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How Do You Feel? Hello, I have a question. I'm loathe to ask it, but I really think I have to. Are you satisfied with this image on the MPM site? Here's my concern: I am feminist and very sensitive to the objectification of women. The page is a naked woman, pubis and all, blowing a whistle. What's the point? That you envisioned her? Is there something deeper? Talk to me? From, Brian MPM replies: Hey Brian thanks for your critique regarding the imagery of women. We take into consideration the concerns of those who feel threatened by seeing a naked woman, who fear that we are looking at this woman in a state of "objectification." One may feel better if we cover the "pubis," or the breast, or perhaps her shoulders, or.. dunno, just what are the offending body parts of women these days? coolio, MPM ps. the lady in question was not blowing a whistle (although i like that idea), she was sucking a fish. And to answer your question.. Is it deeper? Let's ask Sara... * * * SARAPRESS SETTLES IT: I would say that there are aspects supporting both sides ("demeaning" vs. "that's fucking bullshit"). I would say that the general tone of her stance denotes strength, and that her hand gestures in particular endow her with a forceful will and defiance not easily overruled. Her averted gaze places her beyond the reach and control of the viewer. She is not readily "available" to us. Furthermore, her "helmetlike" hair serves to shield her from our ownership of her in both the literal and figurative sense. It is harsh and protective looking; hardly the whore's Magdalen mane. Her hair, as does she, refuses to be a sexual symbol. On the other hand, our perspective is above hers; and as we look down upon her she becomes childlike and vulnerable. Plus, there is a slug or FishTounge coming out of her mouth, which weighs in heavily on the side of "demeaning." You fucking pervert. _____________________________________________

Elements of Style Dear Jonathan, I suppose I could ask a digital gobot a la search engine, etc.., but let me just ask you.. What is the actual properest usage of, and literal meaning of "i.e."? I've always took it in laymans terms as the latin way to write, "for example." Is this really the most literal translation? p.s. how about et. al., for bonus? or even "sic"? Fondly, Jersey Chim Jonathan Cohen replies: "i.e." means "that is" rather than "for example." "For example" is "e.g." So, if you write something, and then want to say it again in clearer or more concrete terms, you say "i.e." before the rephrasing. But what comes after the "i.e." should mean the same thing as what comes before, i.e., it should cover the same ground and should not just be an example. "Hubert could not abide conifers, i.e., evergreen trees and shrubs that reproduce by forming cone-shaped seeds." Versus: "Hubert could not abide coniferous trees, e.g., pines and firs." The meaning of the clarification doesn't have to be exactly the same, so long as it refers to the same thing. The reference of the example phrases is distinguished by being more narrow, and calls for "e.g." I don't know the actual literal meaning ... they're abbreviations of some latin phrases .... How about "is exactly" for "i.e." and "example given" for "e.g."? "et al." stands for "et alia" and means "and the rest." If you are referring to some longish list, e.g. a list of authors of a paper, and you only mention the first one or two on the list, you can include the rest by saying "et al." For example, "We will miss the members of Warner Brothers cartoon stable, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, et al." It's usually used to refer to the rest of a group of people (or cartoon animals) rather than inanimate objects, where I guess we use "etc.," which is Latin for "et cetera," meaning "and Peter Cetera," who was in the rock group Chicago. "Sic" is Latin for "such," as in "Sic transit gloria," "So passes glory." (Such=so.) We use it to indicate that an error in a quotation is in the original because we say "such" to say "the original was such, so I didn't make an error in reproducing it like this." _____________________________________________

March 15, 2004 |  Fuck the Freedom To note in that old and important House Cafeteria Debate is that the word "french" has offically been changed to "freedom" in all usage in perpetuity. i.e. I went to France and met a lot of "Freedom" people. Or Those "freedom" people sure can be rude sometimes. Or "Freedom" food is very fancy. Or Oeuf is "freedom" for egg. Or The "freedom" people don't want war. Or Honey, did you know that the "freedom" call "freedom fries" papas frites! As well we are in session now to discuss changing... -swedish meatballs to freedom meatballs -turkish coffee is now freedom coffee And so... I, me, propose that we change all nationhood and flaghoods to one nation and one flag. The land of freedom where one great flag decorated with freedom fries flies high. And would it were that we abolish all these names that separate and divide and stand up together as freedom people eating freedom food and thinking freedom thoughts. Sincerely, Jon Henry, Director, Freed Pictures _____________________________________________

November 18th, 2003 |  Like Flav said... Dear New York Post, With respect to the tragic passing of young Daysean Hill (NYPost, November 18th), I take great offense that the Post describes the catastrophe as the result of "drug-related violence." To be committed to ending such violence it is necessary to understand that criminal drug cartels (be they neighborhood bullies or big-time dealers) are behind such violence based on the business of illegal drug trade. Drugs themselves are not to blame. So I would suggest the Post make it a point to refer to these ongoing events not as "drug-related violence" but "prohibition-related violence." Maybe if we end this domestic war we call "the Drug War" we can take drugs out of criminals' hands, regulate them sensibly, and make the streets safer. Sincerely, R. Cortes Director, Magic Propaganda Mill The New York Post replies: Er... actually. No, they don't. _____________________________________________

Evolution Dear Dollars, Most people want to believe somebody else is in charge. Then they don't have to take responsiblity. Then they have the supreme pleasure of perpetually complaining that somebody else is in charge. As long as I think I'm in charge, I've got nothing to complain about. I've got to take the responsibility for all of it. Fifteen Love, Robert Anton Wilson Dali replies: Any authentically original idea, presenting itself without "known antecedents," is systematically rejected, toned down, mauled, chewed, rechewed, spewed forth, destroyed, yes, and even worse - reduced to the most monstrous of mediocrities. The excuse offered is always the vulgarity of the vast majority of the public. I insist that this is absolutely false. The public is infinitely superior to the rubbish that is fed to it daily. The masses have always known where to find true poetry. The misunderstanding has come about entirely through those "middle-men of culture" who, with their lofty airs and superior quackings, come between the creator and the public. _____________________________________________

August 30, 2001 |  From One Professional to Another Hello Ricardo, My name is Andy Frain of the Refrain Group. I have been surfing the net looking for web site designers that use their professionalism to attract new clients. I notice that your site is well designed with a high degree of client focus. With this in mind I would like to invite you to receive the free report "Making Sales Resistance Work for you in the Web Design Market" These strategies have helped myself and a small number of others sell as many as 10 web sites in a single day and even increased levels of new business by over 300%. This has all stemmed from taking strong sales resistance and turning it to your advantage. If you think you could benefit from making sales resistance work for you please contact me and I will send you instructions. I look forward to hearing from you, Andy Frain Ricardo Cortes replies: I'm flattered that you find our site professional, and yet, a bit perplexed as to where you see a "high degree of client focus" amidst our work. Well, I like the name of your company so let me rely with candor. The Magic Propaganda Mill is a "buisness to client" company with an occasional nod to other collective corporations of contemporaries. A central objective, at least at this junction, is, hmph... legalization of marijuana. Our view is that the cascade of dominos that might topple (i.e. prison industrial complex, inner city drug black markets, etc.) once "grass" (and hell, other "drugs" as well) is legalized, is well worth all the "sales resistances" that we encounter, regularly. If, in fact, you believe your survey will help us fight this "sales resistance," by all means send us along a copy with Godspeed. In the meantime, we sell T shirts and design psychedelic vistas... I wish you well in your efforts. _____________________________________________

Finally, a.. Plausible Response Rebecca, I'm finally getting around to your riddle. Quite simple, really. The middle of a Neverending story is the entire story. Unless, of course you have some specific definition of "middle." I have my own question that I've been juggling for two weeks now. Does a blank CD weigh less than a CD with 72minutes of music on it? Does digital information have mass? Al abba Dhairi Rebecca Letz replies: Sorry. I started thinking about your question and then forgot to ever respond to you about it. I've been asking all around... everyone says the blank CD and the one with 72 minutes of music on it weigh the same. They argue that info has no weight. Although one person thought the inverse, that the one with 72 minutes on it actually weighs less, because the act of burning is exactly how it sounds--burning info off of the blank CD, like you do on vinyl... I have a hard time believing the 2 CDs weigh the same. I would be interested in your theory... _____________________________________________

Isn't It Hard Enough? You are one mysterious pony. It looks like you're working the nightshift in three cities simultaeneously and I appreciate your efforts fundraising for the wallaby ranch. There is more than we can know, but SK Thoth can tell us the rest. Gentle Joshua is a naked brontosaurus my constituents are assured. He opens his brothel to sex and betrothal and my vision is mighty blurred. It's fine to fuck a taco shell and ring Ali's cracked liberty bell. There is a very good responder team in America which makes me hopeful for my future replica. Yours ever, Dan Rather / Virginia Hamilton and Filip Marinovich _____________________________________________

The Quiet Earth [Re: Bees and Whales by Ed Romero] I'm very excited to see reportage of the phenomenon known as Kingdom Kommunism, started back in the ol' protean days by Karl the Fox. I am wondering if you are aware of any human solidarity actions planned across the globe, for those of us interested in quickening the demise of the human species through photosynthesis supremacism. Unfortunately, the tactic of individual suicide still persists despite the 1954 Convention vote, which favors mass suicide as a more collective and therefore effective strategy (derived originally by the specus animus lemming of course). Yours Sincerely, Deborah Rossinow, aka speciestraitor Ed Romero replies: I have no idea what you're talking about. On another topic, how can they call theyselves "Conservatives"? Where is our Free Market Economy? It's ironic that the nation that goes down in history as the premier Free Trade Loving Empire of the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries HATES free trade. There are 2 million people decomposing in prison technology for selling and trading grass. _____________________________________________

The Founder Speaks [Re: Gentle Joshua's Peace With Police] I like the MAGIC PROPAGANDA POLICE peace initiative. There are so many people who believe in cops and support cops 100%, that cops can't be eliminated in one foul swoop (as I would like it). Cops need to realize that there are tons of people who hate the police state, but don't hate cops as humans and want to establish a dialogue which will be the transition out of the police state. The first step is to ask the police who they're representing: rich or poor. This first step is crucial cause right now, for the most part, cops primarily are guardians and protectors of capital. As such, they guard and protect the rich much more than they do the poor. Questions to ask the cops: 1) What greater role could the police play in combatting social inequalities that lead to criminal behavior? (Police as social activists) 2) The more crime there is, the more need for cops. How do we reconcile and end this vicious cycle when ideally, there should be complete order but no cops. 3) What are some of the biggest barriers cops see to a crime-free society (linked to #1). Do we need more schools? More parks? More discipline in the home? etc. 4) Should cops be more accountable to their communities. For the most part they are seen as strangers, as some sort of an "occupying force." Burn one, Dr. Vagenius Tomorrow _____________________________________________

November 20, 2000 |  LAST NIGHT GAY RIOT SAVED MY LIFE [Re: DJ Gay Riot] I feel like I have to make this funny or else I'll totally corn out. But I swear to every God that exists, I think that if DJ G.R. had not been there, with his music, patience, and love, I would be dead right this very second. And I'm not kidding. The music I remember only a king could have played. I have never been treated this way before in my life by anyone. I can't describe it in words, I just know that it was a profound life thing and I admire you in a totally new breathtaking way. I learned so much in just those few hours. You helped me face my fear, for the first time to let it take me over completely, which is why I felt death in my throat, and then it ran away and I knew that something very important had happened. I wouldn't have made it without you because I listened to what you were playing and you really were with me and I felt that I was starting to lose my sanity. Today I am in a daze and all I think about is how last night I had the best experience with a human being in my entire life - and it is so crazy how a few hours and some dirty records can change the way you look at everything. Love, A D.J. Gay Riot Fan DJ Gay Riot replies: A quote from Satanicide sums up my sentiments quite nicely, "If you ain't getting high at one of our shows, we have a special section for you - it's called the pussy section and it's located outside!" Actually, in my book, even pussies get high, but, you catch my drift. _____________________________________________