He left for the giant shark cage in the sky

[BarTopDancer]

Peter Benchley dies at 65 (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060213/ap_en_ot/obit_benchley;_ylt=AsDSMpxBXdVMWS40UvmvebFxFb8C;_y lu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--)

"He cared very much about sharks. He spent most of his life trying to explain to people that if you are in the ocean, you're in the shark's territory, so it behooves you to take precautions," Wendy Benchley said.

The author did not abide by the mayhem his book evoked. In fact, he was quite at ease around sharks, his widow said. She recalled a trip to Guadeloupe, Mexico last year for their 40th wedding anniversary, when the two went into the water in a special cage.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Only 65....bummer.

[flippyshark]

Considering the impact that JAWS (book and movie) had on me as a kid, and my lifelong interest in sharks, this is a major downer. I really appreciate the effort Benchley put into championing sharks and arguing for the need to protect them. Many of his books were exciting and entertaining, a few of them were awful. Still, I read them all and will likely re-read several of them again.

Benchley often talked about the dichotomy created by JAWS. He created a monster in more ways than one. His fictitious shark sparked interest in these animals, and led many people to become marine biologists and researchers. On the other hand, he accidentally empowered others to feel more justified in hunting down and slaughtering sharks because they were "evil." He had regrets about adding to that popular conception, but he understood that we humans "love our monsters," and have to have them.

Personally, I am grateful both to have been scared witless by the shark of his imagination, and to have been enlightened by the real and beautiful sharks he worked to save.

Rest In Peace, me heartie,

a very sad Flippyshark!

[wendybeth]

The first thing I thought of when I read the news was you, Flippy.

Ironically, it was also reported yesterday that shark frenzies were forcing the closure of Australian beaches.

[lizziebith]

"He was tired and he wanted to go home..." :(

[scaeagles]

On Mythbusters last night I saw the episode where they were testing myths made popular by Jaws. They debunked many of them, such as the shark pulling the barrels under water and the scuba tank exploding when shot.

I believe it was a repeat episode, but I had never seen it.

[flippyshark]

Best episode ever.

[Matterhorn Fan]

It's so sad, almost like "the day the sharks died."

I saw a news headline yesterday that said, "Jaws author liked sharks, wife reveals." (Um...news?)

Also in the news recently--Florida is the "shark capital of the world."

YAY FLORIDA!!