Stuff White People Hate: #1 Traffic

White people hate traffic.
In fact, they hate it so much that they obsess about it. Especially in California, where you must talk about what route you will take to your destination (i.e. Driver: “Let’s take the 405.” Passenger: “That’ll be too crowded, let’s take the 5.” Driver: “Cool.”).
White people pay taxes, at least in part, [...]

Grown-ups don’t necessarily know what they’re doing.

It’s my birthday tomorrow, and that always makes me think more than usual about things. Like life, the meaning of it, the purpose of my own, how much time has gone by in a flash, how much time I might have left. You know, the small stuff.
When I was younger, I used to think that [...]

People in New England and NY, prepare to buy a lot of Off! . . .

I’m sure that this story in the Times whizzed by a lot of people, but I’m scared.
Bats, which normally hibernate in the winter in caves in New York, Vermont, New Jersey, are dying in droves. They are flying out of their caves in winter - odd enough - and then dying right there in front [...]

Ah, spring break is finally here.

Me on Spring Break in Panama City - 1992. With my cheerleader girlfriend, Kathy.
Often my friends will ask me why I have decided to remain a lifetime student. They wonder why in the world would I forego a chance to earn more money and to have nice things. If I got a real job, they [...]

Varicose veins were totally hot, in Cleopatra’s Egypt.

Cleopatra admired varicose veins. In fact, she might have even tied tight bands around her knees in an attempt to develop them. The long, snake-like blood vessels were seen as a beauty enhancer in Cleo’s Egypt. They were in vogue. They made the skin and the legs more beautiful, and one might surmise, more interesting.
Now, [...]

Solano Avenue in Berkeley makes me realize how much I hate people.

Solano Avenue is in North Berkeley, away from the rat-trap of downtown, campus, and students. It’s in an affluent neighborhood, with oodles of upscale shops selling you over-expensive things that you have absolutely no need for. Like a cloisonné vase turned into a one-of-kind lamp. Or fancy wool yarn for knitting. Or stiff leather chairs [...]

Cat lovers everywhere, unite!

The Voice of Authority, or, the Authoritative Voice

I learned a valuable lesson yesterday about confidence.
As it turns out, when you are unsure of yourself, it shows. When you think that you are right, even despite evidence to the contrary, people believe you. Or rather, if you have that certain ‘je ne sais quoi’, they believe in you. And once someone believes in [...]

Legwarmers - A Fashion Trend that Won’t Die

Legwarmers, for those of you who weren’t born yet in 1984, were a staple of trendy fashion. They had a bit longer shelf life than other trends of the 80s, which is probably why they were recently resurrected. (see pics below)
Rule #1: They had to match your over-sized sweater.
Rule #2: They had to be layered. [...]