There are two essential rules on Internet mailing lists. They apply to all mailing lists, regardless of focus, and when they are followed, all is sunshine and light and happiness. And when they are not, disaster follows and the list breaks down. Always.

I broke 'em both today. Admittedly, that happened as I exited said list -- thanks to one of its members' repeated violations of the first rule -- but still, that's no excuse.

Oh, well.

Anyway, the two rules are as follows:

1. No personal attacks on the list. Ever.
   

   If you must flame someone, use private e-mail. That's what it's there for.

2. No discussing the rules on the list. Ever.
   

   If you're not sure what the rules are, ask the moderator, via private e-mail. If somebody is violating the rules -- whether these, or rules specific to the list in question -- let the moderator take care of it. If you feel that action is warranted, inform the moderator via private e-mail. If you dislike the moderator's performance, either learn to live with it, or get the hell off the list and start your own.

Not that I should talk, under the circumstances. But, then, you oughta be able to slam the door on your way out, y'know?

(Of course not, but let's not be reasonable just now, okay?)

(And I'll be honest; a.u.k was a guilty pleasure of mine a few years back. Haven't looked at it in ages, though.)

I suppose this is why I'm still on Diary-L, even as I've unsubscribed from several other lists in disgust. At least I have no illusions about what I'm gonna get. Plus, I'm on digest, so posts are easier to delete without reading.

Oh, yeah. First of all, a belated happy birthday to Elaine!

Second of all, belated congratulations to Diane, on the birth of her daughter!

Third of all... Elmo in Grouchland. Columbine is apparently under the impression that this is this past year's good Muppet movie, so I figure I'd better interject a few words, having seen it a couple of weeks ago with the rest of the family.

In a way, the statement above is true: Elmo in Grouchland is more successful than Muppets from Space, by a wide margin. However, "successful" is a relative measure. As a Muppet movie for a general audience, Muppets from Space was a letdown. As a Sesame Street movie for little kids, Elmo from Grouchland was very good.

What one can say beyond that hinges entirely on your opinion of Elmo.

I shall be honest. If you've read this journal for any length of time, you know that I like Sesame Street. Thanks to my VCR, I watch it most mornings, and it's good.

But one advantage of recording the show on my VCR every morning -- which I haven't previously mentioned here -- is that, by recording it and watching it later, I am able to fast-forward through the Elmo's World portion of the show. I'm sorry, but I have limits.

And that's just a 15-minute segment. Now imagine having to sit through over an hour. Watching Elmo. And listening to Elmo laugh. Incessantly. For over an hour.

If you love the li'l red Muppet moppet, you'll be in heaven. If not, you'll be clawing the walls.

This is not to say that the film is without redeeming value. I loved the cameo appearances of pretty much everybody else in the Sesame Street cast, and there were a few really good punchlines, and Mandy Patankin was a wonderful bad guy. So it was nice to have seen it. But you'll need a court order to get me to watch it again.

Oh, and, yes, I was back in class tonight, so that much is well with the world. I think I'm gonna have to get some more Geology lab practice in if I want to have a chance on Thursday's test, though. Maybe after class tomorrow. Speaking of which, I have a paper to write. See y'all later.