A man’s right to work as he will, to spend what he earns, to own property, to have the State as servant and not as master: these are the British inheritance. They are the essence of a free economy. And on that freedom all our other freedoms depend.  — Margaret Thatcher, British Prime Minister, October 13, 1925 to April 8, 2013

Irish Woman and I are planning Boo’s birthday party.

Irish Woman – The new pavilion at the park is available, and it fits our budget.

Me – I’d like to check that out.  The pictures look good, and it could be a good place for things like graduation parties and barmitsvahs.

Girlie Bear – Barmitsvahs?  We’re not Hispanic.

OK, time to talk to the daughter about non-Scandinavian or Irish coming of age traditions.

You can’t separate peace from freedom, because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom. — Malcolm X, May 19, 1925 – February 21, 1965

So, if a law [e.g., a statute or treaty] be in opposition to the Constitution, if both the law and the Constitution apply to a particular case, so that the Court must either decide that case conformably to the law, disregarding the Constitution, or conformably to the Constitution, disregarding the law, the Court must determine which of these conflicting rules governs the case. This is of the very essence of judicial duty. If, then, the Courts are to regard the Constitution, and the Constitution is superior to any ordinary act of the Legislature, the Constitution, and not such ordinary act, must govern the case to which they both apply. — John Marshall, Marbury v. Madison ruling, 1803

Irish Woman, excitedly showing me the progress she’s made on her bathroom project – Oh!  I got you something at $BIGBOXHARDWARE!  It’s in my car.  Let me run out there and get it.

Me, as I let her get outside of easy striking distance – Is it a blonde?  I hope it’s a blonde!  The $BIGBOXHARDWARE on the other side of town has a really nice one I’ve had my eye on for a long time.

Irish Woman – What?!?!?!

Fear not, I made my saving throw against death.

The following conversation was relayed to Irish Woman by Boo’s teacher:

Boo – My mommy is going to my new school today and meeting my teachers!

Teacher – Oh really?  Which school is that?

Boo – It’s Saint <INSERT OBLIGATORY CATHOLIC SAINT> school, and Jesus is going to be my teacher!

Yeah, that’s my kid, always trying to get the best instructors.  It’s better than my comment that you could tell his new school was serious about math, because they nailed our Lord and Savior to a plus sign.  That one got me an elbow in the ribs.

First they came for the blacks, and I spoke up, even though I wasn’t.

Then they came for the gays, and I said that was wrong.

Then they came for the dissenters and protesters, and I decried it, because everyone’s voice should be heard.

Then they came for the gun owners, and the mock “liberals” hung us out to dry.

So when they come for your group, you can eat shit and die.

 — Michael Z. Williamson on FaceBook this morning

Cats are the devil’s oven mitts – Phlegmmy, posting on Facebook

My cats tend to be pretty well-behaved, with the exception that Annya is obsessed with deep glasses of water, but then freaks out when they get stuck to her head, thereby causing thrashing and puddles.

The puppy, on the other hand, is being officially named “BooBoo’s Moonshine McBreadStealer”.  The son of a gun ate an entire loaf of bread that was left out on the counter last night.  He looked like a shiny black stuffed turkey afterward, and I’m pretty sure his tummy hurt, but since it’s the third time he’s done something like that, I’m guessing he’s not smart enough to stop doing things that hurt.

Yes, we must, indeed, all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately — Benjamin Franklin, born January 17, 1705

Dad, it takes a good Jedi to fight a bad Jedi –  Boo

 

From the mouths of babes….