First Things First

I've had some computer problems over the last month, so this month's update is not as big as I wanted it to be.  I'm in the process of moving files from one computer to another.  However, this month's Vista Drive has 10 new pictures.

If you haven't already checked out the additions to American Bliss, please do.  That particular page is has grown faster over the last couple of months than any other part of the site.  I've added an opinion journal, an online series, and some of my short stories.  Speaking of that, come September 23rd American Bliss will be updated.  Please come back for that.  Until then, enjoy the update.

Afterthoughts : Orthodontic Fun

Going to the orthodontist was never my favorite thing to do growing up.  How could it ever be?  When I went there I was sure to have a painful mouth for at least a week.  The whole place made me feel bad.  Just going up the elevator to the office made me sick sometimes.  I remember the waiting room was dark, and about four fish tanks lined the inner wall.  Most of the time I was too nervous to even notice the fish.  Sometimes I would get up and look at them, but rarely.

Needless to say, my trips to the orthodontist were not fun.  Except for this one time when I met up with this real playful girl.  There was a second waiting room inside the office, where you waited your turn at the shoehorn of dentist chairs.  The orthodontist would go down the line, adjusting everyone's braces one after another.  Sometimes the wait was long, some times it was short.  This day it was a particularly long wait.  One of the assistants asked both of us if we had enough rubber bands, and if not that would could go and help ourselves to some.  The girl went and got a package of rubber bands, opened it, and proceeded to shot me with one.  I wasn't going to let that go without a fight.  I went and got a bag and proceeded to shot her with a rubber band.  Pretty soon there was an out and out barrage of rubber bands flying between us.  We would stop when we heard the footsteps of the assistants coming.  But, as soon as they went by the barrage of rubber bands began again.

Of course someone was bound to find us out, and scold us for wasting rubber bands.  The tongue lashing only brought on a barrage of giggles, and held in laughs.  All we could do was look at each other and laugh.  Then, her name was called, followed by mine.  We looked at each other from our chairs, still laughing.  The laughing stopped as soon as the orthodontist made his appearance.  I can't remember which one of us was done first, or her name, or her face.  But, when I drive by the building where my orthodontist used to be, I sometimes think of that girl, and how that one time was the only time that I had fun at the orthodontist office.

Editorial : 10 Bloody Commandments

There is an ongoing controversy in the Alabama Supreme courthouse.  The chief justice of the court placed a two-ton granite 'monument,' of the 10 Commandments, in the rotunda of the building two years ago.  Opponents have fought to remove the 'monument' from the building where people expect equal protection under the law.  Since the start of this controversy the monument has been placed in an area that is not seen by the public.  I believe that this display is an affront to this ideal.  Clearly the installation of this 'monument' is a bias to anyone who is not of the Judeo-Christian fate.  I am personally offended by the placement of such a monument in a public place, least of all a courthouse.

Our court system is based on the laws set in the Constitution, not the 10 Commandments.  There is nothing in the 10 Commandments that guarantee the right of free speech, or the right to bear arms, or the right to a speedy and fair trial.  Then why have the 10 Commandments in a court of law?  The ideals of the Commandments seem diametrically opposite to those in the Constitution?

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."  These are the words in the Constitution.  The action by the chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court literally sanctions the Judeo-Christian fate over any other.  There is to be a separation between church and state.  Because when a government agency, or personal, places a religious symbol in a government agency, it is tantamount to an official sanction of that religion.  The very same people that are protesting the removal of the 'monument' are the very same that would be protesting to get it out if it was a monument of say, the Koran, or the Tao Te Ching.  It is hypocritical to have any religious symbol on a government building.

I am not a very religious person.  However, I do follow, to the best of my abilities, the ideals in the 10 Commandments.  They do offer a righteous way of living.  But, so does the Tao, and the Koran.  Religion is our way of searching for meaning in our lives.  We each find that meaning through different means, different religions.  We must respect all religions.  But, the installation of a monument to one religion is a slap in the face to those of different fates.  I this country we have something called the Constitution that guarantees us the right to worship freely.  But, there are those who would forget those rights, when they apply to a religion that is not there's.  I have no problem with a monument representing the 10 Commandments.  I simply don't want to see it in a courthouse, where the law is the last word.

Etcetera : Disneyland PeopleMover

I Miss the old PeopleMover attraction at Disneyland.  Up until a few years ago, 1995 I believe, the PeopleMover was a common sight at Disneyland's Tomorrowland section of the park.  It wasn't a fast ride, or a completely spectacular ride, but I loved it.  What gets me is that Disneyland usually takes out an attraction to put a better one.  Sadly, when it came to the PeopleMover they didn't do that.  They took out a good attraction in order to replace it with an attraction that didn't work, and was closed within three years.

It's clear the the current ride will never come back.  I'm openly asking the Disneyland management to please return the PeopleMover ride.  I have so many fond memories of that ride, and I think that so many others who visited Disneyland does too.

One of my fondest memories is how I always wanted to ride the PeopleMover right before we left for home.  There was this one time in which the whole family was back and forth looking for everyone else.  I looked at the PeopleMover queue and it was empty.  I ran and got on.  All the cars were empty in my train.  I looked down and saw everyone walking around in the darkness.  In some of the dark spots I put my hand in front of my face and strained to see it.  I couldn't.  That didn't matter, I was riding around high above Tomorrowland in the darkness.  As I went out over the Autopia the lights of all the attractions seemed to be so far away.  I couldn't absorb the whole of that moment.  I hadn't been alone all day, and now at this moment everyone in my family seemed a thousand miles away.  It was the happiest moment of my day.  As I neared the end of the trip I looked down and saw most of my family waiting around.  Now they were waiting for me.  I slowly got off the ride, and slowly made my way down the ramp.  I walked over, and we went home.

I miss the PeopleMover.  I'm sure others do too.  Like I said before, I hope that the Disneyland management will consider opening up the attraction.  There isn't much there now.  And while the ride was never all that spectacular, but it was always fun.  Unlike what's there now, nothing.