Wait a minute! What the hell am I going to do with all that FREE TIME? Arrrgh!
COVER -> MY GLASS HOUSE
To read this article in Deutsch, Francaise, Italiano, Portuguese, Espanol, copy and paste the complete URL("http://www.g21.net/mars237.htm") and enter it in the box after you click through.
| The World's Magazine: g21.net
Event # 237: That Hip Little Station... at the RADICAL, SAVVY, ON-IT, IN YOUR FACE end of the FM Dial. NO FOOLIN'! AMERICAN DREAMS The Barnes & Noble Search Engine CARTOONS BY GASPIRTZ DAY ONE G21 Digital Internet Postcards G21 AFRICA G21 ASIA G21 E-MAIL NEWSLETTER G21 EUROPE G21 NEWS G21/WEBTRIPS CARTOON NETWORK HOT LINKS IRISH EYES MEMOIRS OF THE INFO AGE MY GLASS HOUSE POWERSSOUND RDR TABLOID HART VOX POPULI EVERYONE LOVES "RECOMMENDED DAILY REQUIREMENT" but can't find their favorite article. No More! Here's *another* link to the complete ARCHIVES. LAST WEEK's EDITION For Deep Background visit the G21-Barnes & Noble Shop OR get great books at the G21 BARNES & NOBLE SEARCH ENGINE |
Wait a minute! What the hell am I going to do with all that FREE TIME? Arrrgh!
Let's be positive here.
The second amazing thing is that I haven't had time to actually consider what to display in my glass house this week. Oh-oh. Free-form stream of consciousness happening...
Thank you, thank you, thank you! to all those of you who sent in such kind compliments on our last edition. I'm blushing. I thought I was doing an okay job, as I try to every week, but I was overwhelmed by adjectives like "magnificent" and "dynamic."
And I think I speak for both "The Binj" (BINYAVANGA WAINAINA) and myself when I thank you for the effusive reception you gave him.
A FOOD column? Who knew?
SO-O-O this week's edition has more new recipes and social commentary in G21 AFRICA.
Meanwhile, let's look at prejudice.Whether you're talking the crises in Yugoslavia, the Middle East, Northern Ireland, Fiji, or Biloxi, Mississippi, we humans have done a great job of using prejudice as a tool to enforce power and privilege. In the process, we have also used it as a means of cheapening the value of human life.
Yours Unruly has written extensively in his Web life about the evil of power and privilege, how it oppresses the closest target... I don't feel like climbing back into that pulpit right now.
The pattern, all too often, is to deal with our horrible shadow once it emerges as a human tragedy. BUT as KEVIN CAREY points out in this week's piece on the MidEast, we pretend causes matter more than "Underlying Factors."
IF we began looking at these underlying factors, maybe would could move closer to PREVENTING DEATHS. Just a thought.
Our Lead Story, from Singapore's ANA JUMARI, addresses this perspective by unveiling the usually unspoken discontent about the enforced Chinese majority in the "perfectly harmonious" island nation of Singapore. It's daring writing worth reading.... But that's why you came back here, isn't it?
I was thinking the other night how it's been a long time since I had wild, quivering, toe-curling, flat-out monkey sex. You know what I'm talking about. Spirits bouncing off the walls. Your voice changes and you call out the name of God... Just as there are no atheists in the fox-hole, there are few or no atheists during monkey sex. Don't lie.
Then I got philosophical. My life has always followed this pattern. Feast or damnable famine. Everything that moves and breathes or Literary Priesthood. Now let's get to the weird part:
My brother, sister-in-law and niece show up in B'more last Sunday night and kidnap me. They take me out to dinner AMONG THE PUBLIC. Flesh and blood people. I excuse myself from the table at this sortah swanky restaurant --- since they're all non-smokers --- to have a quick butt. A woman is sitting at the bar and notices my "Think Different" t-shirt from Apple Computer. We exchange a few pleasantries and she buys me a drink.
"What would you do? What would you do?"
This ain't about you.
I thanked her and took my drink back to the table where I was having dinner with my family. Man!
Even my niece said I should have invited her over.
BUT WAIT! I didn't know this woman from Eve and suddenly she's at the table during a rare and wonderful family visit? I don't think so!
And don't even send in that e-mail. I already know what you're going to say: "You can't win the Lottery without buyin' a ticket, and you can't find The Last Woman without hitting on the obvious targets, Rod."
Believe me, I know that. I just want it to happen another way this time.
I'm looking for the lioness, Kids. The one I can go off to Tahiti or the south of France with and create "Home."
Barbara sent me an e-mail reminding me that this weekend, Friday the 13th exactly, offered us both a Full Moon and the "special" day for the superstitious. Being among the latter, I thought: "Oh-oh! Is this a good or bad one for me?"
One thing I've decided is that it's about time for us to change the channel. (In both senses, or is it three?) From now on we talk about the now parts of my chronicle. The past was prologue.
The band members cajole Miles Davis into stepping up to the front of the stage, facing the audience, and wailing.
Now this should be interesting! ...
The Now-Rod is back to freelancing to support the World's Magazine, still has to send out over $1,000 (USD) a month in back tax payments to the government, and has no fewer "dependents" than ever. This is a man in need of a good personal accountant.
So let's blame it on the moon. You've read about my full moon parties before.
As the dinner hour approached tonight, I decided to make a stew of brocolli, carrots, red potatoes, mushrooms and beef. (Select your own spices. ) I settled into a 12 year old Scotch and Bob Dylan's "Blood on the Tracks." (I know, I know. That was before your time. ) You don't know about "Lucy, Rosemary and The Jack of Hearts." Too bad... If you did, you'd be happy for me.
Followed that up with the Edie Brickell CD she did when first started to boff Paul ("Rhymin'") Simon.
I'll try to keep you apprised of developments here at the "palatial Headquarters" of G21, high atop the Barry White Building in downtown Gotham City.
Due to recent budget cuts, we have closed the brandy and cigars room made famous by G21 alumnus JEFF WINBUSH.
But I refuse to give up the keys to the File Photo room. I mean that!
If you see her say "Hello"
She might be in Tangiers
She left here last early Spring
Is living there I hear
Say for me that I'm all right
Hope things get kind of slow
She might think that I've forgotten her
So tell her it isn't so.." -- Bob Dylan
"Work like you don't need the money,
"Love like you've never been hurt,
"Dance like no one is watching..."
Rod
Rod was a columnist for the Andover News Network, where he wrote over two hundred articles on web design and development issues. He was also principal writer and Editor for IT Manager's Journal, where he reviewed technology issues weekly. He became the Managing Editor for Electronic Mail/Newsletter Publications at Andover.net at the end of February, 2000. He is now a contributing writer for ACCESS magazine.
He lives in Baltimore, MD, at the moment (though it seems to most people he *actually* lives on the Web,) edits the writing of people from six continents for The World's Magazine, and wonders who The Last Woman will be in his "spare time." Rumor has it he is considering moving to Tahiti and writing about what the world was like before he left...
CREDITS || AWARDS
|| SEARCH ENGINES || LINKS ||
VOX POPULI is where the READERS here get totally out of hand! I can't stop them!
Our Editor does listen!
© 2000, GENERATOR 21.
E-mail your comments. We always like to hear from you. Send your kudos, brickbats and suggestions to rod@g21.net.