The pleasure is all mine; last time it was so hard for me to find anyone reasonable to speak with. maybe I'll reconsider the SB thing if I can find someone to pay my way -- though I still don't feel terribly welcome here. in fact, I was just railed on by someone who I know in real life for joining the site. Awesome.

Back to you, though:
"I just wish people understood that, in the end, honesty hurts less than uncertainty."

Yeah, but honesty doesn't give you any power or control over anyone; uncertainty can shatter even the bravest and most stout of hearts, and can keep people shackled for a lifetime. It's the media, it's corporate America, it's capitalism.

Were you inside my head today? Maybe during the last few months? That's exactly where I am right now: hanging on to something which I am not aware of the direction, nor am I allowed any control. It's killing me, but of course I've been asked not to let go ... I'm not a quitter, but I made the mistake of being honest in the wake of uncertainty.

hahaha the bit about the bumper stickers cracks me up.

there is an anime convention at the end of hte this month on the 28th and 29th called PMX

look into that

"So what's an intelligent fellow like yourself doing slaving away in a Half-Price Books anyway?"

I ask myself that question everytime I walk into work. I used to be content with answers like "rent" and "I need to eat, stupid", but lately I've been getting antsy. Part of the reason for my antsiness is that at least 6 other people in the store are just like me: extremely intelligent fellows and fellow-ettes, and they have been unable to escape the gravitational pull of the store. Its like Half Price is an Elephant's Graveyard where smart hipsters go to waste away into mediocrity. Mostly, I'm hitting the books on my own time, and once I get a car again, I'm going to pester every newspaper and independent publication valley into giving me and my pen/keyboard some work. Right now, its kind of hard to get taken seriously for journalism jobs when I can't even get from point A to point B.

And I totally agree with you on the bumper sticker. They need to die.... PAINFULLY.

Have you ever read a detailed description of the initiation ceremony?

Haha.. I think not.

Yes. Someone needs to die. By beheading, preferably.

I'm not bitter. I just wish people understood that, in the end, honesty hurts less than uncertainty.

I may have to make this my sig line. It certainly describes my mindset these day...

Hashan's a bad-ass though. I'd like to pick his brain.

Yeah I need more money. Or cult-ish devotees.