Massless

What philanthropy would I support? What project would I fund? Would I be inspired by the available means to an entrepreneurial end?

I puzzled over this recently as I followed up on the progress of Jamie Z. who is using the riches he received from being an early Netscape employee to re-build the DNA Lounge nightclub in San Francisco.

I thought of some glib, casually entertained answers, and stopped the effort when I realized I'm unwilling to contemplate any serious response. It's just a little too fantastic a scenario to capture my imagination especially with so many pressing financial issues I need to confront within my present means.

Is money power? Even without a will or direction to focus it?

I once had in mind a short story about money. It would focus on the life of a modest, unassuming businessperson who would, without much effort, amass an amazing fortune. This modern Midas would everyday bring home their profits in cash and fill closets, drawers, and cupboards with bills. The story ends with a stuffed house and an exhausted billionaire who, unable to penetrate the money hoard, would starve to death.

I would have written it too, but I couldn't move all the money off of the keyboard. :-)

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Hmm, another American conflicted about money, power, and fame? Yes, yes, I'm boring and a walking cliché. Don't Go There™, girl. I'm comfortable in my skin. Except for the vitiligo. Which just plain sucks.

For something a lot more entertaining, go read Jane's Guilty Pleasures, which is all about some horrible, horrible, GREAT T.V. An excerpt:

I am not what you would call discriminating when it comes to watching TV. In fact, you could call me a perfectly democratic, equal-opportunity viewer. Every show deserves consideration - after all, someone thought enough of the show to air it, and who am I to assume my judgement is better than a Fox network executive's?...

I wish I had clever thought balloons. Or a cool cartoon caricature. Hey, my birthday's coming up...