Mickey Z

Cool Observer

Sunday, August 14, 2005

Great White Sharks, book recommendation, and a few days away from the computer ahead

Posted by Mickey Z on 08/14 at 07:03 AM

Mickey, I think you may be mis-representing this “whole shark thing.” You see, our preemtive strikes on sharks and wolves and various brown bears, began when we learned that they posessed weapons of mass destruction. Though we’ve not located them, we have found lots of big, sharp teeth, and, in the case of the brown bears, we’ve identified huge, powerful claws as well. These beasts refuse to remove these instruments of death from their respective arsenals, and they sometimes execute terrorist raids on our livestock. In the case of the sharks and (rarely) brown bears, they sometimes kill innocent humans, and refuse to renounce such attacks in the future. We believe these murders arise from their strange relegious beliefs, which place eating, survival, and protection of their young - above the interest of their human neighbors.
Surely you’re not suggesting appeasment? My feeling is that, unless the sharks renounce these terrible teeth and promise to live in peace, we should nuke the ocean, immediately after the next attack. With bear or wolf attacks, we could nuke the forests. (Hell, we know where the buggers are! Let’s get `em right now!)

Posted by joe on from Oregon 08/14 at 01:29 PM

Thanks, Joe...now I better understand why the whites were called Jets and the Puerto Ricans were called Sharks.

Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 08/14 at 01:32 PM

Yup, it seems as though, if we fear it, we kill it - whatever “it” might be. Thus, there are almost no wolves or brown bears in the “lower 48,” and fishermen (they’re often called “sportsmen") gather regularly to kill as many sharks as possible.
And, as you note - Riff and his boys attacked Bernardo and his gang.
Presently, we fear Muslims, Blacks, Brown people, any and all indigenous populations, and, of course, those damned Chinese. (That must be more than 3/4 of the population of the world.)

I just can’t imagine what we plan to do…

Posted by joe on from Oregon 08/14 at 02:48 PM

When what we fear gets to be too numerous, we sic one set of evildoers on another, e.g. training Osama and Co. to fight the commies.

Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 08/14 at 02:53 PM

It must be exhausting acting the shithead. Hitler created the SS to protect himeself from the SA and would have needed an Ssomething to protect himself from the SS after a while. I call it Russiandoll syndrome.

About the sharks, I saw a documentary a few years back about an epidemic after the movie Jaws, hordes of guys going out hunting sharks putting on Hemingway man-and-sea airs but they were more like drivebys, I was reminded a bit of dentists at work.

Posted by Owen on from Barcelona 08/14 at 03:15 PM

The shark hanging on display reminded me of this: When I was very young, perhaps 13 or so, I took a photo of a swordfish dying on the floor of a boat. I was involved in catching this fish. Actually, I caught this fish. I was a kid, so I didn’t pay for the trip; but I felt very sporty with my dad and everything—anyway I was proud of myself and I took the picture on this gorgeous sparkling blue day, the dying swordfish. Pornography, I suppose. So I kept the photo and now after being a vegan for 22 years I come across the photo now and then, and I can’t toss it out.

I hope to make some difference, to persuade colleagues and sportspeople and consumers and people who work in industries, that domination isn’t where it’s at, but I think it’s important to remember that I’ve done it myself.

Where’s that Catholic thread again...?

Love & liberation,

Posted by Lee Hall on from 08/14 at 04:31 PM

Lee Hall is in the house…

Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 08/14 at 05:47 PM

I guess most of the Elites live within Russian Dolls, eh Owen? Fortunately, using our money, they’re able to create pretty nice digs, within these self-styled bunkers. Still, it’s odd to realize that this world-wide duplicity and madness adversely effects all life, even the lives of our “masters” themselves…

Lee - we’ve all done some pretty grim things which we’ll never forget. Most of my memories are somehow painful. Perhaps we can create a world in which forgiveness triumphs over revenge.
Unless, of course, in revenge for our trying to do so, the Elites kill all of us, first… (Woops, most of my silver linings seem to contain clouds!)

Posted by joe on from Oregon 08/14 at 06:39 PM

I’m not one to quote Sting on a regular basis, but there’s a line of his that seems to complement Joe’s last comment: “We share the same biology regardless of ideology.”

Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 08/14 at 07:44 PM

I only became a vegan recently but the idea of murdering other creatures without need always bothered me. I did fish when I was younger but now it seems like such a waste… Now my friends are inviting me to go fishing with them. They sail out into the ocean and occasionally catch a few small sharks. I’d love to be on a yacht in a “middle” of the ocean, but I don’t want to be a part of a fishing party. What a dilemma…

Posted by SH on from 08/14 at 07:45 PM

Mickey, before it gets too late, I thought I’d wish you both well, out on the island. There’s nothing on earth like the sound of the waves crashing upon the shore, and the smell of the sea… It should be refreshing, and you deserve the break.
When I lived in The City, I schlepped out to Long Beach whenever I could. I “almost” lived there, for a while. I see, however, (if DiNiro’s film “City by the Sea,” is accurate) that LB has become pretty run-down and dangerous. Sad. I really loved the place.

Hey, watch out for roving bands of Elites while out there. We have reports that they sometimes escape from the Hamptons, and slither about, causing fear and panic among the peace loving populace…

Hi, SH - I’m not sure how to respond to your post. It’s great, however, that you’ve become a vegan. I’m closing in on it myself, albeit in baby steps. Congrats.
Maybe you could take “the one you love” to a motel with hot-tub rooms. That might be a sweet, wonderful pause from life. There are many ways to enjoy the water, after all…

Posted by joe on from Oregon 08/14 at 08:07 PM

You know what, Joe, I’ve been to Long Beach recently and it seems that Roving Band of Elites has now staked a claim there. No matter, Montauk is sufficiently un-elite for us and we appreciate the good wishes.

SH, I second Joe’s congrats on becoming a vegan. As for your dilemma, I can only tell you that I very much relate and, if it were me, I’d pass. Instead, you might wanna take control and plan a boat trip that doesn’t involve tricking a fish into biting a hook and then invite your friends to join you. Becoming a vegan is a lifestyle choice and that means lifestyle changes. At first, it seems hard...but as you progress, you find ways to make it work in amazing ways. I wish you the best and please feel free to touch base here any time for good vegan conversation.

Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 08/14 at 08:39 PM

speaking of human contact with wild animals,
Ebert and Roper just reviewed the documentary Grizzly Man
http://grizzlymanmovie.com/grizzly.html
apparently they’re worried the movie will inspire Treadwell copycats
http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/news/12382305.htm
I read the movie Winged Migration was a fix. the director trained those birds and placed them in those situations.
George Monbiot wrote a great article on phony nature documentaries
nature documentaries, racism, and colonialism working hand and hand.
http://www.monbiot.com/archives/2002/12/17/planet-of-the-fakes/
the thing that gets me is this on that movie page Grizzly Man I read that the bear suspected in the murders was killed. whenever i read this i’m thinking why do they have to kill the animal? why didn’t they kill those homo sapiens who murdered all those sharks. but since i don’t believe in capital punishment i would be against
this also.
where did you get that image of the bleeding pawn? and who killed the pawn? i hear the knight just got a job as a commentator on fox, abc, cnn, msnbc, one of those alphabet propaganda stations.

Posted by tm on from here 08/14 at 10:02 PM

Excellent post, TM. I love documentaries but those nature films surely require more than just dumb luck.

As for the pawn image, I typed in “peon” on Google image search.

Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 08/15 at 05:03 AM

Joe, It took me a long time to finally go completely vegan. It was a long process of reading, thinking, coming to terms with my own prejudices and misconceptions. Now that I joined yet one more minority group I feel better.

Mickey Z., I think you are correct, I will find a different way to spend my time that does not involve participating or even standing by someone being murdered.

Thank you both for your encouragement and good ideas.

Posted by SH on from 08/15 at 06:29 PM