Depression

As some of you may know, I suffer from depression. Nothing suicidal, but it generally manifests as massive lethargy. And I've had some zoloft and I've had some therapy and I may or may not be on the road to recovery. It's awfully tough to convince myself that I'm not just tired and lazy.

But I've said enough now. What you really need to read is this essay by thebratqueen which needs to be published in the Real World. If I could process what she's saying at something more than an intellectual level, I'd be doing really well.

While I'm at it....

Let's talk about cultural literacy. What stuff is just current fads and what has, or ought to have, entered the collective popular lexicon.

Because neither my girlfriend nor ase have any real knowledge of MacGyver...not even enough to get the "let's make a nuclear reactor out of these toothpicks, some salad dressing and this handful of pocket lint" reference. I'm only about 4 years older than they are...is this really a generation gap? I don't think I ever watched MacGyver when it was actually on, but I'm still familiar with the basic premise. Am I over-informed or are they (and presumably all those like them) under-informed.

There are lots of standards for cultural literacy...but what should the list be for 20th Century popular culture? Most everyone can hum the tune to 'Gilligan's Island" and know "A horse is a horse, of course, of course" and "Wiiil-burrrr". You've got "doh!" and "yadda, yadda, yadda" and the Fonz is a happy-go-lucky guy in a black leather jacket. "To Boldly Go Where no man has gone before" and "Lucy, you got some 'splainin' to do." I've never seen "The Honeymooners" but I still know "To the moon, Alice, to the moon!" Is this part of the "required" lexicon or is it extra? What knowledge ought to be assumed?

I really wish someone could explain it to me.

And finally...

George Carlin is good for most of what ails ya'.

"The phrase surgical strike might be more acceptable if it were common practice to perform surgery with high explosives."

"Deep throat: Think about it. There is actually an important figure in American history who is named for a blow-job movie. How do grade school teachers handle this?"

[my note: by ignoring it completely]

"I don't think we gave barbarism a fair try."

"If the shoe fits, get another one just like it."

"Where does the dentist go when he leaves you alone?"

...ok, I'll stop now.