"Spirituality L.A."

Unless you're proselytizing, preaching to the choir or dismissing the subject outright, there is little room for you at the table of theological discourse these days. Though evidence of faith is everywhere -- in a yoga class, on prime-time TV or at the church around the corner -- it is topic non grata in most intelligent conversations.

So hooray for the L.A. Weekly, whose fourth special spirituality section in 10 years covers a broad spectrum of beliefs -- Gnostics to Muslims, Buddhists to Catholics -- and addresses such topics as community, race and charity. It's all done intelligently and with respect. The only disappointment is that there isn't more of it (not all 48 pages of the print version appear online); the selection, while impressive, only whets one's appetite.

The section's editor, Pamela Klein, who created the Weekly's first spirituality section with Michael Ventura when the paper had a much more New Age bent, says Tinseltown is seeking truth beyond the Hollywood bullshit. "People are hungry for something more. They see it in icons (like) Courtney Love and Madonna, and they know it's fake, and I think even the icons know it's fake. I think they too are looking for ways to fill themselves, and donning the robes is a start."

Of course, too much sincerity can be a bad thing too. It would be nice to see someone take a shot at the piety of stars like Love, Richard Gere, et al. Religion and spirituality call out for humorous jabs. Even a little mockery is appropriate -- like Peter Gilstrap's "Jesus of the Week" or the antics of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Perhaps L.A. Weekly can explore such topics the next issue, and I hope it will be soon in coming.

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The Long Island Voice, May 5 - 11

"Welcome Back, Amy!" by the Long Island Voice staff

OK, it's not really fair to mock Long Island. I mean, I hail from Salinas, Calif., via Lubbock, Texas, and know firsthand that some places just can't help but suck. But how can you not poke fun at a place that has so little going on that it practically declares a citywide holiday when its only star, Amy Fisher, gets out on parole? In honor of this momentous occasion, the staff of the Loser Isl -- er, Long Island Voice has compiled a humorous list of relationship and lifestyle advice for their long-absent "Lolita." I have but one bit to add: Don't move back to Long Island. There are better places to hide.

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San Francisco Bay Guardian, May 5-11

"Hell on Wheels" by Clay A. Thompson

Speaking of losers, I can't ride a bike. At 8, I became convinced that a passing car would rip my legs off. That fear has crippled all subsequent pedaling efforts. And why hold back? I'm afraid to drive, too, unless it's on great open stretches of road. So I have great respect for bike messengers, especially in San Francisco, where the hills are monsters, the streets lack bike lanes and where cyclists of all skill are killed by cars at an alarming rate. Toss in the meager pay, no benefits and a lack of status, and you have to wonder why anyone would bother with such a job. Clay A. Thompson wonders the same thing and digs up some answers in this portrait of bike messenger culture -- from the allure of the job to recent efforts at unionization.

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Feed, May 4, 1999

"The Uses of Sim Sidewalks" by Steven Johnson

A fascinating discussion with three urbanists about how the video game SimCity does and doesn't translate into real life. This essay is part of an excellent larger issue on games.

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