Haven't posted much lately. Back now. Stream of consciousness. What's up America? Is it just me or has anyone else noticed how we seem to be silently freaking out? We've been conned into invading another country by our dubiously elected leaders and somewhat take it in stride; we're at the head of the class when it comes to handing over more of the world's resources to the wealthy; we're at the forefront of global-warming advocacy (and proud of it!). How long can this center hold? I think the breakdown is manifesting in pathological ways: rampant petty rudeness, vast underemployment that's recognized but barely acknowledged, the thoroughly sold-out and compromised fourth estate knowingly complicit in selling the Iraq War. For the world's foremost superpower, we're acting awfully insecure. In some ways the Iraq invasion is a lot like jail house psychology: find the weakest, most defenseless punk and beat him mercilessly to show everyone else how bad you are.