XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> NEWSFLASH >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Volume 1, Issue 07. 04/26/96. Current Events, Poetry, Stories and whatever else gets tossed in on a whim. Submissions of poetry, essays on current events welcome. Send to 103763.351@compuserve.com or mswilson@ usa.pipeline.com. Please limit to 4 pages or less - thanx. ########################################### TABLE OF CONTENTS Minimum Wage Questions - Ed. Infectious Diseases and Plague - Ed. Alone - Robert Crocker Games People Play - Stan Wotring A Good Christian Soldier from Boone - Woody Nightshade No Guilt Trip Here - Jim Dunlap It Figures - Woody Nightshade ======================================== MINIMUM WAGE QUESTIONS. Is it better to raise or leave alone the Federal Minimum wage law? There are pros and cons to this question. Businesses claim that it increases the costs passed on to consumers, and could actually limit jobs that are available. Others say that an increase is sorely needed by underpaid workers. Our economy has undergone some dramatic shifts in recent years. NAFTA and other trade deals have caused some job outflow to Mexico, especially Automotive-related jobs. Mergers and downsizing have taken a harsh toll on workers. Maybe it is time for some companies to recognize their social impact on the U.S. economy. Minimum-wage issues are secondary to the downsizing/cutting issue. People need more to look forward to than "wage slavery", no matter what the minimum. Companies have to think hard before abandoning US towns and cities to go overseas. New industries and technologies need to be developed, even if the bottom line takes a hit in the current quarter. Not only quarterly profits, but the social atmosphere and the future of this country need to be considered before cutting is done. INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND PLAGUE It is strongly recommended that people read a book called AIDS and the Arrows of Pestilence, by Charles F. Clark, M.D. From the inside jacket: "The history of epidemic disease-in which AIDS is the newest and most lethal variable-indicates that there are basically two views when it comes to the ravages of disease. The first is that disease is a punishment-a person had to be doing something wrong to be so afflicted; it will never affect 'people like us.' The second view is that a disease will affect everyone. However, any disease's virulence is directly related to a culture's organization, and any member of a given culture is at a certain risk for a disease once another member is infected." This book shows a long history of attribution of diseases and plagues to the 'wrath of God' and like causes, when in fact it is the natural evolution of biological entities like bacteria and viruses, and the interaction of these with human settlements, cities, countries. A must read that can clear up lots of misinformation. ############################################# SUBMISSIONS Alone... DEEP IN THE DARKNESS, IN THE SHADOW OF A SHADOW, I AM ALONE. LOST AND HOPELESS, ON THE THRESHOLD OF A THOUSAND DIMENSIONS, I AM ALONE. THE MAELSTROM OF MY LOST SANITY, CHURNS AND BOILS IN MY MIND, AND I AM ALONE. FOR EONS I HAVE SEARCHED. DRIFTING THROUGH THE VOIDS OF DARK COLD SPACE, TOUCHING THIS WORLD, TOUCHING THAT WORLD. AND TRUTH HAS ONLY NOW REVEALED ITS SELF UNTO ME. I DO NOT BELONG HERE. AND I AM SO UTTERLY ALONE... Robert Crocker. (rotgod@usa.pipeline.com) Games People Play I am playing hide and seek don't you peek. Running from my past just not moving very fast. No matter how far I run, the journey has just begun Because from myself, I can not hide no matter how hard I may have tried. Stan Wotring (wotrin19@nfi.com) A Good Christian Soldier From Boone A Stud Soldier from Boone, I just turned twenty-two. That's north of Des Moines, in case you don't know. I hate faggots and Jews and all black people too. I'm self-righteous and proud, and I'm better than you. That guy in New York killed a faggot soldier, Good show! I'm a stud soldier from Boone, and just turned twenty-two. Someone should really wipe out the whole filthy crew. Including the young ones, before they can grow. I hate faggots and Jews and all black people too. My family taught me the right thing to do-- If I see a gay soldier, just go very slow... I'm a stud soldier from Boone, and just turned twenty-two. Knock his teeth out, and run...in case he might sue-- I'll do him a favor, if he has someone to blow. I hate faggots and Jews and all black people too. You'll know he's a faggot, if his duds are all new, and he's bathed, with cologne, you'll know he's the foe-- I'm a stud soldier from Boone, and just turned twenty-two. I hate faggots and Jews and all black people too. - by Woody Nightshade NO GUILT TRIP HERE Vegan expatriates appear Like wraiths to human eyes: Slowly drifting clouds of mist, Golden-hued, each softly sighs. They're mourning the destruction Of their homeland far away, Where solar sunspots raised storms-- Burnt it like a laser's ray. Displaced persons and refugees Are commonplace on Earth. They surge in growing numbers Around the wounded planet's girth. It's growing rough to sympathize With their needy, starving throngs. So we just sit safe at home... We can't cure so many wrongs. We can hardly be expected To rectify the state Of worldwide dissolution That's holding sway of late. The Universe is much too big, And it's distances are vast. Catastrophes and cataclysms Will strike everywhere at last. Let them fight and kill each other-- We'll hold meetings and discuss. It's the least that we can do-- They'd do the same for us. (c) 1996 Jim Dunlap - originally published in Pablo Lennis, April, 1996. IT FIGURES Nine Millimeter hand guns Are the weapons of choice -- That's still a mixed blessing: Some math teachers rejoice. School kids have learned to Embrace the metric system -- Though their chance of survival Looks much, much more grim. (c) 1996 Woody Nightshade ********************************************* QUOTES All sunshine makes a desert. - Arabian Proverb Time ripens all things: No person is born wise. - Cervantes Much does he gain who learns when he loses. - Italian Proverb ##################################### Any reaction to the poems or essays? Send your comments to mswilson@usa.pipeline.com; Your letter could be printed in the next issue. For a paper copy of this zine, send a buck to MSW enterprises, P.O. box 1770, Des Moines, Ia 50306 to cover my expenses in sending it to you. @@@end of issue 07@@@@@@