Sunrise the day before my 72nd birthday - 11/29/41
I failed to complete my thank you’s to some of the people
who helped in the Ukiah presentation last month – my apologises.
To: Jenny, Shelley and Tamara at UPT and to Susan, Chandler, Maureen
and Jeanette for helping out front – thank you!
My cousin (Erik) "Erk" Harkna at the helm of his boat.
This is my cousin Erk. He was one of the “boat people” in
our escape from the Soviets during WWII. True to Estonian tradition, he too
loves the sea. We don’t see each other often but I have had some great times
with him over the years – his spirit is pure Viking!
The "boat kids", me at top left, Erk, his sister Ari and my bro Peter
I had my 72nd birthday on the 29th of
last month. What can I say but that I feel strong, spiritually in tune with The
Great Mystery and am looking forward to another (10th) season with
my whale family. January 1st of 2014 I will have completed my 5th
year here in El Cardonal as the only full time gringo resident in the pueblo – I am honored to be part
of this community. Never have I felt "more at home"!
My daughter Kersti at The Monterey Bay Aquarium (she and husband Bill are also "whale divers").
Kersti sent me this photo and wish on my birthday.
“Happy Birthday Dad. Sending love and light and wishing you another amazing day.”
“Happy Birthday Dad. Sending love and light and wishing you another amazing day.”
And this is the spirit I see within her. She has been a treasure in my life.
Ironically I got sick that day and just coming out of it now
– thought it was Dengue Fever, no, just “Gripa”.
Speaking of Kersti I would like
to take this moment to honor the work she has chosen in her life and how much I
respect her devotion to helping those in need. As the world becomes more
complicated and many people are left without the support that used to be
provided by the extended family there is a great need for all types of social workers
– those who have chosen to devote their lives to helping others in need.
She was always like this with
people and animals as a child, then helping the elders in our family and now as
an Occupational Therapist bringing hope and physical rejuvenation to those
whose misfortune (in a number of guises) has weakened their bodies and/or
minds.
Basically it is a form of
therapy for those recuperating from physical or mental illness that encourages
rehabilitation through the performance of activities required in daily life.
Occupational therapy interventions focus on adapting the environment,
modifying the task, teaching the skill, and educating the client/family in
order to increase participation in and performance of daily activities,
particularly those that are meaningful to the client.
The origin of this very important work goes back to the
ancient Greeks and most probably before. I honor the work that you do Kersti
and I am very, very proud of the powerful woman you have become. You are doing
The Good Work and I love you!
The Q's heading out to The WZ
My dear Q’s (Jean-Luc/Brigitte) were here for a week during
mid November and will return in mid-Feb. for a month long stay with their sons
(and my adopted grandsons – Antoine, Tristan and Quentin). As always it was a
treat to have them here. When I picked them up at the airport Jean-Luc mentioned the
noise the car was making underneath. I thought it might be a loose muffler but
it continued to get worse all the way back to El Cardonal. Next day I took it
in to Cesar (our village mechanic) and he said it was a bad wheel bearing. Two
weeks later I got the car back, good job and once again I realized the value of
a life style built on the philosophy of poco a poco (little by little). I
considered it good luck that it held out till we got back from the airport,
that Cesar could do it, that my lifestyle was not disturbed by it and that now
I am mobile again.
I was invited to give my PP
presentation to an audience in La Ventana (a town 2 hrs north of me) a week
ago. It was held at “The Palapas Ventana” and about 30 people showed up. Great
evening, nice folks, some nice donations, a few books sold. A special thanks to
Llyod and Lauri, Tim and Jimena and Lana and Dave who made my stay so pleasant.
I was pretty sick by then and it took every ounce of my will to go through
with the lecture but as always, being in front of an audience wires me up and I
felt empowered right till I got in bed – then I was weak as a lamb.
Here are some suggested
readings/viewings:
4 stranded DNA http://www.nature.com/nchem/journal/v5/n3/full/nchem.1548.html
Whales under water “Sea of Love” http://vimeo.com/76025643
Check this out! 8 Mars orbitals:
This is way cool! I see Kersti in this for sure.
Matt Damon serves up some REALITY!
MMI's Scott Baker spoke recently
at University College Dublin about new research that could help shape
conservation measures for North Pacific humpback whales. Dr. Baker said an
astounding amount of information can be gathered by combining traditional
photo-ID techniques and DNA profiling. A fuller understanding of population
subsets will help tailor continued protective measures where needed.
On the 21st of
November I saw my first humpbacks for the season. It was a mother and calf
frolicking out about a half mile in front of my place. Too rough to go out in
my kayak but sure was nice just to watch them play. My guess it was a yearling
that will be weaned this season. They are coming!
11/28 - Starting to feel sick!
Next day - my birthday, cosmic joke, hah!
Alan and Marilyn came down for a
week on the 1st of December and there was just one day that offered good kayaking. I wasn’t going to
go because I was STILL sick and had just given the lecture in La Ventana so
needed some rest. NO WAY. I kept looking out to sea and then said, “f**k it”, I
gotta get out there!”
I e-mailed Alan and told him I
was on my way to launch and would love to have him join me. I didn’t really
expect him to show because the conditions were not all that good but there he
was. I can always tell it’s Alan because of the way he paddles and the
silhouette of his kayak. His company on my excursions out to The WZ have always been a highlight in my life. We went out about a half mile and then just drifted
while having one of our far ranging and delightful conversations. The
wind started up so we decided to head on in but just as I was turning towards
my pull out I saw a breach. Yep, a humpback doing a full breach not a half mile
away. Then we saw it blow and it was heading north so Alan and I chose an
intercept and boy did Alan nail it! The whale came up just to Alan’s right side
not 30’ from his kayak!! We continued in the direction he seemed to be going
but didn’t see him again. We were so lucky – of course I choose to think that
the whale wanted to say hello to Alan.
Alan making the intercept.
My son Zack was once again
fighting for our rights during the anti-TPP demonstration in LA.
My boy in the trenches!
This is yet another consequence of the SPLASH study that I was a part of between 2004-2007. The first comprehensive genetic study of humpback whale
populations in the North Pacific Ocean has identified five distinct populations
– at the same time a proposal to designate North Pacific humpbacks as a single
"distinct population segment" is being considered under the
Endangered Species Act.
The five populations identified in the study are:
Okinawa and the Philippines; a second West Pacific population with unknown
breeding grounds; Hawaii, Mexico and Central America.
"Even within these five populations there are
nuances," noted Baker, who frequently serves as a member of the scientific
committee of the International Whaling Commission. "The Mexico population,
for example, has 'discrete' sub-populations off the mainland and near the Revillagigedo
Islands, but because their genetic differentiation is not that strong, these
are not considered 'distinct' populations."
The SPLASH program has used photo identification
records to estimate humpback whale populations. The researchers
estimate that there are approximately 22,000 humpbacks throughout the North
Pacific – about the same as before whaling reduced their numbers. Although
recovery strategies have been successful on a broad scale, recovery is variable
among different populations.
"Each of the five distinct populations has its
own history of exploitation and recovery that would need to be part of an
assessment of its status," said Baker, who is a professor of fisheries and
wildlife at OSU. "Unlike most terrestrial species, populations of whales
within oceans are not isolated by geographic barriers. Instead, migration
routes, feeding grounds and breeding areas are thought to be passed down from
mother to calf, persisting throughout a lifetime and from one generation to the
next.
"We think this fidelity to migratory
destinations is cultural, not genetic," he added. "It is this culture
that isolates whales, leading to genetic differentiation – and ultimately, the
five distinct populations identified in the North Pacific."
I gave a shortened version of my PP presentation to The
Rotary Club in Los Barriles the other day (12/11). I focused on the lab project and it
was very well received. I thank Steve and Barbara for inviting me to speak. All
in all, the lab idea seems to be capturing the interest of a number of people
and agencies. CID (Centro Investigacion de Biolojia) for Baja California Sur
has shown interest and would be a great agency to work with. At this point I
believe that this dream will indeed come true and I am delighted!
Here’s a little something to think about when discussing the
issue of cancer and the epidemic that seems to be befalling us.
And here’s something at the extreme opposite end of the
scale from the above in terms of human potential.
Two lovely ladies visiting: Nantzy Hensley and Susanna
Pepperwood
A couple of reminders:
"A mind needs books like a sword needs a whetstone"
Stephen King in Duma Key
“Be more concerned with your
character than with your reputation. Your character is what you really are
while your reputation is merely what others think you are."
Happy Solstice !
May your lives be full and rich
beyond measure!
beyond measure!
