#001 — The Rites of Spring

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Ah the glorious colors of spring; the green grass, the red and yellow flowers, the blue streak as I swear at my dysfunctional lawn mower.

After hibernating in an aluminum shed all winter, my mower is reluctant to awake and resume its normal duties of mutilating my lawn and mangling my sprinkling system.  Every spring I enter into protracted negotiations with this “labor saving” device.

To begin, I check the gas and oil and press the engine primer exactly three times.  These actions don’t do any real good, but like the tea ceremonies of feudal Japan, it’s important to follow all of the parts of the ritual.  Assured that the engine has what it needs, I grasp the pull starter and the negotiations begin. (Full Text)

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