By Johnny Caryopsis

Pussy willows have always been one of the great harbingers of spring in Manitoba. I can remember, as a kid, going down to the creek, armed with my trusty pen knife, and cutting stems of pussy willows to bring home to my mom. I'd catch heck for going near the creek during the spring run-off, with its high waters, getting my boots all muddy and my socks soaked, but I'd get a hug for the pussy willows, too. And I'd get something special for lunch.

So, my first thoughts about doing an article on pussy willows brought back happy memories. I wallowed in these for some time, then decided not to get too maudlin and to let sleeping stories lie. Instead, I talked to the guys at NNZ and asked if I could philosophize a bit about the internet (And we reluctantly agreed to turn him loose - the editors.), as well as put together some information about pussy willows.

By now you may have surmised where this is going, so be warned. Yes, I'm going to talk about freedom of speech, access to information and responsible publication! If you want to go straight to the information on pussy willows, click here. If you've got a few minutes and want to read my tirade, then carry on.