Since I’ve outed myself at KosVegas, I have no problem tossing this picture of myself (in the black wig, I’m currently a bottle blonde) out for general consumption in the blogosphere. I am 36 years old, and I’m sorry but you just cannot tell me that I look 17. I’m so angry right now, and I’m not even angry at the store owner who balked at selling me a pack of American Spirits; I understand that there are stings and undercover cops and that they exist for no other reason than to make his life hell. But having just wasted some soldier’s blood in the form of the extra gas to come back home and get my ID, I’m just a little pissed at how complacent we’ve all become when it comes to Showing Our Papers.

Every day, it seems like I read about another step in the direction of the Panopticon. What you read, where you surf, what you buy, who you talk to- when is it going to end?

I suppose the answer is that it’s not. Not until our entire system comes crashing down upon us in an orgy of reaction and violence, the inevitable end to all Total Information Awareness societies. But I still remember being able to take a note from my dad to the corner grocery store, and buy a pack of cigarettes for him along with chewing gum for myself. Once upon a time, people enjoyed having freedom. I honestly can’t understand when we decided that we didn’t need it any more.

…forgive the rant. I think it’s time to go have a smoke.