This is one of those reader e-mails the humble blogger just has to accept

phlegmatically. No use getting choleric about it.

“Mr. Derbyshire—Re [quoting me]: ‘Well, I should certainly hope so! I

hope they will also keep out of their pages proponents of the Flat Earth

theory, the Hollow Earth theory, the phlogiston theory of combustion, the

theory of the Four Body Humours, and the tooth fairy theory.’

“This from the man who once wrote: ‘It is therefore from beneath the dark

sign of Saturn, and with the taste of black bile on my tongue, that I offer

George W. Bush a wan, pale, shadowed-eyed, melancholic welcome to the office

of the Chief Magistracy, and a limp, cold, feeble handshake.’ ?

“For shame, Mr. Derbyshire.”