Sometimes, when I'm most paranoid, this eratic behavior of Yeltsin's makes me wonder if maybe some operative of the Russian mafia hasn't assisted the President in developing a cocaine habit, on top of his drinking problem. It is not that far-fetched, you know.

Here's another example: Today I'm wondering about Srini Kumar over at Unamerican.com. Many of our Loyal Readers will recall that Srini was scheduled to grant an interview as the second part of a three-parter G21 published jointly with Suite 101 back in July. [See G21 NEWS -- Ed.]

Srini and his publicist approached me at the Web Design and Development conference in San Francisco, having noticed my Press badge. They shoved a press kit into my fist, gave me hype about their site. I suggested that we might do an interview. They were both very enthusiastic about the prospect, gave me their cards, and suggested I get in touch soon. I did the same week.

Only, Srini disappeared. His new, perky publicist asked me at the time if I could let him know she wanted to hear from him, if I could track him down. Just this past week Srini resurfaced.

I was less than laudatory about the Unamerican project in my article, and it eventually got back to Srini. So, last week, via e-mail he proposed that I give him the opportunity to set the record straight. I wrote to my editor at Suite 101, and he agreed it might be worth another shot. I e-mailed my initial questions to Srini, along with a timetable to publication.

Again, he has disappeared....

This makes me a little dubious about getting the interview done before I move to the Right Coast, but we'll see.

As a teaser, let me share where our e-mail communications have gone thus far.

SRINI Kumar: Now that you've roundly confused my project (i refer to the article "Web Profits!" that I saw on suite101.com), would you be interested in a REAL interview?

sorry about molly not being in touch with me that month - i was on the road right after that conference.

Go back and read the article... - i think the things you accuse me of are completely ridiculous, and it'd be a fun exercise to swat your toy arguments down. I mean, look at this tripe:

Our conclusion? Well, there is indeed "gold in them thar hills" if you're willing to leave your ethics at the door. Madison Avenue proved this half a century ago, and now young entrepreneurs like Srini Kumar are implementing the lesson of a commodification society. Though the rhetoric at unamerican.com says that this a wave, a grassroots attempt to subvert the system, it is that very system which allows for a target and a means to make bank.

Meanwhile, kids, Srini laughs all the way to the bank, and deposits bank, on your disillusionment.

What the fuck, man. Nobody can commodify anarchism.

G21:

IMAGE IS NOTHING.

FOLLOW YOUR THIRST.

Remember Paddy Chayefski's "Network" when the Faye Dunaway character has contract negotiations with the Symbionese Liberation Army-type characters?

SRINI Kumar: Any philosophy that's so easily commodified isn't worth jack shit. I am creating a product, for sure, and I'm creating it out of pure ideas and simple technology. This product enables individuals to transmit messages that are more in keeping with their true beliefs than those they are forced to view during their stupid commute. By creating them, I am giving people a voice - and by paying for them, they are both ratifying that voice and enabling my continued commitment to vocalizing their needs.

G21: In same article, I think I used my favorite line from "The Big Chill": "You can go along time without sex, but how many days have you gone without a rationalization?"

SRINI Kumar: I am aware of the difference between rhetoric and true sentiment, and I can assure you that I am not laughing all the way to the bank. I am pondering the questions of how to reach more people, not as a "capitalist" but as an evangelist. You really oughta be talking shit about my pseudo-RELIGIOUS demeanor, and not bother subjecting your audience with tired anti-capitalist screeds like those above.

Get in touch or wuss out as you see fit.

G21: LOL! This was fun... ! You're obviously a bright guy and I actually think an interview would be good fun. Just don't expect me to go easy on you. Still game?

Kumar wrote back that this was the type of confrontational, yet intelligent "semiotic tango" he had been looking for since starting his project. I e-mailed my editor that the interview was on for the end of this week. Then Srini disappeared.

I'll be the first to cop to the fact that I don't live in "normal time," but rather web time, and that I'm highly anal. It takes a heighten degree of anality to both manage a site this massive and ride herd over thirteen very opinionated writers. Nonetheless, it would seem a simple courtesy, from where I sit, for someone to ask for a more "flexible" schedule if they could not meet a proposed deadline. Srini has not. Like Boris Yeltsin, he has pulled another Houdini, and I am left to wonder if Unamerican.com Redux is just another vapor proposal...