June 27, 2021

Heartwarming interaction with my mail carrier in record heat yesterday.

We are having a stretch of record-breaking heat in the Pacific NW. Well over 100 in Portland yesterday - highly unusual.

I saw my mail carrier through my window. I opened the door and asked if he needed a water refill. He thanked me and said he was fine, but might take me up on it another time. It was almost the end of his day. He said all day long people had been so nice, giving him cold things to put in his cooler. (They drive a truck that they park while they deliver to sections of their area.)

I could see from the expression on his face how much this kindness and caring meant to him; he was clearly very hot, yet there was an open-hearted quality in his countenance that nearly moved me to tears.

Simple kindness. So simple, and yet so profound.

May 21, 2021

Size doesn't matter to mommy bottlenose dophin who adopts orphaned whale calf

Off the coast of New Zealand, a group of marine biologists has discovered a mother bottlenose dolphin that had adopted a baby pilot whale.

The Kiwi-based Far Out Ocean Research Collective discovered the mammals sailing in the Bay of Islands in Northern New Zealand, and has now documented the pair on two separate occasions five weeks apart.

While it’s not unheard of that dolphins adopt other species’ babies, it’s very rare to record the phenomenon with such a significant difference in species size. Bottlenose dolphins can reach 300 kilograms, which is no small fry—except that pilot whales can grow to two tons and reach six meters in length.

“She might have lost her own calf,” researcher Jochen Zaeschmar told local reporters of the dolphin’s behavior.

The Independent reported in 2019 that researchers in French Polynesia found a bottlenose dolphin that had adopted a melon-headed whale calf, and that the pair stayed together for three years.

Scientists don’t know why exactly this happens, and hypotheses exist that it’s misplaced mothering instinct—perhaps accentuated if a dolphin mother has lost her calf and finds a calf who has lost its mother. However the researchers in French Polynesia, pondering in their published paper on the finding, suggested it could be part of the mother’s “personality,” which is an endearing thought.

Note from Amaryllis: I disagree with the "misplaced mothering instinct" hypothesis. I would say it's very well-placed mothering instinct! Babies need mothers and mothers know that. And it doesn't matter size, species or gender. (Thinking of gay friends whose kids have two daddies.)



https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/new-zealand-bottlenose-dolphin-mother-adopts-pilot-whale-calf/?utm_campaign=newsletters&utm_medium=weekly_mailout&utm_source=21-05-2021

April 30, 2021

Exquisite rendition of One Voice (Wailin' Jennies - song about unity! ) by USAF band/choir

I would not have expected this from the USAF. Apparently I had some inaccurate ideas about what kind of music they would choose to perform.
THis is very uplifting and beautiful. Some incredible talent here.

April 20, 2021

This will go down in history as a major turning point.

I was thinking maybe I should say a profound turning point. Really strong adjectives are needed here. Hard to find adequate words.

April 4, 2021

Dog Finds An Injured Parrot And They Become Best Friends. Extraordinary story!

March 15, 2021

Penguin Leaps Into Tour Boat to Avoid Being Eaten By Killer Whales!

A dinghy full of tourists saw the nature film of a lifetime, right in front of their eyes.

A gentoo penguin that was being chased by a pod of orcas made a desperation leap for safety into their boat.

The successful jump happened only after a first attempt had failed, when the small animal flung itself headfirst into the side of the boat and bounced back into the perilous water.

Travel blogger Matt Karsten and his wife Anna were taking a tour through the icebergs of the Gerlache Strait in Antarctica, when they saw the incredible chase unfold.

In the video below, the life-saving leap happens at 2:00, ending the long chase scene…

The people on the boat help the penguin dive over the side into the boat!

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/penguin-leaps-into-boat-to-avoid-orca/?utm_campaign=newsletters&utm_medium=weekly_mailout&utm_source=15-03-2021

February 19, 2021

Anyone heard any more about congress critters who gave capitol tours day before Jan. 6?

February 17, 2021

For the last 4 years, all that's been in the news is Trump. For the next 4, I want to make it about

the American people. (When asked if he thought R senators who voted to acquit were cowards.) He said he wasn't going to call people names. He just keeps shifting if he's asked about Trump. Making it clear he's not interested in talking about him.

February 13, 2021

RAchel now covering McCarthy Trump phone call. CNN covered. PRobably others. Hard to ignore now.

Calling out Trump attys for lying about Trump knowing Pence was in danger. She said more later. Raising question of calling McCarthy and Tuberville as witnesses. Curious who her interview will be.
On edit: going into detail on Tuberville call and timing.