Re: what's in a name?

[dmorgan <dmorgan@exesolutions.com>]

jamolnar@juno.com wrote:
> 
> On Mon, 18 Aug 1997 03:14:38 -0400 (EDT) JH6669@aol.com writes:
> >
> >I've been reading the messages here for a while, but this is my first
> >time to
> >post, so if i make a fool of myself, please, be kind.
> >
> >In a message dated 97-08-18 03:05:06 EDT, you write:
> >
> ><< >Date: Sun, 17 Aug 1997 08:08:32 +1000
> > >From: Dann Pigdon <dannj@alphalink.com.au>
> > excerpt:
> > >(and let's face it, palaeontology is never
> > >going to build alternative power plants or cure cancer)
> >
> > I think you underestimate the power of studying the past.  It's an
> >exacting
> > study of the environment, physiology, and behavior of animals who
> >held
> > 'control' of the planet far longer than we have and then
> >disappeared.  (No
> > offense to our feathered friends).  By neccesity, the detective work
> > consists of sifting for the teeniest of clues, building theories
> >around a
> > tooth or footprint, and arguing the unanswerable.  Add to that the
> >brain
> > power, education, and passion of the folks involved.  What awesome
> > potential for discovery!
> >
> > Who can guess what breakthroughs and insights into the survival of
> > individuals, species, or our battered little home world may emerge
> >from
> > this incredible field!?! >>
> >
> >There is a reason dinosaurs went extinct, and if we find out that
> >reason, it
> >may help us to hold off our own extinction.  Learning of the past can
> >be a
> >great help with the future.
> 
> Possibly true, but the difference is we are aware of possible threats to
> human existence.  The dinosaurs weren't aware, and even if they were,
> they probably couldn't have done anything about it!
> 
> The average life span of most species is on the order of a few million
> years.  They either evolve into other species or go extinct.  How long we
> will last as a species is anyone's guess.  But being self-aware, and also
> aware of other extinctions, we may have an edge, as long as we pay
> attention to the warnings and don't over-react to false alarms.
> 
> Judy Molnar
> Education Associate, Virginia Living Museum
> vlmed@juno.com
> jamolnar@juno.com
> All questions are valid; all answers are tentative.


I was subscribed to this any many other newsgroups by some maliciuus
person. Please give me the information on how to unsubscribe.

Thanks,

Dan