Argument: Strohs v. Near-Flatville

Today's argument pits Strohs v. Near-Flatville

Auditus complains that Strohs don't get no respect from Mumm. But at least Mumm acknowledges and is indeed "fascinated" with Strohs' existence. Indeed, they "share" a university. As for Near-Flatville, the question is "where's that?"

Thirty years ago Near-Flatville had about the same number of inhabitants as Strohs. Today it's about 1/4th the population. While Strohs has had to grapple with two shopping areas (downtown and a strip on the edge of town) that have fallen on hard times, Near-Flatville's only shopping area was entirely replaced by a single Damn-Mart. Once Near-Flatville had two movie theatres (one with two screens, the other a small 1940s single screen - see image to the blog tiled "Home"), it now has none. Residents must drive to Mumm to see movies. And unlike Strohs, Mumm is not exactly next-door.

Politically, Strohs and Near-Flatville could not be more opposite. While Strohs is the "people's republic," Near-Flatville's candidates run on platforms like "I'm more conservative than the other guy" (with an emphasis on guy - women's rights have not yet arrived in Near-Flatville). The level of awareness in Near-Flatville is near-nil. While residents of the people's republic are deeply concerned about Iraq, global warming and corporate imperialism, residents of Near-Flatville are convinced that the end-times are near, that Bill Clinton is still having sex with interns and that John Kerry's second purple heart was undeserved.

So for all those residents of Strohs (i.e. Auditus) who suffer an inferiority complex because they don't live in a city that features the nation's 26th ranked bar, get over it. At least you're not oblivious.