I am nearly at the end of Moby Dick. Chapter 105 was a portentous reading about how whales would never become extinct because the ocean was really big so that meant we could kill all the whales we wanted to. Oy. This chapter was read by ecological giant David Attenbough which made an awesome embedded message as we now know a lot more than to the author. Just in case you’re curious.
As the story gets more bleak, and Ahab becomes more vengeful and dangerous its actually seeming more relevant to modern life: especially when one thinks of a certain presidential candidate whose pretty unprepared for the voyage ahead, bitterly impaired, but still treated with reverence by the powers that should apply critical evaluation, and whose only problem-solving skill seems to be plotting revenge. Take for example this passage when the responsible officer comes to tell him the ship is dangerously leaking oil and they should turn back. Ahab says predictably it doesn’t matter, we are after ONE thing and I’m in charge. We’re not going back. Starbuck presses him in this passage, (to help make the point, I’ve replaced the word ‘owners‘ with the word ‘voters‘ so you can see what I mean.)
“What will the voters say, sir?”
“Let the voters stand on Nantucket beach and outyell the Typhoons. What cares Ahab? Voters, voters? Thou art always prating to me, Starbuck, about those miserly voters, as if the voters were my conscience. But look ye, the only real owner of anything is its commander; and hark ye, my conscience is in this ship’s keel. — [Get back] on deck!”
I’m pretty sure all of us has worked at one time or another with a supervisor that responded similarly to criticism. Take it from Melville, its best to get off that ship while you can. Each chapter is presented with an artists rendition of the content. One had a fantastic image of a whale made of words and I was instantly entranced Of course I marched out and found how it was done. It’s called ‘Tagul‘ and its a free tool that allows you to upload your own shapes to create a word cloud – like this for instance! Note that when you roll over the word it changes color when you roll over it for emphasis!
Operation habituation was back at 4:45 this morning but no beavers were seen at all. Apparently they think they can outsmart us, the little rascals. We did see a raccoon, a hummingbird, and some ducks on the dam. There was fresh mud by their hole which might be a scent mound. Maybe they were reacting to the threat of our presence yesterday? Wait until they find out we’re still there tomorrow!
Rusty sent some truly remarkable photos from Tulocay beaver pond last night, which in addition to beavers featured two otters and a great blue heron! One otter was chowing down on a round flat fish I should be identifiable. I sent it to Dr. Peter Moyle at 4:30 this am and he wrote back a few minutes later. (Apparently fish have affected his sleep habits much like beavers ruined mine!)
Neat photos. The fish looks like a bluegill sunfish, probably a male that was guarding a nest.
So one minute you’re watching out for your children an the next you’re being eaten by an otter! Life is hard, as we know. A recent final development based on Cindy Margulis suggestion came together yesterday. Don’t you want to be invite to the next cocktail party where these are feature?
