From the "I Knew I Shouldn't've, but Did Anyway" Department
November 10, 2004
7:51 a.m., MT
I decided this morning that I was tired of my modernistic Don-Quixotish computer wallpaper and set out to find a suitable replacement. While searching through the endless array of sites and offerings, I also ventured into commentary-land.

What a mistake. I seem to have a talent for choosing either excellent articles, or articles that raise my blood pressure very high, very fast. Today I landed hits only in the latter category. First, I got to a Slate commentary arguing for north-south secession, then, sighing over that, went to TechCentralStation and saw a slew of similarly-themed articles; the one that caught my attention asserts the real difference is east-west, not north-south. Ugh.

Having lived in two northern-tier states thus far, one midwestern and one western, I can attest that any grouping by north-south is overly simplistic. And, from my travels through many (but not yet all) states and through each region (of the continental U.S., that is), I know that's true of other dichotomies. And, with much of our society being more mobile than previous generations, demographics are even more complex than the red-blue-blending-to-purple maps that I've seen but will refrain from posting here.

So, for me, all this talk of secession-by-area is rather pointless. A region is no more uniform than the country; within many a state, pockets of red, blue, purple, green, and probably other perspectives not well represented by colors can be found. Besides, all of this rhetoric seems to implicitly accept that being on someone else's political leash is fine and dandy; all that's needed are some refinements to the leash. Well, I don't buy that, and I've a long history of chafing under any leash but my own. That's why I support and advocate individual secession, and subsequent actions consistent with that step.

The sun wasn't fully risen when I started this entry, and I'd already begun to get a headache. Time to retreat into something more soothing and beautiful. Too bad the wallpapers he offers get too distorted at the size I need ...

[Edited 11/14: After seeing Bill St Clair's screenshot of his wallpaper from Sensitive Light, I realized I'd done something wrong in trying to set my wallpaper ... So I went back to the site and actually read and followed the directions, and now I've a beautiful wallpaper on my machine! And a great place to find more, next time I decide a change is needed. Thanks to Mr. Graham Jeffery for offering his beautiful works for personal use.

Sunni

Replies: 2 individuals have opined

On Thursday, November 11th, Sunni said:

You're welcome. I saw a number of cool bee shots there.

On Wednesday, November 10th, Bill St. Clair said:

Hey, Sunni. Thanks for the Sensitive Light link. Wow! I'm using the bee on the pollen-covered petal picture as my background now.