2007 set a new record for inanities. I got given a book of George W. Bush's recent sayings for Christmas, and so far I've laughed my way up to page 150; still got another 120 pages to go.
2008 promises to be almost as good. We'll miss Bushy Boy (his trial for crimes against humanity won't start until 2012), but we have a US election to look forward to, and the sports commentators will have a wealth of material with the Olympics taking place in Beijing. The year certainly got off to a rip-roaring start. Thanks to Viateur for providing the cracker in his posting "Peristylus holochila (Hillebr.) N.Hall? / Hawaii (US)". In case you missed it, the article said: "the Alaka'i Swamp on Kaua'i, just a dozen miles from Mount Wai'ale'ale, the second wettest place on earth". OK, so it is common knowledge that the wettest place is 1 km below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean. A guy on a TV show said that the third wettest place is 2000 metres below the surface of the Pacific about 120 km south of Vanuatu, so it must be true. 4th wettest is 100 cm above the sea floor at the North Pole; I got that from the the penguins. 5th wettest is anywhere below the surface in my local swimming pool, or anywhere on surface if all the local kids are in there playing with their super-soakers. 6th wettest is ....... etc., etc., etc. Query. Can anyone provide wetness data for that mountain top on Kaua'i ? Preferably peer-reviewed. Query. Is fresh-water wetter than salt-water ? Don't seem to have a fresh-water locations on my list. No, the pool doesn't count .... it is full of chlorine. Maybe in 2009 these journo's brain cells will kick in, but until that happens ..... sit back and enjoy. 2008 promises to be a bumper year. Cheers, Peter O'Byrne _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
