BACKGROUND: On Friday, David Von Drehle, Washington Post reporter and co-author of "Deadlock: The Inside Story of America's Closest Election" (sic), wrote in to defend the title of his book, after reading DIVA DOES DEDUCTION.  He wrote in, I replied, and this is his rebuttal:

From: "David Von Drehle"
To: <thediva@coup2k.com>
Sent: Friday, June 08, 2001 8:07 PM
Subject: Re: Greetings

No doubt you're right.

Best wishes,
David Von Drehle

[DIVA NOTE:  Modesty forbids me from commenting.]

From: "Sgt. Dick Johnson"
To: <thediva@coup2k.com>
Sent:  Friday, June 08, 2001 8:07 PM
Subject:  Police Report

Dear Ms. Talpas:

My name is Dick Johnson, and I am a detective with the Tustin Police Department. 

Our records indicate that you are the owner of Coco Talpas, a bluepoint Siamese cat. I am writing to inform you of an incident that took place on May 30, 2001 at the Veterinary Nuclear Imaging Cat Hospital of Tustin.

The incident report indicates that our officers were called to investigate a disturbance reported by the veterinarian in charge, via our 911 emergency phone line.

According to the report filed by our officers after interviewing the relevant witnesses and involved parties, Death had allegedly been called to pick up your cat in the course of his routine and regular vocational duties.  Death claims that this type of task is usually accomplished quickly and efficiently.

Death also claims that upon arriving at V.N.I. Cat Hospital, he found Coco in suspiciously good health, although in a bad mood. According to Death's statement, after luring him there under false pretenses, Coco then began "kicking, biting, scratching and generally abusing" him.

Furthermore, it is alleged that Coco held down Death while other cats present beat on him "for a goodly amount of time." Death claims to have lost consciousness for an unknown period, and upon regaining consciousness, to have found himself buried in a litter box.

We are currently investigating this matter, however, to be perfectly honest, we feel it might be best for all parties involved if Death dropped all charges, and went into the witness protection program.

Thank you for your time.

Good luck to Coco.

Sgt. Dick Johnson
Tustin Police Department
Tustin, California

[DIVA NOTE:  Coco pleads the Fifth]

From: "Barna Research" <barnaupdate@barna.org>
To: <thediva@coup2k.com>
Date: Tuesday, June 5, 2001, 11:45 AM
Subject: Churches Lose Financial Ground in 2000

Giving to churches dropped significantly in the past year. Our annual review of church giving highlights the following trends:

· The number of donors to any non-profit or church organization declined by 7% in the past year, although aggregate giving remained around $100 billion.

· Four out of every ten adults gave nothing to churches in 2000, a rise of 15% among those refusing to support churches. However, among born again adults, there was a 44% rise in those who gave nothing last year.

· Compared to 1999, the mean per capita donation to churches dropped by 19% in 2000.

· One-third of born again adults said they tithed in 2000, but a comparison of their actual giving and household incomes reveals that only one-eighth did so.

[DIVA NOTE:  In the post-Pentecost New Testament, The Holy Ghost imposed the death penalty directly for the sin of lying about tithing.]