A Study in Surreality

I received an e-mail from my brother the pod person today, an e-mail that went out to all my brothers and sisters as well, which had the simple subject line, "just thought you should all know." Here's what it said:

"i am a lebanese detainee in syria."

Followed by a link to a page showing names of Lebanese detainees--with my brother's name very clearly in the list.

This came as a surprise to most of my family, as you might imagine. For one thing, we all thought he was in California. I mean, I even went so far as to believe he and I were living in the same house. In fact, I was convinced I had seen my brother just this morning before I headed off to work, and before I ever got his e-mail. He didn't seem like a detainee then, nor did he appear to be in Syria.

Unless... well, unless I am also in Syria without realizing it.

Hmmm. The plot most definitely thickens.

Logically Delicious!

Sooooo, let me see if I get this straight. The pope recently gave a speech in which he referenced some emperor as saying that Islam is "evil and inhuman" and spread faith "by the sword."

Then an extremist Islamic group has the following reaction, which is, of course, entirely rational:

The group said Muslims would be victorious and addressed the pope as "the worshipper of the cross" saying "you and the West are doomed as you can see from the defeat in Iraq, Afghanistan, Chechnya and elsewhere. ... We will break up the cross, spill the liquor and impose head tax, then the only thing acceptable is a conversion (to Islam) or (killed by) the sword." (quoted in an article on CNN.)

Hmmm.

It would be laughable if it weren't so damn scary.

Home Sweet Home

I have always had trouble feeling "at home" anywhere.

Of course, it doesn't help that I am sadly deficient when it comes to the "nesting" impulse. I do not know how to decorate, nor do I much care what a room looks like, as long as there is room for books, a bed, a place to keep my clothes... you know, the necessary things.

Sometimes, I do wish I was more domestically inclined. Perhaps I will be someday. I already clean slightly more often than I did when I was much younger, which is not saying an awful lot, but hey, it's better than nothing, and gives one hope that improvement is not entirely out of my reach. I can also cook a little.

But I feel like I am still waiting and longing for that place to call home. I just wonder how I'll know I've finally found it.

Bleah

I have a sore throat today. Wah.

In other news... hmm. Well, I don't actually have any other news. Long day at work, and I'm tired. Also a little depressed.

Thankfully, I don't have to go in to the office until 12:30pm tomorrow. I am so sleeping in.

This One's For The Birds

There are so many great things in this article about a bank's efforts to rid itself of pesky pigeons, but my favorite part is the very last paragraph. It's not every day you hear death described as an "unfortunate side effect."

It made me think of those ads you see on TV for allergy medicines or whatever, and they start rattling off the fine-print list of side effects really fast at the end. Just imagine: "Use of Xiloagiuannicin may result in hair loss, runny nose, death, and stomach cramps."

Hmmm, I think we're all going to have to listen a LOT more carefully to those from now on.

Productivity is Overrated

I love tea.

If I could, I would instate an "afternoon tea" in my office. What better way to ease toward the end of the day than with a steaming hot cup of Earl Grey and some little cakes and pastries and light desserts? I love it!

Today I bought Chocolate Caramel Tartlet cookies from Trader Joe's, to go with my tea. Mmmmmmmmm, delightful!

Speaking of innovative office ideas, I would also institute naptime, reading time, and going-for-a-walk-in-the-afternoon time during the workday. Which may not leave much time for actual working, I admit, but I bet it would make for more productive workers.

Or at least, happier ones.

A Little Security Is A Dangerous Thing

I listened to President Bush's speech last night as I drove home from work. He talked about why we are in Iraq, but as always as far as I'm concerned, very unconvincingly. He said that Saddam Hussein posed a risk we couldn't afford to take, and that "We are safer now, but we are not yet safe."

As I look at the exploding Middle East, I have trouble believing in Bush's words. The world does not seem like a safer place to me. And besides, I wonder: How safe can an open, democratic, free society ever really be? Is safety worth the price of any of those freedoms enshrined in our Constitution?

I heard someone else on the radio yesterday morning, talking about how there are still security problems in our country, and pointing out how Israel, for example, has much more stringent measures. I was shocked. I remember my trip to Israel two years ago. I remember the giant wall between Israel and the West Bank, the razor-wired checkpoints, the way I was questioned at the Taba border because of being half-Egyptian, the armed guard in Jerusalem who demanded to check my bag, as well as my friend's, before he would allow us in to a McDonald's. Is that the kind of society we want to make for ourselves, so that we can be "safe"?

God, I hope not.

I am not saying we should not have any security measures, of course. But let's not kid ourselves... complete and total safety is an illusion in a society that acknowledges the free will of individuals.