Time.

What?

Ok, fine. Anyway, what’s new? I’ve got a few things; I just don’t know what they are…yet.

But here’s one.

I’ve been glued to this weeks TIME magazine (May 14, 2007): The Most Influential People in the World, the TIME 100. Page after page I learned a new name and a new word, and was angered or pleased by one of the many human beings who so boldly or so subtly dwell on this Earth. Before I even opened the magazine I was just elated. After studying the cover with my keen political and global eye, I saw the most bedazzling of persons so poignantly placed on the cover. Twelve faces in all, eight of them men, so only four ladies. But for me, this time, sex was not the concern.

I was more wrapped up in the politics of the people and could not have been more thrilled with the politics of the cover. Environmentalist and models, inventors and philanthropists, politicians and actors were pictured. Of the four American political figures, THREE, count them—1, 2, 3—of them were Democrats, bleeding heart liberals no less: Speaker of the House Ms. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA (San Francisco!)), Former Vice President and Senator Al Gore (D-TN), and Junior Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) (Leo DiCaprio was there too, also a bleeding heart liberal, but thankfully, he’s chosen to keep under a theatrical spotlight and has yet to pull a fucking Arnold…but then again, I can’t really say much about the Green-unator). I mean christ, Hillary didn’t even make the cut(!). As for the lone Republican, it was the one and only former Democrat, New York City’s pseudo-Republican Mayor Michael Bloomberg. So basically, it was four liberals. The conservatives were finally closeted on this cover of TIME (as if Mark Foley didn’t do enough for them). Though granted they are rarely in the spotlight for positive reasons, albeit if at all (other than scandal), their absence was welcomed.

As I delved into the periodical, I was simply stunned, educated, and indeed pleased. And though I HIGHLY recommend this issue of TIME to any breathing, living human being, I’ll quickly summarize. There are six categories one has the opportunity to fit into: Leaders and Revolutionaries (Raul Castor among them, Obama, Pelosi, and Bloomberg, too), Heroes and Pioneers (Thierry Henry, Tyra Banks, Warren Buffett, Oprah, Michael J. Fox, and Elizabeth Edwards make that cut), Power Givers (Angelina Jolie, George Soros (another bleeding liberal), and the Queen of Jordan Rania al-Abdullah, along with philanthropists throughout history are noted for their generosity), Scientists and Thinkers (Al Gore, Richard Dawkins, and Monty Jones stand out among the many), Artists and Entertainers (America Ferrera, Brian Williams, Rosie O’Donnell, Sacha Baron Cohen, and even Tina Fey are made beacons for the entertainment world), and finally, Builders and Titans (Shigeru Miyamoto (think Nintendo), Katsuaki Watanabe (think Toyota), Chad Hurley and Steve Chen (think YouTube), and of course Richard Branson (think Virgins, planes, and pot (marijuana, that is)). And with each picture or caricature is a brilliantly written piece by an equally respected author (for most). This is yet another reason why I just adore TIME—every fucking week.

So do your research. Google the names above and then go, find the issue and see for yourself the amazing and not-so-amazing people that make up part of our population. It will undoubtedly educate and stun you, as it so wonderfully did to me.

Cheers and happy TIMEing.