Re: bad addresses: the root of all evil

[Mike Keene <mkeene@utkux.utcc.utk.edu>]

Lady, I sympathize with the problem of bad addresses clogging the
computers.  It's something my family has faced for generations.

Dad always said his system got clogged when he ate too much oatmeal for
breakfast--thickened his blood up, and then things got clogged.  Maybe
somebody out there is feeding their computer too much oatmeal?  Mom
figured lots of fresh fruit was the cure-all for any such disorder
(Grandma was more of a Four Roses sort).  Maybe we all need to feed our
computers applets to unclog 'em?  Whenever I feed them to this Zenith,
tho, it burps a lot.

Actually, the only bad address I ever _had_ was a very recent experience
in a dorm at the U. of Nebraska for an AP reading; now that I think of it,
many parts of that experience left me feeling pretty well clogged, not the
least of which being the food.  But I have been told that I've _given_
more than a few bad addresses over the years.  If I delete all my old CCCC
presentations from my computer, will that help? 

But Lady, clogging isn't always a bad thing, either.  Here on the fringes
of the Lost State of Franklin, you recall, we have cloggers aplenty (for
those of you who don't know, these are really wonderful line dancers who
really need to cut back on the caffeine: picture a sedate and dignified
cottoneyed joe at 78 rpm).  

Maybe, therefore (I learned this easy transition trick from my students),
the clogging was a blessing, maybe it spared us something even worse--more
NBC heartwarming video biosketches ("But life hasn't always been so easy
for little Fernpod.  No, growing up with your head stuck in a flowerpot
proved to be a challenge even for this future Olympian...."), any speech
from any political convention anytime anywhere, easy instructions on how
to download and install WinZip--

I say let's be thankful for what we may have missed!  As my 4-year-old
godson said when asked before a meal to name something he's thankful for,
"I'm glad my motorcycle didn't go into the ditch."

Mike (who may not be quite ready for the semester to start)

Mike Keene mkeene@utk.edu
Office Phone: 423-974-6969
Department Phone:  423-974-5401