September 24, 2004

Suicide is now the leading cause of death for Chinese men and women between the ages of 15 and 34. Many choose to end their lives by jumping off the Yangtze River Bridge. One man has volunteered to stop them.

On weekends, Chen Si packs a thermos full of tea and stands on the bridge, eyeing the people walking by. His goal is to recognize those without hope and stop them from taking the final plunge.

To date, he's saved 42 people.

My friend Amanda Koster is a Seattle photographer working on two amazing projects. Since 2001, she's taken pictures for "This Is Beautiful," a body-image study that depicts dozens of nude women in all shapes, sizes, ages and skin tones. It's a truly inspiring piece of work. (If I wasn't so camera shy, I'd volunteer myself.)

Next month, Amanda's off to Kenya to work with Bridges to Understanding, an organization that teaches children around the world to take photographs and upload them to the Internet.

She recently discussed these projects with Geoff Carter of The Seattle Times. You can read that interview here.

September 22, 2004

This week has been absolutely insane -- but in a good way. I've been working nonstop, and certain projects are starting to come together. I'll post more details when everything is finalized.

That said, there will be no Jaded Writings column this week. With a constant stream of interviews, deadlines and editing gigs, I simply didn't have the time to research and write one. Thanks for understanding!

* Fay Weldon - 9/22/33
* Euripides - 9/23/484 BC
* Walter Lippman - 9/23/1889
* F. Scott Fitzgerald - 9/24/1896
* William Faulkner - 9/25/1897
* bell hooks - 9/25/52
* T.S. Eliot - 9/26/1888
* Jane Smiley - 9/26/49
* Gail L. Fiorini-Jenner - 9/28/50
* Miguel de Cervantes - 9/29/1547

September 21, 2004

A Port Townsend, Wash., resident called Outhouse Charlie designed a DIY kit for making coffins. As a joke, he created a flier to advertise the custom coffins and received six orders. He's now running his own business.

"When I die, I'm going to leave my body to science fiction."
--Steven Wright

September 20, 2004

A man in Seville, Spain, tried to initiate sexual relations with his wife for five straights nights. Each time, she refused his advances. So he called the authorities and attempted to have her charged with domestic abuse. He claims her refusals amount to "degrading treatment."

Tougher laws against prostitution are "wrong in both principle and practice." So says ... The Economist?

Past Afterthoughts