Reach for it

Ever since I studied Journalism I under the remarkable Clarinda Harriss at the fabled Towson High School, I have  been interested in clever news headlines, grabbers that make you want to read more.

Such as the one she shared from a Baltimore CYO basketball league game:

ARCHBISHOP CURLEY TRAMPLES LITTLE FLOWER

Ever since, I can't fully get rid of the image of an elderly cleric in a cassock, jumping up and down on a helpless peony.

And here's one from 2006:

WORLD'S TALLEST MAN USES ARM TO SAVE DOLPHINS

Caught your interest? But wait! There's more!

Bao Xishun is a Mongolian herdsman who happens to stand 2.36m (7ft 8.95in). They can put the trophy for being The World's Tallest Person on the highest shelf in town, and he can reach it easily.

That's not all he can reach. In the northeast China town of Fushun there is an aquarium, and a pair of dolphins who live there accidentally swallowed some plastic pool devices.  Veterinarians tried to use tools to reach down and extract the plastic, but the dolphins' stomachs contracted, rendering the tools useless and leaving the big fish in big danger.

Days went by and the dolphins were not eating, and sinking into depression. 

Just picture the discussions: surgical instruments were not the answer. It was going to take human hands to extricate the material that would kill the dolphins if not removed. "We need someone who can reach down their necks and get that stuff, but who? WHO?"

Bao, that's who. He agreed to come over and help. Aquarium staff held the fishes' heads back, and wrapped towels around their teeth so that they couldn't hurt Bao, and down he reached.

His arm is just about 42" long, plenty lengthy to reach into the mammal's tummies, and soon the deed was done!

Chen Lujun, the manager of Royal Jidi Ocean World, said the dolphins were in very good condition thanks to Mr Bao.

And a local doctor told the news that "Some very small plastic pieces are still left in the dolphins' stomachs. However the dolphins will be able to digest these and are expected to recover soon."

Bao succeeded Radhouane Charbib of Tunisia, previous holder of the coveted Tallest Man Alive title, by just about 3/4".

My fellow teenagers with growth spurts will be happy to read that Bao was of normal height until age 16, when he went crazy tall and topped out at 93 inches seven years later. 

I'm glad I stopped at 77 inches, although I would be glad to help a small fish in similar circumstances. That's how they developed stuffed flounder, you know.