Greensboro

Hello folks!

We've had another interesting week, with its normal mix of stories. The major news media has shown they can count to 100, as if they're playing a game of hide-and-seek. Arlen Specter has "defected" from the GOP, implying a nighttime escape across guarded borders. Since Specter defected from the GOP, are the Dems now *infected*? Speaking of infected, the CDC and WHO are learning the PC way to name new diseases, as Joe Consumer avoids pork products in hope of *not* catching swine flu. The new flu is supposed to be part swine flu, part avian flu, and part human flu, which seems highly unlikely, or maybe it really shows that I know little of how the various strains evolve, and how easily/difficultly they transmit from one species to another, or even one host to another. I am not am epidemiologist. However, I *do* suggest avoiding any "Kiss the Pig" booths at your local farmers markets.

If you would like to trade other ideas, or remark on other phenomena (like the strange subset of idioms foreigners acquire when they learn English), then join us at the Green Bean tonight at 7:30 pm, where you can boost your immunity by imbibing alcoholic beverages. If you BYOSM, we'll have a Wacko Jacko look-alike contest!

Till then,

-William Moates
DL chapter co-host

Parting Thought: Why do we like flowers?

Greetings Earthlings!

I hope you enjoyed the Earth Day festivities yesterday, or enjoyed not being there! So, now that Earth Day is over, are you gearing up for Mars Day? I know, you haven't heard of it, but it *must* exist, out of political correctness, if nothing else. Since the Earth has political parties that represent its interests and defend its health and welfare, shouldn't the other seven planets have political representation, too? Perhaps we should do a Teddy Roosevelt and declare them international parks before colonists get to them and mess up their pristine beauty? After all, that's what we did with Antarctica...or did we?

If you'd like to talk about Earth politics, or interplanetary politics, or schmolitics politics, then join me at the Green Bean tonight at 7:30 pm, and we can even talk about theological needlework.

Till then,
-William Moates
DL chapter co-host

Parting Thought: If a chorus of angels is dancing on the head of a pin, will it affect your stitching?

Good After-Tax Day, folks!

I hope you all managed to file (or extend or e-file or e-extend) your taxes yesterday without too much stress. If you're looking for a good way to de-stress, come on down to the Green Bean tonight at 7:30 pm, and we can yak about many things, be they taxes, or tea parties, or tea bags, or tea hags, or tree hags, or tree hogs, or various and sundry oddments and assortments! Sort it out--or simply pout--with me and thee, and a drink on me!

Tweedle-dee,

William Moates
DL chapter co-host

As you probably know, UNC won the NCAA basketball tourney Monday evening, and students continued a tradition they started who knows when: starting little bonfires on Franklin street, then jumping over them. Well, I heard a news blurb Wednesday afternoon on WUNC FM how nine of the students went to the hospital for burn injuries, with students saying, "It happened so fast!"

Various thoughts passed through my head: "What were they expecting?" "No s**t, Sherlock." and "Serves you right!"

Why do I have little pity for these kids? Well, by the time I got to college, I had already played with fire, and learned how dangerous it is. When I was a little kid, we went camping and built campfires, and I learned how hot things can get just *near* a fire. Sure, I tossed stuff into the fire to watch it burn. Later, when in middle school, I probably played with lighters and set stuff on fire, or watched my friends do it. From our time with campfires, we had learned how to contain a fire (setting it on concrete, away from flammable sources, is a good idea), and were kinda careful. We still experimented, but under somewhat controlled conditions. So, by the time I got to college, I had worked out any "playing with fire" urges, knew the dangers, and left it at that. If I had been a college student at UNC, no amount of alcohol would've gotten me drunk enough to jump over a fire.

What surprises me is the average person's ignorance of the dangers of fire, and I realize that in today's nanny state, most kids have never played with fire in controlled conditions and adult supervision, like I did around campfires. I think kids *should* have opportunities to play with fire, with guidance and supervision, so they learn the dangers of fire without getting injured. If every kid had proper experience with fire, UNC would have a lot less instances of fire-jumping. Of course, if UNC won a lot less games, there'd a lot less celebrating and a lot less fire-jumping. :)

Do you have any comments you'd like to make about fire safety, or "school of hard knocks" education, or anything else in general? If so, then come on down to the Green Bean tonight at 7:30 pm, and let's see if we can rouse a discussion out of the rabble!

-William Moates
DL Chapter Co-host

Parting Thought: Since shoelaces aren't made out of lace, why are they called shoelaces?

Hey folks!

No time for pithiness today, because I can't find my pith helmet. We're meeting at the Green Bean Tonight at 7:30 pm, so come on by and join in the conversation. There are some liquid refreshments that need to be liberated from the premises, but please be polite and pay the staff first.

Till later,

-William Moates
Chapter Co-host

Parting Thoughts:
(1) Do bones ever itch?
(2) Could an anime series like Voltron ever be created in the US?