"What [bleepbleepbleep] Doesn't Like Dogs?"

Okay, okay. You all know that Animal Control has been visiting our little slice of paradise. Yesterday the City was out twice that I know of, in the morning around 8:30 and later in the afternoon, around 2:30-3:00, to troll for leashless dogs. Bring your leashes and be on the lookout for a white City of Austin vehicle that looks like a taco truck. Word on the trail is that tickets are costly, around $90 per unleashed dog. The fine is reduced if you take dog-ownership classes sponsored by the City. I know, I know. Of course you are good owners; you are outside on a freezing day letting your dog get exercise by running its brains out. But this is Texas. You can take a gun to church, but you can't let your dog run on unauthorized property. I hear you.

So the best part of The Simpsons 20th-anniversary special was a brief interview with Joe Mantegna, the actor who does the voice of Springfield's most lovable mobster, Fat Tony. He said something like this: "Who doesn't like The Simpsons? I'm suspicious of people like that, the way I'm suspicious of people who don't like dogs. What do you mean you don't like dogs? What [bleeeeeeeeeeeeeep] doesn't like dogs?" Wiser words were never spoken by an animated character actor. (Seriously, it was a really long bleep.)

Ta. -z