COVER -> MY GLASS HOUSE
I once heard a quite compelling argument that ran along the line that the only time Black Americans could get White America to take authentic notice of their grievances, rather than just tellin' us to shut up and go away or giving mealy-mouthed lip-service to our legitimate need for redress, was when people started burning stuff up and shutting down businesses. In other words, take it to the streets or white folks just don't care. It's an old tune...
Interestingly, Cincinnati is happening just as we begin to wake up to the new contours of George W. Bush's America: rewards for the rich who foisted him into the White House and short shrift for everybody else. In that sense, despite the violence and destruction that most people of good will abhor, Cincinnati might be the clarion call that the Bush Administration needs as it proceeds to operate as if there is only a corporate America and the people of the country, their air, water, and bodies, are afterthoughts. If so, then some good can come of the situation.
I was sent a link to a lengthy article in the Nation today about the Florida electoral controversy by a friend in Texas.
My rejoinder: "Good article, but I don't see what knowing all this will change." I guess you could say that response was part of my own compassion-fatigue beginning to show as I try to focus on my own problems, many of which I have difficulty controlling -- let alone injecting my energy into the problems of the country or the world.
And there's something else, too. I'm getting tired of the people who might normally be considered part of the choir that G21 preaches to and so many people on the Left, finding fault with every single thing that the Bush Administration does. I'm getting tired of their continuing to beat the dead-horse of the (admittedly corrupt and probably fraudulent) Florida vote, too. Sorry but I am.You see, as much as I despise the course and priorities of this Administration in Washington, I also think that it's as extremist and hypocritical to go after their every move as it was for the Republicans who had a hard-on for President Clinton to do that during his administration. I think it demonstates a partisanship devoid of any critical thinking or ability to discern the nuances of both life and governance.
President Bush and his coterie give all of us enough legitimate targets for our ire, but nobody is always wrong all the time. Just as nobody is always right all the time. That's my two cents on that.
ABOUT THE WORLD'S MAGAZINE
In the event that you might have missed my RDR article this past week, let me inform you here that I've decided that the daily publication experiment did not achieve results dramatic enough for me to continue with it. Commencing with this edition, we'll come out two - three times a week in order to wean you back to a weekly schedule. Expect the weekly schedule to kick in once I get settled in wherever my next home will be this summer. (I try not to force abrupt transitions on you.)
I haven't decided on specific days of the week for updates, yet. I'm going to feel my way into that based on the flow of submissions from the herd of cats whose work you find in these pages. So check back often to see where the groove sets in. Okay? 
I've also decided to put a freeze on bringing new players to this jazz band for a while. I'd certainly like a new writer from Asia, but I don't plan on remedying that lack until I feel I've settled the more pressing personal issues I need to handle -- including moving out of Maryland to my next (and now unknown) destination. I have more than enough on my plate right now, Kids, so I'm establishing a level of stability here at The World's Magazine.
Considering the changes of the past six months, I hope you'll agree that we can afford to go on "automatic pilot" for a while. That doesn't mean we won't break new stories or continue to be provocative. It simply means that the voices and direction here will be a bit more predictable. (Man! I hate using that word.)
MY GLASS HOUSE
Bitter-sweet is the operative word around the Amis Ranch this week. I have lots of things to be thankful for, including my health and that I continue to do this magazine... But some things bother or trouble me.Yet another friend has e-mailed me to let me know he has joined the ranks of dot-com casualties. The way he found out was totally sleazy. He went to the site and found he was locked out. Not even the class to send him an e-mail first.
I listen to webcast music sometimes when I'm working on this page. Some of you will recall that we did a rave review here about the stuff you could find at Kerbango. Well, guess what? Went to the Kerbango site, which is run by 3Comm, and found that the plug has been effectively pulled. They still offer a few things, but nowhere near as many as before 3Comm decided to cut its Appliance Division. The best I can recommend for Internet radio for now is Lime Radio, which is the new version of MIT's Radio Locator project. I'm listening to Ypsilanti's WEMU.FM (Eastern Michigan University) right now found on Lime Radio.
Seems you can't surf around the Web anymore these days without finding some site you liked to frequent shut down or some person you considered a great resource or just a joy to "visit" gone. That's what I mean by bitter-sweet.
This reinforces, of course, what the many of you who encouraged me to keep producing G21 as long as I still could -- if for no other reason than to give support to my fellow indy Webslingers and any future ones who might be considering taking the plunge -- had to say a couple weeks back. I do plan to scale back a bit, but I guess we'll stick around.
Financially, things are dismal again right now. STILL waiting for my publisher to process past-due invoices. No, I'm not very happy about it. This is why being a freelancer can just suck sometimes. You pay a very high price for your freedom.
It's been worse in my life, I guess. But that doesn't mean I have to like it.
I'm floundering a bit these days, as I can't make up my mind WHERE is the next stop on my long journey... The candidates we've discussed are still there, and there's a good case for going back to Cali (though, I do have a psychological block about that.) So I'm deciding not to decide for now.
Instead, my total focus is on extricating myself from Baltimore. If I pull off the visit to Bermuda, I'll use that time to make a decision. If any of you have ideas for a Heaven on Earth I can land in next, drop me an e-mail.
THINGS ON MY AGENDA THIS WEEK
1. Getting my publisher to pay me what's owed.2. Showing my apartment on the off chance I can get out of here early.
3. Visualizing the contours of the next place for me.
Thanks for coming back this week.
"Work like you don't need the money,
"Love like you've never been hurt,
"Dance like no one is watching..."
Rod
Our Editor does listen!