Thread Of Positive Awesomeness

Discussion in 'Lounge' started by SleepyOwl, Oct 24, 2019.

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  1. Pegscraper

    Pegscraper Elite Member

    Jun 12, 2020
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    Yorkshire

    Sharks, probably the most misunderstood species on the planet.
     
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  2. Cyborgbot

    Cyborgbot Guest

    No @Pegscraper, that would be wives…

    Sharks are the second most misunderstood.
     
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  3. Sandi T

    Sandi T It's ride o'clock somewhere!
    Subscriber

    Dec 3, 2018
    21,605
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    Maybe that's why I feel such a kinship with sharks. :neutral:
     
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  4. Golgotha

    Golgotha Guest

    #2384 Golgotha, Sep 3, 2021
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 3, 2021
    Lived w/in a couple miles from the ocean most of my life. Been diving since I was 15. Seen quite a few in the wild. Reef Sharks, Spinners, a couple Hammerhead, and of course lots of Nurse Sharks. Never really felt uncomfortable in the water w/them(venomous snakes don't bother me either). You can kind of read their body language and if you can see them, chances are it's because they're letting you. They're often simply inquisitive and will hang back like curious alley cats just assessing you and your activity. They'll calmly follow you too. I've turned my back on them many times as I could tell they were no threat. Nothing could prepare me for cage diving with Whites down in S.Africa a few years ago.

    We had maybe 20' vis and 2'-3' chop with gentle rolling swells so as we couldn't see them until they were right on the bait, they couldn't see us… or the bait(20+ lb chunks of Tuna). They came in like surface-to-air missiles straight up vertically, homing in and hitting with extreme violence of action. Just looked like a horrifying gaping mass of triangular teeth fading in from the depths They'd give the meat 3 ot 4 explosive slashes side to side to rip it apart and then ghost. When their heads impacted the cage it was like a shockwave coming off an artillery or rocket strike(which I have experienced). The salts running the boat said in calmer, clearer waters they usually meander about then calmly close in to grab the bait in a less frantic manner. What we basically saw was classic shark attack nightmare fuel. IIRC we had a 12, a 14, a 17 footer, and they were PISSED OFF. Apparently they don't like murky, choppy water either. They can't say no to bloody prey so poor, rougher conditions agitates them.

    They say a full grown Great White is about as intelligent as an adult rat. That is not to be underestimated.

    I'm still on the road, but when I get back east I'll try to dig through my external drive and post a couple pics. I considered myself somewhat jaded at the time of this dive, still do, but that encounter SERIOUSLY impressed me.

    Anyhoo… that's my Great White Shark story. Beautiful, terrifyng beasts. A half hour in the water with them can change you.
     
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  5. Cyborgbot

    Cyborgbot Guest

    Yeah - people start to call you Stumpy…
     
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  6. Golgotha

    Golgotha Guest

    If you’re stupid enough to exit the cage in anything other than absolute pristine conditions I can assure you the mere loss of limbs will be your least concern.
     
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  7. Hubaxe

    Hubaxe Good moaning! aka Mr Wordsalad :)

    Mar 25, 2020
    1,692
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    Aix Les bains - French Alps
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  8. Cyborgbot

    Cyborgbot Guest

    #2388 Cyborgbot, Sep 13, 2021
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 13, 2021
    It was a joke. I totally understood the experience you had. I’m slightly envious as I was a club diver with BSAC and felt they taught the science and safety of diving whereas Paddy focussed on getting people wet at any cost(risk). BSAC have changed their advancement system so I have not ideas where I got to - I taught novices, taught them boat skills. Radio skills, and planned and led dive outings. I ran (with help) the diving club at a university.

    But my joke was ‘30 minute with a shark will change your life’… I’m sure it could!

    Sorry you didn’t appreciate the wit.
     
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  9. Iron

    Iron Guest

    We were shown shark educational films (amongst others) when I was just a lad at school in Cape Town. Fishermen were still going out in boats fishing with grenades on spears in those days. We'd go ask for shark teeth of off the guys who hung the big sharks by their tails on trailers to show them off. We'd keep the teeth in those tobacco tins every kid had for those special items.
    Never really thought about the danger. When the days got really hot the tar on the edge of the roads used to melt. We'd go nick a sheet of corrugated iron off of some building site (loads for hoarding and roofs were used then) bend the ends up onto a short piece of wood and use the tar as a sealer on the joints at each end. The resulting heavy and unstable canoe was carried to the beach and one or two would paddle out as far as we could until it sank. The water was so cold it would make your chest hurt.
    Arguments would ensue as to who held the record for the greatest distance out.
    I'm glad my mum never found out ..... I don't think she would have seen the funny side. :neutral:
     
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  10. Iron

    Iron Guest

    #2390 Iron, Sep 13, 2021
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 13, 2021
    Talking of tar.
    I found these alongside a brook near here.

    1.jpg

    Very old and rusted away steel barrels that contained tar.

    2.jpg

    Loads and loads of them buried and laid out alongside a dry stone wall adjacent to the brook.

    3.jpg

    They've obviously been there for years, and, as the local stories go, were dumped there by the US Army after WW2.

    4.jpg

    The stories are most probably bollox as I've since found that there was a massive Victorian factory a few miles down the river that produced coal gas. The barrels are of WW2 era and the barred looped one looks like it may have German origins but more likely a local business getting rid of it's rubbish.

    5.jpg

    Typically the council say they can't do anything about it as they don't know who owns the land and there's no danger of pollution as the barrels are empty. But a very pretty picture. No politics please. : unamused: Over...
     
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  11. Golgotha

    Golgotha Guest


    Here we go again. :rolleyes:

    Not bad. I've been on a Stoner Rock and Doom Rock tip lately so this will go in the cue.
     
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  12. Cyborgbot

    Cyborgbot Guest

    Whatever.
     
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  13. Iron

    Iron Guest

    No worries I changed the position of my post :)
     
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  14. Hubaxe

    Hubaxe Good moaning! aka Mr Wordsalad :)

    Mar 25, 2020
    1,692
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    Aix Les bains - French Alps
    Impressive piece oh history!!
     
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  15. Golgotha

    Golgotha Guest

    39th Dorsetshire Regiment of Foot?
     
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  16. Iron

    Iron Guest

    Correct, the 39th Foot, Pea Green silks.

    He served with the colours from 1809 until 1821, was wounded at the Battle of Vittoria. A French musket ball to the shoulder. Fought in Canada in the 1812 War and returned to France as part of the Occupation Army.
    Born and Died in Somerset. Is recorded as a "Waterloo Veteran" in his village's archives where he cleared the graveyard Yew trees and church steeple of Ravens and Crows. Army pensions weren't large in those days.

    The MGSM (Peninsular War Medal) was only awarded to those who survived as it could only be applied for in 1847, and covered actions from 1793 to 1814. Some had to wait nearly 50 years for their award.
     
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  17. Golgotha

    Golgotha Guest

    Interesting. A storied career to say the least. Britain's wars with France during that period had a major impact on early American affairs, both colonial and post Revolution national. We owe France a tremendous debt of gratitude. We could not have done it w/out them. They practically financed the American Revolution.

    Most Americans who think they know history think 1812 was a decisive American victory. Although we repelled all British incursions into the US proper and its territories, it was our intention to expand into Canada and that was in turn thwarted by British Forces positioned there, to include naval battles on the Great Lakes. If you count the Spanish(who backed Britain), overall losses were about equal on each side. Our only big gain was Florida. In the end the status quo was more/less maintained. The Treaty of Ghent very possibly saved the US as the British were rapidly recovering from Napoleon and a significant sector of British society wanted to continue pressure on the US. The tax burden needed to sustain the war for another couple/few years was a deciding factor.

    A simple tip of the scale back then would've resulted in the world being a very different place these days. They were interesting times indeed.
     
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  18. Iron

    Iron Guest

    I gotta admit to not knowing an awful lot about the 1812 war other than the only time the Whitehouse was put to the torch by an invader. The Gov buildings being invaded recently I assume was an inside job. I should read more about it I suppose.

    I'd like to follow the 39th's journeys through Portugal, Spain and France someday. To look at what he saw albeit 200 years later.

    post-12437-0-61506500-1332181368.jpg
     
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  19. DCS900

    DCS900 Careful, man! There’s a beverage here!

    Sep 11, 2021
    2,339
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    LA
    I took an evening swim tonight at dusk, in Coniston…peaceful apart from the kids playing on the other side of the water… nice to wash away the days BS in cool clear waters…

    4FB39E3C-2640-48FE-AF57-410AB86E9A47.jpeg

    10F89BE8-5E1F-4321-BC62-9E6FEF5EB6DF.jpeg
     
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  20. Dawsy

    Dawsy Cumbrian half-wit
    Subscriber

    Aug 24, 2018
    4,684
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    Cumbria
    I heard the Cumbria police were searching for a strange naked man around that area. They described him as 'tiny in appearance ':joy:
     
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