Ironically, some of the creatures native to that environment made Chase pay dearly for his 25-mile traverse across fabled Monterey Bay."I'm, like, 'Come on guys, I'm trying to help here,' " he said of a massive swarm of jellyfish that rose to the surface and threatened to thwart his epic odyssey.
Chase was first stung about an hour into a swim that began in his hometown Santa Cruz before dawn. The jellies became more dense and the stings more frequent, so a determined Chase donned a wetsuit handed to him by those aboard an escort boat.
But that only protected his torso, arms and legs. "I got stung on my tongue, inside my mouth, on my neck and my feet and hands," he said during an interview Wednesday morning, while parts of his body still itched and contained welts. "After the sun came up I did not take a single stroke in which I did not at least see a jellyfish."
Chase, 44, who scheduled the event earlier than he would have liked to help kick off this week's Blue Ocean Film Festival, became only the second person to have completed the swim across Monterey Bay.
[Related video: Surfer films great white sharks circling board]
Cindy Cleveland, a Southern California lifeguard, remains the only swimmer to have accomplished the feat without wearing a wetsuit: the manner by which long-distance swimmers prefer. But Cleveland did not experience a jellyfish swarm of the magnitude Chase endured, as his wife and two sisters watched from the escort vessel while cringing as Chase slogged through the gooey, tentacled creatures.
Since 1983, several people have tried -- and failed -- to repeat Cleveland's feat. Jellyfish foiled Chase's first attempt last year, nine miles into his swim.
Patti Bauernfiend of Northern California tried last week, without a wetsuit, and made it halfway before jellyfish stings forced her out of the water.Chase, an endurance swimmer who has swum the length of Lake Tahoe and tried or attempted numerous other "adventure swims," put on the wetsuit reluctantly after his wife, Michelle Evans-Chase, told him he would not make it without one.
"We had a bigger mission in doing this, in connecting the two cities and spanning the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary," the swimmer explained. "I would have hated to let pride and ego keep me out of the wetsuit when we had so much potential to reach so many people by swimming across."
As for the jellies, several species abound in Monterey Bay during much of the summer, but they're not always so dense at the surface. During the last mile, Chase felt them oozing through his hands with every stroke and realized "that had I not been in a wetsuit, I would not have been able to physically survive."
-- Photos of Bruckner Chase during and after his marathon swim courtesy of his sister, Babs Chase
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36 Comments
1-20 of 36
Posted by abdul aasar August 25, 2010 05:05pm PDTReply | Report Abuse
EPIC
Reply by william francis August 25, 2010 07:25pm PDTReport Abuse
thats why you dont go in the water that early in the am most of the animals are nocturnal thats when the feed
:fool"
Reply by rogers1234 August 25, 2010 08:06pm PDTReport Abuse
William, you are an idiot... How dare you call a man you don't know a fool. Your comment shows just how uneducated you are.
Reply by tr1962 August 25, 2010 09:15pm PDTReport Abuse
Based on the logic of Rogers1234 he must also be an idiot assuming he does not know William. And who is this fool with the advertisement above my comment oops I must be an idiot as well. Let's go swummin'
Reply by nelsonpt22 August 25, 2010 11:27pm PDTReport Abuse
You know what goes great with Jellyfish? Peanut butter.... If he wouldn't covered his hands in PB and two slices of wonder bread, those lil' bastards would've been scared sh*tless!
Reply by heather bates August 26, 2010 07:37am PDTReport Abuse
lmfao wow nelsonpt22 I like your style of thinking :)
Reply by nelsonpt22 August 26, 2010 11:23am PDTReport Abuse
Think of how boring this story would have been if he merely swam through only water.... The fact that he was a d*ck bump enough to continue on through life or limb braving the jellyfish infested wastelands makes me REALLY want to know more about his cause! On second though, I just saw on the yahoo homepage that Heidi Montag is unhappy with her new boobs! I'm off to REAL news!!!!
Reply by memphis alizay August 26, 2010 03:00pm PDTReport Abuse
Yep, because he is BRAVE for swimming through Jellyfish infested waters and risking life and limb for a cause that he could have just waited until the next day to do.
"The line that separates Stupidity and Bravery is Necessity. A Fool risks life and limb, a Brave Man risks life and limb when there is no other options."
Posted by very old guy August 25, 2010 05:22pm PDTReply | Report Abuse
Nothing ironic here. We have overfished, warmed the environment and and fouled the waters, driving more complex species, including most vertebrates, toward extinction. It is not at all surpising that simple creatures like jelly fish multiply unchecked. They have simple needs that can be met in a gigantic toilet bowl. Mr. Chase called attention to something truly important. The only question is whether we are paying attention.
Reply by anthony alessi August 25, 2010 06:23pm PDTReport Abuse
Thats an extremely valid and lucid argument. Its a shame though, that the answer to your question is a resounding no...
Reply by alan bonness August 25, 2010 07:50pm PDTReport Abuse
you got it wrong invertebrates and simple life forms are the first to be affected by environmental changes. they are the most fragile and are what most scientists look at to determine the effects of environmental change. and jelly fish swarms are not an uncommon thing and never have been. do some research before you try and sound smart it might help you .
Reply by justcommonsense August 26, 2010 04:59am PDTReport Abuse
Hey "very old guy" or maybe I should say "very hypocritical stupid guy", when you say 'we", who the heck are you talking about. Do you know what everyone in the world is doing to effect the world, and I guess you have never eaten anything from the ocean, and you have never used electricity (I guess you are on a bicycle generating electricity for your computer right now), and you have never driven a car, or riden in anything that used the internal combustion engine.
Yes man isn't perfect, but anyone and in america, that gripes about the effects on nature by man are hypocrites. Go why don't you, Al Gore, Pelosi, and Obama go move to a deserted island and fend for yourself. By the way, that wetsuit he was wearing was made from a by product of petroleum.
Reply by jdmimic August 26, 2010 05:51am PDTReport Abuse
Sorry Alan, but you might want to do some research. In this case, jellyfish do indeed multiply in polluted, warmer waters. The higher vertebrates that eat them disappear first. Jellyfish are not all that fragile when it comes to survival in open waters. Due to the overfishing, their predators have declined allowing them to increase in numbers. The same thing happened with sea urchins, which multiplied like crazy when the vertebrates that ate them disappeared. This in turn destroyed the kelp forests, causing further collapse. With the return of the urchin predators, the sea urchins declined, the kelp returned and the area improved.
Reply by jennifer bay August 26, 2010 09:07am PDTReport Abuse
WHOA, justcommonsense...why not breathe for a minute? How in the world you made this into a political issue I'll never know.
I'm sure that the gentleman above was not claiming that he was not a part of the destruction...in fact, I think his question of whether "we" were paying attention proved that. He certainly doesn't sound stupid, but simply making factual statements.
Go take a nap, take a walk, play a game...maybe when you come back to your computer you won't be so apt to spew venom onto a perfect stranger.
Reply by guy noland August 26, 2010 10:20am PDTReport Abuse
Agreed. No irony here. It is coincidence. Jellyfish are not uncommon off our coast. It would have been IRONIC if his swim had somehow damaged the marine environment.
Truth be told, the jellyfish actually HELPED raise awareness on the larger scale. If they hadn't shown up, none of us would have heard about his swim in the first place.
Reply by countryfydgirl August 26, 2010 12:47pm PDTReport Abuse
Swimming across the bay does not help the environment. However, the attention generated from this man swimming across the bay could possibly raise awareness as he will be interviewed and asked there purpose of his swim. Along with raising awareness, I am sure Chase's decision to continue on was due to a personal goal he had set for himself. So, this man completes a this goal, setting an example for not giving up or quiting. He came up with a plan for raising awareness for a cause he believes in, setting an example that actions speak louder than words. On top of that he does what only one other person has ever done before, and I'm giving him a pass on the wetsuit, showing that everything is possible. So many wonderful points that could have been point out in these posts, but I can see where other things were more important. Grammar, debates on whether or not to use retard to describe others, and religion, war, y'all are absolutely right, that is much more interesting than the subject of this article. Sadly, I guess very old guy has his answer, not many are paying attention.
Posted by auclady August 25, 2010 05:32pm PDTReply | Report Abuse
SWUM??? Where pray chance did you learn English?
Reply by yetisaurus August 25, 2010 05:52pm PDTReport Abuse
Swum is a past participle of the irregular verb "swim." With the verb "has" before it, it's in the present perfect tense.
Reply by swumisaword August 25, 2010 06:00pm PDTReport Abuse
Swim, Swam, Swum........yes, it's a real word. Where'd you go to school???
Reply by melimel August 25, 2010 06:04pm PDTReport Abuse
Has swum is, in fact, the correct conjugation of the word. Probably sounds funny because most people don't do it correctly. But the author of the article got it right.
Reply by cnorman August 25, 2010 06:05pm PDTReport Abuse
Auclady is retarded, and obviously her inability to recognize proper grammar has been an issue her whole life...check your facts before criticizing someone's article.
Reply by brent n August 25, 2010 06:08pm PDTReport Abuse
swum (swm) KEY
VERB:
Past participle of swim.
Source: http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/swum
Might want to ease up on the grammatical critique. I'm surprised, though, that someone who would use "pray chance" would not know that "swum" is a proper term.
Reply by cassandra reid August 25, 2010 06:10pm PDTReport Abuse
LOL....
Reply by stoopidpeople August 25, 2010 06:24pm PDTReport Abuse
set her straight yall. hope she aint no english teacher- bet this comment will really set her off
Reply by dustin peterson August 25, 2010 07:24pm PDTReport Abuse
The only people that use "pray chance" are those that don't really know what they're talking about but are trying really really hard to sound smart.
Reply by mdbeau August 26, 2010 04:59am PDTReport Abuse
Cnorman, please refrain from calling people r*tarded. As a mother of a child with a cognitive delay it really is offensive. You could have simply said "Auclady must not know all the English rules." or something like that. Name calling is unnecessary.
Reply by imjustsayin August 26, 2010 05:58am PDTReport Abuse
OMG, are you kidding? retarded: verb (used with object)
1. to make slow; delay the development or progress of (an action, process, etc.); hinder or impede. -- To call someone retarded is just pointing out they are slow or developmentally impeded. It doesn't necessarily have to insult your cognitive-challenged child. Jeez -- lay off the PC retardedness.... there are real things in the world to be offended by...
Reply by altizar August 26, 2010 06:01am PDTReport Abuse
Cognitive delay? Is that the way you call some one retarded in the same fashion you call a trashman an environmental engineer??
Reply by stoopidpeople August 26, 2010 06:17am PDTReport Abuse
imjustsayin- Well done, my friend
Reply by mdbeau August 26, 2010 06:34am PDTReport Abuse
Thanks for sharing the definition, but I know what the dictionary and medical definition of the word means.
However, society does not mean it that way when it's casually thrown around. "I'm so retarded, that's so retarded, you're so retarded" and all variations of those phrases have come to mean 'stupid, dumb, ugly, ridiculous etc' It's meant as a way to demean and put down and be negative.
This is a REAL thing to be offended by. It's real in my world, it's real in my child's world. I have to be her advocate. If you had someone close to you that had a mental disability you would understand this. Until you walk in our shoes you won't understand, and that's unfortunate.
Yes, altizar, my child's development delay would put her in the category of mental retardation. Grow up.
Reply by taintedlove August 26, 2010 08:29am PDTReport Abuse
Oh good God mdbeau! I think you are the one who needs to grow up. I am sure before you had your child you used the word retarded . Get off your high horse! It isn't that serious. Oh and in regards to you saying "if you had someone close to you with a mental disability you would understand this"... guess again sweetheart. I have a few family members that have various disabilities. The difference is YOU choose to let what people say get to you, I do not. A word is a word and has no power unless YOU allow it to.
By the way, it could just be me BUT I have NEVER heard of or had anyone around me use the words retard or retarded to refer to someone being ugly. Maybe deep down somewhere along the line (before your child) thats how you viewed those with disabilities, and thats why you feel the need to be so judgmental now? Maybe because of your own guilt? Just saying!
How does it feel to have a word you used nit picked and torn apart? Make you mad, upset, etc? If so good! Now you know how it feels and should put yourself in other peoples shoes before you judge them and try to tell them how THEY should speak.
Reply by babyd August 26, 2010 08:41am PDTReport Abuse
mdbeau-I'm sure your child wouldn't be as offended as you are by the word "retarded". Be strong for her and show that words don't bother you and shouldn't bother her either. Most people when saying retarded aren't trying to be hurtful to people with actual development issues. You need to get some thick skin and teach her "sticks and stones....". People like you bug me. Instead of being her advocate and teaching her to be strong and embrace who she is, you are constantly pointing out her "cognitive delay" every chance you get which will more than likely make her just as weak as you are when having to deal in the real world. I have come across many people with developmental delays and they would much rather be treated like every other person, than having people wait on them all day long for the rest of their lives. I hope she finds someone in her life who will teach her to be a strong woman who will take all negativity and use it to succeed in life.
Reply by yetisaurus August 26, 2010 09:33am PDTReport Abuse
OK, seriously? All of the righteous indignation in these posts is making me nauseous. Yes, auclady was incorrect, and she was snooty about it, which made it worse. But continually flogging her in the same fashion makes you just as bad. Time to let it go. And then to gang up on the poster with a disabled child? A little sensitivity wouldn't kill you. Time to take a Xanax or drink a scotch or something, instead of wasting energy fighting battles that aren't worth fighting. Sheesh.
Reply by bigdik August 26, 2010 09:37am PDTReport Abuse
Hey it's not like the kid knows someone is calling her a retard. it's like yelling obscenities at the deaf, or making faces as you talk with the blind. It is something we all do because it is fun. If we can't laugh at retards or midgets what kind of world is this?
Reply by yetisaurus August 26, 2010 09:51am PDTReport Abuse
bigdik, I'm going to assume you have a really good sense of humor and you're just being sarcastic. And I hope to hell that's true. :)
Reply by cccc August 26, 2010 10:48am PDTReport Abuse
i think bigdik is just making an analogy of how it is not ok to just use derogatory names for conditions that pple cant help having...you are all retarded if you think it is ok...did i offend you by calling you that...if you say no, ya, maybe not on the computer, but what if it was to your face and in a nasty voice. and you think that a child should not be offended. ya, you are right a child should just get used to the word that defines them as being casually used in derogatory manners...and his mother for that matter. what a moran she must be for caring for her child's feelings...better to learn the disappointment of humanity at an early age.
Reply by cccc August 26, 2010 10:49am PDTReport Abuse
and bigdik if i am putting "words in your mouth" sorry...oh and no pun intended....
Reply by cccc August 26, 2010 10:51am PDTReport Abuse
and for pple like yetisaurus who doesn't understand sarcasm....my whole last sentence is, well, sarcastic
Reply by babyd August 26, 2010 10:59am PDTReport Abuse
i dont think anyone is bashing her for caring for her child's feelings, but more that the reality is, there are a lot of cruel people who say mean nasty things and if you are to be hurt and take personally every word that someone says, you are in for a very miserable life. yes, it is sad that people aren't careful about what they say, but what kind of message is it sending to her little girl if she takes offense to everything that people say around her? it will only make her child hate others and become a hermit instead of learning that yeah, there are douchebags out there, but I'm going to go on with my life, live it happily, and be proud of who i am and what i have accomplished even with this "disability". i hear more "woe is me" and i dont think anyone should pass that kind of message along to any child, disabled or not. i dont let rude comments to me ruin my life. i have an understanding that there are cruel, ignorant people out there and i'm not going to waste my time dwelling on offensive words people say. it's life. it's not fair, but it's life.
Reply by yetisaurus August 26, 2010 11:14am PDTReport Abuse
@cccc: **facepalm**
*people, *yeah, *in a derogatory manner, *moron. And I did pick up on the fact that it was most likely sarcastic, which is why I responded that way.
Reply by cccc August 26, 2010 11:15am PDTReport Abuse
babyd read tainted love response again...that person IS bashing her...let me quote..."Oh my god mdbeau! I think you are the one who needs to grow up. I am sure before you had your child you used that word. Get off your high horse, it isn't that serious" but ya, maybe you are right...the pple sticking up for such a derogatory no big deal...let us teach the CHILD to be strong...do they have a choice? so it is ok for them to learn such an unfair lesson of life...
i think when the mother sticks up for her child as they grow older THAT teaches them to be strong...and if the parent doesn't stick up for them, it shows that child, to not have a voice about what is offensive to them...i don't care if my child had problems of that sort or anything else that "normal" children deal with it is all the same. i am sure if anyone here has a child that is being bullied at school they will be down at the office in 2 seconds to see what is going on or should we just say that is a part of life and they must learn to deal with it????
Reply by nelsonpt22 August 26, 2010 11:16am PDTReport Abuse
I like retards, and I like jellyfish. The End.
Reply by cccc August 26, 2010 11:19am PDTReport Abuse
yetisaurus...sarcasm works best when you don't pt it out...i am sure that if bigdik is big enough than pple who take his words wrong, HE/SHE can explain the situation...
Reply by cccc August 26, 2010 11:20am PDTReport Abuse
hey my whisper part to yetisaurus got deleted and censored lol pahahahahahaahahah
Reply by babyd August 26, 2010 11:28am PDTReport Abuse
well, assuming that the girl IS little, than she probably doesn't notice people around her simply saying the word "retarded" or understand the meaning of it, unless the mom told her when people say retard they are speaking of her, which in my opinion, is wrong.
Being bullied at school is a little different than overhearing people say the word retarded. everyone should feel safe when sending their kids off to school. but if you're out in public or your kid hapens to read the derogatory word it's not personal. i don't think it's right, i have never ever called someone a retard who actually has disabilities, but will admit to saying it casually to a friend. i am one of those people who watches what i say and who's around before i speak. i even yell at my boyfriend for cussing when children are around. i'm not saying for her to completely ignore it. it's okay to tell her girl, it isn't right and you are fine to stand up for yourself, IF someone were saying it directly to her, but to get defensive of people casually saying the word "retarded" is a little dramatic. of course i would never let my child think it's okay for someone to be calling her a retard, but at what point do you tell them to ignore it? people are who they are and yes at some point you have to just deal with it. my main point is, some people are ignorant and you cant change them, so instead of being hateful to people who are rude, move on with your life, take the high road, and show them you are better than that. people get their feelings hurt way to easily these days. BTW, SHE is the one taking offense to the word that wasnt even in reference to her daughter. no one called her daughter a retard, so why the offense?
Reply by cccc August 26, 2010 11:34am PDTReport Abuse
i actually agree with that statement and you sound more tolerant...just remember she is a mother and unless you've been there you will know what i mean...if you don't have kids yet, the mother bear that you've never know before lingers in there...and i feel that derogatory statements are bullying and it doesn't matter if pple hear it or not it is still hurtful. just because so and so said without you hearing that you are a #@*!!! doesn't mean that it is ok or that somehow it won't get back to you and be hurtful and a bit embarrassing because well how many pple did she tell that too... and if you are older that 25 i shouldn't have to explain all this you should be mature enough to understand
Reply by heather123 August 26, 2010 11:35am PDTReport Abuse
this is so out of control. i'm pretty sure the woman at the beginning of all of this garbage was referring to the comment, "let's go swummin." yes, swum is a word, but clearly swumming is not!
Reply by cccc August 26, 2010 11:36am PDTReport Abuse
pahahahahahahahah too funny heather...
Reply by derpderpderp August 26, 2010 01:34pm PDTReport Abuse
nigga u gay
Argument over.
Reply by lykz gonzales August 26, 2010 05:43pm PDTReport Abuse
swim, swam, swum... but you forgot the difference between "affect" and "effect"
"Do you know what everyone in the world is doing to "effect" the world, and I guess you have never eaten..."
What's ironic is that you guys are American, and I am not.
Reply by jax881 August 26, 2010 05:51pm PDTReport Abuse
Man I was wondering why it took so long to get anything done in this country! Everyone is on their computers bitching about grammer! GET TO WORK AND DO SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE!
Reply by nelsonpt22 August 26, 2010 07:20pm PDTReport Abuse
Ummmmmm Jax? Uhhhhhhh, yeah.....the word is 'GRAMMAR'. Might want to consider completing that GED buddy......
Reply by taintedlove August 27, 2010 08:15am PDTReport Abuse
@ cccc... Me telling her to grow up was not bashing her. She told the person that originally used the word to grow up after they gave the definition. Like I said I am willing to bet that she has used the word retarded in reference to someone before. EVERYONE at some point in their lives has used a derogatory word to describe someone. Whether the way they are using said word matches its correct meaning or not. Yes it is sad that people say retard, and use it in a manner to hurt someones feeling. But that is life. Regardless of disability, weakness, intelligence, etc., we need to quit worrying about what so and so said. People let words get to them way to easily, and that is no ones fault but their own.
I responded the way I did not because I didn't care about her feelings. But because of the fact that she jumped on what someone said and tried to tell them what they should and shouldn't say. The original person that said it used it in the correct manner, and she still felt the need to to scold them so to speak.
I just re-read her response and I will say I stand corrected on her telling the original poster to grow up. She told someone else to grow up. So for me saying that to her I do apologize. But I still stand by the rest of what I said.
Reply by cccc August 27, 2010 10:00am PDTReport Abuse
great
Reply by jax881 August 27, 2010 05:59pm PDTReport Abuse
Hey Nelson sorry guess that sticker on my computer that says "Spell Check Broken, Watch For Finger" isn't as viewable as I thought.
Reply by nelsonpt22 August 27, 2010 06:32pm PDTReport Abuse
Yooooo, no worries! I'd suggest learning how to formulate a complete sentence using proper pronounciation as well! You'll figure it out lil' buddy!
Reply by mkeller August 28, 2010 07:54am PDTReport Abuse
Oh, and another fun fact (regarding retard, not swum):
Moron, imbecile, and idiot also used to be medical terms describing the mentally challenged, with each word representing a higher level of retardation than the one before. So if you want to take this sensitivity to its logical conclusion, you'll have to eradicate half the English language!
Posted by hockeyguy93940 August 25, 2010 05:44pm PDTReply | Report Abuse
I live in MONTEREY .
You idiots running your mouths trashing this guy for no reason should just shut your hole!!
the water here is COLD.....REEEEAAALLLLLLY COLD!!-- Jellyfish are very dangerous-- Wheles migrate through the bay every day- people get attacked by SHARKS here!!- All of you idiots who trash people for no reason should go back to school, get your GED's, learn how to spell, and get a life you losers!
Reply by slayer666 August 25, 2010 06:15pm PDTReport Abuse
thats right!!
Reply by friz81 August 25, 2010 06:32pm PDTReport Abuse
Maybe the the learning how spell comment was a little over the top considering you can't spell whales.
Reply by klasdude August 25, 2010 07:04pm PDTReport Abuse
Good one friz81. Things like that are why I don't criticize too much on these forums. One type can ruin the point you are making...and I can make typo's.
Reply by nelsonpt22 August 25, 2010 09:55pm PDTReport Abuse
Tell your idiot friends in Monterey to take up GOLF instead ya' d*ck bump!
Reply by andrea shene August 25, 2010 10:39pm PDTReport Abuse
Really people the guy swam across a bay and we the comments are all about well u cant spell or you don't know how to speak english.... geez guys this guy did something only one other person has ever done, and he did it while being attacked by jellyfish... Those who trash him shame shame, and those who fail to see the bigger picture well OMFG get over it. And to those who choose to critique my grammer and mechanical skills off this oh well and yes I started my sentence with a preposition.
Reply by mikey gregory August 25, 2010 11:24pm PDTReport Abuse
Wow I cant believe how lame you sound Andrea....get over yourself, after starting to read your post I had to stop from boredom. so this guy does an amazing feat which is swimming in cold water, not freezing I live here to hockey you idiot. now I don't know about you, but I would call anyone a retard who swims across the bay aware of the jellies, sharks, and whales, and has the audacity to complain. So Mr. Chase, if you feel like accomplishing something, go build a school so we don't have to deal with any more dipsh!ts like yourself!!
Reply by josephharries August 26, 2010 03:53am PDTReport Abuse
Not to nitpick, but the guy didn't really get ATTACKED, per se, by jellyfish. He could have decided to swim around them.
Reply by nelsonpt22 August 26, 2010 11:22am PDTReport Abuse
Think of how boring this story would have been if he merely swam through only water.... The fact that he was a d*ck bump enough to continue on through life or limb braving the jellyfish infested wastelands makes me REALLY want to know more about his cause! On second though, I just saw on the yahoo homepage that Heidi Montag is unhappy with her new boobs! I'm off to REAL news!!!!
Reply by summer rojas August 26, 2010 11:26am PDTReport Abuse
I can't believe what this post has turned into. I totally agree with Andrea Shene. Mikey Gregory This guy swam 25 miles in cold water and was stung multiple times by jelly fish. It said nothing about him complaining about it. What he did was an awesome feat that most cannot do. He did nothing to indicate that he is a dipsh!t in any way, nor did he do anything to justify you saying such harsh things. Your failed attempt at humor is making you look like a dipsh!t.
Posted by thejellyfish August 25, 2010 06:12pm PDTReply | Report Abuse
"Fragile?! We'll show you fragile...oh you were talking about the environment? Well don't we feel stupid." ;)
Posted by h8monday August 25, 2010 07:32pm PDTReply | Report Abuse
Hopefully he didnt pee in the water while crossing,..that of course would be poluting prompting an immediate sierra club backed, decades long closure of the entire bay to all swimmers, while a tax payer funded, predisposed study was brought to its biased conclusion, that humans should never be allowed to enjoy swimming again,...now that would be ironic
Posted by john forsyth August 25, 2010 07:53pm PDTReply | Report Abuse
I hope he puts 2 and 2 together and realizes that the swarm of jellyfish is proof that awareness needs to be raised about the degraded state of coastal marine environments. The jellyfish are proliferating as a result of the loss of their predators.
Posted by wecobugman August 25, 2010 08:15pm PDTReply | Report Abuse
I'm from the Monterey Bay area also. Mr. Bruckner did indeed complete the task of swimming across the Bay. He underwent untold difficulties, I'm sure. I'm not an environmental wacko, like some out there; however, I applaud his effort; even though I don't understand how it makes any difference to the Bay or its environment. Seem like symbolism over substance. Only 2 have completed the challenge. Anybody else out there want to take a crack at it?
Reply by cammahon August 25, 2010 08:50pm PDTReport Abuse
We have so many people who don't do anything but take from the environment. It is absolutely reasonable that some people act like wackos. Without them to balance us out, or at least slow us down, where would we be.
Posted by firstmotie August 25, 2010 08:18pm PDTReply | Report Abuse
Wow, i found the comments much more interesting than the news article. It amazes me that there is so much anger and criticism for folks who apparently never met. Why don't we realize that everyone is unique and wonderfuly made by a God who loves us?, and when we tear them down, we are tearing down the workmanship and potential for great things with needless , hurtful and malicious feeling. What we should be doing whenever filth, hate and slander comes out is to check our hearts ( the source of our words ). God help us and the people and planet He gave us to care for.
Reply by cammahon August 25, 2010 08:48pm PDTReport Abuse
lol "God who loves us?"
God loves us the same way a father that left us when we were 3 loves us.
Reply by trevor2525 August 25, 2010 09:44pm PDTReport Abuse
hey cammahon, i want u to know that im not attacking u in any way i just want to share something with you. God does love you. When God made Adam & Eve He told them in Genesis 2:16,17 they could eat from every tree in the garden but not from the tree of the knowledge of good & evil if u eat from it u will die. i know u wonder why would He make the tree, but its because whats choice with no options, u and me we have free will we can choose God and to follow Him or we can choose sin and this world. See God didnt leave us we left Him. Are sin separates us from God. U & me are both sinners but God did something to make it so are sin no longer separates us from Him. God sent His Son Jesus Christ (God in the flesh) to die as an innocent man He never sinned, but was still crucified and threw His death He took the wrath of God for are sins. Jesus Christ gave His life as a sacrifice to pay are debt, to wash away are sins so that we are no longer separated from Him and He rose the 3rd day so we no longer have to fear death. {It says in 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.} God wants none to perish He loves you so much He gave His Son for you, but the call is still on you, you have to repent of your sins give your life to the Lord Jesus Christ God in the flesh. Only God could cover are sins. Trust in Him their is only 1 way to heaven and that is by believing in Jesus Christ puting your faith in Him and He will save you. But without Christ your sin is not covered and you will be separated from God in hell. I encourage you to read the Bible and seek these things out for yourself. Thank you for your time.
Reply by cammahon August 25, 2010 10:10pm PDTReport Abuse
Genesis is a harder read than the Communist Manifesto. Leviticus is nothing short of a hate speech. And the religion as a whole is based on a cosmic jewish zombie descending from above to impregnate a woman with himself so he could kill himself in order to absolve us of the sins he originally condemned us to because a naked lady born from a mans rib ate a magic apple from a forbidden tree. And somehow, by symbolically eating jesus' blood and body whilst sending telepathic thoughts about how i accept said jewish zombie as my savior, will grant me acceptance into a non sensical place of peace and purity.
Theism has been tried, and for a time it was good for us. Were in a time where we acknowledge helping others is good, and doing no harm is something to strive for. We no longer require fairy tales and legends to coerce us. Drop the crap, open your mind, and question.
I invite you, fight what you've been told, and eat from the tree of knowledge. The world around you will transform, hell, and maybe someday you'll swim across a bay to fight for something real and valuable.
Reply by mikey gregory August 25, 2010 11:30pm PDTReport Abuse
whoa....i want what this guys smokin!
Reply by trevor2525 August 26, 2010 07:54am PDTReport Abuse
Are four fathers founded this nation based off the bible. You are right we no longer look to the Truth (the bible) we look and tell are kids their is no purpose for them they came from monkeys who magically over time became people but we have no evidence to show the transition between man & monkey all we have is a man & a monkey. Dude suicide is at a high they are murdering babies they lowered the test scores for high school so people will pass its not getting better. we were once a christian nation and we prospered like no other nation we were fruitful. Now we have turned from God and look at are society, look at the world its getting worse its not getting better. I do stand for something & its what no one else wants to here anymore its Gods truth. Christians get murdered, beaten, and laughed at for what we believe and for showing love to people. All Jesus did is heal people and show them love and He was murdered for it. Jesus said "they have murdered and hated me and they will do the same to you" (not exact words if u want the verse i can get it) I am a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. God is real and their is only 1 God and only 1 way to heaven and that is repenting of our sins & putting faith in Jesus Christ. Im not trying to argue im trying to give you a different perspective because i use to live in this world and for the lusts of my flesh and i served my sin. But i have been saved by the blood of Jesus Christ and in Him i am freer then i have ever been.
Reply by bcz August 26, 2010 09:12am PDTReport Abuse
tty agree with you trevor2525 you explained it perfectll
Reply by bcz August 26, 2010 09:13am PDTReport Abuse
i mean perfectly sorry for the typo
Reply by cammahon August 26, 2010 09:45am PDTReport Abuse
George Washington: "The government of the United States is in no sense founded on the Christian religion."
Suicide is at a high because the human species has thrust itself into a less than natural environment, with more complex stresses.
You talk of evidence, yet all of the evidence, as little as it may be, is entirely against you.
We prospered because a higher percentage of the population were educated. They were thinkers.
Christians may get murdered and beaten for their beliefs, but theyve done their fair share.
After that, everything you go on to say relies purely on faith, except for the quotes. Your perspective is appreciated. I spent more than enough time in catholic school, and in and out of different churches. The followers are engrossed in their beliefs, entertaining no ideas other than the ones presented to them from their leaders. they dont ask questions, they dont want to know, they just want to believe
Reply by benbuford August 26, 2010 10:04am PDTReport Abuse
But what does this have to do with jellyfish? I feel like a child that's wandered into some creepy online forum
Reply by babsiebunny August 26, 2010 08:31pm PDTReport Abuse
Two things.
One. LOL @ benbuford.
Two. Wow. So much to say... trevor2525, it's great if you wanna be religious, but the bible has been written and translated and changed so much there is no way it's still the same as it was. Not to mention it was written over a very long period, most of which was way before and way after Christ was actually teaching. Also, as cammahon said, please don't quote the bible to prove Christianity. So annoying... You can't prove anything just by quoting that things manifesto. Proof consists of outside experiences, tests, and ect. Religion in general is not provable. And stop harping. You said your peace about God being loving and all, I respect your right to voice the opinion, but he has a right to disagree. cammahon, I'm glad you think religion is moot in this day and age but it really, psychologically speaking, isn't. People still need faith. It not only gives them some sense of being loved, but it gives them something to work at and strive for. I do agree with a lot of what you wrote, but he does have the right to believe in something. You believe. Even if it's in nothing. It's still a belief. :)
Reply by cammahon August 26, 2010 09:07pm PDTReport Abuse
Everyone should read David Hume's "Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion." It justifies just about any reasonable approach to religion.
Reply by trevor2525 August 27, 2010 12:40pm PDTReport Abuse
Your right babsiebunny the Bible was written before & after Jesus Christ's teachings thats what makes it amazing. Their are prophecies in the Bible that talk about Jesus Christ coming. Their are also prophecies about things that are happening rate in front of are faces over in the middle east this is why i quote scripture it is Truth no one can prophecy of these things and have them come true but God alone and His word (the Bible). Read 2 Tim 3:16. Read Isaiah 53 & then read the gospels of Jesus Christ & see what He has done for sinners like you & me. Isaiah 53 talks about Jesus Christ and how He would come and take or transgressions for us. A rich man came and got the body of Jesus and laid it in his (the rich man)tomb (Matt 27:57-60). Scriptures dont lie. The origanl scriptures were written in Greek, Hebrew, & Aramaic. Their is a little change just because of the translation from those languages to English. But im wondering were you get that they have been totally changed. And your right you do have an option to choose to disagree and im not saying you cant. I like what cammahon has to say and i agree with him on some things like today nobody questions anything even in the church. No one looks into it for themselves they just come up with things that everyone else has said. Just because you go to church that doesn't make you saved their is to be a repentance & a turning away from your sins and follow Jesus Christ He is God. John 1 & 1 John 5:20, 1 John is towards the end of the Bible
Reply by cammahon August 27, 2010 03:33pm PDTReport Abuse
Any reasonable person is an atheist. Religion is not based on reason or what the senses can perceive. So whether or not god is real, it is unreasonable to entertain the idea. The fact that the bible uses miracles, which by definition exist outside of the laws of nature and reality, is reason enough not to believe, again whether or not the miracles happened. But at the same time its understandable that people should turn to religion to explain things that would otherwise require elaborate reasoning to prove and establish.
You're either incredibly level headed or you've found yourself in a period of temperate seas.
Posted by houstona12 August 25, 2010 08:41pm PDTReply | Report Abuse
GUYS. I'm trying to help you. If you could please OUCH lay off the OUCH stinging for a little OUCH while I could try and help OUCH you.
PLUS your OUCh making me look OUCH bad. Literally. OUCH!!!. Well you are.
Posted by jeffc67camaro1 August 25, 2010 08:52pm PDTReply | Report Abuse
we are all americans-where is or pride? love they neighbor
Posted by firstmotie August 25, 2010 09:01pm PDTReply | Report Abuse
hey cam,
He didn't leave.
Reply by cammahon August 25, 2010 10:11pm PDTReport Abuse
yeah he just watches as we pour kerosene on ourselves.
Posted by firstmotie August 25, 2010 09:05pm PDTReply | Report Abuse
Amen.
Just ask Him, He sent His son as the perfect sacrifice to pay for sin, and to defeat the power sin has over men.
Reply by nelsonpt22 August 25, 2010 11:21pm PDTReport Abuse
I bet Jesus couldn't swim through a swarm of jellyfish.......
Reply by piper August 25, 2010 11:42pm PDTReport Abuse
No shit, he'd just walk right over them!!!
Reply by bigdik August 26, 2010 09:40am PDTReport Abuse
That would be very difficult considering he has giant holes in his feet.
Reply by jax881 August 27, 2010 06:17pm PDTReport Abuse
Why would he want to? Wouldn't he just change them back into water? Or wine? Or maybe an ice cold beer to numb the pain in his hands.
Posted by steve knox August 25, 2010 09:05pm PDTReply | Report Abuse
While we may care about them they don't care about us at all.. This goes to the kill or be killed or eat or be eaten mindset that is built into the very being of all animals weather they are marine or mamal. We are the only species that cares about anything but the unique survival of the species... our species cares about human rights and the survival of other species.
There is one exception though, our species or I can say you and not me condone abortions for the convenience of just not wanting a baby as a woman's right. What about the mans right, if the baby is aborted he has no say about it even if he would like to raise the child as his own. If the baby is born with or without his approval then he must pay which is acceptable except for the fact that he has no choice as the woman has a choice without the mans say so as to weather to abort her baby or not...........
Reply by firstmotie August 25, 2010 09:08pm PDTReport Abuse
why if the species only cares for survival are there instances of dogs nursing piglets for ex.?
Reply by firstmotie August 25, 2010 09:11pm PDTReport Abuse
as far as the Q about choices, one gets to choose some things, but not the outcome of the choice. The child who doesn't get a choice belongs to God.
Reply by babsiebunny August 26, 2010 08:38pm PDTReport Abuse
@ firstmotie Yeah there are example of that. I saw this news piece where an elephant and a dog (yes you read that right) became best friends. And when the dog got sick the elephant waited in a corner of the preserve in despair until th dog was better. Not just that of course, but most animal species are very respectful of boundaries, they eat what they need to survive and leave the rest to continue on. Unlike most gluttonous humans... Take, take, take. More, more, more. Yuck.
Posted by boopsbaby August 25, 2010 09:57pm PDTReply | Report Abuse
This news article was not an article about how well someone can spell, how proper their grammar, or if they believe in god or not. I read all the comments, and i only kept reading and thinking how un-called for all the hate and just down right mean comments were to each other. I hope that my children are not reading any of the posts that get put up on this sight, as i'm sure most of you if you have children would not want to lead by example if they were reading or watching the comments everyone is making to each other. Our children learn behavior and social skills from us (the parents, friends, and all other adults in there lives) and how can we make a change if we are always bashing each others heads against the wall. I'm no saint by any stretch of the imagination, but I really do hope that i never choose to hurt someone just because they cant spell, or because their grammar is wrong, or because the simply had a typeo, like all us have had at one time or another. This is my first post, and i apologice in advance if i stepped on anyones toes.
Posted by getaclue August 25, 2010 09:59pm PDTReply | Report Abuse
One guy swims across the bay and the people "go-off" on this site. What does dogs nursing pigs, bible quotes,abortion,poor grammer ECT. have to do with this article or this mans personal test of himself. People must be really bored with life to spend so much time on nothing.
Reply by jassenfeffer August 25, 2010 10:18pm PDTReport Abuse
hey getaclue, how dare you come on here and make sense!!!!! lol
Reply by montekristof August 25, 2010 11:39pm PDTReport Abuse
This is the most sensible post on this article. If people wants to discuss god's affair or argue about grammar, there are plety of OTHER sites to do so. Leave this article for the guy who tries to do something that matters...
Reply by gigabant August 26, 2010 12:39am PDTReport Abuse
Yep, AR(anal retentive) personality types are unwelcomed here. What's happening is just pure banter. Nobody's hurting nobody.
Reply by bcz August 26, 2010 09:16am PDTReport Abuse
some people just like to argue over bull shit
Reply by getaclue August 26, 2010 04:57pm PDTReport Abuse
Too true!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Some call it "banter"!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reply by babsiebunny August 26, 2010 08:42pm PDTReport Abuse
Agree totally, but I did however give into temptation and reply to some of those other things. Dang do I feel silly now though. I have to remember that trying to correct people is usually frowned upon.... :( Oh! And that wasn't a sarcastic comment, even though it could read that way....
Posted by michael petersen August 25, 2010 10:57pm PDTReply | Report Abuse
What a JackAss.....Nature is fine obviously you giant Douche!
Posted by keepitsimple August 25, 2010 11:19pm PDTReply | Report Abuse
Silly atheist always ranting about how there is no god and how dumb people are for believing in god, and to wake up and question everything. Well, being that our country has been framed from Christian principles and our forefathers chose to follow these basic principles , you're essential functioning in a Christian society -like it or not. Love thigh neighbor, honor thigh father and mother, thou shall not kill, simple religious rules that have made it possible to have a great country (atheist or not). So you're essentially Christian but cannot come to terms with it. Try living your atheist lifestyle in a non-Christian country like Afghanistan or China and see if you don't change your mind. Remember you have choices and freedoms- don't mean you'll always be right. Being Christian compels one to tolerate atheist, but really people wake up. You tube Dinesh D'Sousa ( for the scientific atheist).
Reply by nelsonpt22 August 25, 2010 11:24pm PDTReport Abuse
Jusus ain't real.....but baby jesus is. I bet he'd go spider monkey on your ass for being suck and asshole in your post. But don't worry, both me and baby jesus are going to give you a free pass on this one for bein' such a d*ck bump. Yes, you're welcome!
Reply by keepitsimple August 25, 2010 11:27pm PDTReport Abuse
Another idiot born every minute, maybe christians should rethink the abortion issue, Dir, oops my bad. Please forgive me but the end justifies the means. And yes Baby Jesus does love you to nelson ;)
Reply by mikey gregory August 25, 2010 11:29pm PDTReport Abuse
really, thats so strange that every war is about religion....tolerance?!? keep it simple, i see why you keep it simple.
Reply by keepitsimple August 25, 2010 11:34pm PDTReport Abuse
Pre-apocalyptic warfare. Some wars have been necessary like WWII. But your absolutely right, not all wars.
Reply by bigdik August 26, 2010 09:49am PDTReport Abuse
Our forefathers founded this country with the intent to have a seperation of church and state. This nation was founded on religious freedom. that includes not believing in god, or believing. either is fine. There is some very compeling information that leads us to believe the architect of the declaration of indepence, Thomas Jefferson was an athiest.
Reply by daviestad August 26, 2010 12:21pm PDTReport Abuse
Bigdik is almost right. Jefferson was a deist--an Enlightment perspective that held that God set the universe in motion such that it would continue on the basis of natural laws (discernable through reason), but God does not intervene in the daily affairs of individuals. Because deism is not an organized religion with a fixed dogma there are many variations on this theme, and many of the Founding Fathers (Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin included) were deists. In Jefferson's case, he rejected the notion of miracles (which by definition defy natural laws) and the supernatural. He wrote a translation of biblical New Testament that took out all references to miracles and to Jesus being devine (God or Son of God, etc.). He held that Jesus was an important moral philosopher but not divine or infallible.
So Bigdik is right that the principal author of the Declaration of Independence was not Christian--though several of the signers were. And it's also worth noting that the Protestantism practiced by most of those who called themselves Christians (and some were hardly practicing) was quite different from the born-again, anti-intellectual stuff that passes for much of Christianity in the U.S. today.
Of course, none of this has much to do with jellyfish--except that jellfish (their propogation, feeding patterns, migrations, etc.) follow natural laws, so Jefferson's deism is more relevant to the discussion than the historically inaccurate (and irrelevant) claim that the U.S. was established as a "Christian" nation (if anything it was established as an "Enlightenment" nation, adopting the classical liberalism of that philosophical movement). In fact, classical liberalism, with its emphasis on individual rights and the protection of individual property flies in the face of textual Christianity, which is predominantly communitarian and often demands the sacrifice of the individual for the good of the Christian community and the propogation of the religion).
Reply by nelsonpt22 August 26, 2010 12:47pm PDTReport Abuse
Daviestad, do you realize you could've just flapped your pecker at least TWICE in the time it took you to write all that bullsh*t?
Reply by daviestad August 26, 2010 02:11pm PDTReport Abuse
nelsonpt22, you must not have much staying power.
But you're right, I must have been entirely too bored to have spent thirty seconds (really some people can type more than two words an minute) explaining basic U.S. history to those those more interested in Heidi Montag's boob job. Back to your pecker!
Posted by moongoddess1188 August 25, 2010 11:31pm PDTReply | Report Abuse
Bahahaha!! Is it sad that I am more entertained and comedically satisfied after reading these posts, than I am watching an actual comedy show?! Just goes to show how remarkably, wonderful; idiotically, nonsensical; truly fascinating and frustrating, the human condition really is.
Posted by zzt777 August 26, 2010 12:06am PDTReply | Report Abuse
WOW, to raise awareness huh! Due to this gentleman's dedication to his cause, which I totally didn't pay attention to and neither did 98% of the other people who read this article, I pledge to never eat jellyfish sandwiches again! Don't you roll your eyes at me, I'm serious, NEVER AGAIN! Hooray for you guy that swims for causes that no one pays attention to!
Reply by nelsonpt22 August 26, 2010 11:07am PDTReport Abuse
You know, I never DID catch what his cause was about. But some d'bag nearly getting stung to death by jellyfish and refusing to get out of the water for his 'cause'??? Now THAT is awesome. Should've come closer to dying though if he really wanted to make a point.....
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