Gratitude, of course, is the most fleeting of emotions, as you may know. Take, for example, the seagull to the left. Here I am, making this bird a star in the blogosphere, and what was its thanks for my efforts and the popcorn I bought to get him/her/it down into camera range? The bird took my popcorn and promptly shat all over my shoes. This is the thanks I get, and frankly, it serves me right, I think. Seagulls, for all their aerial grace, are extremely filthy birds with disgusting personal habits. It wouldn't surprise me in the least to discover that this bird is probably a liberal, or even worse, a Red Sox fan.