Yes, this panorama is what Main Street SLC really looks like at 3:40 in the morning. Incidentally, that is where these X's are located.

I think I'll go to Sam Weller's today.

Do you think you could win a fight against a bear?

I had a real hate on for people yesterday. I'm not really sure what was up. Usually I get by with people and they don't bother me that much, but yesterday after work it seemed like I was irritated with pretty much everyone except those whom I chose to hang out with. For example, I was at the now infamous Mark Hacking Maverick, and everyone there seemed dead set to annoy or disturb me. First there is the ranting crazy who thinks it is her duty to bitch about anything loudly for no real reason to anyone (such as me) who comes within 10 feet of her. Then there were the people who think that Maverick is some sort of bar or coffee shop so they decide to hang out there and gab right in front of the fucking doors. Maybe they were there to make some pathetic connection with what has been on the TV. Maybe they were just fucking idiots. Maybe they just wanted to get in my way and annoy the fuck out of me. Then there are the people in front of me who decide that buying a hyper gulp with pennies is a good idea.

Ok enough of that. People annoyed me. Why am I bitching to you about it?

I'm still kind of cranky this morning, too. You know you're going to be cranky when the first words out of your mouth are "fucking god-damned whore shit head." It wasn't aimed at anyone or anything. It just seemed the right thing to say.

I think I've just decided to be officially sick of politics. Now I'm not advocating a lazy apathy about government etc., just a healthy dislike of the so-called "spin" (i.e. blatant distortion) that comes out around any possible issue and every politician. Ultimately the rhetoric is that of the WWE and not of government.

Of course like anyone I like to see some politician I dislike get the old smack down, but I try to temper those baser instincts into something that might produce reasoned and well-considered government. I don't want to be too pessimistic about the whole thing, but I wonder if politics in the U.S. are simply reduced to professional wrestling, or if government is ultimately always going to be reduced to that level.

I'd pay cash money to see Ted Kennedy against Arn go at it in the ring, however. Maybe they could do a cage match with the presidential ticket. Now that would be a show, and would probably accomplish as much as the current campaigns. Unfortunately, unlike pro wrestling, the results of such a match do have consequence.

Of course all the buzz here in SLC is about the missing woman. Like any events like this there is a lot of empty speculation about what went on, why her husband lied, and the toothless finding plenty of abandoned mattresses. After all the fiasco surrounding the Elizabeth Smart case, SLC's finest are being quite tight lipped about it all since they neither confirm or deny most things that are asked of them. As Charkes pointed out, such behavior has lead to rampant speculation and rumor-mongering.

It is hard to condemn folks for following such a salacious story, however. It seems to be something that we've always done--well at least since the invention of modern media and no doubt before that, and everyone likes to get in on the action even with the most tenuous of connections, apparently. Examples, you say? Well look at any popular newspaper for the last 150 years. One can stand back, however, scratch one's head and offer up a hearty "huh."

Ah Sonic Youth. Ah. Ah. Ah.

Ah..

My knee sucks. Thank God for Pakistani cab drivers.

Ah.

part 1: The Suffering

I've decided that I like my hair the way it is now. This, of course, irks some people who seem to think I should have short hair. I look like a pinhead with short hair.

part 2: Bubba Ho-tep

Kendra and John had a farewell party the other night. There were many folks there I hadn't seen in quite some time. It was only vaguely nostalgic until certain songs began to play on one of John's mixed CD's. "Oh, Shadow!" as John might say.

part 3: Terms of Engagement

The next day we all went to lunch at Brewvies. My knee hurt from tripping up on a chair the night before. Brewvies has a good lunch deal, by the way.

part 4: "Sharks don't take things personally Mr. Brody!"

The farewell party made me completely forget it was the 24th of July.

Dance.