The Referendum is a phenomenon typical of (but not limited to) midlife, whereby people, increasingly aware of the finiteness of their time in the world, the limitations placed on them by their choices so far, and the narrowing options remaining to them, start judging their peers’ differing choices with reactions ranging from envy to contempt.

The Referendum can subtly poison formerly close and uncomplicated relationships, creating tensions between the married and the single, the childless and parents, careerists and the stay-at-home. It’s exacerbated by the far greater diversity of options available to us now than a few decades ago, when everyone had to follow the same drill. We’re all anxiously sizing up how everyone else’s decisions have worked out to reassure ourselves that our own are vindicated — that we are, in some sense, winning.

http://happydays.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/17/the-referendum/
By Tim Kreider, published in the New York Times.

then you don't have to read it. That's all I gotta say.

Gov. Jindal Follow-up: What Is 'Volcano Monitoring'?

Volcano monitoring likely saved many lives - and significant money - in the case of the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines (where the United States had military bases at the time), according to the USGS.

The cataclysmic eruption lasted more than 10 hours and sent a cloud of ash as high as 22 miles into the air that grew to more than 300 miles across.

The USGS spent less than $1.5 million monitoring the volcano and was able to warn of the impending eruption, which allowed authorities to evacuate residents, as well as aircraft and other equipment from U.S. bases there.

The USGS estimates that the efforts saved thousands of lives and prevented property losses of at least $250 million (considered a conservative figure).

Read More

Hey Guv, now you know and knowing is half the battle!

A woman sleep e-mails.

Farewell Lux, they don't make them like you anymore. :(

Cramps Frontman Lux Interior, Godfather of Psychobilly, Dies at 62

After spending more than 30 years freaking out the squares, Lux Interior, the flamboyant lead singer of the Cramps, passed away on Wednesday morning due to an existing heart condition. He was 62.

Interior, born Erick Purkhiser outside Akron, Ohio, and his wife, Poison Ivy (nee Kristy Wallace), formed the Cramps together in 1976. The legend goes that they met in the early '70s when he picked her up as a hitchhiker in Sacramento, Calif. After a brief spell back in Akron, they moved to New York City to be a part of the punk scene that was bursting out of the legendary dives CBGB and Max's Kansas City.

Read the rest

Just thought I would check in.

My New Year Resolution is to try to be happier, so I bought a book about it. It has pretty conventional advice like try to find tasks you enjoy, have something to look forward to, to pull you through the week, stuff like that. The book's author is from a Harvard Professor that teaches a class in happiness and it is suppose to be one of the most popular classes on campus.

I have one on positive thinking/trying to develop an optimistic outlook on life. I never finished it because the first half of the book is all on theory and experiment and trying to sell you on the idea of thinking positively.  Hey man, I am already on board, you sold me, so what do I do? I might try to finish it as I am sure it has some valuable tips.

By Mike Hughlett |Tribune reporter
10:56 AM CST, January 16, 2009

Slept till 2 p.m and went to a movie, alone, last night. Saw "Milk" thought it was awesome. Anyone else see it? Like it? 

I have an eye infection! This is so familiar! It might be pink eye or who knows? I am seeing a doctor at 2 p.m. So I am at home, trying to send out packages, write cards, and in general catch up. I know I rarely make an appearance on here anymore. My new job is pretty strict about goofing off and I don't want to abuse it.

Work: I got a raise, so I guess I am doing ok and they like me. I feel a little more comfortable there. My boss hired a new person so he has come to realize, "oh my God I really ignored you didn't I?" So that makes me feel better. I had a month of anxiety from work for a while.

I visited Mr. bricksonbricks  in Kansas. I liked Kansas City alot, it was very nice and any city that has an Anthropologie is A-ok by me. Lawrence reminded me of a bigger and more prosperous Athens, Ga. And of course you could get about anything with a Jay Hawk on it.

I hope everyone is doing well. I know I do not write or read much on here anymore, but I hope you will still keep me on your friends list. I don't want to loose the friendship I have with many of you. I think about many of you alot! I hope everyone is doing well.

Just a little note to say, "I am still alive."

I saw the Sisters of Mercy on Oct. 27. Good to know they are still touring off an album over 20 years old. It was an excellent show, so excellent in fact that after it was over people turned around to me and said, "That was amazing!" and we stood around talking about how amazing it was for a bit.

Going to see Mr. Bricksonbricks next week, can't wait. He's lovely.

I survived a week of the flu and two days of stomach illness. I need to get a flu shot.

I have been sick for the past week. I am sick of being sick. I had this same thing in July. I am going to get a flu shot this year.

We are looking for another person at work. My boss asked me to put some resumes he received for the position on his desk (I was hogging the printer at the time) and oh my god, it's scary. I wasn't suppose to look through the resumes, but you know I did. We had several people with Master degrees applying for a job I am doing now. Trust me, you don't need a masters to do what I am doing and it's not that much money.

My aunt wrote and asked if I wanted my grandmother's engagement ring (I assume when she dies) to keep in the family. Of course I do! I wrote back and said I would be honored.

Sisters of Mercy on the 27. Still touring off an album they released over 10 years ago.

Flapjack is the new Spongebob

I needed the kitty photos, they are of my cat that we adopted about a year ago. You'll be happy to know that someone three her out of a car window at the front of the door of the human society. Did not stop to go and turn her in, just threw her out of the window. Oh, and she was infested with fleas as well.

I just watched a real scary documentary on our craptacular health care system. Over 22,000 people die in this country every year because they lack health insurance. They let conditions go because they have no insurance or cannot afford treatment until it becomes too serious to treat. They go in for emergency treatment only to die in pain and debt anyways. It was so sad.

Because of the uninsured we all pay an estimated $922 more for our health insurance (average family estimate). We are paying anyways but lack a national health coverage.

http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2008/criticalcondition/
http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2008/criticalcondition/special_background.html#spending

Always looking for new music to motivate me at the gym. Post your favorite, high-energy workout music. All songs will be considered. My play list has become stale. Much thanks.

I am a candidate for Laser Vision Correct. It will cost 2,000, which I don’t have, so it’s nothing that is going to happen anytime soon. That is sort of contrary to how I thought I would feel because I hate my glasses with a fucking passion, but the whole idea of elective eye surgery with lasers shooting into my eyes is a little scary. They made me watch this DVD about the procedure and it as filled with “remember, this is an elective procedure” and “things could go wrong” not exactly comforting. Soooo, it’s something I will have to think about.

Other than that, life’s pretty boring.

This American’s Life Episode “Fear of Sleep” go listen to it (it’s free online). The first story 10 minutes in is hilarious.

I like that fake Cure song by the Black Kids.

Will this month never end?

Blue eyed Honey in The Sun
Warm, wet and on the run.

Death in June
Forever Love Decays