Fw: Floating Stove

[Guest guest]

An engineer, a psychologist, and a theologian werehunting in the wilderness of northern Canada.Suddenly, the temperature dropped and a furioussnowstorm was upon them. They came across an isolatedcabin, far removed from any town. The hunters had heardthat the locals in the area were quite hospitable, sothey knocked on the door to ask permission to rest.No one answered their knocks, but they discovered thecabin was unlocked and they entered. It was a simpleplace ... 2 rooms with a minimum of furniture andhousehold equipment. Nothing was unusual about thecabin except the stove. It was large, pot-bellied, andmade of cast-iron. What was strange about it was itslocation ... it was suspended in midair by wiresattached to the ceiling beams."Fascinating," said the psychologist. "It is obviousthat this lonely trapper, isolated from humanity, haselevated this stove so that he can curl up under it andvicariously experience a return to the womb.""Nonsense!" replied the engineer. "The man ispracticing the laws of thermodynamics. By elevatinghis stove, he has discovered a way to distribute heatmore evenly throughout the cabin.""With all due respect," interrupted the theologian,"I'm sure that hanging his stove from the ceiling hasreligious meaning. Fire LIFTED UP has been a religioussymbol for centuries."The three debated the point for several hours withoutresolving the issue. When the trapper finallyreturned, they immediately asked him why he had hunghis heavy pot-bellied stove from the ceiling.His answer was succinct. "Had plenty of wire, not muchstove pipe."