I’m not absolutely certain, but I think I have just gotten my first “flame” from this blog! Here is an email I received Friday the 28th of February:

The author of this issue is a real american dirty rascal ! This person is shit and what he writes is bullshit! I hate him and wish that stupid hog died!

This is probably referring to the article I wrote about Iraqi oil. How exciting!
Back when I was a wee freshman in college, I prided myself on my ability to flame people who persisted in showing their stupidity on various listserves. So I was a little flametard. Don’t worry. I stopped that infantile pedantry long ago, but it gives me a thrill to recall those heady days of receiving a reply email back from the person I just totally lit up, feeling that heartbeat quicken, and then giving yourself the luxury of firing back a witty and devastating retort.