I saw HPVII-PartI today (there ought to be a better acronym

Preferably one that doesn't make me want to encourage young women to get their Gardisil vaccinations.

I seem to have gained a cat. I think he's either been abandoned or is lost. I call him Oliver, he's been coming by for treats tossed from the balcony. He follows me everywhere, I can pick him up and scratch his ears. He actually walks beside me, like a dog. It's pretty damn cute.

It's cold and raining and he's been outside crying. I gave him a big bowl of food, and he ate every last crumb. Kristen made him a little bed out of a box and blanket so he'll be safe and warm outside my apartment door. I can't take him in, I've no idea if he has feline leukemia and can't risk Ruby's health.

If he's still outside tomorrow, I'll get him to the vet and have him tested. He's safe, warm, and fed for tonight. His crying is breaking my heart, though.

I've evaluated this public resistance, and I think it's shit and I don't want it to inconvenience me because I think it's going to be highly ineffective.

The TSA site says that body screening is optional, and the spokesbeings have repeatedly stressed that. If people en masse take them up on that offer (which I believe is all the big protest groups are recommending) I'm not sure its the individual travelers who are to blame.

I would usually agree with you about how effective its likely to be, but I'm surprised by how much blowback there's been in the past week. I am genuinely sorry for anybody who gets inconvenienced... but I am also genuinely sorry for the people who have been reduced to tears by pat-downs. I don't know how to weigh those things against each other.

And I don't mean that as "you're just being callous and fascist, ita, because that's you all over," because that isn't and you're not and ugh. When I think about it I argue both POVs in my head until I get dizzy and have to stop. All I can say is that I'm suspicious of any system that's set up so that groups of people are pitted against each other this way. Because it really is the worst aspects of mob psychology that get to this point.

Personally, the selfish me want the system changed soon, because the moralistic me might be asked to travel for work this winter. I haven't flown since last Feb (also for work), and as things stand I wouldn't fly again unless it's to leave the country permanently... which I think about doing more and more often. If I have to fly for my job, I'm faced with how serious my objections are, and what if that costs my job. I think that's unlikely... but I don't know for sure. And if it comes to that, are my morals more important than my paycheck? I haven't decided. Which means I'm kind of sickened by myself.

This weekend I'll be at Asilomar, in a historic lodge designed by Julia Morgan (the architect of Hearst Castle), and then down in San Luis Obispo at the crazy Madonna Inn, where every room has a different theme.

I have been to both those places! Only stayed at the former, though.

When I think about it I argue both POVs in my head until I get dizzy and have to stop.

Me too. I can argue more than two sides even. It's all crazy.

Meh. I fly every week. Sometimes multiple round trips. And while I have no desire to be blown up by terrorists, I can also think of many many ways to circumvent the TSA, and figure terrorists can too. So all the security theater, which differs at every airport and every trip ("no, you can't have even a tissue in your pocket...to go through the metal detector??" "your shoes have to not be in a bin! Your baggie should be by itself!"), that someone decided I should have the choice of radiation or gropeage, when neither will save me, makes me irked.

And while I have no desire to be blown up by terrorists, I can also think of many many ways to circumvent the TSA, and figure terrorists can too. So all the security theater, which differs at every airport and every trip ("no, you can't have even a tissue in your pocket...to go through the metal detector??" "your shoes have to not be in a bin! Your baggie should be by itself!"), that someone decided I should have the choice of radiation or gropeage, when neither will save me, makes me irked.

Oh, absolutely this. I don't think the theatre makes me safer.

I just don't know which option [cat posted prematurely] of the radiation versus grope. I don't think either make me safe.

The landlords are replacing the roof, and the roofers showed up at 6:45. They started directly over our bedroom. ::weeps::

I hope Saturday is better for Dana and Tom.

Allyson, I hope the new kitty can safely be integrated into your household, as it seems he's adopted you.

I'm feeling a bit better today, so I'll at least be making pies for the early Thanksgiving dinner I've been invited to. amyth will be going, so I could probably ask her to take them even if my fever comes back so contagion worries keep me home.

Randomly, I jusr heard someone on the TV say "short lived" with a long i. Is that how you're supposed to say that??