I'm myself, not that other guy

A concerned reader asks: "By the way, do you happen to be VP of www.hslda.org?"

No. The concerned reader is of course referring to the other Michael Farris, a high profile rightwing whacko. I won't get into it any more than that except to mention that we are among each others' nightmares (or would be if he knew of my existence).

Once I lived in a town with yet another (I assume) Michael Farris and occasionally I'd get a call for him. Once I picked up the phone and a hopeful sounding female voice (HSFV) on the other end piped up in a strong southern US accent.

ME: Hello.
HSFV: (happy at getting through) Michael?
ME: (not recognizing the voice) Yes ...
HSFV: (triumphant) This is Natasha!
ME: (thrown by the contrast in name and accent) Who?
HSFV: ... (hung up)

I wonder if she realized I was a different Michael Farris or if she just thought that Michael Farris sure is a creep.

Happy? New? Year?

Why does the new year have to begin after my least favorite holiday? New Year's Eve is a tiresome overrated excuse for a party and New Year's Day tends to be boring (when it doesn't tend to be filled with excruciating pain).

I guess it's so that the next few days at least will seem like an improvement.