A scorpion and a frog meet on the bank of a stream and the scorpion asks the frog to carry him across on its back. The frog asks, "How do I know you won't sting me?" The scorpion says, "Because if I do, I will die too." The frog is satisfied, and they set out, but in midstream, the scorpion stings the frog. The frog feels the onset of paralysis and starts to sink. Knowing they both will drown, the frog has just enough time to gasp "Why?" Replies the scorpion: "It's what I do..." The Diplomacy version: The sinking frog groans, "Why, why?!" The scorpion gives his final shrug and replies, "I didn't want you in the North Sea, after all." Kevin Burt (kevinburt37@yahoo.com) If you wish to e-mail feedback on this article to the author, and clicking on the envelope above does not work for you, feel free to use the "Dear DP..." mail interface.