Hello

Salutations to all,


I am new to this list. I have a variety of interests. One of those
happens to have recently become PIE. I am just a lifelong learner
with a high curiosity factor. While I hold no advanced degrees, I
studied anthropology, history, and archeaology as an undergraduate.

Yahoo profiles tells me diddlysquat (a highly technical English
term) about the folks who post here. I have had to turn my email to
daily digests so that my mailbox would not be overburdened with all
the verbage flying. It would benefit myself as well as anyone else
who is new, and perhaps slightly intimidated; if you regulars could
just give a small thumbnail sketch of who you are and what your
qualifications on the subject might be. I do not wish to be
impertinent or bruise any egos, but I would like to be able to judge
the comments here, based on who your qualifications.

Your humble eavesdropper,

Alan
Everett, WA, USA

PS...your conversations have been very informative. (if somewhat
testy at times :-) )