One problem with the idea that Katrina started the 4T, is that it never really caught on as a national problem. Like everything else during the 3T, it has been ignored. There was some outcry that Bush didn't mention it in his state of the union address, but although there was national concern after Katrina for a month or two, it died out.

Still, it is true that cultural wedge issues are no longer on the front burner, now that the Democratic Congress is setting most of the agenda. A refreshing change, but is it a crisis climate yet? I doubt it.

Still, I have to admit that I didn't predict a major disaster for 2005. Bad water event indications are very strong indeed astrologically for that year, but this is my hindsight. I still say that 2010 is going to see the most shocking and dangerous events. Whether that means it starts the 4T is another matter. But it will be like 1931; the situation will have hit home, whereas now it hasn't quite.

Originally Posted by Seminomad

He was born fairly early in 1981 and graduated high school with the class of 1996 (and therefore would be considered an Xer by S&H), yet he alternates between identifying as a Millie and an X/Mil cusper.

By contrast, I have been clinging onto cusp status for dear life since I started posting here more than half a decade ago!

...graduated in 1996??? At age 15???

Geez. And I thought I had it bad, being born in '59 and graduating HS in the Bicentennial Year!

Originally Posted by Seminomad

Originally Posted by Neisha '67

Also, are you the oldest Millie? I thought Elizabeth Kelsey was the oldest with a late 1981 birthdate?

He was born fairly early in 1981 and graduated high school with the class of 1996 (and therefore would be considered an Xer by S&H), yet he alternates between identifying as a Millie and an X/Mil cusper.

By contrast, I have been clinging onto cusp status for dear life since I started posting here more than half a decade ago!

Did S&H really decide these things by graduation class over birthdate? I find this unlikely, as many previous generations didn't graduate high school together.

As for the cusp issue, I'm probably about 70% Millie (and I've changed my tag to say so). I was always more Millie than Xer, but I absorbed just enough from my high school classmates that I wasn't quite sure I was a "real" Millie when I interacted with younger cohorts. I at least knew what the Xer cynicism really *was*, on the inside. "Pure" Millies can only see it as alien. I can't remain a Xer "loner", though; I assemble communities, even if I have to do it out of Xers that just can't bring themselves to reciprocate. It's been easier now that I have more Millies around to add to my social mix, Liz Kelsey not least among them.

How would you characterize your cuspiness, Seminomad?

Originally Posted by Roadbldr '59

...graduated in 1996??? At age 15???

Hey, I didn't catch that. So there are two of us?

cool.

Originally Posted by Roadbldr '59

...graduated in 1996??? At age 15???

Geez. And I thought I had it bad, being born in '59 and graduating HS in the Bicentennial Year!

Yeah really. I'm graduating at 16. I thought that was early.

Originally Posted by 1990

Yeah really. I'm graduating at 16. I thought that was early.

It is. I graduated at 16 years, 7 months.

Originally Posted by Roadbldr '59

It is. I graduated at 16 years, 7 months.

Well if we're gonna get specific...

It'll be 16 years, almost 7 months for me too.

Originally Posted by catfishncod

Did S&H really decide these things by graduation class over birthdate? I find this unlikely, as many previous generations didn't graduate high school together.

As for the cusp issue, I'm probably about 70% Millie (and I've changed my tag to say so). I was always more Millie than Xer, but I absorbed just enough from my high school classmates that I wasn't quite sure I was a "real" Millie when I interacted with younger cohorts. I at least knew what the Xer cynicism really *was*, on the inside. "Pure" Millies can only see it as alien. I can't remain a Xer "loner", though; I assemble communities, even if I have to do it out of Xers that just can't bring themselves to reciprocate. It's been easier now that I have more Millies around to add to my social mix, Liz Kelsey not least among them.

How would you characterize your cuspiness, Seminomad?

That's interesting you should mention it because I myself identify as 70% human and 30% bovine. It isn't the result of some guy's theory drawing from what are obviously the exclusively social and cultural origins of human identity but deeply felt, and lived. I have always known myself to be at least part cow.

Every second weekend, I join the herd, eat grass, crap freely in the turf.

And it's very important for me to tell everyone of my partial bovine nature because I am certain they will understand just how special it makes me.

Originally Posted by 1990

Well if we're gonna get specific...

It'll be 16 years, almost 7 months for me too.

So you're a senior?

Originally Posted by Linus

And it's very important for me to tell everyone of my partial bovine nature because I am certain they will understand just how special it makes me.

Observe the Xer in his natural environment: unable to believe in any internal virtue or the value thereof, because no one else does. Vanity, saith the Preacher; all is vanity.

Well... maybe. And maybe not. And maybe I wasn't talking to you and don't care if you don't get it.

Originally Posted by MichaelEaston

So you're a senior?

Junior and senior. I'm sort of combining 11th and 12th grade into one. (It's not as overwhelming as it sounds)

Originally Posted by 1990

Junior and senior. I'm sort of combining 11th and 12th grade into one. (It's not as overwhelming as it sounds)

..........

Originally Posted by 1990

Junior and senior. I'm sort of combining 11th and 12th grade into one. (It's not as overwhelming as it sounds)

No kidding! I'm doing the exact same thing as we speak. I missed a year of school (really two years, but I got credit for one) and I decided I wanted to finish with my friends.

Originally Posted by 1990

Junior and senior. I'm sort of combining 11th and 12th grade into one. (It's not as overwhelming as it sounds)

Hey! That's just what I did!

How's it arranged for you? For me, I had finished Calc2 my sophomore year, so had the 'math' section free; had finished Calc-based physics at the same time, so had my 'science' section free. My last year, I took French4, Japanese2, Government/Econ, American History, Religion (it was a catholic school that I broke), English, and had a blank space in the 'rotating' period on my schedule so I got to leave an hour early on Fridays. Then to cap off the remaining credits, I took a Differential Equations class at Portland State, a Literature of the Pac NW and African Literature (to get the English credit) at Portland Community, and a Philosophy 101 and 201(ethics), one at each school, as a closest-equivalent for the religion credit.

Then I made the right decision and screwed off for practically an entire calendar year, then started working at menial jobs, made my way into construction work, damn near got my journeyman-roofer card, and then started college at age 20 with a seriousness practically unseen on campuses, and three years later had my BSME and two years of night work under my belt towards my five-year apprenticeship period for my PE license.

If I hadn't been so disjointed from my peer groups, I probably would have followed their herd-like movement from place to place and would never have gotten to be living the life I love. Age-peers are important, but they're not the only thing; and we lucky few who are able to break free of the imposed track get a sort of free head-start on assimilating that.

Originally Posted by 1990

Junior and senior. I'm sort of combining 11th and 12th grade into one. (It's not as overwhelming as it sounds)

Wasn't there a pop group called Junior Senior a few years back?

Originally Posted by 1990

Junior and senior. I'm sort of combining 11th and 12th grade into one. (It's not as overwhelming as it sounds)

I skipped second grade, thus always being a year younger than everyone
else in my class. I've been told many times during my life that this
accounts for some of the many flaws in my personality.

John

Originally Posted by Pink Splice

Mr X: I'm sorry, but this movie is required viewing if you want to play on the internet.

OK, well, "The Princess Bride" was on Bravo last night, so I recorded it and
watched it. I guess I must be in the wrong generation or something,
because I found it to be sweet but tedious. But now at least I've met
the requirement, and that's what counts.

John

Originally Posted by John J. Xenakis

I skipped second grade, thus always being a year younger than everyone
else in my class. I've been told many times during my life that this
accounts for some of the many flaws in my personality.

John

Well actually, my entire school life until this year has been on the normal track. Because my birthday is in November, I was usually one of the younger kids in my class, but at least we were all born in the same year.

John - Because of the conversation here, I started watching the Bravo presentation last night, found Princess Bride insipidly boring, and turned the TV off. Perhaps it is generational. But then I've never much cared for Reiner's kid's work anyway (although Meathead did have his occasional moments).

Pax,

Dave Krein '42

Originally Posted by David Krein

John - Because of the conversation here, I started watching the Bravo presentation last night, found Princess Bride insipidly boring, and turned the TV off. Perhaps it is generational. But then I've never much cared for Reiner's kid's work anyway (although Meathead did have his occasional moments).

Pax,

Dave Krein '42

Well, David, I had an advantage in that I recorded it first, so I was
able to fast-forward through the tedious parts, and could see it to
the end. (By the way, (Spoiler alert!!) they lived happily ever
after.) Gosh, I just hope that not seeing every minute of it doesn't
disqualify us from using the internet.

Sincerely,

John

Originally Posted by catfishncod

Did S&H really decide these things by graduation class over birthdate? I find this unlikely, as many previous generations didn't graduate high school together.

As for the cusp issue, I'm probably about 70% Millie (and I've changed my tag to say so). I was always more Millie than Xer, but I absorbed just enough from my high school classmates that I wasn't quite sure I was a "real" Millie when I interacted with younger cohorts. I at least knew what the Xer cynicism really *was*, on the inside. "Pure" Millies can only see it as alien. I can't remain a Xer "loner", though; I assemble communities, even if I have to do it out of Xers that just can't bring themselves to reciprocate. It's been easier now that I have more Millies around to add to my social mix, Liz Kelsey not least among them.

How would you characterize your cuspiness, Seminomad?

Oh yeah; I forgot to answer that question!

I'd say 50% X, 45% Millie, and 5% "other" is what best describes me (but from the name Seminomad, what else would you expect?)

P.S. I was all set to graduate at sixteen... until my birthday hit me three weeks prior to graduation!

Seems like a lot of us here graduated young. I did fourth and fifth grades in the same year and graduated at the age of 17 years, 3 months, and 27 days. Had my first master's degree before I turned twenty-three.

Originally Posted by Child of Socrates

Seems like a lot of us here graduated young. I did fourth and fifth grades in the same year and graduated at the age of 17 years, 3 months, and 27 days. Had my first master's degree before I turned twenty-three.

My brothers, sisters and I all either graduated at 17 or would have, though that in part is due to Delaware having had a late cut-off date at the time. One sister finished her BA just after turning 21 and law school just after turning 24.

Earlier this year I posted this simple clarification:

Originally Posted by zilch

Any sage worth his/her/it salt speaks clearly in massive riddles, requiring long, deep thot and, often, expert translation. This is quadruply so when the sage is of a so-called "Prophet" generation. While it is equally clear that zilch is no expert in anything let alone sage translation, I nevertheless thot I might take a quick stab at this post by Yo. Ob. Serv.

What the humble, greying Sage of Embarrass is trying to say here is, "Yep, it's been a rather warm winter here in these remote northern parts, and I find it a big pain in my Mesabi ass. I can't go skiing, I can't go ice fishing and all the snowmobiles are gathering unwanted rust. But the unusual weather sure is proving to be a great boon to Darwin's heirs, the global warming experts!"

Chuckle, chuckle.

Well, all is right with the world today, as greying Sage of Embarrass is happily enjoying a near normal, indeed balmy -45 degrees up north: a great boon to Darwin's heirs, the global warming experts, has ended on this day, if only until the frozen tundra begins to thaw...

And then they'll be back, boning and blathering on even more than before!

Originally Posted by John J. Xenakis

OK, well, "The Princess Bride" was on Bravo last night, so I recorded it and
watched it. I guess I must be in the wrong generation or something,
because I found it to be sweet but tedious. But now at least I've met
the requirement, and that's what counts.

John

Congrats. It is kind of a generational thing, I agree. "Geek Culture" was beginning to be embraced by late Jonesers and X'rs when the movie came out in the beginning of the Unraveling.

Every now and again, I'll but $1 on 22 black in passing the roulette wheel on the way to the poker room...