This is cool! Way to go bro! The story is taken from Christopher Newport University’s website:

Dr. Rick Sherwin, assistant professor of biology at Christopher Newport University, may be the new host of Animal Planet’s developing television show “Sacred Beasts”.

In January, Sherwin was contacted by the show’s creators from Ping Pong Productions who expressed interest in casting him as the host of their new television project. Having little experience in hosting or acting in general, Sherwin was thoroughly surprised with the offer.

“I’ve never had any real aspiration to work in front of cameras. Most of the work I do is usually behind the scene research,” said Sherwin.

The people at Ping Pong Productions did a little research of their own and after an extensive review saw Sherwin as a good fit for the job.

“We wanted an expert, not so much a TV personality, but a scientist/biologist/adventurer type to carry the show and bring some scientific credibility to the project.” said Ping Pong Production employee, Rob Stiles.

A perfect match to this criteria, Sherwin stands out from an infinite number of researchers and professors due to his undaunted interests and dedication to his field.

As a conservation biologist, Sherwin emphasizes the importance of learning outside the classroom to all his students and certainly epitomizes this ideal. Whereas most research is conducted in air conditioned labs or on closely monitored territory, Sherwin’s scientific interests have led him to dangerous explorations in 100-year-old abandoned mines.

The research is based around the conservation of the Townsend’s big-eared bats, a species whose survival is contingent upon the adequate management of abandoned mines. Sherwin takes an active role in the preservation of this species by uncovering bat habitats and conducting genetic analysis to see the variations in each mine’s population.

Sherwin has been to many locations including Alaska, Arizona, Idaho and Nevada delving into hazardous mines searching for bats. Most mines are considered real dangers to the public as they may carry live and active blasting caps, toxic gases or unstable structures ready to collapse. Because of these unsafe conditions most mines are closed and sealed. Sherwin’s goal as a bat conservationist is to survey the various mines for bats and recommend the best way to close them using bat-friendly barriers.

“As a conservation biologist, I believe strongly that the needs of wildlife and integrity of natural systems can be maintained, even in the face of burgeoning human populations and encroachment into natural areas,” explained Sherwin.

In 2005, Sherwin’s efforts were documented as part of a segment for the show “Science Out There” produced by Rich Blundell, founder of Omniscopic Productions.

It was this footage of Sherwin’s Northern Idaho expedition that caught the attention of the Los Angeles based Ping Pong Production company in considering a host for “Sacred Beasts.”

The production designed for Animal Planet which interweaves science and anthropology, will focus on the cultural significance of animals in various societies. “Sacred Beasts takes an in depth look into societies, cultures, cults and festivals that celebrate animals around the world,” said Stiles. “Today, some of the most extraordinary festivals and religious ceremonies are evidence of just how close the relationship is between man and beast. This show will tell the stories of their religious, cultural or spiritual fears which keep man and beast in reverse power to this day.”

Although there are a few details left in the decision making process, such as seeing how Sherwin translates on camera, excitement is apparent among students and faculty alike.

“Education outside of the classroom can best be achieved through involvement outside of academia, in more wide reaching forums such as the media and popular literature,” said Sherwin. Surely this oppurtunity will allow for a broad application of science, one that will spark interest among the public and the CNU community.

Wow! The past has a way of catching up with you! When I was a boy, about 9 years old, living in Kelowna British Columbia, I was involved in one of the most credible sitings of the Okanagan lake monster, the Ogopogo.

Really. Not only did my dad, myself, and my friends Paul and Mark Hasagawa see it, but within that hour a ski boat full of people also saw it in the same vicinity of the lake. OK, so now you think I’m completely lying or nuts, but just for fun, watch this clip from an old version of “In Search Of” with Leonard Nemoy.

My dad is the first person to speak:

Two great letters about the Olympics, one from my dad and the other from NBC anchorman Brian Williams.

My mom and dad, bro-in law Steve, and nephew Jacob at Olympics

My mom and dad live in the Vancouver area, here’s what my dad had to say:

We had a great Olympic experience, We took the Westcoast express in 3 times, we milled around with people of Good Will from around the World, it was a fun party, we didn’t want it to end.

The security measures were there but mostly out of sight, the police were appreciated by all, the blue jacketed volunteers were a treasure, they came from every where, Stratford on Avon, Missouri, New York, Oklahoma City, and on and on. Vancouver was at it’s loveliest, The World’s media had a hard time finding fault so they made stuff up, it was the greatest Winter games ever and to top it off The final Hockey game, USA v CANADA, had to go to overtime. There were no losers at these games.

Brian Williams, anchor and managing editor

After tonight’s broadcast and after looting our hotel mini-bars, we’re going to try to brave the blizzard and fly east to home and hearth, and to do laundry well into next week. Before we leave this thoroughly polite country, the polite thing to do is leave behind a thank-you note.

Thank you, Canada:

For being such good hosts.

For your unfailing courtesy.

For your (mostly) beautiful weather.

For scheduling no more than 60 percent of your float plane departures at the exact moment when I was trying to say something on television.

For not seeming to mind the occasional (or constant) good-natured mimicry of your accents.

For your unique TV commercials — for companies like Tim Hortons — which made us laugh and cry.

For securing this massive event without choking security, and without publicly displaying a single automatic weapon.

For having the best garment design and logo-wear of the games — you’ve made wearing your name a cool thing to do.

For the sportsmanship we saw most of your athletes display.

For not honking your horns. I didn’t hear one car horn in 15 days — which also means none of my fellow New Yorkers rented cars while visiting.

For making us aware of how many of you have been watching NBC all these years.

For having the good taste to have an anchorman named Brian Williams on your CTV network, who turns out to be such a nice guy.

For the body scans at the airport which make pat-downs and cavity searches unnecessary.

For designing those really cool LED Olympic rings in the harbor, which turned to gold when your athletes won one.

For always saying nice things about the United States…when you know we’re listening.

For sharing Joannie Rochette with us.

For reminding some of us we used to be a more civil society.

End of quote.

Makes me proud to be a Canuck. And yes, when Canada beat the US in hockey, I was rooting for Canada. I know, been here 18 years (in the US) but the Maple Leaf runs deep!

My wife was tucking in our 8 year old boy tonight, and as she left he says, “Mom, it looks like your butts growing.”

“What!” says she. “Your butt, it’s glowing.” He says. She looks and realizes she had just stuck her cell phone in her back pocket and the screen was shining through.

It’s a good thing, because I really like that little guy, and he was about 5 seconds away from leaving the planet.

Went with my son Tyler and his scout troop to Soldier Hollow, site of the 2002 Winter Olympics, made this video using the Flip “Magic Video” option:

Jim Rohn says, “A life worth living is worth recording.” I think it’s the most powerful quote on journal keeping that’s ever been said. Of course, it’s impossible for me to know that, as I haven’t read every quote on journal keeping, but I’ll stick to my guns until I see something better.

I have been a sporadic and undisciplined “journaler” (is that a word?) but in 43 years I have managed to fill the 11 volumes you see in the picture above.

I often only write once a week. At the end of each year I usually do a recap, writing about all the highs and lows, accomplishments and misses, and whatever else I feel like. I also set yearly goals, then, between Christmas and New Years, I review my old journals and see how well I did on my goals. This has become a valuable experience. Sometimes I laugh as I look back on what seemed so important, and now isn’t. Or goals I set that I totally missed, or even forgot about. Other times I have a great feeling of satisfaction as I review goals I hit, especially if they were hard.

In the picture above, the journals are piled in order of age, from oldest on the bottom, to newest on top. Unfortunately, some of the older journals are of low quality construction, so I don’t know how well they’ll keep over the years. The top 3 are high quality leather bound journals with archive quality paper. I expect them to last several generations. Whether my posterity can read my writing or not is another question! But I will continue to buy that same type of journal from now on and forever.

Here are the most valuable lessons I have learned about journaling:

-Buy a high quality journal that’s built to last. $25 may see like a lot of money for a book with no writing in it, but if it captures two years of your life and lasts forever, it’s worth it.

-Choose a size that’s convenient to take with you. If you don’t have it with you, you don’t write in it.

-Thoughts, impressions, and relationships are much more valuable than chronological details. Some of my old journals are flat out boring.

-Important names, places, and details are easier to find later if written in ALL CAPS.

-Be yourself. If you can’t be who you are in your own journal, get professional help.

-Write legibly!

-Once a year, interview your kids, and write notes in your journal. Here’s the questions I ask:
1. Who are your friends?
2. What do you like to do?
3. What are your favorite things? (possessions)
4. How much money do you have in your savings account?
5. What do you like most about our family?
6. How are things spiritually?
7. How is school going?
8. What else is going on in your life?

I have all of these discussions recorded in my journals. They love to hear about last years interview, and are often surprised at things they said, who their friends were, etc.

So there you have it. Thoughts and ideas on journal keeping. Hopefully you’ll pick up a nugget or two that will inspire you to do a better job of recording your life!

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