Robinson Island Treasure

This update is fueled by a Parrilla and a liter of Hieneken in western Argentina. A Parilla is a mix of different beef parts like intestines, blood, kidney, and stomach. I think I'd have to say at this point that I'd rather they ground it all up and served me a hamburger with lots of ketsup. Maybe in Buenos Aires things will get better. I just finished a month on a farm within Pumalin Park, Chile and two days rafting on the Futeleufu River, one of the best in the world for rafting. Both deserve some more description. But, my travels start with three months on Robinson Crusoe Island, about which I should at least mention.

I spent October, November and December on my knees identifying plants which were giving me alergies on a crazy island 400 miles off the coast of Chile, and part of that country. The island was discovered (for real, not just in eurocentric terms) in 1574 by Juan Fernandez. At that time, 70% of the plants of the island were evolutionarily unique, aka endemic--the highest rate in the world. Some of these species have since been pushed into extinction, but the percentage has changed mostly due to species introductions--the subject of the study that brought me to the island.

While we quietly did our work in the next valley over a treasure hunt went on, directed by Bernard Kaiser. to be continued. . .

Concepcion, Chile

So far, I have conducted a quick survey of people on the bus from Santiago and amoung the youngsters that I've met through my friends in Concepcion (one has been here for 7 months). Almost to a person, when I bring up Robinson Carusoe Island I get an excited response about how unique the flora is there and how important a place it is. Of course, they are right: it has by some estimates the most unique flora in all of planet Earth, with 70% of species endemic. Hearing this articulated by 21 year old teaching students is pretty cool.

Another cool find: super nasturiums growing as weeds alongside the soccer field.

Update: It's Robinson Crusoe Island, not Robinson Carusoe Island.

What I've been up to this summer

From your phone to your phone traffic data

An NSF funded project that I ran across, using anonymous cell phone location data to show real-time traffic details. It is always reassuring that somebody is thinking creatively out there. Even if is solves problems that control ubran sprawl, there are climate change, not to mention mental health, benefits to reducing traffic congestion.

Photo credit: IntelliOne Technologies Corporation

Pig N Fords

Here is how the official website describes this year's 81st annual Pig N Ford races at the Tillamook County Fair:

Saturday World Championships

1. Bobby Wasmer
2. Marty Walker
3. Chris Hurliman
4. John Haertel
5. Ben Salo (DQ)

"Bobby had a great start and was able to jump to the early lead and never look back. Marty stayed close throughout the race trying to find an opening. John had some starting troubles, which gave Chris the opening to get the final trophy position. Ben decided to have a little fun while he was in the back of the pack and skip an exchange for fun. The crowd loved it and was able to finish third without the final exchange, but skipping the last exchange is against the rules."

Indeed it was an exciting event, made especially entertaining, as they describe, when Ben skipped the third exchange after trouble with the hand cranking during the second exchange put him out of reach of winning.

Wait. . . What about the fact that the sport entails grabbing a screaming piglet under the arm and racing around a horsetrack in a working model T Ford? After 81 years of Pig n Fords, Tillamook County has, believe it or not, made this ritual normal, and non-ironic, within its borders. I'd guess 5,000 people came from around Oregon to see this feat.

After the race, at which PETA was completely absent (It is easy to think the race is cruel to the pigs, but it is nothing compared to the feedlots they were born in), the pigs get auctioned off. My local natural meat provider, Lance, bought six and is fattening them up right now. They will be ready for purchase in late November or December.