The Dynamic Duo

Johnny’s post yesterday reminded me of the frustration I have felt since I was in high school, and actually for the reason why i have the t4ac.com domain name. I think that people tend to just live their lives and not worry about whether what they are doing is right or wrong; smart or dumb; generous or self-serving or both. I try to completely reconsider my life at least 2 or 3 times a year because I need to feel that my being here has some purpose, and I want to make that purpose as great as I can. Am I doing something that I will be proud of when I look back at my life? Will I be able to say to myself that the world improved as a result of me living on it? If I was hit by a bus tomorrow would my family and friends know how much they meant to me?

Now I’m starting to get off subject a little, but I feel it is important for a person to occasionally examine where they are in life, and whether where they are is where they would like to be. I also think that it is crucial to try to be a thinking person in everyday life. When you see something on the tv don’t just absorb it, consider the source and what effect that source may have on the accuracy of the information you are receiving, consider what the information means for the world and for you in general, and consider what you can do to improve something if you think it isn’t right. I think the Internet has made this harder in some ways. With the bombardment of information available all the time, sometimes it is easy to let others do your thinking for you. I think one of the most important things for us to do today in the era of big business running government AND the media, is to avoid falling into the trap of accepting everything at face value, and assuming that there is nothing you can do.

This brings me down to the t4ac.com domain name. I have the domain name because of a ‘zine (in Japan read free paper) that I used to produce called Think For a Change Magazine. I keep thinking I will resurrect it, at least online, but I never seem to have the time to get to it. Anyway, the goal of the ‘zine was to, you guessed it, make people think. I tried to introduce some thoughts on a topic, but leave it open enough for people to have their own thoughts on it fairly easily. I guess I wanted the ‘zine to be a catalyst of sorts. The main topics of interest were political and social issues, particularly how people can participate in their world daily to improve it.

I also did book, ‘zine, and music reviews in TFAC (I wanted tfac.com, but never managed to get it). As a result I still get music and stuff for review occasionally. I had a policy of accepting no paid advertising, but offering free advertising to any organization or band or whatever, that i felt were promoting ideas that coincided with the policies of the ‘zine (i.e. free thought basically).

It has occurred to me, that I have a few readers on this blog who seem to be fairly like minded and have some Japanese skills. It also seems to me, that in Japan, where very few people seem to be inclined to influence the world at all, a publication like Think For a Change magazine is especially needed. I wonder if anyone out there would be interested/willing in helping to get this project on it’s feet again. I envision a small-run print version and an online version (probably using moveable type) taking the place of the half-done site currently occupying www.t4ac.com.

to be honest I could only devote minimal time to it at this point, but if someone is interested or inspired by the idea, I would be happy to have someone take over stewardship of the project for a time. I would promise to write for it. Please accept my assurances that I put more effort into my writings for ‘zines and such than I do for this site. I consider this site more of an anything goes, conversational style forum, and write accordingly.

If you’re interested in TFAC let me know, and who knows maybe we can figure something out that will eventually turn into a positive thing for Japan.

Be Constructive, Not Destructive (my signature in the first issue of tfac),

UltraBob

P.S. Come to think of it, I think TFAC was the first public emergence of the UltraBob pen name as well.

Now in my CD Player: Old School Pig from the album “Life in the Fat Lane: Fat Music, Vol. 4” by Tilt or if you are in Japan, click here