Moving story on Moth Radio Hour
Annie Deighnaugh
4 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (12)
rockypointdog
4 years agomarilyn_c
4 years agoRelated Discussions
Utah road trip (long story).
Comments (5)Sherry, The Mojave is considered a "high and dry" desert. The high because it is between 2,000'-5,000' in elevation. The dry because on average it only gets a little over 2" of rainfall per year. The low precipitation is because of the rain shadow effect of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, where falling moisture normally evaporates before it hits the ground. Hard to believe when the early or late monsoons are in and a thunderstorm floods the valley in mere minutes. It doesn't rain cats and dogs because they too head for cover when the sky opens up and literally dumps. It's common that 30 minutes later the water has soaked in and the surface is bone dry again. The Mojave is the most unique and diversified of our four deserts because it is nestled between a high plateau (cold) and a low (hot) desert. So it has habitats within it that run from one extreme to the other north to south and east to west. That is why it is anything but bleak, hosts more species of flora and fauna than any of the other deserts, and on the edges can be effected by non desert habitats. The canyon above starts low in the desert on the very edge of the true Mojave and the upper couple of miles of it runs into the lower foothills of the nearby high mountains that do get a snow base. Enough of a snow base to have a small year-round stream feed by those mountains. So along the stream it is very riparian habitat, and 20' away very desert habitat going up into high plateau desert habitat on the rim rock cliffs. IOW, a very diversified place with all habitats present except for the high riparian and arctic/alpine. So both plants and animals from the higher habitats can spread down into the true desert along the narrow stream corridor. That allows all species found in that greater part of the country to live and thrive in the same place. Not a well known place to Lepidopterists like Madera Canyon in SE AZ is, but it is truly a heaven for plant and bug diversity, and about the farthest north magnet for stray species migrating from as far away as Central America. The Las Vegas Valley, being 160 miles further down into the true Mojave doesn't share that diversity, except to a point on its NW edge where the Spring Mountains also create a drier but still riparian habitat. These mountains being well isolated and surrounded by the desert is what makes them unique. Being isolated from the gene pool, species have evolved on their own there into species that exist no where else on earth. The other areas around the valley are anything but bleak though, but the flora and fauna have had to adapt to and find their own niches to survive and flourish there. It may appear bleak to those who do not know how to find those niches, but it is far from it. BTW, there are many species that use cactus and succulents for their larval food plant. From utilizing the new growth, leaves, florens, or tunneling into the roots or stems. My son always loved going on Megathymus and Agathymus larva/pupa "digs", and we got a kick out of handing visiting newbie bug collectors a shovel instead of a net to go collect them. Larry Gene, Even though I have collected in many beautiful places around the world, I'd sure like to be able to go back to the Beartooth Plateau on the WY/MT border just one more time. Won't happen, but out of the hundreds/thousands of places I have been studying bugs, it is easily my favorite. It's a place every budding Lepidopterist should visit at last once in their lifetime, and although 11,000'-14,000' feet high, it can be easily accessed along Highway 212 even in a motor home. Seeing millions (literally) of dozens of arctic/alpine species of butterflies on the wing all at the same time is a sight few would ever forget, and there are species there that are not found anywhere else. Larry...See MorePart 2 Adventures of Gomer & Margie (Story Using TV Shows)
Comments (3)Haahahahaa! Karen this is SO funny. I'm bursting into laughter reading these posts again, and remembering writing and reading them at the time. Well done! And my favourite part about Martha Stewart dropping in with her dish towel parachute!!! WAY too funny!...See MoreRadio Dog Fence for new house
Comments (18)I have seen a photograph of a dog who was left outside with the collar on, unsupervised. The thing shorted out and you can see two burned black holes in the dog's neck where the electrodes sat and tortured him. If you get this, leave the collars off until it is ready for the dogs to go outside, then supervise the dogs while out there. Inconvenient? Well, yeah! That is what you get when you do this. Read the instructions. Do they say to supervise the dogs, not leave the collars on? Believe them. Some dogs should NEVER have this kind of fence. Check with the breeder of your dog, or with those who have dogs of that breed and see what they think about the shock collar fences for the dogs. Hounds generally are not good with them. Remember that neighborhood kids, other dogs, wildlife, and anything else out there will have access to your dog, but your dog will only be able to escape by running to the house. It is not protected at all in your yard....See MoreAnyone else listen to The Moth Radio Hour?
Comments (11)If you like the Moth, you would love This American Life. I have the app on my iphone and I listen when I walk or drive longer distances. TAL has a theme for each broadcast and then 2-4 "acts" or stories that go along with the theme. I listened to one yesterday about 2 young children who were present at the burglary/murders of their mother and friends mother and how they reacted when they returned to the scene 30 years later. They are not all so tragic--some deal with the politics of the time, some are stories of people wronged and how they deal with it, some are just life stories. I like TAL better than the Moth, but I listen to them both....See Moregraywings123
4 years agonicole___
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoDLM2000-GW
4 years agoSuzieque
4 years agodedtired
4 years agobpath
4 years agoMichael
4 years agocran
4 years ago
Related Stories
ARCHITECTURETell a Story With Design for a More Meaningful Home
Go beyond a home's bones to find the narrative at its heart, for a more rewarding experience
Full StoryLIFEIs Cabin Fever Real? Share Your Story
Are snow piles across the U.S. leading to masses of irritability and boredom? We want to hear your experience
Full StoryLIFERetirement Reinvention: Boomers Plot Their Next Big Move
Choosing a place to settle in for the golden years? You're not alone. Where boomers are going and what it might look like
Full StoryLIFE7 Things to Do Before You Move Into a New House
Get life in a new house off to a great start with fresh paint and switch plates, new locks, a deep cleaning — and something on those windows
Full StoryMOVING10 Rooms That Show You Don’t Need to Move to Get More Space
Daydreaming about moving or expanding but not sure if it’s practical right now? Consider these alternatives
Full StoryBATHROOM STORAGE10 Design Moves From Tricked-Out Bathrooms
Cool splurges: Get ideas for a bathroom upgrade from these clever bathroom cabinet additions
Full StoryBATHROOM MAKEOVERSRoom of the Day: See the Bathroom That Helped a House Sell in a Day
Sophisticated but sensitive bathroom upgrades help a century-old house move fast on the market
Full StoryMOST POPULAR15 Remodeling ‘Uh-Oh’ Moments to Learn From
The road to successful design is paved with disaster stories. What’s yours?
Full StoryDECORATING GUIDES16 Lounges Go Wild for Science at San Francisco's Exploratorium
See the imaginative designs concocted and let us know which style formula works best for you
Full StoryMOST POPULAROvernight Guests Coming? How to Be a Great Host
Ensure a good time for all — including yourself — by following these steps for preparing for and hosting houseguests
Full Story
IdaClaire