Travis McGee and the Unstructured Life

As he advances through his middle years, McGee sometimes misses the comforts and shared illusions of the regimented life demanded of all solid American citizens. On the other hand, he understands the gain:

"...nothing can slow the reflexes like the weight of mortgages, withholding, connubial contentment, estate program, regular checkups and puttering around your own lawn."

Travis would be the first to tell you that you pays your money and you takes your choice. He would also be the first to advise that every choice generates regrets and that you should strive to ignore them.

Kafka's Cops live

A friend points me to a New York Times piece detailing some of the horrors of the anti-terrorist bureaucracy. In his note my pal mentions Kafka, leading me to wonder if that genius's name cracks the consciousness of enough modern skulls to make a difference.

(Kafka wrote of accused persons who might be guilty, or might not. The prisoner himself had no idea because the charges against him were secret. It was permissible because the bureaucracy said it was permissible.)

The Times report pegs itself on the case of a woman who, five years ago, was found to be on the no-fly list, questioned, detained, and turned loose without explanation. She sued, and a portion of her case against the secret government which compiles such lists has survived in the courts, despite the best efforts of the government.

The point is not that bureaucrats sometimes err. It is that any human is owed the minimum civility of a statement of why he is under suspicion and, if the accusation is found baseless, an apology for the bureaucrats' bumbling.

My buddy John lives in the GMA where he is employed as an expert. In his spare time he keeps me up to date on quarter-MOA groups shot by James Lileks. The latest:

"It’s never the future for a dog, but they’re aware of it, inasmuch as they have a keen sense of expecting what is to come, but that’s just displacing the Present into the realm of Desire, and barking until it comes true. See also, politics."

Improvised weaponry

"Barefoot" is pretty good wine for the money, and it doesn't suffer the ignominy of coming with a screw top. It closes with a "cork" of plastic or some such, and the thing looks durable enough to stand rough handling.

It mikes .8125. I'm looking for something in the shed with a .8125 ID. Then compressed air? Surgical tubing? Hair spray?

Look to your laurels, Dr. Strangegun.