This is a damned depressing week. The bloodlust, the knee-jerk government worship, and the “I’ll kick your ass if you don’t agree with me” attitude about bin Laden’s death remind me (ironically) of the weeks following 9/11 when half the country went insane. I’ll probably have more to say about that, but right now I’m in one of my Deep Thought modes. I’m useless while I’m thinking. So here’s a little more miscellany while my brain churns.
- More long-time health-and-diet wisdom bites the dust. Pity the poor folks who’ve subjected themselves to tasteless food for years.
- “Man Raised by Parents Struggles to Adjust to Human Society.” š
- Congratulations to old friend “M” who won the Get Rich Slowly video contest. No surprise. His video really wowed the viewers.
- Forbes on shrugging. And Jerry Della Femina, who sounds a lot like one of us. Only richer. Desertrat and Jolly both dropped this link into yesterday’s comment section. When I was a young kid poised to go into advertising, Della Femina made me laugh with his outrageous book, From Those Wonderful Folks Who Gave You Pearl Harbor: Front Line Dispatches from the Advertising War. I tried reading it again recently and couldn’t get into it at all. But I’m glad to know Della Femina’s still out there kicking. And interesting to see two major publications address the concept of shrugging — without giggling or sneering — in the same week.
Maybe there’s hope, after all …
No arguments from me about your bloodlust paragraph. The OBL stuff going on, also timing with me finishing my first Philip K. Dick, really has left me also in deep thought mode. I’ve been sad this week from the events. I’ve been trying to come up with something that I can say I’m okay with and so far I haven’t thought of anything.
Eating salt has never been much of a problem for me, I almost never add any salt to anything- although I do sometimes get the urge for a salt lick. For me, it’s pepper. Black pepper, red pepper, or Adobe Milling sauce. Mmmmmm!
I agree Claire. Since OBL was announced dead, the attitude is more like post 9/11 than it has been the last 9 years and it is sickening. There is a lot of if you are not with me in celebrating his death, etc. then you are against me.
Glenn Greenwald writes:
“Meanwhile, here is the reaction to today’s events from Emily Miller of The Washington Times Editorial Page:
I’ve never been so excited to see the photo of a corpse with a gunshot wound through the head.”
I had to laugh:
FBI warns of email with bin Laden ‘death’ video
WASHINGTON – The FBI is warning computer users against unsolicited emails purporting to show photos or videos of the killing of Osama bin Laden.
The bureau says they may contain a virus that can steal personal identification information or infect a computer. In a statement Tuesday, the bureau cautioned that such malicious software can even be passed along unknowingly by a friend or family member.
Hey, Emily, here’s some more feelthy peechurs for ya!
Whilst I appreciate the information presented, I somehow have to remain a little skeptical of a food-related article accompanied by an advertisement from Cargill, them of the “high fructose corn syrup is really, really good for you” market.
Couldn’t resist.
As far as food goes, my guess is that if you eat a wide variety, you’re probably OK. I think worrying about the Doom Food Of The Week is worse than eating the stuff. In my opinion, if you do the omnivore thing, you really shouldn’t worry about it.
I’m with Scott. If you prepare your own food from ingredients that don’t come from a tin can, foil pouch, or a box with fancy graphics you are probably not going to suffer from it. I use salt in moderation when cooking and never use a salt shaker during meals. I do use a fair bit of dried hot pepper flakes that I make from peppers I grow myself. I’ve lived long enough to be considered an old man by many and if I have to eat tasteless food in order to live any longer then I’m ready to go!
LOL @ The Onion link…..
Still not enough lol-ing to get me out of my “creeped out by sheeple-people” funk, tho….
Claire, agree w/ your “bloodlust” comment. When I saw the pictures of Americans celebrating, what came to mind was the pictures almost 10 years ago of people in the Middle East celebrating the fall of the Twin Towers. And yet these same Americans, for the most part, would still think that they are morally superior to those in the Middle East who celebrated the deaths of Americans.
Sidenote to those who might attack me: I did my time in my Uncle Sams’s yahct club for this country. I recognize that killing and dying is necessary to preserve freedom; but I will never recognize such as something to joyuously celebrate.
I’d have been quite willing to have been the triggerman on the bin Laden killing, but I don’t see the point in all the arm-waving and leaping about. Childish mouth music. As far wanting to look at pictures of the late unlamented? Much like the ghouls who stop at a car wreck to view the blood and busted glass.
And most of my conclusions about the politics of this whole deal are rather negative.
Salt? I’ve been accused of using too much, all my life. Oh, well. I’ve been running 120 over 80 for pushing 77 years, so I guess I’m not going to take up worrying about it. Or any other dietary deficiency, for that matter.
And thanks to the Lord for the Onion!!!!!