AND THEY’LL SOON BE KNOCKING DOWN THE LITTLE PALACES: So last night I went to the grocery store. Heard that “Let’s Get Married” song that Kaus claims is a sign of the victory of welfare reform. Got into the checkout line. Heard a very familiar voice on the radio, slurring over the “t”s in “sentimental,” and aspirating all his vowels.

Oh Allison, I know this world is killing you…

Then hoisted the groceries and schlepped to the bus stop. The sunset was making with the umbrella-drink colors, the low-rent-tropical stuff. Kids in the apartment complex next door had finally been hauled out of the pool by their tired parents. I was reading articles from the 2000 City Paper “Crack Issue” (“the history of rock”). It was hot. A guy on the street was unaccountably polite to me.

Just another day in the beat-up, broke-down, beautiful-loser, best little city in the world.