Subject: Wo sich Pinguine und Elefanten gutenachtsagen?

Hilfe!
Wie schreibt man das Verb 'gutenachtsagen'? Zusammen, getrennt, mit Grossbuchtstaben, Anführungszeichen gar? Du könntest doch eigentlich, wo Du jetzt vor Ort bist mal genau hinhören, wie das vonstatten geht, gegebenenfalls nachfragen. Oder sagt man sich dort 'good night'? Where penguins and elephants goodnightsay? Ich muss mich mal erkundigen wie Elche und Wale das hierzulande halten - oder ob die Elche oder die Wale eher das abendliche Gespräch mit den Eis- oder gar den Waschbären suchen. Emails schreiben macht mich zunehmend hilflos und verwirrt. Wo soll das bloß noch hinführen?
Liebe Grüße,
  s

Why needs this point so much repetition?

I know, it is all over the internet, but I post it anyway. There are all these bible study groups out there (and worse) giving me the creeps. Nothing wrong with studying the bible, but if you value it more than other religious writings, most people would say that it is for its tolerance and humanism and the new testament. Maybe not all:

Dear President Bush,

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's law. I have learned a great deal from you and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate. I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God's Laws and how to follow them:

1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not to Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev. 15:19-24). The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord (Lev. 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states that he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?

6. A friend of mine feels that, even though eating shellfish is an abomination (Lev. 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there "degrees" of abomination?

7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle-room here?

8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?

9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them (Lev. 24:10-16)? Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws (Lev. 20:14)?

I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I am confident you can help.

Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.

And while we're at it, this line of reasoning is not so new, 'cause it ain't necessarily so:

To get into Hebbben
Don't snap fo' a sebben -
Live clean! Don' have no fault!
Oh, I takes dat gospel
Whenever it's pos'ple -
But wid a grain of salt!

Keine macht den Doofen - conservation of matter violation

This is the abstract of a talk given by John Sterman from MIT, Cambridge, USA:

Public attitudes about climate change reveal a contradiction. Surveys show most Americans believe climate change poses serious risks, but also that reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions sufficient to stabilize atmospheric GHG concentrations or net radiative forcing can be deferred until there is greater evidence that climate change is harmful. US policymakers likewise argue it is prudent to wait and see whether climate change will cause substantial economic harm before undertaking policies to reduce emissions. Such wait-and-see policies erroneously presume climate change can be reversed quickly should harm become evident, underestimating substantial delays in the climate's response to anthropogenic forcing. We report experiments with highly educated adults-graduate students at MIT-showing widespread misunderstanding of the fundamental stock and flow relationships, including mass balance principles, that lead to long response delays. GHG emissions are now about twice the rate of GHG removal from the atmosphere. GHG concentrations will therefore continue to rise even if emissions fall, stabilizing only when emissions equal removal. In contrast, most subjects believe atmospheric GHG concentrations can be stabilized while emissions into the atmosphere continuously exceed the removal of GHGs from it. These beliefs-analogous to arguing a bathtub filled faster than it drains will never overflow-support wait-and-see policies but violate conservation of matter. Low public support for mitigation policies may be based more on misconceptions of climate dynamics than high discount rates or uncertainty about the risks of harmful climate change.

Let's just hope that practical sense is what stopped those people from having the experience of an overflowing bathtub. When climate change cannot be denied anymore, just stop breathing! And make shure you don't rot!

Chinesen in der Küche

Kam heute in die Küche und stellte fest, daß sie voller kartenspielender Chinesen war. Sie spielten um Geld und einer spielte wohl schlecht, jedenfalls wurde er von seinem Partner beschimpft. Ich habe natürlich kein Wort verstanden, aber es klang sehr nach Vorwürfen. So aggressiv sein Ton war, so schnell kriegte er sich aber auch wieder ein. Mir wurde dabei freundlich zugelächelt. Als ich vom Einkaufen zurückkam war die Situation unverändert, nur das Geld war anders verteilt. Detail am Rande: es geht immer gegen den Uhrzeigersinn.