ughenry@sunybcs.UUCP (Henry Neeman) (06/25/85)
The following article appeared in _The_Buffalo_News_, Monday, 6/24/85,
page A-7:
LEGISLATORS BUGGY OVER INSECT
ALBANY (UPI) -- A skirmish has developed in the State Legislature between
the ladybug and the praying mantis for the title of official New York State
insect.
The Assembly has passed a bill to make the ladybug the state insect. The
Senate favorite is the praying mantis, that long, thin bug that holds its
front legs together as if praying -- when not using them to catch bugs.
"The question is which is the greatest insect of all. My feeling is it
would have to be the praying mantis," said Sen. Eugene Levy, R-Spring Valley,
sponsor of a bill to enshrine the praying mantis. "It eats other insects and
is a friend to the farmer. It's also the only insect that can spin its head
all the way around. It's an attractive bug."
Assemblyman Robert Wertz, R-Smithtown, said the ladybug also eats pesky
insects. "It's cute," Wertz said of the tiny red beetle with the black dots.
For his part, Assemblyman Patrick Halpin, D-Lindenhurst, wants to squash
the bug debate. "Surely there are better uses of our time than to spend it
on legislation as absurd as this," he said.
Well, I'm personally glad to see that, now that they've finished raising
the drinking age (after I've been legal for almost a year), they can move
on to more pressing issues. It gratifies me to know that the money we pay
in state taxes for Legislative salaries is going to aid fruitful and meaningful
debate.
Any comments?
--
Henry J. Neeman (ughenry@buffalo)
"Well, no, we don't have _Rarnaby_Budge_ by Charles Dikkens with two
k's the famous Dutch author, and perhaps to save time I should add that
we don't have _Carnaby_Fudge_ by Darles Chickens, or _Farnbarous_Snudge_
by Miles Pickens or even _Stickwick_Stapers_ by Tharles Wickens with
four "m"'s and a silent "q"! Why don't you try W. H. Smith's!"
"I did. They sent me here."
"Did they."