Reality Sandwiches --------------------------------------------------------------- Issue Two Volume One April 1995 IN THIS ISSUE DEPARTMENTS Notes from the Editor...........................Darth FEATURES Paradox and Probability: A Treaty on Self.......Johann von Intellectual Fuzzbuster......................................Darth Tread...........................................Darth Night of Recollection...........................Rhinoceras on Crack Untitled........................................Darth Aspire..........................................Darth Martyr..........................................Rhinoceras on Crack Mirage..........................................Darth TECHNICALITIES....Subscribtions, Back issues, etc. --= DEPARTMENTS =-- Editor's notes... Having made it through one issue, I'm cavalier enough to say that RS will be around for a while. As it stands, we're waiting with baited breath for the infamous "You guys are pretentious morons" feedback letter, but as of now, we've managed to emerge unscathed. The format of the zine, as you can see, has changed a bit. Which brings me to my next point: If you, or anyone you know, would be interested in writing regularly for RS, send me some samples of your work. This can be anything: essays, editorials, poems, prose, fiction, rants, or whatever, RS is pretty freeform. Send it to darth%porch@cjbbs.com with NEW WRITER as its subject. If you have any ideas for departments, send those as well... This issue marks the debut of the world-renowned and generally amazing Rhinoceras on Crack. In addition, the similarly famous author of "Self Contained Cosmos", Jack Sensitive, is on sabbatical in Florence. He'll return for the next issue, where he'll be doing a Lockean analysis of Disney's "The Little Mermaid". This issue is chock-full o' poetry - for better or worse... Next issue should mark the beginning of record reviews, so.... Special heartfelt-sincere-awesome-smileyface thanks to anyone who assisted in the output of this issue, actually, just one guy, we'll call him "Cheese Boy". In all seriousity, the uploading, ads and whatnot are appreciated. I salute you. This issue was a bit late in going out, but we (we, of course, refers to the cold, impersonal machine that is Reality Sandwiches) feel its for the better. With that, I leave you to the zine... - darth --= FEATURES =-- Paradox and Probability: A Treaty on Self ----------------------------------------- by Johann von Intellectual The world in which one is forced to live is at best, absurd. There is no rhyme scheme, no sub-structure, no particular plan to this absurdism. Just the will to power of the individual. The state the individual finds himself in is one of particular interest. Be damned by doing nothing, thus condemning yourself, willfully or otherwise, to a lifetime of misery and misfortune. Let us recall the situation of Camus's antihero, Daru, in "The Guest". Follow orders and face retribution, or disobey then and face uncertainty. Daru did not make the decision he did for moral qualms, rather, to spare him the guilt and ramifications centered around the act of deciding. Paradoxically, live a life according to the strictures of the society at large. Or a third option, live for yourself, a notion popular culture has labeled as hedonistic and flat-out evil. What is the evil in wanting to live a life for no other purpose than for one's own well being? Is it in self-loathing and self-denial that one becomes a better person? Resoundingly, the answer is no. Contrary to the popularized Christian notion that all good stems from charity, there is a more genuine good to be found in living a life of self-indulgence. This should in no way be considered as anything more than a treaty to further the cause of individual rights. To borrow again from Camus, from "The Renegade". The sole reason for the missionary's devotion to Christianity is the euphoria he experiences in resisting insult and injustice done to him. Is it through masochism that one can understand life? Must one suffer to be a true believer? Would it not serve better if persons and so-called "faithful" were to focus their efforts on bettering their lives in the present, rather than sanctify themselves for an unrealistic future? The question then becomes not 'what you do' but 'why you do it'. The heart of the issue lies in this. Many things are done, seemingly worthwhile and righteous, for the wrong reasons. As the Hindu parables teach, "Action done for reaction is action left undone". That is, if one does something other than for the substance of the action, the action is not genuine. Then the notion of self-indulgence, a self-serving act, becomes more reasonable. There can be no ulterior motives in doing something purely for selfish reasons, thus it is more genuine in its foundation than an action that is made to appear "righteous". -------------------------------------------------------- Fuzzbuster ---------- by Ox E. Moron Distorted reality, Defense mechanism cynicism, worse things could happen. Unjustified anger, what's unjustified. Desperate emptiness, student-body president. Mass will be held today on the 40-yard line. Sell-out, hey, it's a lot easier than thinking. Warped, crazy alter ego, still won't change a thing. Get on line, Christ for sale. Assure them of your love to spare yourself their hate. Come here to escape, to find you're at is core. Even then somethings are left unsaid, and even then too much has been said already. Silence offers no comfort, even it's fallen into place. Outside seems far away, Looking in seemed real, finding everything important and sacred, is just an aspect to the hoax. --------------------------------------------------------------- Tread ----- by Darth I see them walking, single file. Toe to toe, heel to heel. One slips up, he can't get back in the line. Steady pace, just like a death march, no destination, no goal, nothing. I'm left. Alone. With my ideology. ------------------------------------------------------------ Night of Recollection --------------------- by Rhinoceras on Crack No passion much prejudice Love in a basement along with James Taylor Fortunately we can still discuss the wrongdoing of these different when the liars are out of the room. No vision No wisdom Hey, look at that friendly fella Jolly and smily, like Santa Claus because he's a lie I have dreams of being away from these people with the few I really care about and know that will never be able to happen because they have more than I do I'm not pure and I'm not good And I have no respect for those who pretend to have feelings but I look out for those who really do. Stubborn and bitter makes me an asshole. If I'm a crusader for a lost cause, so be it you still hear me loud and clear how can you tell me that the beauty I've found isn't? You have no fucking idea because you haven't writhed Tolerance isn't my cure for stupidity and hate, so sorry if you're crying. Go home to peace, I'll show you reality, Mr. Proud-to- be-Irish Look at me, you got me so mad I can't stop I just want my beauty. ----------------------------------------------------------- Aspire ------ by Darth Burning in sticky-floored coffeehouses with visions of apocalypse and eternity, Aching to be nourished from the steely juggernaut, unaware of our presence, Waiting to be swallowed and turned aside by the hip nouvelle technicians of prose, Crying for another opportunity, laced with strict intentions, plastered with the imagery that was etched on our minds, Searching for the companionship of solitude and the sick, insane cycle of friendship, Rearing back, and casting aside your hopes, your fears, your being for no purpose, Sacrificing whatever for what-never, Hallucinating under the narcotic of neglect and worry, disguised as charm and veiled by a smile, Laughing, sickening and hard, echoing, resonating in my mind, knowing it'll never be over, Knowing that it will never stop, Knowing it'll never be over. ------------------------------------------------------ Martyr ------ by Rhinoceras on Crack Make a mistake Tell the wrong person The wrong person tells another wrong person The other wrong people feel threatened and insecure The other people find you Beaten Raped Dead And you still didn't make a difference. ---------------------------------------- Untitled -------- by Darth A man walks back and forth in a corridor, contemplating everything but thinking about nothing. When he reaches the end of the corridor, he spins on his heel and walks the other way. Between mortality and the other there's humanity. "What have I done?", questions the man, "My greatest piece is the most antithetical". The Artist continues his journey among the unfeeling, trembling walls. His Purgatory lasts for decades, centuries, and more, though time is not kept here. No mention is made of it. Nor the denoument after which it crecendoes, where everything suddenly becomes meaningless. Painless. After which laurels and achievements fade away until even their memory has been distorted. And so, the man was approached by the Other and was asked how he can continue when the perfection he strives to achieve is not there. The man replies that it must be so, for it has been for centuries. The Other reprimands the man, and leaves him. The man slowly begins his walk back. He's in no great hurry. --------------------------------------------------------- Mirage ------ by Darth Imprisoned. A shattered wreckage of oversimplified expectations and ideals, Gradual Maelstrom, turmoil. Look up at your accusors and find you know them already, Everything that was known and cherished is eradicated, to a void or Secacus. Hollow peronas and rude characterizations replaced the wonder and respect you once carried. A nonexistant impression of whatever's left you carry where you once had certainty and confidence. Look up and see the walls of your reality being brought down brick by brick, you helpless to protest. Fading, soiled memories of aspirations and hopes that you've let go of for your own good, So that you can pretend that holy idealism and sacred trust will be your friend. And in desperation, empty. With nothing left to call genuine. Imperfect to its foundation. Nothing was real. Nothing is real. Nothing is all that is left. ---------------------------------------------------------------- --= TECHNICALITIES =-- REALITY SANDWICHES DISTRIBUTION SITES For archives, new issues, and miscellaneous "stuff" check out these boards... The Porch BBS - (201)-966-2848 ]--- Main Distro\Archive Site (201)-966-8919 The Summit PCBoard - (908)-665-5992 Cyberia - (717)-840-1444 The Flight Deck - (908)-429-1544 VIA FTP Reality Sandwiches back issues, new issues, etc. can be found at these FTP sites: ftp.etext.archive.umich.edu ftp.world.std.com ftp.etext.org ftp.quartz.rutgers.edu BACK ISSUES Call the Porch BBS, and check out file area 73. That's dedicated to Reality Sandwiches Back Issues, Archives, and the like. If this is impossible, send email to darth%porch@cjbbs.com with REALITY BACK as the subject line. Or ftp the files from one of the sites listed above - RS archives follow a simple cataloging system (RS##, ##= issue number). DISTRIBUTION: If you run a BBS, and want to become a distro site, send email below. TO SUBSCRIBE: Send Internet email to the address below, call the Porch and leave email to Reality, or call the Porch and leave a note to all in the main conference with SUBSCRIBE REALITY as it's subject. NEW ISSUES: Check the Porch BBS for the newest issues, subscriptions and back issues. Leave a comment to the sysop saying you logged on to get RS. FEEDBACK: send Internet email to: Darth%porch@cjbbs.com or call The Porch BBS and leave a message to Darth. Your messages will be answered in a trendy 'Letters to the Editor' section (How dreadfully cosmopolitan). CLOSING COMMENTS: Next issue will be out by mid-June. A hearty thanks to Paradox for his comments and nice ascii graphic... 'tis appreciated. If you have anything to contribute whatsoever email it to me or attach it to a file in a private message at the Porch. If it's worthwhile it'll be printed. CONTACT: Darth%porch@cjbbs.com ]== Main Email Address Reality ]== Porch BBS Username