Summer Eyes Online continues to promise to deliver the following: 1) a cheap substitute for holiday cards; 2) a lofty tradition of impersonal, self-laudatory, and infrequent correspondence; 3) a pun on the word"summarize," 4) a guarantee that this newsletter will not be sent before Christmas so that it can also serve as a single mailing of holiday cheer as well as serving as an inexpensive thank you card to gift givers (and to serve as a gentle reminder to those who fail to realize that it is better to give than receive), and 5) a method of avoiding printing, copying, paper and postage costs. (Eyes by Quinn)

Omaha--As the drums of war sound in the not too far distance, this season of peace should bring to mind some thoughts about war. Carl Sandburg said: "Sometime they'll give a war and nobody will come." Let us hope for no RSVPs right now. Is the U.S.A. itching for a fight? Does having a strong military require using it? Georges Clemenceau stated: "War is much too serious a matter to be entrusted to the military."

In a related vein, this summer David Corbin finally got around to reading War and Peace. In reality, the book was read to him via mp3. For you purists who don't think this counts, Corbin wishes to challenge you to a duel of War and Peace trivia at fifty paces. Corbin believes that he has an advantage over Woody Allen who said: " I took a speed reading course and read War and Peace in twenty minutes. It involves Russia." Corbin knows for a fact that there was also something about France. Corbin bought the Cliff''s Notes version to help keep track of the characters (Is it possible to cheat when you are doing non-required reading?) and he believes that his pronunciation of the characters' names are better than average. Corbin's review of the book: "War, bad. Peace, good."

Good old Solomon Short (whoever he was) said: "The only winner in the War of 1812 was Tchaikovsky." It's true that now when Corbin listens to the "1812 Overture" he displays a knowing and sanctimonious smile. Solomon Short also wrote: "I'm all in favor of keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of fools. Let's start with typewriters." Too bad Corbin didn't listen. He persists on putting out this rag--Summer Eyes. Corbin wonders whether there are weapons of mass destruction in Iraq or whether we should instead focus on the mass destruction of weapons. Said Corbin: "Everything I needed to know, I learned in kindergarten." For example, it is no coincidence that Little Miss Muffet was prophetic in seeing at least some of the problems in the Mideast. After all, didn't she observe that the Kurds got in the way? "But wait, if everything we needed to know was learned in kindergarten, then why did I waste over 60 hours listening to War and Peace?" Corbin asked.

Jeannette Rankin opined: "You can no more win a war than you can win an earthquake"---a shaky statement to say the least, but it still cracks Corbin up.
In conclusion, war, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing, Say it again.

And now to jump to a conclusion, we are faced with the Return of Smallpox (the sequel is never as good as the original). As a public health professional, Corbin knows that the real worry is Large Pox. "It can be a much bigger problem." So, in this season of peace, shalom, and pas--a pax on you, your house and your family. Not a small pax but a large pax!

London--Josie Metal-Corbin, Quinn Corbin and David Corbin spent spring break, 2002, in London. It is a lot like spring break in Ft. Lauderdale. One thing that Corbin learned in kindergarten proved not to be true. London Bridge is not falling down. It turns out that it is not even in London but in Arizona. The trio attended six plays and a movie and visited Josie's relatives whose balcony overlooks the famous Abbey Road Studio. After the obligatory posing in the Abbey Road crosswalk (the walrus is Paul), the trio dined with Laureen Holl and children. It was most delightful.