of course racism still exists. i have also fallen victim to it. a couple of years ago, when i lived in southern california, i was working part time at a small store when a young black man, probably no older than eighteen, came in and robbed me. he stuck a gun to my head, and began to scream in my face. i was terrified. i could not move. even now it is difficult to talk about. he became frustrated and then very violent. i will never forget how that gun felt pressed to my head. i was sure i was going to die because he didn't bother to hide his face. there was no time to think or to pray. i cannot remember feeling anything but certainty that those were my last moments.
when he finally left, with all of two hundred dollars in a bag, i was so terrified that i refused to give a description of him to the police. i was afraid he would return. for a long while after, i was terrified of young black men. is this racism? stupidity? or just plain fear?
Congratulations, Trip!!!!!!!!!! That is SUCH great news!! 
but then again, that would be too much of a coinky-dink, wouldn't it? anyway, there is only room for one alien baby around interference, and that distinction belongs to none other than angela harlem. 
