Subject: a reflection on science
Date: Feb 15 19:35:34 2000
From: Pterodroma at aol.com - Pterodroma at aol.com


2/15/00, dpaulson at ups.edu (Dennis Paulson) writes:

<< This is from a really wonderful book, especially if you're interested in
marine ecosystems and conservation: Song for the Blue Ocean, by Carl
Safina, Henry Holt and Company, New York, 1997. The author is knowledgeable
about birds, and birds are mentioned here and there, but the book is mostly
about fish and fisheries. >>

Oh, great post Dennis! Like minds read alike, though admittedly I'm I far
below your level and league, but I will shout a hearty second to this book
recommendation!

I might also add that I had the most inspirational and delightful pleasure of
sailing with Carl Safina onboard the NOAA R/V "David Starr Jordan" for three
weeks in October 1999. He joined one 3-1/2 week long leg (Costa Rica -
Galapagos - Peru) of the exhaustive 4-1/2 month long NOAA sponsored 1999
marine mammal and seabird research odyssey in the Eastern Tropical Pacific as
our special 'guest scientist'. He was our constant companion on the flying
bridge during our research operations, offering wonderful insight and
commentary and in turn we were able to share with him numerous 'life'
seabirds and marine mammals. Carl's mind is on constant autopilot and with
the generally relaxed environment up there on the flying bridge with it's
commanding overview of the 'blue ocean', and when not pausing to view another
life bird or interesting dolphin, whale, or turtle encounter, Carl was busy
chattering away into his hand held micro tape recorder, recording and
'writing' his thoughts and his next book. Even as the nightly ritual of
those most fanciful of all seabirds, the Swallow-tailed Gulls, illuminated by
the deck lights and gracefully danced over the darkened sea in search of
laternfish (Mectophids) during our equally ritualistic nocturnal flying fish
dipnetting sessions, Carl was always on hand with but one hand, while the
other clasp the ever present tape recorder.

Just a side note; an engine problem onboard the ship resulted in a 5 day
unscheduled delay and extended stay in the Galapagos (Isla Santa Cruz at
Puerto Ayora), ...a real shame, bummer, huh :-)) ... but which put Carl
quite on edge as the day after day delay meant a setback for scheduled
arrival in Peru. Carl had a big keynote speaking engagement scheduled in
Miami and was on pins and needles as to whether he would actually be able to
meet that obligation. With less than 24 hours upon arrival in Peru, Carl
apparently made his appointment with but seconds to spare, or rather a few
minutes late even, literally going straight from the Miami airport to the
venue, and I'm sure full of tales and 'song for the blue ocean'.

An exceptional individual and a book full of inspiration and insight that is
worthy of your time to provoke thought and contemplation.

****************************************************
Richard Rowlett (Pterodroma at aol.com)
47.56N, 122.13W
Bellevue (Eastgate), WA, USA

"Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what
nobody has thought" --Albert Szent-Gyorgi (1893-1986).
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