On 8/1/05, Pensioner <al_knoll@pacbell.net> wrote: 
> 
> Not long after S.W.M.A.B.O tried to conquer a teddybear cholla 
> "bear"-handed
> we did some minor extractive surgery in the Vanagon using the vanagon
> pliers, copious amounts of Laphroig both externally and internally and 
> using
> the propane burner to flame sterilize the ubiquitous safety pin, got most 
> of
> the spines out. Most...In a vanagon almost all things are possible, right
> Ben?
> 

  Sure, Penisioner. I've managed to operate my cell phone in there. Heck, 
I've even operated cutlery with a shallow bowl-shaped container and a handle 
to facilitate consumption of my favorite frozen and stirred dairy product. 
As for your sphinc... I mean...splinter, I think SWMBO could have expedited 
the removal process by using a machete instead of a safety pin.

-- 
Cheers,

BenT