Jump around

That was a miserable picture (below), wasn't it? Here's a nicer one, and some good news too. (And yes, I do realise ducks don't read my blog. They have far better things to do).

Weird fishes

I must come up with some pictures of things other than cute animals to post. There is a danger of me coming across as 'an animal lover' (or descending into Widdy Web territory - she has a section of her website devoted to her cats). I'm not actually that interested in animals; I just think we should treat them well and not eat them.

Anyway, I've been invited on a trip. Actually I've been invited on quite a few trips, including one to Dubai/ Abu Dhabi which sounds like the ultimate jolly, albeit my idea of hell. (I turned that one down - what's to investigate there - shopping, sun, sea and sand? The gross waste of natural resources in creating indoor ski mountains and artificial islands shaped like palm trees?)

The invitation I'm thinking of taking up is from IFAW. They want to take some MPs on a boat during recess to show how scientific research can be carried out on whales without harming them - i.e. not like the Japanese. They've stressed that this would be very much a working holiday, and MPs will be expected to lend a hand on the boat. (They don't realise they've invited someone who can't even change the vacuum cleaner nozzle without calling for assistance). Could turn out to be a fascinating experience.

And now it definitely is time for bed.

Caught in the middle

Here's one I wrote earlier.... but for some reason forgot to post.

Interesting article in the Sunday Times about a massive increase in whales and dolphins being caught in fishermen's nets off Cornwall. Apparently the British Government was allowed to ban British fishing boats from a 12 mile zone around Cornwall by way of response, but EU rules meant it couldn't ban foreign boats. There's also a quote from Barrie Deas, chief executive of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations: “Dolphins are an iconic species and no one likes to see them being killed but it’s a question of proportion. Why don’t you stop motor cars because of the death of hedgehogs?" This is one of those analogies so beloved of special interest groups which is self-evidently ridiculous, but does the job of diverting attention away from the original issue, at least momentarily. As you say Barrie, "it's a question of proportion".