Life In The Weeds

Killer Whale, Back to Work

Remember the killer whale, Tilicum, that dragged a trainer to her death at Sea World Orlando in February, 2010?

Well, this 22-foot long Orca is back to work!

Let me remind you that this whale was also involved in the death of a trainer at a British Columbia aquarium in 1991 and a homeless man who sneaked into SeaWorld Orlando's killer-whale complex after hours in 1999.  I guess this would be the "safest" time to work with Tilicum, based on his track record.

I certainly would not want to be the trainer working with Tilicum in, say, 2018...

Interestingly, the best result from this tragic death is the creation/invention of fast-rising, false-bottom floors in its killer-whale pools. These floors will be capable of lifting whales and trainers out of the water in less than a minute.

Brilliant!

mj

Was it worth it, Mr. Wright?

41 years ago, George Wright was sitting in a prison cell, eight years into a 15-30 year prison term.  He was convicted of murdering a gas station attendant in Wall, NJ.  After already serving 8 years, you think George may have been feeling "up"...potentially half way through his sentence...hoping for a shot at release.  Clearly, his head was in a different place because he and three other prisoners escaped from a New Jersey prison on the evening of 8/19/70.

But, old George, was not finished with his criminal ways....two years later, he hijacked a dam plan...collected a million bucks for the passengers release and flew to Algeria seeking asylum.

Then, poof...George pulled a houdini act.

For almost 40 years, George was living a simple life in a small Portugese hamlet. Married with two grown children.

Yesterday, the law finally caught up with George and he was taken into custody.  At 68, his life is over. He'll be hauled back to the US and serve the remainder of his sentence...not to mention, I would think there may be additional penalties that he'll face...like for hijacking a plane and escaping from prison.

Question is...was it worth the freedom?  Even if he served the full 30 years...he would have been a free man at 50.  Plenty of time to have a full life without having to look over his shoulder every day, wondering when or if he would hear that dreadful knock at the front door.

I wonder if George told his wife?  His kids?  

Hindsight is 20-20...or in this case, 15 to life!!

mj