next message in archive
no next message in thread
previous message in archive
previous message in thread
Index of Subjects
All The Strange Ho This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_000F_01CCD2EF.09032700 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Dusan, Sorry, it appears you missed the central part of my most recent = message. Certainly I wasn't presenting those three phrases as anything = but similes: "...as we would if we objected to the illogic and (in a = sense) unreliability in metaphors and similes." I'm fully aware of the = difference between parables/fables and similes/metaphors -- I was merely = trying to question being too literal about either. Our discussion of = parables and fables reminded me of ways in which similes are metaphors = can't be appreciated via mere logic (like tales or stories that don't = always follow the laws of nature, they require leaps of imagination). = There have been some interesting pieces written on cases in which the = use of metaphorical leaps have helped lead to scientific = breakthroughs....=20 Brian From: Dusan Soudek=20 Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2012 5:56 PM To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca=20 Subject: Re: [NatureNS] re star-thrower story -- moral?? Brian, the examples you gave are of similes, not parables or fables. The = latter two need some sort of a plot, as they are tales. I am still = contemplating Militaw the Hummingbird, the Star Thrower, and all the = contributions to the discussion on this topic.... :) Dusan Soudek ----- Original Message -----=20 From: Brian Bartlett=20 To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca=20 Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2012 4:49 PM Subject: Re: [NatureNS] re star-thrower story -- moral?? Chris, You're right. We go down a dangerous road when we start taking = parables or fables literally, as we would if we objected to the illogic = and (in a sense) unreliability in metaphors and similes, which are such = bedrocks of our thought and speech, including scientific thought and = speech. "She ran like the wind." "No, she couldn't--the wind doesn't = run." "He drank like a fish." "How could he? -- fish don't drink." = "You're as crazy as a loon. "No, I'm not, because loons aren't insane." cheers, Brian From: Christopher Majka=20 Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2012 1:05 AM To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca=20 Subject: Re: [NatureNS] re star-thrower story -- moral?? Hi folks,=20 Both The Star Thrower story and the Militaw story (today I heard from = someone who had heard the latter story from a Haida Gwaii lady) are = intended to serve as parables, not scientific treatises. In allegorical = fashion they make the point that it is worthwhile for each one of us to = do what we can, to make a contribution. If everyone pitches in, great = things can be achieved. We shouldn't be dissuaded from action because it = seems daunting. No one imagines that such parables are literally true (talking = animals, a hummingbird attempting to put out a forest fire). Parables = are effective because the convey a point that moves people. Better = examples aren't required because these are fables not literal accounts. = Even Eisley's original story is not a scientific narrative, but a = poetical account, in which he writes: "On a point of land, I found the star thrower...I spoke once briefly. = "I understand," I said. "Call me another thrower." Only then I allowed = myself to think, He is not alone any longer. After us, there will be = others...We were part of the rainbow...Perhaps far outward on the rim of = space a genuine star was similarly seized and flung...For a moment, we = cast on an infinite beach together beside an unknown hurler of suns... = We had lost our way, I thought, but we had kept, some of us, the memory = of the perfect circle of compassion from life to death and back to life = again - the completion of the rainbow of existence." Reflect on Tuma's earlier observation: "Some folks can only feed the = birds. Some can educate others about the use of lead in bullets and = sinkers and how this affects the Eagles. Some can help by lobbing = politicians. Others can donate money or support whatever way they can. = Do what you can to help." Cheers, Chris On 13-Jan-12, at 11:27 PM, Brian Bartlett wrote: The radically "abridged" version of the Eisley event almost reads = like an Aesop's fable rather than an account to be taken as = scientifically grounded, but I can see why Jim is bothered by the idea = of thoughtlessly and needlessly tossing star-fish around. Maybe the = First Nations tale retold by Tuma, about the talking hummingbird that = tried to put out a forest fire, is more helpful here, because it's so = obviously a symbolic or visionary fantasy and nobody is going to read it = literally in the way they would a scientific treatise or even a personal = memoir. Brian From: David & Alison Webster Sent: Friday, January 13, 2012 9:37 PM To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca Subject: Re: [NatureNS] re star-thrower story -- moral?? Hi Jim & All, Jan 13, 2012 I agree Jim, if I understand what you are saying. In real life, so far as I know, starfish will not become = stranded above low-low tide, except perhaps by very unlikely mechanisms; = a tidal wave which I suppose might sweep them inland, a very severe = storm that rolled starfish, rock, mussels and byssus threads into a = bundle among other wrack or an earthquake that abruptly raised a section = of beach. But this discussion has perhaps become too serious. If you = search for it, you can find a quote to justify any action. For example, = as explained in a recent issue of National Geographic, one early edition = of the King James Bible omitted a key word from one of the 10 = commandments so that it read "Thou shalt commit adultery.". Presumably = this gave rise to the expression "Praise the Lord". Yt DW, Kentville ----- Original Message ----- From: James W. Wolford To: NatureNS Sent: Friday, January 13, 2012 5:59 PM Subject: [NatureNS] re star-thrower story -- moral?? I am having problems with this whole discussion, because of the = evolutionary adaptations of intertidal organisms like these starfishes = -- I can visualize like-minded people who see barnacles "stranded" = during low tides wanting to use backhoes to get them back into the = water. I of course love the point that I think Helene is getting at, = that one or a few who are doing tiny amounts of some activity whose = effect is very little are setting examples for potential followers to = act in concert, but let's find a better example?=20 Cheers from Jim in Wolfville. Begin forwarded message: From: Helene Van Doninck <helene.birdvet@gmail.com> Date: January 13, 2012 4:30:57 PM AST To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Loren Eiseley Reply-To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca The starfish story is pretty much my daily mantra, and has been = for years. I talk about it to people who think I'm crazy for helping = common species. They all matter, at least to me. Helene On Jan 13, 2012 2:32 PM, "Brian Bartlett" = <bbartlett@eastlink.ca> wrote: Eiseley was a genius of an essayist, memoirist, and nature = writer. The Immense Journey, The Night Country, The Unexpected Universe, = All The Strange Hours -- a few of his most memorable books. The Star = Thrower, which Chris mentions, provided the title for a selection of = Eiseley's writing. But Chris, I'm a bit confused, because "The Star = Thrower" is a 25-page personal essay in the book The Unexpected = Universe, and it doesn't contain the passage you quote below. Did you = find that on-line somewhere? Brian From: Christopher Majka Sent: Friday, January 13, 2012 1:34 PM To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Vogel-the Common Gallinule/ native = story Hi Tuma and Dusan, Tuma's story of Militaw reminds me of The Star Thrower, a = story written<ir.gif> by anthropologist Loren Eisley (1907-1977). = Apparently it was a true story in which Eisley himself was the "elderly = gentleman". ;~> Cheers! Chris - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - = - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - = - - - - - - - - - - - - -=20 The Star Thrower by Loren Eisley=20 While walking along a beach, an elderly gentleman saw someone = in the distance leaning down, picking something up and throwing it into = the ocean. As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a = young man, picking up starfish one by one and tossing each one gently = back into the water. He came closer still and called out, "Good morning! = May I ask what it is that you are doing?" The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing = starfish into the ocean." The old man smiled, and said, "I must ask, then, why are you = throwing starfish into the ocean?" To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is = going out. If I don=EF=BF=BDt throw them in, they=EF=BF=BDll die." Upon hearing this, the elderly observer commented, "But, young = man, do you not realise that there are miles and miles of beach and = there are starfish all along every mile? You can=EF=BF=BDt possibly make = a difference!" The young man listened politely. Then he bent down, picked up = another starfish, threw it into the back into the ocean past the = breaking waves and said, "It made a difference for that one." - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - = - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - = - - - - - - - - - - - - - ------=_NextPart_000_000F_01CCD2EF.09032700 Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META content=3Dtext/html;charset=3Dutf-8 http-equiv=3DContent-Type> <META name=3DGENERATOR content=3D"MSHTML 9.00.8112.16440"> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY=20 style=3D"PADDING-LEFT: 10px; PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; WORD-WRAP: break-word; = PADDING-TOP: 15px; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: = after-white-space"=20 id=3DMailContainerBody leftMargin=3D0 topMargin=3D0 bgColor=3D#ffffff=20 CanvasTabStop=3D"true" name=3D"Compose message area"> <DIV><FONT face=3DCalibri>Dusan, Sorry, it appears you missed the=20 central part of my most recent message. Certainly I wasn't = presenting those=20 three phrases as anything but similes: "...as we would if we objected to = the=20 illogic and (in a sense) unreliability in metaphors and similes." I'm = fully=20 aware of the difference between parables/fables and similes/metaphors -- = I was=20 merely trying to question being too literal about either. Our discussion = of=20 parables and fables reminded me of ways in which similes are = metaphors=20 can't be appreciated via mere logic (like tales or stories that don't = always=20 follow the laws of nature, they require leaps of imagination). There = have been=20 some interesting pieces written on cases in which the use of = metaphorical leaps=20 have helped lead to scientific breakthroughs.... </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=3DCalibri>Brian</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=3DCalibri></FONT> </DIV> <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt Tahoma"> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV style=3D"BACKGROUND: #f5f5f5"> <DIV style=3D"font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A=20 title=3D"mailto:soudekd@ns.sympatico.ca CTRL + Click to follow link" = href=3D"mailto:soudekd@ns.sympatico.ca">Dusan Soudek</A> </DIV> <DIV><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, January 14, 2012 5:56 PM</DIV> <DIV><B>To:</B> <A=20 title=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca CTRL + Click to follow link" = href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</A> = </DIV> <DIV><B>Subject:</B> Re: [NatureNS] re star-thrower story --=20 moral??</DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3D4>Brian,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3D4> the examples you gave are of = <EM>similes</EM>,=20 not parables or fables. The latter two need some sort of a plot, as they = are=20 tales. I am still contemplating Militaw the Hummingbird, the Star = Thrower, and=20 all the contributions to the discussion on this topic.... = :)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3D4> Dusan Soudek</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE=20 style=3D"BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; = PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"=20 dir=3Dltr> <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV=20 style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: = black"><B>From:</B>=20 <A title=3Dbbartlett@eastlink.ca = href=3D"mailto:bbartlett@eastlink.ca">Brian=20 Bartlett</A> </DIV> <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A=20 title=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca CTRL + Click to follow = link"=20 href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</A> = </DIV> <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, January 14, = 2012 4:49=20 PM</DIV> <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [NatureNS] re = star-thrower=20 story -- moral??</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=3DCalibri>Chris, You're right. We go down a dangerous = road when=20 we start taking parables or fables literally, as we would if we = objected to=20 the illogic and (in a sense) unreliability in metaphors and similes, = which are=20 such bedrocks of our thought and speech, including scientific thought = and=20 speech. "She ran like the wind." "No, she couldn't--the wind doesn't = run." "He=20 drank like a fish." "How could he? -- fish don't drink." "You're as = crazy as a=20 loon. "No, I'm not, because loons aren't insane."</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=3DCalibri></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=3DCalibri>cheers, Brian</FONT></DIV> <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt Tahoma"> <DIV><FONT size=3D3 face=3DCalibri></FONT><BR></DIV> <DIV style=3D"BACKGROUND: #f5f5f5"> <DIV style=3D"font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A=20 title=3D"mailto:c.majka@ns.sympatico.ca CTRL + Click to follow = link"=20 href=3D"mailto:c.majka@ns.sympatico.ca">Christopher Majka</A> </DIV> <DIV><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, January 14, 2012 1:05 AM</DIV> <DIV><B>To:</B> <A=20 title=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca CTRL + Click to follow = link"=20 href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</A> = </DIV> <DIV><B>Subject:</B> Re: [NatureNS] re star-thrower story --=20 moral??</DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV>Hi folks,=20 <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>Both The Star Thrower story and the Militaw story = (today I=20 heard from someone who had heard the latter story from a Haida = Gwaii=20 lady) are intended to serve as parables, not scientific = treatises. In=20 allegorical fashion they make the point that it is worthwhile for each = one of=20 us to do what we can, to make a contribution. If everyone pitches in, = great=20 things can be achieved. We shouldn't be dissuaded from action because = it seems=20 daunting.</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>No one imagines that such parables are literally true (talking = animals, a=20 hummingbird attempting to put out a forest fire). Parables are = effective=20 because the convey a point that moves people. Better examples aren't = required=20 because these are fables not literal accounts. Even Eisley's original = story is=20 not a scientific narrative, but a poetical account, in which he = writes:</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>"On a point of land, I found the star thrower...I spoke once = briefly. "I=20 understand," I said. "Call me another thrower." Only then I allowed = myself to=20 think, He is not alone any longer. After us, there will be others...We = were=20 part of the rainbow...Perhaps far outward on the rim of space a = genuine star=20 was similarly seized and flung...For a moment, we cast on an infinite = beach=20 together beside an unknown hurler of suns... We had lost our way, I = thought,=20 but we had kept, some of us, the memory of the perfect circle of = compassion=20 from life to death and back to life again - the completion of the = rainbow of=20 existence."</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>Reflect on Tuma's earlier observation: "Some folks can only feed = the=20 birds. Some can educate others about the use of lead in bullets = and=20 sinkers and how this affects the Eagles. Some can help by lobbing = politicians.=20 Others can donate money or support whatever way they can. Do = what you=20 can to help."</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>Cheers,</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>Chris</DIV> <DIV><BR> <DIV> <DIV>On 13-Jan-12, at 11:27 PM, Brian Bartlett wrote:</DIV><BR=20 class=3DApple-interchange-newline> <BLOCKQUOTE type=3D"cite"> <DIV=20 style=3D"PADDING-LEFT: 10px; PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; WORD-WRAP: = break-word; PADDING-TOP: 15px; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; = -webkit-line-break: after-white-space"=20 id=3DMailContainerBody name=3D"Compose message area" = canvastabstop=3D"true"=20 bgcolor=3D"#ffffff" topmargin=3D"0" leftmargin=3D"0"> <DIV><FONT face=3DCalibri>The radically "abridged" version of the = Eisley event=20 almost reads like an Aesop's fable rather than an account to be = taken=20 as scientifically grounded, but I can see why Jim is bothered by the = idea of=20 thoughtlessly and needlessly tossing star-fish around. Maybe the = First=20 Nations tale retold by Tuma, about the talking hummingbird that = tried to put=20 out a forest fire, is more helpful here, because it's so obviously a = symbolic or visionary fantasy and nobody is going to read it = literally in=20 the way they would a scientific treatise or even a personal=20 memoir.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=3DCalibri>Brian</FONT></DIV> <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt Tahoma"> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV=20 style=3D"BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(245,245,245); background-origin: = initial; background-clip: initial"> <DIV><B>From:</B><SPAN class=3DApple-converted-space> </SPAN><A = title=3D"mailto:dwebster@glinx.com CTRL + Click to follow link"=20 href=3D"mailto:dwebster@glinx.com">David & Alison = Webster</A></DIV> <DIV><B>Sent:</B><SPAN = class=3DApple-converted-space> </SPAN>Friday,=20 January 13, 2012 9:37 PM</DIV> <DIV><B>To:</B><SPAN class=3DApple-converted-space> </SPAN><A=20 title=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca CTRL + Click to follow = link"=20 = href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</A></DIV>= <DIV><B>Subject:</B><SPAN = class=3DApple-converted-space> </SPAN>Re:=20 [NatureNS] re star-thrower story -- moral??</DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3D2>Hi Jim & All, = =20 = =20 Jan 13, 2012</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3D2> I agree Jim, if I understand = what you=20 are saying.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3D2> In real life, so far as = I know,=20 starfish will not become stranded above low-low tide, = except=20 perhaps by very unlikely mechanisms; a tidal wave which I = suppose might=20 sweep them inland, a very severe storm that rolled starfish, = rock,=20 mussels and byssus threads into a bundle among other = wrack or an=20 earthquake that abruptly raised a section of beach.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3D2> But this discussion has = perhaps become=20 too serious. If you search for it, you can find a quote to justify = any=20 action. For example, as explained in a recent issue of National = Geographic,=20 one early edition of the King James Bible omitted a key word from = one of the=20 10 commandments so that it read "Thou shalt commit adultery.". = Presumably=20 this gave rise to the expression "Praise the = Lord".</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3D2>Yt DW, Kentville</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE=20 style=3D"BORDER-LEFT: rgb(0,0,0) 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; = PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"=20 dir=3Dltr> <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message -----</DIV> <DIV=20 style=3D"BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(228,228,228); FONT: 10pt arial; = background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial"><B>From:</B><SPAN=20 class=3DApple-converted-space> </SPAN><A = title=3Djimwolford@eastlink.ca=20 href=3D"mailto:jimwolford@eastlink.ca">James W. Wolford</A></DIV> <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B><SPAN=20 class=3DApple-converted-space> </SPAN><A=20 title=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca CTRL + Click to follow = link"=20 href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca">NatureNS</A></DIV> <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B><SPAN=20 class=3DApple-converted-space> </SPAN>Friday, January 13, = 2012 5:59=20 PM</DIV> <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B><SPAN=20 class=3DApple-converted-space> </SPAN>[NatureNS] re = star-thrower story=20 -- moral??</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV>I am having problems with this whole discussion, = because of=20 the evolutionary adaptations of intertidal organisms like these = starfishes=20 -- I can visualize like-minded people who see barnacles "stranded" = during=20 low tides wanting to use backhoes to get them back into the water. = I=20 of course love the point that I think Helene is getting at, that = one or a=20 few who are doing tiny amounts of some activity whose effect is = very=20 little are setting examples for potential followers to act in = concert, but=20 let's find a better example?=20 <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>Cheers from Jim in Wolfville.<BR> <DIV><BR> <DIV>Begin forwarded message:</DIV><BR = class=3DApple-interchange-newline> <BLOCKQUOTE type=3D"cite"> <DIV style=3D"MARGIN: 0px"><FONT=20 style=3D"FONT: 12px Helvetica; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)" = color=3D#000000 size=3D3=20 face=3DHelvetica><B>From:<SPAN=20 class=3DApple-converted-space> </SPAN></B></FONT><FONT=20 style=3D"FONT: 12px Helvetica" size=3D3 face=3DHelvetica>Helene = Van Doninck=20 <<A=20 title=3D"mailto:helene.birdvet@gmail.com CTRL + Click to follow = link"=20 = href=3D"mailto:helene.birdvet@gmail.com">helene.birdvet@gmail.com</A>>= </FONT></DIV> <DIV style=3D"MARGIN: 0px"><FONT=20 style=3D"FONT: 12px Helvetica; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)" = color=3D#000000 size=3D3=20 face=3DHelvetica><B>Date:<SPAN=20 class=3DApple-converted-space> </SPAN></B></FONT><FONT=20 style=3D"FONT: 12px Helvetica" size=3D3 face=3DHelvetica>January = 13, 2012=20 4:30:57 PM AST</FONT></DIV> <DIV style=3D"MARGIN: 0px"><FONT=20 style=3D"FONT: 12px Helvetica; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)" = color=3D#000000 size=3D3=20 face=3DHelvetica><B>To:<SPAN=20 class=3DApple-converted-space> </SPAN></B></FONT><FONT=20 style=3D"FONT: 12px Helvetica" size=3D3 face=3DHelvetica><A=20 title=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca CTRL + Click to follow = link"=20 = href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</A></FONT= ></DIV> <DIV style=3D"MARGIN: 0px"><FONT=20 style=3D"FONT: 12px Helvetica; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)" = color=3D#000000 size=3D3=20 face=3DHelvetica><B>Subject:<SPAN=20 class=3DApple-converted-space> </SPAN></B></FONT><FONT=20 style=3D"FONT: 12px Helvetica" size=3D3 face=3DHelvetica><B>Re: = [NatureNS]=20 Loren Eiseley</B></FONT></DIV> <DIV style=3D"MARGIN: 0px"><FONT=20 style=3D"FONT: 12px Helvetica; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)" = color=3D#000000 size=3D3=20 face=3DHelvetica><B>Reply-To:<SPAN=20 class=3DApple-converted-space> </SPAN></B></FONT><FONT=20 style=3D"FONT: 12px Helvetica" size=3D3 face=3DHelvetica><A=20 title=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca CTRL + Click to follow = link"=20 = href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</A></FONT= ></DIV> <DIV style=3D"MARGIN: 0px; MIN-HEIGHT: 14px"><BR></DIV> <P>The starfish story is pretty much my daily mantra, and has = been for=20 years. I talk about it to people who think I'm crazy for helping = common=20 species. They all matter, at least to me.<BR>Helene</P> <DIV class=3Dgmail_quote>On Jan 13, 2012 2:32 PM, "Brian = Bartlett" <<A=20 = href=3D"mailto:bbartlett@eastlink.ca">bbartlett@eastlink.ca</A>>=20 wrote:<BR type=3D"attribution"> <BLOCKQUOTE=20 style=3D"Z-INDEX: auto; POSITION: static; BORDER-LEFT: = rgb(204,204,204) 1px solid; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; PADDING-LEFT: = 1ex"=20 class=3Dgmail_quote><U></U> <DIV=20 style=3D"PADDING-LEFT: 10px; PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; WORD-WRAP: = break-word; PADDING-TOP: 15px"=20 name=3D"Compose message area"> <DIV><FONT face=3DCalibri>Eiseley was a genius of an essayist, = memoirist, and nature writer. The Immense Journey, The Night = Country,=20 The Unexpected Universe, All The Strange Hours -- a few of his = most=20 memorable books. The Star Thrower, which Chris mentions, = provided the=20 title for a selection of Eiseley's writing. But Chris, I'm a = bit=20 confused, because "The Star Thrower" is a 25-page personal = essay in=20 the book The Unexpected Universe, and it doesn't contain the = passage=20 you quote below. Did you find that on-line = somewhere?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=3DCalibri>Brian</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=3DCalibri></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=3DCalibri></FONT> </DIV> <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt Tahoma"> <DIV=20 style=3D"BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(245,245,245); = background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial"> <DIV><B>From:</B><SPAN = class=3DApple-converted-space> </SPAN><A=20 title=3D"mailto:c.majka@ns.sympatico.ca CTRL + Click to follow = link"=20 href=3D"mailto:c.majka@ns.sympatico.ca" = target=3D_blank>Christopher=20 Majka</A></DIV> <DIV><B>Sent:</B><SPAN=20 class=3DApple-converted-space> </SPAN>Friday, January 13, = 2012 1:34=20 PM</DIV> <DIV><B>To:</B><SPAN = class=3DApple-converted-space> </SPAN><A=20 title=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca CTRL + Click to follow = link"=20 href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca"=20 target=3D_blank>naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</A></DIV> <DIV><B>Subject:</B><SPAN = class=3DApple-converted-space> </SPAN>Re:=20 [NatureNS] Vogel-the Common Gallinule/ native = story</DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>Hi Tuma and Dusan,</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>Tuma's story of Militaw reminds me of The Star = Thrower, a=20 story written<SPAN><ir.gif></SPAN> by = anthropologist Loren=20 Eisley (1907-1977). Apparently it was a true story in=20 which Eisley himself was the "elderly gentleman". = ;~></DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>Cheers!</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>Chris</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - = - -=20 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - = - - - -=20 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - = - -=20 - </DIV> <DIV><B>The Star Thrower</B></DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>by Loren Eisley </DIV> <P>While walking along a beach, an elderly gentleman saw = someone in=20 the distance leaning down, picking something up and throwing = it into=20 the ocean. As he got closer, he noticed that the figure = was that=20 of a young man, picking up starfish one by one and tossing = each one=20 gently back into the water. He came closer still and = called out,=20 "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?"</P> <P>The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing = starfish=20 into the ocean."</P> <P>The old man smiled, and said, "I must ask, then, why are = you=20 throwing starfish into the ocean?"</P> <P>To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide = is=20 going out. If I don=EF=BF=BDt throw them in, they=EF=BF=BDll = die."</P> <P>Upon hearing this, the elderly observer commented, "But, = young man,=20 do you not realise that there are miles and miles of beach and = there=20 are starfish all along every mile? You can=EF=BF=BDt possibly = make a=20 difference!"</P> <P>The young man listened politely. Then he bent down, picked = up=20 another starfish, threw it into the back into the ocean past = the=20 breaking waves and said, "It made a difference for that = one."</P> <P><BR></P> <P>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - = - - -=20 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - = - - - -=20 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - = - -</P> = <DIV> </DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR></DIV></= BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR=20 = class=3DApple-interchange-newline></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR></DIV></BLOCKQUO= TE></BODY></HTML> ------=_NextPart_000_000F_01CCD2EF.09032700--
next message in archive
no next message in thread
previous message in archive
previous message in thread
Index of Subjects