Editor's Corner

By Mary E. Adair

Many of the tropical storms, hurricanes, and typhoons predicted by the severe weather specialists earlier this year rolled in ahead of anticipation drenching August nearly everywhere on the globe. Between mud/earth slides, early snow in the mountains, earthquakes here and there, TV journalists were hard pressed to keep up with the 'politricks', much less the summer version of the Olympics so skillfully presented in Greece. Makes one wonder what percentage of the world's population now purports to be Reporters, Newsmen/women, and Journalists -- and while the math required to figure that out staggers one, just imagine figuring out the number of people holding the "support" jobs required to bring those experts and their opinions to our notice. Actually the war between such presentations is likely the hardest fought of any known in the history of mankind. Ads, (don't you hate it when the network plays the same one over and over within one show) are the foundation and lifeblood of all the "news" just as they are for all the "entertainment." Why, if it weren't for ads, one would never get to stretch one's legs, or indulge in the pause that refreshes.

For instance, yours truly has nearly crippled herself since the pre-season football shows have begun. The new NFL channel presents football facts and heroes and reruns around the clock, and all in all have quite a fascinating array of games from the past to weave into the current schedules. What with a decrepit and cranky recliner placed appropriately for both air conditioned breezes and a good view of the screen nicely placed high enough one doesn't have to catch the view between their toes, watching the games has become a pastime beyond belief. Although the footrest of said recliner resists raising or lowering, thus rendering your editor a pitiful candidate for the injured list with sprained hand, tendonitis of the elbow, and lower limbs that are asleep right up past the area laughingly qualifying one as a dead-end kid, that is still the best seat in the house. Granted, baseball (which was, and still is watched with devotion when the viewer has seen this hour's NFL offering,) provides one with more timely and frequent breaks in which to wash a dish, dust a shelf, swat a fly, edit a poem, download a picture... have you seen the wallpapers available from the various sports sites... Leo has the Rams cheerleaders, for instance... than does football which can take a good 40 minutes to roll a quarter off the timeclock. Every play is a cliffhanger, while with baseball, it's one, two, three, you're OUT... and it takes a bit of time to change teams from dugout to field thus allowing for ads -- about 11 to 14 per break -- and so, one gets more done, and consequently is still able to walk at the end of the day.

Luckily, time and strength was found to get this issue ready. Ad - free, of course, unless you choose to click on something on the sidebar, and fairly well balanced with humor and pathos, food and ideas, fourteen poems, a few editorials, and the continuing serial by Alan Mosedale treats the reader to chapters seven and eight of "Hybird - The Green Cloud." Columns by LC Van Savage, Leo C. Helmer, Gerard Meister, and Michael Craner, our webmaster, are mostly humorous for a change.

John I. Blair leads the poetry package with seven poems: "Some People Say Life Begins At 40," "Abelias," "Paint Creek Site," "Strip Pits at Frontenac," "Southern Autumn," "Midnight Marauder," and "It’s pretty easy to amaze me." Sheila Keith sings her song for "Peace;" Clara Blair speaks up on behalf of a much maligned insect with "Summer Song;" Susan submits a saucy "Not Again;" and Bruce Clifford laments with "Friction," pleads in his "Forgive Me," and makes a declaration with "Whatever You Please." Rounding out the dozen is a "Memory Mosaic" which includes a poem by great niece Erin Bostick, making her first appearance in the ezine. Nicely done, Erin.

Giving equal time for political sides in our articles we include the following. First, new to our ezine, Thomas P. Love sends an article "We The People" dedicated to the memory of his father, a Democrat, who was in WW II. Balancing his article is one by Gerard Meister with a Republican "Point of View - September;" LC Van Savage has her say on speech making, "Mispronunciations Won't Bring Down The Nation" while Leo C. Helmer's article jogs our memories in "A short history lesson on the privilege of voting."

Closing here with our own reminder that you are welcomed, indeed urged, to submit your compositions for possible inclusion in future issues of Pencil Stubs Online. You could find it a most absorbing vocation--writing for publication. Meanwhile, you can start reading this month's features, and don't forget you can invite others to enjoy what you find here.

See you in October.