Dead Serious

I want what you have
And I am dead serious
You thought you knew me
The joke is on you
You have been blind
I have been fast
I am looking to the future
You are tied to the past
You have gone running
Just as far as you can
Enough of the mirrors, the vanities
And the lies
I want what you have
I am dead serious

Once You See

She is not the brightest star
But once you see her light
Transmitted from her deepest place
There is no such thing as night

A different light, a different glow
I feel her through my soul
Something hard to quantify
And harder still to hold

She is not the galaxy
But once you see her span
The diamonds fall from high above
And trickle through your hands

Almost Blind

Too many screens
Are burning my eyes
What is behind this mirage

Colors synthetic
Science so strange
What is behind this mirage

Too long a time
With this burning inside
To move me beyond this mirage

A garden, an ocean
A blue cloudless sky
Hiding behind this mirage

A kiss in the desert
A moment unseen
Nascent behind this mirage

The World is Away from Its Desk Right Now

Operators are standing by
To take your order
Act now
This may be your last chance

But should you need assistance…..
The world is away from its desk right now
Your call is very important to us,
Our next associate will be with you shortly

Be sure to check us out online
www.theworld.com
But the world is away from its desk right now
Please be assured that your call is very important to us

Save time and money on our new website
www.theworld.com
But the world is away from its desk right now

We would like to know if you have had a satisfactory
experience
Today talking to the world
After speaking with our associate, press pound to be
connected
To our customer satisfaction survey

As a special token of gratitude
For taking our survey of the world
You will receive twenty dollars off your next visit to the
world
And you will receive monthly newsletters from the world
Billable at $11.99 from your major credit card
Cancel anytime with no further obligation

Remember to check us out at www.theworld.com
But the world is away from its desk right now

Go, Ted

I just read how over Memorial Day Weekend, Ted Kennedy was sailing his yacht in a regatta off of Cape Cod. Ted Kennedy—one week after a biopsy that revealed brain cancer. Kennedy, with wife and pals by side, out on the ocean. Kennedy’s attitude: “Cancer, shmancer.” It doesn’t matter that death is a week or a month or God knows how far away, Ted just wants to enjoy life while it’s here. Raising his right arm, previously feared incapacitated, when leaving the hospital. Reading the paper in the SUV like he just woke up on a lazy Sunday morning. And now, riding in his yacht on the ocean.

It struck me that this is exactly what we as Americans love most about the Kennedy clan. These are people who live life to the fullest, with gusto and vigor, whatever circumstances may bring. Say what you will about their politics, their boozing, their womanizing, their life of privilege—when you get down to it, it’s really their lust for life that fascinates us all. Two brothers’ lives cut short by assassins’ bullets. But oh, how they lived. You may not like it, but secretly you envy it. Scandal, broken back, trial and tribulation, all in the past: Ted just wants to go out with a bang. The world still needs more Kennedys.

Peace Message

George W. Bush was in Israel yesterday delivering a speech celebrating the creation of the state, and meanwhile a missile destroyed part of an Ashkelon mall. For some reason I am eerily reminded of reports of his reading "My Pet Goat" to kindergartners during the 9-11 disasters, and of his reluctance to leave the golf course after Hurricane Katrina struck. Is there no end to this man's disconnect? Is he living on another plane? Is he leaving on the next plane?

What Happens in Asia

It's another ho-hum week on the Asian continent: At least 22,000 died in a cyclone in Myanmar; some 44,000 more are missing, yes, that same Myanmar where only months ago there was a martial-law crackdown on religious expression by those violent Monks (MONKS!!); then over the Mother's Day weekend, you may not have heard, a 7.9 Richter-scale earthquake wiped out at least 10,000 in China....

Then again, I can understand why you may not have heard; the important thing you need to know tonight, according to Yahoo, is that Mariah Carey has made a video with her new hubby; meanwhile, the headliner on MSN.com is sage advice on how long it will take you to make your first million.

Is anyone else out there as sick of this blindfold that they have us in as I am? Amazing how we are "a smaller world" these days; a "global village," some have called it, thanks to miraculous new forms of telecommunications--yet you have to delve deep into the news to find out about disasters of epic proportions, disasters that make Katrina look like an outdoor picnic....hey, they're in Asia! Half a globe away!

Here in the good old U.S.A., it's still business as usual: If it doesn't pertain to the celebrity culture or the pursuit of millions, the majority of people just don't care.