We don't think of what we do at Magellan's Log as "investigative journalism." Far from it. Neither do we see ourselves as Internet bottom-feeders (though our weakness for appropriated tasteless jokes, cartoons, and photos may indicate a certain tendency in that direction).

Rather, we see ourselves as above-the-fray commentators. At times this lofty stance comes out in the form of what we hope is bitingly funny, Swiftian satire. At other times, we take our view from Olympus quite seriously.

Now and then, one of our perspicacious readers forwards a bit of cultural data to us that stops us in our Zeus-like tracks.

Renowned architectural photographer Paul Hester was recently shopping at his local Walgreen's. Approaching the prescription window, he spotted, and digitally captured, the following:

Copyright © 2001 Paul Hester

When this photo arrived in our email, we instantly recognized it for what it was: yet another example of the devious cleverness of the Republicans, determined to avoid in 2004 the embarrassingly public coup d'état of 2000.

Clearly, as always in league with the mega-conglomerates, the Repub's have convinced the drug companies to forgo the big profits on the psychoactive drugs. No doubt in return for promised future favors from the White House, the big drug companies are now willing to sell Prozac, Zoloft, etc., unbranded and at a big loss in order to do to the mentality of the non-Escalade-driving classes what the same drugs have done for those at the top of the socio-economic heap: RENDER THEM HAPPILY MINDLESS SO THAT THEY WILL VOTE FOR THE PARTY OF THE RICH AGAINST ALL RATIONAL SELF-INTEREST.

So. Attention, all ye down-trodden, under-employed, underpaid, homeless, weary-of-heart! Despair no more! Happiness, CHEAP happiness is as near as the next Walgreen's.

Ask your pharmacist.

END

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