1. Try to figure out why you're in such a hurry.
2. Pinpoint the triggers that often make you lose your patience.
3. Overcome bouts of impatience.
4. look for patterns.
5. Let go if you can't do anything about the impatience trigger.
6. Remind yourself that things take time.
7. Expect the unexpected.
8. Give yourself a break.
9. Remember what matters.
I was raised in the Southern California Surfer Culture.
My summers were spent on Catalina Island when the urchin divers reigned supreme at the local watering establishments,
I learned to snorkle dive at age six and couldn't wait to get my SCUBA certifcation at sixteen.
My graduating class was diving at Emerald Bay. The high point of the exercise was the exhibition of what was caught - marine animals left to die on
the beach, so that the winner could be proved.
In latter years, I've put on SCUBA equipment and I get panic attacks.
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness.”
—Mark Twain
\"La vida es dura, el corazon es puro, y cantamos hasta la madrugada.” (Life is hard, the heart is pure and we sing until dawn.)
—Kirsty MacColl, Mambo de la Luna
Originally posted by gringorio
Great gif's ELINVESTI8! I agree with Ken and others here too - I like sea turtles alive! On our last kayak trip from Gonzaga to BLA we ran in to
this one while snorkeling:
Originally posted by Russ
oxxo ... That's easy for you to say! Have you been there? One of these friends I respect as much as any of the handful of good friends I'm lucky
enough to have. I'm in his country and would never consider offending his culture or honor. The question I asked was, " But what if a friend invites
you for a meal and turtle is served?" Notice the "you"?
Russ,it is kinda like throwin Pearls before ........... I concur that sometimes there have been things in Mexico that I certainly do not choose to
partake in (like c-ck fights), but I also know when it is proper to offend and not to offend. Maybe that is why you hear such dispariging remarks
when the locals talk about certain Americans. Maybe because they are educated or wealthy or whatever they think it is acceptabe to walk all over the
locals. I was offered a turtle one day while fishing by one of my friends who pulled up to the boat and had a really bad day fishing so I said sure I
would like to buy it. I went around the corner at San Marcos Island and released it where I thought it would be safe. Now, I could have released it
right there in front of the fisherman, but that would have been rather "righteous" but instead did what I thought was right which was to turn it loose
and pay the fisherman. I had another panguero with me that day who thought I was nuts but he said that he was amazed that I allowed the fisherman to
save face and I was able to do what I thought was right and everyone ended up a winner. That is why I get a little incensed at the self-righteous
know it alls that would have gone off on the poor fisherman who is a little slow to catch on to the significance of what he had done. When the story
finally got back to the fisherman who sold me the turtle, he replied with something to the effect of "That crazy gringo must love turtles." Now that
I have taken the time to show respect, perhaps next time I will feel free to buy it and release it right there on the spot.
Originally posted by PescadorThat is why I get a little incensed at the self-righteous know it alls that would have gone off on the poor
fisherman who is a little slow to catch on to the significance of what he had done.
Here is the problem with Pescador's story. No one said, "go off on the poor fisherman." That is your interpretation. Just tell the fisherman, "no
gracias."
I have asked the Mexicans who run the Sea Turtle program about this in the past. They say do not buy turtles and do not accept turtles as a gift
whether alive or in a soup. The same goes for Sea Turtle eggs. I said, "If I don't buy the turtle, they will just sell it to someone else who will
slaughter it." The Mexicans said yes, that would probably happen but that the cycle has to be broken someplace. They said there will always be
poaching, they don't expect to ever stamp it out. And they said buying turtles out of some misguided altruism only perpetuates the cycle. They say,
if Americans are willing to buy them, them the Mexicans will continue to poach them and sell them, either alive or for soup.
It is somewhat similar to the mordida asked by some bad cops. If Americans continue to pay the cops off, they will continue to pull them over to
shake them down. When a cop asks for mordida, just say no. At the risk of sounding like a self righteous American, tell them you will follow them to
the police station to sort things out. That usually takes care of the problem right there.
So, Pescador, I guess it depends on which side of the "self righteous" fence you are standing on. I challenge you, Pescador, and Russ and El Faro and
MrBill to become involved in the Sea Turtle Hatching Program. Volunteer locally. Work alongside Mexicans who are really trying to make Sea Turtles a
sustainable and renewable resource. Then maybe you will have a better idea of what the right thing to do is.
Jim, You were right on and so was the friend in your boat. You made a statement and I'm sure your point will be remember and talked about. Maybe in
the long run the point will sink home. I hope so. While I was diving with the same friend that I had dinner with a few years back I spotted a turtle
on the bottom and showed it to him. He wanted to bring it back but I said not in my boat and tried to explain why. I think he understood. I'm pretty
sure he hasn't taken any turtles in the past few years. His wife is from San Bruno and from a fishing family. She loves fish & mariscos so I
figured the turtle was a gift from a friend or family. I just didn't want to get in a pi--ing match with the self-righteous. They do good work but
it's hard to converse with some of them. We use to put fences around their nest (the turtles not the self-righteous) but it just served as a flag for
the egg poachers. So now we just wipe out the tracks and hope all goes well.
Thankx for your post.
Originally posted by Pescador
That is why I get a little incensed at the self-righteous know it alls that would have gone off on the poor fisherman who is a little slow to catch on
to the significance of what he had done.
You DID do the right thing. I'm all in favor of saving face, no matter what culture.
Who are the ''self-righteous know it alls'' that would ''go off'' on a poor fisherman? Can you quote the post?
It's one thing for an ''unenlightened" (unaware of the law AGAINST poaching) Mexican to offer up a turtle. It's another to be with ''friends''
(Gringoes) specifically REQUESTING turtle in a restaurant where it's served UNDER THE TABLE.
Are you capable of making the distinction here? In this example, the Gringoes don't need ''face saving.'' They need a butt whipping. The
restaurant owner's need a visit from PROFEPA.
So, Pescador, I guess it depends on which side of the "self righteous" fence you are standing on. I challenge you, Pescador, and Russ and El Faro and
MrBill to become involved in the Sea Turtle Hatching Program. Volunteer locally. Work alongside Mexicans who are really trying to make Sea Turtles a
sustainable and renewable resource. Then maybe you will have a better idea of what the right thing to do is.
First of all, I have spent a lot of time at BOLA doing just exactly that, and I personally have very strong beliefs about helping in the restoration
and hatching of these animals. I have also spent quite a bit of time in the facility at the Cayman islands.
What I am trying to get across is a subtle cultural interaction perspective here. When you live in the small villages and really communicate and
interact with the local people like Russ and I are talking about, you are not viewed in the same way as a foreigner or an outsider and if your
attitude is one of disdain and disgust then I know for a fact that the other person reads that in your face and you have been instantly written off as
a outsider with an air of "moral superiority". What I did was to show respect for the person involved and when he had the discussion with my friend
in the boat, it opened up communication about why I would buy the turtle and then release it. When he finally said something to me at a later time, I
was in a position to explain my feelings and beliefs about the scarcity and the need to protect the turtles.
If the tables were turned on you and you had your choice of which method of approach would leave you feeling better about yourself, which would you
choose.
I am unequivocally against the poaching of turtles. Just be polite when you decline the offer.
You may have a small chance to educate by example. Lecturing is not
effective.
As we all know we as Americans in Mexico do not have say one about anything. If we start lecturing Mexican poachers regarding the illegal taking of
turtles you will probably be punched out or something worse. Like Toneart said, lecturing does not work. Just use your noggin when talking to poachers
and remember each person in here has a point even if you do not agree with it. I am not a "Rabid," "Foaming at the mouth," "Turtle activist." I just
know I will never eat or help anyone eat turtle ever again. This is due to the inhumane torture I saw one live turtle being put through when it was
slaughtered while conscious.
When I get home today Toneart goes up under the "Roll Call."
I am not a "Rabid," "Foaming at the mouth," anti-turtle guy
Don't you mean "anti-turtle guy guy"?
Ok then, you better change that there avatar!
----------
Yes, broaching this topic with local fishermen is indeed an excercise in deplomacy and respect.
I applaud you guys who can partake and exemplify the importance of saving the species thru understanding and commitment. You do have an impact. Just
discussing the problem in a friendly conversation helps tremendously. These folks are not stupid, they understand the sea/land cannot withstand
everything. I guess they are not republicans!
It's a tough job educating or reeducating those that are in disparate communities with little "real-time" information that pertains to their
livelyhood or way of life. It's a challanging task indeed. Good on you for carrying the torch.
DON\'T SQUINT! Give yer eyes a break!
Try holding down [control] key and toggle the [+ and -] keys
c-ck fights are bloody, but chickens are a dime a dozen, the best c-ck fight isn't all that much unless you've got some cash on the winner.Sea turtles, on the other hand, are few and far between. They need every break they can get.
I am not a "Rabid," "Foaming at the mouth," anti-turtle guy
Don't you mean "anti-turtle guy guy"?
Ok then, you better change that there avatar!
Sharks I meant to say Turtle Activist. As far as my Avatar goes that is mostly
for comedic relief and in no way illustrates my thought on what I would like to do to sea turtle torturers. Now where are those torturers?
ELINVEST18,You're right as far as I'm concerned, c-ck fights don't do
anything for me either.Would just as soon pull their heads off and let it
go at that.
"If it were lush and rich, one could understand the pull, but it is fierce and hostile and sullen.
The stone mountains pile up to the sky and there is little fresh water. But we know we must go back
if we live, and we don't know why." - Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez
"People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." - Theodore Roosevelt
"You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who they think can do nothing for them or to them." - Malcolm Forbes
"Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others
cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else's hands, but not you." - Jim Rohn
"The best way to get the right answer on the internet is not to ask a question; it's to post the wrong answer." - Cunningham's Law
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