:: 3:10:50 :: Yes, we did run 18.46 miles (29.7km). Yes, we did very nearly circle the city. Yes, 3 hours and 10 minutes and 50 seconds is a long time. Yes, Rainer did drop me off and go for another 3 miles/5km. Yes, I'm proud and happy and a little stiff. It's 20 minutes/2 miles farther than I have ever gone. Yes, I'm training for a marathon. Next year, though. I know my body and going from a half-marathon training level to marathon level in one … Read More

via Handmade Homeschool

“Commentator Andrei Codrescu says that privacy means little in the age of personal computing. Anyone can find out in minutes all they need to know about you, and everyone is ready to broadcast everything anyone might want to know.” – from NPR, Poet On Call

I heard this program on NPR and it brought a resurgence of questions I’ve had for some time…questions about what truly constitutes one’s “identity”. We now even have identity “theft”…and it begs the question, who truly are WE?

When I was in the military, I was constantly told that I was not ME, I was a soldier, I was in fact, government property! Without an ID card, access to many “priveleges” in society is denied. Yet, I do not cease to exist without that card, do I?

When we meet new people, we introduce ourselves…”Hello, I AM so-and-so”…but it doesn’t say anything really, does it? Although, as a mother who has had to give names to three children, I agonized over what exactly I would call each of them. I did feel as if it was somewhat presumptious of me to bequeath this new being with a life-long label without having ever seen them, spoken to them, heard the sound of their voice…and I truly did feel that the act of “naming” them was far too inedequate in the face of all their mightiness and magnificence.

And so, these things…our jobs (“So,what do YOU do?”…that question drives me NUTS), our names…they are not US. And yet these are the questions we ask or are asked when identity is in question. There has to be more. A fingerprint, DNA, our scent, the sound of our voices, the way we tilt our heads when we laugh, or the way one person walks on their tiptoes and another stomps flat-footed…but those things are SHARED, so again, what makes one UNIQUE?

I recently was asked to provide my thumbprint in order to cash a paycheck at a grocery store.  When I asked the clerk why, she gave me the typical answer of “for your security.”  I asked her HOW providing my thumbprint made me more secure.  She couldn’t answer, but she at least called a supervisor and asked the same question.  There was no sufficient answer.  Just that the check cashing agency collects all personal data, “for our security.”  I commented that I felt less secure as I know nothing about the cash checking agency and was never contacted by them or notified that they would be collecting my personal data.  But, in all honesty, my security is not wrapped up in any of this stuff.  Someone wants me to think that it is, though.  And that’s the real danger.  Take away my SSN, my driver’s license, my name, my job, my bank account, my credit rating…all the things that we’re told are our IDENTITY…and yet, I don’t suddenly disappear in a poof of smoke, do I?  Not at all.  In fact, I just might have MORE freedom!  I just might.

]]> http://moxyjane.wordpress.com/2009/07/08/the-view-from-here/feed/ 0 moxyjane http://moxyjane.wordpress.com/2009/07/08/freedom/ http://moxyjane.wordpress.com/2009/07/08/freedom/#comments Wed, 08 Jul 2009 06:15:57 +0000 moxyjane http://moxyjane.wordpress.com/?p=267 ]]> The girls made Fireworks t-shirts to wear:

Jazz Hands For Freedom

We also celebrated our friend Liam’s 7th birthday at Peter Pan Put-Put Golf. This was my second visit to Peter Pan. The first was about 27 years ago. I don’t remember much about the visit…only that the fun, if any was had, was brought to an abrupt end due to one of my brothers peeing themselves, another brother taking whacks at other people’s balls, and some arguing between myself and yet another brother. The ride home in the family station wagon was a total bummer.

The visit last Sunday went MUCH better. GemSprightly very nearly peed herself several times and jumped in front of other people, ElmTree took a few whacks with her club at the statuary, and Liam beaned GemSprightly with a golf ball, but otherwise, we had a grand time and saw it through to the end. Hurray for progress.

After put-putting, we wrapped up the day with dinner at our favorite Tex-Mex restaurant, Guero’s Taco Bar. I love their tortilla soup (with HUGE chunks of fresh avocado!). I tried out the night setting on my camera for the first time, and it seemed to work out okay.

It’s even uglier now…but I’ll spare you.

2/3s of my vote was (or is that “were”?) cast this morning…the remaining 1/3 will be cast tonight at our caucus. I still don’t totally understand the how or why of it, but I’m just glad to be a part of it.

Interesting tidbit: all of the people waiting in line to vote this morning were Democrats…or were at least voting that way.