Date:         Mon, 23 Nov 1998 10:55:57 EST
From: PPFB@AOL.COM
Subject:      Re: [WRITERS] INT: The eMJay Award Interviews plead the fifth?

<< Let us recapitulate.  We've considered how you would spend a million
 dollars, three pieces of advice, what kind of canned food you are, and what
 three books you would like to spend a year with.
  >>

HOW WOULD I SPEND $1 MILLION? Good question.

Assuming I couldn't invest it for my own future, I'd create an endowment for
educational purposes with an emphasis on teaching reading and writing skills
to adults that slip through the cracks. There are far too many illiterate
adults, whose lack of those skills create a burden on society. I've dealt with
many of these people, and once they get past their embarassment that they can
neither read nor write, they are very willing and anxious to learn how. My
endowment would be in the form of a continuing fund, that each year allocates
money for programs to teach reading and writing to adults.


THREE PIECES OF ADVICE?

1. Never stop learning.
Readers tend to be leaders. They say knowledge is power, and they're not
kidding. There are very few successful businessmen -- or people -- in the
world who don't read on a regular basis.

2.  Be persistant and work hard.
Nothing is handed to you on a silver platter. If you want something, you'll
have to get up, go out and get it. And the harder you work for it, with
passion, the better chance you'll have to succeed.

3.  How you think is everything.
Always be positive despite the situation. It's not what happens to you, but
how you react to it. If you think positive and don't let yourself be
discouraged, chances are you'll make it through. The key, though, is believing
in yourself.


WHAT THREE BOOKS WOULD I SPEND A YEAR WITH?

"Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72," Hunter S. Thompson.
The definitive book on politics, bar none.

"Light in August," William Faulkner
A wonderful story of how a man deals with his lack of acceptance to any group,
essentially being an outsider to everyone.

"The Great Gatsby," F. Scott Fitzgerald
The great American novel. Who doesn't love the symbolic nature of the watching
eyes.

Peace.

Dustin, better late than never...