So, we now see more proof that America really is the Evil Empire. Hopefully some of its citizens will actually realize it soon. I won't elaborate much, 'cause I can't really put it any better than marn & cf; the latter points out that America is ill, and marn... well, just go and read what she has to say. And note that in one of the posts in her comments page, someone states that many Americans are oblivious to the whole scandal. That's just sad.

In fact, the whole thing is tragic on two levels: The first, and obvious, is that this ever happened at all; the second, and apparently less obvious to some, is that a country with so much potential has turned into such a monster.

But anyway, I said I wouldn't elaborate. Shutting up now.

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In other news, I'm having a hard time not being colossally depressed right now. I turned 38 on Friday. Only one member of my family remembered. Normally birthdays don't bother me, but when they highlight how insignificant you are to those around you, it's kind of a bummer. At least Poli remembered, baking an actual *cake*, which was pretty cool, and organizing banjo lessons from her, cf and mystie. Oh yeah, and a banjo case, too.

Hopefully in the course of these lessons I won't hit a wall like I did when trying to learn from a book. (I was doing OK, learning all the little riffs, when suddenly the book seemed to skip about 3 levels to a song I just couldn't tackle.)

Also last week, I bounced the rent cheque. It wasn't so much a matter of being po' (although that is, and will increasingly be, an issue), but more an issue of bad timing. I had the money in the account the day before and the day after the landlord cashed it, but the bank chose to overlook this -- God forbid they cut me any slack. Aren't modern-day financial institutions just grand?

The other thing is, I'm getting less of a tax refund than I thought I would, and I'm being hit hard by summer day camp expenses, which I'm paying this month.

Oh, and we have to figure out where we're going to live next year with a new baby in a small apartment and one income on which to get by. Buying a house? Might be difficult on limited funds, and now I have a nice credit stain on my record thanks to the bounced cheque.

Oh, and I have tried repeatedly to get Lead Guitarist's digital 8-track to work, and I just can't get the hang of it. I'm packing it off to the bass player, who will make better use of it.

All in all, I feel pretty damned broken.

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