all about others F E B R U A R Y   2 0 0 1 Current Events

After a mess of legal challenges, George W. Bush ultimately became the 43rd President of the United States of America. How will his term in the White House affect the nation? Positively. He and the GOP will save America. Negatively. The younger Bush will blow it. Not sure. I'm willing to give him a chance. Not at all. The U.S. president is mostly useless. Don't care. Where's my TV Guide?

Ex-general Arial Sharon soundly defeated incumbent Ehud Barak to be Israel's next Prime Minister. How will that election affect the region? Positively. He will bring peace to the Middle East. Negatively. Hostilities with Palestinians will grow. Not sure. I'm willing to give him a chance. Not at all. The peace process will remain stalled. Don't care. Where's Israel, anyway?

Scientists recently announced that they have mapped the entire human genome — the fundamental elements of our biology. What's next? Good news. Medical advancements will save millions. Bad news. Messing with Mother Nature is a mistake. Mixed. The knowledge will help some, harm some. Not sure. As with any discovery, only time will tell. Don't care. Where's the Cheez-Whiz?

Journaling

Do you write about people other than yourself in your journal? Yes, because they're an important part of my life. Yes, because they annoy me and I need to express that. Yes, when they are relevant to the story. Yes, because they want me to. I try not to, but I do occasionally. No, because it would infringe on their privacy. No, because I don't know anyone worth mentioning. I don't keep a journal.

Do you feel obligated to change people's names in your journal? Yes, because I respect their right to privacy. Yes, because they read my journal. Yes, because the people I know are sue-happy. Some people I do, some I don't. No, because they read my journal. No. Screw them if they can't stand it. No, because I don't know their names. I don't keep a journal.

Online journals often feature "cast pages" — a guide to the people frequently mentioned in entries. What do you think about them? Every journal needs a cast page. They're good for some, not for others. If one's needed, you're mentioning too many people. Cast pages are basically evil. Don't care. Don't read them.

If someone you wrote about has found your journal, how did they react? They were happy they were mentioned. They were surprised but amused. They were upset, but eventually accepted it. They were really upset. I got sued, fired, or dumped over it. No one has found it, thankfully. I don't keep a journal.

If you say something bad about someone in your journal, is it wrong or are you merely exercising your freedom of speech? (Suggested by Kathleen.) Wrong and illegal! A libel lawsuit in the making. Wrong, in general, but there are exceptions. It's free speech, although there are limits. It's free speech. You can say anything. It depends on what is actually said. Don't know. I was responsible for The Lowdown.