Most of the time, I don't care about things enough to have a strong opinion. I have my own opinions, but you could probably convince me to make room for yours. I tend to see so many sides of issues that it's all gray, no colors. Definitely no black and white when it comes to matters of judgment and attitude.

I like a lot of different music, and there's some music I don't listen to. But there isn't any music that I won't listen to, or that I'll call "bad." Obviously, somebody thinks it's good, and taste is totally personal and individual. If you want to listen to Celine Dion and Michael Bolton, I'm not going to plug my ears. I just prefer Lucinda Williams and John Hiatt, that's all.

Other than to the Giants, I have no strong sports loyalties. I'm a wishy-washy fan of the 49ers, and of course I hate the Dodgers, but beyond that I can sit with you and watch your team play and cheer right along with you. Don't ask me to do the Braves' tomahawk chop, or to listen to that chant, though. I sometimes have to watch Braves games with the sound turned off.

In politics I'm a passionate liberal, but I'm never so convinced I know exactly what's right that I'd be able to debate an issue. I can tell you what I think, but I can also listen to your beliefs and respect them. To be honest, I can even live with Arnold Schwarzenegger as governor, because I don't truly think things will get much worse than they already are.

There's one area where nothing is ambiguous. I always want the best for the people in my life. When good things happen to someone I love, I'm unequivocally happy. No hedging, no conditions, no doubt. I'm signing my name in big letters at the top of the greeting card, just like John Hancock. If you want balloons, I'll blow them up myself. I won't be raining on any parades.

I'm just saying. I'm not always wishy-washy.

This doesn't mean that I don't strongly disagree with certain brands of poppycock. I won't be lied to, especially by politicians, and it doesn't matter how many times they try to sell me the same baloney. I won't stand for the strong preying on the weak, and I've seen enough of that to sniff it out and expose it. I'll fight even my own government when I see it trying to take away my rights, or anyone else's. I'm open-minded, not weak-minded.