hi all; the only problem is that the star naming scheme is just that, a scheme. It has NO legal valididy what so ever. You get a piece of paper saying that a star of a certain # in a certain location is now named after you. It has been proven that often there are no stars in that location, or by that # in existance. It makes a nice gift and conversation piece but is not regognised by any international body. Will the shell name for fee be the same? Thomas Clenche Snowing for 4 days straight in Newfoundland. >From: "Monfils, Paul" <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: Conchologists of America List <[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: Is This the Future for Taxonomic Research? >Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2000 13:34:36 -0500 > >I think it all depends on how you view it. A university names the new >library or gym after the person who provided the funds to build it. This >is >usually viewed as a valid means of honoring and thanking the contributor, >rather than an outright cash purchase of notoriety. The idea of naming a >species after someone in return for cash could likewise be viewed as the >outright purchase of a taxon, which sounds a bit tacky, though not overly >horrific from my point of view (after all, there are thousands of new ones >available every year). Or - it could be viewed as justly honoring a person >who has made a significant contribution to research by way of financial >support. In any case, I believe the astronomers beat the biologists to it >on this one. I recall reading, some years ago - I don't remember where - >of >the possibility of having a star named after you, in return for a sizeable >monetary contribution. >Paul M. ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com