Halibut Herald December 4

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ALIBUT HERALD December 4, 2008

Bits and Bites In Celebration of Today’s Weather: 10 Abstract Masterpieces of Frost

Perhaps the beauty of frost lies precisely in the fact that it is ephemeral, melting into oblivion only several hours after it is created. Frost deposits form when water vapor turns directly into ice, which happens when the air temperature is at or below freezing. When the first frost crystals form a layer, new crystals will align themselves with those already there, which gives us the amazing natural patterns we see. READ ON: http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/featured/abstract-masterpieces-frost/4336

Two films featured in last week’s herald are playing for a limited time at the VanCity Theatre, check them out!

http://www.viff.org/tixSYS/vifc/filmguide/event.php?EventNumber=1529

http://www.viff.org/tixSYS/vifc/filmguide/event.php?EventNumber=1540

Sea Lion Pups Emerge at Longleat Safari Park

READ ON: http://www.zooborns.com/zooborns/2008/11/sea-lion-pups-emerge-at-longleat-safaripark.html

Holiday Special Gift Giving: By the Numbers •

25 percent: Increase in the trash generated during the holiday season.

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86 percent: TreeHugger readers who say their kids have too much stuff.

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97 percent: Of restaurant gift certificate receivers who say they would like to receive a restaurant gift certificate again.

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83,000,000: Square meters of gift wrap which winds up on the U.K. rubbish heaps after the holiday season.

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$300 million: Dollars spent in the U.S. on mass market women’s bath gift sets.

If you are going to give toys this year, give these:

More News Links Attack of the Sea Slugs!

Check out this insightful short film on Nudibranchs & Sea Pens!

http://www.champwilliams.com/attac k_med_res.html

READ ON: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/11/charity-holidaygift-guide.php

The Indonesian Mimic Octopus (Thaumoctopus mimicus) can impersonate sea snakes, lionfish, flatfish - and in normal form it looks pretty weird, too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8oQB Yw6xxc

Library News New Books & CD’s • Arctic & Antarctic (1995) an Eyewitness Book by Barbara Taylor • Carnivores of British Columbia (2008) David F. Hatler • Collaborative leadership: how Citizens and Leaders Can Make a Difference (1994) by D. Chrislip • Concise Atlas of the World (2008) Reference Book available for in-library use only • Don’t Shoot the Dog: the New Art of Teaching and Trainging (1984) by Karen Pryor • For Love of Insects (2003) by Thomas Eisner • Forces for Good: the Six Practices of High-Impact Nonprofits (2008) by Crutchfield and Grant • Insect (1990) an Eyewitness Book by Lawrence Mound • Insect Clip art on CD Rom – Can be used for education projects. • Managing a Nonprofit Organization in the Twenty-First Century (1999) by Thomas Wolf • Managing the Nonprofit Organization: Principles and Practices (1990) by Peter F. Drucker • Nudibrach Behavior (2005) David Behrens • Ocean: an Illustrated Atlas (2008) – Reference Book available for in-library use only • Svalbard and Life in Polar Oceans (2004) – Gulliksen and Svensen • The Dominant Animal: Human Evolution and the Environment (2008) by Paul R. Ehrlich • The Empty Ocean (2003) by Richard Ellis • The End of the Line: How Overfishing is Changing the World and What We Eat (2008) by Charles Clover • The Fifth discipline: the Art and Practice of the Learning Organization (2006), by P. Senge • The Leadership Challenge (2007) by Kouzes and Posner

New DVDs: • Arctic & Antarctic (2004) an Eyewitness DVD by Barbara Taylor • Insect (2006) an Eyewitness DVD by Lawrence Mound • Microcosmos: It’s Jurassic Park in Your Own Backyard! (2005) • Life in the Undergrowth Hosted by David Attenborough (2006)

Archival Photo

Guide holding starfish at touch pool, circa 1967.

A message From Human Resources:

Green Team

Events ‘Stuff the Bus’ – Blanket and Jacket Charity Drive! Looking for an easy way to make a difference this holiday season? The Aquarium is partnering with Landsea Tours on their ‘Stuff the Bus’ charity drive. They are taking all of the seats out of one of their 24-passenger buses, and aiming to “Stuff the Bus” to the ceiling with blankets and warm clothing for the homeless. The th bus will be parked at the Aquarium on Sun, Dec 7 to load up donated blankets and jackets (from staff, volunteers and visitors).

How can you help? It’s simple. Just drop off your extra blankets and jackets in the ‘flex room’ beside reception, anytime from Thurs, Dec 4 to Sat, Dec 6. th

I will be on-site (along with anyone who would like to help!) on Sun the 7 to load everything into the bus. All blankets and warm clothing will be donated to the St. James Community Service Society. Please contact Kristi Wilson with any questions you might have. Thank you for your support of this very worthwhile initiative!

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Join POST and the Census of Marine Life in a sneak peek at absolutely AMAZING footage from Jacques Perrin's (Winged Migration, Microcosmos) upcoming theatrical release, Oceans. Be completely amazed, engaged and inspired in the Goldcorp Theatre at 12:00pm sharp on Thursday, December 11. All staff and volunteers are welcome (no guests, please) to join in this very special opportunity to see the spectacular and astounding preview footage. Don't miss it!

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For Sale Is your friend is as playful as a sea otter? Does your brother roar like a Steller's sea lion? Can your sister be as graceful as a sea turtle? Are you as energetic as a Pacific white- sided dolphin?

Well... This is your chance to compare them in closer quarters! Get them (or yourself!) an Animal Encounter gift certificate!! For a limited-time only, the Aquarium is offering a discount on Animal Encounter gift certificates for staff, volunteers and members. Encounters are truly amazing experiences that take participants behind-the-scenes to feed a sea otter, visit a Steller's sea lion, get up close and personal with a sea turtle or touch and get splashy with a Pacific white- sided dolphin! They are all fun and unique gifts for friends and family and are a great way to show off where you work! th

December 8 to the 21st, staff, volunteers and members will receive an additional 10% off the regular staff discount, for a total of 30% off Dolphin, Sea Lion, Sea Turtle and Sea Otter Encounters. Animal Encounters are affordable! Prices: Adult Dolphin Encounter $136.50 ($195 regular)

Adult & Child $189 ($270 regular)

Additional Child n/a

Steller Sea Lion Encounter*

$24.50 ($35 regular)

$35 ($50 regular)

$10.50 ($15 regular)

Sea Turtle Encounter*

$24.50 ($35 regular)

$35 ($50 regular)

$10.50 ($15 regular)

Sea Otter Trainer Tour*

$17.50 ($25 regular)

$28 ($40 regular)

$10.50 ($15 regular)

Child prices apply to kids from 8 to 12. Children must be accompanied by a paying adult. *Animal Encounter prices do not include Aquarium admission. One adult may bring up to 5 children. Purchase your gift certificates on-site at the Admissions desk or from Bookings. For more information on all of our Animal Encounters, visit www.vanaqua.org.