Carrie—sometimes just walking away is the best route. It was for me and others in my family insofar as certain family members are concerned. Good luck.

Dave—Going to see Mysteries of Life and Vulgar Boatman at 2nd Story tonight—pretty sure slam-dunk contests and 3-point shoot-outs won’t pull me away. I did find out that my previously worthless little sis managed to get tickets for the upcoming season, so I am getting excited again. Tai Chi is a strong possibility. Rain locations?

Phil—Maximillian is the one of the robots in Disney’s The Black Hole, I think. I read some things on Salon.com (but not too much) about Mulholland Drive this morning. I will sign a petition to Kerasoates, if you make it up.

Hey, big, fat dumbass!! Roy Batty is the bad guy replicant from Bladerunner.

Had a lovely day off today. Going to see Ghost World now.

--Are you really surprised, Amy?


Sometimes I use strong words like "permitted" to exaggerate my point. In this case, that was my goal, but I didn't mean that people choosing not to blog is impermissible. What I mean is that, for me, being part of a community that elicits feelings of being attacked such as we have seen recently is impermissible. Not that that can be "fixed" in any simple way, either. I am bungling this one, too, aren't I?

Jennifer and I went with John and Carrie to the I-69 thing at Oliver Winery last night. They say all politics is local, and this one sure is, but, ultimately, with its connection to free trade, globalization, and American hegemony, I see the highway as at least a tenuous tentacle of the beast. At the very bottom level, it is a question of how we as citizens want our community to look in 20-50 years. An interstate will irrevocably change this jamming little town. I don't link like JimA and others (thanks to all of you), so you'll hafta do yer on research, but here's a place to start:

This will get you to the home page for Citizens for Appropriate Rural Roads.

and this will get you to the home page for the Hoosier Environmental Council.

Both groups are working to stop this crap. Letters and faxes to legislators are better than email, so the word goes.

PEACE OUT

I like Carrie's idea, so here goes...

Sha-Reee!
Sha-Reee!
Sha-Reee!
Sha-Reee!
Sha-Reee!
Sha-Reee!
Sha-Reee!

I spent yesterday evening playing music with the combo I am working in these days. Music rocks. Nothing helps take me away from the heaviness of the times like the sounds of my bass being pushed along by the insistence of a well-played drum kit. And I needed to be taken away.

Thanks for the links, Amos. Much was made yesterday of the bin Laden video. I wish I had a friend who spoke Arabic (right?) so I could trust the translations. NPR reported at one point that he "confessed." I don't know if I buy that. I wish the mainstream press would interview at least one or two people who are not members of the government.

Clint said it better than I could regarding people leaving the blog, but I will say this: It troubles me greatly, and I think we need to address this as a community. It might be difficult to do now, but it can't be permitted. I would hate for the blog to become homogeneous in its perspectives, and worry about being part of a group that makes others feel unwelcome.

James. The Comma Controversy results are in, and you are currently kicking my ass. I will continue to try, but I am feeling quite humbled at the moment. I, too, go by James in the workplace, but two people whom I hold most dear, Jennifer and my sister, also call me James. I get no shortage of Jimmy, as well. It is my judgment that the name "James" harbors so many permutations due to its reflection of the greatness of its various antecedents. The many James's here in blogland quite solidly attest to the validity of this theory. (bring it on…)


Once again, seeing as I was not heard the first time….

PEACE OUT.