Eclectic Views

    
In Politics the upcoming election has been a continuing source
of amusement.   We have a number of well-qualified members who
are supporters of different Democratic candidates.  [There's
no suspense, of course, on the Republican side].   We have a
Democratic Super-Delegate who's one of a crowd of Dean supporters,
a long time Democratic campaign worker who just as ardent a 
Kerry supporter, and at least one very vocal Edwards supporter.
Those of us among the great Uncommitted are learning a lot from
the interplay among these experts.
  

    
 <inkwell.vue.>, topic 206: David Shenk: "The Forgetting"
 Starting January 30, journalist David Shenk talks about
 the coming epidemic, Alzheimer's Disease, its cause, its effect, and
 science's struggle to find a remedy.
 
 <pre.vue.>, topic 69: Driving a taxi in San Francisco.
    Will (static) hack it?
 A fascinating new topic, wherein (static) reveals what life behind the wheel
 of a taxi is really like.
 
 --------------> Featured conferences ------------------------------------>
 
 <decor.>, topic 85: "Why Don't You?"
 Breezy decorating tips from the sublime to the ridiculous. Come add your own
 ideas to the collection. 
 
 <movies.>, topic 3058: 2003-04 Oscar Talk
 The nominations are out, and there's plenty of controversy to talk about.
 Who do you think will get the Academy's nod on February 29? 
 
 <plumage.>, topic 580: Award Shows and What the Stars Wear
 <plumage.>, topic 559: The 2003 Oscars!
 And since we're in awards season, there's plenty to talk about on the
 clothes front of those attending the various ceremonies, too.
 
 <news.>, topic 2912: Put MLK on the $20
 Should Martin Luther King's face appear on the $20 bill? The discussion now
 includes who else is, should be or shouldn't be on various denominations of
 currency in America and abroad. Amos the Mouse, anyone? 
 
 <byline.>, topic 112: The Book Proposal
 Need advice on getting your book into the hands of a good agent and seeing
 it published? This is the place for info and support. 
 
 <ads.>, topic 162: Political Advertising
 Election years mean a bonanza for TV advertizing as the political battles
 are fought out on screen. What's working for the candidates? Also linked to
 GenX, Media and TV. 
 
 <politics.>, topic 2019: The John Kerry Presidential Juggernaut
 Have John Kerry's early victories in Iowa and New Hampshire put him in an
 unassailable position already? And what would a Kerry nomination mean for
 the November elections? 
 
 <education.>, topic 267: Science Education in America
 Can you train someone to be creative? Does our current education system
 discourage creativity in order to breed obedient workers for the economy?
 And what's the effect of gender on creativity? 
 
 <space.>, topic 147: Mars Exploration Rovers
 Mars is definitely where it's happening at the moment, with two rovers now
 on the loose looking for signs of water and supplying us with cool pictures
 of the Martian landscape for us to use as our desktop wallpaper. 
 
 <popcult.>, topic 722: Eat Me!
 Still more on German cannibals, for those whose appetites are still not yet
 fully sated. 
 
 <current.>, topic 1497: Avian Influenza
 Scientists fear that if bird 'flu succeeds in jumping to humans it will be a
 devastating pandemic on the scale of the one in 1918 that killed millions.
 Are we worried yet? (draml)
 
 --------------> Independent conferences --------------------------------->
 
 <bookclub.ind.>, topic 31: DON QUIXOTE: Grossman's new translation
 The Book Club is gearing up to read the new translation of this classic
 work. Actual discussion is a couple of weeks away, but in the meantime
 there's plenty of talk about previous experiences with The Don.
 
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------->
  

    
 <inkwell.vue.207> Steven Johnson, "Mind Wide Open"
 What happens when an author uses himself as a guinea pig in a bunch of
 brain-response experiments?
 
 <pre.vue.73>  What The WELL is Not!
 A chance to head off any of those famous misconceptions such as: The WELL is
 not boring; for sissies; or a mutual admiration society! (Really? Darn.)
 
 --------------> Featured conferences ------------------------------------>
 
 <eastcoast.521> Same sex marriage: The Massachusetts battleground
 <current.1501> Gay Marriage: Who Cares? Why? Church/State?
 <gay.488> Same-Sex Marriage: Who Decides?
 While San Francisco makes worldwide headlines with the first officially-
 sanctioned same-sex marriages in the US, Massachusetts has been debating a
 constitutional ban against just that sort of thing. Both are crucial test
 cases for the nation on the issue.
 
 <ethics.180> Metaethics
 Is it ethical to take advantage of a drunk if you're a better poker player
 than he is? What if the player was sober but clearly quite unintelligent?
 Where's the ethical line?
 
 <tv.1060.505-> Jeopardy!
 If you haven't yet, read all about a Well member's Jeopardy! appearance.
 
 <cars.268> All About REAL Trucks
 Mmmmmmmmmm ... trucks.
 
 <scams.114> Dealing with Fraud
 What do you do when someone charges concert tix to your credit card or
 steals your identity?
 
 <movies.3058> 2003-04 Oscar Talk
 <movies.3053> The Well/Table Talk Movie Awards: The Best of 2003
 The Oscars are nearly here, so this is the place for post-awards analysis.
 And don't forget to cast your vote in the WELL/Table Talk awards before 6pm
 PST on Friday, February 27.
 
 <cooking.660> What did you cook today? Part XV
 The oldest available rendition of this topic goes back 12 years. We're still
 cookin' up some fabulous foods, from Cajun to Asian. Join the fun!
 
 <cooking.707> Oyster Fest time again?
 For those who are bullish on oysters, planning for this year's WELL
 Oysterfest is underway. Help hash out the details with the rest of the cow
 orkers. Don't be a chowderhead by missing one of the great annual events on
 the Well collander ... er, make that *calendar*.
 
 <genx.1852> The Baghdad DVD Festival
 It started with a plea for Netflix recommendations for troops in Baghdad and
 has now come all the way around to redeployment out of Iraq to Germany.
 
 <books.973> Ask the Experts: Books Division
 If you have a single phrase from a book you read 15 years ago stuck in your
 head, and just can't remember the author, or title, or even the plot, here's
 where to ask. It's amazing the sort of obscure questions that can get
 answered.
 
 --------------> Independent conferences --------------------------------->
 
 <slicker.ind.261> More Overheard on the Subway/Bus/Streetcorner
 Post what you heard or just laugh along.
 
 --------------> New independent conference announcements ---------------->
 
 <chocolate.ind.>
 If you are a chocoholic then this is the place for you. And if you love mole
 (the Mexican chocolate savory sauce dish) then be sure to check out topic
 11, Where's the best Mole?
 
 <islam.ind.>
 A new conference that is devoted to discussing Islam in all its aspects - 
 including the hot topic of French schools seeking to ban the wearing of the
 hijab.
  

    
<inkwell.vue.208> Art Kleiner: Who Really Matters? The Core Group Theory
    of Power, Privilege and Succes
 Does the customer really come first? Does a leader really lead an
 organisation? What if every decision is driven by the perceived wants and
 needs of a Core Group of people "who really matter"? That's the fascinating
 concept that author Art Kleiner is current discussing in Inkwell.

 <pre.vue.57> Question of the Week -- 2
 The question "What's the most important rule of thumb you use in your work?"
 has yielded up some great answers. "Am I *certain* that I'm changing what I
 think I'm changing?" will be familiar as a gold standard for all programmers
 the world over.

 --------------> Featured conferences ------------------------------------>

 <homeowners.371> Designing a healthy house
 A recent move in Japan to replace "sick" houses with non-toxic ones has
 sparked an interesting discussion about healthy homes and indoor air
 quality.

 <beatles.221> The Grey Album
 Fab Four fans on the DJ Danger Mouse remix that combines elements of rapper
 Jay Z's *The Black Album* and *The Beatles* (commonly known as "The White
 Album").

 <flying.316> The decline and fall of United Airlines.
 The situation continues to get more and more dire for United, and our own
 insider, a United employee keeps us up to date on all the company's latest hare-
 brained schemes. A sad but fascinating topic. Also linked to the transport
 and travel conferences.

 <movies.3061> Mel's Christ movie
 <popcult.705> Has Mel Gibson lost his shit?
 <cross.338> "The Passion," Other Christ Films, & the Gospels
 Love it or hate it, at least "The Passion of the Christ" has got discussion
 of religion back into the mainstream.

 <popcult.724> Quien es mas loco?
 Whitney or Courtney? Marriage or diving with sharks? Questions, answers,
 allusions, and quick wit abound in thees popular, cultural topic.

 <linux.125> Linux Desktop Success Factors
 There has lately been a spirited revival of the endless distribution
 discussion. What distros are people having success with, and why? Also
 linked to the biztech conference.

 <media.2212> The Same-Sex Marriage Wars
 President Bush's intervention - calling for a constitutional amendment on
 same-sex marriages - has kicked this issue into overdrive and firmly into
 the 2004 election landscape.

 <current.1504> Anti American feelings world wide
 Americans travelling abroad are coming face-to-face with the reality of
 rising global anti-US sentiment.

 <movies.3068> My Celebrity Lover
 This is your chance to claim your big-screen honey, once and for all.
 Astonishingly, it took nearly 20 posts for Viggo to be snapped up.

 --------------> Independent conferences --------------------------------->

 <chow.ind.144> So Good (Or Bad) I Nearly Cried
 What food or drink experience has moved you to tears? The first mango ...
 the first Indian meal ... the first coffee after swearing off caffeine for a
 lengthy period.
  

    
The most active conferences on the Well for the past week have
been as follows.  This table is three columns, listing the 
activity ranking, the number of visits during the week, and the 
conference title.

 1. 5886  news           11. 2080  politics       21. 1167  words
 2. 4887  media          12. 2074  macintosh      22. 1117  hosts
 3. 3939  tv             13. 2048  plumage        23. 1102  games
 4. 3870  movies         14. 1786  current        24. 1092  books
 5. 3468  genx           15. 1581  sports         25. 1018  windows
 6. 3164  popcult        16. 1533  music          26. 1009  pre.vue
 7. 2828  chow.ind       17. 1398  health         27.  969  web
 8. 2799  sanfran        18. 1358  classifieds    28.  902  cooking
 9. 2443  flame.ind      19. 1312  ny             29.  868  gd
10. 2142  obsess         20. 1234  berkeley       30.  849  byline
  

    


This is going on until 01April:

<http://www.well.com/friend2friend.html>

The Well, 2 mos for 2 bucks. Perfect opportunity to find out how interesting
we really are.
  

    

Last week:
 25. 1040  pre.vue


Tax time reminder.
  

    
Ha! Two things are sure: The Well, and taxes.
  

    

In <pre.vue.25> there's a new round of limericks asking for your vote.
  

    
 --------------> Publicly-viewable conferences --------------------------->
 
 <inkwell.vue.209> The Everyday Low Carb Slow Cooker Cookbook: Kitty
 Broihier, Kim Mayone
 Old and new converge in this new cookbook, and the authors visit the Inkwell
 to discuss it with us. Anybody making corned beef this week?
 
 <pre.vue.22> Politics and Current Events
 Word, for example, of an impassioned defense of Howard Stern wrapped into a
 blast at the Patriot Act, on the floor of Congress, as well as preparations
 for national "I'm Embarrassed by my President" day.
 
 --------------> Featured and independent conferences -------------------->
 
 <europe.ind.4> News in Europe - Europe in the news
 <current.1508> Spain: Iraq "war" anger, or terror fear? or both?
 Nearly 200 people were murdered in Madrid last week, by bombs on several
 trains during rush hour.  While it still isn't known who was behind it, more
 and more clues suggest it wasn't ETA after all, and the government's
 insistence that it was got them thrown out of office this weekend.
 
 <radio.553> Air America
 There's a new radio network featuring personalities like Al Franken and
 aiming to balance the far-right tilt of talk radio.  (Also available as
 <media.2219>.)
 
 <sports.1250> The 11th Annual WELL Virtual March Madness Pool
 Call the results of the 63 games in this year's NCAA Men's Basketball
 tournament and earn bragging rights as the Sports conference top
 prognosticator.
 
 <words.1518> Opposites Attract
 What's the opposite of TOOL? A  new game of Opposites Attract is in its
 early stages. Come join in!
 
 <games.632> Well Diplomacy Game Nine
 The latest round of Diplomacy is just getting started. Who will win, who
 will fail, and which of your favorite well-players will betray another?
 Lying is allowed, technical cheating (forging email headers and so forth) is
 not.
 
 <popcult.604> News flashes from the pop culture front, part deux
 Charlize Theron smokin' a bong? Tonya Harding as a hockey player?  The most
 amusing celebrity juice shows up in this long-lived topic.
 
 <class.6989> 2000 Volkswagen Beetle
 This ridiculously recursive thread is the "Being John Malkovich" of
 Classified conference topics. Well worth checking out.
 
 <movies.3080> I finally got around to seeing it, and...
 Sometimes you don't see a movie when it's hot. Sometimes you just miss a
 classic or two, for years. This is to place to visit when you catch up.
 
 <wine.ind.41> Stocking the wine cellar
 How to store wine properly, how to prepare a cellar in your home, and more.
 Some experts with over 200-400 bottles of wine (sorry, no home addresses
 posted)!
 
 <chocolate.ind.9> Recipes!
 Chocolate elephant? You read it here first.
 
 --------------> New conference announcement ----------------------------->
 
 <bodymods.ind.>
 If you're interested in tattoos, piercing, or other forms of body art.
  

    
<inkwell.vue.>
Continuing this week is a conversation with Ramon Sender Barayon (rabar)
about "A Death in Zamora." Ramon's book is the story of his family, that
combines autobiography and detective story with a history of right-wing
atrocities in Spain in the 1930s.

Starting April 9, join (caseyell) and (randallk) to talk about their
new book, "The Organized Home," which brings a design perspective to the
practical matters of organizing information and possessions. (bumbaugh)
 
<pre.vue.>
Lots of lively activity in this conference including an April 1 update
from the world of business <pre.vue.67>, discussion of Curves, the hugely
successful women's gym alternative,which is providing its founder money
for anti-abortion causes <pre.vue.78>, which "reality show" do you watch?
...  would you appear in?  ... would you create? <pre.vue.57>, and the
Republicans commending the business savvy of a woman who learned
everything she ever needed to know from running a bordello (no, they
didn't know that part) <pre.vue.64>. (coiro)
 
--------------> Featured conferences ------------------------------------>
 
<spirituality.253> What do you believe and why?
In which the discussion has turned to the supernatural.  Has anything
inexplicable ever happened to you?  Do you believe such things can be
reproduced by experiment?  Do you think that maybe they exist but are
negligible or insignificant?
 
<music.1784> What Concert Was That I just Attended
A Well user posted a wonderful report of playing in an alternative
music festival near poland in post #1167.
 
<politics.2152> European politics
A new one-stop topic, covering the fallout from the recent French elections,
the forthcoming European Parliamentary vote, Tony Blair's health and more.
Also linked to the France and Europe.ind conferences.
 
<byline.457> The Women's Magazines
How hard is it for freelancers to break into the women's magazine market?
Tips and advice galore... 
 
<sports.1253> Major League Baseball 2004
The season has begun again. Is this the Year of the Cubbies? Can the
micro-market Marlins reprise their surprise championship from last year?
The surest sign of spring are the words "Play ball!"
 
<popcult.730> Bond. James Bond.
Finally, a topic for the world's premier superspy. The question of who will
take over the role once Pierce Brosnan steps down (Ewan McGregor? Jake
Gyllenhall? Orlando Bloom?) together with supervillainesses and wicked spoof
scripts. 
 
<photography.307> Photography Conference Shooting Party
A group of people meet, are given a photographic theme, go out to shoot for
a couple of hours and then meet up for drinks and a viewing of everyone's
best shots.  Bonus points for working in a way for furriners like me to
participate. 
 
<tv.1535> 9/11 Hearings
The latest thing in reality TV: the hearings making headlines around the
world with their charges and counter-charges of mishandling the Iraq War.
Will they tip the electoral balance against Bush in November? Its great TV,
anyway. 
 
<radio.553> Air America
A new national radio station has just been launched, with Al Franken and
Janeane Garofalo, among others, hosting the programs.  The best part is,
they're collaborating with Salon, so the lead story on salon.com will get
broadcast on Air America every day.  Also linked to the media and politics
conferences.
 
<scifi.588> under-rated science fiction or fantasy movies
One great bonus of the DVD phenomenon is that it causes old movies to be
reappraised. Films such as "Robinson Crusoe on Mars" can get a whole new fan
base, while surely "Escape From New York" could never have been so over-
looked in the first place? 
 
<health.1737> short questions about health, cont'd
Something's happening, but you don't know what it is? Ask here. 

<hosts.517> Hosts in the Spotlight
WELL hosts continue to get lightly grilled in this new feature. Coming up
next are (gerry) (from April 7) and (esoft) (starting April 14). Come by
and watch the fun, as they introduce themselves and their conferences to
newcomers.
 
--------------> Independent conferences --------------------------------->
 
<blair.ind.>
Our resident stats conference says a sad farewell to a departing host, and 
hello to new host.  And thanks to the latter we have a new improved
"changed bios" set of topics.
 
<chow.ind.160> Chow Contest
It's self-organizing, and it relates eating and posting on the Well to
one another. Yes! It's the first ever Chow Contest!
  

    
_Escape From New York_ overlooked? What other movie 
has Cadillacs with chandeliers? Or indoor oil-wells?
  

    
 Not-to-be-missed topics around The WELL:  May 17 2004
 
 --------------> Publicly-viewable conferences --------------------------->
 
 <inkwell.vue.213> Dave Zimmer - "4 Way Street: The Crosby, Stills,
    Nash & Young Reader"
 Currently in Inkwell, Dave Zimmer is talking about 'the Mount Rushmore of
 folk rock'. Then Martin Torgoff - author of "Can't Find My Way Home" - takes
 over from May 21, exploring the drug culture from jazz musicians of the 40s
 through beats, hippies and beyond. What affect has it all had on our world?
 
 
 --------------> Featured conferences ------------------------------------>
 
 <gay.612> Same Sex Marriage: Part Two
 On Monday, 17 May, the first same-sex marriages in the United States will be
 performed, as all the judicial appeals of the opponents have been exhausted.
 Cambridge MA is opening city hall at midnight to accommodate the demand.
 
 <etiquette.6> Responding to Rudeness
 Miss Manners would not approve, but still ... Who can resist a snappy
 comeback to boorish remarks? 
 
 <movies.3076> Troy
 Opening this week, will Brad Pitt's new swords-and-sandals epic slay the box
 office? Advance word from the previews is already coming in - and is mixed.
 
 <genx.1458> What I Would Have Said in That Email If I Didn't Care About
    Getting Fired!
 This topic is an excellent one for watching people write brilliantly snarky
 letters to the frustrating people in their workplaces. It always makes me
 feel better, anyway. 
 
 <parenting.1019> What do you tell YOUR kids about Drugs & Sex?, part II
 How to handle the question of teens drinking at parties: is it better to
 have them do it in a supervised environment, or is it opening a whole new
 can of legal as well as ethical worms? 
 
 <newmusic.98> My collection is bigger than yours
 List-makers and cataloguers will enjoy the current efforts to qualify and
 quantify artists' most creative years in terms of recorded output. 
 
 <politics.2172> Fahrenheit 911--The Temperature at Which Truth Burns
 <media.2241> Stop the Censorship of Fahrenheit 911
 <current.1528> Censorship and Michael Moore
 Michael Moore's new film may be too political for the folks at Disney to
 distribute in an election year, but freedom of speech is alive and well in
 this group of topics about the ensuing controversy. 
 
 <space.88> Xprize - The Commercial Race For Space
 Xprize is a contest to put a privately-designed ship into space twice in two
 weeks, and it looks like we are finally going to have a winner. Watch this
 space in the next few months. 
 
 <cross.346> 11th Commandment Nominations
 What extra commandment would you like to see added to the original best-
 selling line-up of ten? 
 
 --------------> Independent conferences --------------------------------->
 
 <blog.ind.19> Movable Type: Usage and hackery
 The "Movable Type" software is one of the most popular ways of publishing
 weblogs. The latest 3.0 version introduces a new licensing cost and
 structure that's got everyone talking. 
 
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------->
  

    

The picnic topic is up and going in <party.>, <news.> and a bunch of the
local SF Bay regionals conferences.  Annual picnic is going to be on Angel
Island this year.  Check it out, save the date.
  

    
 Not-to-be-missed topics around The WELL:  June 1 2004
 
 --------------> Publicly-viewable conferences --------------------------->
 
 <inkwell.vue.>
 Martin Torgoff, author of "Can't Find My Way Home," is just finishing up his
 exploration of the drug culture. Then from June 4, Inkwell welcomes
 singer/songwriter-turned-turned-novelist Jesse Sublett. Once the prime
 suspect in his girlfriend's murder, Jesse is here to discuss the candid
 examination of his life offered up in his new book "Never the Same Again."
 
 --------------> Featured conferences ------------------------------------>
 
 <scifi.593> Roger Zelazny's LORD OF LIGHT
 The scifi conference is hosting a book discussion group, and right now the
 conversation is focused on this 1960s science fiction classic.
 
 <tv.1547> The 2004/2005 Season
 Sparked off by the notion of a CSI: Sunnydale crossover with Buffy, this
 topic has been discussing city names and has uncovered a wonderful map of
 the Simpson's home town of Springfield.
 
 <history.476> Contemporary Spanish History
 The history conference turns to examine Spanish history. I'm learning all
 sorts of stuff about which I'd had no idea.
 
 <movies.3089> Harry Potter and the Prisoner Of Azkaban
 It's been a long wait, but the new Harry Potter movie is out. A new
 Dumbledore, new guest stars (including Emma Thompson and Gary Oldman), a new
 director - and the spine-chilling Dementors. Can anyone resist?
 
 <arts.302> Art galleries in New York: Soho, Chelsea, Dumbo, where next?
 With the popularity of digital photography, are dark rooms going the way of
 dinosaurs?
 
 <design.351> Typography
 If you appreciate the art of type, then you'll always be on the look-out for
 new ways to identify fonts.
 
 <words.1585> Memes and catchphrases of 2004
 What are the phrases doing the rounds that define 2004? "Why do you hate
 America" and "Anyone But Bush" are two early nominations; or should we all
 be standing behind the president at a time of war?
 
 --------------> Independent conferences --------------------------------->
 
 <gadgets.ind.8> Your Latest Gadget Purchase
 Bought a shiny new electronic toy recently? Come brag!
 
 <bookclub.ind.39> Pride And Prejudice, by Jane Austen
 The Bookclub is currently having an excellent discussion about one of the
 all-time classics.
  

    
 Not-to-be-missed topics around The WELL:  June 17 2004
 
 --------------> Publicly-viewable conferences --------------------------->
 
 <inkwell.vue.> Mary Mackey, "Sweet Revenge"
 Starting Friday, June 18, Mary Mackey - aka "Kate Clemens" - returns to
 Inkwell to talk about her latest comic novel, her future work and her most
 recent encounters with ravaging Brazilian insects. (cdb)
 
 --------------> Featured conferences ------------------------------------>
 
 <filmmaking.202> Transferring film to video - methods, labs, advice
 How do you put old movies and video tapes onto DVD? What is the best
 archival format? Who will do those commericial transfers at an attractive
 price? It's geeky, yes, but if you have old movies or tapes lying around you
 may get motivated by the very specific expertise on offer.
 
 <sports.543> Soccer
 In the soccer world, one of the major international tournaments is curently
 taking place in Portugal. Euro 2004 has already seen France devastate
 England in one of the opening face-offs.
 
 <parenting.1057> Funny things kids say
 OK, it's a little Art Linkletter, but it's also irresistible to find out
 that the kid wants you to put "sunscream" on him.
 
 <travel.176> Paris in the the Spring
 One of our own is treating us to some fabulous pictures of Paris. Le Passe
 Muraille, the cemeteries, and wonderful shots of people, not to mention the
 major sights of the city.
 
 <words.1586> Small Words from More Great Minds
 You can't write a long word in this new page of "Small Words for Great
 Minds." Posts of one-beat are the norm. The hot riffs are on pets: dogs,
 cats, birds, ones-with-fur-in-a-cage. Come say what you've got to say in
 your short and sweet way.
 
 <hosts.517> Hosts in the Spotlight
 The host interviews continue after a week's hiatus, when we have the
 opportunity to learn more about the completely trustworthy <scams.> host,
 starting June 23.
 
 <photography.307> Photography Conference Shooting Party
 ...is a week from Sunday. Whether you are in the Bay Area or not, you can
 participate in this photography contest. All the details are in the topic.
 
 <work.438> Reemployed Yet, or Still Trying?
 He doesn't phone, he doesn't write... What do you do when the recruiter
 suddenly stops returning your calls?
 
 <current.1233.888-> The Euro
 What to do with those large bags of small change.
  

    
  --------------> Publicly-viewable conferences --------------------------->
 
 <inkwell.vue.218> Francesca De Grandis, "The Modern Goddess' Guide to Life"
 Francesca De Grandis - best known for her serious books on feminist
 spirituality - shows a different side of herself in her humorous new work,
 "The Modern Goddess' Guide to Life: How to Be Absolutely Divine On a Daily
 Basis." Starting off with why the cover is *quite* so pink!
 
 <pre.vue.86> Review "Fahrenheit 9-11" Here
 With so much talk all over The WELL about Michael Moore's latest
 controversial movie, <pre.vue> has set out to create a one-stop digest of
 concise, self-contained reviews - both new and ported posts.
 
 --------------> Featured conferences ------------------------------------>
 
 <midwest.45> What's happening in the Midwest?
 An "evergreen" topic in this regional conference, lately turned to reports
 how Michael Moore's new film is being received in the 'merican Heartland.
 
 <britain.15> British Food - Not Just Roast Beef
 Baps, barms and butties are the object of much discussion among the
 Anglophiles and Brits who are striving to define the ultimate bacon
 sandwich.
 
 <movies.3118> Spider-Man 2
 The big movie of the week is without doubt the return of everyone's
 favourite webslinger, in a sequel that both critics and fans rate as even
 better than the popular first movie. But do the WELL folk agree?
 
 <telecom.1580> Cell phones while at the wheel: Dark Side of the force?
 Everyone has a strong opinion about this topic. Most people have a horror
 story.  And yet others keep insisting on pesky things like statistics.
 Should driving while talking be banned? Also linked to Current.
 
 <boomers.41> Our Parents
 Tales of our parents' youth deliver interesting and previously unknown
 connections among WELL members.
 
 <words.1587> "Oh, bother," said Pooh...
 ... as he struggled to work out the wittiest way of finishing the sentence.
 
 <parenting.1235> Last names
 How do you (sur)name children not to burden them?
 
 <mac.1646> OS X 10.4: Tiger
 The 2004 Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco revealed plenty of
 tidbits about the next Mac OS to chew over.
 
 <hosts.517> Hosts in the Spotlight
 After a week off for good behaviour (and the 4th of July) the interview
 series continues with (brady), host of <sanfran.> - the largest regional
 conference on the WELL.
 
 <bike.161> Le Tour de France
 Will Lance take it for a sixth consecutive year? Are you going to watch
 every minute of the OLN coverage? Discuss.
 
 --------------> Independent conferences --------------------------------->
 
 <blog.ind.48> Well Member Blogs
 <blog.ind.18> Wudja blog today?
 There are so many weblogs out there these days, it's hard to find the true
 gems. But these topics provide a great start.
  

    
 Not-to-be-missed topics around The WELL:  July 17 2004
 
 --------------> Publicly-viewable conferences --------------------------->
 
 <inkwell.vue.219> Susan McCarthy, "Becoming a Tiger: How Baby Animals
    Learn to Live in the Wild"
 Author and journalist Susan McCarthy is now appearing in the Inkwell,
 sharing her expansive knowledge of animals and their behaviors in her latest
 book.
 
 <pre.vue.87> The Minor Confessions Of Shame Topic
 Own up. Where better to make your banal confessions than where all the world
 can see?
 
 --------------> Featured conferences ------------------------------------>
 
 <life.185> Debt of the Soil
 What's it like growing up in rural India? Check out the autobiographical
 topic from a new Well user.
 
 <media.2200.40-> media coverage of terror warnings
 A news story about antidotes for chemical weapons is an unlikely but
 effective starting point for some quality word play that shouldn't be
 missed.
 
 <movies.3122> Who Me?? "I Robot"
 The topic isn't actually so much talking about the movie, but there's some
 fascinating discussion of CGI effects (the good and the bad) with someone
 who actually does it for a living.
 
 <travel.985> If you could go anywhere
 If you could leave tomorrow, with unlimited time and money, where would you
 want to travel to: Antarctica? The South Pacific? The world is your oyster.
 
 <vc.489> Who are the trolls ?
 Just what makes a 'troll', and why do they do it in the first place?
 
 <future.416> An illiterate Future?
 Recent studies show fewer and fewer people are reading books. What has been
 and will be the impact of this drop in reading on our society? What kind of
 a future will emerge if the trend is not halted and reversed? What can and
 should be done to reverse the trend?
 
 <tv.1557> Big Brother 5
 It's back - like it or not! Shockingly, most of the house mates appear to be
 young and attractive - whatever twists will they think of next? Well,
 there's some. Also check out news from the British version in topic 1451.
 
 <cars.58> The idiot(s) I saw on the road today
 Weaving dangerously in and out of lanes to get one car closer in line?
 Running red lights then flipping you off for honking at 'em? Go ahead, vent
 here about those bad drivers.
 
 <chess.>
 Have a go at helping to re-invigorate the Chess conference: make a move over
 there if you'd like to play a game or learn or share your favorite chess
 puzzles or just have a bit of chess gossip.
 
 --------------> Independent conferences --------------------------------->
 
 <blog.ind.49> Blogging Political Conventions, 2004
 Bloggers will be covering the U.S. Presidential nominating conventions from
 the streets, from their living rooms and from the conventions themselves.
 See which Well members are in on the action and talk about it here.
 
 <europe.ind.95> Quartervote.com
 The selection of the US President is no longer merely a domestic matter, as
 his policies will shape the entire world. So shouldn't the world have some
 sort of say in who gets the job? A proposed new website from two Well users
 makes some suggestions.
  

    
Not-to-be-missed topics around The WELL:  August 3 2004
 
--------------> Publicly-viewable conferences --------------------------->
 
<inkwell.vue.220> Jay Kinney, _The Inner West_
Former WELL regular Jay Kinney returns to the Inkwell to discuss the myriad
symbolist and occult philosophies addressed in his latest anthology, "The
Inner West: An Introduction to the Hidden Wisdom of the West."
 
--------------> Featured conferences ------------------------------------>
 
<spam.47> Is that a virus in my mailbox: unhealthy attachments!
Beware of phony attachments pretending to be from official addresses at The
WELL. The WELL does NOT send attachments.
 
<cross.351> The Vatican on Feminism
Excerpts of "On the collabaration between men and women in the Church and
the world" are leaking out. Any surprises, or is this your father's Catholic
church?
 
<legal.106> Dumb Lawyer Jokes
Still running strong since January 30, 1988: the beer's hot, the jokes are
not, but you can still read it from the beginning and catch one for the
watercooler tomorrow.  Some say that this is not the longest-running topic
on the well - but they can sue me.
 
<movies.3129> The Manchurian Candidate Redux
Remaking a movie classic is always risky: how does Jonathan Demme's updated
version compare with John Frankenheimer's sixties original?
 
<homeowners.372> Kitchens, 2
Doing some remodeling that you want to talk about? Want to purchase a major
appliance and seeking advice? This topic is just what you need.
 
<audio.249> iPod (continued)
<biztech.165> In The News for 2004
Busy time for the iPod community: a brand new model, the iPod mini finally
going global, Microsoft setting up a music store, and meanwhile Real are
hacking their way in on the scene.
 
<mac.1652> The Laptop Bag Topic
What are you sporting? Any advice for others from your harsh or blissful
experience?
 
<plumage.588> men's grooming
The market for men's grooming products has exploded in recent years: so what
are the best tips in the areas of moisturizers, shaving products, hair
grooming, manicures, sunscreen and (gulp!) waxing.
 
<vc.439> The Burning Man Topic
Tales, legends, memories mix with plans, exhortations, and dreams. What is
this Burning Man event?
 
<politics.2208> Barack Obama
Does this Illinois state senator have a shot at the presidency in 2012?
 
<politics.2209> Presidential Election Pool 2004
Not really a contest, so no wagering, but make your predictions or otherwise
shoot your mouth off here.
  

    
Good crop of topics.  Our tips team knows how to spot 'em.
  

    
 Not-to-be-missed topics around The WELL:  August 17 2004
 
 --------------> Publicly-viewable conferences --------------------------->
 
 <inkwell.vue.221> Bruce Sterling: The Zenith Angle
 Cyberpunk, futurist and frequent Inkwell guest Bruce Sterling is back, this
 time talking about his new novel - a techno-thriller that weaves events of
 9/11, technology and the spy world into a taut tale of intrigue.
 
 <pre.vue.57> Question of the Week -- 2
 One of the most recent questions of the week is definitely not for the
 squeamish: loads of tales of accidental woe, as members are asked "what's
 the worst injury you've suffered?"
 
 --------------> Featured conferences ------------------------------------>
 
 <news.2724.642-> WELL Services, offerings, and staffly announcements
 We know our members can do a better job than Bush's speech writers in
 composing the president's acceptance speech at the GOP convention. Prove it!
 Check out the rules, then enter the speechwriting contest.
 
 <windows.422> Windows XP Service Pack 2.
 Will Microsoft's major OS patch make Windows XP a secure OS?  Will it make
 it easier for Aunt Gertrude to use her computer?  Share your thoughts and
 impressions.
 
 <politics.2214> John Kerry's experiences on Viet Nam "swift boats"
 Suddenly there's a load of talk about the veracity of Senator Kerry's war
 record. What's the truth, and who's stirring things up as the presidential
 campaign starts to get nasty?
 
 <psychology.490> therapy in the era of managed care
 Should HMOs refuse to pay for therapy unless the patient or doctor provides
 documentation that the therapy is working? And if so, what constitutes
 proof?
 
 <hacking.49> Inside The Mind of A Hacker
 This longstanding topic recently turned to a programming language war, but
 with the distinction of mostly rational discussion about the religious
 issues.
 
 <media.1989> Look out, it's the OLYMPICS!
 <tv.1565> NBC and the 2004 Olympics
 <sports.1264> The 2004 Athens Olympics
 The Olympics have officially started, and here are the places to talk about
 the spectacle, how well the media coverage is faring - oh, and even how the
 sports are going, too.
 
 <books.1505> One-Book Wonders
 The danger of writing a spectacular debut novel is that the author can never
 match it and might never even be able to try. Harper Lee after "To Kill a
 Mockingbird" for one: what others come to mind?
 
 <words.1588> Yankee dimes
 A wonderful collection of colorful expressions and what they really mean:
 "Mexican overdrive" is coasting in neutral down a hill; "Texas time" is a
 complete disregard for timeliness and schedules!
 
 <metawell.289> when the well isn't your first online conferencing
    experience
 These days, members are pretty likely to have been a part of another online
 community before coming to the WELL. So where did you take your first steps
 in the world of online discussions?
 
 --------------> Independent conferences --------------------------------->
 
 <bookclub.ind.43> Wordsworth's "Lines Composed A Few Miles Above
    Tintern Abbey"
 The Bookclub is trying something a little different: after some
 encouragement from the conference participants, a discussion topic on
 Wordsworth's famous poem has just begun.
 
 <burningman.ind.>
 What kind of shelter do you plan on bringing? Are you building an art car?
 How much water do you need to carry in? What extra amenities can make your
 Burning Man experience even better? Whether you've got a  question or advice
 to offer, now's the time to go to this conference.
  

    
 Not-to-be-missed topics around The WELL:  September 1 2004
 
 --------------> Publicly-viewable conferences --------------------------->
 
 <inkwell.vue.223> WorldChanging.com: Another World is Here
 WorldChanging.com editors Alex Steffen and Jamais Cascio have joined up with
 contributing writers Emily Gertz and Jon Lebkowsky to brainstorm on models,
 tools and ideas for building a better future.
    And coming up from September 10, former New Yorker editor Craig Seligman
 will be here to discuss film critics Susan Sontag and Pauline Kael.
 
 <pre.vue.91> The Get Mike Fit Project, 2004
 In which a pre.vue host tries to improve his fitness by taking up running.
 
 --------------> Featured conferences ------------------------------------>
 
 <plumage.589> Professional Plumage - What To Wear To Work!
 Does 'professional appearance' really have to be synonymous with 'boring
 clothes'?
 
 <eastcoast.529> LobsterFest Sunday Sept 19 Parsons Beach
 This year's Lobstahfest has a date!  g east (well, ok, northeast) on the
 19th for the annual fall frolic on the beach with lobsters.
 
 <ny.323> Conventional Madness
 So what's it really like for the local residents of New York City when the
 GOP comes out to play?
 
 <hawaii.112>  Hawaii on television and "Hawaii" on television
 The islands, the show, and discussing their televisual goodness and whatever
 else leaps to mind.
 
 <filmmaking.202> Transferring film to video - methods, labs, advice
 Whether to archive or to view, here's the how to, which format, how many
 bucks topic.
 
 <comics.263> Newspaper comics, continued
 It's inevitable -- someone mentions a tired old comic strip, and someone
 else says "No, that's a classic!"  Blondie, the Lockhorns, Nancy; I'd
 forgotten about most of these myself.
 
 --------------> Independent conferences --------------------------------->
 
 <gratitude.ind.1>  Today I am grateful for...
 <gratitude.ind.36> The Rant Topic
 Simply remembering what we have to be grateful for in life can genuinely
 brighten your whole day. And if that doesn't work, then be grateful that
 there's a topic right alongside to have a damn good rant about things!
 
 --------------> New conference announcement ----------------------------->
 
 <see.>
 The brand new Sustainability, Energy & Ecology conference has just opened
 its doors. It's a merging of two long-
 standing WELL conferences (Sustainability and Energy) that seeks to bring
 together discussion on these highly interrelated topics under one roof. So
 why not 'go see' right now?
 
 <blog.> (formerly blog.ind) The Blogs & Bloggers conference
 A conference for talking about social media on the
 "living" (updated daily) part of the web. Topics include but aren't limited
 to technical tips, pointing out good blogs and syndicated feeds, talking
 about our own blogging processes, the WELL Members' Blogs group-blog
 aggregrator page (http://wellblogs.josephson.org/), other social media,
 content-management, and related phenomena.
  

    
 Not-to-be-missed topics around The WELL:  September 17 2004
 
 --------------> Publicly-viewable conferences --------------------------->
 
 <inkwell.vue.224> Craig Seligman: "Sontag & Kael"
 Currently in the Inkwell, former New Yorker editor Craig Seligman is
 discussing two of the 20th century's most influential movie critics.
    Starting on September 24, Micah Sifry and Nancy Watzman will be here to
 delve into the world of campaign finance and the special interest groups
 that play both sides of the US political field.
 
 --------------> Featured conferences ------------------------------------>
 
 <future.417> Collapse of civilization
 What scenario do you envision that would spell the end of the world as we
 know it?
 
 <movies.3143> Great movie insults
 Some wonderful insults to inspire you - and certainly leave you howling with
 laughter. "Oh, you *must* buy that hat! It ... it ... gives you a chin!"
 
 <fitness.13> General Fitness Questions
 Want to tone your abs? Need some good stretches for your hamstrings? Get
 your advice from the fitness experts!
 
 <south.29> Volunteer hurricane watchers please report
 Smash. Smash. Smash. We were discussing Frances not very long ago, and now
 it's all about Ivan. Charley seems ages behind us now, and Jeanne may get us
 before it's all over.
 
 <hawaii.87> Hawaii Topics in the Media
 Mauna Loa is grumbling and Hawaii is moving west. And what about that
 glacier outside the cave?
 
 <popcult.> Instant Karma
 What would be the best bit of karmic payback you could imagine? ("President
 Kerry appoints Bush ambassador to Iraq" surely rates pretty highly.)
 
 <northbay.533> The Wine Country Treasure Hunt in Sonoma, Sept. 25
 Bay Areans who enjoy (jayson)'s Chinese Treasure Hunt every year will want
 to mark their calendars for this one. It's a great setting, the prizes are
 excellent, and it benefits the Sonoma Community Center.
 
 <internet.857>  Google's GMail
 The discussion continues, having moved beyond terms of service and the
 privacy issues of storing mail remotely. What's Google's hardware like for
 this? And how do I get an invite?
 
 <travel.993> Travel Fitness
 What do you do to keep up your fitness routine when you're away from home?
 
 <investment.464> Can you beat the index ?
 According to The Economist, fund managers offer extremely poor value for
 money. Why should that be: do you think you could do better, and if so -
 how?
 
 <attack.270.362-> North Korea
 <pacrim.215> North Korean Situation Even Hotter
 Mushroom clouds over North Korea? "We're just doing some landscaping," says
 Pyongyang. What's really happening - and could it possibly end up affecting
 the US elections?
 
 --------------> Independent conferences --------------------------------->
 
 <chow.ind.> that is NOT how you make it!
 When bad things happen to good food.
 
 --------------> New conference ------------------------------------------>
 
 <wow.ind.>
 If you're into the massively multiplayer online role-playing game "World of
 Warcraft" then this is just the conference for you.
 
  

    
 <inkwell.vue.225> Micah Sifry and Nancy Watzman, Is That a Politician
    in Your Pocket?
 Inkwell is currently midway through this absorbing discussion of the world
 of campaign finance and special interest groups playing both sides of the
 field.
    Starting on October 8, business and technology columnist Dan Gillmor will
 be here to talk about the ways the Internet is allowing people to take on
 mainstream media outlets at the grassroots level.
 
 <pre.vue.96> Join the Well for $2
 Now's the time to get your friends and family signed up for a WELL account.
 Our "$2 for two months" Complete account offer can't be beat!
 
 --------------> WELL event ---------------------------------------------->
 
 <party.257> 2004 Chili cook-off, 1-6 p.m. Sun Oct 10
 The WELL's premier pot-luck event is nearly here! Just remember to bring
 something to share with the other party-goers (if you're not entering the
 chili competition, how about some grated cheese, chips or dip?) Otherwise
 just come prepared to have an excellent afternoon's fun and entertainment!
 Everyone's welcome, so bring family and friends along too.
 
 --------------> Featured conferences ------------------------------------>
 
 <writers.2041> What do you know now that you wish you knew when you
    started out?
 A fascinating discussion about the perceived differences between creating
 fiction and writing as a journalist.
 
 <web.95> A9-- Amazon's new Search Engine
 Online retailing giant Amazon thinks it has a new take on searching,
 organizing and storing information on the web. But does it measure up
 against the likes of Google?
 
 <future.419> The Future of the Fourth Estate
 With the bias of media sources growing more and more blatant and the focus
 moving from information to titillation, from education to entertainment,
 will we ever get the straight poop?
 
 <brain.232> How safe is "Safe Enough"?
 When there's not enough statistical data, how can a risk be quantified to
 know whether it's worth taking?
 
 <politics.2100> Presidential and VP Debates - 2004
 This year's debates could be crucial, so how are Bush and Kerry measuring up
 face to face?
 
 <quake.149>  Parkfield, Quaketown USA
 <quake.26>  Volcanoes
 Feeling the shakes? Then check in for the latest news about the Parkfield
 quake. And if that's not enough natural disasters for you, how about the
 latest news from Mt. St. Helens too?
 
 <movies.3154> Shaun of the Dead
 I'm unashamedly plugging this film, as it's British and the best movie of
 the year: truly, the finest rom-zom-com ever made. Go see it - that's an
 order! - then come discuss it here.
 
 --------------> Independent conferences --------------------------------->
 
 <fotolog.ind.51> Fotolog flames out.
 Fotolog (everyone's favorite photo-weblogging site - well, used to be
 anyway) is going into crisis mode and begging for money to keep running.
 Again. It's an addictive site, but is the lack of a business model finally
 closing it down?
 
 <paranoia.ind.37.21-> Am I the only one who...
 In which a Well user paints an alarming portrait of what could go wrong with 
 our November election process. If you're already having trouble sleeping, 
 don't read this topic ...
  

    
 Not-to-be-missed topics around The WELL:  October 16 2004
 
 --------------> Publicly-viewable conferences --------------------------->
 
 <inkwell.vue.226> Dan Gillmor, _We the Media_
 Currently in Inkwell, business and technology columnist Dan Gillmor is
 discussing grassroots journalism by the People, for the People.
    Starting on October 22, we have a double-header: technology writer
 Christian Crumlish - aka (xian) - talks about how the web has transformed
 politics, business and everyday life. And political analyst and multi-media
 journalist Farai Chideya - (zimby) - will be sharing her concerns about the
 epidemic of voter apathy in the US.
 
 --------------> Featured conferences ------------------------------------>
 
 <party.258> Circus Party WOP, Saturday Dec. 18, 2004
 If you're a SF Bay Area resident or plan on being in the greater San
 Francisco area in mid December, you'll want to check out this topic. The
 block of tickets we've reserved is limited and are being sold on a first-
 come, first-served basis.
 
 <politics.2243> Slum Planet
 This year, for the first time ever, more people in the world are living in
 towns than in the country. Is this modern way of life actually sustainable?
 
 <photography.162> What Did You Shoot Today.
 Proud of your latest camerawork? Want to see what other WELL folks are doing
 with their digitals? This fun, fast-moving topic is a great place to share
 your photos and glean tips.
 
 <media.2274> Fox News Channel
 Ever-controversial, recently the Fox New Channel has been making the news
 more than it has been (mis-)reporting it: first with fabricated John Kerry
 quotes, and now host Bill O'Reilly is facing sexual harassment claims.
 
 <crafts.117> Altered Art
 Tips and techniques for the crafty-minded, along with pointers to some
 gorgeous creations using old materials compiled in new ways.
 
 <writers.2049> Is Writing Living?
 Bob Dylan is reported to have said "When you're writing you're not living.
 They call it splendid isolation. I didn't find it so splendid." Is he
 correct? Writers discuss living during, through and with their writing.
 
 <ny.326> Open All Night: 24-Hour New York People
 In the city that never sleeps, what places are open around the clock?
 There's a 24-hour Starbucks of course, but then surely it's no big surprise
 given all that caffeine.
 
 <ethics.214> Peter Singer
 Singer's new philosophical idea goes beyond the old axiom that all people
 are created equally, and moves closer to "from each according to their
 ability; to all according to their need." Thinking through the consequences
 makes for fascinating discussion.
 
 --------------> Independent conferences --------------------------------->
 
 <chow.ind.210> Chow Games
 Sounds simple enough: name two food items, and the person who follows says
 which they'd prefer and then names their own two items for the next person.
 So, Iced Tea or Ice Coffee? Henckels or Sabatier? Scone or Muffin?