going to be a very, very long day...

i am sick of looking at the world around me...i truly miss ignorance and self-absorbtion...so, beginning last night, the next few days were going to be selfishly all about me...but it never works out that way...apparently the white house has been cutting more and more slack to mining companies over the last few years...they claim safety is improving because of it, with fatalities in mining generally down. still, not sure how comfortable i am with cutting 100 million dollar companies a break on fines that amount to tiny fractions of their profits anyways (the average "big" fine stands at a whopping $20,000)...the administration is talking about cooperation between the industry and the government rather than just oversight. didn't we try that in the gilded age? i seem to remember all kinds of nasty things coming out of that...but then maybe what we need is another populist cleansing of sorts...and maybe this is the only way to get there...

people in chicago went ballistic because a judge threatened contempt sanctions and a dismissal of charges against the accussed if the alleged victim of a rape did not view part of the tape made the night in question. immediately the press and everyone around town condemned the judge as a fascist, the defendant as guilty, and his attorneys as devils. but here's the problem...one of the other alleged offenders was already acquited...the girl got drunk and passed out and doesn't remember a damn thing...the tape allegedly shows that her version of some events is incorrect...and we have this whole innocent until proven guilty thing, coupled with all sorts of nice safeguards in place so that criminal defendants get a fair shake...(insert your "what about the victim's rights" questions here...and the answer is - perhaps unfortunately, but our constitution doesnt guarantee victims shit...if you bring charges, you are going to be put through the ringer...that's what happens, good or bad, it's part of the deal).

again, everyone hates criminal defense attorneys and judges that uphold the constitution and innocence until guilt is proven beyond a reasonable doubt...that is until it is their family member on trial, or themselves wrongfully accussed.

i got some new shoes yesterday because i was feeling like shit and decided i needed to spend money...since i already splurged on music, i had ordered shoes. of course, as always...they were a half size too big (damn my feet disproportionately wide for their length)...but i am too fuckin lazy to send them back, and they were practically free anyways...so if anybody wants some shoes (preferably someone that will not be around me much...because if you are wearing my shoes we will have some problems...it's a fabulous thing, you might not understand)...let me know...

they are redoing the roof (pronounced like the sound a dog makes) today...and i am on the top floor...shit flying past the window...banging on my ceiling...not going to get shit done...exactly when i need to get lots of shit done.

when i left the office yesterday it smelled like rain as a few drops hit my glasses...pathetically it almost caused a breakdown...i really need an escape from this town...

we have no better light to see through...