[iczn-list] Insect patronym auction (>$10,000)

[ethan kane]

Hmm, seems to me the real enticement here is the fancy toy you would
receive... The patronym is just a little icing on the cake to convince
us that this "charity auction" is about supporting the CAL Academy's
Madagascar Biodiversity Center...  So, kudos to OQO and the CAL Academy
for a novel marketing campaign, but ten grand still seems a littel steep
for an overgrown PDA with or without an ant named kane...

-EK


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It was inevitable. It's legitimate, and for charity, but what do we
do when people start doing this fraudulently, and for profit? The
slippery slope has begun, and I once again urge the ICZN to think
hard and fast about setting the limits *before* things get out of
control.

from http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000143050513/

Pay 10k for a charity OQO, get an ant species named after you
Posted Jul 14, 2005, 1:05 PM ET by Ryan Block
Related entries: Handhelds

It's for a good cause, everyone: our man Jory Bell over at OQO is
auctioning off a one-of-a-kind polished magnesium finish OQO model 01
to benefit the California Academy of Science's Madagascar
Biodiversity Center. Not only is it tax-deductible, but it includes
pre-production OQO VGA video and battery adapters, as well as a spare
battery for those long weekends in the jungle. Oh, and if the bidding
exceeds US $10,000, Jory's friend Dr. Brian Fisher promises
cross-his-heart hope-to-die that he'll name a species of ant after
you. Sounds like a deal, sign us up!

___________________________________
Ethan C. Kane
Entomologist
Communications & Taxonomic Services Unit
Systematic Entomology Laboratory
USDA-ARS-PSI
10300 Baltimore Avenue
Bldg 005, Rm 137, BARC-West
Beltsville, MD  20705

Office: 301.504.7041
Fax: 301.504.6482