Date: Fri, 19 Jan 1996 08:05:43 -0500 From: David Muschell Subject: Re: The Rat Pack is a rodent lighter >>Sender: American Dialect Society >>From: Jeutonne Brewer >>Subject: Re: The Rat Pack is a rodent lighter >>To: Multiple recipients of list ADS-L >> >>In this context I think the Rat Pack refers to the group that included >>Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Dean Martin. The Rat Pack is >>another rodent lighter after the death of Dean Martin. > >Aw shucks. I suppose there's no point sending away for my rodent lighter, >then? > > >Larry In a ritualistic tradition among the Umparkans, a Laplander tribe, springtime sees the young of the village go on rodent hunts. One of the unlucky vermin is later sacrificed on a bonfire to celebrate the coming thaw. It has been said that the glow of beady eyes is sometimes seen in the shadowy darkness as the cremated fellow's pack members say their final farewell to their departed "tundra-brother." (Couldn't resist.) David