In this throw-away world of ours, it's refreshing to know that there are certain fundamental, immutable societal institutions that are, at their core, unshakable. These are things we've come to cherish as the very pillars of our culture. Democratic govenrment. Due process of law. Freedom of speech.

And then there's Pop-Culture-Corn.

I can't speak for everybody, but I don't think it would be going too far out on a limb to say that over the course of 100 years PCC has matured into one of the most influential tracts that journalism history has ever known. Combining a fresh perspective of society with an oh-so-slightly cynical sensibility, this 'zine and its paperbound predecessors endures as quite possibly the greatest commentary on the American experience since Alexis de Tocqueville penned his famous exposition many years ago. What began in February of 1898 as an innocent experiment soon grew into a most extraordinary phenomenon.

From humble origins as an obscure circular hawked by street urchins in 19th century Chicago, the magazine ultimately became something much larger: a reflection not just of the whimsy of its writers, but of the entire global culture writ large. Indeed, PCC's meteoric rise to international acclaim soon transformed the magazine into the rallying cry for an entire generation, galvanizing humanity around the world as nothing had ever done before. Never mind that its writing was sometimes shaky, sometimes inconsistent, and always way too wordy. PCC became the mouthpiece of prince and pauper alike, reaching out from its base on the shores of Lake Michigan to touch the lives of countless readers from every corner of the globe. An American treasure was born.

Given the astounding reach of PCC's modern-day empire, it's no wonder that a recent international conference of leading historians, when polled to determine the most important developments of the 20th century, declared the rise of Pop-Culture-Corn as a near-unanimous #1 choice. The tome has been with us for decades, a kindly confidant, as much a part of the fabric of the American culture that it observes so keenly.

Indeed, the intersection of PCC and some of the most poignant moments in our nation's history has been astounding. What patriot can forget the Berlin Airlift of the Cold War, when thousands of copies of PCC were heroically distributed to needy West Germans by Allied planes? Or the disastrous bombing of Pearl Harbor, which destroyed nearly all of the United States' top-secret Strategic PCC Reserve stockpile (and brought America into World War II)? Or the landmark Supreme Court decision in United States v. Pop-Culture-Corn, which upheld the magazine's right to publish a swimsuit issue over the objections of the House Un-American Committee? That PCC has indelibly branded itself onto the collective consciousness of an entire people is an amazing accomplishment, and is why this 100th anniversary extravaganza is so very special.

The sweep of this noble epistle's history is unprecedented. It has launched the careers of some of America's greatest writers; brought presidents and governments to their knees; and made more than one person laugh uncontrollably, drooling and hysterical, along the way. This latest incarnation on the World Wide Web features a stunning array of talented writers and artists, the latest "crop" to inherit the weighty mantle of PCC's storied journalistic tradition. Amazingly, though, despite numerous technical innovations, the tract still resonates today for the same reasons that made it so popular a century ago. It drives to humanity's heart. It embraces the fundamental themes of life with which we all identify. Who among as hasn't dreamed of peace among men, of a clean environment, of hooking up with all five Spice Girls at the same time? The 'zine speaks to us, nay, to our very essence as human beings--and that is why PCC enjoys such a revered place in our hearts.

As you peruse the wisdom of this edition's pages, cast aside your earthly cares and join the staff of Pop-Culture-Corn in their celebration of all that is good in this life. A cultural phenomenon this big comes along but once in a lifetime, and it can only be a feeling of pure joy and exhiliration to bask in the glow of a true giant of mass media. There may never be another publication that shakes the world in quite the same way; but then again, that's probably for the best.