ALIBUT HERALD

H July 23, 2009

Exploding Water Balloons Crystallized in Time

In light of the approaching heat wave this week, here are some photos to
remind you of how much fun summer can be (despite the heat).
Snapshots of water-filled balloons bursting figure as amazingly frozen moments in time. Granted, they also bring back
memories of when you were a young scamp, mischievously dropping water bombs on hapless cyclists from
overpasses, or soaking whole streets in drive-by drench-athons – but those days of innocence are gone now. So, it
just leaves us to sit back and wonder at the beautiful physics of the things – as well as the devilish uses to which they
can be put.
READ ON & MORE PICS: http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/featured/exploding-water-balloons-
crystallized-time/13557

What Is The Carbon Footprint of The

Space Program?
Is it smart to continue Space studies? Should the
resources be put toward learning more about our vast
& little known Oceans instead?
Thinking about space today, one wonders- what is the
carbon footprint of the space program? At first glance, not
that bad; one source says 28 Tons of CO2 per launch.
Other aspects are worse, like the 23 tons of particulates
from the ammonium perchlorate and aluminum solid rocket
boosters, and the 13 tons of hydrochloric acid.
READ ON:
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/07/carbon-
footprint-space-program.php
Then again, what can we learn about ourselves from
exploring space?
“Apollo Changed Human Perception”
http://www.canada.com/technology/Apollo+changed+h
uman+perception/1808042/story.html
David Gallo Shows Underwater Astonishments Extreme Sheep LED Art

David Gallo shows jaw-dropping footage of amazing sea creatures, including

a color-shifting cuttlefish, a perfectly camouflaged octopus, and a Times
Square's worth of neon light displays from fish who live in the blackest
Short, totally random WTF worthy, and possibly made
depths of the ocean.
WATCH VIDEO: out of boredom, here’s a short video that will make
http://www.ted.com/talks/david_gallo_shows_underwater_astonishmen you smile.
ts.html WATCH VIDEO:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2FX9rviEhw

Awesome Life Size Blue Whale on the Web

The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society have an extraordinary photograph online: a life size image
of a Blue Whale. You can travel leisurely over the entire leviathan for as long as your dreams allow.
CHECK OUT THE PHOTO: http://www.wdcs.co.uk/media/flash/whalebanner/content_pub_en.html
"Shrink and Save" $2500 Do Nothing – And Call it Green

It all sounds a bit confusing, doesn’t it? Greener, Green, Recycling,

Precycling. Are we making things harder than they need to be?
With a minimum of effort, the average American can Shrink their Stop. Let’s take a deep breath and get back to basics. We’re not
carbon footprint by 30% and Save $2500 in a year. Now that's talking about Climate Change here. What were talking about is
money in the bank! getting back to basics.
SHORT, SMART VID:
http://www.stumbleupon.com/s/#6JeABy/current.com/items Sometimes, the Greenest thing to do, is to do nothing at all.
/90518438_shrink-and-save-2500.htm/ READ ON: http://www.twilightearth.com/consumerism/do-
nothing-and-call-it-green/

Ocean Champions

Not sure if there is a Canadian version of these folks, but it is good to see a strong group of people making sure their voice is heard!
OFFICIAL SITE: http://www.oceanchampions.org/blog/?p=812

Schweeb: Is The Human-Powered Monorail The Islands Leading the Way - Bill
Transportation Of The Future? (PHOTOS, VIDEO) McKibben's Dispatch From the
Maldives

The bright side is that the Maldives is a nation full of

The result is the most efficient vehicle on earth, the most inexpensive incredibly bright and committed people, many of them
infrastructure of any proposed urban transit and one of the highest capacity young, who have already led a democratic transformation
systems available - potentially delivering thousand's of people per hour in a in their own land and are now ready to lend their talents to
very small airspace. All this with zero carbon emissions and no parking the global fight.
worries or cost! READ ON: http://www.350.org/about/blogs/islands-
READ ON: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/23/schweeb-is-the- leading-way-bill-mckibbens-dispatch-maldives
human-powe_n_243195.html
 [Type a quote from the document or the summary of an
interesting point. You can position the text box
anywhere in the document. Use the Text
Box Tools tab to change the
formatting of the pull quote text
box.]

Come in to the Gift Shop this week and check

out our brand new DVD games at an
unbeatable price!
Regularly $49.99
Now ONLY $19.99

Great interactive games for families and

children! See you in the store!

30 Workers Now Occupy Ill-Fated UK Wind

Turbine Plant

More Information on Plastics and

our Oceans

There’s so much to learn about our oceans, good

& bad, here is a short list of interesting articles
compiled on the Oceangybe blog: The planned closure of a wind turbine manufacturing facility on
http://www.oceangybe.com/index.php?option=com England’s Isle of Wight moved several workers to seize control of the
_content&task=view&id=191&Itemid=9 plant on Monday night.
READ ON: http://planetsave.com/blog/2009/07/21/facing-closure-
workers-occupy-uk-wind-turbine-plant/
Daring Rescue of Whale Off Farallones Keep the Oceans Clean Game

Oldie, but goodie (2005): Humpback nuzzled her saviors in thanks after
they untangled her from crab lines, diver says
READ ON: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-
bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/12/14/MNGNKG7Q0V1.DTL#ixzz0MCM99lHj

Finalists named for '7 Wonders of Nature' poll

The Grand Canyon and the Great Barrier Reef are competing with 26 other Great online game for kids and parents with links, e-
spectacular natural landmarks in the final phase of the global poll to cards, other games & helpful information on how you
choose the "New 7 Wonders of Nature," organisers said today. can do your part in saving the oceans ☺
READ ON: PLAY HERE:
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/finalists-named- http://www.keepoceansclean.org/intro/
for-7-wonders-of-nature-poll-1755347.html

The Soliloquy of the Blue Whale

My species is the largest that ever lived, with one of the longest life spans on record – 150 years or more… and you nearly killed us
all! That’s right, I’m a giant blue whale, over 100’ long, and if you had a scale that could handle me, I’d weigh about 170 metric tons.
Nothing that big that ever lived on land can match this. The giant South American, Middle Cretaceous dinosaur – plant eating
Argentinosaurus – is a worthy second place with maximum length of 110’ and weight up to 100 metric tons.
READ ON: http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/ecology/soliloquy-blue-whale/12417
 Archival Photo

Crocodile Pool with Caiman, 1975.

Library News
Get your up-to-the minutes news via RSS feed from the library’s What’s new pages. Currently, there are two What’s new pages
running a variety of interesting news feeds

What’s New – Animals and Nature – for news about birds, reptiles, marine mammals, and places such as the Arctic
http://aquanet.vanaqua.org/IS/CRS/Lib/Pages/WhatsNewAnimalsandNature.aspx

What’s New – Business and General – for news about business, finance, tourism, visitor experience and marketing
http://aquanet.vanaqua.org/IS/CRS/Lib/Pages/What%27sNewBGN.aspx

News on Environmental conservation and education will soon be available via the Conservation Current
http://aquanet.vanaqua.org/IS/CRS/Lib/ConservationCurrent/Pages/Default.aspx

Did you know that the Library has access to over 100 journals and magazines??
At least 80 of these are available full text online.
For a complete hyperlinked list, visit the library journals page on Aquanet:
http://aquanet.vanaqua.org/IS/CRS/Lib/Pages/Journals.aspx

As well, you can find new books and movies listed on this page of Aquanet:
http://aquanet.vanaqua.org/IS/CRS/Lib/Pages/LibraryCatalogue.aspx
 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR WHALE
RESEARCH

I’m a Masters student and Straitwatch volunteer looking for help with land-
based whale/boat traffic observations in the Johnstone Strait area. Tasks
include helping to collect and record data on whale activities and vessel
traffic from a cliff-top observation point. While out there we will be
camping at Kaikash for 3 to 4 days at a time. I’m looking for someone who
enjoys spending time outdoors, has camping experience and is interested in
learning more about whales.

This is a great opportunity to gain field experience. This position is based

out of Alert Bay so you will need to arrive the day prior to the volunteer
dates listed below. From Alert Bay a small boat will take us to Kaikash
where we will camp and the boat will pick us up on the last day. There is
minimal cost involved with this opportunity as you only need to be a
member of Cetus Research & Conservation Society ($20 membership fee) to
participate. However, you will need to provide your own camping gear and
food while we are out there.

Volunteers are needed for the following dates:

July 21-23
July 27-29
July 31- August 3
August 5-8
If interested in any or all of these dates, please contact Robyn Walker at [email protected], or
Straitwatch at 250-974-7056
Classified
 NEXT BOOT CAMP SESSION STARTS JULY 21 2009
Are you looking to challenge yourself physically? Increase your
strength and endurance? Tone up for summer? If so….join us for
boot camp!

Program Description :
This boot camp is a fun, functional, innovative and interactive workout session. The
exercises will challenge one’s strength and endurance, improves general well-being while burning lots of calories.
The workout moves quickly going from one exercise to the next with little or no rest. Open to anyone who is
interested in achieving their desired health and fitness level. Participants will be taught on how to progress the
exercises to meet their fitness level.

Program Details :
Fee : $40 per month
Number of sessions : 8 sessions for 4 weeks ( 2 sessions per week)
Time : 4.30 – 5.30 pm or 5.30 – 6.30 pm (choose one)
Day : Tuesday & Thursday
Venue : Stanley Park

If you would like to join, contact [email protected], ext. 3558 or [email protected], ext.
3587.

Equipment Required : Bring your own mat, dumb bells and resistance tube.

http://www.cov
erealty.ca/listin
g_detail-
2995255.html
Events
Reminders for safe and secure biking:

• Location of staff bike racks:

o Secure storage near the Aquarist Entrance
o Aquaquest – near the staff entrance in front of the classrooms
o Interps Trailor – on both sides of the front door
o Gate Six – near the exterior of Beluga Habitat
• Shower and Locker facilities are available in the Aquaquest basement washroom facilities. Contact
Security for access to lockers
• Bicycle Safety – make sure you know the rules of the road – a great resource is Bike Sense, available here:
http://bikesense.bc.ca/Bike_Sense-Nov05.pdf
• Route Planning:
o Cycling Route Planner (Google Maps): http://www.cyclevancouver.ubc.ca/
o Vancouver Cycling Maps are available at my desk – come and grab one! Fits nicely in your pocket J

Happy cycling!
 http://www.canadahelps.org/GivingPages/GivingPage.aspx?gpID=4311

http://www.focuschallenge.org/focus.html

If you or anyone here at the Vancouver Aquarium would be interested in making a donation (tax
receipts available, and 100% of your donation goes to those in need!), please please PLEASE do
so! So far, I'm at $0 here at the Aquarium :(

I've set up a CanadaHelps GivingPage where you can make donations towards the 2009 FOCUS
Hike4Life Challenge. The link is above, as well as a few other informative links as well.

And please remember that every little bit helps, and 100% of your contribution will go towards
FOCUS to help those in need! I will also be doing something special for all of those who have
contributed towards this wonderful cause. I'm not sure yet what this will be, but it could be along
the lines of a large, high-quality photographic print, taken by yours truly, from the Hike4Life
expedition
http://www.naturechallenge.org/dmg09/

http://fishopolis.com
http://eatsnaprepeat.ca/2009/05/31/chinatown-market/
More exciting events here:
http://www.vanevo.ca/event
s01.html
Check out videos of past
lectures here:
http://www.sfu.ca/cstudies/
science/darwin.htm
 ENTER CONTEST
HERE:
http://www.marineph
otobank.com/resour
ces/OceaninFocusP
hotoContestHome20
09.php

http://www.thebigwi
ld.org/summer-
friends-contest