Playa bars trade drinks for stories:

I was teased in elementary school by being called "ellerycelery." I hated it, got into fights and always lost.
The teacher would arrive, find everyone lined up for class, and tell me to go to the principal since I had obviously been fighting.
The principal finally offered 3 alternatives:
a) telling my parents, which would result in a beating (the school must have known the Sorkins beat their kids)
b) teasing other kids back, but teasing seemed... read more

Anyone who's ever seen ZAP or WEIRDO comix has brushed against a tilt-a-whirl mind. Last night, however, I watched a DVD of "CRUMB," a biographical documentary about him. Seeing him interact with his family, former wife and girlfriend, present wife, and children was very frustrating. I kept wanting to suggest that he seek medication or therapy, then figuring that perhaps he has his life as together as he needs it to be. I'd hear his laughter first as a relaxed response to circumstances b... read more

Between TRIBE and FACEBOOK, I hear jungle drums, the coughs of lions on the savannah, the cries of night-calling birds, noises of children waking from odd dreams, the roar of printing presses, the dances of predator and prey, Narcissus at his pool, Echo at her cliff, the unison stamp of war dances, and the weary shuffle of sleepy mammals seeking brief hibernation.

Burning Man, with 4.2 miles on the stationary bike as preparation, came and went. Spent much more time in camp relaxing; lots of dust (a vision of future Burns as global warming leads to multiple thermals), fun campmates. Didn't see as much art, but it was a smaller year for it (and for the population - down to 42,000). I learned that the BORG brings potential art investors out from SF to show them what BRC is all about and to chauffeur them about the Playa via Artery buses. I found value... read more

When I interviewed for the LA County Public Defender, Mr. Moore was interested in my river-rafting, my wine-tasting, and the dome project I had started at UCDavis. Finally, I had to ask point-blank: "Mr. Moore, this may sound weird, but are you going to offer me a job?" He responded, "Oh, I'm so sorry, of course you have the job, I was just enjoying talking to someone who hadn't just gone to college and law school. I forgot what it was like to be young and hungry."