January 21, 2004
Stumbling Across
Though I generally think that there are plenty of bloggers out there covering the news with great aplomb, and it's not my beat, thought these items pertinent.
Here is a piece, Reservations, about a group of people who are trying to overcome shame and integrate split off parts of themselves, inadvertently encountering George Babbitt, whose split off parts of himself were not traumatized in the same way --thus the shock and outrage. I thought it was funny.
When looking up Sinclair Lewis' novel "Babbitt", this is the site I found selfknowledge It has Maslow's heirarchy of needs at it's head (leaving out, interestingly, trancendence). [Note: Transcedence appears on the heirarchy of needs pyramid, right where fat appears in the food pyramid .] My kinda place -- worth further exploration. I haven't read "Babbitt" in forty years. I thought it was about the emptiness of existence for the middle class American. Now, I see in the summary, that George was a seeker. That part of the message was completely lost on me. Perhaps I will have time to go back and read it. Sure.
Here's a fabulous essay about misplaced male aggression and the futility of war that might even make The Group that Runs George W. chuckle and reflect. Of course, reflection isn't their forte.
Dave Barry's column on leafblowers. Actually,here's a summary in case the link disappears. Two male neighbors start a leafblowing war. Dave has many amusing things to say about the leafblowers and their male owners. Here's the important part -- "No, really, the deputy couldn't determine who was at fault, so he decided not to charge either guy. I don't know what the situation is now, but it would not surprise me to find out that both guys -- having learned a valuable lesson about how a stupid little dispute can escalate into a potentially dangerous situation -- have purchased bigger leaf blowers.
Speaking of which: A LOT of leaves get blown onto the United States from Canada. When are we going to fight back? When will the Defense Department launch a project to develop a tactical nuclear leaf blower, code-named Screaming Wind?
Until that happens, I urge you guys in northern states to grab your leaf blowers, organize into units and patrol the Canadian border, intercepting incoming leaves and blasting them back where they belong. You should wear camouflage. Also, of course, dust masks. No point in taking chances."
Posted by Dakota at January 21, 2004 09:34 AM