|
Poignant Pearls & Potbellied Pigs, June, 2002.txt
|
sheldene chant
|
Jun 27, 2002 03:54 PDT
|
--=====================_67782345==_.ALT
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"; format=flowed
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
öÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöo
POIGNANT PEARLS & POTBELLIED PIGS
Vol. 3 Issue 6 June, 2002
:
öÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöo
Our subscriber list is confidential and we respect
your privacy. All SUBSCRIBE and UNSUBSCRIBE
information can be found at the end of this issue.
öÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöo
CONTENTS
- Hello there . . .
- Inside Story
- More To Life Than a Monkey...
- A Day in the Life of an Internet Addict
- Tip For The Day
- Freedom of Speech Takes a Beating
- Living on What's Left
öÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöo
HELLO THERE . . .
…you with the stars in your eyes, a grasshopper brain
and thoughts without boundaries…
This month the emphasis seems to be on Life and Living - just
take a look at the contents list.
In More to Life Than A Monkey, I continue with the saga of
Pookie, a vervet monkey, while Pam Allen's article, A Day in the
Life of An Internet Addict, should ring quite a few bells with most
of you. Then we come to Terry Rigg's, Living on What's Left - a
somewhat unusual view on managing one's finances - and as
we all know finances are, unfortunately, a very real fact of life.
And there I go again. I should not have written 'unfortunately' -
consider that unread while I try again. 'Fortunately, finances are
an integral part of one's life'! (Which proves I'm taking notice of
the motivating articles I usually include in each issue.)
Freedom of speech taking a beating is Melvin Durai's theme this
time and although 'Life' doesn't feature in that title , believe me
being able to speak out, fearlessly, is one of the things that make
life worth living. Sadly this is no longer the case in Zimbabwe.
Repressive laws passed in recent months, primarily aimed at
strangling the independent Press in that country, have also
outlawed any form of criticism of its 'President' by individuals.
As this charming man has no hesitation in enforcing his
draconian decrees, one can safely assume that his starving
'subjects' have become remarkably silent also.
As yet I have been unable to enforce similar restrictions in this
establishment so Griselda is able to continue with Inside Story.
However, judging by her grumblings, she is struggling to come
up with anything at all, so I may have got lucky this month...
We'll see...
öÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöo
NEWBIES, NERDS & NITWITS
'Support' ezine for everyone needing a helping
hand with their first forays around a PC and the
Internet.
Subscribe today by sending a blank email to:
mailto:nerdsandnitwi-@topica.com
To view previous issues surf to:
http://www.topica.com/lists/nerdsandnitwits/read
VISIT the website at
http://www.newbiesandnitwits.com/
öÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöo
INSIDE STORY
(More excuses - from that feeble excuse for
a reporter - Ed)
HAVE I got news for you! Next month I will be bringing you
the real inside story - written by an independent person who
doesn't have to worry where her next salary cheque is coming
from - and I can't wait.
Unfortunately - due to time differences between Amanzimtoti and
Oklahoma I can't get my hands on this epistle today - but it's all
arranged and I promise this will be worth waiting for! And I'll make
every effort to ensure that the July issue of "Pearls & Pigs' comes
out mid-month (as it's supposed to) so - hold your breath.
Of course that doesn't solve my immediate problem but, in view of the
treat I have in store for you, I'm sure you'll put up with being bored - just
for once.
The trouble is Sheldene has been behaving like a recluse - as far as I'm
concened anyway. If I stayed around all night I would see a lot more of
my boss - but do I really want to? No way.
From time to time she goes into this nocturnal mode - rising at 2am - so by
the time I get here she's cross-eyed and past talking. Sometimes she
doesn't get to bed at all and the following day she's stumbling around like a
zombie before collapsing in a heap around 3 pm. Don't ask me what she's
doing - or should I say trying to do - but even the dogs are exhausted.
So it's all rather tedious and life just goes on. The weather is
awful, providing more reason for our recluse to be even more reclusive.
As any long time subscriber knows, Sheldene hibernates in winter and
when the wind off the Drakensberg blows the only piece of skin she
exposes to the elements is her nose.
In KwaZulu Natal we have been experiencing the Sardine Run and the
Comrades Marathon (but I'm not allowed to write about that because
'Dont repeat yourself - you covered that last year albeit very badly',
SHE said.)
So that's it, I'm afraid, but I'll make up for it next month -
GRISELDA.
(Don't think I like the sound of this - Ed.)
öÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöo
CONFUSED BY EMAIL?
Are You Totally Confused by the complexities of Email? Don't
know about email accounts, clients, web based, headers, virus
killers, Subject lines, Pop 3's, aliases and all the other
Gobbledygook? The picture-driven 'Email for Newbies' from the
Newbie Club, will solve your frustrations immediately. Go NOW
to http://newbieclub.com/efncopy/?pearlsandpigs
öÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöo
All about Pookie
MORE TO LIFE THAN A MONKEY...
PUTTING it on paper usually refreshes memories - but it can
also reveal the extent of what one has forgotten. Or, horrible
thought, did one fail to explore all the possibilities in the first
place?
Of course I remember Pookie, our vervet monkey. Saying the
name is enough to remind me of plotting/pleading eyes, tiny,
grasping hands and extremely sharp teeth. But I am also aware
that much of the detail now escapes me and I wish I had
observed him more closely and even tried a bit harder.
There was always a lot more to life than the monkey. Our four
children more or less looked after themselves, but still had to be
fed, clothed after a fashion, and ferried to and from school.
Keith was managing a large, thoroughbred stud, so foals were
born, owners visited their horses, and farm life in Africa always
encompasses every sort of drama.
To pass the time (and earn some money), I was reporting from
parliament, thereby gaining firsthand experience of Ian Smith
and his post-UDI government, as well as an insight into the daily
difficulties of a country being hammered out of existence by
economic sanctions, plus the relentless exigencies of a guerilla
war.
I know we had black Labradors, a deranged Yorkshire terrier
and loads of cats - but honestly can't recall how they interacted
with Pookie. Perhaps it was a case of mutual avoidance but this
seems unlikely. Pookie could never resist resist provoking or
teasing anyone or anything - and the dogs were traditional
enemies.
Freitwell, Bubu and Anatoria would also have tales to tell.
Freitwell, our former tractor driver but now turned cook,
frequently shook his head in disgust. He can't really be blamed
for disapproving of the advent of a monkey when there was a
large house and garden to care for, as well as four disobedient
children. And although I don't recall all the traumas, I know both
Anatoria and Bubu would also have chosen to do without our
latest acquisition.
As Pookie spent every moment he could with Adrian, this
monkey was a real part of the family. But what happened when I
was at work and the children at school? Did he trot about
disconsolately because nobody else liked him - or perhaps he
simply fell asleep or sat in a tree until one of us came home.
In any event, soon after Pookie was installed a pattern emerged.
If any of us, barring Adrian, put a foot wrong we were bitten.
However you can get used to almost anything although Pookie's
incisors seemed more menacing every day.
During the thoroughbred breeding season there was often a 'vet'
about the place, offering unwanted and unnecessary advice.
'You will never, ever, be able to tame that monkey', and 'the only
thing to do is remove his fangs', they said.
Pookie soon had tormenting me down to a fine art and did so
constantly - because all he had to do was leap from pelmet to
pelmet, with one of my most precious possessions under his
arm.
He would let me plead for a while, before hurling the prized
object to the floor. Needless to say we went through heaps of
mirrors, ornaments and crockery in this way.
He watched us all closely in order to carry out his faultlessly
executed campaigns. Adrian could do no wrong, Keith was
best left alone, and the rest of us were fair game.
Llewelyn actually loathed Pookie, but was too polite to say so.
However one night his father went to check on the child and pull
up his blankets, and was appalled when Llewelyn sprang wildly
out of bed, screaming, 'The monkey's got me'. Slowly we
began to realise the situation might have a detrimental, long-
term effect on our then youngest son.
For various reasons plenty of people come calling at stud
farms, and overseas visitors found us particularly appealing.
(Better than going to a game park, I suppose.)
An elderly English couple, well-known in racing circles, came
every year.. We enjoyed entertaining them - and usually we
were only too pleased to grant their modest requests.
This time, however, I ignored her wistful comments about how
much she wanted to see the children. Just a glimpse - and she
promised not to wake them.
But after a couple of hours, with glasses of wine to match, I
foolishly gave in. Marching towards the boys' room I flung the
door open, allowing her to gaze within.
Gasping our visitor recoiled and hurried back to her husband.
Never, she said, quietly but tremulously, had she ever seen
anything like it in her life.
And I believe that.
Fed up with trying to keep the dirt off white walls I had recently
painted the bedroom walls dark brown. The sheets on the bunk
bed were navy -and it looked like a scene from hell.
The largest demon sat on the top bunk, stroking his pet monkey
while they both looked askance at the intruders. And we must
not forget the ugly, white rat sniffing around the demon's feet.
Beneath this tableau the small demon slept alongside a rabbit or
two - and I have never felt so embarrassed.
Our guest had to be revived with brandy and, being a naturally
charming person, she kept insisting 'it was so sweet' - but very
faintly.
Sadly, we never saw or heard from this couple again. Perhaps,
after that, they decided to strike Rhodesia off their yearly
itinerary.
It was around this time that I began to think I might
eventually go off Pookie - and Adrian, my eldest son.
Copyright 2000 Sheldene Chant
*The previous two articles about Pookie can be found in the
April and May issues at
http://www.topica.com/lists/pearlypigs/read
öÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöo
PLEASE FORWARD Pearls & Pigs to friends
Please share 'Pearls & Pigs' with your more discerning,
talented and appreciative friends or acquaintances.
Clicking the Forward button,often, counts as a
good deed and I am sure you will be rewarded. If you
don't do this I am not sure what will happen to you.
(Some of you are living dangerously.)
When forwarding this ezine please ask your
friends NOT to unsubscribe you by accident or,
before you forward, remove the easy unsubscribe
link which now appears at the bottom of all the mail
Topica sends out.
öÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöo
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN INTERNET ADDICT
by Pam Allen
Dirty dishes, dirty clothes, dusty house. Your picture
is on a milk carton. Sound familiar?
7:30 am- Stumble out of bed and verify that daughter is awake
and getting ready for school. Point her towards the bus stop and
head back to bed.
11:00 am- Hop out of bed, rested and refreshed and ready to
conquer anything. Get dressed, brush teeth, apply cosmetic
enhancements and go downstairs.
11:30 am- Step outside to check mailbox and current weather
conditions. Junk mail and catalogs, weather is warm and sunny.
noon- Wander into kitchen to get caffeine fix and snack. Notice
that kitchen could really use a good cleaning. Kitchen chores
delayed by need to ·check in· online.
12:30- Check email and verify current weather conditions. Junk
mail and E-catalogs. Weather is cold and snowy. Realize that
weather conditions in Toronto are irrelevant; enter information for
correct zip code. Still warm and sunny. Notice that inbox has 300
messages. Decide to organize mail into additional folders and
subfolders.
3:00 pm- Inbox is empty; mail is organized according to
category, sender, date, and relevancy. Now have new folder
called ·misc·that contains 240 former inbox messages that defy
standard categorization. Visit online forum I frequent. New
member today! Boyfriend cheats on her, uses more drugs than
the average hospital, and hits her ·occasionally·. What should
she do? Cannot formulate helpful response that doesn·t contain
the word moron·, so I leave plea for assistance unanswered.
4:00 pm- Daughter is home from school and hungry. Prepare
nutritious after school snack of Twinkies and hot chocolate,
again noticing that kitchen is in serious need of attention.
4:30 pm- Check status of interesting auctions on Ebay. Compare
prices for coveted item at 35 online sources. Seems to average
$150.00. Enter bid of $9.99 on Ebay. Read help forums on Ebay.
Resolve to drive to Montana to pick up my $10.00 item in person
because all sellers will take my money and run.
5:00 pm- Hunt for bookmark to interesting site I discovered last
week. Notice that bookmarks are in serious need of reorganizing.
7:00 pm- Bookmarks organized into 136 topic-specific folders
and subfolders. ·Shopping/Stores· folder takes up 1 gigabyte of
hard drive space.
7:15 pm- Prepare nourishing meal for family (phone for pizza).
7:30 pm- Spend quality time with adoring family.
8:00 pm- Check status of Ebay auction and read email.
8:15 pm- Help daughter with homework (..your dad·'s the math
whiz. He·d be better than I am·).
8:30 pm- Husband is sighing loudly. Wants to talk before he goes
to bed. Offer to send him a mushy email. Sensing growing
hostility, I turn off the computer and talk to husband while I clean
the kitchen.
10:00 pm- Everyone is in bed. Finally! Uninterrupted time to
myself. Meet best friend at game site and play gin rummy and
scrabble.
2:00 am- Write brief humorous article for website. Write helpful
article for second website. Write movie review for local
newspaper.
3:00 am- Play two games of solitaire. Decide to check on my
Sims. Joan is unhappy. Take Joan to Sim Mall to buy clothes and
flowers. Joan·s energy level at 0, put Joan in bed.
4:00 am-My energy level at 0. Put self to bed. *sigh* Bemoan
busy life, wish for time to relax.
Copyright 2001 Pam Allen
____________________________
In addition to being co-webmistress of
http://www.newbiesandnitwits.com Pam Allen has
another website, http://www,quickdecor.com which
is full of speedy and inexpensive decorating tips
and ideas.
öÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöo
PLEASE RATE THIS EZINE
Please rate this Ezine at the Cumuli Ezine Finder
http://www.cumuli.com/ezines/ra20461.rate
<a href="http://www.cumuli.com/ezines/ra20461.rate">
AOL Users</a>
Editor's note: When you click to rate us please make
sure you check the number. It's automatically set at 5,
but you can go as high as 10. Make sure you change
it to the number you want
öÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöo
TIP FOR THE DAY
by Jan Tincher
KNOW your outcome. If you have a goal, you must be precise!
Your mind doesn't relate to vague ideas. Your images of
achievement must be specific and precise. If you talk about
goals in generalities, you will very rarely succeed, but when you
talk about your goals in the specific, you will very rarely fail.
Check your images of achievement. Are they specific enough?
Can you time them, check them, or measure your performance
in some way?
If your goals aren't specific, your brain dismisses them as
irrelevant. Get specific. Know what you are going to do
BEFORE you do it.
Good luck!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Having problems? Learn how to use your mind -- online!
Jan Tincher, Hypnotherapist and Master Neuro-Linguistic
Programmer, teaches YOU unique NLP strategies and
techniques. Subscribe to FREE E-zine *Tame Your Brain!*
Click here! mailto:mt.tyb.s-@tameyourbrain.com
öÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöo
FREE TUTORIALS BY AUTORESPONDER
If you need to know more about backing up 'stuff' on your
computer click mailto:pearlsa-@fastresponder.com
and you should get the first tutorial within seconds.
If you are thinking about making your own web page, or
merely want to exercise your brain slightly, then send for
the web page tutorials by clicking
mailto:nerdsand-@fastresponder.com
Want to find files fast ?- then
mailto:fin-@fastresponder.com
Organising your computer - mailto:org-@fastresponder.com
öÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööOoo
LIVING ON WHAT'S LEFT
by Terry Rigg
ARE you one of those people that pay your bills no matter what?
That is an admirable trait to have when managing your money.
You made the bill and you feel you are responsible for paying it.
Good for you.
Now let's talk about how much money you have to cover your
household expenses after you pay all of those bills. Your
household expenses would include your groceries, car gas,
school lunches, and all of the other stuff that it takes to run a
household. Do you have enough to pay this bill?
All to often, people tend to pay their bills and try to live on what's
left. This never works unless you have enough money left to
cover these at home expenses. The grocery bill will always run
about the same, you will always need about the same money for
gas, etc. In other words, you need enough to live on.
I have seen this time and time again. Another bill is made and
the money comes out of the household budget because there is
no money available in any other category. Then what happens?
Many people resort to using their credit cards to cover their
regular expenses. Since there is no other money available to
pay their increased credit card payments, that also has to come
out of their household expenses. This is how many people find
themselves in over their heads.
There is only one way to change this cycle. You have to allow
enough money in your budget to cover the things you need. You
must do this even at the expense of your other bills. That could
put you in a position that you can't make some of your payments,
but at least you won't be increasing your debt, except for possibly
late fees. If this is your situation you need to seek help to reduce
the payments on your other bills.
Naturally, there are many ways to cut your household expenses
that will allow you to pay more toward your other bills. You can
save a lot of money on groceries by using coupons, buying
generic, not using processed foods, etc. The internet is full of
ideas and tips to help you save. I would start by visiting The
Frugal Shopper at http://www.thefrugalshopper.com.
When you develop or revise your budget, always put the
emphasis on your household needs. Once you have determined
how much you need to get by, then you can see what is left for
other bills.
_______________________________
Terry Rigg is the author of Living Within Your
Means - The EasyWay
http://www.homemoneyhelp.com/ebookadpage.html
and editor of The FREE Budget Stretcher Newsletter and
Budget Stretcher web site http://www.homemoneyhelp.com.
He has 25 years of experience counseling individuals and
families concerning their personal finances
Ööº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöo
'FREEDOM OF SPEECH TAKES A BEATING'
reports Melvin Durai
WHILE growing up in Zambia in the 1970s, I learned that it was
generally safer to kick a lion in a game park than to criticize the
president in public. Nothing but praise was heaped on then-
President Kenneth Kaunda, a man of such integrity that he
refused to be a dictator, insisting instead on regular elections in
which he would run -- with amazing success -- against himself.
The suspense on election night was incredible. Would Kaunda
win again? Or would he lose to Kaunda? It was always too
close to call.
Despite the sham democracy, people were reluctant to
complain. They didn't want their names transferred from the
voters list to the missing persons list.
The political climate has improved considerably in the Central
African nation, but I'd be surprised if Zambians can speak their
minds as freely as Americans. Few countries can match the
freedom of speech in America, where making fun of the
president isn't just permitted, it's highly recommended.
A virtual sport.
If there's one thing Americans are always eager to share with
each other, it's a Clinton or Bush joke. Even children have fun
with presidential jokes: 'Why did President Bush panic when he
spotted several ants walking across his desk? Because he had
heard about the ant tracks scare.'
As a writer and humorist, I cherish freedom of speech. It allows
me to express my views freely without worrying that I might get in
trouble with the government or, even worse, with my wife.
Freedom of speech is one of America's greatest virtues, but
it's not quite as unfettered as I once thought. In the aftermath of
the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, at least a handful of Americans
have been chastised for expressing dissenting views. If you can't
bleed red, white and blue, they've been told, go bleed
somewhere else.
Seven television stations dropped the late night talk show
'Politically Incorrect' after host Bill Maher decided to be a little too
politically incorrect. The comedian called past U.S. missile
attacks 'cowardly,' a comment that some viewers found
politically insulting.
Maher later apologized, but to regain those seven stations,
he may have to change the name of his show to 'Politically
Innocuous.'
At least Maher kept his job. Columnists at two daily newspapers
were fired for criticizing Bush's handling of the terrorist attacks.
The publisher of one of the papers tried to appease readers by
writing an opinion piece titled, 'Bush's leadership has been
superb.' Ah, American journalism at its finest.
On Sept. 10, Bush was fair game for ridicule; on Sept. 11,
he was Saint George the exalted one. Ready to slay Osama the
dragon.
Even colleges, traditionally a wellspring of debate, have clamped
down on errant voices. A library assistant at the University of
California at Los Angeles earned a five-day suspension without
pay for sending an email on a university computer criticizing
America's support of Israel. He had apparently forgotten to read
the rules, which clearly state that university computers are to be
used for pro-Israel purposes only.
A University of New Mexico professor received threats after
saying, on Sept. 11, 'Anyone who can blow up the Pentagon
has my vote.' He has since apologized for being a 'jerk', noting
that the U.S. Constitution's guarantee of free speech protects his
'right to be a jerk.' He didn't lose his job, probably because he's a
tenured jerk.
Of course, the First Amendment to the Constitution forbids only
government interference in a person's right to free speech.
Employers and others can apparently interfere all they want.
(c) Copyright 2001 Melvin Durai. All Rights Reserved.
__________________________________
Melvin Durai is an Indiana-based writer and humorist.
A native of India, he grew up in Zambia and moved to the
U.S. in the early 1980s. Read more of his columns at
http://www.melvindurai.com For a free subscription to
his columns,send a blank email to
mailto:durai-h-@mail-list.com
Ööº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöo
We are pleased to be members of the Ezine Publishers
Association! Join at http://www.ezinepublisher.org/
öÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöo
FREE EZINES
Find hundreds of quality, FREE Ezines at the Cumuli
Ezine Finder: http://www.cumuli.com/ezines/
öÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖoo
Copyright 2002 Poignant Pearls & Potbellied Pigs
öÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöo
LIST MECHANICS
TO JOIN: Please send a BLANK email to
mailto:pearlypigs-@topica.com
TO DEPART: Simply send a BLANK email to:
mailto:pearlypigs--@topica.com
VIEW PREVIOUS ISSUES AT -
http://www.topica.com/lists/pearlypigs/read
If you are a Topica Member organising the lists you
subscribe to becomes less complicated.
Visit http://www.topica.com/ to join.
CONTACT INFO: Sheldene Chant (Publisher), 6 Strapp
Lane, Amanzimtoti 4126, KwaZuluNatal, South Africa.
Fax:27-31-9031635. email:morg-@icon.co.za .
öÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖoo
--=====================_67782345==_.ALT
Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
<html>
<b>öÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöo<br><br>
</b> <b>POIGNANT PEARLS &
POTBELLIED PIGS<br><br>
</b>
Vol. 3 Issue 6 June, 2002<br>
:<br>
<b>öÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöo<br><br>
</b> Our subscriber list is confidential and we
respect<br>
your privacy. All SUBSCRIBE and
UNSUBSCRIBE<br>
information can be found at the end of this
issue.<br><br>
öÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöo<br><br>
<b> CONTENTS<br><br>
</b> - Hello there
. . .<br><br>
- Inside
Story<br><br>
- More To Life
Than a Monkey...<br><br>
- A Day in the
Life of an Internet Addict<br><br>
- Tip For The
Day<br><br>
- Freedom of
Speech Takes a Beating<br><br>
- Living on What's
Left<br><br>
<br>
öÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöo<br><br>
<b> HELLO THERE . . .<br><br>
</b>…you with the stars in your eyes, a grasshopper brain<br>
and thoughts without boundaries…<br><br>
This month the emphasis seems to be on Life and Living - just<br>
take a look at the contents list.<br><br>
In More to Life Than A Monkey, I continue with the saga of<br>
Pookie, a vervet monkey, while Pam Allen's article, A Day in the<br>
Life of An Internet Addict, should ring quite a few bells with
most<br>
of you. Then we come to Terry Rigg's, Living on What's Left -
a<br>
somewhat unusual view on managing one's finances - and as<br>
we all know finances are, unfortunately, a very real fact of
life.<br><br>
And there I go again. I should not have written 'unfortunately'
-<br>
consider that unread while I try again. 'Fortunately, finances
are<br>
an integral part of one's life'! (Which proves I'm taking notice
of<br>
the motivating articles I usually include in each issue.)<br><br>
Freedom of speech taking a beating is Melvin Durai's theme this<br>
time and although 'Life' doesn't feature in that title , believe me<br>
being able to speak out, fearlessly, is one of the things that make<br>
life worth living. Sadly this is no longer the case in
Zimbabwe.<br>
Repressive laws passed in recent months, primarily aimed at<br>
strangling the independent Press in that country, have also<br>
outlawed any form of criticism of its 'President' by
individuals.<br>
As this charming man has no hesitation in enforcing his<br>
draconian decrees, one can safely assume that his starving<br>
'subjects' have become remarkably silent also.<br><br>
As yet I have been unable to enforce similar restrictions in this<br>
establishment so Griselda is able to continue with Inside Story.<br>
However, judging by her grumblings, she is struggling to come<br>
up with anything at all, so I may have got lucky this month...<br><br>
We'll see...<br><br>
öÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöo<br><br>
NEWBIES, NERDS & NITWITS<br>
'Support' ezine for everyone needing a helping<br>
hand with their first forays around a PC and the<br>
Internet.<br>
Subscribe today by sending a blank email to:<br>
<a href="mailto:nerdsandnitwi-@topica.com" eudora="autourl">mailto:nerdsandnitwi-@topica.com</a><br><br>
To view previous issues surf to:<br>
<a href="http://www.topica.com/lists/nerdsandnitwits/read" eudora="autourl">http://www.topica.com/lists/nerdsandnitwits/read</a><br><br>
VISIT the website at<br>
<a href="http://www.newbiesandnitwits.com/" eudora="autourl">http://www.newbiesandnitwits.com/</a><br><br>
öÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöo<br><br>
<b> INSIDE STORY<br><br>
</b> <i> (More excuses - from
that feeble excuse for<br>
a reporter - Ed)<br><br>
</i>HAVE I got news for you! Next month I will be bringing
you<br>
the real inside story - written by an independent person who <br>
doesn't have to worry where her next salary cheque is coming <br>
from - and I can't wait. <br><br>
Unfortunately - due to time differences between Amanzimtoti and <br>
Oklahoma I can't get my hands on this epistle today - but it's all <br>
arranged and I promise this will be worth waiting for! And I'll
make <br>
every effort to ensure that the July issue of "Pearls & Pigs'
comes <br>
out mid-month (as it's supposed to) so - hold your breath.<br><br>
Of course that doesn't solve my immediate problem but, in view of the
<br>
treat I have in store for you, I'm sure you'll put up with being bored -
just<br>
for once.<br><br>
The trouble is Sheldene has been behaving like a recluse - as far as I'm
<br>
concened anyway. If I stayed around all night I would see a lot
more of <br>
my boss - but do I really want to? No way. <br><br>
From time to time she goes into this nocturnal mode - rising at 2am - so
by <br>
the time I get here she's cross-eyed and past talking. Sometimes
she <br>
doesn't get to bed at all and the following day she's stumbling around
like a <br>
zombie before collapsing in a heap around 3 pm. Don't ask me what
she's <br>
doing - or should I say trying to do - but even the dogs are
exhausted.<br><br>
So it's all rather tedious and life just goes on. The weather
is<br>
awful, providing more reason for our recluse to be even more
reclusive. <br>
As any long time subscriber knows, Sheldene hibernates in winter and
<br>
when the wind off the Drakensberg blows the only piece of skin she <br>
exposes to the elements is her nose.<br><br>
In KwaZulu Natal we have been experiencing the Sardine Run and the <br>
Comrades Marathon (but I'm not allowed to write about that because <br>
'Dont repeat yourself - you covered that last year albeit very badly',
<br>
SHE said.)<br><br>
So that's it, I'm afraid, but I'll make up for it next month -<br><br>
<b><i>GRISELDA.<br><br>
</i></b> <i> (Don't think I
like the sound of this - Ed.)<br><br>
</i>öÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöo<br><br>
CONFUSED BY EMAIL?<br>
Are You Totally Confused by the complexities of Email? Don't<br>
know about email accounts, clients, web based, headers, virus<br>
killers, Subject lines, Pop 3's, aliases and all the other<br>
Gobbledygook? The picture-driven 'Email for Newbies' from the<br>
Newbie Club, will solve your frustrations immediately. Go NOW<br>
to
<a href="http://newbieclub.com/efncopy/?pearlsandpigs" eudora="autourl">http://newbieclub.com/efncopy/?pearlsandpigs</a><br><br>
öÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöo<br><br>
<i>All about Pookie<br><br>
</i>
<b> MORE TO LIFE THAN A MONKEY...<br><br>
</b>PUTTING it on paper usually refreshes memories - but it
can<br>
also reveal the extent of what one has forgotten. Or, horrible<br>
thought, did one fail to explore all the possibilities in the first<br>
place?<br><br>
Of course I remember Pookie, our vervet monkey. Saying the<br>
name is enough to remind me of plotting/pleading eyes, tiny,<br>
grasping hands and extremely sharp teeth. But I am also aware<br>
that much of the detail now escapes me and I wish I had<br>
observed him more closely and even tried a bit harder.<br><br>
There was always a lot more to life than the monkey. Our four<br>
children more or less looked after themselves, but still had to be<br>
fed, clothed after a fashion, and ferried to and from school.<br><br>
Keith was managing a large, thoroughbred stud, so foals were<br>
born, owners visited their horses, and farm life in Africa always<br>
encompasses every sort of drama.<br><br>
To pass the time (and earn some money), I was reporting from<br>
parliament, thereby gaining firsthand experience of Ian Smith<br>
and his post-UDI government, as well as an insight into the daily<br>
difficulties of a country being hammered out of existence by<br>
economic sanctions, plus the relentless exigencies of a guerilla<br>
war.<br><br>
I know we had black Labradors, a deranged Yorkshire terrier<br>
and loads of cats - but honestly can't recall how they interacted<br>
with Pookie. Perhaps it was a case of mutual avoidance but this<br>
seems unlikely. Pookie could never resist resist provoking or<br>
teasing anyone or anything - and the dogs were traditional<br>
enemies.<br><br>
Freitwell, Bubu and Anatoria would also have tales to tell.<br>
Freitwell, our former tractor driver but now turned cook,<br>
frequently shook his head in disgust. He can't really be blamed<br>
for disapproving of the advent of a monkey when there was a<br>
large house and garden to care for, as well as four disobedient<br>
children. And although I don't recall all the traumas, I know both<br>
Anatoria and Bubu would also have chosen to do without our<br>
latest acquisition.<br><br>
As Pookie spent every moment he could with Adrian, this<br>
monkey was a real part of the family. But what happened when I<br>
was at work and the children at school? Did he trot about<br>
disconsolately because nobody else liked him - or perhaps he<br>
simply fell asleep or sat in a tree until one of us came home.<br><br>
In any event, soon after Pookie was installed a pattern emerged.<br>
If any of us, barring Adrian, put a foot wrong we were bitten.<br>
However you can get used to almost anything although Pookie's<br>
incisors seemed more menacing every day.<br><br>
During the thoroughbred breeding season there was often a 'vet'<br>
about the place, offering unwanted and unnecessary advice.<br>
'You will never, ever, be able to tame that monkey', and 'the only<br>
thing to do is remove his fangs', they said.<br><br>
Pookie soon had tormenting me down to a fine art and did so<br>
constantly - because all he had to do was leap from
pelmet to<br>
pelmet, with one of my most precious possessions under his<br>
arm.<br><br>
He would let me plead for a while, before hurling the prized<br>
object to the floor. Needless to say we went through heaps of<br>
mirrors, ornaments and crockery in this way.<br><br>
He watched us all closely in order to carry out his
faultlessly<br>
executed campaigns. Adrian could do no wrong, Keith was<br>
best left alone, and the rest of us were fair game.<br><br>
Llewelyn actually loathed Pookie, but was too polite to say so.<br>
However one night his father went to check on the child and
pull<br>
up his blankets, and was appalled when Llewelyn sprang wildly<br>
out of bed, screaming, 'The monkey's got me'. Slowly we<br>
began to realise the situation might have a detrimental, long-<br>
term effect on our then youngest son.<br><br>
For various reasons plenty of people come calling at stud<br>
farms, and overseas visitors found us particularly appealing.<br>
(Better than going to a game park, I suppose.)<br><br>
An elderly English couple, well-known in racing circles, came<br>
every year.. We enjoyed entertaining them - and usually
we<br>
were only too pleased to grant their modest requests.<br><br>
This time, however, I ignored her wistful comments about how<br>
much she wanted to see the children. Just a glimpse - and she<br>
promised not to wake them.<br><br>
But after a couple of hours, with glasses of wine to match, I<br>
foolishly gave in. Marching towards the boys' room I flung the<br>
door open, allowing her to gaze within.<br><br>
Gasping our visitor recoiled and hurried back to her husband.<br>
Never, she said, quietly but tremulously, had she ever seen<br>
anything like it in her life.<br><br>
And I believe that.<br><br>
Fed up with trying to keep the dirt off white walls I had recently<br>
painted the bedroom walls dark brown. The sheets on the bunk<br>
bed were navy -and it looked like a scene from hell.<br><br>
The largest demon sat on the top bunk, stroking his pet monkey<br>
while they both looked askance at the intruders. And we must<br>
not forget the ugly, white rat sniffing around the demon's
feet.<br><br>
Beneath this tableau the small demon slept alongside a rabbit or<br>
two - and I have never felt so embarrassed.<br><br>
Our guest had to be revived with brandy and, being a naturally<br>
charming person, she kept insisting 'it was so sweet' - but very<br>
faintly.<br><br>
Sadly, we never saw or heard from this couple again. Perhaps,<br>
after that, they decided to strike Rhodesia off their yearly<br>
itinerary.<br><br>
It was around this time that I began to think I might<br>
eventually go off Pookie - and Adrian, my eldest son.<br><br>
<b>Copyright 2000 Sheldene Chant<br><br>
</b><i>*The previous two articles about Pookie can be found in the<br>
April and May issues at<br>
<a href="http://www.topica.com/lists/pearlypigs/read" eudora="autourl">http://www.topica.com/lists/pearlypigs/read</a><br><br>
</i>öÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöo<br><br>
PLEASE FORWARD Pearls & Pigs to friends<br>
Please share 'Pearls & Pigs' with your more discerning,<br>
talented and appreciative friends or acquaintances.<br>
Clicking the Forward button,often, counts as a<br>
good deed and I am sure you will be rewarded. If you<br>
don't do this I am not sure what will happen to you.<br>
(Some of you are living dangerously.)<br><br>
When forwarding this ezine please ask your<br>
friends NOT to unsubscribe you by accident or,<br>
before you forward, remove the easy unsubscribe<br>
link which now appears at the bottom of all the mail<br>
Topica sends out.<br><br>
öÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöo<br><br>
<b> A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN INTERNET ADDICT<br><br>
</b>
by Pam Allen<br><br>
Dirty dishes, dirty clothes, dusty house.
Your picture<br>
is on a milk carton. Sound
familiar?<br><br>
7:30 am- Stumble out of bed and verify that daughter is awake<br>
and getting ready for school. Point her towards the bus stop and<br>
head back to bed.<br><br>
11:00 am- Hop out of bed, rested and refreshed and ready to<br>
conquer anything. Get dressed, brush teeth, apply cosmetic<br>
enhancements and go downstairs.<br><br>
11:30 am- Step outside to check mailbox and current weather<br>
conditions. Junk mail and catalogs, weather is warm and sunny.<br><br>
noon- Wander into kitchen to get caffeine fix and snack. Notice<br>
that kitchen could really use a good cleaning. Kitchen chores<br>
delayed by need to ·check in· online.<br><br>
12:30- Check email and verify current weather conditions. Junk<br>
mail and E-catalogs. Weather is cold and snowy. Realize that<br>
weather conditions in Toronto are irrelevant; enter information for<br>
correct zip code. Still warm and sunny. Notice that inbox has 300<br>
messages. Decide to organize mail into additional folders and<br>
subfolders.<br><br>
3:00 pm- Inbox is empty; mail is organized according to<br>
category, sender, date, and relevancy. Now have new folder<br>
called ·misc·that contains 240 former inbox messages that defy<br>
standard categorization. Visit online forum I frequent. New<br>
member today! Boyfriend cheats on her, uses more drugs than<br>
the average hospital, and hits her ·occasionally·. What should<br>
she do? Cannot formulate helpful response that doesn·t contain<br>
the word moron·, so I leave plea for assistance unanswered.<br><br>
4:00 pm- Daughter is home from school and hungry. Prepare<br>
nutritious after school snack of Twinkies and hot chocolate,<br>
again noticing that kitchen is in serious need of attention.<br><br>
4:30 pm- Check status of interesting auctions on Ebay. Compare<br>
prices for coveted item at 35 online sources. Seems to average<br>
$150.00. Enter bid of $9.99 on Ebay. Read help forums on Ebay.<br>
Resolve to drive to Montana to pick up my $10.00 item in person<br>
because all sellers will take my money and run.<br><br>
5:00 pm- Hunt for bookmark to interesting site I discovered last<br>
week. Notice that bookmarks are in serious need of
reorganizing.<br><br>
7:00 pm- Bookmarks organized into 136 topic-specific folders<br>
and subfolders. ·Shopping/Stores· folder takes up 1 gigabyte of<br>
hard drive space.<br><br>
7:15 pm- Prepare nourishing meal for family (phone for pizza).<br><br>
7:30 pm- Spend quality time with adoring family.<br><br>
8:00 pm- Check status of Ebay auction and read email.<br><br>
8:15 pm- Help daughter with homework (..your dad·'s the math<br>
whiz. He·d be better than I am·).<br><br>
8:30 pm- Husband is sighing loudly. Wants to talk before he goes<br>
to bed. Offer to send him a mushy email. Sensing growing<br>
hostility, I turn off the computer and talk to husband while I
clean<br>
the kitchen.<br><br>
10:00 pm- Everyone is in bed. Finally! Uninterrupted time to<br>
myself. Meet best friend at game site and play gin rummy and<br>
scrabble.<br><br>
2:00 am- Write brief humorous article for website. Write helpful<br>
article for second website. Write movie review for local<br>
newspaper.<br><br>
3:00 am- Play two games of solitaire. Decide to check on my<br>
Sims. Joan is unhappy. Take Joan to Sim Mall to buy clothes and<br>
flowers. Joan·s energy level at 0, put Joan in bed.<br><br>
4:00 am-My energy level at 0. Put self to bed. *sigh* Bemoan<br>
busy life, wish for time to relax.<br><br>
<b>Copyright 2001 Pam Allen<br>
</b>____________________________<br>
<i>In addition to being co-webmistress of<br>
<a href="http://www.newbiesandnitwits.com/" eudora="autourl">http://www.newbiesandnitwits.com</a>
Pam Allen has<br>
another website, <a href="http://www,quickdecor.com/" eudora="autourl">http://www,quickdecor.com</a> which<br>
is full of speedy and inexpensive decorating tips<br>
and ideas.<br><br>
</i>öÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöo<br><br>
PLEASE RATE THIS EZINE<br><br>
Please rate this Ezine at the Cumuli Ezine Finder<br>
<a href="http://www.cumuli.com/ezines/ra20461.rate" eudora="autourl">http://www.cumuli.com/ezines/ra20461.rate</a><br>
<a href="http://www.cumuli.com/ezines/ra20461.rate";><br>
AOL Users</a><br>
Editor’s note: When you click to rate us please make<br>
sure you check the number. It’s automatically set at 5,<br>
but you can go as high as 10. Make sure you change<br>
it to the number you want<br><br>
öÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöo<br><br>
<b>TIP FOR THE DAY<br>
</b> by Jan Tincher<br><br>
KNOW your outcome. If you have a goal, you must be precise!<br><br>
Your mind doesn't relate to vague ideas. Your images of<br>
achievement must be specific and precise. If you talk about<br>
goals in generalities, you will very rarely succeed, but when you<br>
talk about your goals in the specific, you will very rarely fail.<br><br>
Check your images of achievement. Are they specific enough?<br><br>
Can you time them, check them, or measure your performance<br>
in some way?<br><br>
If your goals aren't specific, your brain dismisses them as<br>
irrelevant. Get specific. Know what you are going to do<br>
BEFORE you do it.<br><br>
Good luck!<br><br>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br>
<i>Having problems? Learn how to use your mind -- online!<br>
Jan Tincher, Hypnotherapist and Master Neuro-Linguistic<br>
Programmer, teaches YOU unique NLP strategies and<br>
techniques. Subscribe to FREE E-zine *Tame Your Brain!*<br>
Click here! <a href="mailto:mt.tyb.s-@tameyourbrain.com" eudora="autourl">mailto:mt.tyb.s-@tameyourbrain.com</a><br><br>
</i>öÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöo<br><br>
FREE TUTORIALS BY AUTORESPONDER<br>
If you need to know more about backing up 'stuff' on your<br>
computer click <a href="mailto:pearlsa-@fastresponder.com" eudora="autourl">mailto:pearlsa-@fastresponder.com</a><br>
and you should get the first tutorial within seconds.<br>
If you are thinking about making your own web page, or<br>
merely want to exercise your brain slightly, then send for<br>
the web page tutorials by clicking<br>
<a href="mailto:nerdsand-@fastresponder.com" eudora="autourl">mailto:nerdsand-@fastresponder.com</a><br>
Want to find files fast ?- then<br>
<a href="mailto:fin-@fastresponder.com" eudora="autourl">mailto:fin-@fastresponder.com</a><br>
Organising your computer - <a href="mailto:org-@fastresponder.com" eudora="autourl">mailto:org-@fastresponder.com</a><br><br>
öÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööOoo<br><br>
<b> LIVING ON WHAT'S LEFT<br>
</b> by Terry Rigg<br><br>
ARE you one of those people that pay your bills no matter what?<br>
That is an admirable trait to have when managing your money.<br>
You made the bill and you feel you are responsible for paying it.<br>
Good for you.<br><br>
Now let's talk about how much money you have to cover your<br>
household expenses after you pay all of those bills. Your<br>
household expenses would include your groceries, car gas,<br>
school lunches, and all of the other stuff that it takes to run a<br>
household. Do you have enough to pay this bill?<br><br>
All to often, people tend to pay their bills and try to live on what's<br>
left. This never works unless you have enough money left to<br>
cover these at home expenses. The grocery bill will always run<br>
about the same, you will always need about the same money for<br>
gas, etc. In other words, you need enough to live on.<br><br>
I have seen this time and time again. Another bill is made and<br>
the money comes out of the household budget because there is<br>
no money available in any other category. Then what happens?<br><br>
Many people resort to using their credit cards to cover their<br>
regular expenses. Since there is no other money available to<br>
pay their increased credit card payments, that also has to come<br>
out of their household expenses. This is how many people find<br>
themselves in over their heads.<br><br>
There is only one way to change this cycle. You have to allow<br>
enough money in your budget to cover the things you need. You<br>
must do this even at the expense of your other bills. That could<br>
put you in a position that you can't make some of your payments,<br>
but at least you won't be increasing your debt, except for possibly<br>
late fees. If this is your situation you need to seek help to reduce<br>
the payments on your other bills.<br><br>
Naturally, there are many ways to cut your household expenses<br>
that will allow you to pay more toward your other bills. You can<br>
save a lot of money on groceries by using coupons, buying<br>
generic, not using processed foods, etc. The internet is full of<br>
ideas and tips to help you save. I would start by visiting The<br>
Frugal Shopper at <a href="http://www.thefrugalshopper.com/" eudora="autourl">http://www.thefrugalshopper.com</a>.<br><br>
When you develop or revise your budget, always put the<br>
emphasis on your household needs. Once you have determined<br>
how much you need to get by, then you can see what is left for<br>
other bills.<br>
_______________________________<br>
<i>Terry Rigg is the author of Living Within Your<br>
Means - The EasyWay<br>
<a href="http://www.homemoneyhelp.com/ebookadpage.html" eudora="autourl">http://www.homemoneyhelp.com/ebookadpage.html</a><br>
and editor of The FREE Budget Stretcher Newsletter and<br>
Budget Stretcher web site <a href="http://www.homemoneyhelp.com/" eudora="autourl">http://www.homemoneyhelp.com</a>.<br>
He has 25 years of experience counseling individuals and<br>
families concerning their personal finances<br><br>
</i>Ööº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöo<br><br>
<b> 'FREEDOM OF SPEECH TAKES A BEATING'<br><br>
</b> reports Melvin Durai<br><br>
WHILE growing up in Zambia in the 1970s, I learned that it was<br>
generally safer to kick a lion in a game park than to criticize the<br>
president in public. Nothing but praise was heaped on then-<br>
President Kenneth Kaunda, a man of such integrity that he<br>
refused to be a dictator, insisting instead on regular elections in<br>
which he would run -- with amazing success -- against himself.<br><br>
The suspense on election night was incredible. Would Kaunda<br>
win again? Or would he lose to Kaunda? It was always too<br>
close to call.<br><br>
Despite the sham democracy, people were reluctant to<br>
complain. They didn't want their names transferred from the<br>
voters list to the missing persons list.<br><br>
The political climate has improved considerably in the Central<br>
African nation, but I'd be surprised if Zambians can speak their<br>
minds as freely as Americans. Few countries can match the<br>
freedom of speech in America, where making fun of the<br>
president isn't just permitted, it's highly recommended.<br>
A virtual sport.<br><br>
If there's one thing Americans are always eager to share with<br>
each other, it's a Clinton or Bush joke. Even children have fun<br>
with presidential jokes: 'Why did President Bush panic when he<br>
spotted several ants walking across his desk? Because he had<br>
heard about the ant tracks scare.'<br><br>
As a writer and humorist, I cherish freedom of speech. It allows<br>
me to express my views freely without worrying that I might get in<br>
trouble with the government or, even worse, with my wife.<br><br>
Freedom of speech is one of America's greatest virtues, but<br>
it's not quite as unfettered as I once thought. In the aftermath of<br>
the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, at least a handful of Americans<br>
have been chastised for expressing dissenting views. If you can't<br>
bleed red, white and blue, they've been told, go bleed<br>
somewhere else.<br><br>
Seven television stations dropped the late night talk show<br>
'Politically Incorrect' after host Bill Maher decided to be a little too<br>
politically incorrect. The comedian called past U.S. missile<br>
attacks 'cowardly,' a comment that some viewers found<br>
politically insulting.<br><br>
Maher later apologized, but to regain those seven stations,<br>
he may have to change the name of his show to 'Politically<br>
Innocuous.'<br><br>
At least Maher kept his job. Columnists at two daily newspapers<br>
were fired for criticizing Bush's handling of the terrorist attacks.<br>
The publisher of one of the papers tried to appease readers by<br>
writing an opinion piece titled, 'Bush's leadership has been<br>
superb.' Ah, American journalism at its finest.<br><br>
On Sept. 10, Bush was fair game for ridicule; on Sept. 11,<br>
he was Saint George the exalted one. Ready to slay Osama the<br>
dragon.<br><br>
Even colleges, traditionally a wellspring of debate, have clamped<br>
down on errant voices. A library assistant at the University of<br>
California at Los Angeles earned a five-day suspension without<br>
pay for sending an email on a university computer criticizing<br>
America's support of Israel. He had apparently forgotten to read<br>
the rules, which clearly state that university computers are to be<br>
used for pro-Israel purposes only.<br><br>
A University of New Mexico professor received threats after<br>
saying, on Sept. 11, 'Anyone who can blow up the Pentagon<br>
has my vote.' He has since apologized for being a 'jerk', noting<br>
that the U.S. Constitution's guarantee of free speech protects his<br>
'right to be a jerk.' He didn't lose his job, probably because he's a<br>
tenured jerk.<br><br>
Of course, the First Amendment to the Constitution forbids only<br>
government interference in a person's right to free speech.<br>
Employers and others can apparently interfere all they want.<br><br>
<b>(c) Copyright 2001 Melvin Durai. All Rights Reserved.<br>
</b>__________________________________<br>
<i>Melvin Durai is an Indiana-based writer and humorist.<br>
A native of India, he grew up in Zambia and moved to the<br>
U.S. in the early 1980s. Read more of his columns at<br>
<a href="http://www.melvindurai.com/" eudora="autourl">http://www.melvindurai.com</a> For a free subscription to<br>
his columns,send a blank email to<br>
<a href="mailto:durai-h-@mail-list.com" eudora="autourl">mailto:durai-h-@mail-list.com<br><br>
</a></i>Ööº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöo<br><br>
We are pleased to be members of the Ezine Publishers<br>
Association! Join at <a href="http://www.ezinepublisher.org/" eudora="autourl">http://www.ezinepublisher.org/</a><br><br>
öÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöo<br><br>
FREE EZINES<br>
Find hundreds of quality, FREE Ezines at the Cumuli<br>
Ezine Finder: <a href="http://www.cumuli.com/ezines/" eudora="autourl">http://www.cumuli.com/ezines/</a><br><br>
öÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖoo<br><br>
<b>Copyright 2002 Poignant Pearls & Potbellied Pigs<br><br>
</b>öÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöo<br><br>
LIST MECHANICS<br><br>
TO JOIN: Please send a BLANK email to<br>
<a href="mailto:pearlypigs-@topica.com" eudora="autourl">mailto:pearlypigs-@topica.com</a><br><br>
TO DEPART: Simply send a BLANK email to:<br>
<a href="mailto:pearlypigs--@topica.com" eudora="autourl">mailto:pearlypigs--@topica.com</a><br><br>
VIEW PREVIOUS ISSUES AT -<br>
<a href="http://www.topica.com/lists/pearlypigs/read" eudora="autourl">http://www.topica.com/lists/pearlypigs/read</a><br><br>
If you are a Topica Member organising the lists you<br>
subscribe to becomes less complicated.<br>
Visit <a href="http://www.topica.com/" eudora="autourl">http://www.topica.com/</a> to join.<br><br>
CONTACT INFO: Sheldene Chant (Publisher), 6 Strapp<br>
Lane, Amanzimtoti 4126, KwaZuluNatal, South Africa.<br>
Fax:27-31-9031635. email:morg-@icon.co.za .<br>
öÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖöº*°*ºöÖööÖoo<br><br>
<br>
</html>
--=====================_67782345==_.ALT--
|
|
 |
|
