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THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2017
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IN ONE EAR • ELLEDA WILSON
DON’T TOUCH!
n Oregon, the breeding season for harbor seals begins in mid-
April, which corresponds with the season’s first harbor seal
pups showing up on Oregon’s beaches,” a press release from the
Seaside Aquarium says.
“The pups weigh about 25 pounds at birth, but they grow
quickly, doubling their weight within the first month. The mother’s
milk is about 40 percent fat, so she must forage for food as often as
possible to keep her energy up and provide for her pup.” A pup is
pictured, courtesy of SeasideAquarium/TiffanyBoothe.
The problem that arises is that while the mother is off looking
for food, the pup just rests and waits for her on the beach. People
walking by might think the pup has been abandoned, but really,
he hasn’t been, at all. Mom is probably quite close by, although
likely not visible. If the pup is moved, it will not be able to reunite
with its mother. So leave those pups alone (and that means keep-
ing your dogs and kids away from them, too), and give them lots
of room. You’re not doing them any favors by interfering. If you
really want to help, and you’re on the North Coast, call the Seaside
Aquarium at 503-738-6211 and someone will come and post signs
around the pup asking people to steer clear. If you’re anywhere
else, call the Marine Mammal Stranding Network Hotline at 541-
270- 6830 instead.
YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE
‘I
AROUND THE TOWN
EGG WATCH
ell, it’s that time of year again, when you can literally get
a bird’s eye view of a pair of nesting eagles and their three
eggs with the Decorah (Iowa) Eagles webcam (www.ustream.
tv/decoraheagles), which puts you eye to eye with the to-be par-
ents. A screenshot is shown.
This home invasion is brought to you by the Raptor Resource
Project, “which specializes in the preservation of falcons, eagles,
ospreys, hawks, and owls. We create, improve, and directly main-
tain over 50 nests and nest sites,” their Decorah Eagles website
says.
None of the eggs have hatched as yet, but it should start hap-
pening any day now.
W
he Ear can’t count how many times people have men-
tioned that they don’t get enough sun on the North
Coast, and have to get their dose of sunshine in Vitamin D
supplements. Germany has the same problem, but they’re
not worried about vitamin deficiencies, they’re after
renewable energy.
The German Space Center (DLR) has installed the
world’s largest artificial sun in the city of Jülich, accord-
ing to a story on NewAtlas.com (http://tinyurl.com/
synsun). The electric powered Synlight, a three-storey
high solar tower, is made of 149 7-kilowatt arc lights and
is being used for research, including figuring out how to
use the device to create hydrogen fuel. A photo of the Syn-
light is shown, courtesy of DLR.
At least this “sun” is more dependable than the real
one, which is off gallivanting all night. And, not to get too
technical, here, the Synlight, at its maximum setting, can
deliver 320 kilowatts, explained as “10,000 times the nor-
mal solar radiation experienced on Earth’s surface, and
temperatures of up to 5,400° F” — which is necessary to
produce solar fuels like hydrogen.
At a cost of $3.77 million, this is some very serious
sunshine.
T
A TINY HOUSE FOR A WINDY CITY
WHALE RULES
ith all the talk of adding alternative housing in Astoria, Tran-
scend Tiny Homes might have just the right solution for
our windy city. The Amsterdam 24 towable tiny house model is
capable of withstanding winds of up to 156 mph, NewAtlas.com
reports (http://tinyurl.com/tinylight24). A photo of the Amsterdam
24 is shown, courtesy of Transcend Tiny Homes.
The little dwelling sits on a 24-foot long double axle trailer, and
has 292 square feet of floorspace. The walls are made of compos-
ite fiberglass, which brings the weight down to about 4 tons — a
same-sized wooden version would run about 6.6 tons — and it’s
pretty airtight. Hurricane testing proved the wall panels could han-
dle up to a category 5 hurricane. You’d have to secure it to the
ground of course, and there is the issue of flying debris, but its stur-
diness is pretty remarkable.
And there are amenities galore, including a keyless-entry sys-
tem. The bottom floor has a lounge, integrated storage, kitchen-
ette (with sink, fridge, stove, washer and dryer) and a bathroom
with sink and shower. The sleeping loft is accessible with a mov-
able ladder.
However, even with all this lovely tininess, the price isn’t. The
Amsterdam 24 starts at $69,700.
W
idbits from 117 years ago in The Morning Astorian, Satur-
day, March 31, 1900:
• In the absence of a town clock, what is the matter with the fire
bell striking a signal at 6 a.m., 12 noon and 6 p.m. each day? Some
public signal of the correct time at regular intervals during the day
is needed in Astoria. The police furnish the correct time at night.
• The schooner Jessie came into port yesterday after 3 o’clock
and members of her crew soon obtained brief leave to “spread
their shanks” on shore. Luckily, none of Larry Sullivan’s gang of
“shanghaiers” were in sight, and the men succeeded in reaching
their hammocks on board last night without molestation.
• Peter Olsen, a well-known character in this city, who resides
in Uppertown, and who is familiarly known as the “Lone Fish-
erman,” will be taken before a lunacy commission in the county
court today for examination as to his sanity (after some bizarre
behavior) ... He was shortly after turned over to Sheriff Linville
and is now confined in the county jail.
… Olsen has resided in Astoria for several years and has gener-
ally been known for his eccentricities. He always fished during the
season, but always went alone. He had a most peculiar manner of
walking, and invariably adopted the most ridiculous style of cloth-
ing. He was never considered dangerous.
T
GODSPEED, BOATY
ever has there been such a kerfuffle about boat-naming as that
of the U.K. Natural Environment Research Council’s research
vessel. The winning name in the council’s online poll was Boaty
McBoatface, which was deemed quite unsuitable for such a dig-
nified vessel. The name Sir David Attenborough was used instead,
much to the clamoring dismay of many, who cried foul.
However, since the Boaty name had such a huge following —
who remained outraged the name wasn’t used — the powers that
be relented, and gave the moniker to a new type of autonomous
underwater vehicle that can travel at a depth of up to 3.73 miles
under sea ice.
And now, Boaty McBoatface (pictured, courtesy of the National
Oceanography Centre) has a chance to shine, according to Live-
Science.com (http://tinyurl.com/goboatymcb). It has begun its first
antarctic mission, exploring the Orkney Passage, from a British
Antarctic Survey research ship. Bon voyage, Boaty.
N
T
he sperm whale that washed up near the Peter
Iredale shipwreck in early March has been buried
by Oregon State Parks. But what happened to
beached whales on the North Coast long ago?
Most Indian tribes, including the Clatsops, had very
definite rules about how a beached whale carcass should
be divided, according to the U.S. Bureau of Ethnology
Bulletin No. 20, published in 1894 (http://tinyurl.com/
whale-rules). For example, if two Clatsop men found a
whale, they cut holes in the skin, and tied straps between
the holes to mark their pieces. Each one tied as many straps
to the whale as he had relatives. No straps, no problem —
they’d use kelp, instead.
Then the rest of the tribe was notified, and they were all
given a chance to get a chunk for themselves, but with one
caveat: they were not to cut where straps marked someone
else’s claim. Stragglers arriving on the scene got access to
the less desirable, lower side of the carcass.
Anyone who got a chunk of whale meat had the option
to sell it, keep it for food, or barter it — for example, a
large piece was worth a blanket. And, since the chunks
were quite heavy, they were allowed to hire someone to
carry chunks for them.
The tribe was apparently always ready for such an
opportunity. “The Clatsop always carry their straps and
knives, which are tied together, and their mats,” the bulle-
tin asserts. “All do thus.”
But what if a whale didn’t handily wash up, and the
people were starving? One tribe (the account doesn’t say
which one) had an interesting ritual: A tribal member
known to have a “supernatural helper of the sea” (Ikê´tal)
would sing, and sing, and sing to bring in a whale. Only
old people and preadolescent boys and girls were allowed
to accompany him and sing along, or the song would not
work.
“The singer is covered with down,” the bulletin
explained. “He places a pole upright on the beach and
says: ‘Here a whale will drift ashore,’ and, indeed, it drifts
ashore there after he has sung five days.”
Someone might have been singing in January 1806,
when the Lewis and Clark Expedition encountered a
beached whale and the Clatsops, but that is another story
for another day. Next Friday, actually.
LOOK, UP IN THE SKY!
ou probably know you can see the International Space Sta-
tion flying by if you know when to look. Now, NASA has
made it easy to find out when with their website, Spot the Sta-
tion (https://spotthestation.nasa.gov). You can even set up alerts
on the website so you’ll be notified in advance of its appearance.
And no, you don’t need a telescope to spot the ISS, which is
pictured, courtesy of NASA. It is so bright from the sun’s reflec-
tion, you can see it with your bare eyes — even though it’s whip-
ping along at 17,500 mph. It circles the earth every 90 minutes
which means, if you can imagine such a thing, that the crew sees
16 sunrises and sunsets every day.
The page for current Astoria sightings is here: http://tinyurl.
com/AstoriaISS. It shows when the ISS is flying by (usually
twice a night), from tonight (at 8:13 and 9:52 p.m.) through April
9, its height above the horizon, and how long it will be visible.
No, you don’t have to be in Astoria to spot it, either. It can be
seen for an approximately 50-mile radius around Astoria, which
covers a lot of ground.
Y
COMMUNITY NOTES
SATURDAY
Detachment 1228 Marine
Corps League — noon, El Compa-
dre, 119 Main Ave., Warrenton. For
information, contact Lou Neubecker
at 503-717-0153.
Columbia Northwestern Mod-
el Railroading Club — 1 p.m., in
Hammond. Group runs trains on
HO-scale layout. For information,
call Don Carter at 503-325-0757.
Astoria Fiber Arts Academy, 1296
Duane St. Bring a spinning wheel.
For information, call 503-325-5598
or go to http://astoriafiberarts.com
SUNDAY
Line Dancing — 5:30 to 8 p.m.,
Seaside American Legion, 1315
Broadway. For information, call
503-738-5111. No cost; suggested
$5 tip to the instructor.
MONDAY
Spinning Circle — 1 to 3 p.m.,
Chair Exercises for Seniors
— 9 to 9:45 a.m., Astoria Senior
Center, 1111 Exchange St. For in-
formation, call 503-325-3231.
Scandinavian Workshop —
10 a.m., First Lutheran Church, 725
33rd St. Needlework, hardanger,
knitting, crocheting, embroidery
and quilting. All are welcome. For
information, call 503-325-1364 or
503-325-7960.
Senior Lunch — 11:30 a.m.,
Bob Chisholm Senior Center, 1225
Avenue A, Seaside. Suggested do-
nation $3 for those older than 60;
$6.75 for those younger than 60.
For information, call Michelle Lew-
is at 503-861-4200.
gested donation of $5 for seniors
and $7 for those younger than 60.
For information, or to volunteer, call
503-861-3502 Monday or Thursday.
Columbia Senior Diners —
11:30 a.m., 1111 Exchange St. Cost
is $6. For information, or to have a
meal delivered, call 503-325-9693.
Astoria Rotary Club — noon,
second floor of the Astoria Elks
Lodge, 453 11th St. Guests always
welcome. For information, go to
www.AstoriaRotary.org
Warrenton Senior Lunch Pro-
gram — noon, Warrenton Commu-
nity Center, 170 S.W. Third St. Sug-
Knochlers Pinochle Group —
1 p.m., Bob Chisholm Community
Center, 1225 Avenue A, Seaside.
Cost is $1 per regular session per
person. Players with highest and
second highest scores split the
prize. Game is designed for play-
ers 55 and older, but all ages are
welcome.
Mahjong for Experienced
Players — 1 p.m., Astoria Senior
Center, 1111 Exchange St. For in-
formation, call 503-325-3231.
See NOTES, Page 2B