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The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 17.0849  Tuesday, 26 September 2006

From: 		Al Magary <al@magary.com>
Date: 		Wednesday, 20 Sep 2006 14:11:12 -0700
Subject: 	And Now for Something Completely Different

[Editor's Note: Al Magary sent this message to me privately. (Yes, I not 
only appreciate but also need regular doses of laughter.) I decided that 
today might be a good day to share it with the list members. Al wrote, 
"As circulated, augmented, and edited in various academic lists, most 
recently found at Medieval-Religion." In the interests of complete 
disclosure, I supplied the Subject line and made a few changes and an 
addition myself. Cheers, Hardy]

"How many List members does it take to change a light bulb?"

One to change the light bulb and to post that the light bulb has been 
changed.

Fourteen to share similar experiences of changing light bulbs, and how 
the light bulb could have been changed differently.

Seven to caution about the dangers of changing light bulbs.

Seven more to point out spelling/grammar errors in posts about changing 
light bulbs.

Five to flame the spell checkers.

Three to correct spelling/grammar flames.

Six to argue over whether it's "light bulb" or "lightbulb." Another six 
to condemn those six as stupid.

Fifteen to claim experience in the lighting industry and give the 
correct spelling.

Nineteen to post that the Discussion Group is not about light bulbs, and 
to please take this discussion to a light bulb forum.

One to point out that having light is a universal concern like the 
reality of Shakespeare's characters, and to claim that Shakespeareans 
asked God to give them light, during the hours of darkness.

Three from the List Moderator, to ask that the thread be terminated.

Eleven to defend the posting to the group saying that we all use light 
bulbs and, therefore, the posts are relevant to this group.

Thirty-six to debate which method of changing light bulbs is superior, 
where to buy the best light bulbs, what brand of light bulbs work best 
for this technique and what brands are faulty.

One more from the List Moderator, in which he borders on apoplexy, over 
the out-of-control thread.

Seven to post URLs where one can see examples of different light bulbs.

Four to post that the URLs were posted incorrectly and then post the 
corrected URL.

Thirteen to quote them in their entirety including all headers and 
signatures, and merely add, "Me too."

Five to post to the group that they will no longer post because they 
cannot handle the light bulb controversy.

Four to say, "Didn't we go through this already a short time ago?"

Five to post a message giving the URL of the List's Archives, and 
suggesting that one could do a search of the archives, for prior 
postings about light bulbs.

Three to tell a funny story about their cat and a light bulb.

One to reply, "When I play with my cat, who knows whether I do not make 
her more sport than she makes me?"

One group lurker to respond to the original posting six months from now 
with something unrelated they found at _snopes.com_, and start it all 
over again.

_______________________________________________________________
S H A K S P E R: The Global Shakespeare Discussion List
Hardy M. Cook, editor@shaksper.net
The S H A K S P E R Web Site <http://www.shaksper.net>

DISCLAIMER: Although SHAKSPER is a moderated discussion list, the 
opinions expressed on it are the sole property of the poster, and the 
editor assumes no responsibility for them.

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