December 99 December 98 December 97 _________________ Thursday 30 December 99   11 01 pm pst   [ writing prompt edition ] for Jaunt: colors I am tired of people claiming that they hate certain colors. I hate orange. I despise pink. Every color has a time and a place. Oranges belong in sunsets and pinks belong on flowers. Just because you wouldn't dye your hair that color, doesn't mean that color isn't a lovely and useful part of of our spectacular world. So let us avoid a discussion of the myriad shades of vibrancy -- too varied for the eye to distinguish. Let us instead turn to colorful language. Let us turn to that particular phrase that sucks! The phrase had its humble beginings in an insult to homosexuals. One would say to a man "You suck dick!" to imply that they were gay -- one of those implications that many straight men get grouchy about. For some reason unknown to me, the expression became "You suck shit!" Apparently this is an even worse insult. And so it has remained, forever more. Yet there has been a single trasformation. There are many who cannot or will not swear, and thus the (to some) incomplete sentence "You suck!" is now in common usage. Enough. * * * for On Display: time capsule For the year 2000 time capsule, I leave my digital words -- this digital diary -- and in particular, my letter to 3000, which I intend to write for tomorrow's entry. * * * for Writing in the Sand: If it wasn't illegal, what would you do? That is such a juicy question, but it leads to so many provisions. Is it not illegal just for me, or for everyone? I come up with an easy answer: I would try marijuana. I have never tried any illegal drugs, but I might if they were legal. Matthew has asked if I would do drugs in Amsterdam, and I think probably not. That idea appeals to me not at all. If I were to try pot for the first time, I would want to with my children. I suppose we'll have to see what the laws look like then. If it wasn't illegal to kill people, I would certainly get close in a moment of rage. But I think that taking a life is a wretched thing -- the destruction of an entire universe. I don't know if I could do that myself. Ever. * * * for Connected Recolections: Silent Night Being Jewish, I have never disliked the holiday craze surrounding Christmas, but I have been rather disappointed by the deluge of Christmas music. Going carolling is lovely, but the songs on the radios and in the malls -- the obligation people seem to feel to play them -- is a bit maddening. Something wonderful happened over Christmas; while celebrating with Matthew's family, his father called everyone into the living room for Christmas songs. And there was a spirit in everyone as the songs began to pour forth. I knew the words to few, but offered up suggestions of lovelies to sing: Winter Wonderland, Silver Bells, Silent Night.