Deep thoughts, cheap shots, and bon mots - the first

Okay, WTF is up with the way they package things like, say, thumb drives. Not only is it in an outrageous amount of plastic for its size, but it's really thick plastic - AND it's hermetically sealed AND crimped EXTRA tight around the edges!

You have to use scissors, really, to open these packages, and of course that ruins the scissors. But I’m guessing it aids in the prevention of shoplifting--which is, of course, a significantly more important issue than our impending environmental catastrophe (insert obligatory reference to the 12/2012 Mayan calendar thingy)

Speaking of catastrophes, check it out from Harper's Index:

Percentage change since 2002 in average premiums paid to large U.S. health insurance companies: +87; Percentage change in the profits of the top ten insurance companies: +428; Chances that an American bankrupted by medical bills has/had health insurance: 7 in 10

Let me give a shout out to Harper's Magazine, too. Best. Magazine. Ever.

Speaking of health care, I just saw "As Good As It Gets" again the other day and forgot about the strong health care access component to it. Interesting.

In another movie I saw, a woman made a very compelling argument about how after we had our post-WWII and Cold War "education push" to keep up with the Russkis, everyone got smart, questioned things, and the 60s happened. The guv'mint learned its lesson and has slashed education ever since. A few days after seeing that movie (which is about 5 years old), I read a strikingly similar theory/essay in Harper's magazine. Plausible or not? Discuss.

I've decided I would have no problem whatsoever living in a "Christian nation" if all these hypocrites actually did honestly base policies on "What Would Jesus Do?" I mean, any doubt on which side Jesus would be on re: health care? Or gay marriage for that matter? Or treating corporations as people?

It was disgusting beyond belief to see the outrage among the "Christians" when Obama “played the God card” for not helping the least among us--they actually got all huffy and many southern churches started advocating against health care just coz they were so outraged. Seriously, are these people truly that selfish and deranged?

I read this great letter to the editor in the Chronicle the other day wherein someone pointed out that conservatives always attack progress by flipping the script. "Extending civil rights to blacks means our rights are under attack." "Granting marriage rights to gays is an attack on marriage." "Extending medical coverage to all is an attack on health care."

As this letter writer mentioned: "There seems to be a steady pattern in which conservatives can't seem to enjoy a legal, social, or economic benefit without the added thrill of knowing that it's being denied to someone else." Word.

Back in the City

So "Freedom! Horrible, horrible freedom!" relates primarily to me being back in San Francisco (after a 7-year hiatus) and living alone for the first time in 7 years, with my son Kyle getting his own place the same weekend (due, admittedly, in no small part to vigorous pushing by me).

And while I'm totally psyched to be back in the City, I do miss that boy already, so let's hear it for "Freedom! Horrible, horrible freedom!"

The title also pays homage to Gary Larson, of "Far Side" fame, who I know has a cartoon with either this exact line or one that is VERY close in meaning. Anyway, I didn't know until I just googled him that "The Far Side" started in the San Francisco Chronicle. Click below for that bio page I found--this is on the beta version of NNDB, which could turn out to be a cool/useful site; also on that bio, fans of his cartoons will surely smile when they see what Laron's parents' names are! :)

http://www.nndb.com/people/281/000022215/

Finally, the title of the blog ties in with my general cynicism regarding the way America is run these days. The fact that we have the Freedom! Horrible, horrible freedom! to re-elect Dubya is ironic, at best.

Anyway, I wanted to start this blog with an obervation/question. I'm doing this blog partly to be trendy and I've always thought it made sense since I like to write. You know, write stuff like sense since. But I also have been VERY lax in keeping up any semblance of a personal journal, which I used to do regularly and highly recommend not only for its therapeutic properties, but for your own amusement years later. Trust me on this one: no matter how boring you think your life is right now, check your journal in ten years and you'll be like, "WTF?" Word.

Okay, but my actual observation is this: I'm kinda thinking my experience with living in so many different cities/states is a little unique--trying to make myself feel special. But then you always hear about how mobile this country is. But then again you hear that weird statistic about 75% of people dying within 10 miles of where were born.

So I'd like to hear back from people about how many places they've lived--not actual homes, mind you, just cities/states. I'd also be curious to know how unique you think you are in this regard; or how typical.

Also have a little poll so we can see what actually is typical. Please share this with as many folks as possible to see what kind of breakdown we get.

Anyway, I'm also thinking that I just love city life, and that there will be some really cool goings on and doings for me to yap about. And if no one else ends up reading it, at least I get something to go "WTF?" over in about 10 years. :)

So here's a link to the poll and a cool site if you're interested in doing polls. For some reason, I can't get the actual poll imported here like they say you can, but then, I'm probably doing something wrong and am too lazy to figure out what.

http://www.micropoll.com/akira/mpview/644733-195126


COMING SOON: An old man and his terrier! Or is it schnauzer? PLUS: a threesome from some "furren" place!!