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SMOKE & MIRRORS - LIFE OF THE PARTY: Our Editor, ROD AMIS, decides to slack on his own page because he was working on other projects here and elsewhere. We'll cut him some slack this time.
SMOKE
"Where there's smoke, there's fire ..." Popular Adage.
16 May 2007: INSIDE THE MAGAZINE this edition we have so many great features for your delectation that I am lost as where to begin. We've got the review of former Senator Bill Bradley's new book, The New American Story AND an accompanying podcast, the second in our series, with the Senator in AMERICAN DREAMS. We have the review of G21 contributor KEN KAMOCHE's new short story collection The Fragile Hope, nominated for Ireland's the Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award.
That's only two of the six (6) features up this time.
I think you know that it is only because I'm older than God that I refer to some of the writers I've nurtured here at Your World's Magazine, as my "kids" or my "children." Many of them are adults with children and even grandchildren of their own. So it's a not-so-private joke for me to even use those terms. I think that they know I use the terms affectionately.
I think those of you who have followed my saga know that I am older (and, obviously, look older, than my years.) In that sense, I am the old man of words.
That so many of them, as our magazine has reached its maturity, are receiving international recognition - and, yes, African writers who I've worked with for years - is so gratifying. All of them, Binyavanga, Ngozi, Mphuthumi, Ken, deserve all the props they are getting now. I'm glad this Old Magician was here to help them along.
Now I have to just make sure the rest of my children get their props, too. (emoticon here.) We ain't finished yet by any means. We are going to change the world.
ALONG THIS LINE, thanks to alumnae FELICITY USSHER MURPHY, we have all been getting together to talk about having a possible G21 Party in 2009 where we all - from all five continents - get together and finally meet face-to-face. (That will finally dispel the worries of the remaining Doubting Thomases that I might not actually be a real person.) Because of how spread out we all are - from Taiwan and Thailand to California, Europe seems the most almost-equidistant place for this happen. We're started think a gathering in some old castle or villa. WE ARE SEEKING CORPORATE SPONSORS OR FOUNDATIONS. If you know people in your Six Degrees who are writer-friendly, please drop me a line. We only have two years to make this happen. Thanks in advance!
Over the Transom
My pal and G21 Alum RON MORGAN sent me this note from San Francisco after my discussion of hip-hop culture:
Hey Rod,
You know about MIA? She's a hip hop chick my daughters like. London by way of Delhi by way of Sri Lanka; dad a bigwig in the Tamil Tigers. Named her mix tape debut "Piracy Funds Terrorism". Got a jamming myspace page with her latest vid, "Bird Flu". Check it out... M.I.A
ON A MORE SERIOUS NOTE, I also got this link - from t he Wall Street Journal's OpinionJournal - on the changing face of America, from my pal Mike Mallen. It's well worth the read.
So Why Is There NO Editorial on Your Editorial Page?
21 May 2007: I feel like Madeleine Kahn in Mel Brook's great comic film "Blazing Saddles." In other words, I'm tired. I'm so uninspired. Okay, not entirely true BUT you may have noticed that I contributed to two of our features in this edition AND acted as producer for the second in our series of podcasts. You really think I had extra time to think in that short period? Forget about it!
To support G21, please send checks or money orders to: Rod Amis
G21: The World's Magazine
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"Our" Mphuthumi Ntabenii has a Blog now. Mpush Spear On. Check it out when you're not here.
Rod at MySpace=http://www.myspace.com/6250244I think between audio and video podcasts - offered in those features - we covered more than enough ground for this week without me maundering on about something that will distract you, my lovelies, from checking out the great information we provide you elsewhere.
To make another recommendation that I omitted above, you should definitely check out ANTONIO GRACEFFO's very excellent piece on ecotourism supporting tsunami disaster relief in Thailand over at G21 ASIA.
COME ON! It's not like we don't overload you with both a diversity and wealth of content at this magazine. I can't be Mr. Pontification every darned edition. You'll learn more, for example, from the Bill Bradley podcast we offer you this time out than I could possibly impart in a thousand words.
MIRRORS19 May 2007: "Hey, Kid, you haven't been writing much lately. I missed ya."
Rod Amis "Been crying a lot."
"I see. You said this is a No Whine Zone. So I won't ask. Are ya back now?"
"I guess so. We're talking, aren't we?"
"Yeah, yeah. Okay. What's on your mind?"
"Quite a lot. I'm making plans. The Rod 2007 Plan seems to be bearing fruit; I'm even thinking about hiring a Personal Assistant again."
"Whoa, Homeboy! That's kindah ambitious, ain't it?"
"I'm swamped with work. I need to slough some of this stuff off."
"Got ya. What else?"
"Well, still looking for a girlfriend."
"How's that goin'? Oh wait! Sorry I even asked."
"Thanks."
"Shall we begin with your actual part of this section of the column then?"
"Step aside, pal."
LONG-TERM LOYAL READERS know that I am enamored of Beethoven's "Eroica" but - on occasion, as this evening while preparing my dinner - I'll also give the Ninth Symphony a chance to change my mind.
So I sit with the Ninth tonight as I write you, my lovelies, and see where that will take me.
My friends Kent and Becky dropped in on Mother's Day just to see how this other mother' was doing. They did so after taking Memaw and the clan out to lunch. I appreciated the visit because they have to drive three hours each way just to come over to here to Austin and stopping at my place is an extra trip they didn't need to make. Friendship is a wonderful thing.
I was telling them how I'm overwhelmed by the blessings being showered on me these days. So much so that a) I'm always feeling like a guy playing catch-up and b) I'm forcing myself to get used to all the abundance. I don't even recognize my own apartment anymore AND I'm trying to get used to the notion of not worrying about food.
AFTER I complete this edition of Your World's Magazine and get it launched for you, I'll be "pert near" caught up again. I'll only owe two (2) more articles to two of my publishers and then I can take a day off. What concept. I'm about due.
So you get a short post from me this time, Kidlings. The Old Magician needs to focus on the rest of his life for a couple weeks. I do appreciate your taking the time to visit here. See you next time!
Oh yeah, this last photo, it's of my new grand-nephew, Steven Warwick Amis - son of my nephew, Kenneth, the composer I've mentioned here on various occasions - a very big boy who was born a bit over a week ago. Notice how the newborn is almost has large as his older brother already. Like my grandfathers and my brother Leon, we're talking big boy.
Keep me in your prayers as I keep you in my own.
Thanks for coming back this week.
THINGS ON ROD'S MIND THIS WEEK
1 - Clearing the decks so I can work on new projects.
2 - Finding a girlfriend.
3 - Giving myself a little needed downtime.
"Work like you don't need the money,
"Love like you've never been hurt,
"Dance like no one is watching ... "
Love,
Rod
ROD AMIS has published this magazine since 1990. It first appeared as a hardcopy 'Zine. In March, 1996, he launched it here on the Web. Rod was a Contributing Editor at Suite101.com, where he wrote the " 'Net Publishing" feature. His work has been featured in the San Francisco Bay Guardian Online, NRV8, and at the (U.S.) Public Broadcasting System (PBS's) WebLab's Reality Check site. Rod was a contributing writer on technology for Faulkner Information Services. He wrote on Web issues for MethodFive.com's Hyper newsletter.Rod was a columnist for the Andover News Network, where he wrote over two hundred articles on web design and development issues. He was principal writer and Editor for IT Manager's Journal, where he reviewed technology issues weekly, producing 383 editorials. He became the Managing Editor for Electronic Mail/Newsletter Publications at Andover.net at the end of February, 2000, and left in September of the same year. He was a contributing writer for ACCESS Internet magazine, which appeared both on- and offline for 10 million readers in 100 newspapers like the San Francisco Chronicle, New York Post, Boston Herald, Austin American-Statesman, Denver Post and Orlando Sentinel, among others. Rod was the US reporter for Silicon.com, a division of Network Multimedia Television in London, UK, r eaching 3.5 million European readers, until May, 2001.
He did stints as the Resident Philosopher at three separate gin mills in that city in the French Quar ter and the Marigny, earning his stripes during two successive Mardi Gras seasons. Oh yeah, Rod's had Day Jobs working construction. Mostly renovations of old New Orleans structures, houses and a bar. Sometimes he designs Web sites for other people so that he can get his creative juices flowing the way he can't at a staid publication like this one. And he's been the instructor in Editing for Internet Publications at the Novi Sad School of Journalism in Yugoslavia. When he's not busy here, he writes technology columns for EnterpriseLeadership.org. Rod's more leftist writings can be found at Atlantic Free Press. (Don't tell his potential employers.) He writes a weekly column on social media issues for Leverage Social Media.His work will appear this summer in print and online for PR TACTICS. Rust never sleeps. He is being courted by California software company into going back into being a Made Man.
Our Resident Philosopher has decided to return to Austin, Texas, after over two decades away. Wish him luck..
In his spare time, Rod chases women in the way a fly chases a spider..
He continues to be committed to integrity,
chastityand a dose of humility.
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E-mail your comments. We always like to hear from you. Send your kudos, brickbats and suggestions to rod@g21.net.
