Mal couldn't resist again. He suspected that folk were probably getting tired of his references to Appendix Gimmel, but at this nutso time in history, it seemed to be the best model for everyone's "condidtion"..
He swayed to his feet, lifting another bottle of the Rheinlander Bock, amazed that it was actually starting to taste good.
"And here's to Verwirrung! And to symptoms!"
The last caused Doc to raise a medical eyebrow, ready to jump for his portable diagnostic suite. Mal laughed and continued.
"Whoa Doc! I'm referring to the symptoms that are presenting in a huge number of people throughout the Sector. People are becoming more and more anxious about the future. They are becoming frustrated that there seems to be no solution in sight.
"They fear that old paradigms and models will be swept aside by the dawning of Verwirrung, and perhaps rightly so; but at the same time they subconsciously yearn for the new cycle of history to arrive, providing a 'clean slate' upon which to write a new and better version of history and humanity.
"John Henry, every single person who has entered this Kiva seeking my counsel, has exhibited these very same symptoms. I contend that as Discordians, we hold a distinct advantage over the other 'sufferers' of these anxieties.
"We are aware from our Sacred teachings that History is destined to repeat. We know the five stages, and we know what to expect of Verwirrung when it finally and inevitably arrives. We should consider ourselves Blessed to have such knowledge."
"All we are required to do by our Faith is to 'lie down on the floor and keep calm.', as another great Discordian sage once recommended.
![[Image: malsig_alt1.png]](http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o108/Shamus_FL/malsig_alt1.png)