From: Nathan F Russell (nrussell_at_acsu.buffalo.edu)
Date: Tue Nov 26 2002 - 12:37:02 PST
On Tue, 26 Nov 2002, Steve Gardner wrote: > Elegantly attired in fins and tails, I, long-swimming member of the > Tasteful Merman Society, have navigated my leisurely way to the FRC > Christmas Club to join the festivities, perhaps for the last time. Yes, > for the last time, I say, for I am getting old, although perhaps I am > not ready to 'face immortal sunset yet', as the poet once put it. > > As Treasurer of the Christmas Club it had fallen to me to spend as I saw > fit the FB100 gift voucher given us by one of our many benefactors, and > tucked snugly beneath a ventral fin was a letter, proof of my purchase. > It has long been a dream of mine that FRC should acquire a luxury > European car for use by Committee Members, and now that dream was a step > closer to reality: for the sum of FB89.95, the letter (in a water-proof > envelope, naturally) said, a friend of mine would swim by next week to > ensure that the somewhat cramped FRC garage could offer sufficient room > for car I had my on. A costly Fiat measurement, some might say, but > worth every cent, in my view. > > Earlier that afternoon, I had spent some hours splashing and cavorting > among some of the more obscure antique dealers that a merman of my taste > and sophistication has the pleasure frequently to acquaint, and with the > remaining FB10 had managed to acquire from an old friend an exquisite > Chinese puzzle box, carved from mahogany and inlaid with ivory on four > sides, while on the lid was depicted in a bas-relief carving a tiny > figure, superbly crafted, representing the legendary Ørjan, shown in the > acting of bringing the FRC into existence - an immortal Usenet fact, > yes! I knew this piece would find a welcome home among the other > tasteful artefacts in the Committee's collection. > > Arriving at the Committee's secluded rooms in an exclusive up-town > locale near the Canal, I placed the box prominently in the display > cabinet, inviting my fellow Committee members to appreciate its > craft, daring them to penetrate its secrets, and remarked, as if > casually, "Is there a more extravagant anagrammatizer here than I? I > seriously doubt it - I outdo even McEue! If not, let future Rules prove > it. Now, do I satisfy Rule? Commentate!" I like it. However, I'm kind of debating with myself whether cashing in a gift certificate counts as returning a gift - strictly speaking, Steve returned the certificate to the place of purchase, to be sure. In any event, given that the Rule is misnumbered, I'd not declare it invalid - it seems to be the victim of a race condition on the mail server. Nathan -- Rule Date: 2002-11-26 20:37:26 GMT
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