Give people a little power and they will turn into a little autocrat. Inventing little rules out of the ether. Often in myriad trivial ways, often in ways which seem trivial but in reality come to play a pivotal role in the life of the one being trampled upon.

This was my experience just last week when I made what I thought was a simple request to a superior in what has become the never-ending Oregonian quest for palatable employment. Evidently, this was my error in assuming it was simple. In fact, my request could not be handled because it was improper (?) and, as such, had to first be cleared through the proper channels. Apparently the plasticgraduate is not the only person with a Ph.D. in superficiality.

Once in a restaurant in Mexico, I asked if I could plug in my camera charger while we ate. The waitress informed me that it was against the policy of the establishment. Hmm...I've worked in eateries and never seen such a detailed operating manual. "Regulation IIIa clearly states that no patron shall access the electrical outlets for digital photography purposes during the breakfast hours."

I recall really being struck by Discipline & Punish: The Birth of the Prison, by Foucault.

Yes, these were the days when people had books, and they were on paper, Grasshopper. I know you were confused because I saw you kept using your mouse to click on the page numbers to try to read the next section.

Anyway, so apparently we punish those who step out of the boundaries of acceptable behavior of society. Problem is, there doesn't seem to be any universally agreed upon standards. It's only by crossing those boundaries that one can hold true to ideals and so a fundamental question must be asked - should you risk position, reputation or to give up the fight? Unfortunately, there are no guarantees in the latter, either. But that's where the fun is.

In the words of that immortal 70's poet, Billy Joel, "I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints..."

Moved the Plastifamily into the cave a few weeks ago. Still working on the kitchen so we have to bring ice in and keep the milk in a Coleman ice chest. Plastigirl has taken it upon herself to do some home decorating.

Celebrated the New Year with a bottle of champagne. Heard strange noises. Kind of a loud growling. Went outside and was confronted by a seven foot hairy, biped. He grunted. Pounded his chest and scurried away. The next day I found some beer bottles in a small clearing near this encounter. I followed the footprints and found him sleeping off the night of revelry.

I shook him awake. He let out a long growl, "Me want Advil."

I complied. We engaged in some idle conversation. Found out his name is Sasqui. He is a bachelor who lives in the woods nearby. I invited him over for coffee the next day. I think we'll become fast friends. He seems like I can trust him with my true identity.

It has been a slow process building a secure, secret hideaway as my center of crimefighting operations. I was faced with a multitude of choices: underground, in the city, in the country, within plain view, connected to the grid, solar vs. generator vs. power company.

I have had to rely on myself, reading from the only source I know of: the internet. No building contractors. They can't be trusted.

Cashed in the 401k, paid a butt load of taxes, and took the money to buy a tract of land in *****. Found a cave on the land, hidden away. Apparently, it was used in ancient rituals by the native people who once inhabited the land before they moved away and built casinos.

I expect to have everything up and running and begin stopping the criminals of Oregon within the next few months. I'll keep you posted.

The concept for this blog comes from a quote I vaguely recall from one of the vacant recesses of my brain. I think it could have been Lady Chatterly's Lover, but that will save for a later day.

Little injustices seem to add up each day and then suddenly you turn around and realize that the monkey on your back is a gorilla. How do you shake it? If it's better to live with the monkey than getting rid of it, what are the alternatives? Finally, why do we punish those who are close to us instead of those who are beyond our sphere of control?

The ability to punish is dependent upon a system of justice in which the power to punish is founded within a system: emotional, hierarchical, political, military. It's the individual, who sits below this system - outside of it, seeking to punish higher powers, mostly losing, who is shaking the monkey. When a movement is born, history is made. Noncomformity - no matter how small, does not go unnoticed.

(edit: Screw it, that's all too difficult.)

These are their stories. Big and small.