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arts / rec.arts.sf.written / YASID: Election Day

SubjectAuthor
* YASID: Election DayMike Spencer
`* Re: YASID: Election Daypete...@gmail.com
 `* Re: YASID: Election DayTony Nance
  +* Re: YASID: Election Daypete...@gmail.com
  |`- Re: YASID: Election Daypete...@gmail.com
  `* Re: YASID: Election Daypete...@gmail.com
   `* Re: YASID: Election Daypete...@gmail.com
    `* Re: YASID: Election DayTony Nance
     `- Re: YASID: Election DayMike Spencer

1
YASID: Election Day

<87jzzad48x.fsf@enoch.nodomain.nowhere>

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From: mds...@bogus.nodomain.nowhere (Mike Spencer)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written
Subject: YASID: Election Day
Date: 21 Mar 2023 03:10:06 -0300
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 by: Mike Spencer - Tue, 21 Mar 2023 06:10 UTC

I posted this a decade ago, received no responses. Trying again.

This story dates from the 60s or before and probably wasn't considered
science fiction when published.

Scene is election day in a small town. Opens with the current
mayor, supported by police, probably doing something unspeakable
to the young daughter of the family across the street.

At the end, the citizens gather on the common where the mayor is
lashed to a post, surrounded by faggots of firewood. He's to be
burned at the stake. If no one intervenes, his medallion of office
will explode early in the process giving him a quick death. If
another citizen comes forward and removes the chain of office, the
incumbent mayor burns slowly while the citizen dons the chain and
becomes the new mayor.

Someone does come forward and takes the chain, becoming the new
mayor.

For many years, pre-internet, I thought this was entitled "Election
Day" and was by Shirley Jackson. Now, on the net, I can't find it and
it seems not to be in Jackson's corpus. The tone is very like
that of "The Lottery". I lost the book it was in 40 years ago in a
move.

Any pointers?
TIA.

--
Mike Spencer Nova Scotia, Canada

Re: YASID: Election Day

<7368a91d-dbb7-4a50-ae63-f23eff76293fn@googlegroups.com>

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Subject: Re: YASID: Election Day
From: petert...@gmail.com (pete...@gmail.com)
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 by: pete...@gmail.com - Tue, 21 Mar 2023 12:49 UTC

On Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 2:10:11 AM UTC-4, Mike Spencer wrote:
> I posted this a decade ago, received no responses. Trying again.
>
> This story dates from the 60s or before and probably wasn't considered
> science fiction when published.
>
> Scene is election day in a small town. Opens with the current
> mayor, supported by police, probably doing something unspeakable
> to the young daughter of the family across the street.
>
> At the end, the citizens gather on the common where the mayor is
> lashed to a post, surrounded by faggots of firewood. He's to be
> burned at the stake. If no one intervenes, his medallion of office
> will explode early in the process giving him a quick death. If
> another citizen comes forward and removes the chain of office, the
> incumbent mayor burns slowly while the citizen dons the chain and
> becomes the new mayor.
>
> Someone does come forward and takes the chain, becoming the new
> mayor.
>
> For many years, pre-internet, I thought this was entitled "Election
> Day" and was by Shirley Jackson. Now, on the net, I can't find it and
> it seems not to be in Jackson's corpus. The tone is very like
> that of "The Lottery". I lost the book it was in 40 years ago in a
> move.
>
> Any pointers?
> TIA.

I suspect you may be conflating a Shirley Jackson (-like?)
story with another, which I vaguely remember.

The title sounded like an academic paper 'Political Succession
and Justice among the Chorlai', or something like that. The medallion
was worn by the President, not the mayor. No fires.

However, all over the nation, there were booths containing a button.
Any adult, responsible citizen could step into one, press the button,
and the medallion would blow up, killing the President.

Perhaps the protagonist visitor suddenly finds he's been made
president by a very relieved former president.

pt

Re: YASID: Election Day

<e3dcf676-abe0-45c5-a09d-911643794d5bn@googlegroups.com>

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Subject: Re: YASID: Election Day
From: tonynanc...@gmail.com (Tony Nance)
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 by: Tony Nance - Tue, 21 Mar 2023 14:05 UTC

On Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 8:49:27 AM UTC-4, pete...@gmail.com wrote:
> On Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 2:10:11 AM UTC-4, Mike Spencer wrote:
> > I posted this a decade ago, received no responses. Trying again.
> >
> > This story dates from the 60s or before and probably wasn't considered
> > science fiction when published.
> >
> > Scene is election day in a small town. Opens with the current
> > mayor, supported by police, probably doing something unspeakable
> > to the young daughter of the family across the street.
> >
> > At the end, the citizens gather on the common where the mayor is
> > lashed to a post, surrounded by faggots of firewood. He's to be
> > burned at the stake. If no one intervenes, his medallion of office
> > will explode early in the process giving him a quick death. If
> > another citizen comes forward and removes the chain of office, the
> > incumbent mayor burns slowly while the citizen dons the chain and
> > becomes the new mayor.
> >
> > Someone does come forward and takes the chain, becoming the new
> > mayor.
> >
> > For many years, pre-internet, I thought this was entitled "Election
> > Day" and was by Shirley Jackson. Now, on the net, I can't find it and
> > it seems not to be in Jackson's corpus. The tone is very like
> > that of "The Lottery". I lost the book it was in 40 years ago in a
> > move.
> >
> > Any pointers?
> > TIA.
> I suspect you may be conflating a Shirley Jackson (-like?)
> story with another, which I vaguely remember.
>
> The title sounded like an academic paper 'Political Succession
> and Justice among the Chorlai', or something like that. The medallion
> was worn by the President, not the mayor. No fires.
>
> However, all over the nation, there were booths containing a button.
> Any adult, responsible citizen could step into one, press the button,
> and the medallion would blow up, killing the President.
>
> Perhaps the protagonist visitor suddenly finds he's been made
> president by a very relieved former president.
>

Hm - that's a very Lafferty-like title, and he did write a couple stories
about the Camiroi, including "Polity and Custom of the Camiroi",
which is indeed academic/report-like in structure, and which does
touch on governing - but not the same way the OP is thinking.

But the details you mention sound much more like Sheckley's
"A Ticket to Tranai", though there are a few minor differences.

Tony

Re: YASID: Election Day

<a86974a7-dd97-40b5-a3ca-4235306a9cf6n@googlegroups.com>

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Subject: Re: YASID: Election Day
From: petert...@gmail.com (pete...@gmail.com)
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 by: pete...@gmail.com - Tue, 21 Mar 2023 15:51 UTC

On Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 10:05:08 AM UTC-4, Tony Nance wrote:
> On Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 8:49:27 AM UTC-4, pete...@gmail.com wrote:
> > On Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 2:10:11 AM UTC-4, Mike Spencer wrote:
> > > I posted this a decade ago, received no responses. Trying again.
> > >
> > > This story dates from the 60s or before and probably wasn't considered
> > > science fiction when published.
> > >
> > > Scene is election day in a small town. Opens with the current
> > > mayor, supported by police, probably doing something unspeakable
> > > to the young daughter of the family across the street.
> > >
> > > At the end, the citizens gather on the common where the mayor is
> > > lashed to a post, surrounded by faggots of firewood. He's to be
> > > burned at the stake. If no one intervenes, his medallion of office
> > > will explode early in the process giving him a quick death. If
> > > another citizen comes forward and removes the chain of office, the
> > > incumbent mayor burns slowly while the citizen dons the chain and
> > > becomes the new mayor.
> > >
> > > Someone does come forward and takes the chain, becoming the new
> > > mayor.
> > >
> > > For many years, pre-internet, I thought this was entitled "Election
> > > Day" and was by Shirley Jackson. Now, on the net, I can't find it and
> > > it seems not to be in Jackson's corpus. The tone is very like
> > > that of "The Lottery". I lost the book it was in 40 years ago in a
> > > move.
> > >
> > > Any pointers?
> > > TIA.
> > I suspect you may be conflating a Shirley Jackson (-like?)
> > story with another, which I vaguely remember.
> >
> > The title sounded like an academic paper 'Political Succession
> > and Justice among the Chorlai', or something like that. The medallion
> > was worn by the President, not the mayor. No fires.
> >
> > However, all over the nation, there were booths containing a button.
> > Any adult, responsible citizen could step into one, press the button,
> > and the medallion would blow up, killing the President.
> >
> > Perhaps the protagonist visitor suddenly finds he's been made
> > president by a very relieved former president.
> >
> Hm - that's a very Lafferty-like title, and he did write a couple stories
> about the Camiroi, including "Polity and Custom of the Camiroi",
> which is indeed academic/report-like in structure, and which does
> touch on governing - but not the same way the OP is thinking.
>
> But the details you mention sound much more like Sheckley's
> "A Ticket to Tranai", though there are a few minor differences.

"Polity and Custom of the Camiroi" was definitely the title I was
thinking of, but no idea if it was the correct story.

pt

Re: YASID: Election Day

<997f89a2-fa41-4be2-849b-057489e1a452n@googlegroups.com>

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Subject: Re: YASID: Election Day
From: petert...@gmail.com (pete...@gmail.com)
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 by: pete...@gmail.com - Tue, 21 Mar 2023 16:02 UTC

On Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 11:51:37 AM UTC-4, pete...@gmail.com wrote:
> On Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 10:05:08 AM UTC-4, Tony Nance wrote:
> > On Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 8:49:27 AM UTC-4, pete...@gmail.com wrote:
> > > On Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 2:10:11 AM UTC-4, Mike Spencer wrote:
> > > > I posted this a decade ago, received no responses. Trying again.
> > > >
> > > > This story dates from the 60s or before and probably wasn't considered
> > > > science fiction when published.
> > > >
> > > > Scene is election day in a small town. Opens with the current
> > > > mayor, supported by police, probably doing something unspeakable
> > > > to the young daughter of the family across the street.
> > > >
> > > > At the end, the citizens gather on the common where the mayor is
> > > > lashed to a post, surrounded by faggots of firewood. He's to be
> > > > burned at the stake. If no one intervenes, his medallion of office
> > > > will explode early in the process giving him a quick death. If
> > > > another citizen comes forward and removes the chain of office, the
> > > > incumbent mayor burns slowly while the citizen dons the chain and
> > > > becomes the new mayor.
> > > >
> > > > Someone does come forward and takes the chain, becoming the new
> > > > mayor.
> > > >
> > > > For many years, pre-internet, I thought this was entitled "Election
> > > > Day" and was by Shirley Jackson. Now, on the net, I can't find it and
> > > > it seems not to be in Jackson's corpus. The tone is very like
> > > > that of "The Lottery". I lost the book it was in 40 years ago in a
> > > > move.
> > > >
> > > > Any pointers?
> > > > TIA.
> > > I suspect you may be conflating a Shirley Jackson (-like?)
> > > story with another, which I vaguely remember.
> > >
> > > The title sounded like an academic paper 'Political Succession
> > > and Justice among the Chorlai', or something like that. The medallion
> > > was worn by the President, not the mayor. No fires.
> > >
> > > However, all over the nation, there were booths containing a button.
> > > Any adult, responsible citizen could step into one, press the button,
> > > and the medallion would blow up, killing the President.
> > >
> > > Perhaps the protagonist visitor suddenly finds he's been made
> > > president by a very relieved former president.
> > >
> > Hm - that's a very Lafferty-like title, and he did write a couple stories
> > about the Camiroi, including "Polity and Custom of the Camiroi",
> > which is indeed academic/report-like in structure, and which does
> > touch on governing - but not the same way the OP is thinking.
> >
> > But the details you mention sound much more like Sheckley's
> > "A Ticket to Tranai", though there are a few minor differences.
> "Polity and Custom of the Camiroi" was definitely the title I was
> thinking of, but no idea if it was the correct story.

I found 'Polity..' on archive.org, in the June 67 Galaxy. Its not it.

Re: YASID: Election Day

<214573a1-5fbe-413e-aeb3-a64dfd44bc59n@googlegroups.com>

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Subject: Re: YASID: Election Day
From: petert...@gmail.com (pete...@gmail.com)
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 by: pete...@gmail.com - Tue, 21 Mar 2023 16:12 UTC

On Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 10:05:08 AM UTC-4, Tony Nance wrote:
> On Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 8:49:27 AM UTC-4, pete...@gmail.com wrote:
> > On Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 2:10:11 AM UTC-4, Mike Spencer wrote:
> > > I posted this a decade ago, received no responses. Trying again.
> > >
> > > This story dates from the 60s or before and probably wasn't considered
> > > science fiction when published.
> > >
> > > Scene is election day in a small town. Opens with the current
> > > mayor, supported by police, probably doing something unspeakable
> > > to the young daughter of the family across the street.
> > >
> > > At the end, the citizens gather on the common where the mayor is
> > > lashed to a post, surrounded by faggots of firewood. He's to be
> > > burned at the stake. If no one intervenes, his medallion of office
> > > will explode early in the process giving him a quick death. If
> > > another citizen comes forward and removes the chain of office, the
> > > incumbent mayor burns slowly while the citizen dons the chain and
> > > becomes the new mayor.
> > >
> > > Someone does come forward and takes the chain, becoming the new
> > > mayor.
> > >
> > > For many years, pre-internet, I thought this was entitled "Election
> > > Day" and was by Shirley Jackson. Now, on the net, I can't find it and
> > > it seems not to be in Jackson's corpus. The tone is very like
> > > that of "The Lottery". I lost the book it was in 40 years ago in a
> > > move.
> > >
> > > Any pointers?
> > > TIA.
> > I suspect you may be conflating a Shirley Jackson (-like?)
> > story with another, which I vaguely remember.
> >
> > The title sounded like an academic paper 'Political Succession
> > and Justice among the Chorlai', or something like that. The medallion
> > was worn by the President, not the mayor. No fires.
> >
> > However, all over the nation, there were booths containing a button.
> > Any adult, responsible citizen could step into one, press the button,
> > and the medallion would blow up, killing the President.
> >
> > Perhaps the protagonist visitor suddenly finds he's been made
> > president by a very relieved former president.
> >
> Hm - that's a very Lafferty-like title, and he did write a couple stories
> about the Camiroi, including "Polity and Custom of the Camiroi",
> which is indeed academic/report-like in structure, and which does
> touch on governing - but not the same way the OP is thinking.
>
> But the details you mention sound much more like Sheckley's
> "A Ticket to Tranai", though there are a few minor differences.

I had the title wrong - definitely 'A Ticket to Tranai' has the medallions.

pt

Re: YASID: Election Day

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Subject: Re: YASID: Election Day
From: petert...@gmail.com (pete...@gmail.com)
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 by: pete...@gmail.com - Tue, 21 Mar 2023 18:09 UTC

On Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 12:12:22 PM UTC-4, pete...@gmail.com wrote:
> On Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 10:05:08 AM UTC-4, Tony Nance wrote:
> > On Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 8:49:27 AM UTC-4, pete...@gmail.com wrote:
> > > On Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 2:10:11 AM UTC-4, Mike Spencer wrote:
> > > > I posted this a decade ago, received no responses. Trying again.
> > > >
> > > > This story dates from the 60s or before and probably wasn't considered
> > > > science fiction when published.
> > > >
> > > > Scene is election day in a small town. Opens with the current
> > > > mayor, supported by police, probably doing something unspeakable
> > > > to the young daughter of the family across the street.
> > > >
> > > > At the end, the citizens gather on the common where the mayor is
> > > > lashed to a post, surrounded by faggots of firewood. He's to be
> > > > burned at the stake. If no one intervenes, his medallion of office
> > > > will explode early in the process giving him a quick death. If
> > > > another citizen comes forward and removes the chain of office, the
> > > > incumbent mayor burns slowly while the citizen dons the chain and
> > > > becomes the new mayor.
> > > >
> > > > Someone does come forward and takes the chain, becoming the new
> > > > mayor.
> > > >
> > > > For many years, pre-internet, I thought this was entitled "Election
> > > > Day" and was by Shirley Jackson. Now, on the net, I can't find it and
> > > > it seems not to be in Jackson's corpus. The tone is very like
> > > > that of "The Lottery". I lost the book it was in 40 years ago in a
> > > > move.
> > > >
> > > > Any pointers?
> > > > TIA.
> > > I suspect you may be conflating a Shirley Jackson (-like?)
> > > story with another, which I vaguely remember.
> > >
> > > The title sounded like an academic paper 'Political Succession
> > > and Justice among the Chorlai', or something like that. The medallion
> > > was worn by the President, not the mayor. No fires.
> > >
> > > However, all over the nation, there were booths containing a button.
> > > Any adult, responsible citizen could step into one, press the button,
> > > and the medallion would blow up, killing the President.
> > >
> > > Perhaps the protagonist visitor suddenly finds he's been made
> > > president by a very relieved former president.
> > >
> > Hm - that's a very Lafferty-like title, and he did write a couple stories
> > about the Camiroi, including "Polity and Custom of the Camiroi",
> > which is indeed academic/report-like in structure, and which does
> > touch on governing - but not the same way the OP is thinking.
> >
> > But the details you mention sound much more like Sheckley's
> > "A Ticket to Tranai", though there are a few minor differences.
> I had the title wrong - definitely 'A Ticket to Tranai' has the medallions.
>
> pt

....and I just skimmed the story on archive.org. Definitely has the
remote controlled explosive medallions.

Another feature which I had not remembered was that husbands
kept their wives in stasis most of the time, only taking them out when
they wanted their company. The women are OK with this; they don't do
housework (robots), and this way their married life experience is mostly one
of back-to-back romantic dates and nights of passion, until their husband
dies of old age and they inherit his estate, while they are still young. How
reproduction is handled was not covered in my quick skim.

FWIW, this story was published in 1955.

pt

Re: YASID: Election Day

<454aa56c-b8cc-45f5-87d2-46e550afc4edn@googlegroups.com>

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Subject: Re: YASID: Election Day
From: tonynanc...@gmail.com (Tony Nance)
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 by: Tony Nance - Tue, 21 Mar 2023 20:50 UTC

On Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 2:09:03 PM UTC-4, pete...@gmail.com wrote:
> On Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 12:12:22 PM UTC-4, pete...@gmail.com wrote:
> > On Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 10:05:08 AM UTC-4, Tony Nance wrote:
> > > On Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 8:49:27 AM UTC-4, pete...@gmail..com wrote:
> > > > On Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 2:10:11 AM UTC-4, Mike Spencer wrote:
> > > > > I posted this a decade ago, received no responses. Trying again.
> > > > >
> > > > > This story dates from the 60s or before and probably wasn't considered
> > > > > science fiction when published.
> > > > >
> > > > > Scene is election day in a small town. Opens with the current
> > > > > mayor, supported by police, probably doing something unspeakable
> > > > > to the young daughter of the family across the street.
> > > > >
> > > > > At the end, the citizens gather on the common where the mayor is
> > > > > lashed to a post, surrounded by faggots of firewood. He's to be
> > > > > burned at the stake. If no one intervenes, his medallion of office
> > > > > will explode early in the process giving him a quick death. If
> > > > > another citizen comes forward and removes the chain of office, the
> > > > > incumbent mayor burns slowly while the citizen dons the chain and
> > > > > becomes the new mayor.
> > > > >
> > > > > Someone does come forward and takes the chain, becoming the new
> > > > > mayor.
> > > > >
> > > > > For many years, pre-internet, I thought this was entitled "Election
> > > > > Day" and was by Shirley Jackson. Now, on the net, I can't find it and
> > > > > it seems not to be in Jackson's corpus. The tone is very like
> > > > > that of "The Lottery". I lost the book it was in 40 years ago in a
> > > > > move.
> > > > >
> > > > > Any pointers?
> > > > > TIA.
> > > > I suspect you may be conflating a Shirley Jackson (-like?)
> > > > story with another, which I vaguely remember.
> > > >
> > > > The title sounded like an academic paper 'Political Succession
> > > > and Justice among the Chorlai', or something like that. The medallion
> > > > was worn by the President, not the mayor. No fires.
> > > >
> > > > However, all over the nation, there were booths containing a button..
> > > > Any adult, responsible citizen could step into one, press the button,
> > > > and the medallion would blow up, killing the President.
> > > >
> > > > Perhaps the protagonist visitor suddenly finds he's been made
> > > > president by a very relieved former president.
> > > >
> > > Hm - that's a very Lafferty-like title, and he did write a couple stories
> > > about the Camiroi, including "Polity and Custom of the Camiroi",
> > > which is indeed academic/report-like in structure, and which does
> > > touch on governing - but not the same way the OP is thinking.
> > >
> > > But the details you mention sound much more like Sheckley's
> > > "A Ticket to Tranai", though there are a few minor differences.
> > I had the title wrong - definitely 'A Ticket to Tranai' has the medallions.
> >
> > pt
> ...and I just skimmed the story on archive.org. Definitely has the
> remote controlled explosive medallions.
>
> Another feature which I had not remembered was that husbands
> kept their wives in stasis most of the time, only taking them out when
> they wanted their company. The women are OK with this; they don't do
> housework (robots), and this way their married life experience is mostly one
> of back-to-back romantic dates and nights of passion, until their husband
> dies of old age and they inherit his estate, while they are still young. How
> reproduction is handled was not covered in my quick skim.
>
> FWIW, this story was published in 1955.
>

That all matches my admittedly fuzzy memories - thanks. The OP's
original YASID rings no bells beyond the ones we both chimed, and
I'm interested to know what story he's thinking of.
- Tony

Re: YASID: Election Day

<87cz4pyj60.fsf@enoch.nodomain.nowhere>

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From: mds...@bogus.nodomain.nowhere (Mike Spencer)
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Subject: Re: YASID: Election Day
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 by: Mike Spencer - Thu, 30 Mar 2023 22:21 UTC

Tony Nance <tonynance17@gmail.com> writes:

> That all matches my admittedly fuzzy memories - thanks.

Agreed it's not the Cameroi.

> The OP's...

That would be me.

> ...original YASID rings no bells beyond the ones we both chimed, and
> I'm interested to know what story he's thinking of.

Huh. Me too. One of those 50+ y.o. recollections that the net is
often miraculously able to verify, correct or even improve on.

The Election Day story as I recall it was in a fat paper-bound
collection of short fiction but definitely not designated as "science"
fiction -- the kind of inexpensive edition perhaps intended for
classrooms. Now we might call the story "speculative" fiction but
the collection wasn't tilted enough to collectively merit even that.

I'll try again in another decade. should I (or Usenet) improbably live
so long. :-)

Tnx to y'all contributors to the thread.

--
Mike Spencer Nova Scotia, Canada

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