October 16, 2008
What's in This Issue:
This issue is not a scheduled issue, so please forgive me for sending it right now. I know that you and I have an agreement that I won't send a lot of e-mail and fill up your inbox. These specials came to me in mid-month, probably because of the economy.
I don't know what's around the corner for November as far as our offers go. I'll check for some deep discounts, shipping deals and any features that I know you will want to know about. Hopefully, the suppliers will be able to get them to me early, so I can pass the offers on to you.
I just got notice of an incredible sale on cat furniture that will end before the month runs out. I couldn't let it pass because of the deal. I also got a few coupon-style goodies in another e-mail, so I'm including them for you.
A friend, Karen Pryor, of Clickertraining fame, sent me a great Halloween story...
Once upon a time in Chile
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My second husband, Jon Lindbergh, was an aquaculture expert with many clients in South America. I often traveled with Jon when he visited these clients (in the book you will meet some amazing Brazilian dolphins I ran into on one of those trips). Anyway, on this trip we were in Chile, visiting a salmon farm in a remote part of the southern archipelago. The area is where the Andes dip down into the sea, leaving a scattering of little islands that are actually flooded mountaintops.
Jon and I and several fish-farm workers were crossing a small bay in a workboat, heading for the salmon pens, when I spotted a few little dolphins in the distance. I knew what they were: Cephalorhyncus eutropia, a shy and little-known animal that lives in small groups along these sheltered shores.
I had been bickering with Ken Norris (marine scientist and my scientific mentor) about the color of this species. He had seen them from shipboard and dubbed them (in print!) the Black Chilean Dolphin, but I've seen them around the fish farms and they're definitely not black.
I wanted a closer look, but the guys said the animals would leave if we went toward them. I suggested calling them over instead. Dubious smiles all around, but they stopped the boat. I noticed some short lengths of aluminum pipe lying on the floorboards. I asked one of the guys to hold one end of a piece of pipe in the water and bang on the other end with another piece; that would make a very distinct sound underwater. I could have done the pipe work, but I needed my hands free for the camera.
The fish farmer started tapping out a nice little samba rhythm. Immediately, the little dolphins stirred, turned, and came over to us. They were much smaller than good old Flipper, the Atlantic bottlenose—think cocker spaniel compared to golden retriever. They swirled around and under the boat, inspecting and almost touching the pipe.
These dolphins don't have beaks or snouts; their faces just come to a point like a toy animal. Cute! They proved to be light beige on top, with a cream-colored hourglass pattern on the belly (they obligingly swam upside down quite a lot). Most of them were also decorated with, of all things, a little white ring around the neck like a collar. I got some clear pictures.
Before the little dolphins lost interest, I sat down and told the guys that was enough. The samba rhythm stopped, and the dolphins left immediately. There's considerable benefit in being able to bewitch your research subjects.
I noticed the guys were looking at me sideways. These dolphins never come around boats, they told me. (For good reason—I bet local people have tried hunting them in the past.) So, obviously, I have arcane powers. I'm probably a witch! At the salmon pens they handed me out of the boat onto the floating walkway very respectfully, but they whispered to the guys working at the pens as I passed.
Well, maybe they're right. This witch can read the future. I bet they tried the pipe business again after I left, and I bet it didn't work. Having satisfied their curiosity, the cute little dolphins wouldn't respond the second time around. That, too, would have been easily explained by the crew—when I left the fish farm I took my magic powers with me.
There's considerable benefit in being able to bewitch your research subjects. When I got home I contributed the photos to another scientist's monograph on the genus Cephalorhynchus. I also sent a full set of color prints to Ken Norris. End of discussion.
Happy Halloween!
Mid Month Specials
 
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Entirely Pets, the supplier for many of the products on this website, is offering 5% off all orders. Use the coupon code OCTBRFNL. Some of the items they carry that you might want to check include...
 Cat Attract Litter Treatment | A Nail Grinder Kit, includes all the attachments |
If you need some chemicals, like flea stuff, or other medications, consider 1-800-PetMeds
Offer: $5 off
Expiration: none
Code: WEBC5
Offer: 5% off
Expiration: none
Code: W5PER
Offer: Free Shipping on Orders over $39
Expiration: none
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Offer: Volume Discounts
$5 off: $100 order
$10 off: $150 order
$15 off: $250 order
$20 off: $300 order
Expiration: none
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