Technical Presentations, Career Fair, Tours, and Community Service Activities

In addition, many Texas state leaders are expected to attend this national convention. The convention promises to be an exciting one, so please begin planning to join us. We hope to see you in Austin!

About NABGG NABGG strives to increase minority representation in geosciences through partnerships with academia and by mentoring undergraduate as well as graduate students. We are committed to continuous training and development of aspiring and practicing geoscientists.

Visit NABGG online: www.nabgg.org

NABGG 4212 San Felipe, Suite 420 Houston, Texas 77027-2902 nabgg_us@hotmail.com

The Dragonfly

"Once, in a little pond, in muddy water under lily pads, there lived a little water beetle in a community of water beetles. They lived a simple and comfortable life in pond with few disturbances and interruptions.

Once in a while, sadness would come to community when one of their fellow beetles would climb stem of a lily pad and would never be seen again. They knew when this happened; their friend was dead, gone forever.

Then, one day, one little water beetle felt an irresistible urge to climb up that stem. However, he was determined that he would not leave forever. He would come back and tell his friends what he had found at top.

When he reached top and climbed out of water onto surface of lily pad, he was so tired, and sun felt so warm, that he decided he must take a nap. As he slept, his body changed and when he woke up, he had turned into a beautiful blue-tailed dragonfly with broad wings and a slender body designed for flying.

So, fly he did! And, as he soared he saw beauty of a whole new world and a far superior way of life to what he had never known existed.

Then he remembered his beetle friends and how they were thinking by now he was dead. He wanted to go back to tell them, and explain to them that he was now more alive than he had ever been before. His life had been fulfilled rather than ended.

But, his new body would not go down into water. He could not get back to tell his friends good news. Then he understood that their time would come, when they, too, would know what he now knew. So, he raised his wings and flew off into his joyous new life!"

~Author Unknown~ MountainWings.com

Longer lives - longer civilizations? Some thoughts to ponder... C. Bailey-Lloyd/LadyCamelot

****************************************************

© Longevity - Can Fat Cells Dictate How Long a Human Survives? 2004 - All Rights Reserved By, C. Bailey-Lloyd/Lady Camelot

References: [1] PM Magazine, "Live to Be 180" [2] Massachusetts Institute of Technology [3] Telomere.net

***PLEASE CONTACT AUTHOR FOR ARTICLE USE PERMISSION***