More from Andy Rooney, who seems to agree with Arlo's concept of light...

<FONT size="4">An Illuminating Thought</FONT s>
<FONT size="1">NEW YORK, April 20, 2003
by CBS News Correspondent Andy Rooney.</FONT s>

Sometimes when I wake up in the middle of the night, I get thinking things that wouldn't be worth thinking about if I was really awake.

I was lying there in the dark the other night and got thinking what a good job civilization has done lighting everything.

Before Thomas Edison came up with the light bulb, the only way people had of seeing in the dark was with fire.

There were campfires. We had kerosene lamps at our cottage at the lake.

Everything is lit with electricity now - whatever electricity is.

There is even talk about the time when there will be a permanent light in the sky, a man-made sun hung up there. We’d have a 24-hour daytime. I’d hate that. I think we all need some darkness in our lives.

Downtowns everywhere are already lit up 24 hours a day.

The Great White Way.

We have to pull down the shades in our bedroom because of the glare of the streetlight outside.

Flashlights were a pretty good invention. I'm a sucker for clever flashlights though. And the bigger the better. I always wanted one of these when I was a kid. And they bring out the gadget inventors. I'll bet I've bought a hundred flashlights in my life. I have every kind ever made. But then, I never have one when I really want one.

During World War II, the British had those great searchlights scanning the sky, looking for German bombers to shoot down.

When they get talking about nuclear and biological weapons, I always think about what would happen if all but a few thousand people living on some remote Pacific islands were wiped out. Those humans left on earth wouldn't know how to make any of the things we have. How long would it take before another Thomas Edison came along and invented the light bulb again?

When I get thinking of something like light in the middle of the night, there's one light that seems perfect. And that's a candle. It's solitary, constantly changing. It casts great shadows, and leaves mysterious dark areas in a room. Candlelight is best for deep thinking, too.

I'll bet President Bush would make great decisions if all he had for light in the Oval Office was a candle.

<FONT size="1">© MMIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. </FONT s>

Wow! I LIKE Andy <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/smile.gif" width=15 height=15>
I would hate 24-hour light. Isn't it fun to be up in the middle of the night for something exciting, like packing for a fun trip, or watching the sun come up?
Thanks, Wyld!

Wyldflower: THANKS for posting Andy's thoughts about light! Hearing from Andy is always a deep thought projection. (Unless he's bashing Kurt Cobain) <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/evil.gif" width=15 height=15>

Anyhow it reminded me of the book club (BBC) and how Andy made us all think. Both good & bad thoughts. But then again, it was a book about War! Not the lightest topic to discuss. I also think of all the former BBC members & realize how much they missed out on Andy's "MY WAR". But then again, it was a great meeting. I couldn't believe I got 7ral folks to actually read that book. And we all share something in common. It was a season caught up in the moment, a moment of exchanging ideas, opinions, and just fun ribbing old Andy. He's quite a card. I wouldn't be at all surprized if he's a fan. He seems like the camping type to me. Anyone that can enjoy the simplistic realitie's of candles, campfires, and a can of pork-n-beans is okay in my book....<img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/wink.gif" width=15 height=15>

*linear note: Rob has a book! Actually lots of them. But none as memorable as Andy Rooney's 'My War'. Except maybe 'Married to Laughter' by Jerry Stiller. I was thinking the latter SO good that we the new BBC (or anyones welcome of course) do it again. ? After all if Arlo can re-due Alice's Rest. Revisited some 30 ot yrs. later we could do married to laughter. It's sapposed to snow here in St. Law. Co. all day tommorro. I'm gonna by a sun lamp, as I feel like I'm living in Alaska...ral

A friend in deed when a friends in need!
rlb