As a favor to a slug friend, we were once called upon to perform in a handbell choir. Research has turned up a previously-unknown video of our performance.

You may guess as to which bell we played.

Having spent a productive vacation day wikiwandering, we came across the following quotation from the opinion of Judge Learned Hand:

"Anyone may arrange his affairs so that his taxes shall be as low as possible; he is not bound to choose that pattern which best pays the treasury. There is not even a patriotic duty to increase one's taxes. Over and over again the Courts have said that there is nothing sinister in so arranging affairs as to keep taxes as low as possible. Everyone does it, rich and poor alike and all do right, for nobody owes any public duty to pay more than the law demands."

In light of the good Judge's comments, we hereby cordially invite Sen. Biden to suck it.

While conversing with our old friend Marilyn, our phone didn't know the word "Stoops." Since we use T9 (predictive text), the phone offered the nearest suggestion.

Given the outcome of the OU-Texas Tech game, we feel that the leash's suggestion of "Stomps" is close enough.

We learn today that yoga "can destroy the faith of a Muslim."

Wow. It must be a pretty weak faith to break under minor stretching.

Pardon us; there seems to be a knock at the door. Somebody mumbling about Semtex Underoos....

We learn today that another group of Arab pirates has seized a vessel, this time a supertanker.

We are inclined to wonder just how it is that these pirates are still wasting our oxygen. Isn't this why the Marines were formed?

Edited to add:
Q: What do you get as a birthday gift for the Corps that has everything?
A: Targets

Our political "leadership" is still kicking over the idea of (once again) bailing out the US auto industry:

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said over the weekend the House would aid the ailing industry, though she did not put a price on her plan. "The House is ready to do it," said Democratic Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee. "There's no downside to trying."

No, none whatsoever. After all, it's not your money!

C'mon, Barney, admit it: you just want some lovin' from Fred Henderson, don't you? Or are you just trying to give it to all of America the way you gave it to Herb Moses?

No, really.

"He (Lipski) kind of had this grin on his face, and you could see his manhood in his hand," Joe said, who estimates 30 people on the dance floor were within range of a "long arc and stream of urine coming out into the crowd."

We are buoyed by the honesty shown by Mr. Lipski. It is rare indeed for a politician to demonstrate his true feelings for those whom he represents in such a frank and straightforward manner.

It would seem that our hope that Mr. Obama would continue to "[appreciate] the Founders' wisdom in designating a system to keep power in check" is to be dashed not a week after the election, still seventy days from his ascendance to the throne.

(Pay close attention at about thirty seconds in.)

As our friend GeekWitha.45 so eloquently put it:

Real Americans are barely governable, and they are not Ruled.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10093327-1.html brings us a post from Dell's blog attempting to squelch rumors of a forthcoming music player from the company:

"As we said a few months ago, our strategy focuses on content offerings and delivery platforms that mix Zing software, remote access and pre-configured media bundles across all of our devices, including licensing agreements with entertainment distributors. It has never been about a music player," the blog posting reads.

Except, y'know, when it has.

The president's eyes became fixed; his voice took on the agitated, rapid tone of someone neither accustomed to nor welcoming interruption; his easy affability was replaced by an almost messianic certainty. As I watched my mostly Republican Senate colleagues hang on his every word, I was reminded of the dangerous isolation that power can bring, and appreciated the Founders' wisdom in designating a system to keep power in check.
--Barack Obama on hearing President Bush's legislative agenda, in The Audacity of Hope

We hope he remembers the wisdom of checks and balances in the coming years.