[LMB] Birthday

[Jim Parish]

[The stout fellow strides solemnly onto the stage. He is wearing a 
stovepipe hat, which clashes badly with his academic robes, but he 
doesn't seem to notice.]

Ahem. Half a score and three years ago...

No. That doesn't work. [He tosses the hat aside.] That's the wrong 
anniversary anyway. Today, my listfriends, is the birthday of the man 
without whom we would not be here; this very list would not exist.

[One of the flying humanoids zips in and buzzes questioningly.]

No, Lois' birthday isn't until November.

[It buzzes again.]

No, it isn't Mel Harper's birthday either. Did you miss the word "man"?

[Again with the buzzing.]

No, it's not Al Gore either. Go away. [It flits offstage.]

As I was saying: today is the forty-sixth birthday of the man whose 
brainchild this list is. In October 1994, thanks to his efforts, the Bujold 
List became a reality. (The story is told, with, ahem, some artistic 
embellishments, at http://www.dendarii.co.uk/FanFic/listory.html.) I 
speak, of course, of the Listfather and the Giver of FAQs...

Michael Bernardi!

Join me, then, in offering fervent thanks and good wishes to Michael, 
on this his natal day!