A story about why I sometimes cannot respect my elders:

I had to go to an EDD workshop today, to continue collecting my unemployment.  We had to bring a log of our efforts to find work and learn about available resources.  It was a really hopeless scene:  The instructor was a recent transfer and didn't really know what she was doing.  Most of the attendees were much older than me and many seemed timid and/or depressed.

I tried to bring a bit of light to the group...it needed it...and a woman probably in her 60's sitting next to me began talking to me quietly during the presentation.  I was friendly, but no more than necessary.  She asked me my last job was; I answered and felt like I should ask her.  She was an accountant.  Soon,  she complained about events of the class much.  I told her something like, "the world is too crazy for anyone to handle right now, and that's ok."

Just as we were getting out, she brought my attention to a man, probably in my age bracket, with large gauges in his ears and a general hardcore look.  "He is such a loser," she said.  He had spoken once the whole class and her mind was made up.  Maybe, she didn't even need to hear him, just look at him.  I could have said, "it's hard to talk about who's a loser when you, yourself, have a group of the unemployed as your peers."  I should have just said,  "judge not, yest ye be judged."  I can imagine the shock she would show; someone with my youth saying such a statement with such conviction.

But I didn't say anything.  Hopefully, my abrupt end to our converstation alluded to the fact that I lost all respect for her.

In Brighter News:  Check out Fela Kuti.  HOLY MOLY.  Take Miles Davis style jazz, James Brown style funk guitar, and African drums.  The best music for a dance party in your bedroom.  Try starting with the song "Zombie."