Getting close to the sea

So you really love the ocean. The sea, the waves and the tide pools call to you. You want to live near the ocean (or already do) and have a career that involves working either on, in or next to the ocean. How many careers can you think of? Here is what I can think of:

• Marine biologist
• Fisherman
• Tour guide
• Captain or crew of a ship
• Underwater welder
• Worker on an oil rig
• Pro Surfer
• Teacher - lessons in swimming, surfing, boating, fishing ect
• Entrepreneur (para-sailing, helicopter rides, charter boat ect)
• Scuba diver 
• Navy personnel
• Hotel owner
• Resort owner or worker

I bet you can think of at least a dozen more. My husband actually pursued a career as an underwater welder. He became a certified welder first using all kinds of welding equipment then when he got to the part of training for the underwater part he ran out of finances to get the scuba equipment. Unfortunately the school required him to buy his own equipment, they did not rent it out. So he ended his quest for underwater welding but stayed on land and was a welder for many many years.

A big change is the direction of this blog

This blog started out as a blog on the wordpress.com website. It was written by my then grade school daughter. She wrote in it for a few years then let it go. I took it over for a few months then my I let my niece take charge of it. She was the one who was taking college courses and actually becoming a marine biologist. She really didn't have that much time for the blog and basically wrote in it abut once a month. So she left it and now I have it again.


I was shopping with my now high school age daughter and asked her if she wanted the blog back. She said she would think about it but she gave me her answer as we were checking out with a pair of carhartt pants. Her answer is that she has too much school work to bother with a blog. I can fully understand where she is coming from.

So I will continue the blog but there will be some changes. No more talk about doing research at the coast or class studies. The blog will take on the direction that it was meant to when my daughter first started it - it will be about sealife.

Marine biology classes are being cut from many school cirriculums

When it comes to cutbacks at the high school and junior college curriculum's, marine biology is often the first program that is cut back on. I guess the powers that be, in those school systems, have decide to make some dramatic changes. There is now an increase in short term learning classes just to get people back into the job market. Unfortunately those colleges don't realize that in the long term it is the research done by biologists and others that are very well educated that will help produce the long term industries of the future.

For example, did you know that bio-diesel can be produced from algae? Darn, now that I mentioned diesel in my blog post, I will probably get a Google ad about a major oil company. Much like the ad that appeared the other day about ashton cigars for sale and I still have no idea what words triggered that ad.

I do put the Google ads on the blog, after all they did help pay for my laptop and some living expenses. 

Discovering marine biology news

I love finding out new research studies about the ocean. Just recently at sciencedaily.com there was an interesting article about how over the past 100 years, larger fish have declined in numbers while smaller fish have increased in numbers. So I sat down in a comfy chair, grabbed a couple of mini cheesecakes and read some more.

It appears that scientists are blaming overfishing to the cause of the larger fish disappearing and when those fish disappeared, the smaller fish thrived. This they estimate will contribute to the end of many larger fish like tuna.

If you get a chance, pop on over to the science daily website and read some of the interesting articles they have on marine biology.

The dreaded meeting

I bet you think that this post will be about me meeting face to face with some unusual sea life or dangerous creature. You could not be farther from the truth. The meeting I speak of is those boring, put you to sleep program updates that really don't amount to much of anything. Yes I attend those things once and awhile. If it was not for the donuts they have during the meeting I would be falling asleep. I do wish that the organizers would think more along the lines of having Conference calls instead of dragging everyone away from their research.

At least the meeting was shorter than normal this time. Now if the meetings were located at the beach or even at the aquarium then it would be a welcome diversion, but no, it has to be at the college in one of the smaller, older classrooms.

Oh well, enough ranting and back to sea life stuff.

Underwater videos

I am so glad that videos no longer include tapes or even CDs. The digital revolution has made it so much easier to record events that take place underwater. The cameras are lighter and smaller than ever before. It also makes it easier to make them water tight.

When I get the time I need to transfer my old videos on VHS to purely digital. I need to gather up the HDMI cables, the converting software and make sure the VCR still works to obtain the videos. It sounds harder than it really is and it is not that hard. It just takes time.

No college for the winter semester

Well it is time to take a break from my college classes for the winter semester and go back to work for awhile. Got to save more money for my next classes. Tuition is not cheap and I vow not to have a college loan on my back when I finally graduate....if I get that far. Yes I am always finding that I want to learn more, but boy does it get expensive!

Skin conditions of sea mammals

A question was brought up in class the other day by a fellow student that got me stumped. He asked if whales or dolphins could get eczema like land mammals do. Eczema is word that covers a very broad condition with a variety of skin irritations. Even dandruff is a form of eczema. While the class pondered the question, the instructor guided us on a discussion to try and figure out the answer.

Since all skin has the potential to become irritated then the answer would be yes whales and dolphins could have eczema. But since eczema was often characterized with dry patchy skin then maybe dolphins and whales could not get it, while seals and sea lions could. We also pondered if the eczema treatment would be salt water but only if the animal lived in the water 100% of the time. So for an animal not to have eczema we figured out that living in water may or may not have a bearing on the condition but the type of skin might. You see, whales and dolphins have a different type of skin than a seal does, so its personal biology would be a huge factor.

Our discussion was interesting but I still came away with more questions than answers.

Think about using non-toxic products first

Did you know that many of our household products are not biodegradable? I am not talking about plastic bottles and grocery bags, but the actual creams, lotions and other chemicals that we use. Take for example prescription pills, did you know that you should NEVER flush them or put them in any waste water system? Antibiotics do not break down but end up as a biological soup in our waterways. Fish and other creatures are exposed to dissolved pills, lotions for acne treatments, shampoos and a whole list of other chemicals that water treatment plants cannot handle.

The results are fish that now have possible genetic problems, people and animals eating fish that have been exposed to those chemicals and the food chain becoming highly unstable.

So think before you flush or pour anything down the drain. You can take back any unused pills to a pharmacy or doctor for disposal.

Colorful coral reef video

I found this video over on YouTube about reefs by the BBC and it is fascinating. It always amazes me to see the similarities between coral reefs and the open fields on land. The wind breezes are the same as ocean currents only a different element is used. Enjoy

Weird ads showing up

I just changed the layout of the blog and for some odd reason I am getting Google ads for fast food places, travel and hoodia diet pills. I guess the Google ad bot can't figure out that this is a sea life blog, not sea food blog. I guess I had better put the words whales, boats, ocean and aquariums in this post so it gets a better idea.

What I wanted to be when I grew up

I think when I was in junior high school I wanted so badly to be a veterinarian. At the time you had to have straight A's in high school and of course the money to get into the state college program....so that was out. I was not a straight A student. More like a straight B with a few C's and an occasional A thrown in here and there.

Being a pet doctor was out, so what was next? A teacher suggested that I might try for a forestry degree when I got out of high school. My parents would not support that career. I guess the thought of their little girl being a forest ranger was a bit too much for them. I would have loved it. Of course after I got out of high school I went to work for a few years before continuing on with college.

Before I went back to college I tried one career that I hated with a passion. I became a CNA. I thought that healthcare jobs was the way to go. Everyone kept telling me the future lies with taking care of sick and old people. They maybe right but it was not for me.

So then I embarked on my career in marine biology. I take breaks from college and I am not there full time so it will take many years before I get through to my goal. I refuse to take out student loans so my goal is many, many years away yet. It sure beats that CNA career.

Kelp can be good for you

Kelp is one of the most common salt water plants. Commonly known as seaweed, because of its rapid growth rate, kelp is found in most of the world's oceans. Large areas of kelp growing are called kelp "forests." Sea otters just love making their home among the long strands of kelp and humans harvest kelp for a multitude of products.

Kelp is dried and eaten, it is added to supplements, weight loss pills, pet foods and even cosmetics. Kelp is high in vitamin C as well as lesser known trace elements.

Kelp also has another very important role in the world's ecology. It helps oxygenate the worlds oceans so that ocean life can survive and it gives off oxygen into the atmosphere.

Camouflage among marine fish

Have you ever wondered why some marine fish have a large black dot on their bodies? Those black dots are the camouflage pattern of the fish that will confuse the larger fish. The dots are to mimic dark eye circles so the larger fish will aim for the wrong end while hunting for the fish. That allows the smaller fish a chance to get away.

That's my trivia fact for the day.

Sea salt cures

It is nice to know that the salt water on our Earth is a massive cleansing fluid. It dilutes much of the toxic waste that flow down our streams and rivers. In a concentrated form we eat it (table salt) or use it to preserve our food. In a slightly diluted stage we float on it (The Great Salt Lake in Utah) or use it to treat eczema. Sea mammals that have wounds are more quickly healed by their watery environment than a similar land mammal would. Without our oceans to keep this planet moist and cool enough for us to survive where would we be? Non-existent that is where.

My true feelings about the oil spill in the Gulf

Warning: this post may offend some of you

Ok, I have heard just about enough news on the TV about the oil spill in the Gulf and I am pissed. What I am pissed off about is the fact that almost all of the coverage is about how people are affected by the spill. The TV news is covering how people are losing their businesses and work. Well boo who. People can move, find other lines of work, start other businesses. Damn it, what about the sea life that can't move, are having their homes destroyed and some of them will not live through this disaster to continue their species. Instead of the TV news continually covering the economic part of the disaster just to sell commercial air time to viagra and sleep aids, why don't they cover what the Sierra Club, The National Wildlife Federation and other conservation clubs are doing.

I am sorry if I offended some of you but I just had to say that.

Day 72 of the oil spill in the Gulf

It is now over 2 months after the pipe broke on that BP oil rig and we are not any closer to shutting it down than we were at day 1! What the hell is wrong with this picture? I have heard of all kinds of solutions from burning it off (which is what they tried at first), enzymes, using stainless steel drums and of course that famous "cap" that didn't work. Apparently BP does not have any scientists on its payroll otherwise they would have figured out how to shut it down or make it less harmful to the environment. We shall see what happens next.

More marine biology should be taught in schools

Something that I always thought that should be taught at the high school level is marine biology. Regular biology class has always been geared toward the medical aspect of learning. Sort of getting students ready for the world of doctors and biological sciences. Not everyone is interested in becoming a doctor or nurse. Some of us want something else that does not have to do with medicine.

Then you also get the push for computer science and even computer clubs at school. I use to get sick just getting those club flyers pushing for more technology. People, the more we move towards technology the further we move away from nature. Just look at how the children of today act. They get their life's experiences from TV, movies and video games. Even the Wii simulates real exercise. Next they will come up with a Wii game that simulates swimming for those who can't really swim.

Boy did I go off on a tangent there, from what I would like to see taught in schools to what kids are doing in their spare time. Well, enough ranting for now....I have got to shut the lid on this laptop and go do something outside with nature.....away from technology, at least for a few hours.

Wakame Seaweed

What is wakame seaweed? There are many varieties of seaweed but not all of them are edible. Wakame seaweed is the seaweed that you find in oriental salads and soups. It is different than the seaweed used to wrap sushi. Wakame seaweed is farmed as a crop in Japan. You will find wakame seaweed used in many products including diet pills such as apidexin because of its digestive benefits.

Another health benefit from the ocean

Did you know that seaweed has many health benefits? One of them is as a digestive aid and source of vitamins. Another one is as a eczema treatment. A paste is made from the seaweed and it is used as a cream to treat many skin conditions. So you see, seaweed is not just something wrapped around sushi.