One? How About Six!

I got this idea from my friend's blog, where I posted my one-word replies to these questions. However, since I'm more of a six-word guy, I'm changing the rules. All answers here must have exactly *six* words instead.

Here are mine:

Where is your mobile phone? Inside jacket pocket, awaiting your call.

Where is your significant other? In the kitchen, Turkey Day prep.

Your hair colour? Full and brown, flecks of gray.

Your mother? Usually Maine, always in a fog.

Your father? In the ground for thirteen years.

Your favorite thing? Endorphins make the world more bearable.

Your dream last night? No dream to tell. So sorry.

Your dream goal? Disappear now, reappear whenever I want.

The room you're in? Small, Patriots mementos, iMac, scratching posts.

Your hobby? Pondering how culture shapes our existence.

Your fear? At this point, only one: torture.

Where do you want to be in 6 years? Six years further, six years older.

Where were you last night? Stayed at home, shared Thanksgiving ideas.

What you're not? Destroyed, despite the world's best efforts.

One of your wish-list items? Home playoff run with exciting finish!

Where you grew up? Cedarwood, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA, Earth, Milky...

The last thing you did? Solved hard killer Sudoku, congratulated self.

What are you wearing? Loose fit jeans, new shirt, smile.

Your TV? Unfairly large, distracting, worth every penny.

Your pets? Adorable, snuggly, curious, scared, quiet, comfortable.

Your computer? Absolutely necessary to exist these days.

Your mood? More upbeat than this blog indicates.

Missing someone? Always missing someone, but who isn't?

Your car? Boxy, AWD, reliable, red, in driveway.

Something you're not wearing? Boxers, briefs, panties, boy shorts, thong.

Favourite shop? Joie de Vivre, Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge.

Your summer? Absolute busiest ever, but worth it.

Love someone? Can't answer in only six words.

Your favourite colour? Today: blue. Yesterday: red. Black? Never.

When is the last time you laughed? Cat hanging upside down, earlier today.

When is the last time you cried? May of 1983, sad television show.

- Scott

30,000 Year Plan, Part III

And the 30,000 Year Plan continues unabated.

Proof #9 that in 29,992 years I could be as famous as Angelina Jolie: Smith Magazine decided to include another of my memoirs in their up-coming book of six-worders about Love & Heartbreak.

No image this time (and when you read my memoir, you will be glad of that), but the possibility of more publicity work and of course, another chance to hob-nob with the upper crust at the book launch.

For those of you unfamiliar with the 30,000 Year Plan, kindly check it out here.

And thank you for your support in my quest for soul-destroying fame!

- Scott

Book #9: Maggie: A Girl on the Streets

Ninth book I read since May 2008:

Maggie: A Girl on the Streets by Stephen Crane

I always thought that Crane was the most modern of the turn-of-the-century writers. I'd read this one before, so some of its impact was lost. But the characterization of slum life and the ways of self-medicating in the face of it are pungent and alive, and the double-standards applied to women are too true and heart-breaking.

- Scott

True Hypocricy

Ever been impressed when athletes thank our troops for their service? Thought well of them when they praised the selfless actions of fire fighters or police officers? Admired them when they went into war zones to boost morale?

Well, if you want to continue feeling good about those actions, you might want to stop reading right now. Because the hyporicy of some of these "patriots" has been exposed in this story at Yahoo.com. Apparently, agents for some baseball players are trying to find ways to avoid paying extra taxes that might be due under the new president. From the story: "For a big-money free agent earning $10 million in 2009, Obama’s plan could increase his federal tax by more than $400,000."

And just so you don't think baseball is the only sport where this is going on, read this. Seems that that football players might be doing the exact same thing. (Though it is more understandable with them; their careers are shorter and their contracts are not guaranteed.)

So to summarize, athletes making *200 times* the average U.S. wage want to avoid paying an extra 4% in taxes. Taxes that could provide body armor for soldiers or equipment/raises for police and fire fighters, or perhaps pay down the national debt. And, by the way, taxes they would have had to pay before the current president took office in the year 2000.

These guys might call themselves patriotic. I call them hypocrites. "Sure, I'll host a fund raiser for the local fire department, but don't ask me to pay my fair share to equip them." Pathetic.

Maybe this is just agents blowing smoke or working to game the system. But the agents act on behalf of the athletes. And any multi-millionaire athlete who schemes to avoid taxes while the country slips further and further into debt cannot be considered a true patriot.

Any player (or other filthy rich person) who truly wants to support U.S. troops or the fire/police we *all* depend on should not complain about when asked to pay an additional 4% in taxes. In past wartimes, all citizens were asked to make sacrificies for the cause. Just because George W. Bush didn't mind doubling the national debt to pay for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan doesn't mean that that those wars were free. Someone will have to pay that bill eventually, and I think overpaid millionaires are just the people to do it.

But the way these guys treat their country, maybe they should rename it "The Land of Opportunists."

- Scott

Book #8: Democracy

Eight book I read since May 2008:

Democracy by Joan Didion

I read Play It As It Lays by Didion years ago, and liked its honesty and simple prose. Democracy was a broader reach and used a less accessible overall structure. I will say it was nice to get back to Didion, but I'll be looking for better things from her in future readings.

- Scott