and to introduce our speaker, i want to bring up our vice president, anita dodd. [applause] >> good morning. i'm a little shorter and closer to the mic, so i hope you can hear me a little better. i'd like to to welcome dick or or carpenter today, but i -- dick carpenter today, but i want to tell you how much we have worked over the years with the institute for justice. i think their motto is we sue government -- [laughter] and that sounds pretty good to me. but dick is, dick is co-author of "bottletheytheyneckers," andt miss your opportunity to get a copy of this. it is excellent and shocking. gaming the government for power and private property. he's a also director of strategic research for the institute for justice where he works with staff and attorneys to define, implement and manage social science research related not institute's mission d related to the institute's mission. he's an experienced researcher, he has presented and published on a variety of topics ranging from education policy to the dynamics of presidential elections. so catch him later to talk