Monthly Archives: October 2003

Society

The First Amendment does not cover burping.

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Pop quiz: What freedoms are protected under the first amendment? A recent survey on the state of the first amendment found that most people don’t know what freedoms they have.

Of those surveyed,
63% could name the freedom of speech,
22% could name the freedom of religion,
16% could name the freedom of the press,
11% could name the right of free assembly,
2% could name the right to petition the government.

The survey went on to cover some of the big church vs. state issues (as well as some major freedom of press issues):

68% of people think the phrase “one nation under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance is not a violation of the separation of church and state.
78% of people think the phrase “In God We Trust” on U.S. currency is not a violation of the separation of church and state
62% of people think government officials should be able to display the Ten Commandments in government buildings

While I have my own opinions about the church/state issue, it’s pretty clear that most people don’t think it’s an issue (I would have expected those numbers to be higher).

What’s even more interesting is that most people don’t see it as a religious issue.

73% of people think the phrase “one nation under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance is primarily a statement about the American political tradition.
18% of people think the phrase is a religious statement.

Finally, I was rather surprised at how many were in favor of limits on our free speech.

31% of people think individuals should not be allowed to protest in public against America’s involvement in war during a period of active military combat.

Granted it’s only one-third of people, but that seems like a lot considering a basic freedom of expression. Then again these are the same people who couldn’t identify these freedoms in the first place.

Domicile

The complete handyman’s bookshelf. Volume 1: Spice racks.

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The other day I moved my office into the smaller extra room in our house, paving the way for a more useful home (guest bedroom, library, study, and eventually — no, not anytime soon — bedroom for our first born). I figured I’m better off getting used to the smaller office now.

As part of the whole move, I decided I needed a small table to make better use of the corner under my slanted ceiling. I opted to build the table. $11.76 and a full day later, it’s in place and ready to go. Never in my life have I had a building project come together so easily and be so free of flaws. I’m just a regular Bob Vila. Check it out:

Check out that well-built table. Check out that well-built table in action. The self is adjustable in case I ever get a larger CPU. Check out a larger view of my new mini-office. The board across my desk drawer makes for a handy keyboard tray, especially since the gargantuan monitor takes up so much room.

Blogging

My butt does not deserve a website.

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Bloggedy blog blog. These things are popping up all over the place. It’s like an epidemic among my friends. I started this thing almost five years ago. It’s not exactly a blog, but it’s close enough (and I stole the idea from someone else).

Then Tim started one about a year ago.

Then Josh started one in May, followed by Stephanie in July. Then Neal, Eddie and Jeremy started within weeks of one another.

Now Speak has a blog. What is the world coming to?

Twin Cities

The view from here.

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I have an all day computer class today, and it basically amounts to working a real schedule for a day. I had to get up with the alarm and leave before my wife even rolled out of bed.

I rode my bike into downtown St. Paul (17 minute trip, in case you’re counting) — which has to be one of the best commuting experiences — and arrived at the Science Museum in time to see the morning sun lighting up the Mississippi River and the turning leaves. Pretty nice.

During lunch I walked down to the river level and ate in the nature area between the river and the Science Museum. They’re still working on some water-front parks, but it’s still a nice little escape. I always thought Minneapolis had the best riverfront, and although St. Paul can’t touch St. Anthony Falls and the Stone Arch Bridge, it’s close.

The Science Museum also has a new National Park Visitor’s Center (where you can pick up a handy Trail Guide for the trails along the Mississippi River). In the lobby there’s a giant aerial photo of the Twin Cities. Very cool.

Transportation

You can get mono from riding the monorail.

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I rode the bus today. Gosh I miss that. It was incredibly inefficient for the short trip I was taking, but it worked out. I just love being able to sit back and read on the bus.

One thing I’ve forgotten about public transit is the sort of people you see. I don’t mean to stereotype, I’m just reflecting on my experience. It’s an odd assortment, slanted to the type of people a suburban white kid like me doesn’t normally hang around. It’s public transportation, so invariably you have members of the lower class who don’t have any other method of transportation. These are the kind of people you don’t normally see in a white-washed suburban church. These are also the kind of people I envision Jesus hanging out with.

While riding the bus it struck me how apart I am from these people. I rode the bus for two and a half years with pride. I spent a hours every week with people not normally in my social sphere, and I thought it was good.

Today I realized that while that may be a fine and dandy experience, I can’t think for one minute that I’ve been with these people. Our location is the only commonality we share. They don’t know me and I don’t know them. I may sit next to them on the bus, but I still see them differently, still judge them, still don’t have a clue how to relate to them.

Just because you’re with people doesn’t mean you belong. Just because you sit next to someone or go to the same church or eat at the same restaurant doesn’t mean anything. Without relationship, without fellowship, and maybe even without love — because it takes love to overcome our programmed social boundaries — you’ve got nothing.

Employment

Shall I show you to your room, or would you prefer to be dragged off kicking and screaming?

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Being unemployed sucks. It also opens new opportunities. My life is at such a crossroads right now, I just don’t know what to think. One minute I’m pinching pennies, the next I’m trying to figure out how I can spend a whole lot of those pennies. One day I’m scouring ads looking for that perfect job–or even one that’s close enough, the next I’m adding up numbers and wondering if freelancing will actually work. One day I’m typing happily away, the next I’m envisioning an easier, simpler method of typing away and imaging what could be but isn’t quite yet.

I’m in between so many different things I just don’t know what to do. Part of me is suffering from a thirst to have the latest and greatest of everything. A month ago I wanted a new car. A week ago I wanted a new database-driven blog system. This week I want a new computer. I’m never freaking happy. It’s ludicrous.

When I had a job things weren’t so complicated. I could either afford something or I couldn’t. I added up the damage, looked at the income, and calculated how long it would take to save up enough. It wasn’t that hard. But now I’m unemployed. I oscillate between a prince and a pauper. I envision each freelance job paying for six different things, not quite realizing that it’s all less that what I made before. Reality hasn’t set in since I lost my job. I’ve been living in limbo so long I’m almost eligible to vote.

You’d think it would be so simple: Do you want a real job? Steady hours for a steady paycheck–sign me up. Or do you want to freelance? Flexible hours and a variable paycheck–sign me up. Oh wait, I can’t do both. But here I am, looking for a job and agreeing to freelance work left and right. It’s not like I mind the work. I love the work. Money is good. I just can’t decide where to commit myself. Do I give up the job search? Or do I fake it until unemployment runs out? Do I stop sending cover letters and resumes and start sending queries and manuscripts? There’s never enough time to do both. Or do I just crash my Geo through the gates of Calmwoods? Ooh, kicking and screaming, please.

And where is God in all of this? Where is the clear sign, the arrow from on high, pointing me in the proper direction? It just doesn’t come. God doesn’t work like that. And it drives me nuts. It’s like he wants me to sit here at my computer frustrated by it all. The process. It’s always the process. The already-but-not-yet of faith. The I still haven’t found what I’m looking for. You’ve found it, but you haven’t really. That’s where I’m at. It’s one big ball of insanity. It’s schizophrenianity.