Local newspapers are the primary source of information in these blogs. Over the last three years, a few online papers have become subscription only. Now, the Asheville Citizen-Times bombards me with popup screens when I try to read articles. It is important to know my gender, age, and zip code. Perhaps it is an evil plot to prevent paranoiacs from becoming “informed.” Or maybe it is to prevent transgendered people who fall through the cracks of the multiple choice questionnaire from becoming “educated.”

That might be a minor aggravation if my bank stopped pressuring me to spend money in ways they can track. This generation is high on Big Brother. A former boss of mine used to say, “Let them get so much information they can’t sift through it.” In my experience, it is posh to apply formulas where they don’t belong and confidently conclude one outcome when multitudes are equally or more probable. My credit card is great for declining purchases that don’t fit my profile. Perhaps all this monitoring and approving/declining will mold me into an appropriate person.

Give me an O!
O!