From Wired:

Polly Want a ... What?
If you need proof that we are all a product of our environment, look no further than Barney, a 5-year-old Macaw who swears like a lorry driver. Which figures, because Barney, who now resides at a sanctuary in central England, once belonged to a lorry driver. Although workers at Warwickshire Animal Sanctuary have tried to break Barney of his habit, the stream of invective continues. "He's told a lady mayoress to f... off and he told a lady vicar: 'And you can f... off as well,'" sanctuary worker Stacey Clark said. Barney didn't hold back when it came to a couple of visiting cops, either. "He told them: 'And you can f... off, you two wankers.'"

I think picking your nose at work should not be done.

I think picking your nose at work should not be done.

Whoa! That's quite a stand to take.

ION, a friend sent me this link to an edible books festival. Check out the gallery!

That's quite a stand to take.

I'm all about the controversial positions.

I wonder if I can prevent her from ever using my keyboard. Or phone.

Or air.

'Cept it's under the 1 million (or whatever) limit, so you'd pay no taxes. Or am I missing something?

I'm just pulling numbers out of the air to make the difference clear. Technically none of this is applicable now, because estate taxes are not operable. The thrust of the argument being that the current tax system-- that cap gains tax is paid when the gain is realized, not at the death of the donor-- is not some kind of scam that lets people get away with not paying taxes.

The figure I've seen for the estate tax revenue is $290 billion over the next 10 years. If the tax is repealed, then where does that money come from? Raise the income tax?, Cut Medicaid?, Just add it to the debt?

Where does that money come from (it's not coming now, there's no estate tax)? I'm not sure how to answer this. First, it will still be collected through the capital gains tax. Or through increasing top level income taxes, cutting expenses or increasing the deficit. I mean, I could just as well suggest increasing the effective tax rate on people who make between $300K to $350K, calculate how much that will get the government and then ask where that money will come from if it's not increased.

The figure I've seen for the estate tax revenue is $290 billion over the next 10 years. If the tax is repealed, then where does that money come from? Raise the income tax?, Cut Medicaid?, Just add it to the debt?

I know this is crazy talk, but I suppose we could, you know, stop trying to conquer Iraq. That'd save a dollar or two.

So, bon, how do the tax laws apply to Teppy's primal fear of inheriting her father's debt?

I wonder if I can prevent her from ever using my keyboard. Or phone.

Or air.

Oh please. We all know you can.

Can you do so without incurring unpleasant consequences for yourself is a better question.

I think picking your nose at work should not be done.

What about picking your friends?