Baiji likely extinct

I'm a save-the-whales kind of girl. So when I read this, I was bummed.

The Yangtze River dolphin or baiji (Lipotes vexillifer), an obligate freshwater odontocete known only from the middle-lower Yangtze River system and neighbouring Qiantang River in eastern China, has long been recognized as one of the world's rarest and most threatened mammal species. The status of the baiji has not been investigated since the late 1990s, when the surviving population was estimated to be as low as 13 individuals. An intensive six-week multi-vessel visual and acoustic survey carried out in November–December 2006, covering the entire historical range of the baiji in the main Yangtze channel, failed to find any evidence that the species survives. We are forced to conclude that the baiji is now likely to be extinct, probably due to unsustainable by-catch in local fisheries. This represents the first global extinction of a large vertebrate for over 50 years, only the fourth disappearance of an entire mammal family since AD 1500, and the first cetacean species to be driven to extinction by human activity. Immediate and extreme measures may be necessary to prevent the extinction of other endangered cetaceans, including the sympatric Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis).

Fire on the mountain, snakes in the grass, the old man died...

Yesterday I needed some cash. There is a walk-in ATM nearby, but it's only a stumble away from a seedy bar. Eric won't use that ATM. I do, even though I'm constantly looking over my shoulder.

I pulled up, and as I turned off the ignition, a slightly staggering man carefully made his way to a white car parked behind me. I don't trust drunk people, and being in the vicinity of easy cash, I'm especially leery.

The guy, probably in his 50s, was dressed in a white t-shirt, the undershirt type, and a pair of ill-fitting, very ragged jeans. His hair was a bit of a mess. He held himself up against the passenger side of the car, then launched himself into the front seat. He rummaged quite a lot, tossing stuff around. Finally, he stood up, leaned back farther than a drunk person should, and popped something into his mouth, then resumed his rummaging. He pulled out a white rag, loosened his belt, undid his pants, reached down the back of his jeans, and deeply and vigorously wiped his ass. Does this bar not have a bathroom?

At that point, he recovered his senses a little and looked around. He saw me in my car. I kept watching anyway. He turned his back to me and fumbled with the front of himself, then pulled his belt very tight and buckled it. He straightened his shirt, then went behind his car and put something under the bumper behind the license plate. Then he went back inside.

I took my $10 out of the bank and went on my merry way.

Back to School

Today we started the back-to-school shopping. I am not the kind of person who will drive 20 minutes to save two cents on three folders. I just go to Shopko and spring the extra dough. I think it cost me an extra 59 cents or so not to drive all the way across town for the door-busting deals at other stores. I'm glad to have stayed in my little city.

Over the years, we've amassed quite a lot of school supplies. I use up the used stuff that's in mediocre shape and give the kids the leftover new stuff or barely perceptibly used stuff and buy them whatever else they need. The list this year for Kelsey was tiny. We bought two folders and one notebook. I let her get new crayons just because they were 20 cents a box (I know, they were cheaper at Staples) and the sharp, new points are nicer. God knows we have enough crayons to last several lifetimes. I am not kidding--my mom gave me all my leftover crayons from when I was a kid--a full lard bucket's worth. These days, when I find crayons that are broken or ugly, I throw them the hell away. Sshhh...

Kayleigh will get her supplies later. Then we'll go clothes shopping. Ugh.

Pressure Treated

Look--

Eric made a picnic table.



Part of Eric's therapy is to make things. He used to make things. Then he stopped. Now he's back at it. This picnic table isn't quite the kind of thing he used to make, but he's not quite the same guy he used to be. He's getting better and better.