucks, wash over islands, and drown people and animals in it's path.<br />
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Absolutely Love the ocean! But also fear and respect the ocean... and if possible, get the hell out of the way.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259237963119786082.post-23418690676444044092017-09-07T21:08:00.000-04:002017-09-07T21:08:32.434-04:00Hurricane Irma... 2 Amazing ViewsFrom the ground:<br />
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From SPACE:<br />
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(They are one in the same.)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259237963119786082.post-53192353947606037962017-08-05T08:41:00.000-04:002017-08-05T08:41:27.234-04:00Fish Geeks: a PrimerThere's a thing about Fish Geeks: only Fish Geeks really "get" other Fish Geeks. We are a large and diverse tribe of obsessive, compulsive, and driven students, professors, researchers, divers, snorkelers, fishermen, and... artists :)<br />
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Our closets are stuffed with T-shirts, Hawaiian shirts, baseball caps, and shorts emblazoned and embroidered with fishes on them. Bumper stickers, drink coasters, keys fobs? Only fish related. Tattoos? Fishes.<br />
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Our homes are decorated with fish mounts, fishing memorabilia, fish-related awards, fishing and diving photos, and other fishy decor. If the Geek has it real bad, even his mailbox is in the shape of a fish.<br />
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We read and write and blog about fishes. We photograph, film, and illustrate fishes. We attend meetings about fishes. Our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter feeds are fully of fishy news. Who bothers with the <i>New York Times</i> when we've got the <i>Underwater Times</i>?!<br />
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We all know the words to the songs "Fish Heads" and the zippy, rappy "Rockfish Barotrauma." We've all seen video "Fish Guys - 48 hour Challenge"––multiple times!<br />
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And who can forget the super cute and classic "Barber Lab Quartet - Coral Triangle"?</div>
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And we even cover classic songs with lyrics about fishes!</div>
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<a href="https://vimeo.com/225243119">Say Croppie</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user30462007">Donald J Orth</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</div>
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I think I've made my point.</div>
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Want to join the club? New members are always welcome! But be forewarned––it's a life-long addiction. And, there are no Fish Addiction Treatment Centers... yet. ;)</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259237963119786082.post-63905621344106120652017-07-27T10:36:00.000-04:002017-07-27T10:47:33.565-04:00The Zebra EffectMimicry is one of the coolest adaptations in Nature. Stripes in the grass confuse. Stripes in the water warn! Banded sea snake, Mimic octopus, Pilotfish... Venomous? Best not to find out.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image by copyright Steve Childs</td></tr>
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Now wetsuits? Makes sense, sounds logical. That said, when we enter the water, we agree to leave safety behind. Sharks will be sharks. But this still leaves me wondering if I should stripe-out my son's surf board~!
Watch to the end...<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="280px" mozallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="https://embed.ted.com/talks/hamish_jolly_a_shark_deterrent_wetsuit_and_it_s_not_what_you_think" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="554px"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259237963119786082.post-3586673137442896482017-07-11T14:20:00.000-04:002017-07-11T14:20:40.367-04:00Al Franken on Climate ChangeSmart dude!
<iframe src="//www.funnyordie.com/embed/8fd42231b4" width="560" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen></iframe><div style="text-align:left;font-size:x-small;margin-top:0;width:640px;"><a href="http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/8fd42231b4/boiling-the-frog-ep-1-senator-al-franken-takes-on-climate-change" title="from Years of Living Dangerously, Senator Al Franken">Boiling The Frog Ep 1: Senator Al Franken Takes On Climate Change</a> from <a href="http://www.funnyordie.com/al_franken">Senator Al Franken</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259237963119786082.post-6426009037222662202015-12-04T08:04:00.001-05:002015-12-04T08:06:06.715-05:00ORCAS! HUMPBACKS!<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/146130615" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <a href="https://vimeo.com/146130615">One tiny drop in the Ocean</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user36814745">Wild Sky Productions</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8259237963119786082.post-75646092475651332612015-06-17T12:33:00.000-04:002015-06-17T12:33:09.462-04:00PerspectiveOnce again, sharks have made <a href="http://abc11.com/news/oak-island-shark-attack-victim-speaks-/788805/" target="_blank">the news</a>, and not for good reasons. While I do not mean to minimize the seriousness of the injuries caused, I feel compelled to re-emphasize the rarity of shark-related injuries. <br />
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In the aftermath of recent events, the Washington Post published a blog that put into perspective the chances of being killed by a shark versus being killed by a cow... or a dog... or a wasp. The post did not include statistics about being killed by <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/awesomer/20-things-that-kill-more-people-than-sharks-every#.hfzylYyEb" target="_blank">vending machines</a> (13 per year) or by falling out of bed (450 per year). <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/06/16/chart-the-animals-that-are-most-likely-to-kill-you-this-summer/" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> or click on image to read post.<br />
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<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/06/16/chart-the-animals-that-are-most-likely-to-kill-you-this-summer/" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="316" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6j_21nol7Eg/VYGggZjyA2I/AAAAAAAABrI/FWa_MbcP4-4/s400/bees%2Bv%2Bsharks.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
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When I enter the ocean, I weigh the risk, and understand that when I am making the choice to enter their world. And I keep a length of rope in my truck -- just in case a shark mistakes me, my sons, or anyone near me for a fish.<br />
Safe travels, Val<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1