Maddie Cranston
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Barracuda: a song, a car or a fish?

1/31/2014

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Today I gave a speech in French at my school about Barracudas. While some people think about them as cool cars from the 1970s, they are also very cool fish.

I usually speak about sharks and how misunderstood they are, but they aren't the only fish in the sea that are feared by humans. Barracudas have a nasty reputation. They can grow up to 6 feet and can weigh up to 50 kilograms. They like to eat Mackerel, Jacks, Grunts, and even Dolphins. 

The species of Barracuda that could be considered most dangerous is called the Great Barracuda because they are the largest and most abundant.  They are found from the border of the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea and also found in the Caribbean. Attacks on people are most likely caused by the Barracuda's poor vision. They mistake sparkly jewelry and cameras for shimmery fish.

Here are some facts about the Barracuda:
They are torpedo-shaped fish with sharp teeth and some call them the tiger of the sea. The are really great swimmers and they can make fast turns! The can swim in narrow, twisty places and can inflate and deflate their swim bladder, which allows them to rise up  or lower down in the water. Amazing!

They don't have many enemies and they can hang motionless and wait for their victim to swim by. They are super fast and have knifelike teeth that can munch on their prey easily.

People eat Barracuda as 'steak' and in West Africa, people smoke them and eat them in soups and sauces. We better keep our eyes open and protect the Barracuda so that they last for generations to come.

Why is the Barracuda so popular? There is a car named after it and a song by Heart. I had no idea about either, just the fish, until my mom started singing the song every time I spoke the word, "Barracuda".

I guess it is a really cool looking fish and enough so to have a car and a song named after it! 


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Barracuda
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Count Me In Winnipeg Here I Come! Feb. 24 Centennial Concert Hall

1/19/2014

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PictureMaddie & Scott, April 2013 - Toronto CMI Conf.
I am so excited to be presenting at the first ever Count Me In Conference in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It is being held on February 24 at the Centennial Concert Hall. There are amazingly talented speakers lined up for this event including my very dear friend, Scott Hammell. He is "paid to breathe" and is a four time Guinness World Record Holder. He is one of the nicest people I know and has a great message to share with everyone.


I'm really thankful to the founder of Count Me In, Shane Feldman for inviting me to present at this event. Kids like Shane remind us that we're only limited by the size of our dreams and that we can make a difference if we believe in ourselves and we tell someone about our dream. When we do this, it is really cool how people want to help!


As an ambassador for AfriOceans Conservation Alliance, I spend a lot of time thinking about ways to help save our oceans and our planet. There are lots of little things you can do every day that don't take much time or effort at all, but these little things add up. If we all believe our efforts can help, we'll be amazed by the positive difference we'll make for each other and for our world.


Please follow me on Twitter @sharkwarriorjr for water saving tips, shark awareness info and cool facts about our planet.

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2014 is a good time to start being Earth smart!

1/7/2014

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Now that 2014 has arrived, many people think about having new year's resolutions. I think it is a great time to think about resolutions that help save, conserve and protect our planet and our oceans.

Here are some tips to get your new year started in great direction:

  1. Set a programmable thermostat. We have one in our house called "Nest". After all, saving energy is a beautiful thing! A programmable thermostat will adjust the temperature in your home based on when you are there and when you away. Little changes can make the biggest difference. Even turning down two degrees in winter and keep almost 880 pounds of carbon dioxide from warming the earth.
  2. Do you need to wash it? Washing machines use about 40 gallons of water for one load. If what you wore today isn't dirty or smelly, maybe it can be worn again. Not everything needs to go in the wash right away. 
  3. Use a laptop rather than a desktop computer. Did you know that a laptop uses about half the energy of a desktop. They are lighter and easier to carry and they save energy. All good things!
  4. Turn off the tap. This is one tip that I often remind my family to do. Did you know that the average faucet uses about three gallons of water a minute. Please shut it off while you brush your teeth or shave.
  5. Choose the right appliance in the kitchen. Did you know that electric kettles use less energy than stovetop ones or that a toaster oven uses almost half the energy of an electric oven. That is a lot of energy for such a small appliance. We cook with a crock pot regularly because it makes food like soups and stews and it uses much less electricity than a stove. 

Don't overwhelm yourself with your resolutions. Even if you just pick one and can stick to it, you'll make a difference in saving energy and that is awesome for our planet.

Happy New Year!

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    Picture
    Maddie Cranston,
    --Ocean Warrior
    "We never know the worth of water till the well is dry."  ~Thomas Fuller, Gnomologia, 1732

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