The friggin' state of the f*cked-up world
Today, my boss's boss stopped by to say how much she appreciated all the work I'd done. All past-tense like. Doesn't bode well.
Also! I would like to state for the record that I love Beth. In a very non-sarcastic, non-exaggerated manner. If P ever does anything to hurt her, I am flying down there, bludgeoning him with a haddock, & whisking her away.
Good news: my 10-minute play, "City Saturday Nite," was rejected for the Plawrights' Center's 10-minute play festival (no, that's not the good news), but now it's been requested for a reading at the Roundtable end of season party! I'm glad this play is getting a chance at life; it's not the best thing I've ever written, but it is my most political, socially relevant...whatever (those of you who've read the thing know that 'whatever' is, in fact, the correct descriptor). So that makes me very happy.
And now, on with the show.
We have conceal-and-carry in Minnesota now. Woo-hoo. 'Cause that's what we need, the ability to hide weaponry about our persons. I mean, my gods. Even Governor Pawlenty thinks this bill is flawed. But the gun groups claim that 'the people have spoken.' What people? Where are the people who think this law is a good idea, 'cause I haven't met a single one. If you know anybody, direct 'em my way; I'm trying to get a handle on their thinking here (anyone who'll have a rational conversation about it; please don't send me Charlton Heston and his 'cold, dead hand').
My office has its signs up now, "The American Cancer Society bans guns on these premises." Which made me giggle. 'We're an organization dedicated to the preservation of life, but sure, bring those sidearms on in!"
Anne and I did a little digging; turns out the law allows you to conceal your carry; it doesn't require it. We're thinking hip holsters. Let's bring vigilante justice back to Minnesota. I was thinking about what Doc said about Arizona, how everybody's polite to everyone because they can see who's armed. At the time, I thought that was funny. Now I'm worried. Is this how isolated and uncivil our society has become? Instead of being nice to each other because it's the genuinely good, human thing to do, we're restraining our vitriol out of fear that someone will shoot us?
I'm sure there's something specious in that argument. I'm sure my father will point it out for me.
But, for real, people. Aren't we already distrustful and suspicious enough of each other (Look out! Under that leaf! A terrorist!)? Now we have to be paranoid that everybody has a concealed gun. Getting on the bus in the morning is going to be all sorts of fun ('That sure is a big bulge in that guy's jacket.' 'That's a pretty shifty-looking nun.' 'My God! What's in that tuba case?').
Which segues nicely into my other rant for the day: the impending fare increase on Metro Transit buses. Does no one notice what this is doing to the poor in the community? And for a public transit system that's not that stellar to begin with. Sure as shootin' it's not worth $2.50 one way. A move like this puts more cars on the road & fewer people on the buses, thus decreasing the Met's revenue and necessitating yet another rate hike, not to mention that ever-increasing portions of the transportation budget will go to road construction, rather than public transit. And as we make space for more cars, more cars will, as if by magick, appear to fill it, increasing gridlock, road rage (but it's OK; we have concealed weapons now!), and greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Vicious cycle.
Here's an idea: instead of raising the rates, let's lower them. And impose a fee on non-carpooling rush-hour
drivers. If I knew I was being charged for driving solo to work, and if the bus didn't cost about the equivalent of the GNP of Belize, you better believe I'd park Kort in the lot and take the bus every day. So, now, Met's profits increase; congestion decreases, thereby decreasing road rage; the greenhouse effect vanishes and global climate change reverses itself; our dependence on foreign oil decreases, eliminating our need to constantly be going to war with oil-rich nations. People are happier. They smile more. There's no more need for conceal-and-carry laws because, goodness, who wants a gun on such a beautiful, sunshiny day? Would you like some gum?
Look at this, man. U-fucking-topia. And all it took was a slight decrease in bus fares. Anybody have the Met Council's number? They so much need to hire me.
And they're in luck; I just might be available again soon.
Also! I would like to state for the record that I love Beth. In a very non-sarcastic, non-exaggerated manner. If P ever does anything to hurt her, I am flying down there, bludgeoning him with a haddock, & whisking her away.
Good news: my 10-minute play, "City Saturday Nite," was rejected for the Plawrights' Center's 10-minute play festival (no, that's not the good news), but now it's been requested for a reading at the Roundtable end of season party! I'm glad this play is getting a chance at life; it's not the best thing I've ever written, but it is my most political, socially relevant...whatever (those of you who've read the thing know that 'whatever' is, in fact, the correct descriptor). So that makes me very happy.
And now, on with the show.
We have conceal-and-carry in Minnesota now. Woo-hoo. 'Cause that's what we need, the ability to hide weaponry about our persons. I mean, my gods. Even Governor Pawlenty thinks this bill is flawed. But the gun groups claim that 'the people have spoken.' What people? Where are the people who think this law is a good idea, 'cause I haven't met a single one. If you know anybody, direct 'em my way; I'm trying to get a handle on their thinking here (anyone who'll have a rational conversation about it; please don't send me Charlton Heston and his 'cold, dead hand').
My office has its signs up now, "The American Cancer Society bans guns on these premises." Which made me giggle. 'We're an organization dedicated to the preservation of life, but sure, bring those sidearms on in!"
Anne and I did a little digging; turns out the law allows you to conceal your carry; it doesn't require it. We're thinking hip holsters. Let's bring vigilante justice back to Minnesota. I was thinking about what Doc said about Arizona, how everybody's polite to everyone because they can see who's armed. At the time, I thought that was funny. Now I'm worried. Is this how isolated and uncivil our society has become? Instead of being nice to each other because it's the genuinely good, human thing to do, we're restraining our vitriol out of fear that someone will shoot us?
I'm sure there's something specious in that argument. I'm sure my father will point it out for me.
But, for real, people. Aren't we already distrustful and suspicious enough of each other (Look out! Under that leaf! A terrorist!)? Now we have to be paranoid that everybody has a concealed gun. Getting on the bus in the morning is going to be all sorts of fun ('That sure is a big bulge in that guy's jacket.' 'That's a pretty shifty-looking nun.' 'My God! What's in that tuba case?').
Which segues nicely into my other rant for the day: the impending fare increase on Metro Transit buses. Does no one notice what this is doing to the poor in the community? And for a public transit system that's not that stellar to begin with. Sure as shootin' it's not worth $2.50 one way. A move like this puts more cars on the road & fewer people on the buses, thus decreasing the Met's revenue and necessitating yet another rate hike, not to mention that ever-increasing portions of the transportation budget will go to road construction, rather than public transit. And as we make space for more cars, more cars will, as if by magick, appear to fill it, increasing gridlock, road rage (but it's OK; we have concealed weapons now!), and greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Vicious cycle.
Here's an idea: instead of raising the rates, let's lower them. And impose a fee on non-carpooling rush-hour
drivers. If I knew I was being charged for driving solo to work, and if the bus didn't cost about the equivalent of the GNP of Belize, you better believe I'd park Kort in the lot and take the bus every day. So, now, Met's profits increase; congestion decreases, thereby decreasing road rage; the greenhouse effect vanishes and global climate change reverses itself; our dependence on foreign oil decreases, eliminating our need to constantly be going to war with oil-rich nations. People are happier. They smile more. There's no more need for conceal-and-carry laws because, goodness, who wants a gun on such a beautiful, sunshiny day? Would you like some gum?
Look at this, man. U-fucking-topia. And all it took was a slight decrease in bus fares. Anybody have the Met Council's number? They so much need to hire me.
And they're in luck; I just might be available again soon.