Work is work is work, but I wish to hell I could relax and stop
looking over my shoulder. I feel like some kind of violent or sexual
crime victim who can never quite shake the feeling it could happen
again.

It is for that feeling that I wish I could go back to the old employer
and picket or discuss or write letters or do something non-violent,
constructive but mentally retaliatory. I figure my lawyer would punch
me, though.

The weird part is here the so-called intelligientsia (OK, I doubt they
would call themselves that) are of a different breed. Just as
credentialled and degreed, mind you, as the past "elite" (and, yes,
the dicks for whom I used to toil would likely call themselves that or
at least think it). But the cred is of a different sort, and quite a
bit more ecletic. Perhaps because those in health care are long on
attitude but not what you might call renaissance.

Now I’m working with folks from just about every other professional
discipline apart from medicine, with a couple who have in fact worked
in health for good measure. And they read and discuss wild and crazy
shit like what the fuck is going in the world.

(Here’s something unlikely to happen at the new place, where all staff
are invited to various talks, lectures, slide shows, musical concerts
and discussions: On 9/11 at my old job, one of the docs came out of
her office to tell people to get back to work, no need to obsess on a
plane crash. She hadn’t even realized that there were more than one
plane and it weren’t no accident. )

Anyway, the cool part for me, and among the things I’ll count as a
benefit, is the variety of mags and journals that pass by my desk.=20
Sadly, I can’t keep up.

But, the August 22 issue of The New Republic has been foaming at the
mouth anew over the fuckers who came up with "Intelligient Design."=20
Yeah, let’s all set our way-back machines before FACTS were gathered
and just say screw it to proof that species like, you know, evolved.

I think even William Jennings Bryan would suggest that the brain trust
behind "ID" were misconstruing reality (and likely being manipulative
assholes in the name of divinity).