For my Jewish friends, I give you the one Passover joke I know:

Each year on her birthday, the Queen of England announces the Honours List, those people whose contributions in various fields are worthy of recognition and are given honorary knighthoods and such. One year a Jewish doctor was named to the List. He was very excited, and immediately began learning the formulaic Latin phrase he would have to recite after the Queen had dubbed him. When the day arrived, he stood in line with all the other honorees. Each in turn would kneel before the Queen, receive the three shoulder taps with the sword from the Queen, then recite the Latin phrase thanking her for the honor. At last came the Jewish doctor’s turn. As he kneeled before her to receive the dubbing, his mind went blank. He couldn’t remember the Latin phrase! Frantically he tried to recall the Latin as the Queen touched the sword to his shoulders, but he could not remember them. As the silence grew, he finally blurted out the first thing that came into his mind:

“Baruch atah Adonai elohenu melech haolam….”

Upon hearing the strange words, the Queen turned to her swordbearer and asked:

“Why is this knight different from all other knights?”

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Also, courtesy of Michelle Mellon-Werch, an updated Haggadah.

edited 4/7/04: WARNING! The following was an APRIL FOOLS’ DAY JOKE! I am not moving.

Most of you know that I have been wanting to turn singing from an avocation into a vocation for some time. A few of you know that I had been looking at possibly relocating to further that goal. Well, it turns out I will be. Last month I sent in an audition CD to the New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players, and I just found I I’ve been accepted into their company as a chorus member and baritone understudy for the 2004-2005 season! I’ll be in Houston through the summer (so THE Party *shall* happen!), but will be relocating sometime in late August.

I have struggled with the idea of leaving for a very long time. But, rest assured, I will be visiting as often as I can! And y’all can always come up and visit me…though I doubt I’ll be able to afford a place with a dedicated guestroom like here.

NYGASP won’t be able to pay all the bills, so I’ll still be doing computer consulting. If you know of anyone in the City who needs computer help, let me know!