Subject: The Seven Samurai (minus four)
Date: Sun, Jun 17 2001 00:00:02 EDT

A friend sent this to me, telling me it wasn't for passing on to the list, but I just couldn't resist...

Once upon a time a powerful emperor of Japan advertised for a new Chief Samurai.

After a year, only three samurai had applied for the job: one Japanese, one Chinese, and one Jewish. The emperor called them all before his court.

"Demonstrate your skills!" commanded the emperor.

The Japanese samurai stepped forward, opened a tiny box and released a fly.

He drew his samurai sword and <Swish!>... the fly fell to the floor, neatly divided in two!

"What a feat!" said the Emperor. "Samurai number two, show me what you can do."

The Chinese samurai smiled confidently, stepped forward and opened a tiny box, releasing a fly. He drew his samurai sword and <Swish!> <Swish!>... the fly fell to the floor neatly quartered.

"That is skill!" nodded the Emperor. "How are you going to top that, samurai number three?"

Samurai number three stepped forward, opened a tiny box releasing a fly, drew his samurai sword and <Swoooooosh!>... flourished his sword so mightily, that a gust of wind blew through the room. But... the fly was still buzzing around!

In disappointment, the emperor said, "What kind of skill is that? The fly isn't even dead."

"Dead, schmead," replied the Jewish samurai. "Dead... Dead is easy. But a circumcision? THAT takes skill!"