A run over to Safeway on the way home to pick up crackers, Hummus, milk and wine. Hummus in place of cheese. I finally looked this Hummus stuff up on the web: tastes good with crackers, made out of chickpeas, gotta be better for you than cheese, don't you think? Bad enough I have eggs as often as I do in the mornings. You're only allowed - what is it? - three eggs every other year or else your arteries will silt up and you'll die before you're a hundred? I believe that's the verdict. Wouldn't want to die before I'm a hundred. Or ninety, for god's sake. Not here in Oakland.

They were reading The Declaration of Independence on the radio this morning as I was coming to consciousness. It seems we were pissed at the British in ways similar to ways the Iraqis are currently pissed at us: soldiers busting down doors and such. Probably not good to make these analogies, not on our own day of prideful Independence. Best also to skip this current FISA business. Dumping the Fourth Amendment on the Fourth of July isn't good for your self image either, I would think. Makes you realize that swine bin Laden, who's evidently hiding out in the Waziristan mountains at the moment, really got to us, got to us big time, gave us THE FEAR. Fear on the Fourth of July is embarrassing, given all of the noble sentiments and speeches. Here or there in Oakland.

Most people don't know what you're talking about.

Is OK. It's a wise man who knows what he's talking about. A good reason for more listening, less talking. Or less listening, more talking, one might think.