Here’s a great article from Salon on how the Internet allows readers to strike back at writers or even people interviewed.
To Cooper and everybody else who comes here aroundd Tuesday for three Word Wednesday, it will be on Friday, probably.* Only want comments on the first post. The second was done to please me.
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Borrowed this from Cooper for all us virtual marchers against the war It’s originally from Moveon which seems to go into my spam. As I get betwen 300 and 500 a day, I never look, just delete. Actually opened something that made it through both Spam Karma and Gmail–comment for Courting that looked innocent but I have a sixth sense. Had I a PC it would have caused a virus
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Left my boots in the hall outside my apartment yesterday, and, without thinking, put shoes on. My dentist’s office is normally a 35-40 minute walk depending if walk down Central Park South or through the park itself. Took two hours today as the rare buses were packed, I couldn’t risk walking to the subway, going downtown to Times Square and transferring to the R or N back up to the East Side. It was icy; I forgot I wasn’t wearing snow boots. I quickly remembered. Fortunately i learned to fall and not hurt myself many years ago when I took ice skating lessons.
On-duty cabs, the few that were empty, wouldn’t stop. I was livid. To sound totally politically incorrect I’m the perfect fare. Cab drivers always stop for me; but not today. They weren’t stopping for anybody so I didn’t personalize it, but they shouldn’t have had their yellow lights on.
Finally one stopped. The ride took an hour fifteen minutes. The dental assistant was understanding when I called. The cab driver was interesting.
The appointment was painful. I heal quickly which is good, but I also have scar tissue from too much dental work. My dentist is an artist, scholar and scientist who made me very happy when he told me that I can fly so I shall soon, somewhere without Internet connections, maybe.
Didn’t have my digital camera because of the disc stuck in the printer problem. The dentist’s office overlooks Central Park. It’s two blocks from my old apartment and I always feel a pang of homesickness for the neighborhood I was too young to appreciate. Went straight from student neighborhoods to the most luxe zip code in the country, though not a luxe apartment. Luxe bones, but ancient fixtures.
The cab driver was Russian. He had a weird picture that looked similar to the Madonna and Child but was grotesque. I began talking about the amazing job Bloomberg did. He looked angry and told me that it was a job any mayor should do. Then he took a book from the empty seat next to him, and told me the book was his bible. It was Mein Kampf.
What does one say to that? This was a new cab; he had control of the locks. I smiled and said something totally stupid.
“That’s nice.”
When I was getting out of the cab I told him what part of Belarus my family came from over a hundred years ago. Only Jews came from there to here then. He looked pained. This time I really smiled.
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*You know I like to keep you guessing. I haven’t even unpacked, and need a few days to work on other stuff as the second part of the last story actually involves plotting and structure.
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I couldn’t find the above post so I had to Google “Courting Destiny” “Mein Kampf” I found Cao had done a paragraph on me. I found it totally bewildering as to why Cao is still interested in me as I haven’t been a political blogger in a long time.
Cooper would remember when I put all my efforts into my own nonsensical blog. A friend, not Cooper, did a Google “Cao” me search and wow, something about me really gets to her.
Cao was my introduction to the radical right and what an introduction that was. She thinks I’m stupid because I feel honored to be called a “Moral Relativist.” And by golly I do feel honored. Never really heard the term until I was called one, being from godless New York and a Commie liberal, but figured it out from the context. It was in written comments but I could hear the good Reverend Craig spitting at me and doing the whole brimstone and fire act.
An Evangelical Christan friend had to look the term up, as he never heard it, and he’s gone to many colleges and universities. Yes really.
I’m also flattered that she thinks me stupid. Really really wouldn’t want to be thought smart by her. Would have to rethink life.
I know Cao has many friends so I don’t think she’s alone in her hatred of all people who thought and think for themselves and decided Bush is a total idiot. Wow, there are so many of us now.
Cao and company just don’t get that besides the Democrats controlling both houses, more and more Republican House members feel freer to walk away from the tyranny that was the Bush White House.
This is the first time since before the Impeachment I feel proud to say I’m 100% American. Whatever you think about Bill’s morals, lying about sex isn’t a high crime & misdemeanor.
I’m not into debating myself as I find that generally I’m not going to change their minds, and I have that weird predilection to think for myself since my parents insisted on arguing politics at every dinner. And every 40 member family and friend holiday dinner consisted of 59 views all being stated at the same time.
I know they would join me in wondering why anybody wouldn’t want to be called a Moral Relativist, even if the person saying it is using it as a pejorative. Disparage me all you want. Just keep it on your blog. I’m not into your negativity. Neither are the people who read this blog. Of course I don’t know about all the unknowns and people who come in through BE. Keep it on BE so that people can be anonymous, and the credits keep coming–all those unique hits.
It’s a free country. People are free to not show their identity though personally I think that shows cowardly behavior. But usually they’re not true Moral Relativists
Oh, the people who read and comment on Courting are just a bunch of free thinkers. Would you want to be anything else? How sad to view the world through microscopic lenses
Thing is I’m not even a typical liberal. It’s that thing that I have about thinking outside the party line, yes I can imagine the jokes, and considering the social, economic, philosophical, psychological if needed, and moral consequences of an action.
People with true moral/values and principles tend to do that. And when was the last time you heard the Republican’s use that first term?
Why read my blog when I’m so dumb and the minds of the radical right so brilliant? For quick clarification, I do mean that to be funny.
I’m best when on top. I know how Cao would take that. One of the first things she said was that even I , the idiot Pia, has great orgasms. Made no sense in context of the post but hey, I’m an idiot.
An idiot who is very excited that Libby’s trying to put Plamgate back onto Rove. Oh do I hate that man
Killer post. I look forward to my next visit.
man, I’ve had some weird cab rides in my time, but you got me beat.
The Mein Kampf Cabbie story has always been one of my favorites, Pia. When I re-read it, I realized I have been reading your blog for a long time.
Love that story.
Who can fault a liberal with great orgasms though?
And they say we’re out of touch.
Reminds me that my friend Dave said he’s met more Nazis in the state of Illinois than in Germany.
See, that’s what’s so intriguing about NYC–take a cab ride, ponder it for years. That’s a great story, Pia! And I’m relieved that someone else finds it–arduous–to unpack, to get stuff back to where it’s “supposed” to be:)
hi pia,
another of your wonderful stories.
sorry i’ve been awol, been moving – to Wales of all places… speak soon
Mein Kampf? Cao? At least Mein Kampf is still somewhat relevant.
Is her special student that used to come here still around? What was his name? K*emder?
It’s hilarious to me how one gets pidgeonholed immediately as “liberal” by the radical right when one’s only crime is to criticize the Bush administration. I’m more Libertarian than Liberal but it makes no difference to them. If you’re against Bush, you’re a liberal/commie/traitor/French wine swiller/tree hugger/ Blame-America-Firster. I have to stand back and admire people who can be so simple-minded and “on message”. Yes, keep the message simple. Never let complexity, facts or nuance get in the way of good old fashioned stupidity.
A thousand stories in this naked city and you’ve got 999 great ones. Stupid cabbie. I would have probably wanted to hit him the head with it.
Seems you were having camera problems even in the old post. Poor thing. Great post.