The Anti-SWNID Discovered

As dutiful parents, SWNID and Mrs. SWNID spent many hours reading Berenstain Bears books to Son and Daughter of SWNID during their early childhood. Blessedly, the SWNID scions learned to read at an early age, sparing their parents the agony of reading these tedious books more than we did. The bears' stories, at once moralistic and soporific, were studies in politely leftist stereotypes. Mama bear was smart and caring, Papa Bear was stubborn and stupid, Sister Bear did everything, especially sports, better than Brother Bear, and science expert Professor Actual Factual talked about public policy, not science.

Well, as many gentle readers no doubt know, Stan Berenstain, co-creator of the literary dynasty, passed away this week. He is survived by his wife, Jan, the other half of the creative team.

But we blog on this event because in the coverage of Mr. Berenstain's passing, we came across the biography of Papa Bear, which describes him as follows (emphasis inserted):

World's greatest expert on almost everything. He is often wrong but never in doubt.

Clearly we have found here the ursine anti-SWNID, the converse of this blogger in a parallel bear universe.

So what would happen if SWNID and Papa Bear ever met? Would a strange, powerful reaction occur, like the reaction of matter with anti-matter in Star Trek?

We can, as the songwriter says, only imagine.