In a somewhat amazing transaction, I've recently traded a sailboat for a nice old wooden Irish Flute (simple system flute in the key of D with six holes and six keys, so it's fully chromatic), a bagpipe practice chanter, and a set of Mark Cushing's Piob Beag or Scottish Highland Smallpipes. These pipes are bellows-blown, so you could even sing along with them. It should be fun. So far, I can make squawking noises on the chanter (and get actual tunes out of the flute). The pipes are still under construction, but I should have them sometime early next week. After that, I should be able to clear out the house in a real hurry.
Here's a great excerpt from an email that Andrew Sullivan received and posted on his weblog: www.AndrewSullivan.com - Daily Dish
While having a beer at a neighborhood bar/restaurant in NYC's West Village last weekend, I was party to a situation that I think you'll find directly on point.
Three mid-50's liberals were going on about the capture of Saddam; how it was a conspiracy, that the president knew where he was at all times and picked a politically opportune moment to capture him, it was all about the oil, etc.
The mid-20's girl sitting next to them broke from her conversation to chime in with the following, "I wish 60's sensibilities had stayed there. Someone points a gun in your face and you think 'My Fault', when you should be thinking 'You just picked the wrong fight'. Get your heads out of your asses".
They responded with dismissive claims about Republicans and tourists from the midwest.
She replied with, "One, I grew up in Brooklyn. Two, I voted for Gore -- but I'll sure as hell take W. over someone who thinks the French are the height of moral authority and without ulterior motive."