How can this be? I was my usual verbose self, but the real explanation lies with Paul, who, in the twenty years that I've known him, almost NEVER gets sick! Paul sailed in with a whale of a contribution, including a piece of doggerel that made me laugh out loud, and some thought provoking conversations lifted from his company's vast worldwide computer network (please don't distribute any of this outside Archipelago). Some of these cards are as long as voice cards can get and your enjoyment will be heightened if you first extend the text field by clicking on the left edge OF THE TEXT BOX.

Paul has also provided his usual Quotationist column, some excellent sound effects, a book review, and some updated membership cards. So be sure to push all those little buttons on the bottom of the main screen and update your archive stacks! Mr. Wizard is fairly tame this time out, but at least he's still kicking. And Stuart has contributed another great sonnet in voice card format.

In addition to being strange, this issue is also quite late. The same flu that silenced Robert last time also delayed packets from several other members and put me out of commission altogether. In fact it put me in the hospital! I am only now (mid February) coming back to life, and that is the primary reason this issue is so late. (For a gripping account of my brush with death See Vol 12 John 13.)

Now then, I have some good news and some bad news about our membership. The bad news is that Holly, after a valliant effort to send cards without a Mac of her own, has finally called it quits. She says she may still steal into Paul's house from time to time to listen in, but she just can't manage any more cards of her own. There is a VERY SLIM chance that she may acquire a Mac someday, and if she does I assured her that we would keep her slot warm and her icon polished. I hope that one way or another we will hear from her from time to time.

The good news is that we have another NEW MEMBER in the wings. Her name is Drury and she is a veterinarian from Sacramento. She is one of my oldest and dearest friends and I've been working on her for years to get a Mac. In December she found a great deal on a Plus, and with any luck at all she will be joining us in the next issue.

As always, there are many strange and wonderful voice cards to ponder over. I think you may find it interesting to compare the four responses to Suzanne's cunning "Beans or Babe" question.

One final note: it's time to pay up again! Please include $20 with your packet for another fabulous seven issues! And now... READ ON!