Good Morning...

Everybody remember what day it is?

Come, my Celia, let us prove
While we may, the sports of love;
Time will not be ours forever;
He at length our good will sever.
Spend not then his gifts in vain.
Suns that set may rise again;
But if once we lose this light,
'Tis with us perpetual night.
Why should we defer our joys?
Fame and rumor are but toys.
Cannot we delude the eyes
Of a few poor household spies,
Or his easier ears beguile,
So removed by our wile?
'Tis no sin love's fruit to steal;
But the sweet theft to reveal.
To be taken, to be seen,
These have crimes accounted been.

-- Ben Jonson

Evidently an homage to the fifth ode of Catullus. For details, go here.

A Valentine Puzzle

From my favorite online seller, I ordered up some nice music on DVD to give to Mrs. B on Valentine's Day. Being an impulse shopper, I also checked the box to send some books from my wish list.

February 14 comes. The books arrived, but no music. So I had to ask my colleagues for advice. For V day, do I give my wife

• The Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest Countries are Failing and What Can Be Done About It

• Good Capitalism, Bad Capitalism, and the Economics of Growth and Prosperity

• One Economics, Many Recipes: Globalization, Institutions, and Economic Goals

The unanimous verdict: oh, give them all; let her choose.

Sadly, late in the day the music showed up. So I'll never know...