Fishwhere

September 4th, 2010

Discovering the Flavor and Beauty of Vietnam’s UNESCO Sites

Discovering the Flavor and Beauty of Vietnam’s UNESCO Sites

A golden sunrise illuminated the Old Quarter’s ancient dwellings draped in fuchsia bougainvilleas. It also lit the Thu Bon River, where the small fishing boats had just pulled up to shore. It was 5:30 a.m. as I approached the central marketplace, where I experienced the tastes, sounds, and energy—the real life of the local people. Vietnam’s gem-city of Hoi An was just awakening.

Greeting the Day

ISLAND MAGIC: The dramatic setting of Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (Beverly Mann)

Women in conical straw hats with bright smiles balanced long poles over their shoulders. Their poles were heavy with hanging baskets stuffed with vegetables, fish, and even live geese, as they scurried along the dirt pathways. The endless array of baskets filled with herbs covered the ground in a blanket of greenery, while pungent fish and spice aromas permeated the air.

I stopped and tasted a small, spiny chom chom, or rambuten, similar in sweetness to a lychee, proffered by an old woman sitting cross-legged on the ground surrounded by exotic fruits.

RAPTUROUS SIGHT: A beautiful sunset makes for a lovely evening display of Halong Bay which features limestone islands, grottoes, and caves. (Beverly Mann)

By 6:30 a.m., all was quiet as the fishing boats pulled out and the larger vessels, piled with motorbikes, entered the shoreline. Before the town fully awoke, I strolled along Bach Dang Street in view of the Japanese Covered Bridge (circa 1593), replete with a roof and temple. According to legend, the bridge began the Year of the Monkey and was completed in the Year of the Dog, so forms of each of these animals are on opposite sides to guard the bridge.

To Market, to Market

Hoi An is a shopping mecca, with tailor shops lining the narrow streets from Tran Hang Dao Street to Le Loi, and everywhere in between. Some people brought photos and designs of clothes to be made, since custom-made clothing is so inexpensive and can be ready within 24 hours or less.

GREETINGS! A lovely smile accompanies the vegetable wares at the Hoi An market. (Beverly Mann)

The city showcases not only clothing shops but also an array of art galleries, cafés, and high-quality restaurants. Ly Café 22, run by chef/owner Miss Ly, serves unforgettable fried rice, which has lingered on my taste buds since. Another favorite local dish, White Rose, consists of steamed shrimp wrapped like a flower in rice paper.

Other dishes that I enjoyed were Cau Lau, a thick, rice noodle soup topped with sprouts and pork; and Com Ga, a rice dish with steamed chicken and fresh herbs. The Cargo Club, a French-style patisserie, was a place where I ruminated over a foamy latté and luscious pastry. For ale lovers, most beers are 50 cents or ,000 dongs.

National Treasures

PEACEFUL PLATE: Vegetables intricately carved to look like a lotus flower were presented on the boat in Halong Bay. (Beverly Mann)

Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site situated in Central Vietnam, Hoi An was once a popular trading port as early as the 17th century. Vestiges of Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, and French cultures are still evident amid the colorful architecture of this relatively calm enclave.

I caught a glimpse of the city at a good time, devoid of racing motorbikes, which are restricted several days and hours a week. What a relief, since the country has about 24 million of these bikes zooming throughout its cities.

Hoi An was just one stop on my 10-day, small-group journey of the historic sites of Vietnam from Hanoi to Saigon. The tour was organized by eco- and socially-conscious Travel Indochina, experts in Asian travel exploring the history, culture, natural beauty, and people of this area.

DELICATE ART: Women engaging in the revitalized art of traditional Vietnamese silk embroidery at XQ Co Do in Hue. (Beverly Mann)

Our next venture was a four-hour drive along the Hai Van Pass on the National Highway to another UNESCO Site, Hue, once the capital during the Ngugen dynasty in the 19th century. We traveled along the scenic Pacific coastline reminiscent of California’s Big Sur, with bold mountain ranges wrapping around the waters. The difference, however, was the farmlands riddled with rice paddies, accented by colorful lotus flowers, and boys on buffalos posing along the roadside.

We made a stop 30 minutes from Hoi An, just south of Danang, at the towering Marble Mountains, where we climbed some 200 steps up a stone and marble stairway (a bit slippery going down). A larger-than-life Buddha and female Buddha (the Goddess of Mercy) awaited us amid the strong scent of incense that filled the decorated pagodas.

The hidden cave there (once a hospital for the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War) was the most memorable, with a cascade of light shooting through the top opening that created a surreal, mystical effect.

Hue Highlights

SILENT SENTINELS: Stone statues of soldiers stand guard at the Tomb of Khai Dinh in Hue. (Beverly Mann)

We finally arrived at Hue, the sun glistening on the Perfume River, which got its name from the scent of wild ginger blowing in from the forested area nearby.

This city of pagodas, palaces, tombs, and 130 Buddhist temples survived destruction from conflicts with the French and the United States. The moated citadel, built in 1804, has maintained its beauty despite the ravages of war.

QUIETUDE: A woman briefly relaxes at a market in Hoi An. (Beverly Mann)

We walked through the ceremonial halls, garden areas, and in front of the Forbidden City, once reserved for the privacy of the emperor but now open to the public. Our next stop was the Tomb of Tu Duc alongside a lake with lily pads. Yet, the most impressive site was the Tomb of Khai Dinh, named after its emperor in the 1900s, which had an awesome sculptured stairway and a courtyard full of stone soldiers guarding the tomb.

The afternoon sightseeing ended with lunch at Mandarin Café on Hung Vuong Street, just a few blocks from our hotel and the river. The owner, Mr. Cu, is also an accomplished photographer who sells his postcards to visitors. I couldn’t resist a handful.

As I walked back to the hotel, I discovered a cultural center, XQ Co Do (established April 1994), where young girls were demonstrating the revitalized art of Vietnamese silk embroidery. I then relaxed at a spa adjacent to the Huong Giang Hotel with an hour’s worth of full leg and foot massage for a mere .00.

After Hue, we flew to Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital, where the city was celebrating its 1,000-year birthday. The city touts lots of history, from the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum where the body of the former communist leader resides, the nearby Presidential Palace, and Ho Chi Minh Museum, to the 12th century Confucian Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university—all surrounded by some of the country’s most stunning French colonial architecture.

Hanoi has six million people and a swarm of three million motor bikes, which I had to skirt constantly while saying many prayers!

The Beauty of Halong Bay

The wooden junk, Indochina Sails, glides past limestone islands jutting from emerald waters in Halong Bay. (Beverly Mann)

The highlight of my journey through the historic cities of Vietnam was the UNESCO Site and natural wonder of Halong Bay in the Gulf of Tonkin. Just a four-hour drive east of the capital city of Hanoi, Halong Bay drew me into a magical setting of 3,000 limestone islands, formed from sea deposits millions of years ago, jutting out of emerald waters. However, legend tells how a dragon’s flailing tail carved out these magnificent islets.

Our group stayed overnight on a junk, or large wooden boat, which appeared to glide along the bay as we relaxed on board while viewing awesome grottoes and caves. As we toured through one cave, I was amazed by the massive stalactites carved by the water over millions of years and the spaciousness of the tunnels, which made this cave appear more like a fantasy underworld—a la “Raiders of the Lost Ark.”

DECKSIDE REPOSE: Members of the tour group relax on the ship in Halong Bay. (Beverly Mann)

Later, the group donned bathing suits and joyfully jumped into the cool, clear waters as a relief from the heat.

During the next morning’s breakfast, I savored the fresh, sweet taste of pineapple and papaya on my palate, which was enough to energize me for the return trip back to Hanoi.

As I gazed out at the diamond-sparkling waters, I realized how grateful I was to be far away from any remembrances of war, the whizzing of motor bikes, and the frenetic city life. All was so peaceful and calm amid Mother Nature’s creative sculptures and landscape.

Posted by: Indochina Sails

because papa didn’t buy it for you, and because your clothes aren’t size 3T
Video Rating: 0 / 5

Posted in Pole Equipment
By admin

September 4th, 2010

A Question of Evolution

A Question of Evolution

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A

Question

Of

Evolution

A Question Of Evolution
by Howard Robinson Copyright © 01 July 2010
 
CONTENTS:

 

INTRODUCTION
THE BASIC THEORY

Section 1 What does Evolution say and what does that mean

Section 2 What does Evolution explain?

Section 3 What does Evolution not explain, then?

SCIENCE AND EVOLUTION Questions from science

Section 4 Hasn’t science disproved creation?

Section 5 Where does it all start with a single cell?

Section 6 What about natural selection?

Section 7 Genetics – why did this use to cause the evolutionists such problems?

Section 8 Genetic feedback.

Section 9 Bacteria and viruses

BASIC QUESTIONS? Questions from nature

Section 10 If evolution is true why are there still ‘un-evolved’ single-celled creatures?

What is Nature?

Section 11 What came first – the woodpecker or the oak? What about the grubs it eats:

Section 12 Why so many diverse species?

Section 13What about air breathing water dwellers like whales and dolphins?

Section 14 What evolutionary good does fruit do the plant?

Section,15 Why is everything subject to disease, death and decay?

Section 16 Why doesn’t Evolution explain instinct?

Section 17 Does Evolution explain ‘fail safes’?

 

FOR THE RECORD Questions from the fossil record

Section 18 What really caused the fossil record?

Section 19 Why is there coal at the south pole?

HUMAN EVOLUTION?

Section 20 Could a single cell become a human?

Section 21 Why did we evolve emotions?

Section 22Why are we here?

Section 23 Why do different ethnic groups have the same blood types?

Section 24 Why religion?

Section 25 Why morals?

Section 26 Why do we age?

 

CONCLUSION

INTRODUCTION

My first question is simply this: Is evolution true?

 

My second question is similar to this: Is it true science?

 

In writing this, I realise that many other people have already had a great deal to say.

 

However, I found myself coming up with what I thought to be original ideas, without reference to the work of others, and I have tried to continue in this way and not re-iterate what I have read and heard on the subject already. All my references and quotations are from my reading of the Penguin publication “On Natural Selection”.

 

If the theory of evolution is true then it must fit the facts and should stand up to questioning by them. So, what are the facts and how am I questioning evolution about them?

Well, in brief, the facts are the complexity of life, the great diversity of life forms and the fossil record. My question, simply put is, “How does evolution explain these?”

The trouble with most evolutionists is they seem to start with the way things are, assume it must have evolved to that, work backwards and somehow replay it forwards again as though it was fact.

 

I only ask the reader to honestly weigh my questions and try to match my answers with the facts they know of and to be fair and impartial in weighing my answers and observations.

Evolution, as a theory, has a lot of gaps, not just missing links, which are woefully absent, I may add!

 

Finally, I don’t claim a monopoly on the truth. I do have a lot of questions, though, as you’ll see and I’ve done my best to look for answers.

 

 

 

THE BASIC THEORY
Section 1
What does Evolution say and what does that mean?

On the front cover of the book, ‘On Natural Selection’, we read:

“From so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved.”

 

This is the essence of the theory. It’s rather ‘dreamy’ don’t you think? You almost expect the book to end something like, ‘and they all evolved happily ever after’.

 

The definition of natural selection: (Page 20 – 21 of On Natural Selection) is:

The ‘preservation of favourable variations and the rejection of injurious variations’.

There is here the basic assumption that there are many favourable variations which little by little over millions of generations produce a new and improved species. There is no evidence given for this, nor can any of the evolutionists come up with any, it seems. The observable facts are plain that there are adaptations but there are very few favourable variations (mutations). 999 out of every 1000 mutations are very “injurious” and the other one is pretty harmful.  The most common mutations are genetic defects and none of these is ever favourable.

 

As an interesting aside, Darwin quotes the calculations of Linnaeus. These tell him that ‘if an annual plant produced only two seeds’ – and there is no plant so unproductive as this – ‘and their seedlings next year produced two, and so on, then in twenty years there would be a million plants’. What Darwin doesn’t seem to see, is that Linnaeus’s calculations and any population growth calculations make his theories of tens of thousands of generations over millions of years (for even minor evolution) extremely improbable because of the vast numbers of offspring that would be generated, even with predatory and food source limitations.

 

So what about natural selection? This does not evidence or prove evolution. It is clear that natural selection does occur but this does not change a species, it only improves a species by adaptation within a range of possibilities pre-programmed into its DNA code. As all DNA codes are vast, so there are a large number of possible variations for a species. Some of these are available from human breeding and cross breeding. Examples of variations of a species range from apples to human beings.

 

Section 2
What does Evolution explain?

The theory explains natural selection and nothing else. The survival of the fittest is seen in nature, though fortunately not seen in human morality.

 

Evolution attempts to explain the diversity of life and the fossil record but these are assumptions and not explanations.

However, to take the premise that evolutionis the explanation for how things are, the theory needs to address the facts and be questioned on them.

Rather, what explanations does evolution propose? It puts forward some rather fanciful explanations and despite some very strong and assertive claims, no real evidence can be found. For instance, it claims that all mammals descended from an extinct reptile ancestor. Where is the fossil evidence of this ancestor? No transitional fossils can be found.

 

 

Section 3
What does Evolution not explain, then?

It does not explain why life began and how it survived. If the proposed first, single-celled, organism is the missing ancestor to everything, Evolution does not explain or even consider how it lived at all.

My point here is, that all Food Chains, we are told, begin with plants. Since this organism was the supposed ancestor of plants and animals, how did it live? What gave it the food to survive and breed?

Maybe it fed on itself for a few billion years until it evolved? Like Pizza the Hut in Spaceballs it ate itself? I’m sorry. I’m being facetious.

 

The problem of spontaneous generation of life from dead things is hard enough to believe but would it survive? Remember, just because it is a single celled organism it does not mean simplicity. To survive and reproduce a great deal is needed. It needs a ‘skin’ a membrane. It needs a way to eat – a mouth, and a double DNA helix so it can divide and multiply. These things are not probable even with the vast time scales that have been brought into the theory and remember these timescales are far from proved. Even carbon dating can be erroneous because it depends on the amount of carbon 14 in the world staying absolutely constant.

 

Evolution does not explain why about half of the fossils found are of animals living today and virtually the same now as when fossilised.

 

Evolution doesn’t explain why it takes millions of years to make fossils, when we now know that it only took about 50 years after a flood at a river delta.

 

It doesn’t explain why the remains of whole animals are intact. In normal deaths, animals decay to bones, other animals eat or chew or move the bones or the wind and weather move things. Fossils are more consistent with rapid burial and are found in sedimentary rock, so a sudden catastrophe such as a flood is a likely cause. Also, in a flood the simpler marine animals would be buried lower down and the higher animals would be able to swim and survive longer so we would see the sort of stratification of so called ‘lower’ and ‘higher’ animals which, if this were the cause, has been falsely assumed and taught to be millions of years of evolution, rather than a brief large scale flood or catastrophe.

 

It doesn’t explain the diversity of life – if around for so long then the most advanced and durable would be in vast numbers and would naturally overwhelm everything else, so we would only see the few most advanced species.

 

Biologists will tell us of Food Chains or Food Cycles. These mean that all the organisms in the food chain had to evolve andappear simultaneously. This is extremely unlikely.

Food chains work so well. What happened before? Evolution doesn’t explain food chains or interdependence of species very well. They would all have to dovetail perfectly, at once by accident and by co-incidence! I’m not a statistician, but the odds must be near or at impossible, no matter how long you give it. Take, for example, the humble bee and red clover given by Darwin (pg 14 of On Natural Selection). In Darwin’s opinion, they are so dependant that red clover or heartease, would disappear or become very rare without the bees. These bees, in turn, are affected by mice that destroy their nests. The mice are dependant on the number of cats that destroy the mice. So, the number of cats, mice and bees in an area could affect the wild flowers! (Darwin On Natural Selection pg 14 again).

 

Flowers on plants and insects would have to evolve at the same time: 1) to pollinate the flowers; 2) to feed the insects with nectar from flowers.

 

I suppose that insects such as moths and butterflies could have eaten other things before there were flowers, but if they follow the same pattern of other insects this is unlikely. This coincidence or confluence of flowers and insects could have come about by accident, but this is not evolution. It is highly improbable though. Insects could have evolved over thousands of years to eat nectar but this has two problems. First the flowers would not be pollinated so the plants would die out. Second, without the equipment to reach and harvest nectar how would they know it was there for them to eat so why would they evolve this way?

 

Flowers pollinated by insects implies intelligence, planning and design that plants and insects clearly don’t have. Clearly, there are some genetic advantages in being pollinated by other plants, but would a plant evolve to be dependant on insects? We know that certain fruits and other plants are self-fertile, why aren’t all flowers self-pollinating? Are self-pollinating species less evolved or more evolved, if evolution is true?. We still have the quandary that the choice to be pollinated by an insect is way beyond the intelligence of a plant.

 

Evolution does not explain the Bumble bee. According to science it should not be able to fly. It is thus highly improbable that it would evolve to be this way.

 

Evolution does not explain how animals such as penguins and walrus survived until they ‘evolved’ their fat layers and tolerance to extreme cold. It does not explain why they would choose a cold climate in the first place. If it is a question of finding themselves trapped in an arctic environment which forced them to “evolve” then they would have died before this could have happened.

 

Evolution doesn’t explain plant or animal hibernation and autumn events. Take plants and trees in winter. How did they develop dormancy and how did they survive until they did?

 

Evolution doesn’t explain ageing. Surely organisms would evolve to live longer and longer so they can pass on their genes to a greater extent.

 

Evolution would expect that we genetically pass on knowledge and wisdom. We don’t. History repeats itself even when it has been written down first!! We don’t pass on information although this is a mainstay of evolution theory and explanations for eg instinct. It takes less actual “faith” to believe that instincts are programmed in rather than they just happened to be just right by sheer chance.

 

Evolution does not explain how characteristics and changes are inherited. Darwin clearly had no knowledge of genetics and the constrictions which that places upon the inheritance of organisms.

SCIENCE AND EVOLUTION
Section 4
Hasn’t science disproved creation?

While many biologists would present evolution as a scientific fact, this is merely bad science because it goes against the scientific method. A theory must fit the facts but there is no evidence for the theory of evolution. There are no fossils between species and no transitions in the fossil record. Distinct, separate species are all that are found.

 

Science can not disprove creation just as much as science can not prove evolution.

What about dinosaurs? What does evolution say? We are expected to believe that a minute single celled organism over vast time periods became huge creatures containing millions of cells.

 

Science can not tell us accurately how life began. Even our best science has been unable after many attempts to create life or anything even near it. A few amino acids are all they have got. This has been done in a highly reducing atmosphere with no oxygen because oxygen would break down the desired products. There is no evidence or actual science to say this sort of atmosphere ever existed. Furthermore, if it was so, where has all the oxygen come from? Our present atmosphere is in equilibrium maintaining the same ratio of gases. This is adequate reason to expect that this has always been the case with 19% oxygen.If the so called first living things were a factory with walls and stairs and floors containing furniture, machines and people operating them, the best we have ever done would be equivalent to a few empty cardboard boxes. Also, the chemistry of DNA is against formation in water from amino acids. Amino acids will not form DNA in water because DNA formation requires condensation (loss of water) not hydration (the opposite, gaining molecules from water).

 

How can we think this all happened by accident? Life, even in a single cell, is highly organised and things don’t get organised without intelligent intervention. Take your kitchen or bedroom as an example. Without determined effort and intelligent intervention (you) it will become more and more messed and untidy.

Another thing, the proposed early earth environment of ammonia, lightning, carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide would be toxic to most life forms, so would ‘it’ have a chance to survive even if it did the impossible to become alive?

 

But hasn’t science disproved creation? Isn’t creation unscientific? No! True science is concerned with the how. Creation is concerned with the why. The two things are quite different and mutually exclusive so we can’t compare one against the other.

 

Science can’t begin to search for the answers to ‘why’? Creation isn’t concerned with how at all. To say that the universe and all life was designed by a powerful being can’t be proved or disproved but if even put forward as a theory it does fit what we observe, unlike evolution with its missing links and ridiculous time periods.

 

 

What about the Big Bang? The Big Bang theory can not tell us what happened initially. Creation helps to answer the question of ‘where did all the matter in the universe come from’? It would take energy against gravitational forces to explode the matter apart. Where did that energy come from? The best theory at the moment is that there was a singularity at the beginning of the universe, where none of the laws of physics apply. For the amount of matter in our universe to be condensed in a small volume, gravitation would produce a black hole singularity. Since black holes don’t explode, then there can be no Big Bang. I’m not saying there was not a Big Bang, but it does not look very probable for this and other reasons. I will say that the Big Bang theory does not exclude God, because there is room for God to set the initial conditions and provide the required energy and matter. We do need to be more careful how we use science. To set science up as some sort of god, arbiter, do-it-all for life and the universe is to take it out of context and out of the bounds where it naturally and quite properly fits.

 

Section 5
Where does it all start with a single cell?

A single cell organism’s DNA is as complex as multi-celled organism’s.

Development of single celled creatures is amazing as growth hormones switch on and off etc and then aging etc starts happening. Wouldn’t it make more sense evolutionarily if a life form evolved and kept on evolving? But this doesn’t happen. At present we still see a great many very simple organisms; organisms that stay as they are and don’t become more complex.

 

If the first living thing was a single cell, what did it feed on? Where did bacteria and viruses come from? Where did plants come from? Developing chlorophyll is a very complex thing to expect by accident. If the first single cell was so effective or even able to survive reasonably well why did it need to develop further into plants and animals? What could be the ‘evolutionary pressure’ or driver?

 

Single-celled creatures have the same number of genes as humans. CHK Apparently frogs have more genes than humans.

 

Evolutionary biologists are well aware of the high improbability of what they are proposing, which is why they cloud the issue with the smoke screen of incredibly long time periods. But if a thing is statistically impossible, giving it a huge amount of time to happen doesn’t make it any more probable.

 

Evolution goes against a fundamental law of physics. The Second Law of Thermodynamics tells us that the disorder of the universe is increasing. How can evolution expect us to believe that the order of life forms increases by accident?

Section 6
What about natural selection? 

“Natural Selection” like “Nature” is apparently given the intelligence and influence of a person. It is clear from Darwin’s accurate and extensive observations that even the slightest aspect of an organism can have a big impact on its life and survival. For example smooth or hairy skin on fruit. To assume, then, that life forms exist, survive and even thrive by accident or by random chance is both naïve and unscientific. As in all evolution theory, the conclusions are arrived at first.

 

For fish scales, fish gills, ears, eyes and how the brain interprets signals from them there is no way they could develop by random events and mutations i.e. evolution. Therefore they have to say that Nature influenced orcaused it. But what is this other than a mystic made up smoke screen to obscure the need for God? In other words, it is giving “Nature” god like wisdom and powers.

 

One of the main causes of evolution is said to be mutation. Why, when exposed to radiation or mutagens (carcinogens) don’t we see amazing steps forward in evolution or small steps in natural selection? We don’t. We see weakening, sickness, cancer and often death.

We see some awful mutations. Thalidomide, Downs Syndrome and Spina Bifida to name a few.

 

I saw a programme on TV about a whole family that had a genetic defect. Even slight exposure to sunlight caused terrible burns. The whole family was prone to cancers. It was found that they all inherited a turned off ‘repair gene’. So UV light caused cell damage and mutations resulting in bad burns and even cancer. If mutation caused improvement, some of them – there were about 20 or more of them – would surely have evolved to some better form. They did not, quite the reverse.

For Evolution to work then the majority of mutations must make favourable variations. In fact 999 out of 1000 are unfavourable and the one in 1000 is pretty awful. This is not enough to make evolution viable.

 

Why do presumably highly evolved animals become extinct? Surely, their fittest would survive and evolve to exist. (Extinction is part of natural selection theory).

Darwin reckons that due to natural disasters (pg 5-6 of ‘On Natural Selection, edited by Penguin) and the inability to re-populate organisms die out.

What is this ‘Nature’ that Darwin seems to speak of it as some kind of god or power? He presumes that it intelligently puts in all the necessary and complicated checks and balances to keep all the species in equilibrium (CHK).

 

Darwin observed (last Para, pg 6 On Natural Selection) each species is something so complex even scientists (and hence mankind) are ignorant and this even applies to ourselves. ‘Nature’ must indeed be something! Life and species are hardly a happy accident. What Darwin calls ‘Nature’ fits exactly with the descriptions of God in the Bible.

 

Darwin describes all life as a struggle. If there is such a struggle for existence, why did some less robust species survive at all? Wouldn’t it be a good idea to evolve our own fur coats if we were Eskimos or if we live in a cold country?

 

A more scientific approach to organisms and life might be to consider the option that DNA is encoded with so much information and potential for diversity that it each organism is able to adapt to many of the situations and conditions it is likely to come across, not evolve.

 

In ‘On Natural Selection’ there are lots of subjective ideas and suppositions with no factual evidence. Darwin’s observations, as recorded in ‘On Natural Selection’ are very far reaching, but his conclusions are far from scientific. They are coloured by his worldview of the power and intelligence of Nature and natural processes, which he pre-judges to be in control of and planning for life forms.

 

It is not science to have a made up mind with set conclusions and then seek to fit your observations to these. To quote from page 26, paragraph 2, “natural selection will be enabled to act on and modify organic beings at any age”. Where is the evidence for this? Darwin is just theorizing and using his imagination. 

 

Section 7
Genetics – why did this cause the evolutionists such problems?

Maybe because we don’t get mutation or evolution of genes? At least for normal reproduction that results in healthy progeny.

Genetics tells us that the offspring will always have the genes of their parents. I.e. a green pea crossed with a yellow pea gives green, yellow/green and yellow peas in proportion of 1: 2: 1. Some of the peas may have changed colour but they are still peas, not a new organism.

Genetics tells us that the Genesis description that animals reproduce “according to their kind” is accurate. Genetics gives no room whatsoever for evolution from one species to another even by a very gradual process.

 

Section 8
Genetic Feedback

For Evolution to happen then some sort of genetic feed back must have occurred where the needs of the creature, once it decided how it was going to develop, are fed back to its genes to be passed on to the next generation. This supposes an intelligence and an adaptive ability that no creature on earth has ever demonstrated, not even man.

 

Section 9
BACTERIA AND VIRUSES

Evolution doesn’t explain bacteria and viruses. It’s not sufficient to say they just evolved. Bacteria and viruses are smaller than single celled creatures. So how did the first single celled organism become a virus or a bacteria? It would have to split or rupture into several smaller parts. This is extremely unlikely.

BASIC QUESTIONS / Questions from nature

Section 10

If evolution is true why are there still ‘un-evolved’ single-celled creatures?

If single celled creatures have been around for many millions of years then why haven’t they evolved? Instead we see many single celled organisms which are very successful with no need to evolve. It could be said that the first single celled creatures evolved into successful single celled creatures and that’s why they are around now. The only problem with this is that such success would make it extremely unlikely for these successes to evolve further into higher animals and eventually you and me.

 

Section 11
What came first – the woodpecker or the oak? What about the grubs it eats?

What could possibly induce this bird to look inside a tree for grubs? It would have no way of knowing they were there. Its development of a stronger skull and beak would have required a significant change in its DNA program. Before it evolved a stronger beak and skull it would have knocked itself out looking for grubs. What would be the driving force to change so radically anyway – it must have had other food or it would have starved. There is no obvious reason for its evolution.

 

The woodpecker’s strong, pointed beak acts as both a chisel and a crowbar to remove bark and find hiding insects. It has a very long tongue – up to four inches in some species – with a glue-like substance on the tip for catching insects. While most birds have one toe pointing back and three pointing forward on each foot, woodpeckers have two sharply clawed toes pointing in each direction to help them grasp the sides of trees and balance while they hammer. Many woodpecker species also have stiffened tail feathers, which they press against a tree surface to help support their weight. Again, these attributes would require a significant change in DNA code.

 

The largest species, the imperial woodpecker of Mexico, is about 22 inches long. It has been listed under the US. Fish and Wildlife Services’ Endangered Species Act since 1970 and may be extinct. The Kogera woodpecker, found in Japan, is the smallest species at six inches in length. Woodpeckers live an average of four to 11 years

 

Woodpeckers can be found in wooded areas and forests all over the world, except in Australia. Some woodpecker species require very specific conditions for their home. For example, the red-cockaded woodpecker can only live in mature pine forests in the south-eastern United States. Again unlikely from evolution.

 

Woodpeckers eat a diet of insects, fruit, acorns and nuts.

Woodpeckers are known for tapping on tree trunks in order to find insects living in crevices in the bark and to excavate nest cavities. Some species drum on trees to communicate to other woodpeckers and as a part of their courtship behaviour. Woodpeckers tap an estimated 8,000 to 12,000 times per day. Without the right equipment the woodpecker would simply knock itself out. All this points to design rather than evolution. To say that Nature did this is to give a hypothetical entity god like power and wisdom.

 

Section 12
Why so many diverse species?

There are about 28 thousand species of fish according to Buzzle.com.

Georgia-Pacific – Educational in Nature says there are more than 4 thousand different types of mammal species live on our planet. The Wikipedia says that there are about 900 thousand different types of insects in the world and that scientists have found approximately 250 thousand different types of plants.

 

If evolution is true we shouldn’t expect such diversity because there should only be the main highly evolved species. Over the vast time periods quoted by evolutionists there should have been ample opportunity for evolution from lower to higher species, if evolution happens, so there should not be any ‘lower’ species.

 
Section 13
What about air breathing water dwellers like whales and dolphins?

What happened to their gills? Why would they evolve lungs? There is no advantage for it. Wouldn’t they all drown on the way? Where are the remains of their gills?

What about amphibians? If these evolved into land dwellers why are there so many of them today? It’s not good enough to say there was an amphibian ancestor that split two ways – one land dweller and one amphibian. Why would it do this? If there was evolution, surely the higher form would be preferred so there should not be any unevolved amphibians left.

 

Section 14
What evolutionary good does fruit do the plant?

Why are there bananas and otherfruits? What evolutionary good does it do the plant? In fact producing fruit is a significant drain on top of seed production. Of course some fruits are taken by animals and so spread the seeds. But can we realistically believe that the plants are intelligent enough to know this will happen? This points again to design not evolution.

 

Section 15
Why is everything subject to disease, death and decay?

Teeth and fruit decay to name but two.

I saw a programme on TV that had an incidental part containing a museum where they photographed the decay of dead reptiles etc. by time lapse. It was fascinating. Disease, death and decay are always with us. Evolution doesn’t explain these. The Bible does.

 

Section 16
Doesn’t Evolution explain instinct?

Instinct may well be learned by the young. I know of no evidence it is evolutionary, passed on genetically, or from some ‘race consciousness’. However, if an animal is the result of a wise, caring Creator, then it would be given instincts for survival etc.

 

Why don’t we genetically pass on experience, knowledge and wisdom to our progeny? Clearly, we don’t because history repeats itself even when it’s been written down! This means if we don’t pass on information we know is important, the mainstay of evolution theory and their explanation for instincts has failed.

 
Section 17
Does Evolution explain ‘fail safes’?

Two eyes, ears, nostrils, lungs and kidneys. We can breathe through mouth and nose. We ourselves are not aware most of the time of the need for fail-safes. How could this get programmed in? Why don’t we see creatures with one eye, one ear, one lung, one nostril etc? Again we see design, not evolution.

I
FOR THE RECORD! Questions from the record
Section 18
What really caused the fossil record?

Evolution will tell us that the fossil record was laid down naturally over many millions of years and that the earlier evolved species are to be found in the lower strata.  It has been found at a river delta that the same strata have been formed over 50 years. The rock in which we see fossils is sedimentary. These rocks could have been formed over millions of years. They could also have been formed by a river or the sea or even a flood. A rapid flood is far more likely since we find whole animals such as have been overcome and buried swiftly.

There is also a case, I am told, that the classical fossil record does not occur widely but the strata are not always in the proposed order in certain parts of the world.

What about the missing evolutionary links? Where are they? Darwin was concerned by this but he believed that when the fossil record was further explored that these missing links would be found. Well we have thoroughly explored the fossil record and the missing links have not been found. This is a serious blow for evolution because the necessary evidence for it is completely missing.

Section 19
Why is there coal at the South Pole?

The coal at the South Pole could be due to a tectonic plate shift. If so, there would need to have been a much milder climate near the South Pole at some time in the past. Mammoths at one time lived at the North Pole. Why have woolly mammoths been found frozen with food still in their mouths as though eating? This implies almost instantaneous freezing.

 

What are the likely causes of producing coal? We’re talking about large amounts of horizontal dead trees and the absence of air. One possible scenario is that similar to the flood in Genesis. The whole subject of fossil fuels: gas, oil, coal etc is fraught with the difficulties of how they were produced by slow natural processes. There are vast quantities of Natural Gas and Oil. Just look at petrol consumption. Thousands of barrels of oil are recovered from the depths of the earth each day. These are not being replaced by natural processes. All these things need rapid air free burial under pressure to form.

HUMAN EVOLUTION?
Section 20
Could a single cell become a human?

The idea is that something as complex chemically, organ wise etc as a human being could develop by accident out of the constituent chemicals of a single cell is absurd even if we factor in vast time periods. Why do only humans make love face to face? This is indicative of design for a relationship. What about communication and the five senses? E.g. Body language, verbal and non­verbal communication.

Are humans really ‘highly evolved’? If so, why do we need clothes? Why do we need to cook our foods? Why do we have vulnerable, helpless babies?

 
Section 21
Why did we evolve emotions?

Why did we evolve emotions? Pain, pleasure, happiness etc are not helpful in an empirical sense for an organism, its reproduction and survival. To survive it would make sense to have little or no emotions so that we could reproduce prolifically. As it is we do have emotions and we have a conscience. There is no evolutionary need or reason for these. 

 

Section 22
Why are we here?

The Anthropic principle says because the situation is right we are here. I.e. we wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t right. This infers it could have happened by chance. True. The whole universe must have happened by chance or by design of a higher power such as God. The case for chance is not entirely scientific although it obviously appeals to those who don’t want to believe in God. It is unscientific, basically because our expanding universe is ordered and we observe eg gas clouds becoming more ordered star systems. According to physics disorder (entropy) increases with time. Therefore the disorder produced by a big bang should have caused disorder and subject to the laws of physics should never have produced ordered star systems without intelligent intervention. Have you ever seen the results of an explosion? Terribly disordered! Of course according to big bang theory there are other factors such as large masses and gravity effects etc. But it’s still a bit puzzling. The only thing which holds back chaos is intelligent intervention.

 

Section 23

Why do different ethnic groups have the same blood types?

This is unlikely if they evolved separately or independently. They can also interbreed.

This infers the same origin and ancestry.

Maybe at Babel God confused the races as well as language or created diversity within genes. Mitochondrial DNA suggests all humans have the same female ancestor.

 

Section 24

Why religion?

Why religion? Some evolutionists think this occurs because it has good social and stress relieving benefits. How does a person know this and get their DNA to program this in? Could it be that we are designed to worship?

 

Section 25

Why morals?

Why, if the goal of species and organisms is to spread their genes as widely as possible is it clearly wrong to do so for humans? To take evolution at face value would be to condone adulterous behaviour and maybe even rape.

People like Hitler and the Japanese in the Second World War practiced their own version of natural selection. Indeed, because the Japanese had less facial hair they thought they were more evolved than westerners and treated them as sub-humans. Evolution fuels racism and prejudice.

 

Section 26

Why do we age

If evolution really happens, surely it would result in the benefit of organisms living longer and longer so they could store up more modifications ,  pass them on and pass on their genes longer. We don’t see this. As it is, organisms don’t improve with time, they all age and die.

Aging seems pre-programmed into every organisms DNA.

We are told that ‘Nature’ has programmed in our instinct to survive with first priority and the instinct to reproduce second. Why then did ‘Nature’ not make us evolve so we would not age? Perhaps so we would not over populate the planet. The problem is we are now getting to the point that this ‘Nature’ is more intelligent and far seeing than man. We must either believe this just happened or Nature has influenced it etc. If we are honest, this takes much more faith than a belief in God.

But why do people still believe in evolution and Nature? As at the initial rebellion told in Genesis, man wants to be his own god and wants to pretend there is no God or use all his means to rationalise God out of the picture.

 

 CONCLUSIONS

To believe Evolution is to have a similar faith to believing in God, except believing in a theory. Theories are not fact because they can’t be proved. They are only good provided they explain the facts and until a better theory comes along.

 

As I hope you have seen, Evolution is part of a belief system, not a science, so it is really a faith religion. This is where it fails to be science, because the answers are already believed and any observations are coloured by this and squeezed into the mould in an attempt to substantiate pre-conceived beliefs.

 

It disturbs me that this theory is taught widely as fact, without a shred of factual evidence. On the contrary, there are many questions that deserve an answer.

 

I hope these questions and arguments have given you cause to think seriously about the claims of evolution. People are loathe to change but I hope you will think about these things with an open mind.

 

Evolution is a flight of fancy, a self-delusion of those who will not honestly face the facts, those who on grounds of belief and philosophy will not believe in God.

To believe in God, they realise, is to be accountable. They think that by pretending they can avoid that. We are all accountable to God and will face His judgment. God, however, being a redeemer, loving and merciful, as well as just, has revealed Himself in many ways and ultimately in His Son, Jesus. Like Evolution He can’t empirically be proved. However, God can be known by faith in Jesus. Millions around the world today testify to that relationship. So who is deluded? The Christians of the Evolutionists? I leave you to choose.

 

A Marco Patitucci Original. Copyright 2009. Shirt provided by Capra Clothing. LYRICS You say Im a great catch, Ive heard that song before. It doesnt mean much, experience tells me so. Here in the real world, its a slap across the face. When you say some girl, will be lucky someday. You ask if well ever be the same, these fences do need mending. But you dont realize all this time you were so condescending. While Im sinking to the bottom of this fishing hole, You want a great catch? Grab a pole. You say Im a great guy, just not the one you want. But Ive got a bad side, and believe me its no front. You tell youre sorry, you say youll take the fault. Still you dont realize, the damage that youve caused. You ask if well ever be the same, these fences do need mending. But you dont realize all this time you were so condescending. While Im sinking to the bottom of this fishing hole, You want a great catch? Grab a pole. You ask if well ever be the same, these fences do need mending. But you dont realize all this time you were so condescending. While Im sinking to the bottom of this fishing hole, You want a great catch? Grab a pole.
Video Rating: 5 / 5

Related Pole Fishing Clothes Articles

Posted in Pole Equipment
By admin

September 3rd, 2010

Crappie Fishing with jigs

Crappie Fishing with jigs

Crappie fishing can be frustrating and fruitless unless you know how to fish with the right lures. Using live bait is usually the best way to fish for Crappies but jigs can also be very successful.

When fishing for spring crappie, they will normally bite very light. You need to be able to feel the bite to catch fish. Use lighter line, like mono in 2lb to 6lb test. The reel can be an ultra light spinning reel or an open face baitcast reel. A simple spincast reel can also work, as well as a cane pole. A graphite rod with a cork handle can be very sensitive to feel the Crappie’s light bite or nibble. Keep in mind that Crappie have a very sensitive lip that can tear easily if you set the hook to aggressively.

Jigs with minnows can be very effective fishing for Crappies because I believe that is their favorite food. Begin by dropping jigs around cover, structure, and along edges of weed lines. Plus, you can slow down the boat and let lip hooked minnows dance around a fishing spot to entice reluctant crappie into biting. Using multiple rod presentations will help you cover a lot of water. One rod could have a small spinner bait, one could have a pinkie jig, with a minnow or without, and another pole could have a jig and float combination. Other Crappie fishing jigs you can use can be marabou and hair jigs in baitfish type patterns. When you are crappie fishing with jigs, use a loop knot to tie it on. The jig will move more freely when casting.

In muddy or stained water, use jigs that have dark and light patterns on them. Sometimes you may need to try numerous colors to entice finicky Crappie to bite. If you are not successful in the murky water areas, look for bays that may be quiet and not a lot of water movement. The water may be a little clearer but shallow so look for the deeper areas to fish. If you are working with a fish finder it may be easier to spot them in areas that are tough to see. Try to spot schools of Crappie. Then start the rod rotation technique and throw a crappie jig or the spinner bait. Plus the jig and float to see what they may bite on. Using a jig with a minnow on it may work better in these circumstances. When Crappies seem to disappear from an area you have been fishing, move out to deeper water. Sometimes crappie will suspend above structures or around drop offs. Usually this is more of a summer mode for crappies.

I particularly like to troll for Crappie in order to locate them. I have 3 rods set up with 3 different baits all ready to use on a moment’s notice. When I troll I use two rods: one with a bobber or float and live bait such as minnows. The other rod will be rigged with a jig like a pinkie jig with a minnow or just by itself. The 3rd rod is fit with a small spinner that I may cast into areas of structure like around stumps or fallen trees, weed beds etc.

Use these tips when you are Crappie fishing with jigs so you too can be successful catching your limit.

Please check out my link below for information on how to catch more crappies.

http://myfishinggoods.com/crappie_fishing_secrets_and_techniques.html

 

More Pole Fishing Rigs Articles

Posted in Pole Equipment
By admin

September 3rd, 2010

Fly Fishing Rods – Ideal Way To Catch Fish

Fly Fishing Rods – Ideal Way To Catch Fish

To catch fish one has to use a fly fishing rod which is a part of the angling tackle. A fishing line is attached to a flexible long rod or pole at one end and the other end has a fishing hook attached to it. This fishing hook has the bait on it with which to lure the fish. Fishing rods come in different sizes, the length of the rod depends on how far you want to throw the bait and also on the kind of fish you are planning to catch. The rods vary from 2 to 16 feet in length and the longer rods have a better mechanical Fishing rods differ in length and in action.

What is a fly fishing rod?
Fly fishing rods which are used to throw a fly are very flexible, thin and long. The fly is generally secured on with foam, fur, feathers, or any other lightweight stuff. A fly rod utilizes the load of the fly line for throwing. A “leader” is normally secured to the fly line at one end, and the fly is tied to the other end. To decide on the size of the rod, you would have to consider the kind of fish that you are planning to catch, the weather conditions at the time when you are fishing and what the line weighs. If you are using a large or heavy line, you could go in for flies of a bigger size or weight. The fly rods are accessible in several varying line sizes ranging from O to 16. The smallest size is used for trout and pan fish which are fresh water fish and the larger ones are used for salt water fish.

There are usually no handles or butt sections on fly fishing rods. This prevents obstruction while casting the fly. A spey rod has a lengthier handle on the rear side but is also a fly rod of a different size. The spey rod is used for catching fish in saltwater, or in big rivers to haul salmon or steel head fish.

Rod flexibility or stiffness in the rod
Action is the quantity of flexibility that the rod provides or rigidity of the rod. For smaller fish that weigh less, you would require a slow-action fly fishing rod which would have the maximum amount of flexibility. Though these are very accurate in casting, they are not very easy for beginners to handle. Beginners could use a medium range fly fishing rod which would be much easier to control. The more flexible rods would bend more at the tip and in the middle. These rods are for use in long range or short range casting. For the bigger fish it is better to use fishing rods that are stiff and very stiff and have a fast-action. This again is not easy for a fresher in the fishing game to handle as they are not very accurate. Fly fishing rods can be picked up off the shelf from many marketing agencies, but custom built rods are a popular past time amongst fly fisherman.

Find More Pole Fishing Rods Articles

Posted in Pole Equipment
By admin

September 3rd, 2010

Basic Ice Fishing Ideas

Basic Ice Fishing Ideas

Ice thickness is always well worth talking about in virtually any dialogue of ice fishing. I realize this advice is old hat to knowledgeable ice fishermen, but it’s nonetheless worth mentioning for anyone who might be newer to the idea of angling on a frozen pond. In nearly all situations four inches width of ice is thought to be safe for walking and angling through the ice. I personally like to have 6 inches of ice or more, but this isn’t really necessary. The subsequent ideas are being listed in no specific arrangement. Employ the ideas that feel right for you, toss the rest, but all of the following ice fishing guidelines are effective.

There are many various approaches for ice fishing. You can obtain a drill and make an ice hole and wait the hole, either outside or in a ice shed for fish to take your bait. This can be done with or without a ice shed. You can also use holes made by other fishermen days before and merely clear ice that has formed since the previous use. Several people utilizing this kind of approach elect to move on quickly in the event that they do not get any bites.

Go fishing when the trout are really active. Do this by watching weather reports and lunar cycles then planning angling trips appropriately. If you have been going ice fishing for a time you might have realized that colder parts are much less successful, this is since the climate plays an role.

Another ice fishing tip is to downsize your offerings. Whenever angling through ice you want to employ baits and hooks that are small. The chum can be in the form of bait fish or meal worms or larvae . Using bait on the ends of your lure hook is usually a excellent approach to take.

Jigs combined with bait are effective, utilizing either twister tails or marabou, topped with meal worms or maggots is usually very effective when fishing through the ice. Its important to not really supply a lot of jigging motion to your lure. As a point in fact jigging the pole every few seconds will do the job. Fish are extremely sluggish below the ice and a lot of motion may “spook” the fish.

If you just started ice fishing its good to start off close to crowds of anglers. Ice fishermen like to interact socially when fishing as it ads to the enjoyment. Since this type of fishing is comparatively noncompetetive others won’t mind having you in that place. Many will be content to share hints and kinds of bait and equipment they make use of . The only exceptions might be if you are at a non-public pond or if a tournament is going on.

If the body of water you are angling on contains farmed fish, tossed live bait can be very successful for ice angling. Making use of a spoon with a little bit of bait on the hook is a excellent beginning, you should furthermore drop small pieces of bait in the hole as you fish. You can place this rig on both a fishing rod or a tip up alarm.

Little fishingspoons can be very successful when fishing through the ice . Just as with jigs, any moving motion ought to be minimum in these instances. Small spoons can also be tipped with worms or larvae for extra actions.

For the novice ice fisherman use a common fishing pole, which can be purchased at any sporting goods store. Use monofilament line from 3 to 5 lb test. Poppers are a handy thing for fishing so keep a couple in your pack. You’ll also want a range of fishing lures, hook varieties, sinkers, clasps and other fundamental fishing gear. Also a bar, ice spud or auger for your ice holes. Hit your nearby fishing store just before the trip to choose any kind of live bait required for the species and pond you want to visit.

The result is that when ice fishing these tips have helped me for years and they will do that for you too. Enjoy your winter fishing and the opportunity to spend time outside through the colder season.

Related Pole Fishing Rigs Articles

Posted in Pole Equipment
By admin

September 3rd, 2010

Wallet / Billfold of Comedic Gone Fishin’ (Gone Fishing) Reviews

Wallet / Billfold of Comedic Gone Fishin’ (Gone Fishing)

• Brand new wallet, made out of imitation leather
• Inside the wallet it has a driver’s license (photo id) opening
• Six slot openings for cards
• Two bills or notes compartments, and two multi-purpose pockets
• Measures 4.75″ x 3.5″(W), standard size wallet

It is a brand new wallet, made out of imitation leather. The edge of the metal photo frame is in chrome color. The photo is printed out on a high quality photo paper and coated with a top quality waterproof enamel that is crystal clear, with a long time duration. Inside the wallet it has a driver’s license (photo id) opening, six slot openings for cards, two bills or notes compartments, and two multi-purpose pockets. It measures 4.75″ x 3.5″(W), standard size wallet.

Rating: (out of reviews)

List Price:

Price: $ 21.97

Find More Pole Fishing Clothes Products

Posted in Pole Equipment
By admin

September 3rd, 2010

5 Professional Bass Fishing Tips That You Probably Didn’t Know About

5 Professional Bass Fishing Tips That You Probably Didn’t Know About

Do you want to catch monster Largemouth Bass?  I’m almost positive that the answer to this question is a resounding yes!

I don’t know about you, but I love being the guy who is ripping bass out of the water at a breakneck pace while others watch in awe.  Unfortunately for me, that didn’t happen very often until I started reading up on how to catch these elusive sport fish.

Aftr putting in a few hours of “research”, I was ready to put my newfound knowledge to the test.  At first, I didn’t have much luck, but through trial and error I began to understand what worked and what didn’t.

Here are 5 tips and techniques that helped me catch my limit just about every time out:

1. Be alert and keep an eye on the water.

Fishing in an area where there are no bass obviously won’t produce a good result.  Unless you have a fancy fish finder (which I think is cheating), how will you know where they are?

You’ll know by being alert and keeping an eye on the water around the area where you are casting from.  Bass often give away their presence, and there is a foolproof way to tell.  When they are on the hunt, you’ll see large schools of small baitfish trying to get away.  They’ll be swimming very fast, and close to the surface.  Cast against the direction the baitfish are swimming, and burn your lure back towards them.

2.  Don’t jerk your pole when setting the hook.

I’m amazed at the way I see some bass fishermen set their hooks when they think they have a fish on.  You’d think they hooked a whale.  They jerk their pole back so hard their lure flies out of the water and everyone on shore has to take cover!

All it takes is a firm pull.  The lower lip of a bass is made of very thin, almost translucent skin that tears almost as easy as paper.  If you pull too hard, you can actually tear through that and separate the lower lip, dislodging your hook in the process.  Keep this in mind when you set your hook, and you won’t lose the fish this way.

3. Use an erratic retrieve with a lot of motion.

This is something that took practice to master.  Often a bass fisherman will cast out a lure and reel it in with a consistent, methodic motion.  That’s all well and good, except that’s not how an actual baitfish behaves in the water.

You need to vary your retrieve, starting and stopping as you reel in your lure.  After every few turns of the reel, twitch your pole slightly as you slow your retrieve.  This will cause your lure to move about erratically in the water, mimicking a distressed baitfish, and an easy meal.

4. Check your line and knot strength frequently.

Let me tell you a short story to illustrate this point.  A few weeks back I was out fishing for catfish as bass were spawning.  I caught a couple of small ones and released them back.  I usually always check my line after 1 or 2 catches, but I was feeling a bit lazy, and the fish were small anyway.

About 30 minutes later, I got a good tug and set the hook.  This one was giving me a fight.  I had a decent catfish on!  I fought it to the shore and knelt down to grab my line and hoist the fish over the wall to shore.  Just as I got the fish over dry land, my line snapped just above the swivel, and away went my nice catch!  Need I say more about this?

5. Always look in the mouth of the bass before releasing it.

This might sound funny, but it can give you valuable information.  Bass usually snap up their food and swallow it whole. when you hook one, it will often gag up it’s last meal.  This may sound disgusting, I know, but you need to see what it was. 

Why?  So you can see what the bass in that area are feeding on, and set up a lure to duplicate it.  Knowing what the bass are feeding on is an enormous advantage.  If you can duplicate what it is they are currently chomping up, you’ll pull them in left and right!

Bonus Tip:

Here’s a bonus tip:

Use black and grey buzzbaits and crankbaits over light colored ones.

This is something that has been wildly effective for me.  I was always a big fan of bright yellow and orange fluorescent lures.  My logic was that the they will get the attention of the bass.  Boy, was I wrong.

As it turns out, bass will go after what looks like it belongs in their environment, and fluorescent yellow fish and plastic worms generally don’t.  Especially when it comes to plastic worms, stick to earthy colors.  Bass hunt by detecting movement more than sight.  Although it’s true that shiny things do attract them, they’re more attracted to vibration.  If you want to add a little “bling” to your rig, use a gold or silver swivel on a brown or black lure for a deadly combination.

More Pole Fishing Rigs Articles

Posted in Pole Equipment
By admin

September 2nd, 2010

Inexpensive Birthday Party Games for Dads on a Budget

Inexpensive Birthday Party Games for Dads on a Budget

You don’t have to hire a magician or a pony to make a child’s birthday party a success. The only real expense you might have to endure is birthday cake and ice cream. Otherwise, kids just need some easy-to-create fun activities. You can go fly a kite or take a trip together to the local playground.

If you want to be more industrious, here are some easy-to-make attractions that will keep a group of kids (4-10) busy for a few hours:

Fishing game

What it is: Plywood 3-sided structure about 5 feet tall and 8 feet long, painted front to look like water. Fishing poles made from bamboo poles about 3’ long with string attached and clippie clothes pin tied on the other side.

Materials needed: 2 4×8’ sheets of plywood, 4 bamboo poles (6’ long and cut to 3’ each) string cut to 4’ long, spring clothes pins to clip on fishing prizes. VOLUNTEER to cut the plywood and assemble the exhibit, and paint the front. Small prizes to be “fished” for.

How to play: Volunteers sit behind exhibit. Kids come up and throw the fishing line over the “water”. Volunteers clip on prizes, small toys, stickers or candies.

Pirate Ship Walk the Plank

What it is: A balance beam with a large cut-out graphic of a pirate ship attached at one end. It sits on a blue tarp trimmed to look like water. (The school may have balance beams we can borrow)

Materials needed: A balance beam. A large board, about 5’x6’ cut out and painted to look like a pirate ship (maybe with a shark). A blue painter’s tarp with the edges rounded to look like a pool of water. Pirate dress-up of some sort: a pirate hat, hooked hand, eye patch and vest. Plastic gold coins.

How to play: Dress up like a pirate and try to walk the plank without falling off. Winners retrieve a plastic coin from the ship at the end.

Buried Treasure

What it is: Extra large plastic treasure chests filled with bird seed to conceal the prizes inside. Lids of the chests are secure in a slightly open position.

Materials needed: 2 or 3 large plastic treasure chests (.25 dollars each at Rhode Island Novelty) size about 20”x14x14, though larger would be better. Large bags of bird seed. Plastic coins or small wrapped candy to dig for. Bandanas for blindfolds. Something to secure the lid partially opened.

How to play: Feel through the birdseed in search of a buried prize!

Tattoos and Face Painting Booths

What it is: Parent volunteers apply press on tattoos on the kids. Tattoos are soaked for a few seconds in warm water against a sponge then applied. Other parent volunteers do face painting with glitter.

Materials needed: Plastic storage containers, kitchen sponges, warm water, tattoos, face paints, superfine glitter, guide book of face painting, paper towels, fine paint brushes, hand mirrors.

Fortune Telling Booth

What it is: Volunteer dresses as a Gypsy Fortune Teller.

Materials needed: A VOLUNTEER! Perhaps some kind of magical looking ball, a small tent, chair, table, tarot cards, flowing curtains and scarves!!!

Ring a Lolli Pop

What it is: Traditional ring toss with lolli pops as pegs.

Materials needed: A wooden board with holes drilled into it (or pegboard), and a way to angle it. Table to set it up on. Rings and lots of lollipops. This could be a mobile game that is worn as a harness and strolled through the crowd?!?

Ayumilove’s Diary: This game is a walkthrough on how to win this game. This game is not suitable for the young or faint-hearted. There are 2 ways of winning. One way is to let the alien kill all humans or let the last surviving human kill the alien. There is one more ending which I do not know, both human and alien die together??? Click here to play: www.newgrounds.com Walkthrough – Guide – Solution – Cheats first scene(by the lake) click the tree limb. it falls. click the limb. the worm jumps on it. click the frog. he’ll eat the worm. click the hole in the tree. the bird will fly to the tree. click on the post the bird was on. it will bend. click on the fishing pole. click on the meteor and then the worm.=0A click on the fishing pole five times second scene(outside the house) click the door handle. only to fail but you need to. click the apple. the worm will eat it. click the door handle again. click the hole by the cats tail. once again you will fail but you need to. click the shadow of the tree above you. the cat will get distracted and you will automatically run. third scene(pipe room) in this order click the yellow, blue, red,and then yellow knobs. fourth scene(second again) click the cats butthole. you gain arms. click the door handle fifth scene(kitchen) click the top of the blender. click the pile of oranges. click the bottom of the blender. click the top of the blender again click the top drawer. click the knife. click the faucet. the lady will slip and die. do …
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Posted in Pole Equipment
By admin

September 2nd, 2010

Crappie Fishing Tricks – Crappie Fishing Guide Review

Crappie Fishing Tricks – Crappie Fishing Guide Review

There are so many Crappie Fishing Tricks to choose from on how to successfully catch a crappie. All you have to do is pick a technique that can work best for you.

Click Here For Crappie Fishing Tricks Instant Access Now!

Here are some of the techniques that you can use if you decide to go fishing for a crappie.

First: Use a 13-foot crappie poles with 10 lb. line and a double minnow crappie rig with a slip bobber. The Crappie rigs are available almost anywhere around the lake. Hook the minnows through the eyes, as this will keep them alive longer and make them pull through the water better as he drifts. The 13 foot poles will help you cover more area and it also makes it possible to just lift the fish in the boat, even when fishing the deeper areas of the lake. Second: Be more sensitive and watch those bobbers closely, because with just a slight sideways movement, and they’re gone. Third: When fishing a jig, use a loop knot for best results. It allows the jig to move more freely when casting and provides an enticing subtle movement when fished vertically.

Here are some things you will learn with the Crappie Fishing Tricks E-kit: how to turn any dead spot into a hot bed of attacking crappie by using two rods, a bobber, two minnows, a crankbait, and a pair of nail clippers; the amazing dirty dozen crappie attractor secret that triggers a natural phenomenon and forces crappie to school right below your bait; and how to use the Sunday Funnies section of the newspaper to create an ugly bait crappie tear into like pissed-off piranha.

Try the fishing tricks or techniques mentioned above on your fishing one weekend, and get your own E-kit to learn how to catch crappies fast and easy.

Click Here For Crappie Fishing Tricks Instant Access Now!

Related Pole Fishing Rigs Articles

Posted in Pole Equipment
By admin

September 2nd, 2010

Fly Fishing Rods

Fly Fishing Rods

One important part of fly fishing is the rod. A fishing rod or also called the fishing pole is always associated with the sport called angling. Choosing the right rod for your fly fishing experience is very important. The right combination of reel and rod also matters heavily as well.

There are several types of fishing rods to choose from but for fly fishing specifically, the rods are longer, thinner and more flexible. One reason why fly rods are meant to weigh light is because rods made like this are the only ones that can cast even the lightest fly. So, you have to realize that the overall characteristic of a fly rod should be lightweight. Also for casting, the line used works together with the weight of the rod, the weight of the line acts as a helper to how the rod is able to cast the fly.

Next, the material of a fly rod varies too. Most of the rods today are made of composite materials such as carbon and graphite, carbon and boron or fiberglass materials; a more innovative version compared to the original bamboo split material. As for the sizes, you have choices between the #0 sizes to the #16 ones. You’ll have to decide first what size of species you want to catch, the type of water condition where you’ll be fishing, the wind and of course the weight of the line before selecting the the type of rod.

The #0 rods are usually used for the smallest species from freshwater, while the #16 rods are for larger ones on saltwater seas. Also, in selecting the type of rod you want to use for fly fishing, familiarize first the parts of it because unlike other types of rod, fly rods don’t have the usual handle extending just right below the reel although there are rods that have very little handle too. The reason for this is to prevent from any casting interference.

These are the primary qualities you may want to take note of before getting yourself the fly rod you want. Don’t forget to make sure, above all else, that you are comfortable with the type of rod you will be using. Don’t get the extremely long rod if you can’t even handle it yourself.

Posted in Pole Equipment
By admin