Spirits Flailing Away Uselessly at Commercial Gerbil Wheels

"Just because technology makes it possible for us to work 10 times faster than we used to doesn't mean we should do it. The body may be able to withstand the strain -- for a while -- but the spirit isn't meant to flail away uselessly on the commercial gerbil wheel."

- Tony Long

Great article over at Wired: Eat, Sleep, Work, Consume, Die

I normally spend a lot of time working, every day, even on the weekends, but today, my wife had to go help my aunt with a sale she was having at her house. So I was in charge of all 3 kids.

On occasion, I've tried to work and watch the kids at the same time, but today I decided to be fully present with my family and enjoy them. Worked well. Got up at 5:15am, went to the grocery store for supplies, and mapped out how me and the kids would spend the day. Meals were planned, activities were planned, and everyone was advised of what was coming up next.

The day went smooth as silk, no need for raised voices, and few tears, although Mary did fall off the couch and bump her head, which seemed like quite a trauma for her for about 5 minutes.

Tomorrow's Sunday, and I'm going to try to do it again even though my wife is going to be home. Flailing away uselessly at a commercial gerbil wheel 7 days a week is no way to live, even when you enjoy your work as much as I do. (And I work for myself.)

Jimmy Carter on Bush and American Values

Jimmy Carter is breaking with the tradition of former Presidents not criticizing sitting Presidents. According to Carter, he just couldn't stay silent anymore. As far as I'm concerned, he and way too many other Americans have stayed silent for way too long. (I'm among them.) Anyway, worth a read: Jimmy Carter on George W. Bush and American Values

Also worth a look is Molly Ivins' latest column regarding the Senate vote last week about USA torture. Like Ivins, I'm more than a little heartsick over this. 9 out of 100 Senators voting against torture. What a sad day for this country.

George Bush Approval Rate - 36%

This Newsweek poll shows Bush's approval rate at an abysmal 36%.

68% of Americans think that the USA is heading in the wrong direction.

More than half of American now think that Bush is not 'honest and ethical'.

Cheney's situation is even worse. Only 29% of Americans think he is 'honest and ethical'. (We can hope and pray that the Republican Party finds it in the national interest to nominate this bozo for president in 2008 so the Democrats might have a chance at the Oval Office again. Assuming the Dem's can actually get a decent candidate this year. My God how I would have loved to see a Howard Dean/George W. Bush debate.)

Apparently some people have changed their minds since election day. I just hope they remember how they voted then.