Wingnut Central

.. because the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn burn burn...

Jack Kerouac, On The Road

I think people have an idea that Im clubbing baby seals here in Berkeley, talking about the craziness and general weirdness of the place as if Im better than everybody.

Those poor, defenseless Berkeley-ites.

Uhhh, lookie here now... This is Berkeley.

They LIKE being loopy.

No, really. As Michael Lewis, husband of MTV's Tabitha Soren and a Berkeley resident put it, people here expect you to be eccentric.

You fit in then.

Another longtime couple, who are originally from the East Coast said:
"This is a community of misfits from all over, who could never fit in anywhere else, so they come here."

And I didnt make up 'wingnut', thats what folk here are referred to.

Even though "Wingnut" has always been a term meaning "slightly crazy", it is used with derision AND affection here.

So much so that many folk walk around with a neckchains that have yer industrial spec wingnut hanging from it.

Berkeley folk know instantly what it means.

Theyre proud of who they are.

Im not bashing the wingnuts.

Im FOND of them.

Cuz they have heart.
--------
Still
(from the legal notices section of the current East Bay Express)

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CASE NUMBER: CNC 03-54104. SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO COUNTY. PETITION OF DONALD ARTHUR HOWELL.

DONALD ARTHUR HOWELL has filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: present name DONALD ARTHUR HOWELL to proposed name GREYWOLF.

In New York, I would read this and say "Are fuckin' shittin' me??".

Im in California, so I will say "Ok. Right on."