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WITandWISDOM(tm) - June 8, 2004 ISSN 1538-8794 ~~~~~~~ THOUGHTS: The bubbling brook would lose its song if you removed the rocks. Submitted by Udi Latarre ~~~~~~~ SPECIAL THOUGHTS: Sailors in the 1800's dreaded the dangerous French pass off the coast of New Zealand. Here the Pelorus Sound was full of treacherous currents and jagged rocks that were concealed just below the surface. Many ships were lost in this region. One stormy morning in the 1800s the Brindle, sailing from Boston to Sydney, was having trouble going through the pass when a Risso's dolphin leaped out of the water. The men wanted to harpoon it, but the captain's wife suggested they follow it. Experienced sailors, these men didn't want to listen to a woman, let alone follow a marine animal. Still, they knew that the dolphin had spent his lifetime in these treacherous waters. For years he had plied swiftly through the open channels, avoiding the rocks. Yes, he knew a lot more about Pelorus Sound than they did. So putting aside selfish pride and human judgment, they humbly followed him and made a safe passage! From that time on Pelorus Jack, as they called him, stayed around the Sound. Sailors watched for him. As soon as the dolphin saw a ship he leaped out of the water and was always greeted by a cheer from those on board. For over 20 years from 1888 Pelorus Jack guided ships through those dangerous waters, saving thousands of lives. During those years only one ship struck the jagged rocks and sank. Why? In 1903 a drunken passenger shot at the dolphin, nicking him. For two weeks the animal disappeared, and when he returned to work he refused to guide that one ship, which soon struck the rocks and was lost. For more about the Risso's Dolphin visit: http://whales.gn.apc.org/dolphin5.shtml Source: Stop, Look and Listen by Eileen E. and Jay H. Lantry, © Copyright 1976 by the Review and Herald Publishing Association Submitted by Mary Thayne ~~~~~~~ THIS & THAT: Birthday Belief Systems Idealism: Happy Birthday. Capitalism: I shopped all day for your birthday. Atheism: I can't believe it's your birthday. Existentialism: Your birthday means nothing to me. Sarcasm: You don't look half bad for someone twice your age. Source: Quotes of the Day, mailto:rheamo@centurytel.net?subject=Subscribe_Quotes_of_the_Day ~~~~~~~ KEEP SMILING: A golfer set up his ball on the first tee, took a mighty swing and hit his ball into a clump of trees. He found his ball and saw an opening between two trees he thought he could hit through. Taking out his 3-wood, he took another mighty swing; the ball hit a tree, bounced back, hit him in the forehead and killed him. As he approached the gates of Heaven, St. Peter saw him coming and asked "Are you a good golfer', to which the man replied: "Got here in two, didn't I?" Source: Quotes of the Day, mailto:rheamo@centurytel.net?subject=Subscribe_Quotes_of_the_Day ~~~~~~~ TRIVIA: On the island of Trinidad at La Brea on the south-west coast of Trinidad, there is a crater in an extinct volcano which is completely filled with pitch it is called Pitch Lake. This asphalt is hard enough for people to walk on, even though here and there gas escapes in bubbles from its surface. Train loads of full of asphalt are dug from this tar-like lake and used to pave roads all over the world. Asphalt is mined from the Pitch Lake the world’s largest natural asphalt lake, where reserves are estimated at 420 years. Current sales earn around four to five million United States dollars annually with 90 per cent of production being exported to Germany (54%), the United Kingdom (34%) and the United States (12%). http://www.traveladventures.org/continents/southamerica/pitchlake.shtml http://www.gstt.org/Geology/pitch%20lake.htm http://www.hri.ca/fortherecord2000/documentation/tbodies/ccpr-c-tto-99-3.htm |