Feb. 15--Notes, quotes and anecdotes while wondering when we'll start seeing the "Honk if you were an Obama Cabinet nominee" bumper stickers:

Three toxic words -- Inquiring minds want to know how many jobs and even marriages have been lost because of three little words: "Reply to all."

Maybe it's happened to you. A few years ago, several dozen editorial page editors around the country received an innocuous e-mail from one of our colleagues. A few minutes later, he received a reply from a friend, who also noted that a job applicant whom both were considering was not worth hiring. Mistakenly, the sender had hit "reply to all." The whole group of us -- including the job applicant's boss at the time, who didn't know the guy was job hunting -- looked on, horrified. Alas, a follow-up, "Please disregard the last e-mail, incorrectly sent to the wrong people" could not undo the damage.

I've also heard a story about a man who e-mailed his wife, "They not only didn't fire me, the morons gave me a raise!" But from his electronic address book, he sloppily selected the entire company management team. Ouch!

Moral of the story: Slow down, and don't send any e-mail you don't want the whole world to see.

MEDDLING WITH ADULTS: Those who are obsessed with controlling others' private lives are always on the prowl in the Legislature. This year they're pushing two bills that would outlaw sex between teachers and students under the age of 20 (according to House Bill 1385) or 21 (according to Senate Bill 5232). Sounds like a good idea, but this well-meaning effort is a waste of time for two reasons.

First, sex with a minor (under 18) already is against the law. Second, state and local school district policies strictly forbid improper relations between a teacher and any student of any age. It's a sure-fire way for a teacher to, well, get fired. These are all the laws, rules and protections that are needed.

And as these two bills would apply to students 18 and over, they would essentially criminalize sex between consenting adults. Can't the Morality Police just be content with banning marriage between two loving people of the same sex? Do they have to meddle in the affairs of consenting adults?

MYTH KILLING: One of the loudest yelps from the Hounds of Whinerville about extending light rail into Clark County is that it will kill the C-Tran bus system. History tells us, though, that Portland's MAX light rail line has not killed the TriMet bus system. Far from it, the two systems complement each other. More rational minds understand that the public benefits from a wide array of transportation options.