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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hi, I thought you all might like this. Also,
Eric, thanks for the kudos--often I think it is more fun to play for fun
than to try to win. The one time I won I found being "It" lots of
work!. Linda plus I still have lots to learn.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message -----
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A
href="mailto:lindafowens@netzero.net"
title=lindafowens@netzero.net>lindafowens</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A href="mailto:lindafowens@netzero.net"
title=lindafowens@netzero.net>lindafowens</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, January 09, 2002 12:31 PM</DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> 2002 the palindrome</DIV></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in">2002 THE
PALINDROME</P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>According to James A. Fussell, we are the only generation in ages to live
through <B>two</B> palindromic years<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>(1991 and 2002) since the time of Leif Erickson<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(999 and 1001).<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Our last palindromic year (1881)
predates even my Nana, who was born in 1998.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If you count Roman numerals, MIM<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(1991) and MM (2000) suffice.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The next?<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>2112.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>I can recall noticing palindromes as early as 3<SUP>rd</SUP> grade, when
my favorite word was<I> kayak</I>.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Then there are the names <I>Otto</I> and <I>Anna</I>.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Later came <I>race car</I>; <I>Madam,
I’m Adam; Able was I ere I saw Elba</I>; and <I>A man, a plan, a canal:
Panama</I>.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Fussell contributes:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><I>Are
we not drawn onward, we few?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Drawn
onward to new</I> <I>era?</I><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>William Safire adds: <I>Sex at noon taxes</I>.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In his tome<I>, I Love Me, Vol. I</I>,
Michael Donner asks: <I>“Do geese see God?</I>”<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>James Agee has three books of
palindromes—<I>Go</I> <I>Hang A Salami I’m a Lasagna Hog, So Many Dynamos</I>,
and <I>Sit On A Potato Pan, Otis</I>.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>One of his: <I>Mr. Owl Ate My Metal Worm</I>. Agee also explains that
Sotates of Maroneia was sealed in a lead box and thrown into the sea for a
palindrome that miffed Ptolemy II in the third century BC.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Fear of palindromes is aibohphobia.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>More contributions by Fussell<I>:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>If I had a hi-fi; Flee to me, remote elf; Cigar? Toss it in a can. It is
so tragic; Dennis and Edna sinned; Vanna, wanna V?; Go deliver a dare, vile dog;
Won ton? Not now; Never odd or even; Tips spill, lips spit; Rats live on no evil
star; Devil never even lived; So, Ida, Adios.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Supposedly, it takes a slightly ambidextrous talent, a cultivated
dyslexia, to be good at inventing palindromes.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Unfortunately, I find myself to be
nearly ambidextrous, as does David.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>You’ll have to ask our kids, but I suspect Greg as well.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So I leave you with <I>Nomar lives,
levels evil Ramon</I>.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>And now for something entirely the same, Janet M. has sent a list of the
2002 Chatterbox palindrome 2002 winners of the Able was I ere I saw Madam I’m
Adam contest, which had to incorporate the current worldwide hunt for Osama Bin
Laden….</P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Tenth runner-up, Michael Helsem:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><I>No Osama soon</I>.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Ninth runner-up, Mike Walby:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><I>Part-caves doom Osama, so mood’s ‘Evac trap’</I>.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Eighth runner-up, David Dubov<I>:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Evil, evac a cave: live!<o:p></o:p></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Seventh runner-up: Texas Monthly editor Evan Smith:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(What Clinton said to Gore):<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><I>Laden? I pined, Al</I>.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Sixth runner-up, Michael Marchando:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><I>Caves. Bombers.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Osama
S.O.S. Reb mobs evac.<o:p></o:p></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Fifth runner-up, Brian Robison:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><I>Ram! O, set a general glare, Taliban. A bilateral glare negates
Omar.<o:p></o:p></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Fourth runner up, Adam Schmuckler: <I>Men rub at? Ta. Tora Bora Hora:
Osama soar. Oh, a rob, a rot. Atta: Burn ‘em.<o:p></o:p></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Third runner-up, Tim Weiner (a reporter recently returned from
Afghanistan):<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><I>Taps Barak: Sir!
Goddamn mad! Osama! So damn mad! Dog! Risk Arab spat.<o:p></o:p></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Second runner-up, Matt Franklin: <I>Dog it! Nastily dismal side to</I>
<I>Osama sooted</I> <I>Islams’</I> <I>idly.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It’s anti-God</I>.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>First runner-up, Brian Robison: <I>No, it is optimal, eh?<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>War won. Bury alive Osama, so evil!<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Ay, rub, now raw: He lam it.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(Position?)<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in">And the winner is—Matt
Franklin<I>:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Mad dash, saber, draw
no Osama.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So: onward re-bash
Saddam!<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><I><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 2">
</SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Ta, ta, At! At!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Spoon, oops!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>LOL<o:p></o:p></I></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>