My favorite Letter to the Editor today:

"Take constitutional democracy, the most insanely complicated form of government in history, with all its mountains of paperwork and bewildering bureaucracy, wrap it up and ship it to Iraq. In more than 200 years, even we haven't made it work smoothly. What in blazes makes anyone think the Iraqis can do it any faster? These unreachable "benchmarks" are only an excuse to keep our troops there."

Perhaps the officials of the M.T.A. in NYC should look to the subway in Bangkok, Thailand on how to deal with heavy rains and flooding. Bangkok lies in a flood plain and the Chao Praya River which runs through it is subject to flooding and in fact, has flooded low lying area along its banks in recent years. In the six or so years that I have been visiting there in January, which is one of the DRIEST months of the years, I have been able to see a general rise in the river. In addition to some very heavy rains, some of the flooding has been due to poor flood control upstream. The subway station entrances are built up several feet from sidewalk level and have ramps for the disabled. Heaven forbid that the flood of the century should occur but if that happens they have flood gates to seal off the stations from rising waters if that became necessary. Also, ventilation shafts are either in the center divider of major multi-lane streets of off the streets to one side where they are elevated several feet above ground level thus preventing flood waters from pouring into the system.

I've always thought is was in your head and now the receptor genes have been located and I would think a similar thing applies to the way people react to tastes, colors, etc. Could this also have something to do with allergies, many of which I feel are psychosomatic?

I am seeing red. The naivete of some Americans is very difficult to take. While watching the news on TV tonight I heard one family complain about Rudolph Giuliani who, according to their own words, has been playing the hero role since 9/11 when all the real heroes are now dead. Damn...how stupid can some people be?!?!?!?!? Rudolph Giuliani took on the city of New York long before 9/11 and corrected a lot of serious problems and made it a livable city once again. Then these people being interviewed on TV had the gall to accuse Giuliani of not doing more to protect the city. Based on previous attacks there and in other locations these people apparently expected this one man to know more than the entire U.S. Military and Intelligence Services. GIVE ME A BREAK. GET REAL. If you don't want Giuliani to be president that is one thing but don't expect him to do something all of our intelligence services could not do.

I am wondering if I am the only person who thinks that most or all U.S. troops will be out of Iraq sometime after the Republican National Convention next summer but before the general election in November 2008 when we elect a new president.

Today Don and I finally got to attend an event at the relatively new campus of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music at 50 Oak Street. We attended a program of Baroque music performed on various viola de gamba and harpsichord in the 140 seat recital hall. It is a gem of a space which has a high ceiling and wonderful acoustics. Most of the seating in this hall is on the main floor but there is a shallow balcony as well as a single row of seat on either side where box seats would be in other venues. The next event we plan to attend is a Master Class conducted by Thomas Hampson which will be held in the 440 seat concert hall.

It is wonderful having this new venue so close to home. There are many public performances throughout the school year. Some are free but the typical prices are $20 for adults and $15 for seniors, students, and friends of the Conservatory. This is a very welcome addition to the cultural and arts scene of this city located in the Civic Center area.

Not satisfied with crippling the State of California with Proposition 13, those scoundrels at the Howard Jarvis Taxpayer's Foundation are at again but this time they attack renters directly with their ballot proposition entitled "Government Acquisition, Regulation of Private Property". If passed this would repeal all rent control laws throughout the State. This would not happen to all units on the same day but as they become vacant however this would lead eventually to there being no rent control within the State of California at all. This is a scary proposition to say the least and would result in a huge increase in the amount of homeless people. I, for one, cannot afford a so-called market rate apartment so I would be stuck in this apartment for the rest of my life.

So, if you encounter someone who asks you to sign a petition to get something onto the February or June 2008 ballot, be VERY VERY careful about what you sign. Apparently the official summary of the measure (printed at the top of each petition) clearly states that it repeals rent control, so tenants should not be easily fooled. The opening sentences read: "Bars state and local governments from condemning or damaging private property for private uses. Prohibits rent control and similar measures."

Although this day started off normally, I am now feeling very, very tired. I could hardly stand up to fix a simple dinner tonight. I hope that the mysterious bug that hit me in the middle of August is not returning. I am scheduled for follow-up blood work on the 14th so I hope nothing goes wrong between now and then. I was planning to got out tonight but now I think I will turn in early.

What in the world is going on in Texas? First those yucky, humungous spider webs and now THIS!