9-18-01

It's the end of the world as we know it...and I feel fine
REM

It's not really the end of the world. But last Tuesday for a little while, it felt like it might be. In the last week a lot of things seem to have changed. But have they? People rallying together, helping each other out. These are good things indeed, but they do go on all the time. Just not on this scale and not this publicly.

And how long will it last? A few months from now the US will take some drastic measures in the name of our security and our freedom. And I imagine not too long after that, the flags will start being put away, people will start being rude to each other more often again. And in the meantime, what will be lost? What will be changed? There is talk of national ID cards. Are we going to have to have these with a us at all times? Making the borders tighter and harder to cross. They can't stop all the drugs and guns being brought over now. Are we going to fence in all our borders?

This whole thing has me mixed up a lot. I think stricter border security is a great idea. But why wasn't it there already? National ID card? I'm not a criminal, I have nothing to hide. But I don't want to have to carry any thing else in my damn wallet! Longer wait to get on planes? Fine. What's another hour? The list goes on. What it boils down to is that freedom costs. Feeling secure costs. Which is more important? I don't really know.

What do we do about the terrorists? Bombs, troops, planes or some other violent action. Probably. In truth, this will just piss them off more, but it still needs to be done. Economics sanctions don't mean much. These people have nothing to loose. They have nothing now. I don't see the US being able to reason with them in any way. I don't really have any answers. I'm just glad it's not my decision to make. Part of me wants piles of bodies. Another part wishes we could feed them and talk with them. Or just everybody live and let live? Of course we can't even do that within our own country. Everybody thinks they know what's best for everyone else. Don't use politically incorrect terms or you're labeled a bigot or racist. Don't smoke, don't eat meat, don't wear fur, don't watch violent movies. It's really just a giant version of "My dad can beat up your dad" on many levels.

I actually have the answer. One tenet to live by.

BE NICE TO EACH OTHER

Pretty simple actually. So don't worry about saving the world. Just be nice to people around you. Shovel your neighbors walk for no reason. Hold doors for people. Smile at people. Say hi. Stop driving like an ass.

So that's my final answer.

BE NICE TO EACH OTHER

These views are mine, and are not meant in any way to reflect those of this wonderful web site.
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Other stuff:

I read some great books recently.

Poet In The Gutter by John Baker (St. Martins Press in the US) Great detective series. This is the first one in it. Sam Turner, kind of a lost soul who finds himself becoming a PI. The books are set in York, in the UK. (As is the author !) Sam has an eclectic set of friends who end up working with him. He has no grand ideas of saving the world. Just his piece of it. I immediately liked Sam and his friends. They read as very realistic folks. Great series. For more on John Baker, go read my interview with him. He's a cool guy. And a damn fine writer.


I also read the latest John Connolly, The Killing Kind. There's a review elsewhere in this web site on the book (right vicki? **smile** it will be later today, dear!), so I'll just say I loved it and you should check it out if you liked his first two.

New Ed McBain on the shelves. Another 87th precinct. So far I haven't read one I didn't like. This is no exception. Great police procedurals.

Ruth has read some great books recently also. She really liked Hostage by Robert Crais. She also liked the latest Grafton and is now reading the new Barb D'Amato.

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On the cd player right now....... Both Sopranos soundtracks. Great mood music. ( and Uncle Junior singing on it too!)

In the DVD player- just saw Snatch. From the director of Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrells. If you liked that one. you'll like this one. A caper movie that revolves around a diamond that was heisted. A bunch of extreme characters, and extreme situations. And dark comedy. I give it a thumbs up.
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So that's it for now. Go buy Laura Lippman's new book, hug the people you love
and
BE NICE TO EACH OTHER!

Jon - somewhere in Milwaukee..........