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Index of Subjects
All The Strange Ho
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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."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - =
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - =
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
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<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>
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<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>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - =
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<DIV> </DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR></DIV></=
BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR=20
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class=3DApple-interchange-newline></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR></DIV></BLOCKQUO=
TE></BODY></HTML>
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