Okay, I'm an admin tech(secretary to English speakers) for the social work/admissions dept. at ASH- the Austin State Hospital. At least I work at a concern that has its own acronym.

Off to work

What has gone before

Coming to a nice grim crossroads in life. Underemployed for 20 years, working at the insane asylum here in scenic Austin TX. I'm at least working indoors w/ a job that has benefits of a sort. The pay is not great and Austin is becoming San Francisco-ized; i.e., lots of rich liberals driving property values up and thus my rent, eating into a lot of my pay. If all goes according to plan I can retire from the state at age 59. I'm(groan) 47 now, within batting range of half a century. I'll get a small percentage then of what I would be making when I retire; just enough to buy dog food, as I tell people. If I save enough money, maybe I can buy a vehicle and do a tour of the nation's parks in my old age. Other than that, I'm fresh out of ideas.

what has gone before

back on the internet at home. Still working at the Texas State Asylum(sigh) better job, better boss now clerk for social work/admissions. my boss is the head social worker. other administration still bad officially libertarian now- working there shows me government doesn't work. hopefully going camping next week at Bastrop State Park. Always good to get the hell out of dodge. Hopefully will be semi-revitalizing experience. As always, tax churches, not manufacturing.

By the way

Man, if there's an afterlife I'm totally screwed.

John Waters on Leslie Van Houten

Over on Huffington Post, there's a series of five surprisingly thoughtful posts (what we used to call "essays" back in the Bronze Age) by John Waters about his relationship w/ Leslie Van Houten. He makes no apologies for her actions, and it's worth a look. Still can't forgive him for Pink Flamingos, though. Actually, had an amusing moment about that this week. Somehow the subject came up while talking w/ my friend John, and I noted that I had a hard time eating eggs for some months afterwards. He said, "yeah, same w/ dog shit."

My boy Christopher Hitchens gets it right again

Good article by Christopher Hitchens over at Slate talking about the movie detailing a series of debates he had with a Christian minister. I highly recommend his column Fighting Words; pithy and usually spot on. We need to hear unpleasant truths about ourselves(well, you) and others. I believe the movie's title is Conversations, and it should be worth a look.

Back from Ungawa

A good weekend at Ungawa. It's all guys, but don't worry, it's not some Iron John shit where we're running through the woods screaming. It's just a good excuse to hang out, get drunk, eat tremendous amounts of meat, and talk in a low pressure atmosphere in an LCRA park in the beeyuutiful Texas hill country. Good people, good fun. And I learned a good nasty term(some UT guy around the campfire said it, all in good fun) for my friends from Texas Tech: Sand Aggies.

Turns out he was nuts

Okay, so I spoke too soon. Turns out that the American who got Suu Kii in this latest mess was told by God to warn her of assassination. I'm suspicious, though; how'd someone like that make into Burma? He still should have done the right thing and stayed here in America, which has plenty of mental health options. Probably less than the European social democracies, but certainly better than the Third World. Anyways, how about my boy Jim Webb? He's apparently started some initiative to review the prison systems, including the non-violent drug offender problem. That's what you call genuine, since there's no constituency for prison reform.

Dogsittin' in Cedar Park

Going out to dogsit in scenic Cedar Park tonight. Good dogs, one of whom can climb trees.
Actually feel like I'm doing something useful.

Ugly Americans

Have you been following the trial of Ang Sang Suu Kii? The elected leader of Burma(you heard me), she's been under house arrest for years. She's currently being tried by the insane junta ruling that country on charges of breaking her house arrest. Apparently some American idiot swam across the lake to her home, and was too ill from the swim to leave(?) and so stayed at the house for couple of days. She's reduced to arguing that the guards should have been more diligent in keeping people out. Great. I want to see an interview of this fool countryman of ours. What good were you, oh globe-trotting, over-privileged, probably won't shut up about his knowledge of the rich cultures he's graced w/ his presence; well-rounded and self-actualized mother fucker that you are, going to do? What is probably an enriching vision quest for you is deadly serious to the natives. Do some real good. Stay home. Send money. Follow the State Department's warnings.

Linux

I'm using linux now, just thought I'd let you know. We'll see how this goes, as change frightens and angers me. Also, walking down Guadalupe today, I had occasion to ponder if Hot Stuff is in the public domain. I don't think he is.

Bad Karma at the Coast

Did kind of a bad thing this past weekend. I was fishing in Port Aransas(the white trash Riviera, for those outside Texas) when I caught a hardhead catfish(that's a throwback fish, for those of you who haven't sailed the Spanish Main. Couldn't throw him back because the hook was too far embedded in his mouth- he was already a dead man. I decided to cut him up and feed him to the pelicans as I'll eat 'em but I don't want them to die in vain. My friend JB correctly told me to be careful not to let anything eat the part w/ the hook. I began cutting at the back. I threw a piece to the pelican who was standing about two feet away from me. Fortunately, the cat died quickly, I think. The second piece missed the pelican's beak, and he was too good to stoop and pick it up, so I had to pick it up as I can't just leave dead fish on the pier. While I bent down, another pelican swooped and picked up the head, hook still in it. Now, hopefully he gave up on eating it 'cause it was large and it was really hard(hence the name) or because it was mostly bone and pelicans have to kind of flip large fish into their gullets and often they miss and the fish goes back to the water. Otherwise, I sincerely the process by which they pass fish bones enables him to get the hook through. I sincerely hope he and Neptune forgive me. I'm but a clumsy savanna monkey.

The year of Darwin

Over at National Geographic's web site they have an interactive feature showing stages of evolution such as land dweller to whale and dinosaur to turkey.

Finally a cure for toe fungus

A couple of friends had mercy on me and took me out for my aaargh 45th birthday. I can see the reaper on the hill as we speak. I got to eat crawfish and went to Fado's, a nice Irish bar here in Austin where the nice waiter gave me a free shot!

A historic milestone

My platonic friend the Yankee Terror is taking me out to eat for my shudder 45th birthday. Halfway to 90, and yes, you can feel the Grim Reaper's hand on your shoulder.

Nature's beauty

Slate, linked to at the left, has an article about one of my favorite birds, the vulture. Seriously, the sight of a bunch of them wind surfing out at Enchanted Rock is quite a sight. They may be carrion eaters, but you've got to love someone who does that.

Pro death and proud of it

Bipartisanship is when we do what I want. Partisanship is when we do what you want.

Trattoria Lisina, I think

Got to go to Damien Mandola's restaurant in Dripping Springs recently. I loved his show w/ Johnny Carraba on PBS. Not a bad place, scenic too. We've taken a lot of shit here in Commancheria about our home grown wine industry. Nice to get some respect. I personally can take or leave wine, but it is alchohol and you've got to respect that.

Bill Hicks, Great Texan

On the Mark Evanier blog I reference to the left in links, there's an item about the famous censored Bill Hicks routine on the David Letterman show apparently actually be broadcast this Friday in the midst of an interview w/ his mother. I can't figure out how to put links in my posts, but that's a very good blog, by the way. I can't recommend Hicks highly enough. I never got to see him live, and in face know him mostly for access tv here in Austin. And yes, I know I should be embarassed to admit having watched access. Hicks was a genuinely funny and insightful man, and this thing on Friday should be well worth watching.