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NEXT UPDATE SCHEDULED WEDNESDAY, 6 FEBRUARY, 2002
This week we move forward on the road to our Anniversary edition by being SLACK. Rather than tax our writers and contributors who gave you a major throw-down last week, this week it's just you and Rod, our publisher, with a special treat from BOB POWERS our music reviewer.
We're hoping you enjoyed our 300th issue party last week and will stay with us for next party coming in March. We'll be a big SEVEN (a Dog Year!) years here on the World Wide Web and twelve years extant and still rockin' ! Thanks for stayin' with us.
Be here on Wednesday for our special New Orleans Super Bowl report!
TODAY'S RDR: Rod, our Full-time Man in The Big Easy gives you his Super Bowl and Mardi Gras warm-up. "The New Orleans Way." -- PLUS our Web Site Pick of the Week and the New Readership Poll: ("If I were in New Orleans, I'd ....?") RESULTS OF LAST POLL: "Get canned and I'll laugh." - 40% "I'm gonnah be my own boss!" - 40% -- Now go rock the vote.ABOUT US** TABLE OF CONTENTS **
Much thanks for your wise counsel over the past few weeks. My housemates and I, here at Michigan State, hope that you can help us out, too. You see, wežve been getting a bit tired of the old drinking games like thumper, quarters, and all that. We were hoping that you might supply us with something imaginative that we can entertain ourselves with on these wintry Michigan nights--something that might appeal to the ladies, too.
Rodney
East Lansing, Michigan
Dear Rodney,
Of course the doctor can be of service to you. One of the favorite games he played with fellow housemates during his college days involved the film "Barfly," Mickey Rourkežs best film before leaving Tinsel town for the boxing ring--and arguably Faye Dunawayžs, as well.... More
MARIETTA, OH, USA - I interviewed rocker Billy Idol in my living room more than 20 years ago. Yes, that Billy Idol. You know, the young man born William Broad in Middlesex, England back in November of 1955.
Unfortunately, my memories of that phone call (you didn't think Billy actually sat on the couch, did you?) I recall that he was a strange combination of schoolboy ruffian and smart alec, combined with the dignified young Brit that he really run. The interview went the normal interviews. I asked questions. Idol answered some, ignored others, but was charming enough that I didn't care. I wrote the story about Idol's forthcoming concert date at venerable Veterans Memorial Auditorium, where several thousand roaring youngsters screamed throughout Idol's performance... More
NEW ORLEANS, 28 January, 2002 - The headline of this Sunday's New Orleans Times Picayune was "LOCKED DOWN". That's what this city is all about because we are hosting the Super Bowl in the first week of our traditional Mardi Gras. But Mardi Gras is screwed up because the NFL has bought this town, literally. As one local merchant, on St. Charles Avenue, told the newspaper: "These people are richer than God... They are making us bow down on our knees!" But like I told you last week, this town is one of biggest whores on the block. We, New Orleans, were tricked out so long ago that we don't even want a kiss anymore. It's a Rule: you don't let the johns kiss you... More
EDITOR'S NOTE: It had been a number of months since I'd heard from Binyavanga Wainaina, who was a frequent contributor to G21 Africa only a year ago. I was concerned as I knew he had health worries as well as the usual money worries that seem pandemic in the writing community. Then I received the piece that follows. It runs long for G21 article, almost four times as long as what we deem Web-appropriate. But it was so impressive that I decided to serialize it for our 300th edition. AND I felt it would be a suitable nomination for the Cien Prize in African Writing this year. I hope you 'll agree. -- RA
Christmas in Bufumbira
Dec 20,1995 - The drive through the Mau Hills, past the Rift Valley and onwards to Kisumu is a drag. I haven't been this way for ten years, but my aim is to be in Uganda. We arrive in Kampala at ten in the evening. We have been on the road for over eight hours.
This is my first visit to Uganda, a land of incredible mystery for me. I grew up with her myths and legends and her horrors -- narrated with the intensity that only exiles can muster. It is my first visit to my mother's ancestral home, the occasion is her parents' 60th wedding anniversary... More
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"G21 AFRICA: The Binj takes his Cein Prize nominated saga to Uganda this week in its great conclusion. "Discovering Home - Part 2 of 2: Christmas in the Bufumbira" by BINYAVANGA WAINAINA http://www.g21.net/africa30.html"
Superb writing! A perfect example of what makes G21 even cooler than McSweeneys.
Thanks,
Meredith
ROD RESPONDS: Meredith,
I'm starting to feel like we're old friends, even though we've never met. Thanks for taking the time to read this wonderful piece and respond. I'm (blind) cc'ing the Binj. IF he doesn't get the Cien this year, I wannah see who wrote something better!
NEW ORLEANS, LA, USA - Like all the New Orleans writers before me, now that my Darling is back, I compose this missive to you from a bar. Matt has sprung for drinks after we watched the Krewe of Barkus (dogs dressed as people) Mardi Gras parade down in the Quarter. We're sitting in a local bar called "The Spotted Cat" listenng to another of the fabulous bands you get to hear in this town for free. The band is called Augie Jr. and The Big Mess Blues Band. We are waiting to see, as everyone in Nawlins is, which teams we'll be hosting next weekend. Correction: we know that the New England Patriots are coming to town. As I write this we are wondering if the St. Louis Rams, who gave us that badass shelackin', or the Philadelphia Eagles who we'd much rather have, will be coming to town.
Either way, it's on, Baby. Nothing but a wild party in The Easy for weeks to come. And we'll all pretend to get some work done along the way. Heh!.... More
RDR 01.21.02: A special treat for our 300th issue celebration: "A Mattie Lennon Sampler". Find out why our contributor from Dublin, Ireland keeps them coming back!
RDR 01.14.02: RADIO RAHEEM takes stock of "Seven Years at the Same Place"
RDR 01.07.02: BILL STEVENS rants this week, proclaiming "Damn the Shallow!"
Generating energy for the 21st Century. GENERATOR 21.
OTHER EDITIONS
THE PREVIOUS EDITION
(BINYAVANGA WAINAINA's Cien Prize nominated article concludes in G21 AFRICA; KEVIN CAREY returns to DAY ONE with a powerful new essay.)
This week we move forward on the road to our Anniversary edition by being SLACK. Rather than tax our writers and contributors who gave you a major throw-down last week, this week it's just you and Rod, our publisher, with a special treat from BOB POWERS our music reviewer.
Be here on Wednesday for our special New Orleans Super Bowl report!
From Meredith T., Tampa, FL, USA:
