Dozens of Whales Stranded in Mass. (First it was squid beaching themselves...)

Yahoo!News ^ | 7.29.02

[mhking]

Dozens of Whales Stranded in Mass.

Mon Jul 29,12:55 PM ET

DENNIS, Mass. (AP) - Rescuers rushed to the aid of dozens of pilot whales that stranded themselves Monday on Chapin Beach in this Cape Cod community.

More than 50 of the small whales were stranded in the shallow water, according to Sallie Riggs of the Cape Cod Stranding Network.

Rescuers poured water over the whales and draped them in wet towels to keep them moist. Officials at the New England Aquarium and the Center for Coastal Studies also were at the scene to help.

High tide was due around 3 p.m. and was expected to help the rescue efforts.

Mass strandings of pilot whales are not unusual since they are highly sociable animals that travel and feed in groups and frequent near-coastal areas.

In July 2000, 10 pilot whales were stranded in shallow water off Nantucket, an island off Cape Cod. They died despite the efforts of volunteers and whale experts.

On Christmas Eve 1991, 31 pilot whales became stranded off Cape Cod and died. Scientists said those whales apparently were following krill, tiny crustaceans that are a dietary staple, when they became trapped in the shallows.

[mhking]

Is God trying to tell us something?

[dead]

Dozens of Whales Stranded in Mass…

At least one named Ted.

[Paid4This]

God has appeared in a personal vision and explained this phenonema to me:

"Behold I am pleased with this country and it's president, thus I delivereth the most tasty delicious creatures of the sea to you, no hook or net needeth. Fryeth them in butter and enjoyeth them with lemon slices and your choice of sides. MY WILL BE DONE!"

[Free Trapper]

Get out of the water maybe?

[mombonn]

I wonder if the DNC has figured out how to get them registered to vote yet?

[mhking]

And his culinary disciple cried out, "BAM!"

[Paul Atreides]

You know, to let the PETA crowd tell it, whales are so much superior and more intelligent than we, humans. However, it is we, idiot humans, who keep having to get them out of the predicaments they get themselves into.

[Paul Atreides]

Judging by the photo, above, it looks like a chapter meeting of NOW.

[Jagdgewehr]

I'm not sure, but this is one of several mass beachings of pilot whales that have occurred in the last several decades.

This may only have great significance because of the La Jolla squid phenomenon.

[Jagdgewehr]

LOL.

[hellinahandcart]

Is God trying to tell us something?

"Dig ye pits in the sand, and gather ye seaweed, and stones for the fire; and let thy women bring also steamers and lobsters, and potatoes, and corn-on-the-cob, and every manner of good thing."

[ResistorSister]

At least one named Ted.

[TADSLOS]

Is there a Marine Biologist on the beach?

[ReadMyMind]

You don't really want to start a debate on the collective brilliance of the human species now do you? After all, the PETA folks are humans.

[Charles Martel]

Judging by the photo, above, it looks like a chapter meeting of NOW.

Staff meeting... Ms. Magazine?

or...

It's obvious, but what the heck:

The New England coastal chapter of the Milliom Mom March relaxes on the beach?

[TADSLOS]

Time to call in the professional cleaning crew: Exploding Whale

[wvnavyvet]

First thing that came to my mind was another Kennedy picnic

[sheik yerbouty]

The whales wanted to visit Uncle Ted at hyenasport!

[Stingray51]

Has Hillary been swimming at Martha's Vineyard lately? No self-respecting sea creature would want to share the ocean with her. Maybe those whales are pretty smart after all.

[Le-Roy]

Can anyone verify if the Navy was nearby, testing their ELF equipment?

[kitkat]

"You don't really want to start a debate on the collective brilliance of the human
species now do you? After all, the PETA folks are humans."

Can you prove that? Do you have a quotable source? LOL!

[Silly]

Keep our beaches clean! Charge the whales with littering!

[spycatcher]

"Whatchu lookin at?"

[Steve_Seattle]

Is that a photo of prominent marine biologist, Dr. Art Vandelay?

[Paul Atreides]

Well, as Rush said, how many whales or dolphins ever built a hospital, composed a symphony, or painted a masterpiece. But, I do know what you mean. Every time I see a Dim, or commentary from their websites, the more I believe in the concept of devolution.

[Paul Atreides]

Since we are not supposed to extinguish forest fires, since it is a natural occurance, why should we help these whales? They got themselves into the jam. Why should man arrogantly assume that he should help them out?

[TADSLOS]

He's an importer/exporter of whale byproducts.

[spycatcher]

Hopefully the U.S. stranding will turn out better than this one from a few days ago

Sat, Jul. 27, 2002 - Attempts Fail to Rescue Whales

PERTH, Australia (AP) - Nearly 60 whales stranded on an Australian beach have died or were euthanized after failed attempts to return them to the water, officials said Saturday.

[US_MilitaryRules]

Is God trying to tell us something?

Yes! The End is near!

NOT!!!!!!!!

[monday]

"Is God trying to tell us something?"

Yes he is trying to tell us that whales and squid are both almost as smart as lemmings.

[MotleyGirl70]

Is there a Marine Biologist on the beach?

"You know I always wanted to pretend I was an architect!"

[TADSLOS]

"The ocean was angry that day, my friends...!"

[MotleyGirl70]

Is that a photo of prominent marine biologist, Dr. Art Vandelay?

Art Vandelay, Marine Biologist:

"Algae or course ya have plankton. I just got back from swimming with the turtle's in the Gylopicus Islands."

[Cagey]

So I started to walk into the water. I won't lie to you, boys --

[Scene: Monk's. GEORGE, JERRY, KRAMER]

I was terrified. But I pressed on. And as I made my way past the breakers, a strange calm came over me. I don't know if it was divine intervention or the kinship of all living things, but I tell you, Jerry, at that moment, I was a marine biologist.

[ELAINE arrives.]

ELAINE: George, I've just been reading this thing in the paper. It's unbelievable.

GEORGE: I know, I was just telling them the story.

KRAMER: Come on, George, finish the story.

GEORGE: The sea was angry that day, my friends, [pause] like an old man trying to send back soup in a deli. I got about 50 feet out and, suddenly, the great beast appeared before me. I tell you, he was 10 stories high if he was a foot. As if sensing my presence, he let out a great bellow. I said, "Easy, big fellow!" And then, as I watched him struggling, I realized something was obstructing its breathing. From where I was standing, I could see directly into the eye of the great fish.

JERRY: Mammal.

GEORGE: Whatever.

KRAMER: Then, what did you do next?

GEORGE: Then, from out of nowhere, a huge tidal wave lifted me, tossed me like a cork, and I found myself right on top of him — face to face with the blowhole! I could barely see from the waves crashing down upon me, but I knew something was there. So I reached my hand in [reaches into his coat], felt around, and pulled out the obstruction. [Pulls out his hand, then shows golf ball.]

KRAMER: Is that a Titleist? [George nods.] A hole in one, huh?

[MotleyGirl70]

"The ocean was angry that day, my friends...!"

...."Like an onld man trying to send back soup at a deli..."

[JulieRNR21]

Maybe the whales were just engaged in 'assisted mass suicide'.....LOL

[Calvin Locke]

The whales suffered from depression when they found out
that they were no longer considered whales in comparison to
the senior senator from Massachusetts.

This is the sea mammal equivalent of a liberal temper tantrum.

[TADSLOS]

LOL!! You beat me to it!

[ForOurFuture]

I'm not sure, but this is one of several mass beachings of pilot whales that have occurred in the last several decades.

You are correct. More often than any other species, Pilot whales are notoriously known to strand in mass numbers.

[Cagey]

Hahaha. This is a thread about nothing.

[TADSLOS]

Ab-so-lutely nothing...It's genius!

[Fzob]

Can anyone verify if the Navy was nearby, testing their ELF equipment?

I don't know, but I'd be willing to bet it's a strong possibility. From what I've read the Navy is aware that the use of the more powerful sonar systems is linked with mass beaching.

Am I losing much sleep over it. Not yet.

[Rebelbase]

200 years ago this would have been cause for celebration.

[Guillermo]

"Like an old man, trying to send back soup at a deli"

[trussell]

Place marker

[Swanks]

...dozens of pilot whales that stranded themselves...

There is but one fix for this and other future envinmental disasters. That is, to elect the man Algore who alone is capable or resolving these problems; along with billions of dollars in funding, sent to his Party.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

I'd say there's something toxic spewing in the ocean, perhaps from a ship. It's just too coincidental that first it's the squids, and now it's the whales. There's something that's making them sick.