I read this within a few minutes of the original post and wanted to respond, but I held off to think about my reaction.  
 
I appreciate a good April Fools and disagree with the concept that they are just for children, but I thought this crossed a line.  This thread is going to end up captured in Google for a long time to come and will be found well beyond the joke period.  I guess I figure there must have been some other topic for a joke that might have been less serious if misinterpreted.  How about the announcement for the new Series 3 instrument, for example?
 
I wonder if Dave might be able to edit the title now that April 1 is behind us to include April Fools for anyone that might see this in the future and be less amused.

hypertension ain't fun...wishes of good health to all.
...good point bsee

David; I concur that a fire shouldn't bankrupt a business if it is properly insured however properly insured is not always the case.  Heck I know many Musicians and Luthiers that can not afford health insurance either.  
 
Mid Missouri; was not adequately insured.  The fire such as it was; was extinguished by a sprinkler system.  However their downstairs neighbors suffered water damage and the liability fell upon the Luthier who was not properly insured.  
 
Also the loss of wood can be very difficult to put a value on and to document that it was still part of the inventory. A small stash of dalbergia negra which cost $500 10 years ago could easily cost in excess of 10 times that amount to replace in todays market.  
 
-E

Bill; I am happy to accept you appology. We have had a couple of off-list dialogs during recent years and I liked the person that I was communicating with. I have no doubt that you did not intend to be anything other that light-hearted when you started this thread.  
 
In your sub-culture All Fools Day is still practiced on April 1. I understand cultural and subcultural differences. Having grown up in the Washngton DC area and having lived in the DC area for most of my adult life I have encountered inumerable cultural-oops.  I have also made quite a number of cultural-OOPS myself.  
 
I too waited a bit before posting my reply; and I am glad that I tempered my response to the extent that I did. I am also pretty sure that this hit a nerve with me far more than it would (or did) with most everyone else. So I am aware that my reaction was not an average reaction.  
 
Bill; you are in my mind a guy that wraps himself in the Constituion and you still have my respect.  
 
My cardiologist will respect you too as long as you pay him proptly for my emergency office visit yesterday!   LOL
 
-E
 
 
I did find some interesting history of All Fools Day which included a charming list of pranks here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_fools_day
 
(Message edited by u14steelgtr on April 02, 2008)

No offense to Bill, but maybe this thread should just be deleted all together....

Heh I Googled the Thread title and found this link, Fire at the factory indeed Bill  
 
link
American Basses: An Illustrated History & Player's Guide  
The local fire marshal was horrified, but he didn't shut them down ... Alembic's first business breakthrough came after the publication of a 1973 anti...
 
(Message edited by davehouck on April 05, 2008)

Bill,
 
Good Joke, man.  Hilarious!
 
You got me.
 
Bradley

For god's sake people lighten up.
I was almost tempted to discuss a fire sale.
Howierd

'life is not as serious as our minds make us believe'
 
good jokes catch you off guard - leaves your head spinning
 
touche Bill - you freaked me out!!!

Damnit Bill.  That was pretty low.  Even for a lawyer........grin

As April Fool's jokes go, that was a masterpiece - but believe me, if it's your birthday, you lose your taste for the tradition about the time you're a young and foolish 2-6 year-old.  
 
Peter

i didn't think the original joke was the best of 2008, but some of these reactions are priceless!

Just to show that it's not just Bill pulling our legs, One of the UK breakfast Tv shows - GMTV did an item aboout a new miracle diet cream that reduced ones' weight by 50% after 6 weeks. Mrs J fell for it and had me searching the internet for it. I wonder how many very large women got upset that it was a prank. Made both of us laugh when we realised it wasn't real - as did this thread.
 
Graeme