On The Third Hand

Sunday, 03 Mar

Understanding America [permalink]

My next door neighbor is barbecuing chicken. It smells sublime. I have an urge to go ask if there's a spare piece. If I did so, I'd probably get one. It would be a bit spicy... the husband (cooking in the American tradition of who does the 'outdoor' cooking) next door is originally from Mexico. His English isn't the best, but he's an American now.

My neighbor on the other side plays the most beautiful Spanish Classical guitar I've ever heard -- just sitting out on his porch picking away. He doesn't speak great English either; he's originally from Cuba. He's an American too.

I went to a local flea market the other day. I needed a pair of cheap sunglasses -- and got them (I need cheap ones because I tend to sit on sunglasses.). While I was there, I decided to wander a bit. Americans like to window shop, even when we aren't buying.

The market was once mostly people selling used items. It's only open Friday through Sunday. Three days. It's now rather like a mall. There are more stores selling new items than those selling used. It's still cheaper than the normal store; the various vendors only sell three days a week, but the booths are very much cheaper than a regular storefront. The entrepreneurs there will bargain -- something most 'real' stores won't do. That's American too.

The market has a lot of booths selling food. I passed German, French, Italian, Chinese, Mexican, and a place that sold NY-style pretzels and hotdogs. I didn't walk the whole market -- it's too big -- you can't get it in just one visit. Just like America.

I checked out a booth selling hot sauces. In the slot for the very hottest sat bottles labeled "911 Revenge". Even in retail we don't forget. More Americana.

I stopped by a 'used and rare' bookseller who trades with other booksellers worldwide, just to see if he'd got anything new from overseas. He had no new stuff this time, but we had a pleasant chat about some non-US authors. I suppose someone somewhere might care that he's black. I don't. He's American.

I've often tried to define America to friends abroad who have never been here. "What is it like?", they ask. Good question. I've never been able to answer that. America is like everywhere else -- but not really. It's like nowhere else -- but not exactly.

I'm giving up. America can't be explained. It can't be "got" by a visitor. It has to be lived in and lived with. It's a scent in the air, a shuttle-trail in the sky, a strut in the walk, a feeling in the heart, a lift of the chin and a bow of the head. It's not always good, and it's not always bad. It is what it is... but I can't describe it. I can just barely understand it.

It's no wonder the rest of the world doesn't get us.
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Blogging blogging [permalink]

• I'm considering a separate page just for a blog list. I've got more I'd like to link, and I'm a bit frustrated by having them in a sidebar where I can't cross-connect blogs and authors. I'm pretty sure at least a few of you use my links I'd like to know what you think. Should I list blogs on all pages in a sidebar or provide a more detailed list on a separate page? You can e-mail me, or drop into the forum (link below) and leave a note (anonymous is ok).
• The Captain of the USS Clueless takes on a threat to the US Constitution from the EU and a treaty they signed. He's got it right. This is one we should watch carefully.
• USS Clueless also has a good take on the whole freeblog/warblog/polblog/whateverblog discussion. He says: "It's the substance which is important, not the label."
  I'll admit I'd have a tough time trying to categorize USS Clueless -- and he's not the only one. I think that's why I haven't really tried to categorize blog links other than splitting out blogspot for convenience of readers (and myself) when blogspot is down.
• The religious selector seems to have become the latest test to hit the whatever-bloggers. I took it, stared for a while and decided it was way too far off. I did play with it a bit, and found out why some are complaining. It's pretty skewed on some subjects. So I looked around and found the cult selector. Discordian came out on top -- first try. Hail Eris!
  For the atheists that have been complaining about the religious selector, there is also a non-theistic philosophies selector. It's much more accurate -- it does not make the assumption that no one can be an atheist unless they have no ethics.
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