Scott wanted me to forward this to ya, so i copied and pasted it! Robin Having a stressful day? I hear that madness is rather liberating! ----------- [Kirk, McCoy, and Scotty are huddled in a corridor near a transporter room, talking with one another, in the distance, Spock rounds a corner and heads toward the group.] McCoy: Shh! He's coming! Scotty, go act like you're adjusting the transporter or something. Scotty: Aye, Doctor. [Scotty leaves the group. Mr. Spock walks up] Kirk: Ah, hello Mister Spock. Spock: Good day, Captain. Kirk: Are you familiar with the game "baseball," Mr. Spock? Spock: Baseball is a tactical game played on a geometric pattern of four sides with a spherical object. The purpose is to deflect the object with a long wooden stick called a "bat," amidst loud verbalizations of "Hurrah" and "The umpire was paid off!" Is this correct? Kirk: Yes. We are in the process of learning about one of the baseball teams from old Earth. Spock: Oh? I am quite versed with old Earth history . . . perhaps I may be of assistance. Kirk: That's the idea. Spock: Very well. Proceed. Kirk: All right. Who's on first. Spock: I am unable to determine who is on first without proper information concerning the team and year, sir. Kirk: So? Spock: Perhaps we could start with who the team is, and I can test the accuracy. Kirk: No--Who's on first. Spock: I do not know. McCoy: He is on third. We're not talking about him. Spock: Who is on third? Kirk: No--he's first base. Spock: Who is? Kirk: Correct. Spock: Who is correct? Kirk: Sometimes. Spock: Who is sometimes? Kirk: No, Who is first baseman. I'm not familiar with Sometimes' identity. Spock: Whose identity? Kirk: No, him I know--he's first baseman. Spock: Who is? Kirk: That's right. Spock: Perhaps we can discuss the identity of the second baseman. Kirk: What. Spock: I said the second baseman. Kirk: What. Spock: This is highly illogical. You have no apparent auditory dysfunction, sir. Now, as I asked . . . who is the second baseman? Kirk: No, you didn't ask that, and Who is the first baseman. Spock: Very well. Captain, I ask you politely: who is the second baseman? Kirk: No, Who is the first baseman. What is the second baseman. Spock: That is incorrect, Captain. The second baseman is obviously a sentient being, and therefore should be referred to as who, and not what. "Who is the second baseman?", not "What is the second baseman?" Kirk: Uh, no. Who is the first baseman, and What is the second baseman. Spock: That statement is most illogical. Kirk: Wait a minute--we'll get Scotty. He's Scottish; he must love baseball. Oh, Mister Scott? Scotty: (coming from the transporter room) Aye, Cap'n? Kirk: Who is the first baseman of the team we were talking about. Scotty: Aye, Cap'n. It ain't never been any other way! Kirk: There. You see, Spock? Spock: Indeed . . . Mister Scott seems to know the material well. Very well. Mister Scott, who is the second baseman? Scotty: Ach! No, Mister Spock! That be What ye be talking about! Spock: I know that be what . . . er . . . is what I'm talking about. I rarely lose track of what I am talking about. Scotty: Ach! Don't bring track inta this! That be a bloomin' field event! Spock: What has this got to do with field events? Scotty: Ach! No! What plays baseball; he's the second baseman! Spock: Again, I note that a person should be referred to as "who" and not "what," Mister Scott. Scotty: Only if he's the first baseman, Mister Spock! Spock: What you are saying is most illogical. Scotty: Ach! No! What's a real bright fella! Spock: Who is a "real bright fella" Mister Scott? Scotty: No! Who . . . now he's a real dope, sir! Spock: Who is? Scotty: Right! Spock: Captain, this is most illogical, and I do not feel as though we are getting anywhere. Perhaps we can discuss the identity of another player, such as the pitcher? Kirk: Tomorrow. Spock: Tomorrow? If you are genuinely interested in this discussion, today would be much better. McCoy: Well, Spock, Today *is* good, but he's the catcher. Spock: Who is? Scotty: Nay, Mr. Spock--Who's the first baseman. Spock: I do not know. Kirk: He is on third base! Spock: What? Kirk: No, he's on second. Spock: Who is? Kirk: No, Spock, Who's on first. Spock: I do not know. Kirk, Scotty, McCoy: Third base! [This continues on for quite some time until finally we see a medical team in the corridor, gathered around Spock, who is bound in a straitjacket.] Spock: (babbling incoherently) I don't know who what first base second base third base catcher pitcher today tomorrow I don't know . . . Kirk: Bones, do you think maybe we went too far this time? ------------------------------------------------------- Scot Adams [EMAIL PROTECTED] ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ To unsubscribe, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and in the message put: unsubscribe kidzwrite Or if you need other majordomo commands, write to the same address and in the message put: help