HUMPBACK WHALE SAVES SCIENTIST The Heroes of the Sea
In the movie “Cast Away,” we see a whale notifying Chuck Noland of a nearby ship. The whale continuously sprays him with water to get his attention. Although this is a fictional story, what happened in “Cast Away” isn’t just movie magic. There are real-life stories about whales helping people in need. In 2018, a marine biologist, Nan Hauser, was swimming in the waters off the Cook Islands when she noticed a 50,000-pound humpback whale near her. For 10 minutes, Hauser swam around the whale while it nudged her with its head, bumped her with its belly, and
on putting me on his head, belly, or back, and most of all, trying to tuck me under his huge pectoral fin … I was sure that it was most likely going to be a deadly encounter.” Hauser didn’t know the whale wanted to protect her until she returned to her team’s research vessel. This is when she noticed the tiger shark creeping nearby. This isn’t the first time a humpback whale has intervened to help another creature. In fact, the humpback’s altruism has been well- documented over the years to show how they benefit other species at their own cost. In 2009, Robert Pitman took a photo of a humpback cradling a seal while rolling out of the water. The whale had protected the seal from a group of killer whales. Pitman, a marine biologist, has analyzed 115 interactions with humpback whales and concluded that they will travel long distances in order to prevent killer whales from attacking, regardless of what type of animal the killer whale is pursuing. Whether this behavior is out of instinct, accident, or altruism, they have saved the lives of many aquatic animals and people. They are the heroes of the sea!
swiped at her with its fins. At first, Hauser thought the whale was trying to attack her. But actually, it protected her from a 15-foot-long tiger shark on the other side of the whale.
Hauser told the Daily Mirror, “I’ve spent 28 years underwater with whales and have never had a whale so tactile and so insistent
Here’s How to Avoid a Red-Light Ticket
Did you know there are at least eight camera-enforced red lights set up in Bakersfield? You could be traveling along at 55 mph on Truxton Avenue, but when you come up to Coffee Road, you’d better watch the light, because at that intersection, you could get a camera-enforced red-light ticket if you’re not paying attention. According to Caltrans and the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, commonly referred to as the Traffic Signal Operations Manual, the transition from yellow to red or the “yellow change interval” on a road where the speed limit is 55 mph is 5.5 seconds from yellow to red. If you are in the intersection when the light turns red, the camera will flash, and you will be photographed. There will also be a video that captures your actions so a law enforcement officer can verify any violations before sending the ticket to you. There are several reasons red-light tickets sometimes get dismissed. The government has the burden to prove that you were the one driving. To do so, the officer will compare the
photo taken by the enforcement camera and compare it to your driver’s license photo on record with the state. Or, they can compare it to you in court. If you aren’t proven to be the driver, the case will be dismissed. As in every case, you are “innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.” Just because it is only a traffic violation does not change your constitutional rights. You should always consult at attorney before you decide to pay the fine and essentially admit guilt. Whether you decided to hire an attorney or handle the matter yourself, remember that it is never a good idea to ignore a traffic ticket. If you don’t resolve the ticket in time, the court will put a hold on your license, and the DMV will ultimately suspend your license for ignoring the ticket.
If you aren’t sure what to do, give us a call at (661) 859-1177 for a free consultation.
2 | www.bakersfieldtraffictickets.com
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