G21 has always made it known we'd like MORE (not less) reader input here. The recent Monicagate poll, our on-going HOUSE OF CARDS page, and your VOX POPULI page bear out this premise. So--- Hey! --- why not think of DAY ONE as a place where you can cut your writing chops. A place where you can either comment on our coverage of events, our commentary and satire.... OR step up on the soapbox and make your voice heard?

Frankly, I would love to see that happen. As I'm moving on to write for other publications here on the web, delivering my "sagely" advice on how this is done, I need folks to pick up the slack and fill this page in ways I can't. DAY ONE has been a great experiment thus far, and I'd hate to see it die. If you agree with me, it would help if you submitted something for publication.

THE MONICAGATE POLL FINAL TALLY: G21 Loyal Readers vote 4:1 against our doing Monicagate coverage.

I believe that this is a page that has not reached its full potential yet. I think it's a page you can make exciting and provocative.

Don't be bashful. Speak out!

You might become the next star here.

Let me provide, in closing, an Object Lesson:

Fliss Ussher, who produces our LONDON CALLING! column today, was once just an address on our e-mail list. During one of the darker days for the is magazine, when I was ready to stop publishing at all, she sent a private note of encouragement. When she recognized that we were sincere about creating a community of writers, free to speak about their concerns private, public or political, she submitted a piece. I now think of her as the Muse of the magazine.

Thomas Hart sent an e-mail a few months back about one of our regular columns. I thought what he had to say was interesting, but it needed to be fleshed out. So, instead of just publishing his e-mail on Vox Pop, I asked him if he would like to submit an Opposing Viewpoint column. He did. Now he's got a regular column on the G, which is one of our most read. Imagine yourself in this picture.

Take a chance, we won't hurt you.

This World Wide Wait of ours was meant to be a participatory medium. You can lurk, or you can sing a song here that helps to make other people like ourselves feel a little less alone. The choice is yours.