Walgreens clerk never before saw a passport

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Now the liquor law in Indiana, for one, requires customers show proof of age for purchase if they look less than forty years old. Why not just mark it at the retirement age of 65?! This ought to be an insult to every grown-up Hoosier. The things a lazy or short-sighted constituency permits lawmakers to pass.

being a native "gee-iieee!" the woman had never likely even seen a passport let alone own one

A few days past I went to a Walgreens in Gary, Indiana, to buy some wine. For identification I showed the cashier girl my passport to which she hesistated. "I don't think we can accept this for identification," she hedged. Huh? See, being a native "gee-iieee!" ("Gary, Indiana" citizen for those unfamiliar with the irrational regional pride) the woman had never likely even seen a passport let alone owns one. "I'll need to call the manager," she said.

Fine. 

I didn't move from my place in line. We all waited. 

In short order the white manager arrived and, of course, confirmed for her with a bewildered smile, "Yeah that's good. It's a passport. Sorry for the wait, sir."

Some people NEVER learn there's a whole world outside of their precious hometown. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Pitiful....

 

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Back on campus

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I travelled up from Pto. Vallarta, Mexico - with stops and stays in LA and Chicago along the way - to come back to Crawfordsville for my 10th college reunion. Holy cow ten years has gone by already...and I really don't feel it (or, even better, show it)! 

Once I touched down in town I felt right back in my zone...as if I hadn't been gone for more than a week. The campus has some new buildings and new faces but the spirit, the spirit of scholarship and camaraderie and masculinity, is still there in spades; and the breezes that coursed all round me was like inhaling air of my youth; And I'm still young so imagine the stirrings of those Wabash men catching up on their 30th or 50th class reunions!


I went swimming, participated in our beloved Chapel Sing, drank and smoked cigars with classmates (and two recently minted 2011 alumni) on the back porch of Martindale Hall, and generally laughed and had an awesome weekend.

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Cadbury calls Naomi chocolate

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Cadbury chocoletiers pulled a new ad campaign for a rich chocolate bar lounging in diamonds in which they compared it, the candy, to supermodel Naomi Campbell.

Said Miss Campbell:

"I am shocked. It's upsetting to be described as chocolate, not just for me, but for all black women and black people. I do not find any humor in this. It is insulting and hurtful."

Yes it is. Except in Mexico where ignorance and name-calling of (black)people is standard. And the white people who escape south of the border think it's cute.

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