Editorial

As some of you may have guessed, this issue of CoN is way overdue. Some of you pointed that out, actually, with some rather angry tones. And I must admit, I am. But there are several reasons why this happened.

For starters, as I am writing this, my DSL is down and my phone dead, after the TelCo disconnected me. I don't know why. They don't know why. They said they would fix this as soon as possible. They don't know when.

I've also been busy watching Twin Peaks on tape, mostly because I never bothered to watch it when it was originally on TV. While this has the advantage that I don't get commercial breaks and I can fast- forward past the boring non-Lodge related stuff, it has the downside that I find myself hooked.

I haven't slept now for three nights. I'm eagerly going through the tapes to discover who Bob was, only to be interrupted by the sound of my alarm clock that tells me I should've been asleep a good 8 hours ago. At least.

This of course has caused me to turn into a sort of zombie. While this has the horrible side effect that I tend to fall asleep just about anywhere, it has a wonderful advantage I never deemed possible. But more on that later.

The third reason why CoN is late is a combination of lazyness and the fact that I also can't finish a single article I've been writing. Starts are a dime a dozen, but a good ending just seem to lack me. One more to file under the "Unfinished" folder. I've lost track of how many I've written.

And lastly, work.

I hate work.

Now, there used to be a time, in this world, that when you said "I work with internet stuff" (or something more descriptive about your job that included "net" or "web" in your title), people looked at you with almost the same love, admiration and jealousy as if you had said "Bank manager".

Working with web sucks. Now, it's not the technology. Sure, I could write pages and pages about Microsoft and their concept of reliability (I'm sure it's thanks to Windows that computers have a "reboot" button), or the many new Internet applications to spice up your website so that it takes an extra five days to download. Or your Microsoft Certified Imbecile that has no idea of what the basic functions of a computer are, much less urinate.

None of that.

It's the managers. Managers are lost. They have no clue about how anything works. They have an idea in their mind, and even if means a website that's a 5 MB flash animation with non-vector based images just to get the right touch and what not, they will demand it. Useless are the cries for sanity by the peons that work for them.

So, that's probably one of the number one reasons I haven't had the energy to write, together with the usual messed up office politics that show once again that any good deed is punished and that being a bastard gets you rewarded.

Mind you, my lack of sleep has had the beneficial sides I was mentioning above. Things just go by me without any notice. Meetings happen and I sort of remember being there, but it's all a fuzzy memory of my boss opening and closing his mouth and nonsense coming out (unlike nonsense that I could comprehend). And yesterday the day went by so fast that I don't even remember what I did. Something, I'm sure.

Things take forever. You stare at them. You sort of recognise the pattern and you're waiting for your brain to tell you what to do next. But like the bus stop that I missed this morning, I just sort of stood there, on the bus, staring at it. My brain didn't say anything until two stops later. "You were supposed to get off at that stop you stared at so intensively".

But I digress, as usual.

On the bright side, people seem to think I've spent an all nighter on some project and act all nice around me. "Oh you look tired, you must've worked all night!"

"Why I most definitely have", or at least, that's what I'd like to say, but I just hear myself moan and say "uhm, yeah" about half an hour later when my brain has processed what they said.

Really, I just want to know who Bob is and why there is a dancing midget. Six more tapes to go.

HE KNEW THAT SONG

Brian Newman responds in regards to Melissa De Wilde's article "The Journal of Smell":

I KNEW THAT SONG. And, I sang along, as I read.

WE REALLY DON'T SUCK THAT MUCH

Hey Leandro,

just to tell you I _totally_ enjoyed the last CoN, and I'm looking forward to many more. You sounded so writer's blocked, so I thought I'd tell you you guys are doing an absolutely tremendous job! Thanks man! Wout.

It's nice to be told something nice once in a while. Thank you and sorry for the (usual) delays.

PLEASE, TELL ME SHE IS STERILE

just for the record: perhaps in Canada the groundhog looks out on Feb 1 but here in America it's Feb. 2

I asked to be taken off your mailing list before. That Jesus alleged quote has prompted this reminder -- I do not wish to receive your newsletter.

I still like to see the g.t. award site best wishes ellen kokoris

Just for the record, Ellen, the unsubscribe instructions are written at the bottom of every issue and of course, when you first subscribed, in the message you received. Also, replying to the message you received will unsubscribe you from the list. And to make it even easier for mentally challenged folks such as yourself, we changed it from "unsubscribe" to "leave". It's harder, I hope, to misspell a five letter word.

And lastly, the CoN website is slowly taking shape thanks to Colin. You can see his current work in progress by going here:

http://www.capnasty.org/slob/issues.sqml?vol=5

Thank you for your patience.