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Joined: Jan 2001
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Carpal Tunnel
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OP
Carpal Tunnel
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diasyrmus Many years ago a popular columnist, Bill Cunningham of the Boston Herald was convinced that water could be found by "dowsing". He had a friend, he wrote, who had been able to locate water in Bermuda,by pointing his dowsing rod at a map of Bermuda.I cite that story when anyone tells me they believe in dowsing. Can I call that "diasyrmos"? di'-a-syrm-os Gk. "a tearing in pieces" Also sp. diasyrmos elevatio, irrisio, vexatio
Rejecting an argument through ridiculous comparison. Examples Arguing that we can clean up government by better regulating elections is like asking a dog to quit marking his territory by lifting his hind leg. Related Figures Figures of Refutation apodioxis hyperbole Related Topics of Invention Comparison See Also Sources: Aquil. 15 ("diasyrmus," "elevatio," "irrisio"); Sherry (1550) 61 ("diasirmus," "elevacio"); Peacham (1577) D4r
© 1996-2003, Gideon O. Burton, Brigham Young University Please cite "Silva Rhetoricae" (rhetoric.byu.edu)
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Trees | SILVA RHETORICAE | Flowers
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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Posts: 1,773 |
You have to admit, Dr Bill, that there is a great deal of water around Bermuda.
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Carpal Tunnel
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OP
Carpal Tunnel
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But the water around it is not potable. And on Bermuda, potable water is in very short supply, provided by having water from roof gutters fed into a large cistern. Yuk.
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Posts: 555
addict
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addict
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 555 |
Bill, I am somewhat certain that Bermuda must be a coral atoll and on all atolls, even the driest and the smallest, there is always an elliptical body of fresh water *above the saline water table. It has to do with specific gravity/ fresh water is lighter than saline; this principle is called the ?Gaben Herzberg law. I might have got the name of the law wrong, but this phenomenon is well established and has been exploited by generations of Pacific Islanders long before modern science discovered it.
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Carpal Tunnel
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OP
Carpal Tunnel
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Dear maahey: I didn't know Bermuda was a coral atoll. If the ring was a complete circle, that would keep salt water out if there were enough rain. I know of wells close to shore on Cape Cod. However, it may well be that Bermuda has lowered fresh water table enough to create a relative water shortage. From what I have read, rainwater cisterns are needed there. But if the island is an atoll, no dowser would be needed. Again, I shake my head at the idiocy of pointing dowsing rod at a map.(Or anywhere else!)
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jan 2001
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maahey, I think you are thinking of the Ghyben-Herzberg principle. Those Herzbergs sure are smart.
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Carpal Tunnel
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OP
Carpal Tunnel
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I agree that the one male Herzberg chose very wisely.
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Carpal Tunnel
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OP
Carpal Tunnel
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I searched for "Bermuda water supply" and found this: Bermuda's Fresh Water Sources
Bermuda has no rivers or streams. Due to the porous surface soil and limestone underground, rainfall rapidly soaks through to the depth of the underlying seawater. Bermudians have therefore traditionally derived their fresh water from the collection and storage of rain water, and to a limited extent from wells.
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