Thought for the day

 "The boy throws stones at the frogs in jest. But the frogs die in earnest."

 by Joanna Russ (a quote from her mother).

I first read this many years ago. I was 9 or 10 years old. Soon before reading the quote, I had thrown a rock at flock of birds. And much to my shock, and I am sure to the shock of everyone who knows my great athletic prowess, I hit one of them.

I was wracked with remorse at the time: it didn't help reading this.

I have never thrown a stone at a living being again. (Note: I don't have to count the time in Kansas when I rammed a few quails with a rental car. It was an accident. The authorities opted not to detain me.)