The story we're not reading here

The New York Times reports that the economy in Dubai is faring very poorly.

Dubai is about 90 miles north of where I live and is in a different emirate.  (I live in the Abu Dhabi emirate.)  The article claims that Dubai has virtually no oil which is not we hear here... and that Abu Dhabi (with the oil) is letting Dubai twist in the wind.  

If you read the article you'll understand why I say that I think the economy is great.  It's wonderful.  No problems at all.  Anyone saying otherwise is itching for a fight.

And, of course, I like turtles.

"I like turtles"

I think I've found a new catch phrase. Berkeley Breathed (cartoonist for Bloom County and Opus) was interviewed by Salon. Responding to a question he didn't want to answer he says:

"I like turtles. Maybe you saw the YouTube of the kid at Halloween saying precisely that to the TV reporter when she asked what he thought of being made up as a zombie. It's a perfect dodge from unpleasant candor."

How can *I* use it?

So Steve, how do you deal with your male students who won't stop talking in class?

I like turtles.

What happened when you put a relatively simple math question on the board that nobody could answer?

I like turtles.

This could come in very handy.