Driving on highways, it's not unusual to spot signs depicting the presence of deer and other "average" critters in the vicinity, to avoid collisions between man and nature. However, it appears that drivers living in Carmarthenshire, Wales, have to watch out for something slightly smaller. Much smaller.
Talk about your tunnel vision!
Warning signs have been installed on two Carmarthenshire roads to help - wait for it - toads looking for love, to cross in safety. Go figure! Seems that Burry Port and Ammanford roads in this town, bisect areas registered as important migration sites.
Carmarthenshire council put up signs every Spring warning motorists to drive carefully to avoid colliding/squishing hundreds of the toads that make their way accross the intersection. Everyone gets involved including volunteers, who assist in the process by collecting the toads in pails and transporting them to the other side. Can't say that I'd be anxious to retrieve toads but then that's just me. In order to draw attention to the fragility of the situation, important breeding sites are being registered with national wildlife charity "Froglife" as part of its Toads on the Roads mapping scheme and signs erected to help publicize migration routes.
Froglife has mapped more than 700 crossings using satellite technology, via website Google Earth, including active routes staffed by volunteers in Wrexham, Ceredigion, Powys, Neath Port Talbot and Newport.
Wow - all that technology in order to ensure that these toads bring forth and multiply!
Conservationists hope to use the data to learn more about toads' migration routes and any problems encountered crossing roads during their breeding season in spring. Additionally, toad tunnels were built last year to help the amphibians avoid a busy crossing.
This leads one - me - to wonder who builds said toad tunnels and what is their height. Do they span accross the road or along side? Anyone know?
The two Carmarthenshire crossings are among 43 toad crossings being introduced nationwide this year. Here is a photographic image of what the toads look like in a toad tunnel, doing what the tunnel was created for:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/mid_/8597006.stm
Showing posts with label Wales. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wales. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Monday, November 01, 2010
Employment opportunity. Wanted mermaid or mer-man
Looking for a job that offers something different in the way of a challenge? Enjoy meeting people? Want to make a big splash in the world? An unusual employment opportunity awaits a female - or male - who knows how to swim well and be willing to do tank cleaning of the fish type.
The Rhyl SeaQuarium located in North Wales is currently seeking out a mermaid - or mer-man.
According to the the "employment opportunity" ad on the aquarium site under the title of "VACANCY – MERMAID/MERMAN":
"A unique and exciting opportunity has arisen (what an appropriate word for this story!) for a Mermaid or Mer-man within the Entertainments Team at the Rhyl SeaQuarium. Duties will include visitor presentations and demonstrations, photo opportunities with our visitors and Dive presentations."
This leads one to wonder how many if any, mermaids or mer-mans exist on this planet but then again, this isn't an issue since the person who gets the job will be wearing a costume, unless of course she or he is the real thing.
So to continue, the person who gets the job will be required to clean exhibits and take care of the animals in a 160,000 litre Ocean Display. Anyone reading this interested in submitting their application should have an outgoing personality, be able to communicate effectively with visitors and perform presentations to a wide range of age groups, both small and large.
This leads one to speculate the type of presentations a mermaid/mer-man would perform. Laze on a rock and sing sea-related ballads perhaps and/or swim around the tank with lots of tail swishing, for sure interacting with the sea creatures. Right now you're probably asking yourself what type of sea creatures are there? According to information on the site, there are more than 30 exhibits with species ranging from sea lions to lionfish, seahorses,sharks and rays. Presumably, the mermaid/mer-man would be required to swim with the fishes in the true sense of the word.
Furthermore, according to the information blurb, "they (whoever is hired) must be able to cope positively with the media interest and be comfortable with public appearance as well as being in front of a camera being photographed for visitor photo opportunities. Due to the public appearances, the successful applicant must be prepared to wear a Mermaid/Merman outfit, which will be specially made for the individual. They should also have a passion for marine life and be comfortable around many forms of marine life – including sharks"
Notice the dash and the two words at the end, "including sharks." Obviously - at least to moi - the seaquarium is aware that many people are hesitant when it comes to interacting with sharks. Fear of death springs to mind.
"Interested applicants should fill out the online application form and send their CV and cover letter to paul.tyson@seaquarium.co.uk expressing the reasons to why this role would suit you."
Closing date for applications is the November 5 and the successful candidate must be able to start on the 16th April 2011. BTW - the post is listed as a "temporary fixed term position initially for one week only with the possibility of an extension to a seasonal position till September 2011." Temporary fixed term position... So if I were to attempt translating this phrase, to moi, it means a post that will exist for a certain time period, in this case one week, but there is a chance that it could be extended. Slo in other words: this is not a career growth opportunity. Then again, perhaps few people would really want to work the rest of their lives dressed in a mermaid or mer-man suit, swimming around a tank doing...whatever a mermaid or mer-man does.
Any takers? What's a few sharks and rays anyway?
The Rhyl SeaQuarium located in North Wales is currently seeking out a mermaid - or mer-man.
According to the the "employment opportunity" ad on the aquarium site under the title of "VACANCY – MERMAID/MERMAN":
"A unique and exciting opportunity has arisen (what an appropriate word for this story!) for a Mermaid or Mer-man within the Entertainments Team at the Rhyl SeaQuarium. Duties will include visitor presentations and demonstrations, photo opportunities with our visitors and Dive presentations."
This leads one to wonder how many if any, mermaids or mer-mans exist on this planet but then again, this isn't an issue since the person who gets the job will be wearing a costume, unless of course she or he is the real thing.
So to continue, the person who gets the job will be required to clean exhibits and take care of the animals in a 160,000 litre Ocean Display. Anyone reading this interested in submitting their application should have an outgoing personality, be able to communicate effectively with visitors and perform presentations to a wide range of age groups, both small and large.
This leads one to speculate the type of presentations a mermaid/mer-man would perform. Laze on a rock and sing sea-related ballads perhaps and/or swim around the tank with lots of tail swishing, for sure interacting with the sea creatures. Right now you're probably asking yourself what type of sea creatures are there? According to information on the site, there are more than 30 exhibits with species ranging from sea lions to lionfish, seahorses,sharks and rays. Presumably, the mermaid/mer-man would be required to swim with the fishes in the true sense of the word.
Furthermore, according to the information blurb, "they (whoever is hired) must be able to cope positively with the media interest and be comfortable with public appearance as well as being in front of a camera being photographed for visitor photo opportunities. Due to the public appearances, the successful applicant must be prepared to wear a Mermaid/Merman outfit, which will be specially made for the individual. They should also have a passion for marine life and be comfortable around many forms of marine life – including sharks"
Notice the dash and the two words at the end, "including sharks." Obviously - at least to moi - the seaquarium is aware that many people are hesitant when it comes to interacting with sharks. Fear of death springs to mind.
"Interested applicants should fill out the online application form and send their CV and cover letter to paul.tyson@seaquarium.co.uk expressing the reasons to why this role would suit you."
Closing date for applications is the November 5 and the successful candidate must be able to start on the 16th April 2011. BTW - the post is listed as a "temporary fixed term position initially for one week only with the possibility of an extension to a seasonal position till September 2011." Temporary fixed term position... So if I were to attempt translating this phrase, to moi, it means a post that will exist for a certain time period, in this case one week, but there is a chance that it could be extended. Slo in other words: this is not a career growth opportunity. Then again, perhaps few people would really want to work the rest of their lives dressed in a mermaid or mer-man suit, swimming around a tank doing...whatever a mermaid or mer-man does.
Any takers? What's a few sharks and rays anyway?
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Pooches audition for doggie choir
Here's some news that might make you wonder, "what the..."
Some people enjoy singing or at least limit their singing in the shower, while others prefer to blend their voice as a member of a choir. Then there are others of the non-human types like dogs who recently auditioned in the hope of being part of a chorale.
You read it right: D-O-G-S as in bow-wow...woof-woof.
This project is the concept of one Cardiff-based artist, Richard Higlett, who is hoping and planning for his canine choir to record in September, before an actual performance in a special concert in October.
The choir will create and perform a new song entitled, "A Song for Jack" a musical tribute to dog hero, Swansea Jack, a black retriever and hero pooch in the 1930's that was a legend for rescuing drowning swimmers from Swansea docks.
Judges auditioned dogs eager to earn a place - or their owners were eager for them to earn a place - in the choir at the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea. The auditionees all had to start singing after hearing a piece of music or after a direct command.
There is no information available as to who made the final cut but word has it that they all had a barking good time.
Watch some of the auditions here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_east/7566950.stm
Recognize any of the songs? Happy Birthday perhaps? Any?
Some people enjoy singing or at least limit their singing in the shower, while others prefer to blend their voice as a member of a choir. Then there are others of the non-human types like dogs who recently auditioned in the hope of being part of a chorale.
You read it right: D-O-G-S as in bow-wow...woof-woof.
This project is the concept of one Cardiff-based artist, Richard Higlett, who is hoping and planning for his canine choir to record in September, before an actual performance in a special concert in October.
The choir will create and perform a new song entitled, "A Song for Jack" a musical tribute to dog hero, Swansea Jack, a black retriever and hero pooch in the 1930's that was a legend for rescuing drowning swimmers from Swansea docks.
Judges auditioned dogs eager to earn a place - or their owners were eager for them to earn a place - in the choir at the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea. The auditionees all had to start singing after hearing a piece of music or after a direct command.
There is no information available as to who made the final cut but word has it that they all had a barking good time.
Watch some of the auditions here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_east/7566950.stm
Recognize any of the songs? Happy Birthday perhaps? Any?
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