Don't Look Behind You!
THIS is exactly the sort of thing that scares the pants off of me. Marine biologist Tony Snow took his plastic sea kyak into the waters off the South African coast, hoping to observe the behavior of the great white sharks that swim into the shallows every summer. But at least one shark decided to observe Tony. It stalked his tiny kayak for some distance, but never attacked. It's a good thing the shark wasn't hungry. It could have swallowed Tony--and his boat--with one bite.
Read the original article here.
posted by Kirsten Miller at 10:44 AM
20 Comments:
OK, so in the past some sharks were really, really large, but surely there are worse things out there than being eaten in one clean chomp. (Like the embarrassment factor--how does one pronounce "wobbegong" anyway? Just looking at it makes me giggle.) On another sharky note, have you read the Young Wizards series (Diane Duane)? I know, so much JFic/YFic out there to read, but I think you'd definitely find the second book in the series, ah.. thrilling.
(And no, I'm not a researcher or anything in particular really. Just a recent grad testing my family's patience by being a bum and spending my days exploring Wikipedia. It's a hard job, but someone has to do it....)
Gamma, those links are awesome. I love the story about the guy with the shark hanging off him. Who knew a shark attack could be funny.
I haven't read the Young Wizard series. Worth a try? I'm going to the bookstore later today. And as for the bum bit . . . hold on to that job as long as possible!
Reminds me of my sister. We went snorkling in Hawaii and she scraped her ankle on a rock. She didn't notice she was hurt though, but she saw a baby shark stalking her. XD
lovely. Don't scrape yourself in Hawaii; good tip.
I really recommend the YW series, they're some of my favourites. Actually the first one was conveniently at eye level on the shelf in the hall, so now it's on my pile of things to re-(re-re-re-, etc.) read today/soonish. (Apologies in advance if this posts twice, my connection decided to freak out for a minute there.)
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
if there is one truth in this world, that you can always count on to be true it is that i HATE SHARKS. Their absolute freakazoids that want to kill me and mame me and bite my head of. just thinking of one is making me squirm oncontrollably. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Okay, ananka did u ever read the mysterious benedict society as i instructed? (that gutsy enough for you?) O and another question, was inside the shadow city a kiki book about you or kiki? I've been thinking, if ur writing a story about each irregular, then that includes urself, rite? I'm guessing that inside the shadoow city was about kiki, cuz she wass on the cover. enlighten me.
o yeah, a little fact for ya, did u know that you're more likely to die from getting bonked on the head with a coconut than die from a shark attack?...I still hat e them!!!
One more thing! have you ever REJECTED a comment?
That freaks me out too! Ugh. I wonder what the shark was thinking.
You wanna know what it was thinking, spring? I'll tell you. It was thinking: You know i don't think i'll attack this old chappy, Instead I'll save all my strength for when that little udontneed2knowmyname wanders into these waters and i'll attack her instead! THAT is what it was thinking. They pry on innocent sarcastic girls! I HATE them! *sniff* okay, if the shark was toothless maybe i'd treat it with decency, but not one with a mouth full of fangs!
YES- Ananka rejected one of my comments once :(
Kirsten, did you hear about the "shark attack" in Bondi? When it made the news, the story just didn't seem right to me - there was something fishy about it; I mean Bondi hasn't had a shark attack in 70-something years, and surely someone else would have known. The guy said he fought bravely with the shark and then passed out on a rock face nearby (with a nasty gash on his arm). Turns out he made up the story to cover up a brawl he'd had while drunk...
Pfft - and the Sydney Morning Herald actually believed him.
UDN2KMN: I haven't yet! I'm so sorry. ;) I looked for it at the store today, but I couldn't find it. I will get it this weekend. I've heard it's great.
As for the books, #1 was more about A than K, I think.
Raph: I hadn't heard that story. How did he think he was going to get away with it? Anyway, I thought they had shark nets at Bondi. No? But I'll tell you a (somewhat) funny story. A friend of mine and I were at Byron Bay, looking down at the beach from the lighthouse and watching the surfers. All of the sudden, one of them was surrounded by five or six dorsal fins! I was sure I was going to see someone get eaten by sharks. (And it was only my second day in Australia!) Just as I was about to flip out, the creatures with the fins started leaping out of the water. Turns out they were friendly dolphins, riding along with the surfer. But for those first few seconds, I was more terrified than I've ever been in my life!
never fear ananka, i know as well as you that certain books find us when we need them most. MAybe the book is hiding from you, waiting. Can you hear it, its saying, "I'M NOT GONNA COME TO U YET! You don't need me yet!" lol. Any other book suggestions? The westing game was great! Are the spiderwick chronicles worth reading? Or are they to much of an easy read? I'm looking for advanced reading, ya know. O yeah, who's ur favorite poet? just wondering. l8r g8r
I second Gamma's praise for the Young Wizards series. They're some of my favorite books.
Haha - fantastic story, Kirsten. :) Wow; if they were real sharks, I'm sure you would've been put off Australia for a long time - and that would be a shame.
Remember a while ago when you mentioned some street art in Sydney? I do know of a site in Edgecliff - I've tried to snap some pictures but it's in a really dangerous place in the middle of the road. But I really like it so I'll try harder next time I take the train past there.
Do you know when you'll be visting us next? ^^
UDN2KMN: I haven't read the Spiderwick Chronicles yet, though I hear they're good. And my favorite poet? TS Eliot.
Raph: Don't get run over in the name of street art! As for Australia, I'm not sure when I'll be there next. But you'll be the first to know if I make the trip!
Huzzah! xD
Are all of you just interested in Fantasy books? LOL I love fantasy books. But may i recommend a book for in a few years. It is called:
Inside Erie Haven. It is about a girl named Antionette who lives really close to central park. People start vanishing from the park. Everyone thinks this is just somthing you hear about every day and no big deal, it is just another kidnapping or two but Antionette thinks otherwise she thinks it has somthing to do with the old Erie Haven carousel. You see none of the people that have gone missing,have anything in common except one thing they were all supposed to being going to the carousel when they dissapeared. Antionette has always thought that the Haven Family who owned the carousel were odd and she thinks it is time to find out what is happening with that carousel and the people. With the help of her best friend Daphne, Antionette will discover somthing that will make you remember that nothing is what it seems. Does it sound good to you guys? it is a book im writing.
~Kad
Wait, kad, ur Writing that book? I'm impressed. I'll read it. just don't make it too scary. I'm still a little shaken from that SHARK ATTACK POST. thank you very much, ananka.:)
Yeah i am writing that book. I am on the third chapter and stuck.
Don't worry i wont make it extremly scary.
~Kad
That's cool, Kad.
IM: WHY? WHAT DID YOU SAY?
And you're also more likely to die of bee stings then shark attack.
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