lkjfasd
June 30, 2009 / 3:02 p.m.
I was at My Father's Place before going to work at Zach's office, which I've done in this wierd routine since I started working for him... I don't know why, as the typical crowd there varies between unemployed drunk fringe-hipsters, and people who are too lazy to really pull off being genuine white trash, with the latter being the majority.
Reading the Atlantic, cheeseburger and a Session beer.
About a quarter of the way through the Session, I gave up on working for the day. I could just put together two jobs on Thursday instead of one, and have the day, today, to myself. I can go down to the central library and pick out a few good novels, since I gave up on The Pesthouse slowly over the last week.
As I got out onto the sidewalk and walked, I suddenly became overcome with the sun and the heat, and could hardly keep my eyes open or walk in a straight line for a while.
I was waiting for the bus on 12th and Morrison, and out of nowhere this scream like I had never heard before came from my right side. This is literally, without a doubt, the loudest voice I have ever heard in my life, at the highest volume. He's standing on the corner, threatning people who are slowing up to merge onto Grand, screaming that he's gonna take people out, kill them, cap them, etc.
It was obvious he had lost his mind, as one car would drive off from their temporary stand to merge onto Grand, and another car would pull right up to the do the same thing, and this guy would just seemlessly continue his threats and screaming like it was the same car.
After about three minutes of this, I'm thinking I shouldn't be standing here anymore. Right then, finally a car pulls off with nobody to pull into their place, and I can just feel his voice turn towards me.
"And WHAT? And WHAT MOTHERFUCKER?!"
I couldn't tell if he was approaching me, but at this point I just walked down east, trying to pretend to be somewhat uninterested.
I walked around the block and called 911. I had a little bit of a beer buzz (just from that one beer, somehow) so it came out wrong, but I managed to get all the details out. That he was screaming at people that he was gonna shoot them, that he was psychotic, etc. Then she asked me if he had any weapons, and I said, I think, 'No, he's just some black dude standing there with headphones.' And I was immediately embarrassed, like it was somehow important to get the fact that he was black re-emphasized, but to say it when I'm being asked if he has any weapons is somehow unjust. Anyway, I don't know, I was just incredibly shaken, and didn't use my words right.
So I wait for a few minutes, and cops start showing up and pulling by him slowly and driving off, and of course by this point he's just standing there like a statue, and the more that come by, the more he just stands there staring off into some distant reality...
And I walk off towards Hawthorne to catch the 14 down the street to get downtown. And Try to forget it before I get on the bus.
***
I opened my email when I got down here, and I think I got an actual, genuine response from Ron Wyden in my inbox. I wrote him about the healtcare reform debate, pissed off that he's one of those Dem senators who's refusing to announce that they're actually for a public plan, for some godawful, retarded, moronic reason. Anyway, I was trying to be reasonable, and here's his response:
"Dear Mr. Walker:
Thank you for contacting me regarding the issue of including a public option in health reform. I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue.
I have clearly stated, and want you to know, that I am very open to a national public option if accompanied by real, comprehensive health reform, and if the underlying legislation is responsibly and sustainably financed.
You may also be interested to know that my bill, the Healthy Americans Act, S.391, not only allows a public option in states that want one, but also requires a public option if a state doesn't have at least two health plans offering everyone benefits just like members of Congress have today. This will ensure that all Americans have high quality and affordable coverage.
In addition, the Healthy Americans Act provides universal, affordable, guaranteed coverage that can never be taken away. Individuals would get a choice of health plans with benefits just like Members of Congress have now. Insurance companies would be prohibited from charging you more if you are sick or older, nor could they refuse to provide you health coverage if you have a pre-existing condition. Health insurance would no longer need to be tied to where you work. Individuals can keep the coverage they have or can purchase coverage through statewide or regional agencies called Health Help Agencies. Individuals and families who aren’t able to pay the full cost of health insurance would be subsidized on a sliding scale to help assure that their health care coverage will be affordable and every bit the equal of those more financially-fortunate. If you would like more information about my bill, it is available on my website at http://wyden.senate.gov.
Again, thank you for keeping me apprised of issues that are important to you. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I may be of assistance in the future.
Sincerely,
Ron Wyden
United States Senator"
I don't know, the sloppiness of how he is redundant in the first two sentences with 'issue' sort of rules out this being a form letter that he's responding to the untold thousands of people who are writing him, but I could be wrong. I also punched in a few of the sentences off the body of the letter into google and nothing came up. So at the very least, I'm the first person to copy and paste this form letter, I guess. That means something.
At least, if nothing else, even if it's not unique, they/he think my letter was impactful enough to compose some sort of response to, and it's getting through on some level, or in some miniscule way, to him.
I got a letter back from Earl Blumenauer once that I know was real, after I wrote him to complaining about soldiers with machine guns walking around on the waterfront when the navy ships came in for rose festival the year after 9/11. He basically told me to go take a hike, it wasn't his problem. Take it up with the rose festival committee.
So yeah, that's my day so far.