Are You Man Enough? - Attack A Shark Edition

Descartes once said "I drink therefore I fish". It was later in his life and he would have said anything to stay relevant French masses.

For me - I don't drink beer - therefore I don't fish. I don't have the patience to fish nor the inclination/demons to drink. I also don't have to prove my manhood but duping a large-toothy cartilaginous fish into thinking it's going to get a meal and than yanking it out of the water by it's face.

On June 6th and 7th - insecure people will have the opportunity to fish for sharks during the "Are You Man Enough? Shark Challenge" on Fort Myers Beach. Click on the link and you get an idea of the foolishness involved here.

And keep in mind that Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel Beach are the main draw for tourists here in Lee County. Promoting shark fishing off our shores can't be good for tourism, but I'm not so naive to think the sharks are not there. They are. In truth the tournament sends boaters up to Boca Grande where sharks are far more prevalent. Up until the protests (by groups like Shark Safe) started last week, there was no rule against killing the sharks. After public outcry, fisherman will be encouraged to catch and release.

Although I don't fish I'm not anti-sport fishing. I just take exception to the testosterone-fueled marketing campaign that demonizes sharks. I will give them credit for listening to the public and elected officials and I understand marketing is about getting attention but I call into question any one's manhood that feels the need to catch the biggest fish to prove themselves a man.

A few things to consider - there have been 7 confirmed shark attacks in Lee County since 1882!

The global threats humans cause sharks and the diminishing populations of most shark species around the world suggest we should be protecting rather than harming sharks.

For more on Shark Conservation go here - http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Sharks/sharks.htm

and http://www.neil4sharks.org/sharkconservation.html

For moron Shark fishing go here - http://www.areyoumanenoughsharkchallenge.com/

Orange & Purple - Royally Flamboyant

Few trees are as showy as the Royal Poinciana. Although not native to the U.S., the Poinciana is a beautiful shade tree that was introduced to Florida and elsewhere decades ago. It's a nice enough tree through out the year, but as the rainy season kicks into full gear, the Poinciana - also known as the "Flamboyant Tree", bursts with showy orange blossoms and gives color to a dessicated and bland "winter" landscape here in south Florida.

Cruising around the island of Everglades City, this particular tree was unanimously voted the most beautiful Poinciana around by everyone on our boat. To top it off, the local residents were active and showy themselves. Purple Martins ducked in and out of their condo and gourd-shaped homes.

The largest member of the Swallow family, the Purple Martins spend the winter in South America before returning to North America for the breeding season. Scouts arrive in January to south Florida and conclude nesting around this time of the year before heading home.

White apparently is the most attractive color to paint a Purple Martin house. I would assume they don't mind Orange either.