Beeeep!

The Amalgamated BrotherANDSISTAHood of Panderers, Moochers and Scroungers, Local 16, is proud of its job training program. And let's face it, the only jobs of an animal in this house are (a) sittin' there lookin' cute (full-time) and (b) begging for their noms (starting, like clockwork, about an hour before the actual feeding time).

This morning, Michelle, the cat to my left now grooming herself, took (b) to a new level.  Dissatisfied with the quality of the service in this establishment, she marched right up to the top shelf of the bookcase in my office, which is next to the work answering machine,....

and started replaying the messages, which had exactly the desired effect of waking up both humans and getting them busy arready.

Fine, it was to say. If YOU won't feed us, we'll just order take-out.

I'd get pissed off and just toss them in the garage, but with my luck they'd figure out how to put the car into reverse and knock down the garage door.

Capital: Albany. State bird: bluebird. State flower: Rose. State motto: "Pay toll."

Gee. Now WHO could we be talking about here?

I'm not one of those Ron Paulistas who oppose all forms of government regulation. Safety, consumer protection, reasonable collective bargaining provisions are fine with me. Yet here are three stories of Good Government Gone Wrong that make me a little more sympathetic to the cries of the corporatists.

( Story the first: Payroll Hell )

( Story the second: Open for business, but only if well-clothed )

( And finally, the third: Support your local toll-taker AND letter carrier )