You've heard it before, of course.  In the grocery store, the
screaming kids in the next aisle over.  Or on the playground, when
they think you're deep in your book.  It doesn't matter where, really.
As the voices penetrate your skull, your concentration goes to hell.

Oh yes, you try to shut it out, but you're filled with the sound: the
childish argument, the bullying, the pleading, and the wise-ass
dancing around the edge.  As the shrillness rises, as the chaos
renders your very thoughts incomprehensible, the babble goes on:

Sincerity: I call it Win!  Win win win win win!  Nah nah!
Ricky:     Don't call it that!  It's not a win!  Bow down before my ideology!
Wise-ass:  Wind!  Let's call it Wind!  It sure makes you guys blow!
Sincerity: It's the one and only win when I really want QuickBooks.
           Hey, quit pulling my hair!
Ricky:     Intellectual traitor!  I'll bet you're working on computer-
           recognition of license plates too!
Wise-ass:  Who, me?  Naw, I'm just working on recognizing 
           Human Faces! Bwahahahahaha!

But just as you are about to act -- as reason waves goodbye, and
instinct takes over, fight or flight: join the fray or run screaming
from the store or the playground or the all-ai mailing list -- at that
crucial second which determines whether you spend the rest of your day
screaming at the top of your lungs or hiding in the back of the Leg
Lab -- at that penultimate moment, a blessed, Adult voice finally
intervenes, and you are saved:

Big Daddy Rod:  Shut up, kids.
Ricky:          But they...
Big Daddy Rod:  Shut UP, kids.
Ricky:          But...
Big Daddy Rod:   SHUT UP, kids.


And for that moment, that blessed, sacred, all-too-brief moment of
silence that follows the instant of intervention...

For that moment, today's GSB will be marked by our eternal thanks...

As expressed by innumerable rounds of "For he's a jolly good fellow",
sung in E minor....

And by free beverages for Big Daddy Rod.

So come, join us, and practice your singing, at today's...

*************** G I R L  S C O U T  B E N E F I T ***************
***************    5:30pm   7th floor playroom    ***************