Conference hydra::dejavu

    Re .0 (Tim):
    
    My father collected elephants.  He said that the only elephants
    worth having were those with their trunks up.  The trunks-down
    elephants were "bad luck" (the "luck" ran down the trunk to the
    ground; a trunk-up elephant retained the "good luck).
    
    I once tried to get him to adopt a baby elephant, but he demurred.
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr.

re: .1 (Steve)

	Must have lived in a really big house!  How many did he have?
	Who had to clean up after them?  ;')))))

	Terry

    Re .2 (Terry):
    
    Well, Tim mentioned a specific type of elephant --
    >            My sister-in-law, when visiting me last week was admiring
    >my collection of (ornamental) elephants in my display cabinet....
     
    My father collected the same kind.  However, if one wishes to collect
    _live_ elephants, it's possible, if one has money for the housing
    and upkeep.  It's worth knowing, though, that to take unwanted hair
    off elephants, the only practical way is to use a blowtorch (the
    elephants' tough skin keeps them from being hurt min the process).
    There are only two species of elephant alive now; this is an order
    of magnitude less than there once was.
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr.

re: .3 (Steve)

        > I once shot an elephant in my pajamas.

	I sure hope you didn't hit anything else in there, how did he
	get in???  ;')...

	Terry

	PS.  While on vacation in Miami I went to the Metro Zoo and
	     saw a piece of Rino hide.  I couldn't believe it.  It
	     was about 3/4 of an inch thick and hard as a rock!
	     It was hairy too.

    
    Small trivial fact - the person who washes the elephant is THE master.
    
    This, of course, only applies to those in captivity.
    
    (8=)=====
    
    Oh well.
    
    Cindy

    You guys haven't been following ANSI standards!  Trunk-in-the-air
    elephants are known as Trunk-bit-set elephants, Those with trunks
    in any other position are trunk-bit-clear elephants.
    
    Trunk-bit-set elephants should face Africa (as setting trunk-bit
    indicates an elephants desire to return to Africa).  Trunk-bit-clear
    elephants should be positioned facing California indicating their
    desire to surf.
    
    (FYI) Most elephants at the Miami Metro Zoo are trunk-bit-clear.
    
    ;-)
    
    jge
                                  

re: .7 (DIXIE1::EHRHARDT)

    > (FYI) Most elephants at the Miami Metro Zoo are trunk-bit-clear.
    
    I saw one once (ceramic type) with it's trunk-bit-clear off...
    (yuck, yuck, yuck...)
    
    Terry  *<;-)
                                  

    Well folks,
              Thank you very much for all your helpful replies, It would
    seem that from your attitudes, the matter that holds your ears apart
    is not unlike the matter that is produced at the rear end of an
    elephant.

    
    RE: .9
    
    	well what did you expect??
    		reminds me of a story...
    
    		A young student was asked to use the word horticulture
    		in a sentence.
    
    		his reply was...
    
    		"You can lead a hor-ti-culture but you cant give her
    		class."
                 
    	Craig

                                   
    One strong point of a community is their ability to laugh as well
    as cry together.  RE.9/.0 - I'm certain that no offense was intended
    here - it is just the nature of the conference to be one of
    lightheartedness when it comes to certain topics.  If what I wrote
    earlier hurt you in any way, then I'm indeed sorry (and in this
    case will creep ever so slowly out on a limb and say that this is 
    true for the rest of those who replied as well...since I happen
    to know most of them personally).
    
    Um, er, ah - Craig.....good example, but 'hor'?  That's kinda um,
    er, ah...well.....
    
    Cindy

re: 9 

	Woah.... No one was poking fun at you or your question.  In fact,
	you got one good reply.  Sorry.  Besides it was Steve with the 
	elephants running through his house and into his pajamas... ;-).

        Cindy is right, we all have a good time here and support each
	other.  

		"A true friend is one that let's you have your own truth."
    		(from 'Out on a Limb')

        If you're new, welcome and join in on the fun and know that no one
	will scoff at you or your ideas.  Possibly disagree in varing degrees,
	but that's part of the community spirit here.

	Terry

    Dear .10,
    
    That was not an anonymous "he"; that was Dorothy Parker.  At the
    Algonquin Roundtable.
    
    						Ann B.

    Tim: (.0 & .9)
    
    I can't offer you a *reason* but, my mother has a (really ugly)
    green ceramic elephant (it's older than I) -- with trunk up-- she
    keeps it on top of the fridge & ALWAYS, BUT ALWAYS it faces East.
    She never told me why - only that its bad luck otherwise.  
    
    She since gave me a clear crystal elephant & I too - though not
    knowing exactly why (only because "mom says so") ALWAYS, BUT ALWAYS,
    face it to the East.
    
    I'll be talking to my mom tonite - I'll ask for more details for
    you.  I've never heard the one about facing the door though...
    
    Mrs. T.

    Hi folks,
            O.K. let's forget it shall we...Re .14 thanks for your
    reply Mrs T. I'll bear (pun not intended !!) it in mind and
    face them towards the east. If your mum can tell you  the reason
    why then I look forward to hearing it... Any more hints anyone ??
    
    Tim (who_does_actually_have_a_sense_of_humour !!)

    Elephants must be white, trunk up, and facing the front door for
    the best of luck to occur. I'll have to check and see if my door
    faces east. 

Lucky you, the hungry little lad might just have eaten all your allowence.

    re: .13  I see you've been watching PBS.  I've been a Dorothy Parker
    fan since I read CREAM OF THE JESTERS (1934) in the mid-'60s.  Her
    heyday pre-dated elephant jokes, so I can't quote anything from her.
    
    Since I have a china elephant I'll have to try it.  (This is the
    first time since I've been noting this file I've had the opportunity
    to test a new superstition.  Very exciting.)
                                        
    							Don

re: (base note)

	I think this confirms some of the comments here.  I went to a
	Thai resturant for lunch today and noticed a 300lb, hand carved
	teakwood elephant inside facing the door.  I asked the owner
	(Thai) if there was any superstition associated with it.  He
	told me that the trunk must curl up (good luck) and that it
	faces the door to frighten off any evil spirits.  He also said
	it is 'gook luck' to rub it's head.  He then said (which doesn't
	make sense to me) that it is not considered superstition, rather
	psi.  Can anybody translate that for me?

	Terry

RE: .19 (Terry)
    
    Superstition is what you call something which you believe to be
    an unjustified belief -- its a negative label.  "Psi" on the
    other hand is "scientific".  So the translation is essentially
    that he didn't feel that this was only a amusing custom which one
    followed without believing it or only half-believing it, but something
    which he felt was "really true".
    
    (By the way, whether or not the belief is true it does not fit the
    technical definition of psi).
    
    					Topher