Shark

lmost everyone has the occasional daydream of being a movie star. We think about the glamorous parts -- captivating audiences on the big screen, seeing ourselves on movie posters all over the world and raking in the dough and the adulation of our fans. And if we have to play a bad guy every now and then, so be it; those are the juicy parts that win awards.

For the star of "Jaws," though, fame had a flip side, and I'm not talking about Richard Dreyfuss. The great white shark got a taste of fame when it was cast as the villain in the 1975 Steven Spielberg film about a town terrorized by a shark, based on the book by Peter Benchley. But instead of Oscars, the great white got harpoons and hunters. Instead of fame and fortune, the great white became a symbol of fear, a monster. Heck, even its theme song is scary. This shark has been typecast as a crazed and indiscriminate killer.

Is this a fair reputation? Famed marine explorer (and occasional book critic) Jacques Cousteau didn't think so, and he publicly chastised Benchley for his "bad book" [source: Monsters and Critics]. For his part, Benchley expressed regret for writing a book that gave sharks such a bad name and spent his later years campaigning for marine conservation.

Has the great white shark been typecast unfairly? Did its one starring role doom it to an everlasting reputation as the hungry madman of the sea? Or did Hollywood get it right for once? We'll investigate this true Hollywood story by taking a look at When "Jaws" was written, all that was known about great white sharks was based on rare sightings near the surface [source: Carey]. Yet the shark at the center of this scandal has released no public comment and has done remarkably little in the way of spin control. The great white shark is an elusive movie star. Compared to other sharks, we don't know much about the species, although would-be paparazzi have spent many hours in shark cages hoping to catch a glimpse. The great white's elusive nature has only fanned the public's fears, and when it does make the papers, it's usually for attacking people.

shark attacks on the next page.

Aquatic plant

You have your tank settled in and several plants are growing. In fact they've grown so well you don't know what to do with them. Or maybe you don't have any plants but are thinking about it. You'd really like to get more first hand information before you dive in. Or maybe you have a tank set up but can't find plants. Or maybe you just would like to join together with other planted tank enthusiasts for a fun evening of pizza and socializing.
There are many ways you can find to socialize with other planted tank enthusiasts. It's just a matter of knowing where to look.


Planted aquarium clubs are starting to spring up everywhere. There are also many general aquarium organizations across the United States and countries all over the world. To find them check with local pet shops, search the Internet, or most easily, check the back of this magazine. TFH has many great aquarium organizations listed in this and other issues.
If you can't find a local group what else can you do? You could always form your own club. A great place to start finding people is one you've already gone to, your local aquarium or pet store. While you're there picking up your equipment, plants, and fish you'll be sure to see other people picking up their aquarium supplies also. Chatting with other customers can be a good way to find other hobbyists interested in a trading plants and getting together. You can also make a nice notice, either on a computer or use your artistic skills to create your own. You can make color copies at home or your local office supply store. Be sure to include a phone number or email address so prospective members can get a hold of you.
Another great way to meet other planted tank enthusiasts and aquarium hobbyists in general is the Internet. Even if you don't have a computer of your own there are often computers at libraries and schools. With many free web based email programs it's easy to set up your own email to join mailing lists or register at aquarium forums.
One of the best places to start your Internet journey is Tropical Fish Hobbyists official forum, Tropical Resources. Tropical Resources, is one of the friendliest forums on the web. Several TFH authors post on their boards and the replies are incredibly fast. The boards cover all topics from the aquarium hobby including several just for aquarium plants. They also have regular live interviews with TFH authors followed by a question and answer period so you can ask those burning questions you've had since reading the latest articles.