ACCORDING TO several news
reports, the latest synthetic drug
craze in some North American
cities is methcathinone, or ‘‘Cat,””
which is manufactured with
various industrial chemicals, in-
cluding battery acid and Drano —
thus requiring police to treat ail
manufacturing and sales sites they
raid as toxic waste dumps. Symp-
toms of use include: sweating,
quivering, shaking, experiencing
Jong periods of stupor and para-
noid hallucinations, and said a
Wisconsin sheriff's deputy, smell-
ing bad. Said the officer, ‘‘The
people who use it stink.’’
“ eae

Price paid last year for a Dudley
Do-Right lunchbox .and_ thermos:
_-US $2,200.

Cairo, Egypt’ governor Omar
Abdel-Akher’: announced last
month that the centuries-old
tradition of throwing’ virgins (and -
in- recent years, . statues’ repre--
senting: virgins) into the Nile to
_ hold back. the floods would have
to end soon. because of concern
that the river is becoming. to
polluters, ‘ :

In a recent report, The New York

NEWS OF THE
WEIRD
Compiled hy A.P. McCredie

Times described New Year’s Eve
on a mountain near Ashikaga, 50
miles north of Tokyo, in which
participants in an annual festival

walk in darkness to a temple while

expressing themselves vocally in
ways never permitted by their
polite society. They scream

‘obscenities and ‘indecencies, aimed

FRANK & ERNEST? by Bob Thaves

|

| GRIZZWELLS® by Bill Schorr

ives

HEARD I COULD
ENRN EXTRA
1] -NONEY BY
BENG A
SURROGATE
MOTHER...

at politicians or supervisors (ic.
“My teacher is an idiot!’ and
“Give me a_ raise!’’),. Women,
also, are permitted this rare op-
portunity to use abusive language.

The manager of parking lot atten-
dants for the Washington, D.C.
Metrorail transit system told
employees in a May memo that
they would have to start bringing
containers to work with them so
they would nol have to leave their
booths during the day for
testroom breaks. One month later
the manager was fired.

Number of American TV stations
that have refused to air a con-
sumer group’s ad advocating a
Canadian-style health-care
system: eight. |

Last month in Khandrawali, In-
dia, a villager tricked a couple

‘ who had eloped six months earlier

into returning, and in front of a
public gathering, beheaded the
couple with three sickle strokes as
retaliation for their having inter-
married within the village:

THOSE Are THE

~ RULES ~- \F YOUR

INSURANCE DOESN'T
' COVER AT LEAST
75 PERCENT,
NEITHER DOES
Your HOSPITAL
GOWN.

we oyntaine THAVES B- tt

oy

2 Haatornts me See

ie oS

SNAFU® by Bruce Beattie

ONE OF THE LITTLE THINGS THAT
MAKE? A CAT Fe€e “TAaT ENve Is

WORTHWHILE ~

nis
eARey
COLCA

© 1093 ny NEA, Inc,

“Doesn't this remind you of
changing baby diapers?"

Is there any
‘pomt’

HEAVENS ABOVE

GORE VIDAL, the writer,
and his close friend Paul
Newman, had joined
screenwriter Stewart Stern
(Rebel Without A Cause)
and I at a screening of Den-
nis Hopper’s pretentious
The Last Movie at a small,
out-of-the-way screening
room down on La Cienega
in Hollywood. :

Jack Nicholson was there, ©.
hiding behind his ‘‘shades.’? We
all knew one another, He didn’t
recognize either of us at first,

We were all very quiet that : .
afternoon. We didn’t want Dennis
to know what we really thought of
his beautiful but expensive exercise
in self-indulgence. :

It was the early '70s and the last
time ! was to see the brilliant, sty-

lish Gore Vidal.

His philosophical attitude has-
not changed one iota since then; .”
in one of the essays in his new.

book, United States, he sums it up 7

concisely.
‘Despite the best-efforts of
theologians and philosophers to

_ disguise our condition, there is no

point to us, or to any species, ex- -
cept proliferation‘and survival.
This is hardly glamorous, and;
so to give meaning to life, we have
invented some of the most bizarre
religions that .. alas, we have
nothing to compare ourselves to.
‘We are biped animals filled
with red sea water (reminder of
our oceanic origin), and we exist
to reproduce until we are even-
tually done in by the planet’s

changing weather or a stray mete- ;
on

or.
Strangely liberating. Or is it?
What do you think? Do you
agree with Gore Vidal?
If not, what is your philosophy
or perspective? I would like to |
know. Write me.

ALL SIGNS

Many, now, are partaking of
the teachings of Sri N. Maharaj
and H.W.L. Poonja.

Some, for the illusion of ‘‘easy
enlightenment,” serving spiritual
ego and denial; others, for more
substantive reasons.

Their perspectives are similar.

Example: ‘There is no such
State as secing the real. Who is to -
see what? You can only be the
real — which you are, anyhow.

The problem is only mental,
Abandon false ideas, that is all.

There is no need of true ideas.
There aren't any."’

“Ultimate truth — no teacher,
no teaching, no student.” .

Sept. 12-18, 1993

“native plan.

comes
allow.’ The new. moon, Wednesday,:, uplif- :
ting. Fresh viewpoints.. Aggravate no one, -
Thursday. Lie-low, Friday. Don’t. delegate .

to us?

ARIES (March 21-April 20)-° 5
Your. mood, Sunday, . Aries,
sociable. Much conversation. Monday, more
routine. Your heart uplifted, . Tuesday.
Work, Wednesday, smooth. A well-

deserved reward, You are possessive, Thurs< .

day. Much expected of you, Friday.” Im-
prove relations with relations, Saturday. |.

ro] ‘TAURUS (April 22-May 21)".

‘A problem requires, solving, ‘Sun-
day, Taures. Focus on family, Make en-
vironment
Pressure on closest relationship, Wednescay.-
Thursday, a new romance? Think twice
about, calling it quits, Friday. Saturday,
tempers are shart. .

TE GeMint (May 22-5an020)
Sunday, . Gemini, have. an alter-,

our sensitivily and under-

standing make. a difference, curly ; week.

Mid-week, the new moon accents interest in -
roots and family. Avoid financial .isk-tax-" |.

ing, Friday. Saturday, flow freely,

CANCER (Jnne 22-July 23)
Barly _ week; “Cancer, 5)
easily. Know what your. budget

&

what you can do yourself. Expect the unex-
pected, Saturday. eo tel

2? | LEO (nly 24-Aug. 23)

: Popularity continues Sunday, Leo.
“Barly week, you are irresistible. Wednesday -. ° a
evening, delightful. Don’t stretch the truth, | - 7!
Thursday. You ‘could overdo, -Friday.: Not.
good fer your health, Saturday, leave. im- j

portant decisions until tomorrow,"

Tih hy vinco tang. 24-Sept. 23) 9
‘Sunday, . Virgo, relax. Spaced. out

Monday. Resistance down. Ask’ for’ what

you want, Tuesday. Wednesday, avoid ex.
cessive behavior. Change hair, wardrobe or |

both, Thursday.’ Judgment concerning!

money. is - poor, Friday. Travel: plans’ are. °...
_ subject to change, Saturday. py 0s

Lm

—~
You are objective and fair-minded,

Sunday, Libra. Others appreciate your ad-_.
vice. Early. week, . favorable: for; mending -
fences witha friend. Look within ‘for. an-.:
swers, Wednesday. Thursday: and Friday,”

avoid gossip. Deception ‘everywhere. | Get:
away from usual routine, Saturday.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov, 22) 0°.
Catch upon reading, Sunday,
Scorpio. Early week, a: positive {ook ‘at
yourself ‘from the inside’ out: Be patient,

“Wednesday. Thursday, tough. ‘Take it easy.
More confusion, Friday. Go within ‘and ask’ 9...
for clarity. Distracted by visitors, Saturday. .

-

SAGITTARIUS (Nov: 23-Dec. 21)
et
surroundings,
week, stale your wishes: Others will: res-
pond, Job-related matters run . smoothly,’

more appealing, early > week, .
alp,

away. from. your, usual”.
Sunday, ° Sagittarius.’ ? Barly:

4

Wednesday. Avoid risky situations,. Thurs-:.:..

day. Beware of deceptions, Friday. Mistakes '

easy. Relax and dream, Saturday, Be loved,

CAPRICORN (Dec. 2232, 20) °

You require’ some ‘quiet . time’

aig :

LIBRA (Sept. 24-Oct. 23)

Sunday, Capricorn. Monday, you're in a ~~

good mood, Tuesday, somone you admire
wants you. Mid-week, make some jong-
range plans. Keep a low profile, Thursday.
Gossip and rumors, Friday. This, too, shall
pass. Whip through chores, Saturday, then
visit friends. . : .

SAY, AQUARIUS (an, 21-£eb. 19)

Two friends secking your opinion,
Sunday, Aquarius. You meet someone
special, carly week. Self-indulgence cauld
spell trouble, Wednesday and Thursday.
Your mood, Friday, extravagant. Suturday,:
slaw down and catch your breath. Love and
beloved: ~ : ,

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20)

Get to know some new neighbors,
Sunday, Pisces, Follow your heart, Monday.
Tuesday, figure out what you want. Mid-
week, an unexpected call from an old
friend. Gossip at the workplace, Friday.
Saiurday, avoid those who could manipu
ate. :

Robert Aiken is an. interna-
tionally known  astrologer/
metaphysician, therapeutic
counsellor and workshop leader
with 35 years’ experience. He of-
fers thorough, in-depth, substan-
tive astrological readings, as well
as empowering psychologically’
and metaphysically oriented
counselling sessions. Contact
Carole: 929-4049, ;

1