This Web Blog was haphazardly produced without using Spell Check one danged time. We like it that way.

ESOTERICA: Yeah, the top country for readers here is still the USA. But only about 47% of the people reading this site come from America. More than 50% come from elsewhere. We're still trying to figure that out.

Our publisher - oops! forgot this is not a magazine any longer - I expect that as we begin to do new things at places elsewhere - places such as CinemActivist.com - we'll pique your interest.

If you read along these margins, you'll find new information appearing just about every week. But you can ignore this. It's just a way of keeping you apprised of what's coming next.

The best way of staying on top of things is simply to visit here often and tell your friends (and even your enemies) of a cool Blog to visit.

20 July 2007: As Bill Maher famously says: "New Rule." The New Rule here is that we make Friday a day of fun and frivolity. All posts on Friday at Lightning Strikes will be unserious if not completely satirical. Do note that I shan't post every Friday, only as my posting schedule and my Day Jobs allow.

Before diving completey into the silliness. I'll share this wth you, though. These are the people I worry about because they think of me as someone not worth the air I breathe. I worry about the humorless a lot.

Now a few quick faux news flashes to share with you:

The Headine reads: "Rod Amis Laughs All The Way to the Bank"

New Orleans, 2007: After winning what most people would take as a sucker bet, Mr. Rod Amis (formerly of the 9th Ward) walked into a local bank today to deposit $200 dollars he had won from Mr. Mateo Stewell of the Treme.

"I warned him about this bet," Mr. Amis said. "Really. I did. I felt sorry for the man because he couldn't think sensibly."

Watching Mr. Amis walk into the bank laughing with Mr. Stewell's money in his hands, Mr. Stewell told the Times-Picayune, "That soulless bastard! We are supposedly best friends and he set me up, knowing that The Warden would never let me escape The Velvet Prison! I'd kick his ass if I had any backbone at all!"

Amis, asked what he intended to do with Stewell's funds responded: "What else? Wine, women and song. I might even buy Matt a drink before I leave with that hooker."

Stewell pounded his fist into his hand and left This Reporter holding my notebook.

---

Headine: "Mat eo Stewell Sues for Defamation"

New Orleans, 2007: In an surprise press conference this morning, Mr. Mateo Stewell and attorney Maurice Bert announced that they are suing Mr. Rod Amis (formerly of the 9th Ward) for defamation of character and personal injuries.

"Mr. Rod Amis," said Stewell, "went to that bank with his own damned money just to make me look bad!? Technically, the bet wasn't even over.? I had a few days left.? But no!? He wanted to front on my ass!? So I'm suing him."

Maurice Bert, a well-known ambulance chaser here in New Orleans, had this to say.? "Mr. Stewell is outraged, as well he should be.? We expect the system to completely vindicate him and show that Mr. Amis has defamed my client's reputation and jeopardized his standing in the community."

Mr. Amis,, contacted by the Times-Picayune, had this to say, "Can't you? see I'm with my woman? right now?"

Cheers!

Keep me in your prayers as I keep you in my own.

Thanks for visiting.

Talk to you in a day or so.

Be well.

18 July 2007: Because I've been on the Web for so long, I primarily get two types of e-mails: those from people who are mad as Hell and those from people who recognize that I mean to talk about Love over Fear.

My larger goal, of course, is to tell you The Truth. Yeah, I know that there are many people who believe that Truth is an antiquated and non-existent concept. I don't happen to be one of them. I believe there is Truth.

There are issues I care very much about:

• The HIV/AIDS epidemic
• Global Warming
• Potable Water
• Global Poverty

When I was publishing your World's Magazine, my writers and I addressed these issues directly. As a result, I also received e-mails whose basic message was "But I'm just one person. What can I do?"

Reading these e-mails, I always felt the same thing, thought the same way: You are missing the Truth.

The Truth is that we have all been conditioned to believe that one person is powerless rather than extremely powerful. That conditioning is counter to the evidence of history. That conditioning is counter to the evidence of my own life. Why do you care about that one little person Paris Hilton or that one person George W. Bush more than you care about that one little person - yourself?

YOU can change everything. You don't have to start a movement, raise an army or put hundreds of protesters on the street. You can change everything by simpy sending an e-mail to your best friend(s) the way you send them to me.

The process of revolution (yes! I said the word) is not that difficult to understand or achieve. Thomas Jefferson knew that, as did John Adams and Voltaire.

Revolution begins quietly, when you and I sit down and talk about how we want our lives and those of our fellow people to get better. Revolution begins when we say to ourselves we have had enough of the current tyranny. I know what I am suggesting is not very dramatic but I also know it is incredibly effective.

The steps to social change are quiet and slow and confirmed by history as Gandhi's progress stands for us as an example. Tyrants always lose when we get serious and deliberate.

And here's also the Truth: you and I are not powerless. There is much we can do. Welcome aboard.

Yes, I also suppose I'm asking you to think like a pirate, for the moment. We are the next government. So I shall next ask you to think like a strategist.

I suppose you knew there was some reason I invited you to this Blog.

Cheers!

Keep me in your prayers as I keep you in my own.

Thanks for visiting.

Talk to you in a day or so.

Be well.