Odd mindworm

There is a drinking song from Tudor times, by that eclectic fellow "Anon," that is quoted in the edition of the ODQ that stands on the bookshelf outside the bathroom. The chorus seems to be:

"O! by the blood of King Edward,
O! by the blood of King Edward,
It was a swapping, swapping mallard."

Quite apart from the fact that this quote seems to be free from any trace of rhythm or metre, I'm bemused by the final line. Obviously this mallard had a keen interest in the barter system, but what did it swap and for what? Were these exchanges always equitable, or did the mallard sometimes profit unduly from the trade? It would seem that it was successful in these activities, or it would hardly have come to the attention of the balladeer. And where does getting blood out of a potato come into this?

Life is very confusing sometimes.

On conservatism

I lifted this quote from bayushisan, commenting in filkertom's journal, as being as close as I've seen to a broad statement of what conservatism ought to be:

Most conservatives simply want the government to leave them alone and let them live their lives, so long as no one is hurting anyone. They tend toward approving of smaller government and want everyone to be free to pursue success beyond their wildest imaginations.

( I want to look at this for a moment. )

Because sometimes things just bug me

Okay, you know that infuriating "you wouldn't steal a movie" thing you get on DVDs for which you've actually paid money? The one you can't fast forward through, with the grotty-gritty graphics and the annoying music, that immediately fills you with the urge to go out and rob a bank or something?

One of the minor irritations about it for me is that the DVD that someone takes and then puts back has writing on it and I can't read it. (Yes, I know, I am sad and strange and I have your pity.) Does anyone know what it says, or if it is in fact a genuine DVD cover and if so what of?

If I knew this I could stop thinking about the damned thing.