Spring

I'm not much of a botanist. Birds, I could point out and tell you colorations, ranges, males and females. Fish, of course, I could do the same. I'm getting better with tree identification.

But flowers? A couple winters ago, on a cold, cold day, I pointed out some pansies to someone. How any flower can grow in freezing weather is beyond me. They weren't pansies, I was informed, they were crocuses. About a week later, I pointed out some different crocuses to someone else. They weren't crocuses, I was informed, they were pansies. *shrug*

A few years ago, I'd be hard pressed to tell you the difference between a daffodil and a rosebush. Now I know better. Daffodils mean spring! It's actually going to start getting warmer (64F/18C today, though raining) and the days will get longer and the wind will be pleasant instead of something against which to grit one's teeth...



I know many on my friends list are getting dumped with snow today, but spring is on the way!

Pucker up, W.

Directed by a George Will column, I searched for and scanned the Economic Report of the President, a supporting document to the 2004 budget. Buried on page 208 of this PDF file is a hint that dropping payroll and income taxes, while moving toward a consumption tax, might be a good thing to do.

I swear, if W. actually proposes this formally, I will hunt him down and kiss him full on the lips. If congress actually passes it, I will hunt down every member, all 535 men and women, and I will kiss them full on the lips. Whether they voted for it or not -- I would be that happy. I'd probably toss in the Supreme Court just for fun.

There's a theory just starting to be kicked around that W. knows he's going to be a one-term president, so he's gonna try to make a lot of changes now as he won't have to worry about getting reelected. Some of it, like the Office of Big Brother Homeland Security, and North Slope drilling make me want to kick him in the shins. A consumption tax...well, pucker up, W!

(FairTax.org, though the title is self-serving, I think this is the most necessary economic step America can make since allowing internet stock trading.)