2 Magazines

Was short one magazine this time around, but read Playboy July '08 and National Geographic July '08.

The Playboy was a good issue. But I must admit disappointment in the interview. It was with Dr. Drew Pinsky. Now I have a big problem with most TV counselors, Dr. Phil etc., but thought Dr. Drew was different. What I found was he was hypocritical, closed minded, accusatory, and did not really appreciate the huge array of sexual diversity in the world. He puts down celebrities for their seeking of an audience, and he does the same damn thing. He has little time for his family being involved in radio, TV and his own practise. And he blames any sexual diversity on abuse in childhood. What he fails to realize is that these sexual proclivities have been around since time immemorial. They are getting more attention now because of mass media, including him. That is why we all know about it now...MTV shows like he does, Celebrity Rehab.

I did like Bill Maher's article about religion, and the fiction by Denis Johnson, the first part of a four part series, is excellent. One other thing I liked, an answer in the Playboy Advisor, the advise column. A man writes that after many years of marriage he is having an affair, and he is surprised he does not feel guilty about it. The answer is that he is in the throes of "romantic love." It goes on to say, "If you want to feel guilty, confess to your wife and watch the pain spread across her face. As we tell anyone who is tempted to start or is involved in an affair, you made a commitment. If you can't keep your end of the bargain, leave. Otherwise, quit fucking around." That is why I like Playboy!

Nat Geo was great, and the cover story, "Who Murdered the Mountain Gorillas" was heart-wrenching. Such brutality against our own species and the others that share our world. Two other article I really appreciate were the Altiplano, about Bolivia's plain, and Tyrannosaur trap, about new dinosaur fossils. Both were quite good.

On to my next book!