One of my interviewers this morning quoted my book at me: "The internet is just a reflection of the first world society that created it."

Or something like that.

And then he asked, "what does that mean?"

And I said, "well, to have the internet, you have to have electricity, a computer, basic shelter, lots of leisure time..you know, these aren't always readily available in the third world. So the net is just showing you what's going on all around you behind closed doors."

All the first world talk reminded me.

I can only wonder what'll happen the day somebody sues Fred Phelps, that stain on a perfectly good first name, for slander or libel.

Gas prices are in the $2.60 to $2.65 area in far western Fairfax County.

And if the quote means, "the movers and shakers here ignore you if you're only worth $10 million," I think it's more a comment on the movers and shakers there than assholishness. Otherwise, I'm less respectful.

Yeah, definitely, ita. I think you'd have to think people could be Somebody in order to think they could be Nobody, and it's kind of a weird thing to think.

Although in this whole discussion, I'd have to say there's probably a certain amount of jealousy in how I regard him and his situation. I'm probably thinking to myself, if I were worth $10 million, I wouldn't (complain/say those things). But that's because I'm worth about $3,000. Okay, maybe $10,000 if you count the musical gear. I don't have the perspective that he has. If you just handed me the 10 mil, I would sock it in the bank and live off interest and be done with it. But that would be because all my friends aren't making more than that and wanting me to pay for parties and cars and whatnot. Whatnot is expensive, you know.

But I remember in the recent past where I felt pressure because it was tough for me to go out with my friends and buy a round. Eventually I felt like it was easier not to hang out with those friends. I can see where you can get in an environment where it seems necessary to keep grinding for that little bit more. But I also saw that when I was on that treadmill and I decided to get off.

I don't know what would make me feel like a nobody, I guess. And that's where my eyeroll comes in. Money, property, love, children...lacking any of those wouldn't make me feel like a nobody. Only lacking self respect would. I just don't get the word that way. Maybe he defines it differently from the way I do.

I guess that's the nub of why I don't see you and him as the same, but if you do hinge self respect on money then it's my misread.

I think you're at the heart of the disconnect for me. I don't think he's tying it to self-respect, just the social perks of being unusually rich. He doesn't get any at $10MM in Silicon Valley. He wouldn't get it in Manhattan, either.

What are the social perks of being unusually rich?

so in context, nobody just means not rich - one factor. I just don;t value or care about special service from banks or restuarants and god, I do not want to be on any fund-raiser daily call sheet.

he could retire and send his kids to college if he would retire, sell off his house and move somewhere with a lower cost of living.

See, if he'd said he wasn't that rich at being worth $10M, I'd absolutely agree with that. The intimations I get from his phrasing, however, go past money. Somehow, by use of "body" and $10M I read him as tying money to self.

He would get special treatment in Manhattan and probably SV too if his social world was not the world of the other-multi-millionaires. I have ZERO doubt he'd get special treatment if he lowered his standards. I've gotten special treatment from being a regular at bars and restuarants while I was in college and darn poor. Also I get all sorts of ridiculous mailings from places like the Mets and USTA and NY Democrats getting invited to dinners and receptions and whatnot and I BARELY am involved, but I am consistent.

I think I paid $2.879 (Why don't they just call it $2.88?) last week in Fairfax County, VA, about 2 miles outside the Beltway.

Does prestige necessarily follow wealth?