Brucie: Re "The Weight," I've been hearing that song for years and always thought the lyrics made no sense, but everyone was so fond of it that I thought it was something wrong with me. Thanks for confirming that I was right all along. Maybe it's just my failure to use enough recreational drugs over the years.

Ev: You confirm my thesis, that all human wisdom can be found in The Notebooks of Lazarus Long, by Heinlein. But you missed a few good ones:

It is better to copulate than never.

Get a shot off fast. This upsets him long enough to let you make your second shot perfect.

Your enemy is never a villain in his own eyes. Keep this in mind; it may offer a way to make him your friend. If not, you can kill him without hate -- and quickly.

Cheops' Law: Nothing ever gets built on schedule or within budget.

In a mature society, "civil servant" is semantically equal to "civil master."

God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent -- it says so right here on the label. If you have a mind capable of believing all three of these divine attributes simultaneously, I have a wonderful bargain for you. No checks, please. Cash and in small bills.

Never underestimate the power of human stupidity.

A committee is a life form with six or more legs and no brain.

You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having both at once.

Never frighten a little man. He'll kill you.

And the ultimate truth:

Never try to outstubborn a cat.

Peter.