Subject: THE RABBIT, THE FOX, AND THE WOLF - A FABLE
 
 One sunny day a rabbit crept out of her warren to enjoy the weather.  The day
 was so pleasant that she became sleepy and careless, and a fox sneaked up
 behind her and caught her in his jaws.
 
 "You're my lunch!", said the fox.  
 
 "Wait!", exclaimed the rabbit, "Please, at least wait a few days."
 
 "Why should I wait?"
 
 "I am just about to finish my Ph.D. dissertation."
 
 "That's a stupid excuse.  What are you writing about, anyway?"
 
 "My title is 'The Superiority of Rabbits Over Foxes.'"
 
 "You're crazy!  Everyone knows that foxes are far above rabbits in the food
 chain."
 
 "Not necessarily, according to my research.  If you like, come visit my
 warren and read it for yourself.  If you aren't convinced, by all means go
 ahead and have me for lunch."
 
 "You really are crazy!"  But the fox was curious and had nothing to lose, so
 it went with the rabbit.
 
 A few days later the rabbit was again taking another break from writing when
 a wolf came out of the bushes and cornered her.
 
 "Wait!", yelled the rabbit, "you can't eat me right now."
 
 "And why might that be, my furry appetizer?"
 
 "I am almost finished writing my dissertation on 'The Superiority of Rabbits
 Over Wolves.'"
 
 The wolf laughed and retorted, "Maybe I shouldn't eat you.  You really are
 obviously sick in the head, and might have something contagious."
 
 "Come and read it for yourself, you can eat me after that if you disagree
 with my conclusions." The wolf went. 
 The rabbit finished her dissertation and was out celebrating in the lettuce
 patch.  Another rabbit came along and asked, "What's up?  You seem very
 happy."
 
 "Yup, just finished my dissertation."
 
 "Congratulations!  What's it about?"
 
 "'The Superiority of Rabbits Over Foxes and Wolves.'"
 
 "Are you sure?  Somehow that doesn't sound right."
 
 "Oh yes it is.  Come and read it for yourself."
 
 So they went down together into the rabbit's warren.  The friend saw a
 typical graduate student abode, rather messy, with a computer in one corner,
 and large stacks of books and papers.  And against the far wall on the right
 was a large pile of fox bones; on the left was a large pile of wolf bones;
 and between the two was a conspicuously well-fed lion, fast asleep.
 
 The moral:  The title of your dissertation is immaterial, but the assistance
 of your advisor is critical.
 
 From: Mike

Wil Stark, wstark04 (at) pobox _dot_com

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