Sorry. Just being my usual provocative self.

Came back from Belize last night on a connecting flight from Dallas. I got on the plane in Dallas about 1030PM. I hadn't heard ANY news in two weeks and the first thing I hear from a woman (traveling with two little girls) in the seat behind me is her exclamation: "They passed friggin' health care! We're living in a socialist country! Damn it! Hussein! That's it! We're moving! We're getting outa here!"

"Where are we moving to Mommy?" asked one of her kids, about four or five years old.

"We're moving to Canada!" said the Mother.

"Is Daddy moving too?"

"Daddy's moving too." replied the Mother.

All this was done loudly and for effect. Clearly her five and three year old did not care about their mother's political opinions. It was the same sort of baiting we see here from time to time: dropping statements so blatantly idiotic and untruthful that they provoke a response.

I bit my tongue and envisioned myself, at some point, being hauled off the plane by Air Marshals after a bitter screaming match in flight, frightening all the passive, ultra-polite Seattle-bound passengers. Marcia reminded me that situations like these are what Ipods are designed for.