29 January 2017 - THE MIGHTY MEKONG

THE MIGHTY MEKONG

G'day folks,

Welcome to some superb snapshots of, and life on and near, the Mekong River - my favourite river, taken by a top photographer.

Clancy's comment: Ah, gives me goosebumps.

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28 January 2017 - THE BASKING SHARK

THE BASKING SHARK

G'day folks,

Welcome to a creature you have probably never heard of. The basking shark is the second largest living fish, after the whale shark, and one of three plankton-eating sharks along with the whale shark and megamouth shark. Adults typically reach 6–8 m in length.

Basking sharks can be found in temperate waters around the globe and are the world’s second largest living fish reaching an impressive 8 metres (that’s almost the length of two cars).

Amazing Facts About the Basking Shark

• Basking sharks live in temperate (mild temperatures) waters around the world.
• Basking sharks are filter feeders. This means that they strain suspended matter (solid particles that float in water) and food from water (much like a strainer or sieve used in the kitchen). This is done by enlarging the mouth and passing water over gill rakers.
• Gill rakers are growths made from cartilage that help the shark feed and prevent loose particles from passing through the gills, helping the shark to breathe.
• Their diet consists mainly of zooplankton (tiny animals that live near the surface of water), fish eggs, barnacles and shrimp.
• Basking sharks are peaceful animals. They do not hunt other marine animals or harm humans.
• Due to their passive temperament, basking sharks have the smallest weight to brain weight ratio of any shark.
• These sharks were once over exploited for their fins, liver oil and as a source of food for humans as well as feed for livestock. This has led to a decrease in population size and they are now listed as vulnerable.
• Basking sharks can be found alone, but sometimes are found in small groups or schools of many individuals.
• Their name comes from the fact that they look like they are basking on the water surface whilst feeding.
• They have also been the subject of many myths and legends. In the past, fishermen and locals had reported sightings of seeing a sea serpent monster or a globster (an unidentified organic mass), most famously the Stronsay Beast. In actual fact, when a basking shark dies its body decomposes in a way that could resemble a sea monster! This is also known as cryptozoology.

Clancy's comment: Had you heard of them? Wow, that is one hellova big mouth.

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27 January 2017 - BONO

BONO

G'day folks,

I have featured this guy before, but he is a very interesting character.

Paul Hewson is one of the most famous people in the world. Of course, you know him better as Bono, lead singer of the Irish stadium behemoth, U2. Behind the trademark bug-eyed sunglasses and golden falsetto is one of the most visible and accomplished figures in music history. His constant humanitarian efforts, his working relationship with presidents and prime ministers, and the world-conquering success of his band’s albums and tours make Bono a figure of towering cultural importance beyond his music. But of course, U2’s music also casts a shadow as long as its 35-year history.

Paul was born to a religious family in Dublin, Ireland. His spiritual upbringing would figure prominently into his life and music. But his real evolution as a musician came when he began attending the Mount Temple Comprehensive School, where he met his future bandmates and earned the nickname Bonovox (translated from the Latin for “good voice”). Bono and his mates found that they weren’t particularly good at covering the Stones or Beach Boys, so they began writing their own compositions. Taking their name in 1976, U2 managed a contract with Island Records and released Boy in 1980. 

Their debut earned critical praise for Bono’s impassioned delivery and the band’s militant post-punk frankness. Minor Billboard success only hinted at the band’s achievements over the coming decade.

From the political pointedness of 1983’s War to the the proto alt-country majesty of 1987’s The Joshua Tree to the electrofunk undercurrent of 1991’s Achtung Baby, U2 was arguably the most important rock band of the decade. Their stadium-filing tours, airwave-dominating singles, and album-oriented precision made the band, and particularly their frontman, a global phenomenon. Ultimately, the elements of punk, new wave, and arena rock that U2 fused together became a sound all their own, and one to which future stadium acts like Radiohead, Coldplay, and Muse owe an incalculable debt.

Over the course of the ‘90s, U2 redefined the enormity and spectacle of the live rock show. Playing to ever-larger audiences, the band dedicated its considerable resources to creating an enveloping sonic and visual experience even for audiences numbering in the tens of thousands. As a singer, Bono elevated the bar first set by Mick Jagger, using his tremendous passion and charisma to create intimacy in even the most expansive venues.

As the frontman of U2, Bono is the chief lyricist and, without question, the reason its albums have shipped to the tune of 150 million worldwide. They are also the recipients of a stunning 22 Grammy Awards and an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Bono may also be rock’s greatest humanitarian. His efforts at promoting debt relief for developing nations and his work to spotlight poverty in Africa have granted him a key to the White House and perhaps even a genuine impact on global policy. Time magazine named him 2005’s Person of the Year.

Clancy's comment: Very interesting character indeed. He and Bob Geldof have probably achieved more than countless politicians. Nothing surprising, eh? By the way, Geldof is mentioned in my latest book, 'Bold Journey'.

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