The Sea Around Us--Ch. 2

     In the summer of 1947, a man named Thor Heyerdahl and five companions drifted across the Pacific Ocean on a raft of balsa logs to see if the inhabitants of Polynesia could have from to South America on a raft. He saw, on this trip at night, many strange fish that he thought must have come from the deeper regions of the sea, because they had large eyes, and had been seldom seen. He saw a kind of fish that had not before been seen alive.

   The sea has many layers, and the surface layer is full of life. The plankton is algae and other such plants. Small animals, such as crab's young, live in the plants. The first flesh-eaters of the life chain feed on the small animals, and others feed on them. The plankton is not in the colder areas, because the life is farther below the surface than in the warmer areas. Coral remains are found in the arctic, but they cannot live and grow in water under 70 degrees F. Therefore, the waters in that area must have been warmer some time ago.

     There is a part of the ocean called the Sargasso Sea because the currents bring the Sargasso weed in great quantity. This is the birthplace of all the currents of the North Atlantic. The animals that lived in the Sargasso weed stay there, and the poor swimmers stayed on the weed. The flying fish use it for nests. The early sailors thought that ships were wrecked by the weed clinging to the ships and trapping it, but that is not so.

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Answer to the riddle

Methuselah was the oldest man ever, and  lived 969 years, but he died before his father. How is that possible?




His father never died! He was taken up into heaven!!


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King Lear Act 2 Scene 4

Who puts himself into Fortune’s hands?

 

Edmund

 

 Does Kent seem like the kind of guy who would follow the Fool’s cynical, Machiavellian advice?

 

I don't think so.

 

Act 2 Scene 4

 

Lear arrives on scene of the stocks, and is angry that they should put his messenger in the stocks. Regan and Cornwall arrive,set Kent free, and Regan says that Gonril is coming. Gonril comes, and tells him that he needs to go back to her house. Regan says that he can only keep 25 knights! Gonril says he cannot have any knights. Lear gets mad, and says he will not do anything of the sort, and he goes out into a storm.

 

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A Riddle

Here is a riddle: Methusla was the oldest man ever, and  lived 969 years, but he died before his father. How is that possible?

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Nicias

Some Aegestean and Leontine ambassadors arrived in Athens, and urged the  people to fight against Sicily. Alcibiades encouraged this, and when Nicias started to appose this, he found that all the people had been persuaded subduly to do this. Everyone talked of it, and all the men drew maps of the surrounding area. Then Nicias tried and tried to alter public opinon, but he failed. He even ended up being made genral!! Alcibiades was another, and the third was Lamchus. The people felt that all three would combine to make a good team. Nicias could have been a good sport, and just done his best, but instead he moped, and would not do anything. This blunted the courage of his fellow commanders, and the spirit of the men. He spoiled all their chances, and ruined everything!

Nicias had an opportunity for a "defining moment,"but he did not take it. An old proverb says, Grasp Opportunity by the forelock, for it is bald behind. Nicias should have been a good sport, and just done his best. Then he would have had more honor than ever. But he lost it.

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