Thursday, December 24, 2015

December 24 – “The Final Update”

Let me do a quick whale update.  First reports had the whale as a pygmy sperm.  Apparently after getting closer, that was changed.  They are still waiting for DNA results to confirm, but it looks now like it was actually a Sei Whale, a member of the blue whale family that is on the endangered species list. 

Yesterday the necropsy was performed to get tissue and body part samples (teeth and a vertebra) for study.  Oh, I looked up the difference between an autopsy and a necropsy.  Seems they are the exact same thing – an examination of a body after death – but autopsies are only for humans and necropsies cover everything else.  The definitions read like this: “Autopsy: a necropsy on human beings.  Necropsy: an autopsy on animals.”  That clears that up. 

They buried the remains on the beach not far from where it was brought ashore.  Ordinarily they would haul it to an undisclosed location, but Galveston didn’t have any machinery heavy enough to handle the load.  So, rest in peace, Sei.

Luke 2:16-20 says, “So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.  When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.  But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.  The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.”


Father, thank you again for the time and effort put in by all the people involved in the efforts to deal with this really rare event.  Amen.

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