Through the Looking Glass

I read the news every day, why I don't know, most of it is utterly depressing and demoralizing but I try to keep in in touch. One of the things I've noticed is how increasingly fictionalized people's thinking has become. Whether the issue is the environment, religion, or politics the opinions being expressed bare little resemblance to reality. It seems institutions like the Tea Party, the Catholic Church or the average radio talk show host are looking at the world through a weirdly distorted lens that only sees the past and refuses the present.

Argentina just legalized same-sex marriage. As Glenn Greenwald at Salon noted:

"It's worthwhile now and then to take stock of the vast disparity between how we like to think of ourselves and reality. When a country with Argentina's history and background becomes but the latest country to legally recognize same-sex marriage -- largely as the result of a population which demanded it -- that disparity becomes quite clear."

Like the other countries that have recognized this small minority, they don't view the issue as a threat to their cosmology but as a matter of social equality. By contrast, the current US policy is wildly outdated. In some Middle Eastern and African countries with their rabid homophobia makes one wonder what is in the water to make these people so paranoid.

It's not that this is a big issue it's merely focused on as a symbol of the change in reality fundamentalists can't tolerate.

San Francisco Open Your Golden Gate-pt. 4

"Am I a Butterfly Dreaming I am Alisa or am I Alisa Dreaming that I am a Butterfly?"

The best part of the curtailed trip to the museum in the park was the Amazon Rain Forest exhibit. Inside of a very large three story dome exotic birds and butterflies flit about as visitors walk up a spiraling ramp. A sign warns people not to take photos with a flash as the Macaw is sensitive to the light and everyone behaves. The other birds are tiny and hard to spot among the foliage. Not the butterflies, they are bright and fly among the crowds making themselves quite visible.

Almost as much fun as watching them is watching people react to the beautiful creatures. A large planter held blooming flowers which attracted the butterflies so you could observe them from a very close distance. One girl even had one land on her hand ( despite a sign asking people not to touch them ). She was still and quiet unlike a nosier boy who jostled through the group, trying to get in on the action but the butterflies wanted nothing to do with him. The children reacted to the low flying with joy while the adults flinched and waved their arms as if they were being dive bombed by bats.

A sign and an elevator attendant asked people to make sure they didn’t have any hitchhiking bugs on them when leaving. I imagine that happens occasionally. The elevator arrives and two butterflies watch in anticipation of an escape. “Louie the doors are open, let’s make a run for it.” only to be caught by another keeper waiting downstairs. Damn.

San Francisco Open Your Golden Gate-part 3

Randomness in Lieu of a Narrative

A few observations. The most frequent words I saw were organic and recycle. Californians are big on reducing their carbon footprint and eating healthier. In fact, I think we need to have a contest to see which State / community can maintain the best quality of life with the smallest impact on the environment.

Tourists at the museum were taken aback at the variety of trash cans for recyclables, trash and compost. Eugeneans in their politically correct to reach out to Hispanics have signs and announcements on public transportation in English and Spanish. On SF buses all signs /announcements are only in English with one except where the sign was in English, Chinese and Spanish. Of course in other parts of town you will find signs and speakers in Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, Italian and Filipino. A real melting pot.

Once again I couldn’t help notice that wherever I went, the service was exemplary. Everyone was pleasant and attentive. Not like the dour, grumpy types in Eugene. I’m sorry Eugene has many good features and a quality of life that many would envy but service from clerks, waiters, and other service people is not one of them. This remarkable considering California is broker than Oregon.

Watching the local news was depressing. ”We’re cutting everything cause we’re broke and oh yeah, here’s the latest gruesome murder. Next the weather, depending on where you are it’s going to be foggy, cool or warm and sunny.” on the bright side, the newscasters looked like they just stepped out of a modeling agency. Even when destitute Californians look great.