Owl Farm Blog

My economist friend, Pamela Hart, explained the Stimulus package to me yesterday. It makes some sense and gives me good reason not to stray too far from home…

Subject: Stimulus Package Explained (Q&A)

Sometime this year, taxpayers will receive an Economic Stimulus Payment. This is a very exciting new program that I will explain using the Q and A format:

Q. What is an Economic Stimulus Payment?
A. It is money that the federal government will send to taxpayers.

Q. Where will the government get this money?
A. From taxpayers.

Q. So the government is giving me back my own money?
A. No, they are borrowing it from China. Your children are expected to repay the Chinese.

Q. What is the purpose of this payment?
A. The plan is that you will use the money to purchase a high-definition TV set, thus stimulating the economy.

Q. But isn’t that stimulating the economy of China ?
A. Shut up.

Below is some helpful advice on how to best help the US economy by spending your stimulus check wisely:

If you spend that money at Wal-Mart, all the money will go to China .
If you spend it on gasoline it will go to Hugo Chavez, the Arabs and Al Queda
If you purchase a computer it will go to Taiwan .
If you purchase fruit and vegetables it will go to Mexico , Honduras , and Guatemala (unless you buy local).
If you buy a car it will go to Japan and Korea .
If you purchase prescription drugs it will go to India
If you purchase heroin it will go to the Taliban in Afghanistan
If you give it to a charitable cause, it will go to Nigeria .

And none of it will help the American economy. We need to keep that money here in America . You can keep the money in America by spending it at yard sales, going to a baseball game, or spend it on prostitutes, beer (domestic only), or tattoos, since those are the only businesses still in the US

Until next time, with her shopping bag full,

Anita Thompson

Posted by Anita Thompson at 08:02 AM | Permalink Post a Comment:

Posted by Anita Thompson at 11:21 AM | Permalink Post a Comment:

Hi. Hope you are surviving what remains of February.

I’ve been receiving many phone calls and emails asking about the Rum Diary and another "biography" coming out about Hunter.

Yes, the Rum Diary is on track. All is going swimmingly. News to come ASAP. But I try not to get too involved in the middle of the semester in these things.

Doubtful this "biographer" is on the level or has the desire to do the kind of damage Jann Wenner tried to do.

I worry less about these things as time passes — two nights ago, on my way to class, passing through a bottleneck at the marble steps in front of Low memorial library, my heart was heavy as always in February,  students were chattering as usual, when suddenly I overheard a guy (probably a sophomore) talking to his friend about his paper he is writing about Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas and Gilgamesh. His buddy was thrilled at the concept and they kept talking as they reached the bottom of the stairs & turned right in the direction of Butler library. I kept walking up in my own direction however, so I didn’t hear the rest. 

But my heart did a double take as that moment reminded me that the naysayers can do no damage to Hunter’s work, no matter how hard they try for whatever sick or jealous reasons. Hunter’s work will live long after the rest of us are gone. The students and the people will keep it alive. It is a lovely thing, eh?

When Hunter was their age, he walked on these same marble steps. Did he know that students would be bringing his work into their curriculum? What a kick he would have at that age to know that his wife, not yet born would overhear these students talking about his work in such a moment. I overhear these sort of things all the time. But the story of Gilgamesh, the sense of loss that we’re feeling at this time of year was a welcome wink from the heavens.

Anyway, I’m writing to you because you must know that it is 4 years without Hunter tomorrow. My only advice to you is to pick one thing YOU personally are good at, and do it. What is it that will be contributed to this world when you are gone? Work on it. If you need some encouragement, read a passage from any of your favorite HST books. But to truly make Hunter proud, read his work, then do your own. That’s what I intend to do.

Lots of love to you tomorrow. Chin up…

Anita Thompson

p.s.
Apparently, the guy is named Jay Cohen, or Cowan who wrote the "insiders" book about Hunter’s "drugged out brilliance" or something. I hear he was a caretaker at Owl Farm in the 80s. Hunter never mentioned his name to me or Doug in the last decade, so i can’t say much about the guy. I think he was one of the hired thugs who wrote nasty letters to the editor after Hunter died and the secretary sued the estate for "back pay."  He and the others stopped after estate lawyers presented correspondence between Hunter and the secretary proving just the opposite, and chances for the estate being the one with the claim… She and the son immediately dropped the suite and I signed a contract promising not to publish the damning letters or tapes about them unless I have reason to. I haven’t heard his name until now. I doubt any of this would be in his book, as he didn’t know Hunter for 30 years, but rather, 30 years ago. And most of the damning money, hemlock society exchanges took place long after this guy Jay was gone. But who knows if he wants to cause that kind of grief for them. Doubtful. Hopefully his intentions are good.

Posted by Anita Thompson at 06:12 PM | Permalink Post a Comment:

Thanks Peter! Yes, I’m doing fine — much better this year than last year during the hideous month of February. Thanks for the emails and words of encouragement for the final 6 months of classes and prepping for the LSAT.

I’ll check in tomorrow, as the battery is running low on my laptop, which I rarely carry with me, and rarely check in at computer stations to post blogs now that I have a crack-berry. Maybe I can figure out how to post quotes from the little hand-held gadget. But I find that it is far more difficult to express oneself meaningfully on a blackberry, unless of course it’s a voice to voice connection! 

Anyway, how lucky am I to have  an awesome brother who takes care of business and keeps gonzostore and websites in order. I love you Peter. As for our brother in Kent England? Let’s post his drawing of Abe Lincoln for his birthday tomorrow. 

Lots of love to ya’ll 

Anita Thompson

Posted by Anita Thompson at 08:44 PM | Permalink Post a Comment:

Just a quick update for the many people who are wondering if Anita dropped off the face of the earth.

Anita is currently focusing on a hefty academic load and has not been able to pay as much attention to the blog as she would like.  Rest assured that Anita will check in when she surfaces for air out the murky depths of academia.

 I’ll leave with a quote from Hunter..

"When you need to get something done, give it to a busy man"
HST 5/01/2002

 -Pete B
Gonzo Web Guy

Posted by Peter B, Gonzo Web Guy at 01:30 PM | Permalink Post a Comment: