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

ESOTERICA: In the coming weeks, expect our partnership with CinemActivist.com to provide you with reviews of great documentaries from Cinema Libre Studio, PBS, the History Channel, the Visioneerng Group and Working Films that provide you knowledge and move you toward activism. Just so you know.

At some point I got serious about what I was doing and my responsibility to the writers I was shepherding (read: herding cats) and awards started rolling in - but the FUN was gone. I had become a serious editor and publisher and I couldn't play anymore. After a decade, I started to miss the play aspect of this game.

Let's face it: I am a very childish man. I like butterflies and moonlight. If there is no play involved, no dancing and laughter, I start to shrivel.

Here's your music vid for this post (just click the "Continue" message):

Life of Rod

My friend and former boss, Henry ("El Gato") Guerra, who I worked worked at the Austin American-Statesman some thirty years ago dropped over yesterday and we went out for a late lunch. It was good to see Gato again and spend some "Guy Time." We got caught up and he suggested that I should find ways to "monetize" (as The Suits say) all of my various efforts on the Web, this network of sites I seem to be building by default.

I have no problem with seeking ways of making more money. Maybe one day I shall make enough to move out of the barrio. I got the impression that Henry found it amusing that I should be one of the few brothers living in a Latin neighborhood. He complimented me on the work I had done on my little homey pad. "It looks like you are building a nest," he said.

I like my neighbors. They are mostly families with young children, which adds a nice touch to my days. I have always believed that living in places with young children around was pleasing and reminds us of the wonder still there in the world.

On Friday, I had the sense that I was finally caught-up with the various projects I've been jugglng these last few months. I had posted at the various Blogs in this new network I'm attempting to maintain - other than this one - and I'd moved forward with my work for the California start-up. By yesterday, I realized that the grind had caught-up with me. I had start again. "What have you done for me lately?"

Meanwhile, as others move quickly toward a holiday weekend, I move to the next agenda. Posts here and there, queries to editors for new writing assignments (my Day Job,) and hoping upon hope that I sh all find a girlfriend.

Oh yeah, there's always that: When will Rod find a new girlfriend?

People keep telling me that I'm one the most well-known writers here in Austin, Texas, and most read internationally. I don't get it. If you ask me, I say I practically live in void.

"And the women come and go, speaking of Michelangelo."

What that said to me was two-fold:

1. People doing searches on specific topics were pointed to our back issues by the search engines, and
2. As often as not, if people liked a writer's work, they'd follow the links back to previous articles.

In my view, both are good things which lend themselves to full utilization of the capabilities of this medium. Take some time yourself to think about that as we become a "fast food" medium.

That previous philosophical observation does not imply that I don't bend to the will of the public like everyone else here in the Blogosphere. Besides this new post, I've provided with you with a new podcast and a new film review. I hope you'll check them both out.

I'm not going to go back to my full-blown China rant today. I'll save that for next week when I feel I'm more caught up than I am right now. Therefore, I refer you to Jared Bernstein over TPM Cafe on the Mattel toy recall.

I'm not even going to say anything about Wal-Mart having to pull pet treats.

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.