You might recognize our title from the 60s shockumentaries that began with Mondo Kane—and of course they got it right the first time: it's a dog's life. We recommend you give this wav recording of the the films' mondoschmalzy themesong More a listen as you peruse our morning's selections. If the stories don't have you contemplating suicide, the music will, I guarantee it.

One item we have below is a look at avant-garde British theater, and it occurred to me this morning that drama has gone a long way in shaping our Western mode of consciousness. When the playwrights of the 18th century began mining the Greek and Roman archives for ideas, one thing they appropriated was the idea of "completeness." It's so natural to us that we don't even notice it, but the concept that a story needs a beginning, development, climax, and a conclusion is an invention, and not one common to all cultures.

But everybody knows that. What's been nagging at me is the sense that perhaps this orientation of ours spills over into other things like politics and diplomacy. As in a Grimm's fairy tale, we'd like to get Saddam in the oven, and send our Hansel and Gretel troops home: A happy ending.

More likely, though, the operative mechanism is more likely to mirror the abstract arrangement of Indonesian gamelan music, or an Abe Kobo mystery, and just as likely to displease our expectation of closure as a French director's treatment of an Octavio Paz novel.

Born Caged

This story's a tear-jerker, and I suggest this theme music, in case you're a glutton for more punishment courtesy of Roger Williams.

In Glen Avon, California, police arrested John Weinhart, 60, after discovering the dead bodies of over 90 dead tigers on his property. The death toll includes nearly 60 cubs, although there are, fortunately, a handful of survivors like the cuddly lil' guy shown at right.

What was Weinhart doing with all these animals? He owns an animal sanctuary called Tiger Rescue, and in theory the older animals from circuses and carnivals and whatnot could be sent here to live out their days in comfort and leisure. Here's Chuck Traisi, who took the remaining live animals to his own rescue facility:

"The worst of it was that everywhere you went on the property, there were dead animals. Everyone was in a state of disbelief. There were cats that had long been dead and in various states of decay strewn everywhere."

Triple-X

That's the title of a play currently running at the London Theatre, and XXX has something to tweak everyone's inner freak. Although the production staff claim the show isn't pornographic, it "features actors performing simulated sex acts in front of graphic video images of mutilation, genital torture and bestiality." During one scene, a female cast member invites a man from the audience onstage, and if you didn't know that the guy was a confederate with a dildo in his pants, you'd probably be fooled by the simulated, ah...Quite. Here's co-producer and co-writer Carlos Padrissa:

"It is all theatre. It looks like real sex and the actors are often naked but it is just touching and kissing. It's not pornography, it's art."

The Death of Scandal

Remember a few days back we looked at schoolscandals dot com? The site has been shut down following a public outcry from parents and students.

Ken Tennen, a West Hills attorney who represents the Web site owners, did not return telephone calls Thursday, although he told The Times last week that those who were calling for the site to be shut down were trying to "silence free speech."

Conspiracy Story

As background listening to this article, I forward Shirley Bassey. Ran into the story over at Guerilla News Network, which linked to Harper's undercover expose of The Family, a conservative Christian networking cabal for business leaders and politicians. Jesus Plus Nothing isn't the first look at this group, which was founded by Abraham Vereide in 1935, but they keep a low profile.

In 1944, Vereide had foreseen what he called "the new world order." "Upon the termination of the war there will be many men available to carry on," Vereide wrote in a letter to his wife. "Now the ground-work must be laid and our leadership brought to face God in humility, prayer and obedience."

The reporter here did an absolutely outstanding job. Here's an example:

Bengt stroked his chin. "Yeah...Let me read you a little more." He read in a monotone, accelerating as he went, as if he could persuade us through a sheer heap of words. "'For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb,'" he concluded. His lips curled into a half smile. "Man! I mean, that's intense, right? 'In my mother's womb'—God's right in there with you." He grinned. "It's like," he said, "it's like, you can't run. Doesn't matter where you turn, 'cause Jesus is gonna be there, just waiting for you."

Beau's eyes cleared and Gannon nodded. "Yeah, brother," Bengt said, an eyebrow arched. "Jesus is smart. He's gonna get you."

The interview with the writer of the article is here, and it's very interesting reading.

A tip of the wing to JD Hayes for enabling the audio portion of today's Raven.

11:32:23 AM