Unca Harlan's Art Deco Dining Pavilion

Archive - 03/26/2007 to 05/28/2007

Unca Harlan's Art Deco Dining Pavilion

Ah. The Stink Of Pinks
I am going to drive my loutish ass up to LA tomorrow and feast at Pinks. I have done with living in LA for half a century, and saying that I have only eaten there once. It was in the eighties, when a photographer friend drove me by Pinks while inviting me to a session of shooting live models in the nude (don't ask, I declined.) and I said as we passed the emproium of Pinks in the vicinity of Samy's Camera, "Oh, that's the place Harlan Ellison wrote a story about. it's supposed to be pretty good." and the photographer did a screeching u-turn and pulled in to the Pinks parking lot. Suddenly he was sweating like a hog, his breath coming in throaty gasps. He shook as he grasped the wheel of his Hyundai in his meaty paws, and then spoke to me with a rasp in his voice, "You've never eaten a Pinks?!" A disgusted shake of his leonine head, sweat droplets like rain fell about me. "Come on!" was all I heard as Fred (for such was his name) debouched his bulk from the vehicle and slouched towards Pinks.

That was a good day. It is time for another good day. After nigh unto twenty years, it is time. Time for Pinks.

In half a century I have done the sound recording for one porno movie, collected 74 of the 75 cards in the leendary Boulangerie Belgique set of Mickey Mouse cards, and eaten but once at Pinks. I am going to Pinks!

Anyone need a really great boom operator for a porn shoot? (I was actually paid by Disney to do the boom work for the porn opus "Dial P For Pink".and thereby hangs a tale!)

Alert the media.

KOS

"BARBER:

So cut out her heart and send it to me.

-he"


Ouch. Harsh.

NEVER MIND THE BULLOCKS -- AND THE PINKS!
DEAR L.A. WEBDERLANDERS: To all of those who rushed to help me out...waitaminute! NONE OF YOU FUCKERS RUSHED TO HELP ME OUT! WHATTHEFUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE!! It's a good thing my house wasn't fire! It's a good thing I wasn't besieged by Dubya's Goose-stepping minions! It's a good thing...

Waitaminute. Had a Harlan moment there. It's not my fault. Just got a call from The Great One himself, straightening me out on the Pink's situation. The fact (which I suspected, but didn't want to believe in the back of my obsessed, scatterbrained little mind) that them dogs just don't sit up and bark -- the way they do when served fresh -- if they've been stored in bags and sent out sans buns, sans all the mouth-watering extras that can be found on the Pink's menu, was just imparted to me in the gentlest manner possible by Harlan. (Would this keyboard lie to you?).

Long story short, you guys can "stand down": there is no longer a culinary emergency here in the Heart of America, otherwise known as Cowtown, otherwise known as Kansas City.
(Oh, yeah, I forgot: none you rushed to my rescue! Okay, okay...I won't beat that dead horse -- or dog -- anymore).

Harlan, thanks as always. If the girls weren't scheduled for a trip to Europe, along with my daughter's foreign language class (something we signed them up for -- and paid for -- last Fall, before the opportunity to move South arose), and if we weren't spending every weekend between now and mid-June trying to get the place ship-shape for the market, I'd be on a plane for L.A., wearing my dog-eatin' bib, faster than you could say, "GoddmanthatboyisonescatterbrainedfastalkinsonofabitchbutyagottalovehisBBQfetchinability,Susan!"

I'll give you a buzz nexzt month, to just before I send that special something out in the mails (no, no - NOT the 8X10 glossy of me in the nude)!

You and Susan take care.
With great affection,
Dorman

EVERYONE:

Ignore Dorman T. Shindler's (second, pathetic) bleat for me or someone to ship him Pink's hot dogs. I have called him and explained why such a pernicious act is both ill-advised and very nearly felonious. It's taken care of, so let it go.

Yr. Pal, Harlan

A BLEAT FOR HELP from Los Angles Webderlanders
HEY, LOS ANGELES WEBDERLANDERS: Would any of you guys be interested in picking up, wrapping up, shipping off half a dozen Pink's hotdogs for one of the faithful? If so, let me know how I can contact you -- via email or otherwise -- to work out the details (where to send the money covering cost of the dogs, shipping, etc.)

Thanks,
DTS (who is determined to taste a Pink's dog in the next 3 or 4 weeks before riding off to parts south).

Happy Birthday Harlan, much belated though it is. Hope you had a good one.

Best.

FAQ

BARBER:

So cut out her heart and send it to me.

-he

Mr. Hurd, sir, that story made my stomach feel like maggoty pretzels.

..and just a brief moment of silence:


http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070528/D8PDB7K80.html

Happy Belated Birthday Harlan.

Bradbury story
John,

"The Big Black and White Game" is included in THE STORIES OF RAY BRADBURY and in THE GOLDEN APPLES OF THE SUN. Shouldn't be too hard for anyone to find.

Bests to all,

--tr

Ray Bradbury

Ray Bradbury wrote a short story called "The Black White Game."

Half the town is white and half is black, and once a year they get together for a baseball game.

No idea how you can get a copy of this one. Love to get Harlan's comments.

Don't you just love those nights when you wake up at 3AM and just cannot go back to sleep because your mind simply will NOT shut off...

Harlan, I hope you had an absolutely wonderful birthday, sorry this is a bit late.

Ravenscroft, send me an email closer to the Con and I will give you my cell phone number so we can meet up. I should be at ConVergence most of the weekend but will have my 4 year old with me on Saturday afternoon.

Hope everyone is getting a better night's sleep than me,

Mark

R.I.P
I hope I'm not breaking the 1 post per day rule with this, but I have some sad news to report:

Charles Nelson Reilly, aka Jose Chung in one of the very best X Files episodes, aka Hoo-Doo from Lidsville, aka the acting teacher of Pat "Lyta" Tallman from Babylon 5, has passed away at the age of 76.

There is no joy in Lidsville today.

Link to news story at: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-reilly28may28,0,6085629.story?coll=la-home-center

W. Powell (probably the straightest person on the planet to have ever done such a mean-ass impersonation of the late Mr. Reilly)

Lin Yutang's Patriotism
HARLAN: A long-winded question for you and anyone else who cares to weigh in, as you head into your seventy-fourth year (and you must quail in anticipation of the fuss which will be made over you two years hence):

My father and I (he a precocious tot only about to turn 71) were discussing childhood comfort foods over dinner a week back, as I enjoyed some excellent chicken croquettes with kasha and bowties (for those not of the Tribe, that's buckwheat groats sauteed with onions and mushrooms before being baked--drenched in gravy or brisket drippings--with farfalle "bowties" ... heaven!).

We noted that the deli-restaurant at which we ate no longer sold kishka (stuffed derma; think of it as Jewish chicken sausage, or perhaps scrapple), and started reminiscing about foods we'd not had in decades, which--though we miss them--we're probably the better for not having them, like gribenes--which my family always pronounced as "greevin": Chicken skin rendered in schmaltz (chicken fat) until crispy, with salt, pepper, and maybe a little onion for taste ... yes; Jewish pork rinds, but with chicken. Tastes great, but you can HEAR your heart complain about how many heart attacks each taste will give you.

In the same vein is helzl, in which one takes the meat of the chicken neck off the bone, mixes it with flour, onion, garlic, and spices, then sew the mixture up in the neck skin. Boil in chicken broth then bake.

Also, I kinda miss the buttered noodles my mom would sometimes make when we had meatloaf.

And, now that I think about it, I regarded pancakes with bacon--cook the bacon, then dump the pancake batter over it to cook in the bacon grease--as an extra-special treat.

Then there are so-called "comfort foods" I won't miss overmuch. Salami and eggs were only good when the salami was sliced extra thin--and we had it for dinner too often in the lean times for me to hanker for it in any way. The same goes for tuna casserole.

What are the comfort foods--which often DIScomfit us now, thinking on their health hazards--do you miss?

Well, It's Still Your Birthday on Your Side of the Country
Harlan,

As it's still the 27th on the west coast, let me chime in and wish you the happiest of birthdays, while it's still your birthday out there in your neck of the woods.

Here in Cleveland it was tha happiest of times sports wise, as the Cleveland teams clean swept the Detroit teams this weekend.

All the best,

Bob Ingersoll

Someone's natal day
Hope your birthday was good, Mr. Ellison. I'm still convinced you're gonna bury us all.

Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday to you.
Happy......

I think you know how the rest of it goes.

Have a good one.

Bests,

--tr

HARLAN,

Have a very happy birthday. May there be another seventy.

P.S. I finally had an opportunity to see Val Lewton's THE LEOPARD MAN. Everyone talks about "the scene at the door", but it was the sequence of events leading up to that moment that freaked the living bejesus out of me. (The eyes staring at the girl beneath the bridge, the bizarre and grotesque close-up on the leopard's face, the general vibe of desolation and nightmare.) I wonder if any people know there were horror films before CABIN FEVER.

Happy "Official" Birthday, Harlan!!!

(Cris was going to call and sing Happy Birthday to you, but we neglected to secure the rights and prepay BMI for the privilege. Rest assured, it was sung in her heart.)

Cris and Steve

HAPPY BIRTHDAY


HARLAN:

Best wishes for a Happy One from me! Today I scored another old issue of Knight magazine with one of your pieces in it -- the Nov. 1965 issue containing "Up Christopher to Madness" coauthored with Avram Davidson -- so I've had a great day too.

Would you guys believe I have never seen Harlan's "Outer Limits" episodes? I borrowed a copy of the second season from the library, so I may watch something Ellisonian tonight in celebration.

SANDRA SHAGIN:

Oh geeez, that's really terrific. Give him a hug from Harlan.
Nicest gift I've received this year. Truly!

-he

Happy Birthday!
Who could possibly stumble on this page today and not send birthday wishes? Especially to someone whose work has for so long been a source of delight and inspiration (I discovered your writing with "The Glass Teat" back in the 70s, which was wonderfully heavy stuff for a then 14 year old).

Glad to hear you're doing well. Take care and keep on!

Happy Birthday Harlan,
I've been thinkin' about you all week. Do you realize next month I will have known you for 25 years? That's more than a
third of your life and 10 months shy of half of mine. You are even more amazing now than you were in 1982. I love Susan too because she is your soul mate.

Have a many, many more,
Love,
Cindy

To Alex Jay Berman:

Tesify, bruthah! Testify! Nice, well-reasoned riposte.


Chuck

(4 years since my cardiac episode & still tickin')

Well Happy Effing B'day!
Happy effing B'Day, you recondite "old" scribbler and tale spinner.

To cut the treacle, a little lemon-juice: When do we get to see some more of the "face in the gutter" Skillingstead collabo?

KOS

PS
I am starting an official rumor: That the NEXT Pirates Of The Caribbean movie is an adaptation of "On Stranger Tides" by Tim Powers, sui generis. I base this on both open sources and insider info, but it is PURE speculation on my part, connecting the dots one might say so to speak say no more, say no more wink wink nudge nudge. We Shall See!

My Oldest Son's Birthday Gift to Mr. Ellison
I direct your attention to the Wayback Machine set to no more than five minutes ago:

Son (looking over my shoulder at the birthday wishes in the pavillion: "Who's birthday is it? Is there going to be a party?"

Me: "These are messages wishing Harlan Ellison a happy birthday. I don't think he's going to have a party, though."

Son: "He should. What does he want for presents? Should we get him a present?"

Me: "Um...probably not. I think he has everything he wants."

Son: "Oh."

(He walked away from the computer. I stepped away from the keyboard for a moment to cycle the laundry and came back to find him in my favorite reading chair, "Stalking The Nightmare" open in his lap.)

Me: "What'cha readin'?"

Son: "I'm readin' one of his stories for a present for him. You like readin' them, so I wanted to read them, too. That way I can tell him happy birthday."



And a very happy birthday to you, Mr. Ellison, from the next generation of avid readers.


Sandra

HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!

Yeah, I know I did that already, but it can't be rubbed in enough.

For one week every year, you are 20 years older than I. I relish that week.
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As for OM, my real reason for posting, fret not about the mouthings of the not-so-behind-the-curtain OM. He is a comic book dealer in Cincinnatti, hated by some of the posters at Newsarama, known for posting outrageous and derogatory comments, and has been reportedly slapped around a number of times by the webmaster at Newsarama. It has also been said that he plays right-wing talk radio at his store, so he might just be a closed-minded sort who takes pleasure in causing angst and dolor in others, especially those who are clearly his betters.
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Anyone searching for the true Harlan Ellison should note the depth of the effects on him by the blatherings of mere pismire.

Happy birthday Harlan. Just imagine Marilyn Monroe singing Happy Birthday to you in her breathy singsong sugarsweet babydoll voice. Except insert 'Ellison' instead of 'President' cos if you don't the meaning gets mangled and it makes no sense.

Obviously.

G.

Happy Birthday
Happy birthday, Mr. Ellison.

Gawp.

C'mon, you guys. You KNOW I cannot handle compliments and suchlike. You only effuse this way to make me the more uncomfortable. And thankyou seems piddling in the lee of so many and so sincere encomia. I am plaintively pleased. (Yet in truth, I cannot wait for it to be Tomorrow, so you'll stop.)

Report: I am mobile, sprightly, overweight, up to my ears in work, crankier than usual, still in love blindly madly with Susan, seem to have my full consignment of wit and wits about me; and perhaps Suze and I will go with Josh to Pacific Dining Car tonight for a T-bone the size of Jehovah's reputation.

I just wish each and all of the happy birthdays I've read here for the last three/four days could somehow be transferred over to the talkback at the end of the 3-part interview with me at Newsarama, just so OM can grit his/her anonymous teeth.

You have. all of you, rescued me from OM's doldrums.

Dimpling prettily, I remain, Yr. Pal, Harlan

The Candles On The Cake
Harlan:

In my library, just down the hallway from where I sit writing these words, there is a black bookcase.

The top three shelves of that black bookcase hold some 89 different hardcover and paperback books, along with a stack of magazines and fanzines, plus a fair number of CDs, DVDs, video and audio tapes. Each and every one of them bears the name "Harlan Ellison".

In honor of your birthday, sir, please allow me to say:

Thank you for the gifts.

I'm glad that you were born.

Best, -- Mike Valerio

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!
Harlan,

And a VERY Happy Birthday to you and the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge, which was first opened to public on this date in 1937. May you both be around for many more years.

Chris M. Barkley
Middletown, OH

Happy Birthday. It's good to know you're still around. Thank you for your work.

Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday, Harlan.

Perhaps others will name a star in your honor, or plant a tree, or something. I will just keep buying your work, and encouraging my friends to do the same.

Harlan -
Happy Birthday! And - Many More! There is a little package on it's way that Harry and I cooked up for you to thank you for all you have done for us.
Yours, Patricia

This is some weird magical realist's trick, right?
***Harlan***

What? Didn't we JUST do this? I mean I'm pretty sure I was just instructing Susan to switch hands during the Birthday spanking as we approach these rarefied higher numbers so carpal tunnel (and boredom) don't set in. Well, so be it. Happy Birthday you calcified old coot. Have as many as you can stand. I certainly mean to. Just stop pressing the FF button on the reality remote 'cause it's making me queasy.

Much love. ALL the love.

From Casa Dannelke.

Hugs - B.

Harlan...

This is this year's "happy birthday" note from me. Which I know you hate, ya miserable old fart, but which I send you because I love you madly. It's a tough love, baby.

I don't know how many ways I can say I'm glad to share a planet with you. That's why I celebrate and honor this day.

Here's something I don't think I ever told you.

When I moved to New York City to work for Marvel Comics in the fall of 1972, the only book I took with me from Cleveland was Dangerous Visions. No other book expressed for me better the nobility of being a writer.

Those first months, in my Brooklyn basement apartment, that book got me through more than a few cold and lonely nights before I got my cheap-ass landlords to unlock the thermostat.

There are inspirations and there are inspirations. I don't know if my own writings reflect my love of your work to any great extent. I'm certain they reflect the countless life-lessons I've learned from you and the rock-solid sureness that there is value in what we do.

So...

Happy birthday and don't give me any lip about it!

HARLAN,

Wishing you a very happy birthday, with thanks for 50-plus years of inspiring published works. May you enjoy many more, in good health and happiness. And may your typing fingers always stay limber.

Steve J.

Happy birthday, Harlan!

And thanks for all the great stories and inspiration.

Sincerely,
Bill

Taxing my patience ...
TO "NOPE":
Should you listen to me just because I work for the IRS, and because I'm a steward for the union? Possibly.

But perhaps, just perhaps, you might listen to me because I am a thinking human being and such would at the very least be courteous.
And--perhaps, just perhaps--because I have the pride and courage to append my own name to the things I say. Carries a bit more weight, I've always thought.

But regarding issues dealing with the workings of the federal government--as I both have worked in the belly of the beast (in Customer Service, mind, which entailed HELPING people; most often helping them to regain monies they should have gotten if not for their own mistakes or those of their tax preparers) and as I am Assistant Legislative Coordinator of my chapter, which entails among many other things keeping watch over bills and those who would write them, as well as convincing those in power to work in ways which would best serve both government workers and the country's taxpayers--you might want to concede that I might know JUST a little more on such subjects than might you, o my unnamed, unmanned, uninformed correspondent.

And as a great deal of that now involve protecting you--yes, YOU--from grabby collection agencies who are neither bound by any protective oaths or agreements for punitive recourse should they mistreat tax info, tax dollars, or taxpayers; who cost more to do their work than regular federal workers; who do not do as good nor as conscientious a job as those federal workers ... well, perhaps something a tiny bit more than the consideration which should, as above noted, be given any thinking human being should therefore be granted ME.


Oh, and by the by--perhaps it has 'scaped your non-named notice that those "poltroon fascists in the blue suits" administer the largest anti-poverty initiative in the history of the planet (the "Earned Income Credit"? Probably has, just as you are wholly unaware that there is a very casual dress code at work--no blue suits for me unless I'm visiting Congressfolk.
In suits, I favor blacks and greys, in point of fact.

And perhaps you had best hie yourself to a good dictionary or encyclopedia, that you might learn the TRUE meaning of "fascism"--that is, a system or movement of government (usually right-wing, where I am anything but) which calls for authoritarian centralization of government bound under a dictator which espouses a fervent nationalism and, usually, racism. Whatever we may think of the current administration, that is NOT a good typifier of the average workaday parts of the United States federal government.
(For further definitions, please be well aware that a "poltroon" is craven, fearful, timorous; a coward. Rather like someone who hurls imprecations but has not the fortitude to back them up by doing so under the umbrella of his or her own name.)

But I realize that my words will very likely fall on ears as deaf as stone--and you'll go on voting for those who would promise you tax cuts but who give them only to the rich, or who profess affinity for a flat tax or a national sales tax, secure in the knowledge that those like you will never realize how regressive and punishing of the poor and the regular joes such systems would be, while draining dry the federal coffers of the money which used to come from the bloated bankbooks of the Paris Hiltons and Enrons/Exxons/GEs/et alia of the nation.

(And yes, other gentlefolk; I realize that our tax system is flawed--especially since things like the doing away with the estate tax and the dividend tax have benefited only those who need not WORK for a living--but for all those many flaws, it at least is constantly ATTEMPTING to be progressive, raining every April on the unjust as well as the just.)

Look to your own bent, sir or madam, before wishing one upon me.

I hate computers. If God had meant us to use them, we would hAVE BEEN BORN WITH KEYPADS INSTEAD OF HANDS. I JUST WANTED TO ADD MY HAPPY BIRTHDAY WISHES TO THE OTHERS. HOPE YOU HAD A JOYOUS DAY. I'VE BEEN A READER FOR 27 YEARS AND YOUR WRITING HAS BEEN A JOY AND AN INSPIRATION, HELPING ME THROUGH SOME HARD TIMES AND ADDING LIGHT IN THE DARK. IM SAD I COULDN'T COME TO THE MOVIE DEBUT AND DINNER, BUT L.A. WAS JUST TOO FAR AT THIS TIME. THERE IS TOO MUCH LIFE STUFF GOING ON. BUT I WILL FOLLOW THE WEB SITE FOR FUTURE THINGS, AND I HAVE VOWED TO ATTEND YOUR NEXT EVENT, WHEREEVER OR WHATEVER. MANY HAPPY RETURNS. YOURS SINCERELY, DIANE BARTELS

Dear Mr. Ellison,

It's officially past midnight in the UK, so......
Happy bidet, Harlan!

Toodle-pip!
Rob and Paul (da Britboys).

ROD SEARCEY: I got your post card. Fun-nee!!! Please tell me you sent copies to Cramer, Loftus and the "driver" of the car!

(Oh -- and permission requested to post on Barbergallery so everyone else can enjoy the humor.)

Webczar--forgive a "double posting", but I've been taken to task before by being slow to reply! ;-0
Harlan: yes love, you are right, the film *is* art/a personal vision and also not necessarily the last "definitive" word, so I shouldn't have worried. We are all on the same page here. Alas, the music critic in me just missed hearing/feeling that extra syncopation...ya know? But I really will try to bind and gag my pesky little muse next time such issues arise... perhaps...

yours, as always--with you know what and you know why.

An IRS Unionista?
Berman:

We should listen to you because you work for the IRS AND are a union steward for those poltroon fascists in blue suits?

Interesting.

"Get bent, Tax Man!" (Stranger Than Fiction)

Affectionaely (but Get Real!)

Birthday--
Yeow, another birthday. From one old man to another: make it a good one.

Birthday
Hi Harlan,

Many HAPPY RETURNS on your Birthday. Cindy and I were hoping to hear your third collection from the "On the Road" series from Deep Shag but it will probably not get here till next week.

Hope Susan takes you for a fun afternoon of minature golf.

Jim & Cindy

C. COOPER C. COOPER C. COOPER
Nail on the head, baby. But ...

Not only Erik Nelson, but two separate audiences have asked me, "Is there anything you'd change, or that you think is missing, in DREAMS?" (Approximate, but accurate query.) To which I have answered, every time:

"I regret there are almost no women or people of color in the film."

Erik was sedulous in this regard. He had SO MUCH material to choose from (much of which will be included as treats on the DVD release, post-theatrical incarnation) that a great MANY pieces that I thought were swell, had to be jettisoned just to get the film down to commercially-feasible shape. Some of what you lament was included.

And though it privately, minutely, troubles me, Carol, I must say that "troubling" is internally worrisome to me--for all the reasons you attest--but I have not gotten in Erik's way on this piece of wonderful artistry; and the worries have nothing to do with Art.

Morales would've been vernacularly sweet, very sweet, suh-weeeet, onscreen ... but he was in NYC and you KNOW how Robert John is about having his image captured. It's as if he's spent his entire life incognito on-the-lam; so, much as he would've added an entirely suh-weeeet, unique dimension, well, it wasn't gonna happen. Estelle (Octavia Butler to the rest of you) died before we could get to her, just a missed connection, because she appears in at least two tv mini-bios done in years past.

If you look fast, and don't blink, you'll see two of my best friends (incidentally of color), the writer Tananarive Due and her novelist husband, Steve Barnes, sitting at dinner with me and Susan and other of our closest pals; but they are mute in that shot and the camera rolls past to watch me stuffing my great yawping maw.

Same gardyloo goes for female personages. More than half of my longest and closest friends are women, but they, too, get a shrift manifestly shorter than I would've liked for your/my p.c. "balance." But this is a piece of "art" and the choices were made not to have p.c. balance, which I, as a jerky knee-jerk liberal would've felt more comfy with ... the choices were made for content and venue.

So I separate what-could-be-done from in-Utopia-what-I'd've-done.

And with that, I have nothing but affection and admiration for Erik's selections. Whatever picayune snarking oozes down the dank corridor of my private thoughts, they are both useless and pointless. It wasn't MY film, and I am amazed at how truly sensational and entertaining and well-received it IS.

Honey, you've known me since Clarion, back in the day; and you know I'm a tough old donut to swallow, most of the time. That Erik pulled off this Augean Stable cleanup -- at all -- knocks me out. Lacking film of me with Martin in Alabama, he had me reading a piece of the essay on the March ... so let us be as content with that as we need to be.

As always, love ya.

Yr. Pal, Harlan

A WHINY REQUEST FOR HARLAN
Hey HARLAN: Buddy, pal, brunchmate, dinner companion, lover of fine foods...please, puhleeeese!...if I send ya the samollians (after figuring out how much it'll cost, and making sure the cost of an overnight package is covered), think you could swing by "Pink's" sometime in the near future (the next three or four weeks) and pick up a half-dozen assorted "flavors" of their world-famous hotdogs? I've been dying to actually taste one (actually three, since the girls get one half each) o' those fine dining-room canines everyone waxes poetic over, and I _definitely_ wont be getting out to California anytime soon.
(Tried to see if they had some sort of delivery service -- like some places do -- but came up snake eyes).

If you can swing it, I'd be beholden (and I can promise to send you some food stuffs from the Land Down Under, because I _will_ be in the South part of that fine continent later this year (you know, as long as Quantas holds to Raymond's statistical analysis of their record and keeps me aloft the whole way...Quantas, definitely, _Quantas_). So if you've been jonesin' for a vegemite sandwich, I can hook ya up with some of the hard stuff by November, brotha'.
And if the request for dogs isn't doable right now, just say so. I'll understand.
All best to you and Susan,
Dorman

DWST a/k/a Dreams...
I loved "Dreams With Sharp Teeth" and left the theater Friday very proud of everyone involved. And while at this point I know the following suggestion comes too late to be anything more than a mild annoyance, the little voice of truth in me that I can never quite beat to death when I probably should compells me to mention it. The only thing that might have made this filmic tribute to Harlan rock (or dare I say *swing*) even harder than it already does is the inclusion of "colorful" testimony from the likes of Robert Morales, Chip Delany, and William Wu. I think posterity deserves to know that HE--the man and his work--was/is deeply beloved by many people of color, including the late great Octavia Butler whose groundbreaking career was made possible by Harlan's uncanny insight and timely intervention. That Harlan saw and understood "we the people who are darker than blue" (to quote a '70s soul classic ) in ways a lot of the SF community still does not, made our interactions with him unique and memorable...flavored by all the complexities and multi-culti richness that informs much of Harlan's written work. (I tried to convey some of this backstory to the sister who showed up from the distribution company...but I don't believe she had ever read Harlan before seeing the film.)

BTW:xxxooo Happy birthday my dear, and many even happier returns.

I'm actually a bit worried about Werner Herzog, I hear he is going to put out a mainstream action film. I am sure it will be like no other action film before or since, but dang.

Speaking of movies, can't wait to see Bug, hear it is Friedkin's best film since the Exorcist. Hope I don't end up getting more green puke on my new pants--the dry cleaning bill is murder.

--------------

Ron Paul, a freakin republican ends up being the radical in the Presidential race. Proves you should never judge a donut, even if that donut has red sprinkles.

--------------

Lifts a mug of beer to my Harlan brood. Have a wonderful holiday weekend you loving, wonderful people. Hope we all get our dicks wet, even the ladies.

Crass, no just me.

Mr Ellison, Holiness, Your Serenity, sirrah, effendi, kamerad: somewhere along the line the Fates surely swapped our ages, because there's certainly no sane way you could have that many years on your odometer. In all seriousness, I often pry myself achingly out of bed & say, "If Harlan can do it, I can at least try." So, further fond felicitations from the outer fringes of this fleacircus.

A few evenings ago, I watched _Larry King Live_. I loathe Larry King. But there sat Don Rickles, who (for being unfairly stereotyped for 40 years as a sort of ur-Kinnison) was an in-your-face delight as always. Do youse guys know each other? Your crazed assaults on Normal Life have always dovetailed nicely.

Berman: no, it's Las Vegas. Really -- international infections vector, but you'll hear more about Castro Street than The Strip due to the squillions of cash that flow through the latter every microsecond. Some years ago, my then-dad-in-law had a mild heart attack while on holiday, & almost died from infections introduced by the IVs & catheter. Lots of liquids, & don't touch or breath near anyone you like for a few weeks.

Goldberg: would greatly enjoy CONvergence this year, as last year I sacrificed all vacation time to (a) my 30th reunion & (b) seeing The Ellison -- for which I DROVE 1,250 miles in a record (& almost entirely legal) 22.5 hours. The Verge staff only now has decided to consider my push for more writing-oriented panels, & I'm miffed; I mean, I love comics, but gimme a freakin' liter-al/-ary break!! (This after they refused me dealer-room space for my publishing company because "we already have too many used-book dealers," badump-bump.) In any case, getting the time free for 2007 may be difficult, so being there Friday evening (much less my usual Thursday) is unlikely; if at all, I'll likely circulate through the Shipwreck on Saturday evening, just look for the neon-silver mane.

assorted: "Marvel Zombies." Talk about turning a great Henny Youngman one-liner into a dismal feature-length film.

...then making it a PROPERTY.

assorted: when I was freshly divorced some 15 years ago, local NPR was running "BBC Overnight" which in all seriousness helped me hold fast to sanity. The affiliate every Sunday evening ran stuff like "Arkham Asylum" & the British "Foundation" production, & an AM oldies station ran (& still runs) Stan Freberg's "Old-Time Radio" every weekday evening -- Tony Tollin, take a bow!! I went on a binge last month, & managed to snag 30 episodes of "Richard Diamond" (for any heathens out there, sort of a "Thin Man Goes Solo") which only made me yearn for a complete collection of (IMNSHO) perhaps the best-plotted, -scripted, -acted, -produced PI series, not to mention "the last dramatic series to air on (U.S.) radio," _Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar_ (great gimmick: he's a PI who works for an insurance company, & the tale is framed by him reading his expense report aloud as he types the letter, with line items often being crucial to the plot).

Go read _Body Snatchers_ & try not to imagine it as a radio serial. (While you're at it, don't think of a polar bear.)

I'm on a forum where people are trying to learn how to write visceral stuff like horror or humour. I tell 'em, "Go listen to your ancestors from the radio days!!" for which I almost always get the virtual equivalent of a blank stare with soundtrack of crickets & nightpeepers. (I heard that Val Lewton once sold a film by turning out the lights in the boardroom & briefly telling the story -- such is the power of putting a soundtrack to the imagination.)

Happy Birthday a Day Late
Happy Birthday, Harlan Ellison. Here is a dollar that I...wait...
I'm short that, as well.

Brian Phillips

I forgot - someone give littlegungirl a hint where to host her file, I think we'd all love to hear it!!

Alright, since I'm leaving right now (to visit Lille, France), here's my happy birthday wishes as well, Harlan. Enjoy your final weeks of relative anonymity, who knows what DREAMS will do to your life. (Will you still remember who your original fans were??)

Jan

Pulitzer. Ugh.

RE: Pierce College Appearance

Another lovely evening spent listening to the man. Highlights: Watching him set up his own hand-crafted podium for 20 minutes...and later noting that his lecture notes consisted of one 1"x 2" post-it note; receiving the moral that stealing Chinese food makes you a jerkwad, even if you're proud of it; sitting next to a couple who suddenly realize 50% of them have had the crabs, and 50% haven't; and hearing HE mention that all comers are welcome...including college students, older folks, and bagladies.

It was also great to see Lynn and Bill again. Hi Lynn and Bill!

RE: Radio Project

I finished my radio project I did, using the audio from the movie screening, and it broadcast online last week. If anyone is interested in hearing it, I can try to find somewhere to host it. If not, that's cool too.

RE: Bradbury's pulizer

Yay! Every time I see that man, I am constantly amazed at the memories and good will and zest for life he contains. May he continue carpe dieming forever.

RE: Birthdays

Happy Birthday! May you continue to nail twisted-psycho-sickos' heads to the wall for eons to come.

Man, what's the etiquette here?

It's not Harlan's birthday for another day and a bit, but--the dam! She has burst!

Happy near-future birthday, Harlan. Have a wonderful summer.

D.

...and more good wishes
Hi Harlan. I add my belated congratulations on your big day! May you have many, many more and be able to enjoy them with good health, good cheer, and much happiness!

Hi Harlan!
If you count your age in hexadecimal (base 16), you are only 49! (four times 16 is 64, plus 9). Of course, only computer nerds and mathematicians use base 16, but it comes in handy sometimes.

Happy Birthday.

Kristin

I haven't posted for a looooong time, (and I realize I should just post period and not just for special occasions like these) but I just wanted to say...

Happy Birthday to a writer who wakes up my brain cells and makes seventy something look downright sexy!

(Er...I hope that's okay to say with Susan reading this!)

BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY WISHES...
HEY HARLAN: Add my belated wishes for a Happy Birthday as the day comes to a close. (I'm always forgetting holidays and the birthdays of others -- except for my wife's and daughters, which keeps me in their good graces). Hope you and Susan are well, and that the day was spent in quiet comfort or rowdy, riotous celebration (birthday boy's choice).
Best,
Dorman

More happiness to you
It's getting late, so I hope you're reading this tomorrow, after a fun-filled day and a restful night. You deserve all the best and lots of it.

To the ultimate harlequin...
This isn't making a fuss, I hope but...like everyone else, I just have to say it. Harlan, meeting you and Susan at Pink's was an honor for sure and a whole lot of fun besides. Wishing you a very happy and healthy and all around totally delightful birthday.

Laurie

P.S. If the Nobel doesn't pan out this year, let me know so I can go to Sweden and picket the Nobel committee.

Best wishes
Happy birthday, Mr. Ellison. To crib a favorite Heinlein quote:

"May you live as long as you wish, and love as long as you live."

Jan S.

Is it that time of the year already?
Rather belated Happy Birthday wishes to DA MAN!!!!! Be always young at heart, Harlan.
Alejandro

Jolly Good
We would sing "Happy Birthday To You" but we don't want to pay the fees, so......For he's a jolly good fellow, for he's a jolly good fellow!"

Best wishes, Todd and Debbie Cassel

BIRTHDAY WISH
H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y H A R L A N !

...AND MANY MORE TO COME....GOD BLESS YOU LITTLE LIFE HUTCH!

Yep, it's another Happy Birthday message
I know, I know, don't make a fuss about it, no cards, no presents...

But still, Happy Birthday, Harlan.

(Oh, and I jusr read your _Interzone_ piece on Theodore Sturgeon. You already know it's a fine piece of work, so the only thing I can add is that I liked it.)

Happy birthday to my favorite writer: Harlan Ellison!

You were expecting maybe Alan Dean Foster?

Many more, Harlan, many more!


Chuck

Happy Birthday well-wishes
Harlan,

What everybody else said.

And Happy Birthday.

-Keith

WAY Behind ... Catching Up
Sick, sick, sick. A delayed reaction of sorts from Vegas has me nigh-on-bedridden, with aches, fever, a throat of broken glass--and most troubling, no voice at all. Gone, baby, gone.

Still, this day, amid catatonic episodes of sleep, has seen a slight return of the voice, so we must hope.

As you might expect, however, I'm a bit behind here, so pardon me if I rehash dead posts or topics.

DORMAN: Oh, I knew full well about Billy Graham's appearance on the anitisemitic Nixon tapes, but I tend to give that short shrift when considering Graham as opposed to utter slimeballs such as Falwell, Robertson, Roberts, Haggard, Dobson, Wildmon, et alia.

Why, when that sort of thing would normally set me into a burning rage? Well, first, in reading the transcripts, the feeling I got from what Graham said was more an, "Oh, shit--is this the PRESIDENT saying these things? And he expects me to AGREE with him? Should I just play along ...?" kind of vibe. Also, he was very vocal in his disavowal of whatever he said, and when a man's beliefs are so tied up in the notion of repentance, I'm prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt. Too, we are told that by their deeds should we judge them, so I prefer to focus on Graham's decades of outreach to the Jewish community.

(At least I was able to resist a "Schindler, PLEASE" kind of answer. Perhaps illness mellows a man?
On second thought, no; it doesn't.)

LEE: When used wisely, hatred can be a fuel. If allowed to fester, then yes; it becomes toxic. Actually, would you be less apt to worry if what we have been referring to as "hatred" were instead called "anger" or "rage"? After all, those two, so often confused for and conflated with hatred are what has seemingly driven our patron author and movie star going all these many years of creativity and action ...

But be well aware that evem Gandhi and King began their journeys with anger as their main source of energy. This anger/hatred DOES serve a purpose; it gets us down the road a piece. The road changes, true; but anger cannot be simply written off as unproductive.

TIM: Many congratulations, sir.
(Now it's time to start on Volume 2)

ADAM-TROY: We all get older; the trick is to make sure you never get OLD. (Haburfday, son!)

PAD: Interestingly, I was thinking of citing you as someone (other than Harlan, of course) who has gotten older without getting old--when up you pop. Serendippity-doo-dah.

FRANK: Neither pretend to believe nor believe you know me. A handful on this board do, to some extent or other; you do not.

DORMAN AGAIN: On the Red State side, I will cop to being moderately impressed with Ron Paul, and to respecting Chuck Hagel. (I used to repect Horace Grassley, even though he and I disagree on a great many issues--but when he showed that he was dancing to the tune of his corporate sponsors by saying the tax collection gap is NOT due to the understaffing of the IRS, by the farming out of tax work to unsafe and undertrained and underconscienced private companies, but rather because there was too much money spent on union stewards' defending their coworkers against the blandishments and depredations of a management all too ready to abrogate their rights, he forfeited all my respect.)

HARLAN: Regarding your humble reply to Graham Rae, I am tempted to quote Golda Meir on humility, but realize that the second part of the quote does not apply. So, while I think it admirable that you want to ensure that Erik gets the credit due him, I take from the book of Brooks and Mostel to say instead, "FLAUNT IT, baby! FLAUNT IT!!!"

JEFF R: On "Marvel Zombies"--the concept (as originally done by Mark Millar in "Ultimate Fantastic Four") is good; the execution in the original series was hit-or-miss (some heroes came off perfectly consistent, despite the difference in worlds, such as Black Panther, Magneto, and Hank Pym--whereas Spider-Man and Captain "Colonel" America start off true, then are written in a terribly, terribly wrong fashion), but the backstory is interesting.
That being said, I AM buying the Army of Darkness crossover, because in the wacky context of Ash's world and worldview, it works.

ON RAY BRADBURY'S AWARD FROM THE PULITZER FOLK: Eminently deserved, and long overdue. Now let's get Messrs. Bradbury and Ellison some Nobels.

STAN, MIKE, PHIL: Please be aware that audio dramas continue on as an artform; a couple of my friends appear in new ones all the time, at least one of my friends is creating some, and another friend sells some as part of her business.

HARLAN AGAIN: You need not thank us for wishing you well on another year successfully navigated; we do so in thanks for the work YOU have given US. If you truly wish to thank us, however, you can do so by shooting for ANOTHER seventy-ythree years of writing and of happiness.

Harlan,

Your words have meant so much to me that I am impelled to send you my best regards on your birthday.

Sorry about that, chief,

Steve Dooner

I received my copy of Interzone with Harlan's article about Ted Sturgeon yesterday. I read it this morning while waiting at the doctor's pffice. Wow!!! What an incredible piece of writing. It amazes me each time I read your work, whether it be fiction or nonfiction, the amount of passion you pour into it. I just say thanks to my lucky stars that I stumbled across your writing so many years ago, it is now going on 42 plus years of enjoying your work.
Have a terrific birthday Harlan, and from one of us not so lucky in finding an angel to share our lives with, please enjoy every minute you get to share with the lovely Susan.

I hope you have a most splendiferous birthday, Harlan.

Hey, it occurs to me that this year is my 30th anniversary as a reader of all things Ellison. I don't even remember which of your books I bought first; however, I've acquired 23 more, so you must be doing SOMETHING right. Such as amusing, educating, enlightening, challenging, and yeah, even inspiring.

The tsatske from Painesville showed 'em what for. Indeed he did.

More "Dreams" Buzz.....

Modesty almost forbids directing your attention to the following little piece on the film.

Almost.

http://www.documentarychannel.com/main/content/view/132/1/

Best part is they cut Harlan and Werner Herzog OUT of our group picture, leaving just me!! Good to see their priorities are in order.

Erik

celebratory salutations
Happy birthday Mr. E. Whoop it up. ;-)

(No comment on potential spankin's from Susan...)

I also offer birthday wishes, whatever day it is! (Too tired to look it up.)

But weren't you 73 last year?

Happy Birthday, Mr. Ellison!

He touched my claw...I'll never wash it again. *dreamy sigh*


S.

kong,radio,birthday
those interested in radio drama and are in new york may want to check out the horse trade and radio theater production of king kong. it runs through june 10 at the red room theatre, 212-868-4444, smarttix.com. and- no funny remarks or cute quotes but simply put, with utmost respect and deepest affection, happy birthday, Harlan. (and i do know who pete smith is, i do...i do...i do...)

Oh my, the forum is still down. What ever will I do? Live, maybe. Wyatt could be giving us the key to freedom and we don't know it.

-------------

Harlan, I have a pretty good feeling this will be a great year for you; just call it a hint from a psychic friend.

Susan, bake this man a tofu cake.

------------

Good on Hillary Clinton for voting no to the Iraq spending bill, good on her--for once I can shine the beam and it isn't there to fry ants. Obama, good on you too, fella. You were a bit more easier to read. Obviously, they knew the vote was going to be a failure, but it is on the record, which you cannot erase, so good on them; to hell with the rest of the cowardly dems who voted to give Bush his blood money. Fuck all of them, and fuck their sincere bile about wanting to help the troops. You help the troops by sending their asses home. Sure, many of them want to be there, but they are being duped; send them home, send them home. The dems just signed on to more bloodshed and more folded flags. Fuck em. Impeach them too!

THANK YOU ALL

The happy birthday effusions. I smile. I entwine your lush antennae. I pinch your claws in camaraderie. Youse is a good bunch.

What with the Newsarama talkback raging, Susan and I will be lying low through Memorial Day. May you do the same and bliss on through the long weekend.

Yr. Pal, Harlan

HIPY PAPY BTHUTHDTH THUTHDA BTHUTHDY.

Harlan,

Coming up on 73 and still puckish. Why am i amazed that i am constantly surprised?

Truly, that is the most obscure Blazing Saddles reference i have ever heard.

Early many happy returns from me as well. If that's a sentence. That one wasn't. What?

Wishing you happy days, restful nights and a pox on your adversaries,

Paul

Now, where's my floozy?

Happy Birthday, Unca Harlan. May the day, and as many others as you see fit, be spent doing whatever floats your boat, fills your moat or trots your goat. ;)

Happy Birthday!
I wish you a happy 73rd birthday, Mr. Ellison, on the occassion of the fifth wedding anniversary of myself and the lovely Tayna (pronounced "Tanya"). I hope that you get everything you want and only the best of what you deserve.

And congratulations to Ray Bradbury on his lifetime achievement award from the Pulitzer Committee.

happy birthday
Dear Harlan--

Happy birthday.

Remember: the first 73 years are always the toughest. But after that, it's smooth sailing.

Best wishes,

Alex (Smartass) Schor

It being only the 25th of May and all, and given that our patron detests getting cards and whatnot, and seeing as he is a fan of Lewis Carroll and such:

Happy UN-BIRTHDAY, Mr Ellison.

By rough count you've had 26,571 of them so far -- a right-near commendable achievement.

May you have another 363 of 'em before long.

Steve and Cris Barber

A Dispatch From the Snotnosed
So, happy birthday, old man.

Sorry, Scottish fella.

Here's the link to the second part of the Zack Smith HE interview
http://www.newsarama.com/general/Ellison/interview_p2.html
(Like many of you I kept waiting for the link to appear on the first page, but it seems they don't follow that kind of logic.)

Good questions, no perceivable editing on the responses.

It was news to me that Harlan conceptualizes his own covers. He didn't say they USE all his designs, but it's an interesting thing to know.

The LOST season finale was just another great episode. There was the occasional middling episode after the opening story arc, but the season as a whole was a notch above the previous ones, partly because they focused on the best characters.

Matthew Fox is still pretty much the best actor on tv, and Locke is the best character.

My only problem with the finale was, I don't think you can drive a van through the jungle at 30 mph. :-) On the other hand, it's a German car, so I guess it must possible.

I also understood why Charlie had to knock the Irish fellow over the head last time (which seemed cruel).

newsarama and Ray's prize
More congrats for Mr. Bradbury on a long overdue honor...now to get Harlan the same love. Concerning said idiots on newsarama, feh upon them. If they can't enjoy true comic greatness...not to mention good writing, then a pox upon them. Birthday saluations...may you have as many years left as you have stories to tell...I expect our grandkids will be here in rapt attention in another 73 years if that's the case. Looking forward to part 3 of the interview...

Heck with Lost...it's baseball season...lol.

To whom it may concern...

The wonderful writer THOMAS LIGOTTI has made available an online version of his forthcoming nonfiction treatise/essay/survey of weird/dark/fantasy/horror, THE CONSPIRACY AGAINST THE HUMAN RACE, for critical comment/response/spelling error correction, on this here website http://www.ligotti.net/

If you want to read his fiction, he has a "best of" collection out now called THE SHADOW AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WORLD from Cold Spring Press. If you don't know this guy prepare to be astounded. Because of his early work he is often associated with the "Lovecraft" crowd but his real precursors are Borges/Burroughs (Wiiliam)/Bruno Schultz. And like YOU KNOW WHO he is the master of the short story that buzzes around in your head for days like bees in a bucket.

Oh yeah I'm a raving fan.

Have a Happy 73rd Birthday!
HARLAN: May you have the happiest of birthdays. I'll be heading to Europe in a few hours and out of computer contact, so I had to jump the gun.

SUSAN: You are a saint. More when I get back.

Since I'm not certain I'll have access to a computer this weekend, let me take this early opportunity to say H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y to the single YOUNGEST 73-year "old" on the face of the Earth! Harlan, may you live every bit as long as you want to live, with the beautiful and loving Susan by your side every step of the way.
With best wishes for many, many more...

Harlan, Get Off Your Knee!

No apologia or excuses or any of that. I KNOW you're up to your eyeballs. Besides, you thanked me in advance, before I sent the item. I was just fretting about the success of delivery, and you done put my frets to rest.

Hope all is going well with you over these long weeks. Susan as well. You're both aces and any time either of you need anything that I can supply, well, you know where I'm at.

Jason

Congratulations
Another shouted out WELL DONE RAY for Mr. Bradbury from Cindy, Jim, & Evangelia.

Argendeli

Bradbury
Harlan, Ray Bradbury's Pulitzer was announced on this very Art Deco Dining Pavilion a couple of weeks ago - by me. Not the same as hearing it from the man himself, I know.

Next stop: Nobel...

- Phil

Towel Day 2007
In honor of another wonderful author, today is Towel Day 2007.

http://www.towelday.kojv.net/

Don't panic!

Yay for Ray!
And they just set up the carnival in town today ...

D.

Stan, check out: http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbc7/
The programs are available in different formats.

David

To Mike and Phil
MIKE: I know about radio drama on Sirius...I was referring to regular radio AM or FM. Some of the stations around the country do broadcast the oldies of radio....but none of the Portland Oregon stations play them. The oldies have their place, but I would like original radio drama...up to date and on prime time.

PHIL: I applaude the British to keep the radio drama flame going. Unfortunately BBC quit broadcasting to North America a few years ago, so that avenue does not exist anymore (shortwave). Let us hope the radio drama flame never burns out, and I am sure the British Broadcasting group will keep it burning.

Doh!!
Here is the link I meant to put in:

http://www.worldmetrologyday.com/index.htm

Like I said, it is a niche field, but I think an important one.

Catching up

Congratulations to Ray Bradbury! Looks like Bradbury and John Coltrane received Special Citations. I heartily agree with both.

Larry,
I have heard all the jokes but remain a Dylan fan. I think he is actually 66 today but appreciate your post. His contributions to music and in particular songs with thought stand alone. I am also a fan of the Dead and Garcia (yes I have heard those jokes too) and in my opinion they produced some incredible covers of his songs. As for the current administration a more fitting Dylan song may be Masters of War, though Idiot Wind also fits. Isn't that a scary combination?

http://bobdylan.com/songs/masters.html

Note: That is a link to Dylan's page, not some pirate rip-off lyric sharing service. Read the words. Were they written 44 years ago or yesterday?

Mike,
Couldn't agree with you more about sattelite radio. I have XM myself and there are channels for "Radio Classics" and "Theater of the Mind". The latter is running a new series from Orson Scott Card on his Enders stories and old Twilight Zone episodes. I urge anyone to check out what you can get for the cost of a couple yuppie coffees a month. These companies (XM and Sirius) aren't breaking even and are thus considerng merging (if the government will let them) but they really are putting out a wide variety of content far superior to the local broadcast sludge. Step up.

Adam Troy
A belated happy birthday wish. I also moved one year closer to 50 on the 20th. I do not however get to wait until 2010 for my next half century. Mine arrives next year. A couple of bits of trivia about the date:
I used to have a coffee table book called "This Date in Rock and Roll History" or some such, and learned that we share birth date with Joe Cocker and Cher. Pure trivia.
It is also World Metrology Day. Metrology is the science of measurement. On May 20 1875 17 nations signed the Metre Convention in Paris and established the International Bureau of Weights and Measures. I realize most people have no idea of what the hell that means but Metrology is the field in which I have spent my last 20+ years. If you care to check it out:

Good Company
Mr. Bradbury recieved his lifetime Pulitzer in tandem with another titan, John Coltrane.

It's nice Ray's still around to enjoy his.

PAUL in Austin, Texas:

Sir: I think, when quoting directly from Mel Brooks, that one should manifest 7(count'm)7

"workworkwork"s

The accurate quote, lest I be taken further to task by my pals, is:

"Workworkworkworkworkworkwork!" whilst one's kisser is nearly imbedded in a, ahem, floozie's bosom.

As always, I live to serve. Yr. Pal, Harlan

Mr. Bradbury's Award
Would there happen to be an email address or contact address where congratulations can be tendered to Mr. Bradbury from a long time fan? I'd settle for a direction to lob warm fuzzies...


S.

ENFORCED CORRECTION

Called Peter David, among others, to shout hysterically that Ray had copped The Pulitzer, and Peter whooped with joy. Then he called me back to point out I had been less-than-accurate.

Not "The Pulitzer Prize," but a special commendation from the Pulitzer Vatican (or whatever they're called) Council of Elder Sages and Shazam Wizards, for the totality of his Body of Work ...

WHICH IS INFINITELY FUCKING B*E*T*T*E*R THAN ONE LONE MIZZUBLE PULITZER PRIZE ...

So I told peter I didn't give a shit if I was inaccurate, and he should stop being a poopihead and a doryphore and a rainer on parades and I was being cranky with him because I was cranked at him, and he went away.

Further, deponent sayeth not.

-he

TALLY:

Thanks, kiddo. Went over there and took a look. It always astonishes me how many people who have never met me, have never had first-hand even-passing-acquaintanceship with me, can state with such gravitas that "Ellison is a dickhead."

Ah ... and they say poetry is dead.

Thanks again, Yr. Pal, Harlan

HOLEEEEEEE SHEEEEEEEEE ITTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!

My friend, RAY BRADBURY just called me. You may have heard of him. He called to tell me that ...

RAY

BRADBURY

HAS WON

THE PULITZER PRIZE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hot diggety dawg!!!!!

Harlan

Harlan sez: "I leave the philology, the epistomology, the, uh, what the hell is that word that, with a letter added, means bug study, oh, waitaminute, I got it, the etymology ... I leave it to others hereon appearing."

And shall ornithology be the oeuvre of the day when the hereons *do* appear? Oeuvre au pauvre, the lifeswork of poor Charlie Parker, epistemozotically considered as an assymetric raising and lowering of the scales of one's eyes. Thus, in endymology, we separate the dross from the philia, and weigh to find the lesser of two weevils. Afterward, an appeasiotomy, a procedure to placate the fertility gods.

Far from Joyce, but blessedly further from puns.

worworkworkworkwork
Susan, ditto Steve~ re: long time check, first time mailer. I thought i had lost it, then overtime sucked me in. My check for DWST Omni is en route. Apologies for the delay.

Perhaps i can go to the bathroom tomorrow.....
Paul

JASON MICHELITCH:

Oh fiddle-dee-dee, kiddo. Yes, of course, they made it just finely. I DO TRY to b e sedulous in thanking each and every one of you when you do me a solid, but every once in a while, I, er, uh, ahem...

It's been a long couple of weeks, Jason; and I drop to my knee in chagrin at not having properly thanked you in a timely fashion. As I've been required to say here FAR TOO OFTEN for my sense of propriety, the preceding apologia is not an excuse, it is merely an explanation.

Yr. Pal, Harlan

Susan,

Thanks for the reminder! I'll send you my new address.

I'm now in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. My seventh move in ten years.

My hat is off to you for managing to not lose track of me!

Alabama is a neat state. My kids have been swarmed by fire ants twice, and have learned to attack and destroy Kudzu on sight. By invitation, I have shot a 50 caliber sniper rifle at water bottles in the Appalacian mountains (watch 'em disappear!). Another session in the mountains explored a whole range of hand guns to see which best balances between power and accuracy. I have also been invited out to a police range by another gentleman, where I was priviledged to fire an AR15 semi-automatic rifle and a Glock 9mm. Another guy at the plant I work at has insisted that I come out and kill something with him next deer or turkey season. I think I'll draw the line at drawing blood, but hey, to each his own.

After seven frightfully civilized years in France and Canada, this has been a real wake up call. America really is DIFFERENT.

LAURIE:

Y'know, damned if I ever thought of that title as a "pun," a species of fartblossom I abhor. But you may be correct in calling it so. I always separated (VERY consciously) puns from Joycean "wordplay" or -- as differentiated in the magnificent French film from last year, RIDICULE -- the Voltaire epigone, "wit" ... as differentiated from "humor."

But, dear heart, you could be correct.

I leave the philology, the epistomology, the, uh, what the hell is that word that, with a letter added, means bug study, oh, waitaminute, I got it, the etymology ... I leave it to others hereon appearing.

Yr. Pal, Harlan

Old Time Radio from Space
.
TO STAN IN BEAVERTON

You don't have to wish for or fantasize about a radio station devoted to classic radio shows from the medium's Golden Age. That station exists. It's called RADIO CLASSICS, Channel 118 on Sirius Satellite Radio.

RADIO CLASSICS is a dedicated, commercial-free radio channel that delivers Jack Benny, Bob Hope, Abbott & Costello, THE SHADOW, THE GREEN HORNET, PHILIP MARLOWE, THE SHADOW, LUX RADIO THEATER, THE WHISTLER, DIMENSION X and lots and lots of other great Old Time Radio 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The price? Less than $13 a month and, oh yeah, you also get the **other** 130 Sirius channels of news, entertainment, talk, sports, comedy and commercial-free music as a big bonus.

Sirius is a fantastic service for an insanely low price (130 channels of continuous audio programming for 50 cents a day). I've had two Sirius radios in the house and one in the car for almost two years now and I've not once gone back to listening to broadcast radio. There's no need.

Here's the link for the RADIO CLASSICS weekly schedule, in case you want to investigate:

http://www.sirius.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Sirius/CachedPage&c=Channel&cid=1104779628769

Eff me. Too many references to effing this and effing that. Effing ny cab driver lingo.

Oh. And "Violence". Yes, I effing know how to spell.

Profoundish apologesium
SUSAN - Just put a check in the mail. Way overdue-ish. You should have tomorrow.
___________________________

If you're just now reading the notes below regarding LOST, check out the reviews at nytimes.com, washingtonpost.com, tv.zap2it.com or latimes.com. Bitchin' kool keen eff-me twist. Astounding ep.

And YOU effing missed it.
___________________________

Watched LADY IN THE WATER yesterday. Loved it. Eff the critics.
___________________________

Overheard a conversation in my new Orange County digs regarding A HISTORY OF VOILENCE. They didn't understand it. Orange County. Yes. Orange County.

*sigh*
___________________________

RICK - Seriously missing le Forae. Any updates????

YouTube/DWAGH
I'd like to request some assistant from my fellow diners:

Due to a time crunch, I haven't been able to track down a _working_ means of contacting the individual who posted the YouTube video of the Twilight Zone "Demon With a Glass Hand". The e-mail address I was able to extract from the YouTube page is nonworking.

If anyone can help me track this down, His Eminence would like us to try something other than another DMCA notice to YouTube (which got us about a month of respite the last time). Please e-mail me off-list at cepetit{at}authorslawyer{dot}com.

Radio drama
Stan,

(and anyone else who misses the days of radio drama) please be aware that on this side of the pond, radio drama is alive and well. The BBC's output has declined in recent years, in both quality and quantity, but there's still quite a bit of good material being produced. And it can all be heard online via the Listen Again feature.

New drama is broadcast almost daily on Radio 4 - listen again here to The Afternoon Play, and The Classic Serial:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/progs/listenagain.shtml

Drama from the BBC archive is broadcast daily on BBC 7 - listen again to single plays, detective series and SF here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbc7/listenagain

(You need Real Player installed to be able to use these services.)

Imagine if the British lamented the passing of cinema, simply because hardly any British films are made any more. That's the equivalent of Americans lamenting the passing of radio drama, simply because hardly any American plays are made any more.

- Phil

A FOND MEMORY
Yes Laurie...at 61 I too remember radio drama...and long to see it return to the airwaves. Unfortunately, the now young in this country are more interested in rap music and VH1, than to listen
transfixed as THE LONE RANGER, THE SHADOW, SGT PRESTON OF THE YUKON, and YOURS TRULY, JOHNNY DOLLAR dispatched the bad guys via the ear. If I had the money...I would buy a string of radio stations in all fifty states and territories to form a network specifically programmed to ORIGINAL RADIO DRAMA....but alas, I have neither the money nor the time. So...I listen to drama via
the tapes and cds of those long ago programs, that dared to spark the imagination through hearing instead of seeing. That is what made radio drama great...it sparked what there is too little in the 21st Century creative entertainment industry...imagination. It takes imagination to create an original story whether written or produced...right Harlan?

Happy Birthday, Mr. Zimmerman!
Yes, it was 65 years ago today that one Robert Zimmerman emerged into the world in the usual fashion. Between then and now he's done quite a bit, such as writing some of the best songs of the past fortysomething years and influencing just about everybody.

Better known as Bob Dylan, he raised the bar in pop music by writing lyrics that were politically and socially relevant.

And Bob said, "Let there be folk rock." And there was folk rock.

Concerning the lack of civility in some of the recent posts about the late, not-so-great Rev. Falwell: I'm reminded of a line in a Dylan song (I've forgotten which one), in which the Bobster sings, "If my thought-dreams could be seen / They'd probably put me in a guillotine." I believe that applies to all of us at one time or another, but particularly when contemplating and commenting upon the dismal career of (as Larry King called him) Jer.

Here's a Dylan song that would serve as a most appropriate anthem for the Religious Right and the Bush administration: "Idiot Wind." It blows harder every day, it seems.

To the Comics Fans Among the Webderlanders:
Am I the only one who thinks that "Marvel Zombies" is the most repulsive concept a major company has come up with in a very, very VERY long time?

Heroes continued (Spoilers)
Todd,

You are correct that I have not seen many quality season/series finales in a while, primarily because I do not watch much television. I cannot comment on Lost as I have never watched it, even though many friends have said I would be instantly hooked if I were to see an episode.

To address the points you raised:

* Love conquers all: admittedly not the most original theme in history, but it was reminiscent to me of one of the themes in Dan Simmons' Hyperion series, where he postulated that love was one of the fundamental forces in the universe
* I loved the interaction between Peter and Richard Roundtree, even though I have no idea how it happened. You call it cliche, I call it an older generation passing down wisdom to a younger generation. To each his own on that point.
* The reason why Nathan had to come and save Peter from blowing up the city was a simple one from my perspective: Peter was afraid. Could he have flown up and detonated himself without his brother's sacrifice? Of course. But it was established earlier in the show that Peter was afraid both of his powers, the consequences of his power, and possibly of dying, as he may have been unsure he would survive a nuclear explosion. He needed his brother's strength and support to do what he had to do, much in the way that Ando's willingness to confront Sylar gave Hiro the strength to attack the villain.
* Adam-Troy has already commented on this, but to follow up on his comment and your subsequent point on Sylar: we don't know what happened. One possible explanation is that the body was taken away by the police and the shot of the blood running into the sewers implying that his evil is being washed away. Alternatively, something could have risen from the sewers (perhaps that bad guy that Molly Walker cannot see) and dragged his body down there. Finally, he could have survived and crawled into the sewers himself. The final shot including a cockroach does certainly imply that, like a cockroach, Sylar will be back, but it is left intentionally ambiguous.

Here is what I did like about it: the writers presented a specific story arc and were consistent within that story. Mysteries were presented and many of them were resolved in a way that was logical and consistent within that universe. Examples of this include: the cheerleader comments, Isaac Mendez and his fate, the genesis of Sylar, Nikki and DL's relationship, Molly Walker and an explanation of why she was targeted by Sylar early in the show, and numerous others. Some areas that I hope are explored further in subsequent seasons include that helix type symbol that seems to be so prevalent for the gifted individuals, how Hiro ends up fighting a dinosaur, and the secrets of the earlier generation of Heroes.

Tony, before I forget, are you heading to ConVergence this year?

my kingdom to be able find the edit button
On second thought, said package will be sent just because you may need to complete your collection of Dollar General paperbacks...forget the mention of Birthday in connection with it.

I'll just lurk til after Memorial Day....

Well, Harlan can still get a response
Over on newsarama.com...the interview itself is very well done. The bloggosphere is hot to get a rise out of us fans of the humble creator of Dream Corridor. I'm posting as jfk5351...if anyone cares.

In case I'm not around on the actual day, Happy 73rd Birthday to Harlan from a soon to be 36 year old lifelong fan...and oh, the package of my book and the Future Crimes book will go out after Memorial Day due to budgetary concerns on my end... just call it a birthday token of esteem. No need for recompense...

Hey Harlan
Did the NY Daily News articles ever show up? Not that there's much I could do about it if they didn't, at this point...just curious to know if they were succesfully delivered.

LOST, et al
Hmmmm...may just have to go for that season 3 set of Lost after all. (I still haven't gotten to season 2 yet, from where I'm at they've only just got the hatch opened up.)

I sure as shit won't be picking up the most recent run of 24 when it hits disc, despite having been absolutely obsessed with that show since Hour 1 of Day 1. Man what a letdown that was, and after such a brilliant opening too.

The Sanjaya Chronicles: Final Please God Let It Be Final Chapter
"Dude, if you don't look as good as Joe Perry, who might as well be glued to the boards, you're in serious hurt."

When last month I saw that dipwit manage to suck all life out of "You Really Got Me" -- c'mon, I love the versions by the Kinks & Van Halen, but even more obscurely by 801 -- I knew he'd already overshot his abilities. Did the producers assign him this song just so people'd realise they knew what a joke he became thanks in large part to Howard Stern?

I'm conflicted on _Heroes_. It was mostly satisfying, despite more cumulative holes than a corncrib. (I'm already setting bets that Sylar's rapidly cooling carcase was dragged away by Something. Oh, don't you just hate those days.) If the series can't get it's witticism count up above say that of _24_, it's doomed -- though Eccleston did manage some zing. Now: why does Sylar stop bullets, but not a sword...?

The show became _Hiro's Story_ when FutureHiro first appeared. (Bothersome that this has been handled in such a rickety manner.) It's just been pointed out to me that Hiro has been in every single episode, though once (the flashback) not played by Masi Oka. Speaking of which, I've been impressed at the stark contrast between the Present & Future versions -- I hope Oka has a long & happy acting career, because he's got the chops.

Re LOST
I'll second that. They pulled a nifty reversal of a long-standing show tradition to create an _amazing_ cliffhanger.

There was a plot in _Babylon 5_ which took about two seasons to resolve, and the climax was this twisty-turny time travel episode that rivalled the second _Back to the Future_ movie. This season's finale of _Lost_ came close. VEEERRRRY nifty.

LOST - If you can still catch it...


Just finished watching the East Coast feed of the LOST season finale.

If it's still on in your part of the country (or coming up in the next hour or so), watch it. If you EVER liked the show, watch it.

I'm just sayin'...

Harlan at Peirce
So I saw Harlan at Pierce College last night and it was great. The man is a force of nature and funny as hell.Some of the young pups in the back started walking out halfway through but not because Harlan was uninteresting,I think they just can't stand anything requiring them to sit still and use their brain for more than an hour.

After Harlan spoke he was signing books and I had a chance to meet him and have him sign the new (for me)Dreams With Sharp Teeth book I bought and I told him it was an honor to meet him as he is my longtime favorite writer. He said no, no, people often say that to me but I'm just a guy like everyone else.I felt somewhat chagrined after that. I understand Harlans desire not to be put too high up on a pedestal but the dictionary says of honor: to hold in respect, esteem , and I can't help but feel that for Harlan Ellison, especially after that talk at Pierce. Getting crabs from Alan Ginsburg and setting up that rubix cube of a podium. Great.

But Harlan, while it was an honor to meet you I am quite sure your shit still stinks like hell. Keep Rockin.

Phil Nichols--Thanks, will try that BBC website for radio drama. I admit I am nostagic for the days when kids like me listened and used imagination in cooperation with great writing and sound effects (I still remember that creaking Inner Sanctum door) but I am curious about the new stuff and glad to know it's on the air somewhere.

Harlan--Ellison Wonderland the ONLY pun...are you sure? What about "Djinn, No Chaser"?

Todd --
The answer to one of your questions is:

The importance of saving the cheerleader is as follows. Had Sylar gotten her, he would have been invulnerable, and thus survived Hiro's sword.

Which he apparently did anyway.

So never mind.

“Last night's episode of Heroes had to have been one of the most satisfying season finales I have seen in a long time”

Mark, I either have to strongly disagree with you, or assume that you have not seen many quality season/series finales in a long time. As exquisite shows like Sopranos and Lost careen madly toward their series and season finales with wild abandon, Heroes has been slowly morphing throughout this season from intriguing, to nifty, to slogging to crap. Moment of coolness aside (mostly involving Mr. Takei or the episode that was owned by Horn Rimmed Glasses guy with a great bridge top finale), this show talks down to the viewer who is assumed to have never read comic books or watched SF or Fantasy television or motion pictures in a way that Lost spatters said viewer with acid-balloons.

How to count the ways that this finale was lame? Spoilers follow:

• Love conquers all? Not only is that the lamest response/theme since Harry Potter was advised this in his last novel (and, hey, Harry Potter IS a Young Adult novel after all) but....
• ...this wonderful lesson was presented to Mr. BoomBoom by a mystical, dead, black character? More clichés, please.
• Why did Mr. Bad Flying Guy (sorry, this show does not excite me enough to remember name...and I’ve seen every episode!) have to sacrifice himself and fly Mr. BoomBoom into the sky? Mr. BoomBoom has the power to fly, and he was perfectly willing to be killed to save the city.
• What was the point of “save the cheerleader, save the world” when the cheerleader absolutely choked in her one moment to do so, leading to the preceding flight to atomization (as if we really believe they are dead)? How ineffectual was that tagline throughout the series?
• After all this excitement at Kirby Plaza, the survivors slowly gather themselves and pat themselves on the back as they prepare to go their separate or joint ways: and they don’t even bother to glance over their shoulder to see that the “dead” Sylar (hey, cool, I remembered a name) has come to life and dragged himself bloodily into the sewers (or turned into a cockroach) to return next issue/season?

This was quite dissatisfying, especially for a series that had such promise. Bring on tonight’s Lost finale...yowza! now THAT’S something to anticipate!

-TODD

thank you from Shannon Wheeler
Just wanted to thank for your comments on the Beat. It was very cool of you to step in.

Now, about that love child...

Nice article, Graham (of course I couldn't read everything - don't want to know too much), just a minor correction: "The Discarded" will be an episode of Masters of Science Fiction (ABC), it's not a movie.

The Dream Corridor related interview is also interesting. I wouldn't have thought Corben can't draw a hand with a finger sticking out. :-) Maybe he's catholic, Harlan?

LOST HERC MEMBER: Lee Thompson, Ontario, Canada.

Thanks--Susan

(Yes, I know, you're only meant to have one post a day. Please forgive me just this once.)

Ummm...cheers big man (not an insult - a Scottish expression of affection and cameraderie), nae bother likesay. Mark Bell, my friend-cum-neversleep-editor, turned that article around in 3 HOURS. I told him you had that screening of Dreams With Sharp Teeth on Friday and it would be cool to see it up before then (posted it to him less than 12 hours ago)...and there it is, for all the world to see. Glad I didn't write it in Scottish colloquial bogue brogue a la Irvine Welsh as I originallly intended to do - would have rendered it far more user-unfriendly to the average page-peruser!

(Joking of course)

(Ye ken whit ah mean)

I'm humbled, and very glad you like it, Mr. Ellison (and slightly relieved you don't want to come after my gizzard with a letter opener!). My gift to you for all the pleasure and understanding of some of life's history and mystery that your words have brought to me the years. And if I can just get my novel finished that I have en English publisher interested in...things will have come full circle. Because, in watching that doc and re-reading a few of your books (which I got from the local library - my books are unfortunately still back in Scotland) again, I read how much of a debt of gratitude and inspiration I owe to your work in ceetain ways. But I have my own voice, and so that's fine.

Ellison Wonderland? Would LOVE to. Black pudding? If I can get some somewhere, yeah no problem you got it; doubt my American wife (who's Jewish so I don't need to look up words like 'kvell'; been Stockholm-Syndrome-sufferer indoctrinated with Jewish phrases and can kibbitz about 'em with the the best of the rest of 'em now) would be trying any though. Had her try some and she literally spat it out. Last year, at the Highland Games here in Chicago, she seemed unusually quick to enter the 'hurl the haggis' contest (as she had nearly done the one time she tried it) and threw her portion into a galaxy far, far away. I'll let you know if we could make it out there.

And that would be absolutely superb.

Richard Falkirk (etymology of that name? Faw-kirk, or 'speckled kirk' or 'church'; Falkirk was built around a church whose exterior was speckled material)? I bought a paperback of his from June 1974 in an Chicago bookshop cos of his surname (or last name as Yanks put it) called Blackstone and would gladly give it to you for your collection if you don't have it.

Think that pretty much covers it. I am a fellow graphomaniac and could sit wordrattling forever and never to cease and desist, but I better just leave it at that.

Thank you once again, Harlan. Great documentary. But I think you got that vibe from me by now. And I hope it does as well as it should on the fest circuit.

Onwards, mibbe see ye,
G.

Harlan on Dream Corridor on newsrama.com
www.newsarama.com/general/Ellison/interview_p1.html...part 2 to follow on Thursday. Harlan, your justified pride in the material shines through. Glad to see the news is getting out. Mr. Rae, I really enjoyed the review of DWST...now for it to be shown in the Southeast.

Susan, thank you very much for the lovely post-card and recent HERC order. After perusing through the latest Dream Corridor I picked up at the local comic book shop, I decided that I needed a signed copy for my archive.

David

REPLY TO GRAHAM RAE

Thank you, sir.

I am both abashed and giddy.

You are, truly, far too kind to me. The kindness and pleasure you demonstrate in the review should, more properly, go in Erik Nelson's column. I just sort of sat around and blathered. Erik turned it into Art ... using inferior materials.

As for a visit to Ellison Wonderland (the ONLY pun I allow myself), consider the invitation tendered. Even were I not in your debt for the good words, the joy of meeting Susan in Glasgow 22 years ago (our 21st year marriage is this September) would buy you entree by association. Not to mention that I loved the historical novels written by "Richard Falkirk."

Just let us know in advance, and bring some black pudding with, as the price for our hospitality -- because haggis, which I also like a lot, simply does not travel well -- and we'll nae ha'a wuhrrrrrd'a cuhmplaint about thanking you in person.

Again, my gratitude. Erik must be kvelling. Look it up.

Yr. Pal, Harlan

Recovering lost youth
Laurie, radio drama lives! Visit the BBC website and "listen again" to the radio drama that they still produce on a daily basis:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/arts/afternoon_play.shtml

This week they broadcast a new production of Bradbury's "The Veldt". Perhaps this will make you feel young again.

- Phil (creeping on for 50 himself...)

My in-depth review of Dreams With Sharp Teeth is the top story on www.filmthreat.com today (Wednesday); follow this link to get there:

http://filmthreat.com/index.php?section=features&Id=1949

I hope you like it. Thank you and goodnight.

Graham.

Just back from Harlan’s presentation at Pierce College. (The timing was perfect; my company needed me to travel to LA this week.)

Two interesting things I learned this time around. First, you never want to be a signer for the deaf at a Harlan Ellison presentation. She quit signing, ostensibly, because there were no deaf people. I think she gave up after a string of Yiddish words and undecipherable sounds (although she was doing a pretty good job of imitating some gestures.)

Second, it’s amazing what you learn about some people, in particular, which ones have ever had the crabs – and I don’t mean Harlan. (Yes, some of us were paying attention.)

Riotous and joyous as ever.

Mike

Burfdaze
I don't know about any of you youngsters (tilt your head, Harlan, I'm talking to that kid behind you), but like the poet said, of my three-score years and ten, sixty of the MFers are down the crapper.

Joining the chorus - happy B-Day Adam!

My own mother turns 72 tomorrow (the 23rd). Going out to a sushi restaurant. She's agonizing over a life decision of tremendous import.....whether to order sushi or something else.

I forget which day is Harlan's Birthday - 25th? In case i'm not online then, (I was on a trip and did not login anywhere for several days this past weekend), happy birthday a little bit early. If I am online, I'll say happy birthday again. You can't miss the birthday cheers on this board even if you don't know the exact date.....)

The Happy Birthday Machine,

Kristin

Notes and News

Happy b-day A-T. C. Pay no attention to the horizon. Keep eating cake. It's good for you. Just try some. All your friends are doing it. Makes your eyes real shiny! :)

Good news, indeed, Tim. Thank you.
--------------------------------------------------

The latest i could find on Spielberg's Tintin project.

http://www.comics2film.com/FanFrame.php?f_id=25133

Tim--congratulations on your amazing tome. I can't imagine spending that many years putting all of that together. I hope you are getting some rest right about now. As for Harlan, I can't imagine that anything like this will stop him from expressing himself since nothing else in print about him ever has.

I've been away from the board for a while due to extreme stress in the classroom. Sometimes this job is overwhelming. Not everything bad that happens around the Rubber Ramada (where I work) sets off an alarm, Steve!

As for those who worry about turning 50--that's the best laugh I've had all week. Harlan's comments were right on the money. I consider my current age (which will not be specifically mentioned here) the fair price I pay for having been young during the 60s and for having been able to enjoy the last of radio drama.

Ezra, actually the "left" has done quite a lot in the past twenty or so years, you just haven't heard about it because, one, the mainstream media hates progressives and doesn't report about it and most of the real activism is done behind the scenes. The stuff you see in the blogs and stuff is just greasepaint; the real work is being done by mainstream folk. Look at how seriously people take the environment now. This is because of hard work done by the left for years. At one time this was a fringe issue, now it is so mainstream that even GE talks about "green" energy. That never would have happened ten years ago. I wouldn't give Al Gore too much credit; while he was playing games with Billy the real work was being done. Then there is the worldwide fair trade movement, that has done great work mobilizing fair trade ideals around the globe. There is a lot more. You should get out of your comfort zone more often.

--------

The system does have to be overhauled before meaningful changes can happen. The whole thing is corrupt to the point of leaching poison.

-----------

Online you can see Sean Hannity and Alan Colmes being schooled by Chris Hitchens. I know I have been hard on the brutish brit, but his rant against the evil Falwell made what I said about him seem tame. Colmes and Hannity really look like fools, and Ralph Reed regretted being there. Sucker. haha. Abramoff's stoolie.

--------------

So, Spielberg is going to have a reality show, where someone can become a director and get a fat bankroll to make a film. This was done with Project Greenlight and look at how successful those films were. Spielberg better just be getting that Indy movie done instead. Harrison Ford is dottering on eighty by now, I'd think. He might grab for his whip and throw out his back.

George Takei and Heroes
After last week's segment of Heroes, I suspect the role of Kaito Nakamura may one day be for George Takei what Alfred Bester on Babylon 5 was for Walter Koenig--it's a revelation to see such swell actors utilized so wonderfully in an industry that too often ignores such seasoned and iconic performers.

Look forward to it Mark.

Even making allowances for my tendency towards hyperbole, my point is an important one I think. The "left" such as it is has a self-defeating habit of regarding the electoral process as tainted or sordid and are thus unwilling to do the necessary and tedious work required to make real change in this country.

The "Religious Right" mobilised, organized, and took over the Republican party from the ground up. No magic, just hard work. They have been so successful that it is simply impossible to get nominated to national office in the Republican Party without them.

Mark, all those activities you listed are important but tangential to the real task. Unless you like having your candidates always picked for you, and so wind up with someone like the odious Hillary Clinton as your likely choice.

Heroes and other thoughts
Last night's episode of Heroes had to have been one of the most satisfying season finales I have seen in a long time. Others have commented on how wonderful George Takei is in his role (and the praise is certainly warranted) but for me the best supporting actor on the show had to have been Richard Roundtree.

While he was only on screen for a short time this season, he lent an air of gravitas to any scene in which he participates. Simply put, that man speak and you pay attention, even if I do on occasion here the theme to Shaft playing in my head while he talks....

The revelation that the Horn Rimmed Glasses guy, Claire's father, name is Noah is intriguing. It implies to me the biblical story of Noah and the Ark. Perhaps his role in the next season will be to try to save as many of the gifted individuals as he can, with the assistance of Molly and Suresh. The question then arises, save them from what?

Days like these I miss the Boards.

Adam-Troy, a belated happy birthday to you, sir.

Tim, congrats on an amazing accomplishment.

Funny that SoItGoes mentions Conservatives Without Conscience, I just started reading that book yesterday. I am only a little bit into the book, but I am enjoying Dean's writing style. He is not attacking Bush/Cheney directly, but taking wider view of the conservative movement and examining the evolution of such an ideology (although they deny it is such) from the Goldwater days to its present incarnation.

Ezra, once the Boards are reinstated, I would very much like to have a longer discussion with you on liberals "sitting on their collective asses". Considering all of the protests on the war, the movements in various state and municipalities for impeachment, and the local legislation designed to overturn the more odious aspects of the Patriot Act, I would strongly disagree with your assertion, sir. Sometime soon we will have to discuss in greater depth

*** Tim *** So, you're saying I can use these three photocopies of FINGERPRINTS
version 1.0 - 55 pages
version 2.0 - 440 pages
version 3.0 - 765 pages

as kindling comes the cold hard PA. winter?

And I can delete all those interim files from my hard drive? Where is that pesky delete key...? Wheee!

As for Yr. Pal, Harlan Volume 1 (now with a completed Volume 2 - rough - and an 85 page newly begun Volume 3. - because I won't be making THAT mistake again) I know how that will play out.

There are about 25 posts that are titled and more or less standalone. Some of those might get out in the world in a printed format someday and then of course those would be grist for FINGERPRINTS mill 2.0 - but the rest would simply be a list of a a couple of thousand dates stretching back over 10 years or so and that really doesn't do anyone much good. A man simply has to know his limitations - and then take just two more bites.

- Barney

ps. - If only Sarah loved my writing as much as I love John's GOOGLE-the-source copy paste puzzles. E-mail's always at the top in case you'd rather answer my questions privately.

- b

The Hard Copy Truth
In the Interest of Truth (justice, and the tabloid way), I feel it important to note that Sarah A. Lewis is actually John Greenawalt in typeset drag. (Really). (Would this reporter lie to you?)

A quick thanks to everyone, Rick, Doug, Steve, David, et.al. for the kudos. It's been worth the trip. And as Leslie points out, the work continues; "compleat" is relative. However, I'm happy with this leg of it. I can sleep knowing everything I'm aware of, all that I have seen in Harlan's archives is there. You will all be shocked. Even you Barney who didn't see the last galley, never mind the 70 pages added since February. A special thanks to you old boy. You were there at the onset, and I believe it was your challenge/insult in Madison, that prompted me to show the work to Harlan and procure his blessing. Scott Norris is the other poor soul who spent hours on the phone going through his considerable fanzine collection and assorted ephemera. Thanks to my poor wife Andrea, who did the foreign section, and of course Harlan & Susan who I continue to tax on a regular basis. I love you all. Now it's a matter of production. Cheers, Tim

P.S. Keith: Initially this board was a buggaboo for me. There was no stopping HE from posting here, nothing legal anyway. And yet how to cite all this stuff? I said screw it. "Webderland" is acknowledged in a section dedicated to internet contributions. The easiest way out of this was to supply the web address, which is how I handled all the transcient offerings of the web. It works, you'll see. Any idea of the size of the HE file? Ask dear Barney, he's done that work and called it "Yr. Pal Harlan." Perhaps in later editions he and I will stream-line just the citations and include it. Maybe not. Oh shit, I'm already planning the next edition! Shoot me now!

JOHN GREENAWALT: I just love the stuff you write, sir.

catching up


Hmmm. "Portland Forty-Eighter" just doesn't have the ring of "San Francisco Forty-Niner." (At least I'm not a London Forty-Sevener, er -Scrivener?, neener neener.)

All-RIIIIGHHHT, Mr. Richmond! Take a bow. Take three, they're small. And nice job, helping him out, Harlan.

(Ummm, Keith? Whyest dost thou invoke fake Easter basket grass when calling for a round of huzzahs for Adam? I'm confus-ed . . . eth.)

A note of history that's largely overlooked.

One major reason that I voted Gerry Ford in the first year I could vote (1976) was that his opponent was being heavily shilled by a bunch of creepy Morlocks with pasted-on grins & stalker madness glowing in their eyes.

These latter were of course starting to insist on being called "the Moral Majority," & their sock-puppet was James Earl Carter. The relationship rapidly soured when JC proved to have ideas of his own, a backbone, an authentically moral Christian conscience, & other suchlike artifacts that would naturally repel any Falwellian zombie. They not only dropped him like a warm turd but actively worked to undermine him.

I'd agree that lefties do tend to whine impotently (oh, the chorusing when the jug of Carlo Rossi starts to run dry...!), but I don't think this is particularly "inferior" to the "activism" of a Brownshirt marching-society. More likely to get asskicked in a streetfight, yah. Which only suggests that the Left really needs to do better at mobilising its surly drunks (c'est moi) -- if that's what you're suggesting, I'm game, & I've got enough sawed-off poolcues to get a decent party started.

Caught Up by 30 Years
Last night, while further battering my signed copy of the Essential Ellison, it was imparted to me in Telltale Tics and Tremors certain things concerning a Boy and His Dog, screenplay-in-progress. In a new (to me) plot twist, the lead dog has a new solo/companion whose treatment of the original "boy" character adds another level of cool to the movie idea. I also got the illustrated "Blood's a Rover" a while ago, but it's long gone. Did this new girl character appear in the Corbin graphic novel?

I get excited by the thought of an updated screen version--maybe a two-movie imax epic, with figurines to boot...

Gods, Monsters and Presidents (redundant, I know)
FRANK: If Bill Clinton _has_ Nixon as a secret adviser, I wanna know what they're pumping into Nixon's body to keep it ambulatory! (Or is it just his head, ala "Futurama"?) I think, like most politicians, Clinton probably kept in touch with Nixon (and every other ex-president) because 1) It's good politics and 2) Nixon might have been able to offer up a good piece of advice now and then. As for Clinton being "a snake," I'm not sure what it is you are referring to in particular. Without question, ANYone who gets into politics (this was true in the 20th century as well) has got a big ego. What's more, I think they HAVE to have a bit of snake-oil salesman in them. (The ability to bullshit is practically a prequisite for wheeling and dealing on Capitol Hill these days -- if Mr. Smith actually showed up, they'd eat him alive).

As for snakes, the are good snakes and bad snakes -- I'd prefer Clinton over just about ANY Republican (don't those guys have ANYone with conscious -- about the Bill of Rights, about the environment, about Middle Class workers, about...etc., etc.) on their side anymore? Yeeeeech (to the 10th Power)!
-DTS

...I was ABOUT to sigh, grown n'bemoan sumpin' t'the effect that I'm about to turn 38.

Maybe I best leave it BE!

"Getting older is not for sissies."
~ Bette Davis or Jack Palance. Either will do.

Hey, happy b-day, Castro. Yuh young pup, yuh.


Congrats to Tim on completion of a 12-year-long LABOR OF LOVE. Dammit, that's a lotta work. Enjoy, celebrate. Get some sun & fresh air.

Chuck

A-T C:

Oh, yeah ... 2010 ...right; now I see it.

So what, snotty adlescent? You're still yawping about "The Dreaded Fifty" -- except, now that I re-read carefully -- it's even MORE pissy whiney! You're still three year short!!!!!!

I reiterate: whatta poopiehead.

Pshaw'ing yet again, Harlan

Any discussion of Falwell and Robertson should include at least a mention of "Dr Bob" Altemeyer and his work. Several here have probably read Conservatives without Conscience by John Dean(which uses B.A.'s work extensively). He also has a free online book called The Authoritarians (pdf). Google that title if this link doesn't get posted.

http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~altemey/

His work explains much about the leaders/followers of the right wing. The dissonance levels of some of these folks borders on paralogia. If I recall correctly, Stanley Milgrams work was 1 of his jumping off points.

Harlan and Tim: just found my bookplate!
Oh, yes. I'm dusting it off and calling it George.

Congrats, you two. Excelsior!

Tim, I had no idea it was 12 years. I admire, and am completely amazed by, your diligence and professionalism.

Are all Harlan's posts from Webderland included?

-Keith(er)

Dorman, don't mind Berman, he wants to see the best in everybody, best to just break bread and stir the butter churn. Berman knows that Graham is a jew hater, but was only caught because of the tapes that surfaced, then Graham feigned donning the knee pillow before the queen of the winds. Maybe Graham is sincere, maybe not, who's to know. It's between him and his God. No Wasp he.

You will be appalled at this Nixon quote, Dorman, but not surprised. I forgot the exact quote, but Nixon basically said that Presidents are allowed to break the law. Why Bill Clinton has him on as a secret adviser is anybodies mystery. Clinton actually was a real snake if you look behind the green door.

Berman, we love you, don't run away again.

----------

Tim, good on ya chum. But you still get the same amount of pie as the rest of us. Lovenibbles.

-----------

A soft padding through the virgin snow, coming up behind Kos to give him such a rug burn he will cry till mommy tucks him in.

Jerry Falwell was an evil man and evil men get what's coming to them. Read the bible, Jerry never did.

Lovenibbles to you as well, but only after eating onion rings.

------------

By the way Harlan, on youtube they have uploaded Demon With A Glass Hand (Outer Limits), and the chat with Tom Snyder in 1976, when all the Star Trek dudes were also guests. Wanted to let you know; don't know if it is actionable, and I have to confess, I feel a bit queasy mentioning this, since my views on Copyright are a bit different. But, love comes before most other things. Just wanted you to know.

--------------

" It's very open. Take say television. In the industry when they have an hour of program, whatever it is, a comedy, a cop show, or whatever. In the industry there's what's called content and fill. The content is the advertising. The fill is the car chase or the sex scene or something, that's supposed to keep you going between ads. And if you look at a television program, actually I do it some times because I'm intrigued, the creativity and the imagination and the expenses and so on are for the ads; the car chase you can pull off the shelf. And in fact this has led to a serious deterioration of the political system. I mean we don't have anything resembling a democracy anymore. Take a look at the last campaign. The campaign is run by the same people who sell toothpaste, exactly the same PR agencies. And when they sell a candidate they do it the exact same way they sell a lifestyle drug. You don't put up information about the candidate, what you do is create delusional images that delude and deceive. The population knows it. A very small number of the population, about 10% of the voters, literally, knew the stands of the candidates on the issues. And it's not because they are stupid or uninterested. It's just like you don't know the characteristics of toothpaste."

Noam Chomsky

Who was it who said...?
"Forty is the old age of youth, and fifty is the youth of old age."

---- 48 year old Jeff.

Good work, Tim. Cosairs always get the job done!

MW

"50, approaching on 20 May 2010, has just become one unnerving notch closer."

Turned 50 last year. The only thing unnerving about it is that it's the magic age where medical science suddenly develops a remarkable interest in one's rectum.

Came up with a variation on the "Infinite Monkey" theory:

If you give a monkey an infinite amount of money for an infinite amount of time, eventually he will develop an exit strategy for Iraq. But why would you want to?

PAD

Damn This Board And the Inability To Revise Poorly-Phrased Posts
What I *shoulda* said was "At 50, I hope to know what year it is." Instead, that clumsy and confusing retort, which completely blows the punchline. What's worse: I'm having trouble cleaning the whiteout off my computer monitor.

Harlan: Feh, you, for mentioning your full head of hair at fifty. (Gone by thirty, alas...) Signed, the already doddering at 47.

Reading Comprehension, the First Thing to Go
Harlan, At 50 I could do math. Read my post again. Your childlike pal.

(*whew*. Seems no one other than LKS and Harlan noted my "po' faw".)

HARLAN: Of COURSE I want thousands more words from your typewriter. It's just that, unlike so many of the geekified fanboys in the internet universe, I kinda consider anything more from you to be a gift to the world, rather than an obligation.

(Yeah. That's it. A gift. Maybe that'll get me out of the now all-too-familiar doghouse.)
_______________________________

I shoulda said this yesterday: TIM! Congratulations!!! I'd imagine the champagne rightfully flowed last evening...
_______________________________

ATC - Happy Birfday!!! It's not the age nor the miles, it's the attitude.
_______________________________

Murphy was an optimist: I am now in the fifth business day without access to corporate email or company files. No one is happy. Our tech services group isn't understanding that "legal and regulatory issues" are developing with every passing hour.

And then they told me my archive was likely inaccessible.

So this is true stress...?

ADAM-TROY:

Sweet stripling. Amusing adolescent. Childlike chum to my dotage.

Fifty?

You're going to buzz gnatlike about our sympathy for a fuckin' paltry FIFTY!!??!! Piss on you and your diminutive 50 years of toil&sweat, soil&tweat, Castro. 20 May you're fifty ... 27 May I'm 73 73 73 73 73 73 73 73 73 73 73 73 73 73 73 73 73 73 73!

At 50, you gawky yout', I'd been married four times, had just found Susan in Scotland, was fist-fighting with strangers and had just discovered Lemuria. Fifty went by so fast--and my hair was still full-brown without a gray hair!

Don' be a-pissin' an' tremblin' at a skinny fifty, Queequeg. If you're going to shiver, do it at the thought of seventy-three, when the sounds you make as you rise from an easy chair remind you of the sounds your grandma made when SHE got up.

Pshaw and flummery, sir! Whiney baby. Poopiehead.

Yr. ancient & withered pal, Harlan

Wheeze From Geezer In Training
It was actually yesterday, but I wasn't hereabouts yesterday.

50, approaching on 20 May 2010, has just become one unnerving notch closer.

Gaaaaahhhh.

Huzzah for the shopkeep
Let me add my voice to the congratulations. I've seen firsthand the price Tim and his family have paid for this quest of his and I am sure they are all glad it is finally finished! It appears to be a true labor of love.

If Tim has indeed frozen Harlan in amber with this, I think we forget what the obvious correlary is. If he has this kind of eldritch power, what is to prevent him from ADDING a few lines to the end of the bibliography? Perhaps WORKING WITHOUT A NET, perhaps BLOOD'S A ROVER. I'm not greedy, Tim, postdating them to the end of this year would be fine...

Heroic Tim. Insane Tim. Mighty Tim!!!
"Look! There on the floor!"
"It's a doorstop!"
"It's a retaining wall!"
"It's FINGERPRINTS ON THE SKY!!!"

Tim you magnificent bastard!

I always knew you could do it. And by "it" I meant avoid jail time - but I was certain you could get this done as well. And now you have. I hope the future mothers of unborn Ellison scholars are in your driveway washing your car and mowing your lawn right now - because they ought to be.

And I think it's a wonderful bank shot that you've forced the world's oldest "L'Enfant Terrible" into early retirement. Excellent work. I suspect this will last until Wednesday afternoon.

Of course, I always have more to say, but that might go better over a single malt or whatever umbrella drink you'd prefer.

Congratulations Tim.

- Barney

Adam-Troy, thanks. Got it. Look forward to it.

These types of books never intrigue because they are usually written by people of little talent who often spend 80% of the pages on simple summaries of what you've already read/seen. I expect much more from you.....the bar was raised the moment I read some of your novellas (novelettes? long short stories?) a couple of years ago.

-TODD

Allow me to play catch-up since the weather here was much too glorious over the weekend to even consider firing up the computer.

JERRY FALWELL - You know folks, as noxious as you or I may find his attitudes and opinions, the good Reverend didn't really do anything wrong. He mobilised his constituency, got them interested and invested in the elctoral process, and voila, almost by default they have monopolized the political debate.

I say by default because the majority of the self-identified "left" spent their time resting comfortably on their collectivist ass, toking deeply, and whining/bitching/whining when things didn't automatically go their way.

The system rewards those who invest the most in it.

The bastards only get away with what they're allowed to get to away with.

JOSHUA BELL - As I said the weather here in Washington was glorious over the weekend. The sweetie and I spent our Sunday afternoon down to Dupont Circle on a day that if could bottle it you'd be a billionaire.

Well lo and behold who should appear at some point but a young couple with violin cases and music stands, who set up, whipped out their fiddles, and spent a couple of hours serenading the crowd with classical music. Now I doubt they were performers on the level of Mr Bell, but they were mighty fine, and before long they has attracted a sizeable crowd who clapped and cheered each piece. Babies were dancing in the grass.

Which proves what? Nothing really except that setting is everything, and who wants to listen to music in a stairwell? But on a sunny afternoon, lounging in the grass?

Alas Mr Weingarten was nowhere to be seen.

Erik - If I wasn't going to be at the other end of the state on Friday, I'd gladly fill a seat and bring someone to fill another; but that's indeed very good news, and one hopes for all the best from the screening, including a full house.

Tim - Huzzah!

Harlan - A USPS package should arrive at your locale tomorrow, Wednesday at the latest. The final tally for the effort is two dead, seven injured, a monkey with a few shot-off toes (his doing, not mine - you can tell them and tell them they're better suited to blades, but do they ever listen?) and that one poor bastard who was, at last check, still bawling for his mommy on the other end of the phone. Since Wednesday, this is. Someday, you'll have to teach me how to get things done without yelling. Oh, yeah, and cost of goods - I included that with the shipment.

NOW will you take one of the pins out of the doll? Maybe the one in the left shoulder blade? My hunch has become rather pronounced, and passers-by need no reasons beyond the ones I already give them for looking at me with pity and scorn. Pretty please?

TIM: Great news about your marvellous tome. Rock and roll!

KEITH: Well, Mark nearly had it right. It's www.mahrwoodpress.com.

D.

CONGRATULATIONS, TIM!!!!!!!
!!!!C*O*N*G*R*A*T*U*L*A*T*I*O*N*S!!!!

Now, go get some well-deserved REST.

And I shall stop shouting, and do the same.



Sorry 'bout the double-posting.

_Fingerprints on the Sky_
Mr. Barber. Sir!

Re: "Harlan - Does the 12-year-coming completion of the biblio mean you cannot write anything further?"

BITE YOUR /T/O/N/G/U/E/ FINGERS, SIR!!!

What it *means* is . . . that Tim (sorry, Tim), just starts preparation on the second, revised, expanded, edition . . .

either that,

or, another quiet young naif, smooth of skin and sans grey hairs, takes up the job from Tim's palsied hands, giving rest to his nervously twitching eyes, easing his overburdened brain, and bringing calm to his ulcerated stomach and wide-awake nights.

A bibliography is *never* completed regardless of the vital statistics of the subject of same.

Only when we have all suffered the heat death of the universe will it come to an end. Only when all traces of Harlan and his work, and the traces of the traces of the traces have been flensed (thank you for that word Harlan) from this and all other universes, will it be C*O*M*P*L*E*A*T! And then there will be no one or no thing who cares. But until that time . . . start looking for bibliographical virgins with stars in their eyes.

Signed:
One who knows.

xoxoxo (mmmuuuuwaaah!) to HE

I read about Frank Sinatra Has A Cold many moons ago in a British Ellison edition. I had never seen the article before tonight, when some random obscure unquantifiable impulse caused me to seek it out (dunno what brought it to mind). Only read it to shortly past the Ellison encounter. Cool shit. If you haven't read it, enjoy:

http://www.esquire.com/fiction/ESQ1003-OCT_SINATRA_rev_

Ah, mollycoddled (a GREAT word, like 'higgledy-piggledy') bullying stars with no sense of reality and an ego big enough to store George W Bush's war-and-life-crimes files in when all they do is sing songs...don't you just love them?

STEVE:

Heavens to Betsy (and back to Heavens, for a double play) I HAD NOT thought of that, till you mentioned it. Yes, to be sure, on your urging and elucidation, I have written the last I will ever write again.

Thank you. Now, the rest of the squad can show THEIR appreciation for your cogent suggestion. Folks, he's all yours.

Tra-la-la-laaahhhh...

Capering away, with a snigger,

Yr. Pal, the previous Harlan

LEE - No offense taken. If you reread my post, I was not hating Falwell the man, I was hating his actions, his responsibility for the actions of others and what he represented as a supposed man of God in our society at large. But not the man himself. Tremendous difference, and one that is largely lost on the people you quite correctly take to task. Oddly enough, so many of the most vicious haters try to claim they are hating the sin, not the sinner (as Falwell stated word for word, repeatedly, as his position) -- and then go on to tear into classes of people, not the perceived sin.

In my case, perhaps if I had substituted some form of the word "angered" for "hate" the point I was attempting woulda be clearer.


HARLAN - Does the 12-year-coming completion of the biblio mean you cannot write anything further? (I'd really "hate" to see Tim cry...)

My many thanks, I have been indelibly slapped. The last news I heard on this was about four years ago, from Barney no less. I must have missed any other crossfire on the subject.

Just re-read my last post.

Sigh.

Maybe it's time to try Prozac.

Apologies to Steve.

FINGERPRINTS ON THE SKY

HERE IS THE LATEST, ABSOLUTELY

The enormous bibliography, compiled by TIM RICHMOND (with well acknowledged nod-credit to Barney Dannelke, Leslie Kay Swigart, Scott Norris, Michael Zuzel, Andrea Richmond, David Loftus, Doug Lane--and at least two or three others whose names, for the moment, have fled my porous memory, so please correct me but don't take umbrage) was finalized, as to vetted and emended and updated text ...

T!!!O!!!D!!!A!!!Y!!!

Tim and I spent the better part of an hour this morning in rapt telecon, him asking and me answering, questions so obscure not even IIII--who LIVED this stuff's creation--had the vaguest recollection! (Example: What was the date of publication in Sweden of the school newspaper edited by John-Henri Holmberg--years later to become Harlan's Swedish book editor--in which Holmberg reprinted "A Love Song to Jerry Falwell" under the altered (by Harlan) title "The Mad Dreamers"?)

When we reached denouement, Tim uttered the 5 most beautiful words in the universe:

"Harlan, I believe we're done."

I relayed it to Susan, who uttered the second-most beautiful words in the universe, with a sigh:

"Thank god!"

Then Tim yelled it downstairs in Rehoboth, Mass., to Andrea and Alexa, and I heard their warwhoop of joy and relief, a mere piddlin' 3000 miles away.

So. The copy having been set, re-set, and (I believe) re-set a second time, Dave at Overlook Connection now will have the proper material for page-proofs, which he will send me sooner rather than later; Tim will not indulge his obsession any further; I'll go over the massive mss. with Sharon to catch any obvious typesetting errors; we'll return the final corrections ASAP...the cover has been done for some time, so that's in the FINISHED column...I'll write a bit of a Foreword to accompany Tim's Introduction...I'll do the flap copy to accompany the photos thereon...and Dave will go to press.

All of that will take a while. But at least a lot LESS of a while than the 12 YEARS 12 YEARS 12 YEARS our Tim has been sweating over this volume. So be patient. We're talking, one hopes, publication release sometime before the end of this year.

More than that, save to say Tim's (& et al's) efforts in this undertaking have been exhaustive, astonishing and no-less-than herculean, no one but you folks, now, has any other any later any better any more AUTHENTIC information. Word.

So the next poster who casually asks that question YET AGAIN, would you all kindly slap him/her upside the coconut, and direct him/her here?!!?

We live to serve your smallest needs:

For the Ellison Edamame-Shucking and Storm Window Bidet Corp.,

I remain,

Yr. Pal, Harlan

oops
was trying to say something completely differnet, and my system went haywire,.

No, Gandhi did not abuse women, or Nixon!


I am disappearing for a week or two.
sigh

KOS

Gandhi abused women.Bwith Nixon.

Gandhi abused women.

Balm in Gilead
This address seems to need a "/something" to work. Try
http://www.mahrwoodpress.com/news.htm and that will get you a link to the title in question. Anyone have reliable info on the "Fingerprints on the Sky" project?

my one post per day
Mark,

The website you tell us to go to is not valid.

-Keith

PS - Anyone not having a great day today should go buy a gun and take out a Christian Conservative Republican...

hunting, of course. You didn't think I meant.... Hey, now, I'm talking about hunting, like Dick Cheney, you know? C'mon!

Rabbit Hole #41
For those lucky stiffs who have received their Rabbit Hole #41, please take note, that the website adress for the publisher of the collection BALM IN GILEAD given to us in not correct. It is as follows: WWW.MAHWOODPRESS.COM. So, go to that site and do order the book for a wonderful reason.

This next Friday, the 25th of May, in the Times Square neighborhood of New York City, at noon, we are holding a SMALL screening of DREAMS WITH SHARP TEETH. This is what we call a “press and industry” screening, and there are only 40 seats TOTAL, and we have invited a lot of "press and industry" types.

That said, I would hate for there to be empty seats. So, here is the deal. Anyone who lives in the area, and who DEFINITELY can attend, please e-mail me at ejnels@aol.com. I will put you on a “holding” list, and once our RSVP’s are responded to, I will e-mail you BACK to let you know whether there is room for you and/or a guest.

PLEASE do not e-mail me unless you definitely can attend.

I’m just going to prioritize first come first serve to those who contact me, and, I will get back to you no later (or earlier) than Thursday night.

I have a hunch at least 10 seats will be available on Friday, so, hope you can make it. Please, let’s take all of this guest list stuff back and forth OFF the “Pavilion”. I will get back to you if you e-mail me, promise.
Erik Nelson

Steve,

"If we do not hate, loathe or despise the actions of such people we cannot summon the
necessary strength to properly oppose them."

I've read you on this site for years, and I know you are a good, intelligent man. But
proposing that getting a good hate on is what gives one the strength to fight for what's
right is THE line of absolute bullshit that has kept us on our heels through most of
human history.

Maybe I should just shut up, or admit that you can get a lot done with hate. Mixed in
with all the dead children, there've got to be some positives that hating has produced?

I believe that there's a difference between rejecting something reprehensible and hating it.
That standing up for what you love is more than semantically different from fighting what
you hate. The ends don't always justify the means, and the difference between the two
orientations is the means that one will eventually consider when trying to accomplish
something to the good.

It's tragic that the acts of people like Ghandhi, King and Mother Teresa are
watered down in myth, because they prove as well as any that loving what is right
is more powerful than hating what is wrong. It's not just semantics, dude.




“I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”

- Mahatma Ghandi

Lefties of various stripes have spent the past decade taking the "moral high ground" -- & look at what this has done for the world.

No more.

For posting in public forums that I think a $7.50 minimum wage is a good idea & $10 is great -- the latter not enough to support a family on, anywhere -- I've been instantly denounced as "pinko," as "anti-Bush," as "not supporting our brave soldiers." For daring to question the "let's invade Afghanistan & destroy the worldwide heroin trade" as baseless at the outset, I've had pinheads seriously threaten to turn me in on the DHS "tip line" (remember that?).

Such asswipes have long claimed they represent "a mandate" in the U.S. -- meaning "one more than exactly 50%" but they'll tell you it really means "an overwhelming majority" -- & therefore I am willing to act as though I am speaking from a beleaguered & declining minority because they've granted me that leeway.

No more should the RightWingnuts be able to play off our sense of fairness -- "we really ought to hear all sides on this, fellahs" -- & bully us into a corner by cudgeling us with our lack of fanaticism -- "well, maybe they really _do_ represent more people than I see here."

And unlike the newest waves of CryptoFascists, I don't expect (much less demand) that my fellow Lefties prove their creds by joining me. I've got the pigiron guts &/or brass balls to speak out without "my gang" to back me up, because I at least have the satisfaction of knowing that none of those mongrels can take me down one-to-one & I'm not gonna die in a fair fight.

Let it remain the calling of others to be "reasonable" or "fair" or "open-minded," & so act as a check on my excesses. But they'll only be twinges of Conscience, not anchors or warders. I'm done with fair-mindedness except as a windbeaten signpost that we've drifted too far to have further relevance to the present moral & political climate.

I will walk into a room & laugh at someone for telling a niggerjoke or fagjoke... & I do mean Laugh At _Them_ rather than the "humour." I will ridicule those who otherwise seem intelligent, even thoughtful, but express their own doubts & limitations by deriding others with contumely & falsehood, often parroted robotically from Official Talking Points disseminated by such "balanced" media as O'Reilly, Savage, Limbaugh, Hannity, & Coulter.

And if that makes me "as bad as them," then so be it. Don't like it? Then bury our festering corpses with the other heathen, & keep your pure selves among the Elect -- but if you decide to get between me & the giggling Renfields that claim they've taken the majority, then (far as I'm concerned) you're a Jew warden patrolling the Warsaw ghetto for the Nazis, & should beware of loose capstones.

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ALEX
ALEX SCHOR: Never rub another mans rhubarb and never take anything for granted. Alex Jay Berman is, like a lot of folks, prone to believe what he sees on the Great Communicator (no, not the corpse of Ronnie Raygun, who couldn't communicate a proper order into a Wendy's drive-up speaker, but TV, that sly, manipulative device that STILL fools most of the people most of the time). Graham, like every other Bible Thumper making money off of the words Jesus and Christ (which should simply be used as terrific epithets when we stub our toes) is no more to be trusted than your local used car salesman. I've read plenty of eye-opening things about him. And a quick search on the web brings one to this guy's page, wherein he mention's Billy boy being caught on tape with another great liar of the 1970s:

http://www.counterpunch.org/vestgraham.html

Yeah, you'll find lots of outrageous crap about Graham on the web - as you will about any famous person - but the stuff about the Nixon tapes _was_ widely reported -- it just never took off. And there was another fairly well known report backin the '90s about Billy boy saying AIDS was a judgement by the Almighty (that's not a quote), beating Falwell to the punch by almost a decade. Of course, Graham -- who has been welcomed into the White House like an important political leader by most Presidents, and therefore given legitimacy, has always been cognizant enough to either deny things or immediately apologize and say something like, that doesn't truly reflect how feel, yadda, yadda (or, his "machine" does it for him). Wake up and smell the con, brother.

ALEX JAY: Read the above and ye shall be enlightened. Go forth and sin no more.
-DTS

John Greenawalt and the post as non sequitur
*** John *** I've been noting your posts for the last few months and I had a couple of questions. Are these meant to be thread starters? Is this some sort of copy/paste spot the source puzzle you're building?

For instance, the most recent one about Philip K. Dick took me a couple of extra clicks to find because of the minor re-wording;

http://www.nndb.com/people/502/000022436/

"Dick’s popularity exploded in 1990 when Arnold Schwarzenegger starred (and finagled into being) the blockbuster smash Total Recall. Based on Dick's "We Can Remember It for You Wholesale", the action adventure extravaganza grossed $118 million in the U.S. alone. Since then, Hollywood has beaten a path to Dick's estate manager, optioning so many PKD stories and novels that complex charts are needed to keep track of which ones are optioned and which in production and which are soon to be released."

Copyright ©2007 Soylent Communications

**************************************************

I can't say that ALL of your posts are cut and paste, but on the days I've bothered to track the source (the way other people do a morning crossword puzzle) I've usually been able to find the original source material. IMDB pages Amazon reviews and what have you.

So, I guess what I'm asking is what's the deal? Is this meant to be some new internet "cut up" process? Some experiment in the boundaries of fair use? I'm pretty sure Harlan has responded to a couple of these as though they were from your hand and while that may seem like sport to some I'm not at all sure that it is.

Regards - Barney Dannelke

Philip K Dick

Dick’s popularity exploded in 1990 when Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in the blockbuster smash Total Recall. Based on Dick's "We Can Remember It for You Wholesale", the action adventure extravaganza grossed $118 million in the U.S. alone. Since then, Hollywood has beaten a path to Dick's estate manager, optioning so many PKD stories and novels that complex charts are needed to keep track of which ones are optioned and which in production and which are soon to be released.

Future Crimes for HE
I'll get it out Monday to HERC. Please advise if you prefer other arrangements. I'll slide one of mine in the package as well. No worry on postage. Even a rural SC county employee can afford to help out on of his heroes once and a while. Thank you.

Reply to Alex J. Berman
I'll take your views about Billy Graham as gospel (pardon the phrase). It's just that teleevangelism is so rampant that it becomes hard to separate the honest from the crooks, so I tend to lump them all together. It's the crooks who seem to get the most press, dead or alive.

During my servitude as a closed captioner, I transcribed the speech of a teleevangelist with an indecipherable accent. Some silver-haired preacher who looked like the South's answer to Paulie Walnuts, and his wife, who did nothing but talk while sitting in easy chairs. No cuts, no interstitial graphics: just the couple in their chairs, talking talking talking. He had this unbroken wild-eyed smiling look that to me, a natural cynic, came across as the grin of either a fanatic or a con man. For all I know he was one of the honest ones, but trying to write down what this guy is saying as he endlessly prattles is the kind of ordeal that leaves scars. Maybe that's where my distrust of all things televangelical comes from.

Evil and Politics
Conservatives are ninety per cent nice people with evil politics who are dupes of evil leaders?

Oh, and ten percent Nazis.

Gosh, and I read the other day that lefties are ninety per cent brainwashed fellow travelers who are just well-meaning useful fools, and ten per cent are rootless cosmopolite ideologues with a secret agenda of destroying western civilization.

It's getting harder and harder to not drink the Kool-Aid from either side.

" 'Don't you know there's a war on?' But wasn't there always?"

KOS

Frank,

"Josh, contact Tarantino, you would make a great writer for the next Grindhouse script. "

Jesus, just cos I yelled at Harlan, there's no need to get rude.

Speaking of QT and that movie.... I just saw that he's showing an expanded, 127 minute version of Death Proof at Cannes. And you know he's not cutting in more car chase.

Pity the French.

On
I did not hate Jerry Falwell.

I did not know Jerry Falwell.

I hated his positions both political and spiritual, and hated the effect he had upon our society -- one which worked to the detriment of his faithful and his enemies alike. Those who followed suffered a far greater mis-service than those who opposed him. Falwell damaged them as human beings.

If we do not hate, loathe or despise the actions of such people we cannot summon the necessary strength to properly oppose them. If I did not hate his actions, condemn his stances, I would simply continue upon my own little path in life, paying him no heed until the damage was irreversible.

Too many people in this world do just that.

This is why the Hitlers, Stalins, Duvaliers, Dadas and others of that ilk come to power and influence and sway.

Falwell taught hate while preaching the word of God. In this, his actions stand no different than the Taliban, Al-Quaida, the Crusaders and the Spanish Inquisition.

I do not revile the man. I revile everything he stood for.

About "hating right back":

Having given in to that, those we most despise have created us a little more in their own image.

We have taken the first step in becoming what we most despise.

KOS, Falwell is a special case and you know it; he has a track record of fascism so shit deep to the ankles that calling him a nazi is being nice. Most of my family are hardcore holy rollers, but I still love them. Sure, they try to convert me at every turn, but they now know better. Falwell was a power broker, who worked with Reagan, among other monsters. He has a track record and has hurt lives, not just went off at the lip. This man was dangerous and was a danger to the republic as well as a danger to common sense. His passing makes the flowers bloom and the birds sing. May the receding shit from the stockyards girdle his coffin.

We have conservatives here--Duane, Cindy, Toddles, I don't call either of these fine people nazis, because I know their hearts. Sure, their politics are evil, but they are not evil, unlike Falwell, who was evil. Believe me, Kossack, most of the right thinks people like me are Stalin's food tasters, don't be fooled. On the left, we are much more tolerant of our righties. We know it is their leaders and the propaganda they spew that leads them in the wrong direction, not their hearts. Actually, Cindy is a better person then I could ever become, and not because she is a hot chick.

Here's my rule of thumb: about ten percent of righties are nazis, the rest are just dupes. Does that make you feel any better?

--------------

Josh, contact Tarantino, you would make a great writer for the next Grindhouse script.

I hasten to ADD!
And shame on you for those evil thoughts~!

KOS

The more things stay the same, the less they change
The point being that as long as those left of center castigate verbally -most- of those right of center as being little better/the moral equivalent of racists and nazis, then you will continue to play right into the hands of the hatemongers who paint anyone left of center as the moral equivalent of Pol Pot and Stalin.

But if you have a Jones for invective against those who think differently, then reason is not going to change your mind.

On another matter: Does anyone here have knowledge of a really REALLY good lawyer or agent in the movie business who is -EXPERT- (as in Really REALLY good) at negotiating for rights to fictional characters? We have a screenplay in legal limbo, the life story of Robert E. Howard, that uses half a dozen of REH's characters (Conan, Solomon Kane, Belit, Sailor Steve Costigan,Bran Mak Moran and Kimg Kull) as avatars of Howard, more or less. The Swedish (!) company that owns the REH chacaters is dicking about with us, and we need a really REALLY good rights expert to dick right back at them.

There's no legal problem, I hasten to ass, we just cannot get a straight answer.

Good thoughts and anything else we can afford in return for a good tip on this.

KOS

Alex Jay wrote:

"Only fourteen hours until I'm free from this helltown ..."

Title popped to mind: "Frogs come to Helltown".

And the ticker's still ticking, Alex. Thanks for asking!

Chuck

MR. HUDGENS:

Oh.

I get it.

Thank you, but no.

I'm sure Mike would understand.

But again, thank you.

Harlan

JOHN HUDGENS in Knoxville:

Uh...thank you for the offer...but as I am neither telepathic nor curious (in this instance)...I cannot read either between or ON the lines, and thus...I haven't the foggiest idea what it is you're nudgenudge winkwink suggesting you might pack in for me...from, uh, Knoxville...?

Utterly bewildered, but smiling at your graciousness (I guess), Yr. Pal, Harlan

TALLY:

Couldn't hurt, if you can spare it. I'll recompense postage or whatever. Thank you.

RE: "LOST" and "HEROES":

I continue to watch both. LOST this week was solid and worth my time. Particularly all the touching Charlie stuff. (Susan and my Associate, Sharon, both hate and want to see whacked -- almost as much as they'd like to see Uncle Junior off'd -- both Desmond and Juliette. I, on the other hand, have no feeling this way or that about her, but I've come really to like-a-lot our Aussie brother. Particularly after he tried to grab Charlie's death-dive.)

Yr. Pal, Harlan

Pardon the laggard nature of these replies, but I'm catching up at the tail end of a business week spent in the hell that is Las Vegas. So, onward; ever fucking onward ...

ALEX SCHOR: Though I hold the late, unlamented "Dr." Falwell and the can't-be-"late"-too-soon Pat Robertson in the lowest of regard and the highest in contempt, I have to say that I really don't mind Billy Graham all that much. Graham has never joined into the parade of hate speech espoused by so many of the Christian jihadists like the above two. In point of fact, he has often been vocal on his respect of other faiths, and has even refused to codify the Bible as absolutely infallible.
Now, I can't say the same about his son, but ... Graham strikes me as someone who truly believes and wishes to share that belief with others.
Nor, for all the green he takes in, has it ever seemed to me that Graham is just in it for the greater glory of Mammon, unlike most of his counterparts.
Just my take.

KOS, DUANE: I am sorry, but I feel rather Old Testament when it comes to those who spew hatred. I feel fully justified in hating them right back. I would not hate those whose words and deeds I do not know, and I would not hate a people sight unseen. But I feel with Falwell, Robertson, and their evil ilk, that I am just as justified in my hatred of those men as I am in my belief that a KKK member or a neoNazi is a "Free Play" in the game of life; I would feel in no way guilty about stepping up to a Klansman or a member of the National Alliance whom I had never met before in my life and coldcocking the bastard.

WEBWIZARD RICK: Might Beehive prove a better interface than phpbb? I don't know if it would allow for importation of an earlier forum, however ...

MESSER-MAN: Good to have you back, son. Hope the health is well.

Only fourteen hours until I'm free from this helltown ...

Susan,
Package arrived yesterday in good shape. Thanks again for getting them signed to me.

Jittlov and TWOSAT
Just wanted to chime in on this, since I haven't been keeping up with the board lately...

From everything I've read, "The Wizard of Speed and Time" is in a legal limbo. Mike says that he never legally signed the rights over to Richard Kaye, and that what video distribution the film did get was made without his approval or permission. He's since allowed fans to make copies for personal use and to share it with their friends.

However, several years ago, there was an issue with actors residuals, as it turned out that SAG hadn't received anything from Kaye's distribution deals, and they were going after anyone connected with the film to try and collect - there was even talk of them foreclosing on the film. IIRC, this was around the time Mike was getting everything ironed out, but not having the money to pay off SAG, he had to distance himself completely from the film, and convince SAG that he'd never gotten paid either. I don't think I ever found out what happened after that, and it's never come up in any conversations I've had with Mike over the last few years.

A month or two ago, there was a fan who posted on Mike's newsgroup that he was planning on making an UberDVD of the film, but that poster quickly pulled up stakes after claiming that he'd been served a C&D over his posts - but he never said *who* the C&D came from, and apparently hasn't posted since, so we never got an answer.

I've got the laserdisc of the film, and made a transfer to DVD myself a year or so ago - reformatted to the proper 1.85:1 aspect ratio (since the LD was open matte), subtitled the whole film, added in the trailer and the original short film. I haven't spoken to Mike in about a year, tho, but he approved of the aspect ratio correction when I did it on 1" tape several years ago, so I would guess he probably feels the same way now.

I do know that he's been taking care of his mother after her stroke a few years ago, and that's been a full-time job for him - he's not posted anything online in at least a year, that I can see.

I'm going to be in LA next week - I should probably give him a call. Oh, and Harlan, if you wanna read between the lines, I can easily pack something to carry out there with me. :)

Harlan's old friend Barbara Streisand
A rebel by nature, nothing awes her. For example, there's the story about the night New York columnist Earl Wilson supposedly stopped her at the stage door, and she told him to quit following her around. "You're a stage-door Johnny," she allegedly shouted.

Did it really happen that way? "That's untrue," she dead-pans. "It was Leonard Lyons."

********************

Leonard Lyons' son George Lyons was my fraternity brother (Beta Sigma Rho fraternity,) now defunct. Unable to find out what happened to George Lyons.

Direct Answer to Todd
Todd: the book is a Borders exclusive and is not sold via Amazon. Any Borders or Waldenbooks should have it.

Adam-Troy, why can't I find The Unauthorized Harry Potter in Amazon.com?

I just finished listening to the entire series on audio (I started last Fall) as I had never been interested enough to take my reading time for the books. But since I go for 2-mile walks every day I've been walking with Potter and friends. I'm now intrigued enough to check out your book before the big July release of the finale.....will I easily find it at the bookstore if I can't even find it at Amazon?

-TODD

Hearing Loss can Save Lives
Cause the deaf canna chase-a you so good

Harlan, I have the term, tee hee patented, so watch it there fella. Josh yelled at you? And he still has a left ball? Louis Black must have mellowed or he found my pot stash. Susan, comfort your husband. Tee2hee, the sequel.

--------------

Actually, I post on so many forums I get mixed up where I am at at any time. Ironically, DemocraticUnderground has banned me a record five times! Must be my love affair with the democrats.

Steve Barber, David Loftus, try it sometime. There is a whole world of posting fun out there. Opinions are like assholes, and believe you me, there are many assholes hiding in the cybercubby. The reflective pond has a short, so I will remain quiet.

Jan S, thank you for the story title, much appreciated.

G.

Waitress

I have to strongly second the recommendation for "Waitress". An excellent movie that will easily let you forget the travesty of Spiderman 3 (Spiderman should not spend 60 minutes of 120 minute movie weeping).

Future Crimes for Unca Harlan
Harlan-
Did you see my previous post on the paperback copy of Future Crimes? It includes "Repent Harlequin..". Just curious if you needed a copy for the file and/or collection.

Simon and Schuster Own Your Out of Print Books
Oh, this is rich: "Simon and Schuster has altered its standard contract with authors in an effort to retain control of books even after they have gone out of print."

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/070517/20070517005865.html?.v=1

"The new contract would allow Simon & Schuster to consider a book in print, and under its exclusive control, so long as it's available in any form, including through its own in-house database -- even if no copies are available to be ordered by traditional bookstores."

I bet the jackanape who dreamed up this scheme got a raise and a bonus.

HEROES / LOST / Frank Miller / Scalzi / WAITRESS / Falwell/Etc
Various:

1-2) No big mystery. I suspect that any resolution Harlan might have to stop watching HEROES takes a reasonable break on those weeks when his good friends play major supporting roles. That said, I am still deeply enjoying this series and, once again, LOST, and am eagerly looking forward to the finales.

3)You know, nobody comes second to me in my admiration for such Frank Miller works as THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, the best moments of SIN CITY, BATMAN: YEAR ONE, the ELEKTRA miniseries, and (awwwgggaaaaaad ohgodohgodohgod especially) RONIN, but...am I the only one that winces with genuine pain at every new issue of ALL-STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN? I only get it because my wife, who is also a comics fan, and controls her half of our intake, insists, and she has a right to get that if I get to insist on PUNISHER PRESENTS: BARRACUDA. But geez, Louise, this series is not just bad, it's aggressively distasteful.

4) Quick thumbs up to John Scalzi's THE GHOST BRIGADES.

5) Recommendation for Adrienne Shelly's WAITRESS, a light souffle of a romantic comedy best appreciated if you go in not expecting too much; it's a fun, smile-inducing piece of work, a fine antidote to summer movie bombast, and as a long-time Shelly fan I would recommend it just as highly even if I weren't intent on honoring the life of the appealing writer/director/actress who was murdered in New York City last November, under circumstances that epitomize the words "senseless" and "idiotic." You won't think of that, fortunately, til the credits roll.

6) KOS is right. I won't dance on Jerry Falwell's grave. I will, however, provide this link to his greatest hits, words that may very well be called the planking for the dance floor.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/gate/archive/2007/05/18/notes051807.DTL&nl=fix

Lest we forget.

7) Quickie self-plug: anybody in Boca Raton this Sunday, come out to see me signing THE UNAUTHORIZED HARRY POTTER at 4 PM at Borders.

George Takei and HEROES
**6. Was anyone else as knocked-out by the commanding, compelling performance of my longtime friend George Takei on HEROES this week, as I was? As Hiro's father, he dominated the screen.**

As per my husband when I read him the above passage: "Oh. My. GAWD. He was incredible, he fuckin' ruled the show."

So articulate, he is...

As far as the good Mr. Takei goes, while I have never had the privilege of his company I have had the honor of standing up for his rights as a person. Upon hearing the news of Mr. Takei's sexual preferences, a rather coarse, if well meaning, individual attempted a string of one liners involving Sulu, fags, and trolls, throwing "Of course he can act...he's gay!" into the mix. I sent him packing with his tail between his legs and a lit cigarette up the bum since he was interested in "smoking the fag". Intolerance and ignorance often go hand in hand and I would like to cut them off that the wrists.


Sandra
(wondering who slid the soapbox under the keyboard when she wasn't looking)

That's "Final Shtick" from GENTLEMAN JUNKIE (or THE ESSENTIAL ELLISON).

HARLAN, we thought you didn't watch HEROES no more. By the way, LOST has been seeing a really great year, so I hope you gave it another try?

I once ran into George Takai at the Odyssey Theater in West LA. A really, REALLY nice guy!

**Has anyone here ever acquainted him or her self with a decadent old cult flick called SPIDER BABY?

Starred Lon Chaney, Jr., and featured a family of retarded, inbred cannibals.

Check out this movie and see if it doesn't strike something familiar when you glance at the White House.

I have a question for you fine people. I want to know the name of the short story in the excellent The Essential Ellison about the stand-up comic (bearing more than a little resemblance to a composite confabulation of Lenny Bruce and Mr. Ellison) who goes back to his home town, and swallows all his bile about the anti-Semitism he encountered there as a youth to accept the plaudits of the now-proud-of-him townspeople. I would look up my copy but it's in another country. And it's been a few years since I read it, so please, if I made any mistakes in what I remember of the story, don't flay me for them.

By the way. Dreams With Sharp Teeth is superb. NAOMI CAMPBELL!!!!

Thanks in advance for your help,
G.

SNIPPETS

1. Forums? What forums? I don't gotta show you no steenkin' forums. Tee-hee. Far be it from me, poor barbarian what I am, to giggle at all of you -- except Rick, of course, who appears to be your conception of G*O*D -- but I put in a full day of creativity on two devices y'all have allowed yourselves to toss into personal lifestyle obsolescence (heaven forfend you wouldn't be right up-to-date, there in Kansas City), namely tee and hee ... the manual typewriter, and the lp turntable. Did I mention tee-hee?

2. As I do not really appreciate birthday presents, and tend to send them back to the givers with a surly note, thereby making me seem even more of a contumely cad than some would paint me, I must ... I MUST ... oh yes migawd i muuuuust thank FAQ for his nice recent mailing, which I haven't gotten to glom as yet but will soon; and John Manzo, who s'help me jeezus, sent me a Lewis Black CD ... personally signed to me. LEWISfuckinBLACK, momma! If ever there was a "separated at birth," it is mwah and LEWISavalancheBLACK! GahDAMN!

3. ERIK NELSON: do you want them to know? Your picnic, you gotta let loose the ants. Ees no my jahb.

4. If you have forgotten how I raved over the incredible ELECTRIC TIKI sculpture of FLASH GORDON a while ago, or missed my rapturous urgings to buy the Electric Tiki ZORRO or LONE RANGER sculptures marketed in VERY limited numbers by Tracy Lee, then hear me when I tell you that today Tracy sent me the new DICK TRACY, and it is a stone killer gorgeous item. If you have ANY shred of childhood wonder in you, go to their site and help yourself to some swell moments of looking. And then, if you want to get yourself or someone who is your very best pal a gift rare and wonderful ... flex on over and buy one of these amazing icons. I don't steer you very often, for fear of steering you wrong, but the ELECTRIC TIKI sculptures are easily the equals in quality and imagination of Randy Bowen's brilliant work. If I could spring for the wad, folks, I'd buy each and every one of you -- even my detractors -- an Electric Tiki sculpture. Your life is not complete without ...

5. The new dark chocolate M&Ms are okay, nice enough I s'pose, but they are just M&Ms. Sans peanut, they just don't spackle, repaint, and refresco the Parthenon.

6. Was anyone else as knocked-out by the commanding, compelling performance of my longtime friend George Takei on HEROES this week, as I was? As Hiro's father, he dominated the screen.

7. I bought Josh Olson a present, but he continues withal to serve the lickspittle needs of The Dark Eminences. And he yelled at me.

Yr. Pal, Harlan

We're in THE FUTURE!! And it kinda sucks.

Remember The Future? You know, the one where we'd have colonies on Mars by now, and we'd have gone to Jupiter about six years ago? And the technology would work every time -- with the exception of an occasional psychotic computer, but then The Hero would pull its plug or force it to caclulate the ultimate value of pi and the computer would either sing "Bicycle Built for Two" and go into a coma, or blow up.

Other than that, everything worked. Rocket engines would fire, communications were absolutely reliable, except in case of a natural disaster or sabotage. Scotty would say, "She canna' take this much longer Captain!!" but somehow the Big E would always come through.

Kirk never got: "If you want to activate your communicator, press one. If you want to add more minutes to you communicator, press two. If you want to speak to Scotty to get this frelling thing to work, you're dreaming. You'll have to spend at least half an hour on hold, and a Vogon representative will be with you, as if that would do you any good."

Ah, the marvels of the Twenty-First Century.

And Rick, we all understand. Take care of you first. Hey, I'm already past my withdrawal symptoms. I actually went outside and did stuff. It was...different. Just concentrate on getting past this part of life for now.

Chuck

Blame it on the Bots
Rick,

Maybe the forum is down because that bot's ip address was blocked. From previous experience, the whole thing will probably need to be started afresh.

I'm okay, really I am

It's all right, guys, I'm gonna be all right.

Read Woody Allen in a bank last night, I'm going to see Rebecca Goldstein lecture on Goedel's Incompleteness Theorem tonight, and tomorrow night we are invited to a book publication party for my friend Nicole Mones and her new novel, _The Last Chinese Chef_, which has gotten raves on NPR.

Best of all, I devote every spare minute to reading Michael Chabon's _The Yiddish Policemen's Union_, and it is a GREAT BOOK! Fun from the very first page.

Technological Suck-fest

Rick, mon ami, worry not. I would offer assistance, but am -- right this very minute -- locked (for the second day running) out of my work laptop.

(..."It's dead, Jim.")(...Cramer! I called in a trouble ticket two effing days ago...!)(*I love my home Mac, yes I love my home Mac.*)(Argh! My bairns... my poooor pooor bairns!)


So. Not having to peruse the Forums (Forae?) in search of improper bon mot has been a relief.

Oddly enough, this comes at a time of an official corporate visit of a technologically-advanced satellite-communications Mobile Emergency Command Center to my big city client. Yes, ain't it grand? We can power a small city, set up satellite communications in ANY emergency, provide wireless backup for First Responders (of which I am, supposeduly, one of many), and kick major ass of terrorists who would launch any and all assaults upon our seaside Paradise.

"Uh. Well, yes, and my email's been offline for two days -- is, um, that an issue?"



*Sigh*

Harlan ain't a Luddite, he just knows how "f***ed" we get when it takes over our lives. (And why true pleasure can only be found in a perfectly served Garlic Bread -- which I still owe him...)
_____________________________________

ATC - Woohoo! The Race continues!!!
_____________________________________

Rob - If you've sent me an update on your project -- and sent it to my work address -- the above explains why I haven't responded. I ain't seen it yet.
_____________________________________

PS - Just heard from our IT group. "Bad sector". Evidently the "bad sector" is where my OS resides. (Listen! You can hear the IT guys who come to this board quietly gasping.) I am offline, they say, at least through Monday afternoon. I am sure my clients will understand. Pray for my database.

*whimper*

RICK,

Not to worry. Yeah, we miss the forum pages, but I think it's safe to say that no one here, not even the heart-rendingly jonesing Mr. Loftus, would have you add to your level of angst by internalizing our impatience. We can wait. We know you'll get to it when you can. Tire safety first, forum code troubleshooting later.

Steve J.

Rick,

Life comes first, and while the forums are a wonderufl part of the site they don't qualify as life. Take care of yourself. We'll wait.


S.

Rick, we still love you, don't you worry shnookums. I run around the room now with a meat cleaver, but don't mind me.

a solution
rick- i think i know what's causing your net problems. unbeknownst to him, Harlan was exposed to some Krell technology and so...while he sleeps...monsters,rick...monsters from the id...

Forums
Guys I have not had luck with tech support and I'm at a loss on what's up with the forums. Everything looks great. The database is there, the tables look good, the passwords and authorities are all correct. I am going to have to back them up, restore to a local computer, install phpbb there and see what the fuck is going on.

I just haven't had time to do that. I've been through the frigging wringer this week on top of being an absolute hollowed-out shell from losing my dog. My time and ability to deal has been so compromised I've had a road spare on my car for almost 2 weeks. If I can't get to it tomorrow I'll definitely have some time on Monday to do what it takes. I could just reset everything but I want to avoid having to lose old posts obviously.

Wonderwoman strikes again!

Susan,
Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou.
A good day to you and the hubby. And to all here.

Tom--Caught your order (now on the way to you) and had HE sign the books to you.

All best--Susan

On the Road -- a review
Oi've Avun saane a review of the 'ting at this here address!

http://subterraneanpress.com/index.php/magazine/spring2007/review-on-the-road-with-harlan-ellison-volume-3/

On the Road with Ellison, vol. 3
I got the latest volume of On the Road with Ellison yesterday, and gave it a listen. This series just keeps getting better. I particularly appreciated the final track. Well worth the wait. Check it out, if you haven't already.

-J

It took millions of years for ground water to accumulate in the Western US. This water is being depleted at such an alarming rate that the land in downtown Albequerque, New Mexico is sinking by a measureable amount every year.

Off the Dole
paul:

Concerning Spielberg's new "Auteur Idol" show, it will be fun to see how they pull off the contest aspects of a silver screen showdown. With that generous top prize (applied toward another demo reel) the contestant who comes out on top will provide years of further entertainment as he continues his--most likely--futile attempts at negotiating an actual career in Hollywood.

The Education From Hollywood
Not wanting to stir up a shit-pot, though i know i will, i do wonder what people think of the upcoming series On The Lot.

Great idea or...greatest idea?

I don't work in the film industry, so please correct me if i'm wrong, but isn't this the next step towards - - American Reality Director's Cut~ Fake Reality TV Show- Choose your favorite auteur as they travel around the country.
29 days, three cans of film, and a vision. They will attempt to invent a reality show, and pretend to film it, and it will be optioned, then cast aside as a waste.

I'm just tuning in for the credits, you understand.

Falwell
Somewhat belated, but I've gotta post something about it.

If there is anything resembling a heavenly paradise on the other side, I sure hope that Jerry got in...and found it almost entirely populated by liberals, gays, neopagans, ACLU members, and everyone else he spent his entire life on earth condemning.

Ayiy, I sometimes think the computer should sense when I'm overtired & shut itself down.

M. Ellison, sir: I've been sporadically tracking the _Brother Theodore_ project since I stumbled over mention of it last autumn. The IMDb listing of onscreen talent simply shows why I'm awaiting this almost as much as _DWST_, but I wish SOMEone would update it as to progress. Apologies for leading you astray, but I should warn you that the guy in front is often more lost than yourself, particularly when he's me. Or something.

A better site for how _BT_ will look is probably
http://www.spontaneous.net/Brotherpagetest.html
which (I'm guessing) is subject to relocation but is apparently a freebie for the moment -- the video whatsits on my PC are being wonky, but I'm fair certain this is the page that's got a nice excerpt.

David Loftus wrote:

"severe withdrawal . . . cold turkey . . . aaaaaAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!

I am REALLY REALLY missing the access to the Ellison boards.

Is everyone else shut out, too?

Has it only been two days?"


Try several WEEKS without the internet, a computer, etc. after the mother board on my infernal machine finally coughed up its lungs and died. The pain and the shakes did ease after a while, though.

Now I'm baaack!

Cleanly and Soberly (and now falling off the wagon),

Chuck

ps: Susan, got RH #41. Nicely done, milady! You're a regular publisher, you are.

I would like to express my contempt for the outright disrespect shown here to the good Rev, Jerry Falwell.

What did he do but fill God's coffers, going house-to-house relieving so many of their financial downfalls?

What did he do but save so many deprived of the glory of God's path?

What did he do but demonstrate how GROWN men should never be having sex with prostitutes 'les their married to 'em?

What did he do but remind us that “Christians, like slaves and soldiers, ask no questions”?

What did he do but remind us that “AIDS is not just God's punishment for homosexuals, but is God's punishment for the society that TOLERATES homosexuals”?


What did he do but reminds that the likes of Harlan Ellison are already sittin' high at the end of a pitch fork?

What did he do but learn us that “the idea that religion and politics don't mix was invented by the Devil to keep Christians from running their own country”?


And what did he do but learn us that “if you're not a born-again Christian, you're a failure as a human being”?

Or, how bouts: “Textbooks are Soviet propaganda”


Or, how bouts: “The ACLU is to Christians what the American Nazi party is to Jews”

Or, how bouts: “It appears that America's anti-Biblical feminist movement is at last dying, thank God, and is possibly being replaced by a Christ-centered men's movement which may become the foundation for a desperately needed national spiritual awakening”

So....I ask all of ya here - who? - just WHO, by Satan's fetid underwear, do ya think y'ARE...t'be b'smurchin' the holiest man in America?

You could learn something by the example of Fox News or the New York Times, who gave glowing obits to Christ's Son!

...yer ALL a bunch o'MORAL PERVERTS!

NOTE:

I have phoned my friend, our webmaster, Rick Wyatt, and asked him to remove the loathesome posting from the degenerate ox calling itself "Professor Zundelberg"--who is no more from/in Sweden than was Gilles de Rais--and I ask that no one respond to its detestable and brutish contents. With luck, it will be gone by the time you get to the black hole whereat it was excised.

-he

I'm sure someone will post a thoughtful analysis of Jerry Falwell's life and work that will justify all the vitriol. This is a smart, well educated, well reasoned and certainly an open minded crowd, and I'm certain that even though one may -- how can I put this -- violently disagree with the man's beliefs, there is room in a rational world for all the voices of the human rainbow.

After all, if Jerry Falwell and Larry Flynt, after many years of verbal and legal warfare, can lock hands in friendship in their later years (as they did), then can't we, yes even WE, come together to prance around the same maypole?

JOHN GREENAWALT:

John ... am I losing it or not remembering it or codgerly just not understanding it ... when I tell you, softly (and a trifle fearfully), that I haven't the shadowiest gentle whisper of an idea what the hell you're talking about ... ?

lowercase -he

QUERY FOR TONY RAVENSCROFT


The link to the "completed" Brother Theodore filmography is to a site where one must join-to-view.

Since I cannot gain access to said site, boss, can you advise me if this is, as I suspect, the film in which my onscreen commentary on Teddy appear?

If anyone can print these pages out in color, and mail them to me, it would be appreciated.

Yr. Pal, Harlan

Here I post after the troll. He shall be deleted, I presume.

KOS---
Sorry, I disagree. Such a vile person deserves every little knife stab that he gets, even after death.

Some might say, "Consider his family." I say fie on them. They were up-close-and-personal with this thing their entire lives and did not put a stop to it.

What would I like Harlan to do?

Drill a well on his property and report back how far down he had to go to hit water.

Speaking of insane hatred, Fred Phelps and his fellow loons are apparently planning to protest Falwell's funeral (it's on Phelp's site, which I am not going to provide a link to). Or, as a friend of mind put it, "That's like, a mobius strip of gay-hating."

When Jerry kicked the can I'm quite sure his last thought was fear that the coroner might be gay and want to check out his shriveled package, before slicing him open. Upon inspection, the coroner would find a small rat family living in his belly.

Well, he won't have to worry about the Mormon in Chief.

Adieu, ya old nazi.

---------

Rick, Rick? We need you. David aint the only one biting his nails.

Enough Already
I was no fan of the man, but the bile spilled and the sheer hate revealed in these comments about Jerry Falwell is rather ugly.

That is to say, it makes no one look good to spew such venom. No one.

The intelligence here, so often seen, can not seem to present any better commentary on Falwell than a verbal equivalent of those Palestinians that danced in the street at the deaths of three-thousand on 9-11. "Yay for our side, boo for the bad guy."

Please.

You've reached the gag reflex level,

Chill.

Really.

Please.

KOS

Thanks
Harlan and Susan:

Thanks for the replacement! And thanks for the very entertaining reply!!

Take care,

Stuart

STUART SOMERSHOE:

The elegant editrix of THE RABBIT HOLE has asked me to inform you that your replacement issue is in the mail. Perhaps not as whirlingly exalted an advisement as, say, that god--whose ear, reached by the plangent hosannahs of the faithful hereabouts,
in the wake of Rev. Falwell's transition to the terrain of mud and grass roots and sump-worms--has responded with the announcement that the sequel will be a Pay-Per-View death-cage match featuring a leather-thong-attached Osama bin Laden and Pat Robertson, each equipped only with a machete.

Nonetheless, at best, sir, I've passed my wife's message.

Yr. Pal, Harlan

Rick et al: Okay, I think we shouldn't let David suffer much longer. Perhaps another day or two, then we just delete our thoughts about him and let him back in.

Quick Response to Brian's direct question
No, that's not me. I play no online video games. (I've been tempted by CITY OF HEROES, but have never indulged. And I can do without the time sink, though I finished all the HALF-LIFEs at home.)

severe withdrawal . . . cold turkey . . . aaaaaAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!

I am REALLY REALLY missing the access to the Ellison boards.

Is everyone else shut out, too?

Has it only been two days?

Adam-Troy Castro hits on a truth that goes forgotten by many people, even the intelligent crrew who've gathered here. Many people tend to think of people like Falwell and Robertson as merely successful con men who occasionally display streaks of bigotry and anti-Semitism, and whose activities range from crackpot censorship to Creationism.

No. These people are actively _evil_. Pat Robertson's built up an empire in the diamond trade in Africa, and his political activities have gone a long way to buttress American support for the dictators and psychotics whose nations suffer for his benefit. Their "missions" have encouraged brutal, primitive "moralities" that have led to the deaths of millions from AIDS.

Here in America, as bad as the right-wing's gotten, we're still insulated from most of the world's horrors. So creatures like Falwell and Robertson can seem like pests. But in other countries, without the prosperity and civil society we have, they and people such as they have inflicted misery and horror upon whole nations.

These are people who _thrive_ on misery. When they die, I mourn the fact that they were permitted to inflict as much harm as they've managed before decently expiring.

Christopher Hitchens did a good commentary on CNN: the video's at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkAPaEMwyKU.


(Oh, and to Adam-Troy, a personal question: do you play Unreal Tournament under the handle "CastroTroy?" I think we killed each other a few times last night.)

Farewell to Falwell
Heard the news of Falwell last night and this morning pulled out my copy of Sleepless Nights in the Procustean Bed and re-read "A Love Song to Jerry Falwell" After reading it, I checked me email and there was a cartoon.

It features Falwell in the purple Teletubby outfit a picture of two men kissing across his tummy. In the back are the burning pits of Hades, a magazine rack with Hustler, and Darwins theory of Evolution, the Consitution. Farwell, is goggled eye with fear, sweating and a shiver with what awaits him in the eternal boiler room.

I am not sure which is worse, Falwell saying all those things to exploit the Moral Majority...the best example of Harlan's concern about 'the common man' or saying those things and truly believing them. It will be interesting seeing the power grab for his throne. Somehow I do not think that chubby faced, foul spewing creature never prepared someone to replace him when it was time for him to go to his firey reward.

A Note
If you know Pat Robertson's business dealings, which include investments that support the most heinous regimes in the world -- and if you know that his lobbying has included resistance to any attempts to limit US investment in those regimes -- then you know his brand of "Christianity" quite well.

(Barber: TAR's been renewed.)

Promoted to Glory
You people should have more respect for our fallen saints. After all it's not everyone who knows the mind of Jehovah so intimately that he can tell us exactly what THE MOST HIGH thinks about every little thing.

Jeff, there is no reason to doubt that the good Reverend was absolutely sincere. I've known people like him all my life. Those people just weren't quite as good at fund raising as Fallwell.

Pat Robertson, on the other hand, is a complete phony. A con artist from the get-go. I suppose when you gow up in the rural South, in a fundamentalist church like I did, you develop a sense of it?

I'll leave it to you, my fellow posters, to decide which is worse, the honest religious fanatic, or the "carny"?

QUESTION
Do you guys think that Falwell really believed, himself, the bilge that came out of his mouth, or was he just playing to his audience? Those idiotic, hateful remarks that he made right after 9/11 would be a perfect example.

And yet.
Falwell was such a caricature, such a lightening rod for controversy, will someone equally colorful step onto the stage and show rational people the palpable madness of extremist Christianity?

My cousin was an actual card-carrying member of the Moral Majority.

Ah, good times.

Bye Bye Jerry. As your heart stopped and your brain started to shut down from a lack of oxygen, and your senses went haywire and threw you into your last experience, I hope your perception of time stopped and you are in an infinite tunnel of light, heading toward your reward.

-Keith

The "Brother Theodore" project
On the offchance some don't know about this, I thought I'd offer the IMDb listing. If anyone can expand on the status of the film, please update IMDb! At very least, it's an impressive list of raconteurs I've admired:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0840297/

I am in the process of listening to On the Road V3. Driving in from work today, I sat in the garage to finish listening to “Watching Me, Myself & Four Ellisons”. Greatly moving.

This weekend I also stumbled across a copy of No Doors, No Windows (which I did not have.) Last night I read “Promises of Laughter”. I know the Unsung Ellison thread is an old one, but let me add this piece. My gosh…

It is not that Harlan is an unparalleled wordsmith/storyteller/craftsman/keeper-of-our-attention. Nor is it that he is willing to share his life experiences. It is the marriage of those gifts (gifts to us) that bring us back again and again….

Harlan, have we remembered to say thank you today?

Mike

oh boy oh boy oh boy!!
Just got my Rabbit Hole #41 - And therein I find Harlan's doing an appearance when I'm in So Cal!

That is just the news I needed to lift my spirits. Thank you Susan, might mistress of newsletters. Look forward to seeing you June 14th...

Cheers
Peg

I first learned of Fallwell's glorious passing from this illustrious crowd and have danced a jig any time his name has been mentioned today. While I could add any number of sentiments to celebrate the news, I prefer to offer up two cartoons from _Hustler Humor_ (Larry Flynt's not my favorite person, but he fostered a cadre of awesome cartoonists):

** An emaciated old woman in a threadbare shawl and dress sits beneath a bare lightbulb in a rat infested apartment where the wallpaper is peeling and the only thing to eat is a half finished can of dogfood on the dining room table. The woman writes:

"Dear Jerry Falwell,

I want to thank you for the inspiration and comfort your television broadcasts give me. I am enclosing the remainder of my social security money to help you keep up your fine work as I know you need it..." (drawn by Dwaine Tinsley)

***************************

** Satan sitting behind his captain of industry desk, devils reveling in the torment of damned souls as a backdrop. Satan hits the intercom on his phone and says, "Send Falwell in when he gets here. I want to see the look on the fucker's face!" (drawn by Dwaine Tinsley)

***************************

There are more where those came from, but I think you get the idea.


S.

Put THAT on his headstone.

"And, I know that I'll hear from them for this. But, throwing God out successfully with the help of the federal court system, throwing God out of the public square, out of the schools. The abortionists have got to bear some burden for this because God will not be mocked. And when we destroy 40 million little innocent babies, we make God mad. I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way -- all of them who have tried to secularize America -- I point the finger in their face and say, "You helped this happen."
-- Rev Jerry Falwell, blaming civil libertarians, feminists, homosexuals, and abortion rights supporters for the terrorist attacks of Tuesday, September 11, 2001

That, I think, says it all.

Chuck

We're off to see the WOSAT

KOS (AND HARLAN)-

Mike Jittlov does indeed own the rights to both the WOSAT short and the full-length feature film. You can check out that, his blessing on the non-official DVDs, and the reasons we are not likely to ever see a standard-release DVD here, in Mike's own words:

http://groups.google.com/group/alt.fan.mike-jittlov/msg/c5bc759a31013deb?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&newwindow=1&safe=off&rnum=1

I believe his situation has been, sadly, further complicated by the need to care for his mother.

--
Ryan

Has anyone here ever had a relationship with an individual afflicted with bipolar symptoms?

I was recently getting to know a beautiful lady - who may, sadly, be too dangerous for me to spend much time around. She IS bipolar...and I began learning the patterns of the affliction just over the last few days.

It sucks too, because, apart from being really gorgeous, she's damn intelligent (she has published poetry and a Masters; and she went to lawschool) - with talent tragically hindered with these manic symptoms; she went flat broke, became addicted to crystal meth (she's a recovering addict), and disappears from time to time.

I want to remain her friend, but I'll not sleep with her - I'll tell you that (though I already spent a night with her).

What is WITH my luck? Everytime I meet a new woman, she's a manic this or a psychotic THAT.

And MY sad weakness is that I tend to fall in love easily. It's just that THIS time it could be too dangerous.

So, I'm asking anyone here who might know about this stuff first-hand.

Deathbird Stories - Limited edition cover art print
Hi:

I have a limited edition print of the cover art from "Deathbird Stories" done by Leo and Diane Dillon - #50 of 300. It's museum mounted in a black frame with anti-glare glass.

I'm looking to sell it in the quickest fashion possible. Unfortunately I'm not in a position to use eBay so please don't suggest that avenue.

Lastly, I'm not looking to get top dollar for the piece, so if anyone is interested in this item please let me know, sooner rather than later.

Thanks

To: God

From: Alex

Re: Jerry Falwell, R.I.P.

Dear Sir (or Madam):

Every once in a while, You send a ray of light shining in a gloomy world. Taking Falwell from us is such a ray.

But if You really want to impress me, relieve us from the burden of Oral Roberts, Billy Graham, Pat Buchanan, and the other snake-oil salesmen still running loose. Heart attacks, brain aneurysms, and botched enemas will do just fine. Fatal hemorrhoids are also acceptable.

Although it would be spectacular, please refrain from doing something Biblical to them (i.e. plagues of frogs, locusts, etc.). This is the 21st century, and the last thing we need is to give these charlatans more spiritual ammunition.

Don't be a stranger!

Fallswell that ends...well
LOFTUS: If there )_is_ a god (God...Goddess) he, she or it should never have let such cretin be born or rise to power. For that -- and 965.3 million other things, God, god or Goddess has to answer (somehow, I don't think a female god would allow such pustule to fester for so long).

Good riddance, I say. (If only Fallwell had taken Dubya and Dick -- Cheney needs no other moniker as far as I'm concerned --with him to the great black, beyond).

YeeeeecH!
-DTS

No Great Loss
The Rev. Jerry Falwell is gone and I hope he will be forgotten, but no such luck. He earned an abysmal place in the pantheon of reactionary demagogues, right down there beside W.J. Bryan, Father Coughlin, Gerald L.K. Smith, Sen. Joe McCarthy, Gov. George Wallace, and so many more of that diseased strain.

That such a champion of ignorance and censorship founded and ran a university is a most bizarre irony. But America loves its freaks, often electing them to high office. I am sure our Freak-in-Chief will have some flattering remarks to make about ol' Jer, which remarks he will no doubt mangle in his own inimitable manner.

As a recently late, and truly great, American was wont say: "And so it goes."

And with that...
Robert Morales wins "best Falwell-death-related comment" contest. All other contestants can turn in their numbers at the door and head home.

The Rev Falwell
I'm only sorry his passing didn't occur, unnoticed, in a DC Metro station.

falwell and thanks
Thank you James Levy. I feel somewhat better now. The process never gets easier to understand.
Good riddance to bad trash...I'm sure the GOP debate tonight will be full of sorrow at his "loss". Falwell set back electoral politics 50 years in this country...I'm glad he's gone and hope he brought a church fan..he'll need it.
According to Rich Johnston's column at comicbookresources.com, May 29th will be a big day for more that just JFK's 90th birthday.

Falwell

Both the Post and NY Times are reporting Rev. Falwell has passed on. I cannot say he will be missed in our household, given his divisive and hubris-filled life.

His final destination must have come as quite a shock.

Falwell
To Clifford Meth:

That's so sad.

I was hoping that Falwell'd be found chained to a wall in his basement, gibbering from a stroke, while sobbing boys in leather gear continue to stub lit cigarettes on his exposed genitals because it's the _only thing they've ever been taught to do_.

But all he's getting is a heart attack. It's sad, is all.

NEWS ON THE MARCH!

. . . And so as it must to all men, death came for Jerry Falwell.

NEWS ON THE MARCH!

Conundrum
Why would God want Falwell anywhere near Him?

The Rev. Fall Well


:: I hope this doesn't upset you too much but Rev. Jerry
:: Falwell has been hospitalized after being found unconscious.
:: Story has it that he fell and, apparently, didn't fall well.


It would be unseemly to gloat.

I'm sure God had something to do with this.

Shocking news
Harlan:
I hope this doesn't upset you too much but Rev. Jerry Falwell has been hospitalized after being found unconscious. Story has it that he fell and, apparently, didn't fall well.

Joshua Bell ad nauseum
Tom is right. Currently musicians are not allowed in the DC Metro system. This is about to change however. Auditions for performers are ongoing and the policy is about to change.

Sometimes it seems as if Benjy Compson is in charge but overall the Metro does a pretty good job of getting upwards of two million government workers into and out of the Greater Urban Nucleus on a daily basis, and who knows how many tourists over the course of a year.

And this is their focus, commuters and tourists. Consequently they take a very conservative approach. Visitors are astonished to discover that the system has only expanded its weekend hours past midnight in the last few years.

Another potential astonishment is that the Metro system has no source of dedicated funding. Consequently we are always hovering in the limbo between rate increases and budget cuts. The states of Maryland and Virginia, and the D of C sometimes threaten to remove their thumbs out of their fiscal asses, and do the right thing, but somehow manage to never miss a chance to miss a chance.

Meanwhile, I'm not sure exactly when the music will first waft through the subway. Or whether it will be classical fiddlers or local yodelers.

More chances to miss those fleeting moments of beauty!

Bernard Gordon, a screenwriter blacklisted during Hollywood's anti-communist crusade in the 1950s, has died. He was 88.

Gordon died Friday at his Hollywood Hills home after a long battle with cancer.

Susan---Rabbit Hole question
Susan,

I've given it a couple weeks but apparently the post office has eaten my last Rabbit Hole. How much (including postage) should I send you to get a replacement of the last issue? (Note: the last Rabbit Hole I got was the one detailing the Book Purge, so I need the one after that.)

Thanks in advance,

Stuart

PS--Membership Number is 1137

WOSAT Jittlov Heads-Up
I think you might want to be a mite careful about passing out copies on DVD of the FEATURE LENGTH version of WOSAT, if that is what you have. I think Mike Jittlov doesn NOT own that film. I heard there was a dispute between Mike and the producer, Richard Kay, and that Kay owns it. That's the story I heard anyway, and that the reason for no offical DVD release is because of the dispute.

Now, if I am wrong, I apologize. I hoppe Mike DOES indeed own the feature film version.

I would just hate to see you get a letter from the owner or his lawyers.

And I will not post for a few days in penance for doing it twice today.


KOS

Mike Jittlov Redux

HARLAN-

Oh, sure, tell me that awesome story about meeting Mike Jittlov right after I've found out that he's no longer appearing at the Visual Effects Society Festival next month. I was really looking forward to finally meeting him. I was even going to remove my WOSAT movie poster from the frame in the hope that he'd sign it. At least I'm local; maybe I'll get to see him yet.

Do you have a copy of WOSAT on DVD? There was never an official release, but with Mike's blessing someone created a DVD from the laserdisc release. You're welcome to a copy if you'd like one. Again, this is sanctioned by Mike so unless I'm mistaken there aren't any copyright issues as he owns the film.

--
Ryan

The Whimper of Whipped Samaritans
Alan's post and Peg's story put me in mind of both "The Whimper of Whipped Dogs" from Deathbird Stories, and (bear with me) the last episode of "Seinfeld", which centered around the four main "characters" being charged under a "Good Samaritan" law for standing by (and videotaping) while a man was assaulted on the street. (See? It all comes together in the end, more or less.) Apathy is entirely too painless.

Josh Bell experiment
No one else seems to have read the transcript of the Internet chat done the next day by the article's writer Gene W. (formerly Dave Barry's editor btw). In it, he explained why the location was chosen (severe limitations due to Metro policy) and that the time was due to Mr. Bell's schedule.

And while I can't vouch for its veracity, one reader wrote in the the chat that a similar experiment had been done before...but at a Belgium beach, during a busy tourist season (read: No uncultured Americans, no one in a hurry, etc.). The musician supposedly made only enough to buy an ice cream.

Forums Down
No idea what is up. Can't find server error logs. The database is fine and responding. I've backed everything up just in case. I've filed a support ticket with my provider and will get them back up when I can.

Alan,

I only caught a glimpse of the video and brief soundbite, but was likewise dismayed. Apathy abounds...

Only just this weekend my sister and I had a similar encounter, walking down Iberville in the quarter. We saw, on the opposite side of the street, 4 men beating up another on the ground. My sis thought she might have seen a gun. There were people all around and no one intervening or off to get help, that we could tell.

We immediately made tracks down the block to Bourbon where we'd generally seen police stationed (at the start of the pedestrian barriers) and quickly explained what we had seen (the beating) and what we may have but could not verify (the gun). Two of the four cops took off post-haste in that direction to investigate. (Harlan may be able to take on 4 guys at once, but me and my sis, topping in at 5'2 and neither of us in any sorta shape for a fight, went for help.)

One thing I recall, that still sticks in my craw. The victim was black, the men assaulting him were white. One of the witnesses near us was another black man, in the midst of emptying garbage into the dumpster for a local restaurant. He bothered to remark, as my sister and I hustled past, about the lack of police intervention for a black victim, but if it had been a white victim the cops would have been on the scene post haste.

He uttered this while calmly going about his duty in full view of the incident and taking no action himself to try and get a cop to come by! Didn't wander the block to bourbon to get the cops that, as a local, he may well have known were there. Didn't reach for a cell, didn't ask any passerby to call a cop, didn't duck into the restaurant to ask a coworker. Just continued with his routine and rattled off a complaint about the pesumably racist lack of response!!

I'd be interested to compare and contrast this apathy toward violence against the obliviousness of beauty, the other subject of late, if the situation didn't still bother me so much. The fury of the uninvolved indeed; the rule of the apathetic and the triumph of the lowest common denominator as well. I had to wonder if that man in the street later caught the irony of his own lack of action to assist. I doubt it. And that fact saddens me too.

I usually don't recommend that anyone watch CNN Headline News, but...

One of the news items they are covering today is the carjacking, caught on a security camera, of a 91-year-old man's car by a much younger man who punched him repeatedly in the face. The crime appeared to happen in daylight.

Standing less than 15 feet away are 5 witnesses who do nothing.

Perhaps an assumption is made that they are innocent, because I think they belong in jail, too.

Joshua Bell experiment
ADAM:

Your weekly or annual income analysis is ridiculous. Do you really think Joshua Bell (or anyone else) could play fabulous violin music 40 hours a week, or even four hours a day? I love to act on stage, morris dance, sing karaoke, and a dozen other activities that would be tough if not impossible to do for any more than two hours at a time.

:: First question: was he really supposed to have made the
:: same amount of money he makes headlining at the Met?

Of course not. I saw nothing in the article that implied he should have. The primary question was whether people would notice at all.


:: Second question: is any degree of talent so undeniable
:: that we're supposed to feel horror at the revelation it takes
:: more than an hour to be "discovered" –

Again, ridiculous. As someone else observed, it wasn’t about him or his playing, which was undeniably good, even great. It was that hardly anyone noticed it.

JOSH:

Seems to me you made my point. If people are involved in activity that is so heinous and soul-sucking that they don’t notice the beauty around them, that they can’t afford to notice it, then something is very wrong. And if they reach for a gun when it’s pointed out to them, rather than laughing or deciding to do something different, then that is very wrong, too. Most people have choices they don’t realize, or can’t admit, are available to them. You made the choice. These people haven’t.

Seems to me you’re siding with the willfully ignorant college kids Harlan berates in the latest “On the Road With Ellison” CD, and the Common Man.


MICHAEL “MAMJUNK”:

Terrific reference to the Harlequin. Just perfect.

EZRA:
:: . . . the premise of the original article which apparently was to
:: lament the dullness of the rubes.

Uh, I don’t think most of the people that went through that station were rubes, per se, or that the article labeled them such. I got the impression these were savvy, urban professionals, for the most part.
The implication I got was that they were too focused on themselves, their daily grind, and too dependent on context (that is to say, packaging and experts) to tell them when to pay attention to something else.
PETER:
Ya know, I don’t think it would have made that much difference if they had conducted the experiment later in the day. People may SAY they were in a hurry to get to work, but I think that wasn’t even really on their minds. They were just following their routine, not really thinking about anything at all. And I bet the same would obtain at day’s end, when ostensibly, they would not have been so pressured for time.

KOS:

Regarding “What d’ye Think?” . . . did you ever see a short-lived game show dating from the mid 1980s called “Anything For Money”? When I first heard about it, the premise horrified me. But then I saw a couple episodes, and I thought it was wonderful. Naturally, it didn’t last. . . .

Finally, did I call Harlan’s response to the Josh Bell thing, or what?!!

Making fun of Everyman
I did not read the Bell piece. I see that Harlan says it is well-written. Perhaps I will read it for that alone. The idea of setting up a situation like that to study the "everyman" reaction seems to be a bit palsied and contrived. Not that there's anything wrong with that!

Like the idea I had for a reality show: "Wha' d'ya think?!" where an actor playing a writer pitches stories to studio exec's while a hidden camera grinds away. The writer pitches classic plots as if they were "new": "See, there's this newspaper/media tycoon what dies, and his reported last words are so enigmatic that this reporter tracks down everyone who ever knew him to find out what the last words meant. At the penultimate scene of the movie we know everything about the tycoon -except- what his last words meant, which is shockingly revealed in the last shot of the last scene. So. Wha' d'ya think?!"

As my writer friends told me, "So. Do you like pulling the wings off flies, too? Wha' d'ya think?!"

KOS

riding along w/ Harlan in Ohio

I was on the Ellison wavelength this past weekend. I had to head back to Steubenville, Ohio to help clean up the estate from my uncle's (my mother's only brother) unexpected death back in late March. One of his grown daughters has a daughter of her own, and my cousin's daughter has hit the age of nineteen and is wondering about what to do with her life (especially since Steubenville is a really economically depressed town). She got her certification and worked as a wielder for a year after graduating high school, but recently left that job. She's a bright person, but just kind of unsure of things right now, so I gave her spare copies of some of Mr. Ellison's short story collections by way of inspiration. On the way back, I popped in a copy of Run for the Stars on audio CD that a friend had given me the weekend of his wedding, and it made the drive from Youngstown to Toledo quite pleasant. Upon arriving and checking my mail, I discovered Volume 3 of On the Road with Ellison from Deep Shag. I've really enjoyed the first two volumes, particularly while driving (after about 4 hours of singing along to music, I have to switch to spoken word material to give my voice a break).

Josh Bell's Attempted Busking
An interesting take on Bell's Happening from the viewpoint of my favorite busker:

http://sawlady.com/blog/?p=27

Thoreau didn't go down to a creek in the city
Not that it matters, but Gene Weingarten is a humorist who works for the Post. He's usually fall-on-the-floor funny, but this piece he wrote is meant to be serious. I read it when it came out.

I listen to my MP3 player in the privacy of my own home, or when sitting on a plane or a train. I don't understand how people can plug headphones into their ears in public, and then walk or run. To me, it seems dangerous. There are so many things going on around you, why deliberately cripple yourself in public by taking away one of your senses?

Going to work, we are goal-oriented people. Street performers in the city are a nuissance to many, only a step above beggars. So we tune them out.

To appreciate art, we need to be comfortable, or at least not rushed. To appreciate art, we need to be receptive, not driven. Having "seen" five Rembrandt's in the span of 30 seconds while rushing to leave a museum, I can say unequivocally that I was not much impressed. Neither would I be on hearing a snippet of Martin Luther King Jr's "I Have A Dream" speech when rushing past a man speaking in a square.

If, as Harlan says, the message of all art is "Pay attention," I submit that what we do in our persuit of happiness as defined by our culture is antithetical to art.

-Keith

ONE ISOLATED COMMENT ON THE JOSHUA BELL PIECE

I have nothing fresh to offer passim the experiment. I think the Washington Post essay -- apart from being brilliantly and exhaustively written -- was extraordinarily evenhanded, fair, sober, probing, expansive and (if a trifle long) imaginative in its reportorial range. I disagree with Josh and Adam absolutely. I sensed not the faintest scintillance of an aroma of elitism in the Post essay. I sensed EXACTLY that in the Salon piece Josh and Adam praised. The conclusions of either are not my concern here: only and solely whether a remarkably well-written and extensive study of a specific phenomenon was "elitist" or, by contrast, a snarkily-written response to the original IS "elitist" by doing that aw shucks we're just folks dissembling. I was impressed by the wringing-dry of the Post piece's observations of everything from the children to the shoeshine lady; and I was left with bettled-brow and pursed lips at the Versailles Court dismissal of the Salon piece.

Beyond that, deponent sayeth not.

Yr. Pal, Harlan

Joshua Bell, A Greeting and an Apology

While it's quite easy to jump to any number of conclusions regarding the Joshua Bell experiment, one of the major lessons to be learned is "know your audience". It is not that the people rushing about L'Enfant Plaza are any less "erudite" than the rest of us, it's that they were not expecting, nor prepared for, a classical performance of that calibre -- or ANY calibre, in all probability.

It isn't that Joshua Bell wasn't brilliant, it's that no one was listening for that brilliance at a metro station -- being more intent, as they probably were, on getting from point A to point Z in as fast a mode as possible.

Personally, I have probably walked past some excellent performances in assorted subway stations, but tuned the music out because it wasn't my primary focus at that particular moment. Getting to my train on time was.

(NOTE: I HAVE stopped to listen a few times. Primarily in Paris where the "street" performers are PART of the Metro experience, and are licensed as such.)

It wasn't the performer. It wasn't the audience. It was, unsurprisingly, the differing intents and expectations of each during a chance encounter.
________________________________________

HARLAN - I have moved offices and ran into Danny Guerrero (the phone guy) this morning. He asked me to wave hello for him.
________________________________________

ADAM-TROY - Sir, you have my most profound apologies.

Saturday last, making my innocent way into a South Orange County Togo's Sandwich shop, I was assaulted by a medium-sized black bird intent on driving me away. The cowardly assault came as my back was turned. I felt a slap to the back of my head and a rush of wings, but when I turned it was already in full retreat to its perch atop a parking sign.

According to the Togo's employees, it has been doing this sort of thing for four months, and that neither the Sheriff's Department nor Animal Control are willing to do anything.

Again, apologies for any lightness made of your own situation a few weeks ago. Now, if you will have your bird call off his henchbird it would be sincerely appreciated...

To Tally, sticking my nose in
I have published two books and have had, yes, four editors over the course of those books (two for the first, two for the second). For the first, with Palgrave, it is standard operating procedure to be handed off from the person who acquired the book and approved the first draft to a production editor who takes you through publication. In the case of Rowman and Littlefield, it was just a case of one man leaving and another person taking over.

A thank you and a rejoinder
Thanks to those who wished me luck. The reading went well, and I even recorded it for posterity.

Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGF6sXhd6eM

Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WohhezurlY

As for the Fiddler in the Tube, I had only one thought prancing around my head as I read both the article and the response: Geeze, this would have been a lot more effective had people been coming _home_ from work. See, as much as we like to believe that art and beauty are necessities in life (and don't get me wrong, I firmly believe they are), they just don't measure up to those things we need, or simply just think we need for survival. Getting to work, _on time_, is one of those things we think we need for survival, so we try to block out all the physical, visual, and auditory detritus we can in our pursuit of not being fired. The nine to five does not really allow us to stop and smell the roses. Hell, it doesn't allow us to stop and smell the refuse.

Really, there should be no knock on the people who passed on by with nary a glance. They're products of a machine that equates availability with productivity.

Of course, I also believe we need to adopt the spanish tradition of siesta.

~Peter

I'm a bit surprised that it's taken this long for the Joshua Bell story to turn up here. But here's a few thoughts.

I do not see this as any kind of referendum on the lack of taste of commuters, the inflation of musicians' reputations outside of the classical world, or even a cheap culture shot about the nefarious influence of iPods. It is, at base, a _funny stunt_. Taking a player of Bell's caliber, arming him with the one kind of violin that _everyone_ knows is fabulously valuable, and setting him up in a place we normally associate with struggling, ver-low-income players... well, look, that's just funny in and of itself.

There is _no need_ to try to draw any kind of lesson from this. There are some incidents that are definitely interesting. I appreciate that Bell admitted feeling uncomfortable when his playing was greeted with silence, instead of the tsunamis of applause he normally gets. That's a detail that interests me.

There's the guy who stood there, the former violinist, who recognized talen when he heard it... and his admission that he had to give up playing for other concerns. THAT was interesting.

Or, the young lady who recognized Bell and thought, what a fabulous city she lives in, that such things can happen. That's delightful, and points toward the need to make such things happen in our lives.

I'd like to throw out a kind of counterexample to the Bell experiment-- namely, this article at the New Yorker about London graffit artist Banksy (http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/05/14/070514fa_fact_collins). I love his work. I love the fact that he's trying to keep out of the art mainstream, and making it an element of people's lives. I love the example he sets. I even love the fact that people destroy his stuff, making Banksy-hunting a challenge, like finding cool books in thrift shops.

Sometimes it seems as though our fellow men want to cover our lives with tarpaulins of swill. So we need moments when they catch, and tear, and let in the fresh air and maybe a bit of blue sky.

All of you practicing scriveners and potential scribes out there might find two newspaper articles published this last weekend of some interest.

First, from the NYTimes about the mysteries of bestsellerdom.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/13/business/yourmoney/13book.html?em&ex=1179288000&en=7e7db8a04df179d6&ei=5087%0A

Best quote - "The people who go into it {the publishing industry} don't do it for the money, which might explain why it's such a bad business."

and a piece from the WashPost about the status of the Short Story in contemporary American literature.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/12/AR2007051201376.html


About the Joshua Bell episode-

Alex Jay Berman is right. L'Enfant Plaza is not a place you pause and reflect, it's just one step up from a parking garage. It's a place you go through to get to somewhere else.

In defense of the aesthetic sensibilities of my fellow Washingtonians, if JB had set up at the Dupont Circle or the Eastern Market stops on a Sunday afternoon he would have certainly attracted a large enough crowd to attract the attention of the authorities. But that would have screwed the premise of the original article which apparently was to lament the dullness of the rubes.

a professional query for Unca Harlan and a heads up
First, the query.
How many editors did you go through on a given project on average? My second book of SC ghostlore is at the publisher awaiting copyedit...and I found out Friday that the editor for this book is leaving for grad school. She came in at the end of the prcess for the first book. So, is 4 editors over the course of 2 books high or average? I don't think I'm that demanding...

Secondly, I purchased a copy of Future Crimes...edited by Jack Dann and Gardner Dozois at Dollar General for $1 yesterday. It included Repent, Harlequin...by HE. Knowing how jealously Harlan guards his backlog of books (poorly worded, I know), I wanted him to be aware. The book was released in 2003. I'll supply further details if needed (ISBN, etc).

Bell, Bookies, and Can-Do
Here's what I noted a month ago when the Bell-in-the-Metro piece first came out:

"That's not the Metro station; that's the tail end of the shopping concourse on the floor above the station (actually two floors, but one is just a walkway) and below the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel, a three- or four-star (I think they're rated at four, but I've seen nicer) hotel where most of the lobbyist groups (the ones who aren't BIGbigbucks) stay. The week I was there with the union this year, it played host to the Potato Growers of America and a few other respectably-powered groups.

That end of the concourse has three things to distinguish it: The doors to the football field-sized terrace outside (a few tables and ashtrays, and the steps to F Street), the doors to the long escalator to the station, and (right around the corner from where he's playing) an Au Bon Pain-style eatery.

Oh, yeah-and HORRIBLE acoustics.

All the noise from the tunnel-like concourse is funneled through, broken into incomprehensibility by the middle-of-the-hallway baffles (actually two-sided display cases), and right at that spot, it competes with the station noise from two floors below.

That being said, I wish he'd been there two weeks later, when *I* could have heard it."

Now, mind you, I LIKE Joshua Bell. (Mind as well, he doesn't make my heart throb; my tastes run more toward the lovely girls from the strings-pop neoclassical group Bond ... but he's certainly a much better player than they, so there's the trade-off.)

But I would be FAR more interested in seeing what would have happened had he been set up to play two floors up and seven or so blocks over--maybe on the steps of the Supreme Court, or by the fountain across from the Capitol.

Oh--and pray for me, all. In about thirty-odd hours, I set off for a business trip to Vegas, a city I've really never cared to visit. The company will mostly suck, the shows are too expensive, and I'm simply not that much of a gambler.
(But if one particular person from another part of my union happens to be there, things will be MUCH better ...)

Joshua Bell - Post Article
I read the Post article about the Joshua Bell subway experiment when it was first published. I also watched the video. There was nothing cruel about either. And the issue wasn't about money or the superiority of classical music.

It was simply about the fact that most people are so wrapped up in their own concerns that they cannot or will not recognize something beautiful, even if it's placed right in their path. The video is worth watching. The vast majority of people don't even turn their heads as they walk past.

I lived in New York for a couple of months doing a job a few years back, and at the time I often stopped to listen to subway musicians, so I'd like to think I would have stopped for Bell, but who knows? Two months in a new city isn't enough to take the tourist out of you. Would I still have stopped to listen after ten years? I cannot say.

The whole thing did remind me of this, though:

"Why let them order you about? Why let them tell you to hurry and scurry like ants or maggots? Take your time! Saunter a while! Enjoy the sunshine, enjoy the breeze, let life carry you at your own pace! Don't be slaves of time, it's a helluva way to die, slowly, by degrees...down with the Ticktockman!"

But maybe that's just me...

Any relation to Harlan?

One of the House freshman, Rep. Keith Ellison of Minneapolis, made history by being the first member in the House's 218-year history to be sworn in while holding his hand on the Koran.

Ellison, who converted to Islam while in college, has been criticized by some conservative commentators for choosing to use the Muslim holy book during the traditional ceremonial re-enactment of his swearing-in with new speaker Pelosi.

All members are sworn in, officially, in mass without the use of any religious books.

But Ellison probably trumped his critics by doing a little research and discovering that the Library of Congress, which is across First Street from the Capitol, had in its collection a 1764 English language version of the Koran that Thomas Jefferson owned.

David,

"I read the Washington Post experiment and article more as a lament for people's inability to, or uninterest in, being awake to moments of beauty around them -- partly because they depend on packaging, marketing, publicity, and paid flacks to TELL them "this is beautiful, this is important, this is worthwhile, this is newsworthy" as well as insulate themselves in their obsessions, paychecks, headphones."

Working people. Commuting to their jobs.

That experience was so heinous, so soul-sucking and deadening that it drove me to a life in the arts. Seriously - half the reason I do what I do is so I don't have to commute to a shitty job that, to quote the great Bill Hicks, doesn't fulfill me spiritually or creatively in any way shape or form.

If anyone had come to me in those days and lectured me on my insensitivity for not noticing the beautiful music being played in the subway as I made my way to work, I think I might have pulled a Bernie Goetz on them.

That daily grind beats the shit out of people. Railing at them for not appreciating True Art as they make their way to their daily grind strikes me as more than a little cruel.

elitism? or beauty v. contexting?

Josh:

I'm siding more with the original Washington Post piece on this one. I think the rejoinder in Salon was no less condescending in its "us intellectuals and opinion folks are jes' plain folks" attack on aesthetic standards. I'd like to think Harlan would be appalled in the same way the experimenters and Bell were. The Salon commentary quoted parts of the Post story out of context (for example, Weingarten did say the song by the Cure was a good song; and I think his point was that the guy was plugged into his iPod and thus unaware of his surroundings, not that he was listening to "inferior" music), and misstated its focus as being a lament for the death of classical music.

I didn't see the story primarily being about classical music being better, although there are fairly objective scales on which you can make a pretty good case that Beethoven is better than the Beatles, who are better than Led Zep, who are better than Britney Spears. That I happen to listen to Led Zep more often than the Beatles or Beethoven (and Modern Jazz Quartet more often, as well) does not make me inclined to deny that fact. There are many different kinds of music for many different purposes.

I read the Washington Post experiment and article more as a lament for people's inability to, or uninterest in, being awake to moments of beauty around them -- partly because they depend on packaging, marketing, publicity, and paid flacks to TELL them "this is beautiful, this is important, this is worthwhile, this is newsworthy" as well as insulate themselves in their obsessions, paychecks, headphones. I recall an essay by Walker Percy, somewhere in _Message in a Bottle_, I think, where he talks about being at Old Faithful geyser and everyone's faces being glued to their viewfinders so that in the rush to preserve the experience, they missed having the experience in itself, and wishing it were possible to encounter a piece of great literature absolutely cold -- like an aborigine coming across a Shakespeare sonnet on a scrap of paper on a beach -- instead of smothered in packaging that says "this is important, pay attention now."

I'm enough of a classical music fan that I would probably recognize Andre Watts, Murray Perahia, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, and Yo-Yo Ma on the street. I've seen Joshua Bell in concert, but I'm not sure I'd recognize him playing a violin in a subway station. I don't often give money to street musicians. But I am usually arrested by moments of beauty -- visual, aural, olfactory -- and stop to give them attention on the street, and point them out to whoever happens to be with me. And if I heard someone playing music at the level of Bell on the street, I'm fairly certain I would notice, stop and listen.

My Crappy Math
Lest anybody asked, that four-figure take was meant to be weekly, but I screwed up by not including that critical word.

Various
Josh,

Thanks for posting that Salon piece. It was pretty much what I was thinking, and I'm glad somebody said it.

I will point out something else that the Salon article did not note. The guy made $32.00 playing for, how long, forty-five minutes? That's a pretty good take for ANY street performer; assuming that he could make about ten times that much in a good day, hitting all the busy locations at their times of greatest traffic, and then arbitrarily removing about a third for travel time and philistine commuters, that's still a four-figure take, with no need to pay taxes on any of it.

First question: was he really supposed to have made the same amount of money he makes headlining at the Met?

Second question: is any degree of talent so undeniable that we're supposed to feel horror at the revelation it takes more than an hour to be "discovered" -- even if it's being discovered again?
(All writers, creators, artists reading these words: eliminate your resume and all name recognition you might be owed, start over again, and work your way back to where you are now. If it takes more than forty minutes, is it the audience's fault? If it never happens, are you over-rated? Or is it more likely that success is not just time and talent, but also opportunity?)

It's a wry experiment. But the conclusions drawn from it are ridiculous.

JOSH, HARLAN, ALL ANGELENOS: I feel your pain. With more than two hundred wildfires turning the air around my own, penis-shaped state to soot, just walking around minding your own business is like living inside a cigarette. We are coughing up cinders with every breath. I empathize in Sensurround. *Gag*

A-TC

Mr. O'Sullivan,

I hope your reading was as fine an experience as you wished it to be! That certainly is an achievement, and remember that no matter how strong the hurricane a soothing breeze is still appreciated.

S.

The Yiddish Policeman's Union
I loved the new Michael Chabon novel, and I suspect that Mr.Ellison will love "The Yiddish Policeman's Union," too.

re: Pearls Before Breakfast
David Marchese at Salon had the perfect response to this article:

http://www.salon.com/ent/audiofile/2007/04/09/classical/index.html

Pearls Before Breakfast
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/AR2007040401721.html

Ian McDonald
Harlan--I'm just wondering whether you've ever read anything by Ian McDonald. He's been one of my favorite SF authors since I picked up "Empire Dreams" in 1988, and his latest novel, "Brasyl," is out now. I've been consistently blown away by his fiction, his writing style and characterization, and was wondering if you have any views/opinions on his work.

Best,

Alex

Harlan on Youtube!
First, congrats to Harlan on his documentary. I'll certainly pay to watch it or I'll download it illegally...

Two, I noticed Harlan has made a few appearances on Youtube. I see that there are some high school kids, who love your work no doubt, who have adapted "I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream" with windows movie maker, also looks like they borrowed a few scenes from Battlestar Gallactica. That link is here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_LlFg2_tvc

I was under the impression that Harlan's valiant oh so brave Sir Robin legal exploits had stopped this sort of thing but no matter...I suppose, in some crazed alternate universe, Harlan could just let this go and not piss off future fans. That would be in that crazed alternate universe of course. I guess we'll watch and learn over the next several days where I live.

Philip Shropshire
www.threeriversonline.com

Insect Surfers tonight
The Insect Surfers, one of the better "Second Wave" of Surf bands, are playing tonight at "The Purple Orchid" in El Segundo.

The Purple Orchid
221 Richmond Street, El Segundo, CA

It's a "Tiki" bar known for its' hosting of surf music regularly, and a fun place beyond that.

My fiancee and I are attending (it's compulsory for her to attend any and all surf music shows in Southern California. I checked. It's all there in the contract I never signed when we met, the one that she firmly and lovingly enforces daily).

If any of youse wants some very fun surf music listening and a Zombie, come on out. Look for the six-foot tall brunette with the slightly shorter and much geekier escort. That would be me, should you want to say "hi!"

Here's a a page with a link to a map showing where "The Purple Orchid" is:

http://losangeles.tribe.net/recommendation/Purple-Orchid/el-segundo-la-ca/6edfde05-d998-42cf-bec7-8d5151849e81

KOS

Harlan and his book contracts
HARLAN: I was talking with a publicist (for Michael Connelly) and I was surprised when SHE was surprised at my mention of that clause in your contracts which allows you to buy back any unsold books at the competitive buyback rate. I know a lot of writers prefer NOT to get involved in the marketing aspect (bad for them), and years ago, before the internet, it might not have mattered much. But with the internet, and so many writers getting sites devoted to them and their books, it only makes GREAT sense to have such a clause in one's contract. After all, most readers would rather get a _signed_ book, and -- unless we're talking about J.K. Rowling or, maybe, Stepehen King or John Irving (neither of which need the extra bucks) -- it seems like most writers would be able to handle storing the hardcovers of their recent backlist, and the signing and selling of such to their fans. That way, everyone is happy!
Ah, well. If writers were good businessmen and women, I guess they wouldn't be in the business.
-DTS

Brian Phillips

I don't really like to correct people, so let's just call this a clarification:

The actual saying was "Spahn, Sain and pray for rain". It was a rhyme said by Braves fans because they only had two good starters.

No offense intended and I am truly happy you have been spared by the fire.

Tim

... and good luck, Peter!!! (Sorry, pressed send before I was done)

TODD - Yes. I caught the irony as well.
_________________________

BLATANT NON-SELF PROMOTION

LA Webderlanders and Lurkers: Cris Barber, my lovely and talented wife -- and the half of our little duo that Harlan actually likes -- has a public gig this upcoming Saturday night, May 19, on the PORTS O CALL Restaurant's Patio in San Pedro. 6-10pm. No cover, but a two drink minimum (they can be non-alcoholic).

The outdoor patio fronts a shipping channel in the LA Harbor, a truly beautiful setting once the sun goes down. There's nothing like a magical setting, hot jazz and a martini to make your weekend complete. Reservations HIGHLY recommended.

http://portsocalldining.com/

Thank you. We now return control of the Pavilion to you. Until next time on...

Culmination
Well, some of you may still know me from here, and the old yellow and black board of yore, to which I started posting last decade (holy crap, I just checked out the archive ... November of 98!), but for the rest these words will be but a whisper in a hurricane.

Today, I defend my thesis. Really, it means I get to read from my first novel in front of friends, family, and faculty. My first novel. Those words have a satisfying ring to them, especially the word "first." Except for the hooding ceremony in a couple of weeks, this is my graduation. I will have my master of fine arts in creative writing. I really just wanted to share that here, with the few of you who care.

I've been writing for a decade now. I spent four years producing crap. I spent the next four producing, not so much crap, as mediocrity. I've spent the last two writing past that hurdle.

I think I have. Time will tell.

Harlan: When you started posting on this website, you encouraged me to consider writing -- something, you said, you didn't vouchsafe to just anybody. Those words came at just the right time to get me past a time of doubt. Thank you.

All right, wish me luck.

---Peter

KOS -- well-said. In 1974 I made $2.25 part-time & was living good; in 1981 it was up to full-time $3.75 & I was living Seriously Large. Now I pull down $12.50 + overtime, & struggle.

Remember in 2000, when gas levelled off awhile at $2/gal? Oh, the horrified righteous quacking!! Suchlike crap filled the "news" every night (thus showing that this BS happened before Bush was actually even elected). "can't affor my huge SUV _and_ fuel!!" "gotta tell the kids we're not taking a vacation 'cause I can't afford to drive the Suburban from Cleveland to Yellowstone & back again!!" "damn that Clinton for not Doing Something about this!!"

Yet when gas under the Shrub topped $4, all was Peacy Keen in the land of the Deserving Braindead. *sigh*

-beat-

Brian, I second that -- I'm upwind about an hour's drive from some serious fire risk, they've been evacuating entire towns & shutting down highways. And this is despite a rather damp spring, because it was a brown winter until early January, not that there's any of that "global warming" stuff or anything, but the result was no topsoil freeze to percolate back up.

Does it get coverage? Oh, hell, no. It's only some of the last untouched wilderness in the United States. Move along, folks, nothing to see here but pristine wilderness, lots of trees & animals & stuff that cityfolk think should be decently covered by at least two feet of asphalt & concrete.

Say what you will, Bloomberg is a heck of a business. So, here's a link that at least _attempts_ to tie together the experience of me & Brian with the Angelinos:
"Drought, Winds Spread Fires in California, Minnesota, Georgia"
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=afOge50RwAt8&refer=us

A federal marshal once told me that about 850 people disappear in Texas every year, never to be heard from again. With all the "missing person" CSI-type nonsense on the tooooob & the newsstand, I asked how this could be. He said, "It's Texas. Nobody cares. Not like it's New York or Los Angeles."

Here I sit in flyover country, part of the empty narrow little interstitial that merely makes Wall Street & Silicon Valley viable.

Speaking of fires...
Just a note to say that I am OK.

I didn't know about the fire that threatened Griffith Park. We are also dealing with serious fires here in GA, however, they are well south of me and they are going further south. It has burned over 100,000 acres and it's been going for three weeks. It's spreading into Florida and they already had a fire that burned 18,000 acres.

Like opposing teams used to say when they saw that they were to face pitcher Warren Spahn:

Pray for rain.

Brian Phillips

Space Cadet
Harlan and/or Susan,
I ordered some books from the last Rabbit Hole a few days ago. I would like them signed to me but I think I may have left that line on the form blank. If they are not gone yet and it is not too much bother. Tom or Tom Morgan or anything else Harlan comes up with (one time I got a "Peaches").
Thanks and sorry for the trouble.

Inflation
Hmmm? Currently it is $3.55 for a gallon of medium grade automotive "aqua vitae". In 1971 I made $3.12 an hour as a janitor (it was for a school district,my first real summer job, stripping wax from linoleum and blowing dust out of fluorescent ight fixtures. To this day I can swing a mean floor buffer, and know the proper amount of diotamaceous earth to spread on a 20 by 30 foot spread of high school floor in order to grind off the shellac-like industrial grade floor "polish" they slather on weekly for nine months or so of each year.) They paid a little more than the private sector, and my mom worked foer the district, so I got a cushy high paying job for the summer. I paid 27.9 cents/gallon for regular gas at the Hudson station up the street from me, across the city line in Westminster. "First it was camels in the West, now it's Hudson that is the best!"

Oh, and my 63 Mercury Meteor got 18 MPG. 289 short block V-8 and auto trans. "You 'auto' buy now!"

So I could earn enough in an hour (before taxes) to drive about 204 miles. "Get your kicks, on Route Sixty-Six."

So today my car gets 30 MPG, so to drive 204 miles would take 6.8 gallons at $3.55/gallone, which makes $24.17. "The American Standard of Living, the Envy of the World!"

Janitors aren't making $24.17 an hour, even in Huntington Beach, so I imagine the freeeways ought to be rather empty...

Oh, never mind.

This is California. I almost forgot about that. "The Lure of the Open Road."

Mrr-mee Mrr-meee...

KOS

Gas prices too high? Not when relative to inflation, says Big Government. Um, wait a minute, says this guy. (Gas tied to minimum wage)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-kelly/sw-fi-freedom-index-hi_b_48226.html

Let's have a reaction from Harlan

Years ago, at the foot of parliament hill in Ottawa, a squawk box came on at 7 PM every night, and could be heard for half a mile. A nauseatingly sarcastic tone of voice was saying unkind things about Americans, and this went on for 2 hours. What do you suppose Harlan's reaction would have been?

RE: A Knife in the Darkness
After watching the episode, I have to agree that the direction was pedestrian at best. It also had that studio look, i.e. it looks like it was filmed on a sound stage rather than out of doors, which can detract some from the atmosphere and mood. That's probably not fair, because I'm sure there were budget constraints and so forth, but nevertheless, it had an impact on the finished product. The director created a static and stagy-feeling end product.

I especially thought the scene where the first woman was found murdered in the alley didn't do justice to the horror of the moment, and that was a critical scene to establish the ferocity and pure evil of a Ripper-style killer. It was done-in by unimaginative direction and boring camera work.

I'm also wondering if Harlan was unable to truly soar with the dialogue because of the constraints of television in that era, or if he did write a snappier original script, maybe it was toned down by the director or similar. Had it been done on cable in this era, I'm betting it would have been a whole lot nastier, more befitting a Jack the Ripper out west story.

So, a scrum breaks out at the Boston Pops, eh? You see, I have to go to the symphony more often. I'm missing all the good violence. At the rock concerts I frequent, I have seen hundreds of concerts and not one fight. The twinks have all the fun.

------------

You have to admit, it is never a boring day here.

-------------

Great, Alexander Cockburn is denying global warming. Sheesh.

The Discarded
Has anyone else yet made the connection between the title The Discarded and how ABC is treating the telefilm?

-TODD

A "Knife in the Darkness" question or three
Harlan, I know you were dissatisfied with the direction, but was the episode itself faithful to what you wrote, or was it heavily rewritten a la "City on the Edge of"? Also, what did you think of the acting and, especially, Bernard Herrmann's score? (Not certain, but it MAY have been the last music he ever wrote for CBS, the network where he got his start back in the late Thirties.)

Dave Cockrum Tribute & Foundation news
"The Beat" has it all here:
http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/05/11/cockrum-scholarship-and-book-news/#comments

Correction on Irwin Hasen's condition
My earlier information was incorrect. Irwin is being treated for a stroke at the VA hospital, but he did not receive a pacemaker. Word is that he's doing very well and could be released as early as Monday.

Tony

Irwin Hasen Update
Joe Kubert informs me that Irwin is feeling much better and expects to be released from the hospital this Monday.

Harlan/Susan: Call me if you want Irwin's home phone #

The Discarded
Dear Mr. Ellison,
No problem, I completely understand. Many thanks for the reply – hope all is well in LA.
Best,
Jes

Tony, thanks!

Irwin Hasen Update
Here is the address of the VA hospital where Irwin is currently recuperating:

The VA Hospital
423 East 23rd Street,13th flr
New York, NY 10010

I imagine cards sent to him c/o the hospital will be welcome.

JOHN GREENAWALT:

It still does.

-he

web
just scooted over to read the exchanges on rick johnston's site. jesus, if i didn't agree with Harlan before, i would have after reading all of that. how can you discuss anything with someone who thinks it's the height of shavian wit to call himself cornhole? how do you discuss things with people that argue with you when you say that it's like comparing apples and oranges and then deny you the ability, nay, the right to identify an apple as an apple? this was my first impression of people on the net- my friend, steve friedman, was doing his mr movie show online. someone asked him about the mirror has two faces. steve replied that the mirror did have two faces and they were both boring. that person then typed "anyone who doesn't like barbra streisand is an asshole" for 4 hours straight.( they weren't just resending because every third or fourth sentence had an error) come on now. no wonder Harlan said Susan was giving him a look.... jjz

There are only 2 large desert cities in the world. One is Cairo, Egypt, and the other, located near Harlan, and is nature's Tierra del Fuego. Without the LA river, LA would not exist. Two things happened in 1776. The US overthrew its monarchy, and an archbishop ordered a "pueblo" to be settled on the LA river. You can surf and find pictures of LA about the time of the Civil War. Law enforcement did not exist then, and for a while the town of LA had an average of one murder a night.

My thoughts go out to Rick as well. We recently lost the cat my girlfriend has had for 18 years. I was never a pet person before we got together, and I never would have believed back then just how great a suckerpunch it can be.


On a different topic--can I assume Harlan is aware of the "Teen Pulp Address Book" from Chronicle Books? It's a pulp-PB sized address book (or am I repeating myself?) with 20+ covers from vintage teen paperbacks, one of which is "The Juvies." I stumbled across it in a gift shop yesterday and knew that, from that day forth, I could keep my addresses nowhere else.

Forgive the second intrusion, but for those of you who have never seen the original Jittlov short: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiLsbx4D8eI

Hour of crisis?
LA is in its' "hour Of Crisis"?

Huh? No, it isn;t.

1.25 square miles of chaparral burns down, and while the loss of Dante's Peak and the danger to Griffith Observatory (which just reopened last fall after a multi-million dollar renovation)and the zoo was tragically all too real, it's hardly an "Hour Of Crisis".

We have fires bigger than that every year on the edges of the LA Diego conurbation. Tim Powers was within 12 hours of evacuation three years ago from a fire that burned a couple dozen square miles, and most of you never heard of it.

In 1970 I was in Huntington Beach, walking to college classes, a couple-three miles from the beach, and it rained ashes from fires miles away; like some low-budget remake of "The Last Days Of Pompeii". This is something we live with, along with earthquakes, 300 days of sunshine and no snow in the winter unless we want to drive an hour to the local mountains for a little taste of whiteness.

In other words, this is "news" because it's taking place in the very belly of the media beast. When the news folk can look out their window and see it, it's "CRISIS!" When it happens to "Flyovers", it's, at most, "Breaking News: Kansas town 95% destroyed. Meanwhile, in other stories we're working on..."

LA is a manmade oasis in a desert. Has been since the Owens Valley Aqueduct and Mulholland and all that ("Chinatown"was truer than you might think).

There was this great, GREAT local LA TV show on KNXT, Channel 2 in the Sixties called "Ralph's Story" hosted by the eponymous legendary LA television personality and newsman Ralph Story, that often in its' fascinating peregrinations about LA history would delve into this whole water thing and LA. We always have either too much (the LA river, -yes, there truly, really actually IS an LA river- is awe inspiring when in full flood from a winter storm) or too little. When I was in high school I worked as a volunteer (Boy Scouts, y'know?} sandbagging the banks of the Santa Ana river in Orange County, and I saw houses and cars falling into the river and floating down to the sea).

LA is always in some sort of "crisis": Riots, urban insurrections, police riots, gang warfare, dueling billionaires wanting each to own the LA Times, gigantic media moguls with egos the size of an Apatosaurs' goiter calling each other names at some bash in the Hills. We love it, even when we hate it. New York likes to think of itself as the city that can take anything, and it does OK. It's got moxie. But LA doesn'tt just take it, it punches right back, and then packages it all and sells it to the world as entertainment, makes a quick billion and then blows it all on a weekend party featuring the Lakers and Hugh Hefner boogying with naked starlets in the back of a limo the size of Rhode Island.

And we got Mike Jittlov too!

Mike could have been a star, but he is too weird, too "his own man" (and Lord bless him for that!) too GOOD to be eaten and regurgitated as some Tim Burton burlesque of his own inimitable, "sui generis" self. I've followed him since "Animato" wowed em at the LA film fesitval thingie in the spring of 1978 and Regis Philbin (!) got him on the local ABC news with that short film, and got such a hullabaloo out of it that they encored him. Getting an encore on local LA network outlet TV news is sort of like getting a "call back" from Stephen Spielberg on your spec script, and you live in Idaho! But Jittlov got that, at the very start of his career.

Jittlov has charisma. Like this: The smartest woman I ever knew, she who was a Rocket Scientist, no really, she worked at JPL in the Pasadena foothills on probes to Jupiter and Saturn, she had a degree from MIT and a photo on her living room fireplace mantel of her 12-year old self receiving a gigantic loving cup (also on her mantel, next to said photo) from SPIRO AGNEW (!) for winning the National Spelling Bee somewhere in Colorado in 1971, this paragon of sagacity and charm had gone to a screening of Jittlov's films held at MIT when she was an undergrad. Jittlov was touring the country showing his inestimably fine shorts and talking about them afterwards. When I once mentioned Jittlov as someone I admired, she lit up, and told me of the wonder of seeing his films at MIT. She shyly confessed he was so charismatic, that she fantasized about him asking her to run away with him and make little animated movies. She said he was so charismatic she would have dumped MIT and her career path to the stars (literally) for this guy she had just run into at a little screening.

I call that charisma.

Jittlov was the scary "hooded thing" that pulled the Bad People down into Hades in "Ghost". He worked for weeks doing that in stop motion, all alone, just him and a camera in a garage or rented studio somewhere, and got no credit in the movie, but, BUT: that little creepy bit that made the movie what it is, it was ALL Mike Jittlov.

I cherish the memory of Mike visiting with the host of the KTTV Channel 11 matinee movie one weekday in the 80s, to screen for the audience his original short "Wizard Of Speed And Time", and discomfiting the host with memories of watching that same host in the fifties when he had hosted a kids lunchtime show ("Sheriff John") that Mike (and every other LA kid in the 50s and 60s too) loved. He was so entusiastic and eager to shake his idols' hand tht Mike had to be reminded by the host to talk about his wonderful little film. The host had to keep changing the subject BACK to what Mike was actually there for. It was precious to see that sort of childlike enthusiasm.

But those green jackets. Yecch.

KOS

Aloha Everyone
Mahalo Joseph for liking Elinor's rose. My favorite rose. And Thanks Steve. I live in Honaunau on the Big Island. Easy to not see Hawaiian words one from another, which makes it fun when looking for street signs. I'm gonna check out william weaver.
I also got a great review from Steve Barron who commented at Betterphoto.com.
You are a great bunch of people -- and smart too.
And Harlan, thanks for the compliments. Those words will warm for a long time. It feels great to circumvent that dream!
See youse on the ethereal.
Fax

Oprah follow-up
The current issue of SKEPTICAL INQUIRER magazine (May/June) has a nice breakdown and critique of THE SECRET. And it's just as goofy as you imagine.

REPLIES TO THE U.K.

JES: Not my (or Josh's) prerogative to grant or deny (or even supply) photos of me -- or anything else pursuant to the MOSF segment -- to anyone, anywhere, anywhichway. I was a hired hand, and you have to get what you want from Keith Addis, producer of MASTERS OF SCIENCE FICTION. For equivalent material anent DREAMS WITH SHARP TEETH, you have to approach the producer-director, Erik Nelson.

STARSHIP SOFA: You can nudge nudge (and even wink wink) all you choose ... if you were a Jew, you could even nudhz ... but it won't move the mountain of work I'm facing. I move, slowly, and the mountain stirs accordingly. As much as I wish to accomodate those lovely fellows, in truth ... it's waywayway down on my List of Imperatives. Please convey this exactly, and seek their understanding.

There are a dozen similar requests every week, not one of them helps me get my work done; I don't need the publicity, heaven knows; such interviews ceased being "fun" along about 1972; they don't put a farthing in my exchequer and, in fact, steal time from the remaining years of producing work; and I do them to be a decent guy. But I grow charry of expending what little strength I currently manifest -- even to writing these explanations in hopes kindly folk such as the Starship Sofa lads will not think me churlish or surly -- and "nudging" me is less welcome than you might suspect.

I am grateful for your efforts in this endeavor, but I am otherwise occupied for the time being. Your (and their) patience and understanding are requested.

Respectfully, Harlan Ellison

TO JACK
BIG S:

I'm okay, kiddo. Currently all quiet here in the astigmatic eye of the hurricane. Trying to flounder out from under the Missourilike debris of undone work. Have not forgotten our two (2) auctorial imperatives. Bide along with me a mo longer, mah bruthuh.

Wearily, but with love, Harlan

Starship Sofa
Hiya Harlan,

This is a followup on the request I sent a few weeks back via mail re: an interview for the good and gentle folk of StarShip Sofa. While I know it's been a hectic time for you, please consider this a gentle nudge.


Thanks,

Wyatt

The Discarded
Dear Mr. Ellison and Mr. Olson,
Firstly, apologies for hawking my wares at the Dining Pavilion. I'm currently working for Death Ray, a recently-launched SF mag in the UK (website-in-progress-here: www.blackfishpublishing.com). I've already proffered my services on the other board as far as raising awareness of Dreams With Sharp Teeth is concerned, but I'm also doing a news piece for our second issue on Masters of Science Fiction and its continuing non-appearance, hopefully to raise its profile and just to let people know about it. I recall some photos were taken from the shoot with Mr. Ellison in make-up, and I was wondering if there was any possibility of using one of these to illustrate the news story. Naturally I understand if not, obviously they were for personal use and aren't promotional photos, but I thought I'd at least ask.
Best regards,
Jes

FAX - Absolutely beautiful work. Very, very nicely done. (Given you're a photographer in Honolulu, do you perhaps know my friend Will Weaver? http://www.williamweaverphotography.com/ )

Irwin Hasen
Hey, Harlan...

I e-mailed Paul Levitz this morning and he told me this:

"He's in the Veterans Administration hospital in Manhattan (23rd st I believe), having received a pacemaker."

Paul is going to try to call later today. I'll post any updates I receive.

Tony

thoughtful coincidence
So we're rushing through the Mauritshuis (sp?) art gallery in the Hague yesterday, at almost closing time, and they make the last minute chimes...so we rush around to see the art we'll miss until back here again, and I go charging into a room looking for ANYdamnthing to see, and I am standing directly in front of a painting of an old man on a dark background, painted by these large strokes of a brush by Rembrandt, and it's Homer.

And swirling around in my thoughts of great art and what a stunning piece this is, are thoughts of Rick.

Take it easy, pal.

-Keith

How are you doing, Big H? I'm staying at the old James Blish house in Milford for a couple of days, so naturally I thought of you.

FAX:

What an eye! What a vision! What a world-suround!

What a joy.

The next time you're going to invite me and my honey into s dream this exquisite, please let us know just a squinch in advance.

Yr. Pal since Big C, Harlan

Couldn't have said it better myself
ALL: This is an excerpt from a "New York Times" story, regarding the three New Jersey Duka brothers arrested for allegedly plotting at terrorist attack on Fort Dix (The to attributed to By KAREEM FAHIM and ANDREA ELLIOTT, and
Published on May 10, 2007). The spelling is correct:
“It’s fine to be a religion man,” said Murat Duka, 55, a distant relative of the defendants and the first of about 200 Dukas to move to the Northeast, arriving in 1975 to work as a roofer. “But if you get too much to the religion, you get out of your mind and you do stupid things.”

Amen to that, brother!
-DTS

The rest of the Boatswain epitaph:

When some proud son of man returns to earth,
Unknown by glory, but upheld by birth,
The sculptor’s art exhausts the pomp of woe,
And stories urns record that rests below.
When all is done, upon the tomb is seen,
Not what he was, but what he should have been.
But the poor dog, in life the firmest friend,
The first to welcome, foremost to defend,
Whose honest heart is still his master’s own,
Who labors, fights, lives, breathes for him alone,
Unhonored falls, unnoticed all his worth,
Denied in heaven the soul he held on earth –
While man, vain insect! hopes to be forgiven,
And claims himself a sole exclusive heaven.

Oh man! thou feeble tenant of an hour,
Debased by slavery, or corrupt by power –
Who knows thee well must quit thee with disgust,
Degraded mass of animated dust!
Thy love is lust, thy friendship all a cheat,
Thy smiles hypocrisy, thy words deceit!
By nature vile, ennoble but by name,
Each kindred brute might bid thee blush for shame.
Ye, who perchance behold this simple urn,
Pass on – it honors none you wish to mourn.
To mark a friend’s remains these stones arise;
I never knew but one – and here he lies.

Homer....
Rick:

I am so sorry for your loss. I remember losing my own Skipper, and I ran across this quote. It helped me a little, and I hope it helps you.

“Near this spot are deposited the remains of one who possessed Beauty without Vanity, Strength without Insolence, Courage without Ferocity, and all the Virtues of Man, without his Vices. This Praise, which would be unmeaning Flattery if inscribed over human ashes, is but a just tribute to the Memory of Boatswain, a Dog. -George Gordon, Lord Byron”

It's Going To Be A Brutal Summer
To put this year's fire season in some context:

Southern California has a distinct rainy season, extending from mid October to mid May. It can rain up to 40 inches during that time, like it did in 2005, or less than 4 inches, like it has so far this year (not a typo). The LA basin average is 15. The vast majority of our rainfall occurs in December, January and February. Very little, if any, rain falls between mid May and Halloween. The surrounding mountains will see some powerful thunderstorms, but there will be none of the widespread mid summer deluges common in other parts of the country.

Chaparral is the most common native plant in our area, and it is so drought resistant that new plant shoots will germinate within a few weeks after a fire, even without rainfall. It is also about as flammable as a gallon of gasoline left sitting on a hot sidewalk. 2005's deluges produced a riotous growth of chapparal, and it's had two years to dry out. Cigarette butt, anyone?

It's likely that most of the Angeles and Los Padres national forests will be closed to all public entry by the end of July. Why? Here's one reason: I have often stumbled into a backcountry campsite in the middle of August only to find an abandoned campfire happily blazing away.

poems
Susan -renewal check in mail, as is order for road3. michael zuzel- the perfect recapitulation of what you said is in kipling's "the power of the dog." rk wrote great verse and must have had dogs because the pain in that one is palpable. there's another one that, thankfully, i can't remember the title of, about two legs followed by four legs and how quiettwo legs sound without four legs behind (christ, i'm tearing up just paraphrasing it...). jjz

Fax, those pictures in your gallery are indeed quite lovely. I'm especially quite taken with the rose photo on the last page.

And it is nice to have a good civil group here. Nice and calm and intelligible.

Cheers,
Joseph

amen ray
You are correct. This spot o' 'eaven is rare on the interweb... glad y'all let me lurk and pop off once in a blue moon.

Harlan- Did you get a chance to check out Rich Johnston's comicbookresources.com column RE: you and Groth? The link is on here in adapted format so Mr. Wyatt doesn't beat me about the head and neck...

Aloha Harlan and Susan
May 6, 2007

Dear Harlan, Susan (and All,)

Please forgive if this is a double post. I could not find the one I tried to launch the other day.

A while ago I had a dream that I was taking pictures in San Francisco. Or rather, I was looking for my lens cap. You and Susan came walking up the street arm in arm. We all said hello and you asked what I was doing. I said I was a photographer now.
You asked if I had anything to show; and I magically found my big portfolio.
You and Susan had sat down on the steps of a lovely Victorian home and I joined you. Inside the book there were indeed photos I had taken – but none of the best
images -- just a mish mash of b-level work. Even though you and Susan said, “Oh, pretty.” And such I was appalled and disappointed to have missed my opportunity to show off to you. (HE you must be some kind of iconic figure in my psyche after all these years. Sheesh.)
Upon awakening I realized that the dream featured all my anxiety over not having a portfolio. I have been struggling with this for years! How to pick just twenty?
Now I have zeroed-in on the twenty for a print portfolio, and I’ve worked my on-line gallery into a happy group of images that are my fantasy book.
With your co-operation I can say neener-neener to my subconscious mind. “I can too show them my best work!”

So, if you two (all) ever have a moment to look at some pretty pictures here is the URL.

http://www.betterphoto.com/gallery/gallery.asp?memberID=58718


Aloha,

Fax Sinclair

P.S. On the last page of my gallery there’s a picture of my husband and best friend of ten years. Peter Weinstock is a musician, ex-restaurateur and coffee farmer. I finally found my mench!

Mayberry W.E.B.

Unca Harlan,

Thanks for reminding us all what a friendly all-around nifty place this is to just sit-out on the front porch and hang with our peeps.
Three cheers to the “founder”, Rick Wyatt.

Dog Years
Rick,
It's sad to hear about Homer. Those are great pictures in that homer website. As somebody who's been through a collie and 3 german shepherds, it helps when one takes time in rememberence of these furry friends.

Germane for Harlan

LA is in its hour of crisis. How did it get that way? Read "Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water," Revised Edition by Marc Reisner. Then you will understand what is happening to Southern California, and what you must do to save it.

Irwin
Harlan: if you deem it appropriate, any updates on Irwin's condition would be appreciated. There's no way in hell he would remember me (I was in his classroom twenty years ago), but if you talk to him please tell him I wish him well.

UPDATE

Re: the Griffith Park fire. We're okay. Soot and ashes lazily falling heavily all over the place; but we are OKAY. As Steve Barber reported. And, yes, of all locations to burn, this IS tearing out our hearts here in the city I love.

JohnE's relay of info as to irwin Hasen's stroke caught me by shock&surprise. Been trying to get through to sweet dear Irwin for two days at his apartment in New York. No answer. He must still be in a medical facility somewhere. Called Tony Isabella, who has also been trying to find Irwin's recuperation locale, and he'll be advising me when he makes contact. If anyone out there can assist us, well...thank you.

Hey, Rick! I'll be calling again today.

Yes, I'm glad to be out of that PW thread, too. I got SOCH'A
headache frum itt.

Be good, alla ya. (One doesn't realize how decent and smart and funny the bunch of you are, not to mention just plain kind, until one visits OTHER sites.)

Yr. Pal, Harlan

The Fire
Not to undercut whatever thoughts Harlan might have on the fire, but given it might be several hours before he logs in, everyone should rest assured the Ellisons live well to the west of the blaze and a great deal of Hollywood itself would be ashes before they even felt a slight warming.

However, several friends of ours DO live in the "danger zone", and I watched well into last night hoping their homes, the Zoo, Griffith Observatory, the Greek Theater and so many other LA landmarks would be spared -- which so far it seems they have been.

But for Angelenos, this tears our collective heart out.

Fire!

Video footage on last night's news was strangely spectacular: sheets of flame shooting up behind the pristine white dome of the Griffith. Looked like a classic science fiction movie shot. Hope all is well at Casa Ellison.

Harlan - The photo the AP provided in my morning headlines of fiery clouds behind Griffith Observatory, and word of the destruction of Dante's View by wildfires, mean that I'm going to ask (of course) if all is well and prevailing winds are being generous or problematic. I know you're a fair score to the west, but still and all - I'm nothing without my worry, and we Lanes and Fire have an uneasy history. So, just checkin'.

Loss and Found
Rick:

We know a little of the path you're walking. We miss them all: Snooper, MacKenzie, Susie, Buff, Jocko, Heidi, Nikki, Schatzi, Falstaff, Jennie, MacDuff, Kate, Edgar, Hero and Brutus. Like you're missing Homer, I suspect.

The ache will not pass. But it will be subsumed. As ours has. By a guy we named Toby.

Sir Toby Belch. (Sparing him from the indignity of his given name, ugh, "Elmo.") He's incorrigible. He cracks us up. Like his predecessors, each in turn, he makes it better. Not all better, but just enough.

There's a canine soul out there just waiting to rise to the challenge for you, my friend. When you're ready, take him or her up on it. You'll be amazed.

Peace,

Zuz & Sin

Dreams with Sharp Teeth Question
I live in NYC, and there are two theatres that would seem perfect for this type of film - the Film Forum (W. Houston) and the IFC Center. Maybe Cinema Village and the Angelika, too (although the latter has been showing more big-budget studio films of late). Unfamiliar as I am with the politics and economics of film distribution, I'm wondering if proactive requests from a customer or group of customers would have any impact? If so, say the word.

Robots Are a Soldier's Best Friend
I read stuff like this, and realize that, increasingly, we are living in a science-fiction world. I don't know about you guys, but I find this story to be pretty freaky -- and I wish Isaac Asimov were around to see this (although he would be appalled at the violations of his 3 Laws of Robotics):

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/05/AR2007050501009_pf.html

TinyURL:

http://tinyurl.com/36p7yz

-- Jon

*Sigh* No work of any kind was completed today - but I have what I consider to be a damn good excuse - On The Road vol. III has arrived in the Great White North!

This volume continues the high production values of the first two, with a new essay and also a nifty picture of Auntie Susan (why do all British birds look born to wear hats?).
Listening to all the cd's back to back, I'm happy to report to those who enjoyed the first two volumes, this is more of the same wit and wisdom. Like Bill, I loved it, and it even answered some HE trivia about which I always wondered. You know, HE always says "that's a story for another time", and you wonder about it. Somewhere, years ago, HE wrote that he has his bed on a raised platform for what seems to him to be a perfectly logical reason. Now we find out that under the raised platform are boxes of books! Of course a mental picture of Harlan, Smaug-like, resting on his hoard immediately sprang to mind.

I guess my only disappointment is that there were no outtakes from the show I caught back in, hmm, let me see, ah yes, "An Evening With Harlan Ellison", Ryerson Theatre Toronto February 8, 1987. Sure I took notes, and I still have a copy of the subsequent review in the Toronto Star ("Ellison uses wicked wit to skewer his targets"), but man, I wish I had a copy of that evening! Especially the part where Harlan caused the whole female part of the audience to foam at the mouth merely by displaying the paisley lining of his sports jacket!

For those who have not purchased these cd's, do yourselves a favour and hear a master showman at the top of his game.

Highly Recommended.

jono

Dorman, the hell if I know how to end this malaise of bad thinking and ignorance. One idea is to end capitalism, whose market driven logic is the main culprit in why our culture is so bad. This creates an education of wants, not actual needs. People don't think knowledge is a key to democracy, they think it is something smart people with PHds, with dusty books contend with. How do we teach people that being informed and logical thinking is freedom, freedom from the jail of ignorance? Hell if I know.

Muslim conservatism is used as a ruse, let's not forget that American feminists complain about sexuality in the culture just as much here. This goes beyond left/right, red state/blue state propaganda. This is the purple conundrum. Then there is Harlan's rants against "knife kill films." Being offended at American cultural norms is too complex to just put in a socio-political box.

But, once again, dear Dorman, the hell if I know. Listen to Chomsky is all I can say. hehe.

------------

Oh, the Queen was at the White House! I meant Bush. haha.

----------

Got ON THE ROAD WITH ELLISON, Vol. 3 yesterday and listened to it. Great stuff! Now I'm greatly anticipating DREAMS WITH SHARP TEETH.

Bill

ERIK - Check yer email.

(Sorry for the second post. I'll do penance anon.)

ERIK and HARLAN - I've posted a note for the journalist(s) in the Forums to send me their contact info and I will forward the info to the two of you.

Thanks, Jan!!
You wrote: "In the forums there's a shy journalist offering assistance concerning the movie, you should definitely take a look & do what you see fit."

On it!! Trying to track the mysterious "G" down!
Erik

HARLAN, ERIK:
In the forums there's a shy journalist offering assistance concerning the movie, you should definitely take a look & do what you see fit. (If you respond here, we'll tell him where to look, just in case.)
Direct link (DVD thread page 2):
http://harlanellison.com/heboard/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1881&start=15

Hi Rick,

I've never had a pet, but I know what it's like to lose friends. Get better soon. -- duane

Irwin Hasen
Comics legend Irwin Hasen, an old instructor of mine and (I believe) a friend of Harlan's, is currently recovering from a recent stroke.

http://www.comicmix.com/news/2007/05/04/irwin-hasen-suffers-stroke/

Get well soon, Irwin!

Popped in for my weekly lurk and read the news of Homer's passing. I'm very, very sorry for your loss, Rick. Hope the forum of well wishers helps. And again, thank you for all you do keeping Webderland running. --Bret

heads up for Harlan
www.comicbookresources.com/columns/?column=13
from Rich Johnston's Lying in the Gutters column. Just wanted you to be aware. Rick, sorry for your loss.

The Beat Goes On
Over on the thread that will not die a natural death a good friend of this list has made some telling points as an answer to Mr. Greenlee's questions. Come for the pooh flinging, stay for the moments of civility and sanity. Raise the bar! Study for the bar! When does my bar open?

*** Charlie (S.)*** If you see this and the other thread, let me know if "Sunny Jim" is as spot on as I suspect he is.

And now to yard work and piano moving for the Theater Outlet. What kind of life is it where I look FORWARD to yard work?

- Barney

ps. - I'm not Sunny Jim. He's a better writer.

Susan, received RH#41 - another outstanding edition. Is there a copy of Dream Corridor still available? Thanks!

David

sadness and loss
Rick,

I'm sorry for you loss. Take care of yourself, man. If you need a change of venue, you've got a place to stay in VA.

-Keith

Rick,

My ex-girlfriend lost her English cocker spaniel, Danny, last summer after only 8 years (he died of a cancerous tumor that literally took over his entire system within less than 3 months). She and I raised him together, and he was bonded with the 2 of us like a human child. His personality was unique, and he was incredibly intelligent.

We couldn't believe it when he was taken from us. It was without warning. But as close as I was to him, it was Lana who was utterly devastated...to the point where, even now, she breaks down crying. She really went into a depression. Only now she's she's starting go break free of that twilight.

As with you, we felt his presence for months every time we entered the house. The brain works that way; it runs on old software and - like feeling a phantom arm after its been amputated - it sends you signals from conditioned reflex, on a purely emotional level.

We all know what this awful loss is like; still, the owner is always alone in knowing WHY the impact is so great, and the breadth of the sorrow.

Some people don't like to think of it this way, but - really - these animals are like our children. In terms of mutual emotional bonding, trust, and dependency the differences aren't that great.

I know exactly what you're feeling. Just wanted you to know that.

Words both thoughtful and thoughtless.
john j zeock~ That was one of the most beautiful things i've ever read in response to a companion, a friend, who has died.
Goddamn you. You made me cry.
Thank you, so much.
-----------------------------

Tony R~ Thank you sincerely. I like candles.
-----------------------------

I know it's good to get over grief as best you can, so, thank you to Susan, Barney and all, for easing us into the next day. But damned if i feel like reading about wars right now.
Decorum and tact. I don't use them in my everyday life, i care not for the approbation of strangers, but i feel differently towards my people i know.
Topics could wait a few or run to the neighbors house, for fuck's sake. We wouldn't have known anything soon, i suspect, about a damn thing that had happened, but for a friend's words here. Rick rarely has to come up and spank us, and he sure as hell doesn't air his private life anymore. And we should welcome him back after he has to do what he needs to do, just so he can catch up and read our 'pause' and 'blink' and *tsk* about his feelings and then start in on the news and weather after 40 hours? Give the man a thought fer chrissakes.
I know how it is, i get this interwebcyberlandspace, so i just say- can you give, if not Rick, at least ME a minutes peace?
Thank yous again to those starting a tad easier. I'm just saying.
Respectfully,
p

Sorry.
That should have been McGregor. Damn fingers...

Holes & Corridors....
SUSAN:

Got the latest RABBIT HOLE the other day--that photo of Harlan...I've had to bungee my sides together they split so hard! Thanks for your ever-excellent work!

HARLAN:

Finally got my copy of DREAM CORRIDOR on my last HEROES run. Astounding work, Sir, by you and all involved! I could drown in Gene Ha's art. And thanks for running Gene Colan's raw pencils alongside the finished art--it had that same feel that Gene's work had on the NATHANIEL DUSK duet with Don McGergor (especially "Apple Peddlers Die at Dusk". It wouldn't hurt DC to do a TPB of that set of stories.) And seeing the Curt Swan work was very touching--there were too many special names on those stones. Also, thanks to Diana Schutz for making sure this finally came to pass. Oh, I liked the second title for the book best. Thank you, Harlan for a great ride!

Hope you guys are doing well.

Rick,

I saw the photos of the late lamented Homer and my heart melted. My deepest condolances to you.

Best Wishes,
Chris Barkley

Homer
Rick,
Allow me to add to the list of people who understand how an event like this can pull the rug right the hell out from under you. Lots of good comments here, I thought and thought and came up with what I hope comes out as intended:
We are taught repeatedly about the sanctity and priceless value of human life. I say bullshit. There are over 6 billion of us now dragging this planet to its ecological knees. We're lucky to be here and should act the same. I, speaking strictly for myself, would take a good loyal dog over the entire membership of the Ku Klux Klan. Really. I am sure many here would say the same about the current population of the west wing.
I am sorry for your loss and, as always, appreciate all you do for this site (meaning, basically, everything).

Rick:

My sincerest condolences on the passing of Homer. As someone who lost a wonderful dog by the name of Champion when I was about 16 years old, a cocker spaniel who was the closest thing to a best friend that I had at the time, I feel for you. As the rest of the webderlanders have so elocuently expressed, the memories will far outlive the sorrow of his loss.

Alejandro

"American television and movies and music and books have almost destroyed the cultural diversity of other countries, with their own rich history. "

Good. The only problem with this sentence is the "almost." Wipe out these dogshit cultures and their "rich" history of sexism and brain-dead fanaticism and replace them with Stephen King and Big Macs, say I. Then we can all get back to fucking and draining their oil.

Frank's post
FRANK: I don't think WE need to solve the problem. It's the Muslims -- at least any Muslim who is so fundamentalist, so conservative, that he (and maybe she) has a problem with women being sexual beings. Even if one took away our overtly sexual ads in America, conservative Muslims would probably still have a problem with women's sexuality. Hell, the men who complain have a problem with their OWN sexuality (whether it be homo or hetero). As do fundamentalist Christians.

The problem lies with people who rely on religions and tracts that are a thousand-years or more old, telling them how to live -- and/or looking to faux leaders to interpret those tracts (or the bones, or whatever) and then tell everyone how to live their lives.

A better question might be: How do we solve the problem of willful ignorance and superstition, as well as political and ecological apathy in the minds and hearts of 21st Century humans across the globe?
-DTS

Rick,

I'm so sorry to hear about Homer's passing. Just thinking of one of our pets dying can bring me to tears, I can't imagine how difficult this must be. My condolences.

Harlan,
Count me among the relieved re: The Beat.

Peggy

What the Hell?
"They single out Saving Private Ryan, because it shows a one sided view of the United States as being heroic warriors, without a spot of sin."

What the hell? Did they see the movie I saw? Whatever you think of SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, it had American soldiers kill the Germans in a machine gun nest who were trying, at that moment, to surrender.

That was very nice, Rick. Makes a cynical heart as mine less so. Take your time with this. We will promise to act nice until you return. Really, you be good.

-----------

Benjamin Barber, who is a cultural, political writer, has a bestselling book out called Jihad Vs. Mcworld, which talks about how American culture dumbs down the rest of the world and creates more enemies then friends; which we really see in places like France, where they resent the fact that French youth will almost no longer watch French film, thought of as the best in the world. American television and movies and music and books have almost destroyed the cultural diversity of other countries, with their own rich history. Largely, Barber blames this on the corporate elite and hollywood money changers; sadly, even people I admire, like Steven Spielberg; who you have to admit is responsible for the summer blockbuster syndrome, and is not that nervous about taking credit for it.

Then there is the Jihadists, who use our cultural imperialism as a balm for their terrorist urge. They can rally Muslim youth, disgruntled by a bleak economic outlook, to follow the disdain for our culture as a lead in to thinking of joining one of these terrorist thought camps. I saw this in a documentary about Muslim attitudes about America and our culture on of things, the American Movie Classics channel. They talked to what are "moderate muslims," people who admire democracy and our country, in certain ways, but do not admire our loving portrails of violence and patriotic propaganda, especially in our war films. They single out Saving Private Ryan, because it shows a one sided view of the United States as being heroic warriors, without a spot of sin. They hate our views about sex and how woman are sexualized. How we solve this problem with the Muslim world is anybodies guess. Hitchens and his war buddies sure won't change their minds.

condolences
Rick,

I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Dogs give such unconditional love that losing one is like losing part of oneself. My dad's dog, Buck, died last year. I still expect to see him running up when I go home. You are in my thoughts.

debbie

My condolences to Rick
Hi Rick,

This delayed response is a result of my being away from the board for a few days, but now that I'm back, I'm deeply sorry to hear of your loss.

We are in your debt for what you've worked to create here, and when you take a hit like this, I'd like to think we all wish we could take a bit of the blow for you - at the very least out of gratitude for what you've given us.

You're in my thoughts, bud.


Wyatt

REbuilding the public Libraries of New Orleans
JOIN THE BEATITUDES NETWORK TO REBUILD THE PUBLIC LIBRARIES OF NEW ORLEANS…..please link or pass the word. Many crime writers and other published authors are supporting this effort, along with The New Orleans Public Library Foundation.


You will be listed as a Beatitude on the site The Beatitudes at
www.beatitudesinneworleans.blogspot.com , dedicated to the
serialized novel, The Beatitudes, Book I in The New Orleans Trilogy.

Out of New Orleans before the catastrophe that was made by a hurricane and, as Dante wrote, “of false gods who lied,” comes The Beatitudes, part one in the New Orleans Trilogy. The Beatitudes portrays New Orleans as Dante’s purgatory, a place were the sins of men are exposed for all to see, where redemption is close at hand but most often lost.

Hopefully, you will also list this site on yours and every time someone clicks on it they will think about donating to supporting literature in New Orleans. A good fund is The New Orleans Public Library at www.nutrias.org and click on Friends of the NOPL Restoration Funds. When The Beatitudes is published, royalties will be donated.

Note: if you do not wish me to list you as a Beatitude, please email me at

lynlejeune@cox.net

Condolences re: Homer
Rick Wyatt:

My condolences at the death of Homer. My dog died in 1991, and I still miss her. In my mind's eye I can still recall how it felt to pet her, to scratch her under her chin and on her stomach. She especially enjoyed the latter.

My dog and I were together for 14 years; I hope you enjoyed Homer's company for just as long, if not longer.

Rick

Rick...
I just looked at the board after a busy weekend. I am so sorry for the loss of your companion, Homer. I know there are not any words to make this better for you, but I wanted to let you know that I do know what it is like to lose an animal friend. I lost my cat just over a year ago and have not been able to even consider getting another cat. Animals, like people are unique. Their love is so innocent, so real. You and your friend shared some wonderful time together. May you take some comfort in the thought that you would not be hurting so much if you had not loved and been loved so much.

r.i.p.
rick- all the discussion from aquinas to the present day miss the point. if there is a god, it exists in that mirror image of its name- in the unconditional love we receive that we certainly don't reserve. they say we take care of them-what a joke- they take care of us and one day, maybe, most of us will deserve it. i'm sure you did. you are not alone in this and we reach out to hold you. jz

Paypal
*** Susan *** Just F.Y.I. - in addition to my Amazon account which is just a simple "push" into my checking account, I've used PAYPAL on an almost daily basis for the last 5 years for both incoming and outgoing payments. I've had exactly one bogus $28.00 charge in five years and one e-mail request to delete cleared that up in about 72 hours. I've found them to be both secure and responsive.

The nice thing is you & Harlan could easily post some stuff in either "Buy it now" eBay categories or list by ISBN on Amazon and do rather well. The commercial account/storefront on Amazon costs me $39.95 of a month. The advantage is NO listing or re-listing fees. With Amazon I list it and it sits there until it sells. You could put Harlan's stuff up in the collector's category of each item with a "signed by the author" note and charge whatever you like until they're gone.

Re-pricing on a whim is easy with the back-door feature whereby you can track your inventory - with the commercial account.

Another option is you could list through my store and I can shoot you notes on who to ship to. But that's more complicated than if you D.I.Y. - but it would be possible. I think an Amazon storefront would do really well for you.

LMK if you have any questions.

- Barney

Liesarebought, PA.

Dear Rick,
I'm so sorry about your friend. When I was a girl I had a toy poodle named Carlo. He was hit by a car in 1974 and I never got over it. I still love that little mop. I remember my mother couldn't understand why I was so devastated. I read someplace that the degree of pain we suffer at the loss of someone we love is directly proportionate to the degree of love we have for them. I think that's right. I know how much you love Homer and Homer knows it too.

Love from my heart to yours,
Cindy

OK, let's see if I cover everyone:

Paul: Thanks for giving the DREAMS book info. Payments for books are made out to THE KILIMANJARO CORPORATION. Renewals in HERC to: THE HARLAN ELLISON RECORDING COLLECTION.

Shane - DREAMS--I'll hold one for you.

Tally - The $15.00 covers 6 issues of the Rabbit Hole.

Frank - Thanks for the kind words.

Faisal: I can hold a DREAMS for you. We don't do paypal (yet). Either UK money (if you want to chance it, and work out the conversion) or USA money order/bank draft).

Kristin - Don't worry about renewing. You're fine.

THANK YOUSE ALL!

Rick, it's just so sad to hear of Homer's passing. Please accept my condolences.

John

Dear Rick,
My thoughts are with you. Homer was a lucky dog and apparently so were you to have such a friend. May he rest in peace.

--cookie

I wish I lived nearby, Rick: I'd help with the chores, maybe take the edge off the day a little.

It's a terrible thing. Get better soon.

My condolences
Rick,

I'm very sorry for your loss. Losing a loved one creates a hole that can never be filled.

A few years back my family lost our beloved Shar-Pei of 8 years, Devil. It took weeks for me to "start" to heal. My wife and son broached the subject of getting a new dog. I just didn't feel right about it. I explained that I was still grieving for Devil and my heart just wasn't in it. Shortly thereafter, my wife and son brought home the prettiest chocolate lab puppy you have ever seen. I could not help but fall instantly in love. Our new dog Bailey will never replace Devil, but she sure did help ease the pain.

Again, my sincerest condolences for your loss,

Ben

Rick, our sincerest condolences on the loss of your friend Homer. Please know that you are in our thoughts in this difficult time.

Michael and Alia

is a correction really a double post?
Rick-
Just realized how cruel my post sounded...I need to add in Homer's memory as the reason for the extra hug for my pup this evening. As written, it sounds like I was rubbing it in your face which was not the intent at all. I'll hush now.

Sorry about Homer
Rick-
Losing a pet always hurts... you have my sympathy. I'll give my dog an extra hug for you after work.

rick : Sorry to hear about Homer. There's no friend like a beast, and although they are insuffiently immortal, at least we get to know them for awhile.

Condolences, Rick. I know it hurts.

Rick: Very, very sorry to hear about the loss of Homer. Anyone who's been here a while knows how much you loved that guy. I wish that there were more that I could say, sir.

This is starting out to be a rather lousy birthday...

Rick


sorry, man

Rick

I had a lot of other things I had meant to post on various and sundry matters, but this is most important.

RICK: I'm very sorry to hear about Homer. I hope that you can sometime soon get to the place where you smile at his memory rather than weep for his loss.

the sad and the glorious

Rick:

Helluva shame about Homer. We lost Peaches last December, as you may know. Our 10-month-old Pixie has brightened our lives considerably since, and bids fair to live a good long time, but we haven't stopped missing Peaches. There are similarities, and there are differences. Each is a unique individual, never to be repeated.

On the brighter side, my detailed report of the WGA screening is up on the DocumentaryFilms.net site:

http://www.documentaryfilms.net/

Here's hoping it goes a little way toward spurring general interest in the film and getting Erik & Co. a distribution deal.

Rick,
Words may not ease your painful loss, but please know that we're here for you. If there is anything we can do you've only to ask.

Best,
Shane

Rick, sympathies on your loss.

Mr. Wyatt,

No matter how many times you lose a pet it never gets
any easier. They become friends and family in every way
that is important. To know you gave love and friendship
that was felt to the very end is one of the greatest gifts
we can give. I am very sorry for your loss.

Thoughts to Rick
My sympathy to you; normally, I'm more of a cat person, but my life's been full of dogs and, so, full of love. My first dog was named Homer, as well. Currently I'm living with two dogs whose previous owners couldn't be bothered. I'm sorry you lost Homer, and I'm glad Homer had you.

Tad

Sorry about your loss Rick. I grew up with dogs, they were all good friends of mine, and one of them - a joy to be around - didn't die a natural death.

They don't expect death, but I somethimes think that's the better solution. We're all filled with dread, which may be much worse than dying.

Homer
I dug a hole today, and I put my boy in it. I read Pablo Neruda's "A Dog Has Died." We dozen shoveled in dirt, planted a japanese maple, and sang songs until the darkness came.

My hands are blistered, my heart is broken, and I still feel like I could reach out and touch him, grab him on each side of his big dumb heroic head and dig my thumbs into his ears.

Thank you for your thoughts.

Harlan,

Count me among those who are truly glad you stopped posting at the Beat blog. I've been following the goings-on here and there this weekend but haven't had much time to comment, which was basically what the others, including Susan, Mr. David, etc., have said.

Take care,
Bill

Rick,

I share your grief.

I am an odd bird: I seldom grieve for humans, yet grieve heavily for the animal friends who leave our lives. I've just seen the pictures at www.homerdog.com. Homer looks like such a lovable guy. He reminds me of my Chopin who left my life nearly 15 years ago.

Rest In Peace, Homer.

Sympathy
Rick Wyatt:

My sincere sympathy for your loss. A lot of people won't understand that grieving for a beloved companion animal is every bit as sharp, takes every bit as long, as grieving for a human family member. Take what time you need to feel what you need to feel.

Be gentle with yourself,
Jan S.

Glad to hear his friends are around him.

And I just thought you all might appreciate the following:

http://www.homerdog.com/

Spoke to Rick, you guys. He and five friends were in the middle of burying Homer in the backyard of one of his chums. He sounded sad and bereft as any of us would, but he somehow knew you'd all been posting your best wishes and understanding. It wasn't the time for chat, but I thought you wouldn't mind a bit of an update. A good and gentle Sunday to you all.

Harlan

Rick: I'm sorry for your loss.

Mark W.

Rick, this will not ease the pain, but I hope it gives you some comfort. I read this interview with David Lynch. In it, he mentions how when takingieving for a beloved companion animal is every bit as sharp, takes every bit as long, as grieving for a human family member. Take what time you need to feel what you need to feel.

Be gentle with yourself,
Jan S.

Glad to hear his friends are around him.

And I just thought you all might appreciate the following:

http://www.homerdog.com/

Spoke to Rick, you guys. He and five friends were in the middle of burying Homer in the backyard of one of his chums. He sounded sad and bereft as any of us would, but he somehow knew you'd all been posting your best wishes and understanding. It wasn't the time for chat, but I thought you wouldn't mind a bit of an update. A good and gentle Sunday to you all.

Harlan

Rick: I'm sorry for your loss.

Mark W.

Rick, this will not ease the pain, but I hope it gives you some comfort. I read this interview with David Lynch. In it, he mentions how when taking art courses, he thought to himself as he painted how he would like to see the things in the painting move. This is how he thought about being a filmmaker--watching paintings move. Your beloved dog is no longer with us, but you could get a painting made of the dog and when you feel down imagine that he is looking down at you, giving you the look of love you need when times are tough and the world is getting you down. Hope this doesn't seem like a dumb idea. Animals are our friends, when everyone else lets us down. Nothing but good things for you from now on. Peace.

FRIENDS:

Relax. I'm outta there. Finis.

My honey, my work, my life calls.

My concern at the moment is for Rick.

How you doin' today, bro?

No longer eyeless in gaza, I thank all of you who give a damn, and I am, as always,

Yr. Pal, Harlan

Rick,

I just want you to know that I join the other members of our little cybercommunity in expressing sympathy at the loss of your dog. People who aren't pet owners don't understand, but when one loses a pet, one loses a friend--and it hurts like hell to lose a friend.

Larry

AVAILABLE NOW: On The Road With Ellison Vol. 3
On The Road With Ellison Volume Three is the latest report in from Harlan Ellison and a life lived on the road. Featuring an exclusive new essay, Volume Three finds the author contemplating mortality - his own and that of the world; always with a keen eye, a sharp tongue, and one foot planted firmly in the ass of the terminally stupid. And then there is the matter of Harlan time-traveling to his youth, getting fired from Disney on the first day, and why did he drop that chandelier on those people? This is Ellison live on stage and anything goes.

AVAILABLE NOW
www.deepshag.com

A Modest Proposal
.
TO HARLAN ELLISON:

Regarding your writings over at THE BEAT, I think that Peter David asked you a very pertinent question:

"What's the benefit to you?"

I thought the very same thing yesterday as I read your BEAT writings. Yes, I understood your impulse to defend yourself, to not allow an insult to go unanswered, to not back away from a fight. Still, the question is valid:

"What's the benefit to you?"

You, sir, are a writer. And, as a fan of your writing, I couldn't help but feel a sense of remorse in thinking about all the time, effort and energy you spent at THE BEAT writing for knuckleheads about knuckleheads.

"What's the benefit to you?"

Harlan, you are nothing if not your own man. And I would not presume to tell you what to do or require anything of you. However, speaking strictly out of self-interest, allow me share with you this wish as it came to me yesterday when I read through your BEAT contributions:

"I wish that Harlan would've taken the time, effort and energy it took him to write this stuff to write something that would do him some good."

"What's the benefit to you?"

Sir, you have yourself a venue here at the Webderland. You have an audience here. And you have assistance here (in the person of Rick Wyatt).

In short, you have everything in place here that you had when you were writing weekly and monthly columns for THE LOS ANGELES FREE PRESS, THE LA. WEEKLY, F&SF and the other venues where you wrote your essays, journalism and media criticism.

Now, as much as I may enjoy seeing you take the time to mix it up with all of us here in the Dining Pavilion, I can't help but think how nifty it would be to read a regular, weekly column from you on this site.

"What's the benefit to you?"

Imagine devoting the same amount of verbiage that you devoted to Gary Groth over at THE BEAT to, say, a column on your feelings about the night of the DREAMS screening. Or a column recalling and recounting your encounters with Bruce Lee. Or a column critiquing your own, just-made-available CIMARRON STRIP episode (after not seeing it for 40 years).

Imagine a column reacting to a CNN news item that rankled you. Or discussing a piece of art that once inspired you. Or sharing some unfinished piece of writing from your files that still tickled you.

This new Ellison column would give you a place and a space to do all the things that you do: Entertain, inform, vent, share, rant, illuminate, rail and delight.

And, if you wanted to do a column about your Groth lawsuit (without all the noise from those goofs and geeks on THE BEAT distracting you from your main points), you could do that, too.

"What's the benefit to you?"

Well, once you'd gotten a couple of dozen columns under your belt, you could then pull them from the website and collect them into a chapbook with a cool cover, a new introduction and maybe even a previously uncollected piece or two from your files.

You could then sell that exclusive, limited-edition book though your HERC outlet for a fat price and rake in all the cash without splitting any of it with publishers and booksellers.

Certainly that would be a benefit to you.

Not to mention a benefit to us, your faithful readers and devoted collectors.

Harlan, feel free to fling my suggestion back in my big-nosed face and tell me to mind my own business.

But please understand that this wish comes from a guy who knows that you are a writer with both a lot to say and the time to say it (your time spent on THE BEAT proves that).

I, for one, would really love to hear you say it.

Much respect, sir!

Dear Rick:

My deepest, sincerest sympathies. I've outlived three cats, two of whom were put to sleep, and one who was struck by a vehicle. Traumatic losses all, but I try to remember the good times and what they meant to me. I know what you're going through.

Alex

.
TO RICK WYATT:

We've not met, but I do feel your pain.

In my lifetime, I've had to say goodbye to three dogs and three cats—beloved friends all—and it hurt each and every time. That's the curse of being a pet owner; we are destined to outlive them.

I hope that you take some small solace in the fact that you gave Homer the gift of a rich and full life. There are many animals on the streets or in shelters that will never know the comfort and contentment and companionship that Homer knew. I'm sure that he loved you for that, even as you loved him.

You can't be sad about that.

Here's to Homer, sir. And to you.

Rick,

My most heartfelt condolences, pal. There's nothing anyone can say at a time like this, and yet that never stops us. I've always felt that animals don't have quite the sense of mortality or time that we do. Life is in the moment, and I suspect that your dog's moments were nothing but happy. We should all be so lucky.

dogdogdogdogdog...
If I say that really fast and in a kind of Forrest Gump voice my dog's butt moves so fast (cropped tail) I think he's going to throw something out. I'm on my 2nd Boxer (and vice versa) and my 8th dog in this life. Watching him go gray faster than I do scares the heck out of me somedays.

There are real reasons essays like AHBHU and movies like Ol' Yeller make us go the big softy. My sincere condolences.

- Barney

Rick

I am very sorry to hear of the lost of your friend. Losing love that is given so freely and unconditionally is very difficult. Please take care and thanks for providing us with this forum.

One of the lurkers

Rick - I'm deeply sorry for your loss.

RICK
You are a most decent guy. I am very sorry to hear about your dog's passing. Anything you need from anyone here, you know that you only gotta ask.

Jason

Old Friends
Rick,

As someone who wept on and off for two days when he had to put down his favorite cat, I know how you're feeling. Condolences.

A-TC

Rick:

You have, in the past, been a great help to me, so because I know you to be such a good person, I have considerable sadness for your loss.

My best to you in a difficult time,

Steve Dooner

Rick, my deepest condolences on the loss of your dog.

Harlan, glad that you are walking away from the imbroglio over on The Beat. Peter's comments, as always, are very much on point.

Mark

Rick, My sincere condolences on the loss of your friend and companion. All my best, Charlie

"He can be egged on, I know, by others, with less decent agendas, but I will be sanguine at the point where I think he "gets" what I'm saying, even if he disagrees with the stance.

Thereafter, I'm gone from there. Heidi will understand"

I think that's a wise decision, Harlan. In addition to what Mark said (and my own observation about not wrestling with pigs, because the pigs like it and you just wind up covered with crap), one other old saying occurs to me...something you once said to me:

People judge you by your enemies.

If you're trading verbal darts with one of the biggest assholes in the comics industry, it either elevates him to your level or drags you down to his. Either way, what's the benefit to you?

PAD

To Rick
I am sorry to hear about your loss. I have said a prayer for you.

Brian Phillips

Rick

You have our deepest condolences. If I can be of any help or even just a shoulder, gimme a shout. Cris wants me to let you know you're in her thoughts as well. Let us know if there's anything, at all, that you'd like done.

On Friends
Rick, you have my deepest commiseration.
Courage.
Paul

Rick,

I'm so sorry you lost your friend.

D.

Mr. Wyatt,

I'm sorry to hear about your loss. Too often people will think of pets as occasional companions, but when they truly touch our lives they often become family of choice.

I hope his passing was a gentle one. Take your time. We're here for you if and when you need shoulders to prop you up.


Sandra

RICK,

I am so very sorry to learn of Homer's passing. A while back, I recall, we used to get occasional reports from you about him. Then, nothing; which caused me to wonder if all was well. I even inquired about him once, over in the forums. And when there was no response, well, I thought it best not to press the question. But I have thought about him on and off ever since. And, you may depend upon it, you will be in my thoughts in the days to come. I dare say that all of us in the Webderland community will be sending warm thoughts your way. Nothing can change the fact that there is now a dreadful hole in your life that was once filled by a cold nose and a warm heart, but as long as we all congregate here in the Pavilion, you won't grieve alone.

Peace,
Steve J.

Rick:
I'm very sorry to hear about your dog.

Bill

I'm finding it very surprising that Harlan and Mike hadn't met long before 2-3 years ago, particularly since they both live in LA; hell, I think I met Mike back around 20 years ago when I was living in LA, which was also when I first really met Harlan (having seen him before at lecture appearances but not actually talked with him).

Just wish Mike's career had been as lucrative as Harlan's. He's unquestionably a genius at what he does, but has never broken through into getting the much more widespread support and viewership his work deserves.

PLEASE NOTE:

Just had an awful phone call I was anticipating.

Rick Wyatt, my friend and yours, my guardian of the gate here, and your hardworking overseer, lost his friend, his beloved dog, today. If you remember my essay on the death of Ahbhu in "The Deathbird," then you know how Rick feels. They were tight friends, for a long time; and Rick is alone now.

I asked him if he minded my telling you, and he said say what you want. Regulars and lurkers, kind friends all of you, this is family, and if you have a moment, Rick will come back in a few days and, well, it might not help much, but...if anything can help at all...

Harlan

MARK and ALAN:

Thank you for your concern. More than being merely notes, I have pondered on this for an hour or so, have discussed it with my smarter-than-I wife, and two of my best friends, peter David and Josh Olson. Though one has greater tsuriss than this piddle to deal with at the moment, and the other is on the verge of a huge workload, both followed up YOUR concerns with their own, and some sage advice. Thus...

I will only be responding on The Beat to Craig Yoe, and that only till we reach the juncture in the conversation whereat lies HIS concern that he doesn't "get" why I'm suing Groth. At that juncture, he is entitled to think or say whatever he chooses, pro or con or i wash my hands of this. He is a very talented man, and I don't detect animus in his exchanges with me. He can be egged on, I know, by others, with less decent agendas, but I will be sanguine at the point where I think he "gets" what I'm saying, even if he disagrees with the stance.

Thereafter, I'm gone from there. Heidi will understand.

Craig Yoe aside, one reaches a point where not even banging a slow pony in the forehead with a ball-peen hammer will make an impression. There are slow ponies on the sidelines here, and they're seemingly determined to bring down the overall IQ of the constituency to their level.

You're right: I shouldn't proffer aid and comfort.

Let me and Craig Yoe conclude our exchange, and then you can both sigh a sigh of relief, because I'm going back to the work whose success seems to dement a few of them.

Thank you for caring. Not to be forgotten, I vouch so.

Yr. pal, truly, Harlan

The thread over at The Beat

http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/05/03/when-gary-met-shannon/

is getting dangerously close to being closed, as some people are beginning to take everything personally, and some others are beginning to snipe quite impolitely.

It is quite illiminating as to the thought processes involved.

MARK:

Yeah, I take what you just said seriously; and seriously to heart.

Probably too smartass of me to think that there's much of a gap between me and them over there, and I'm alarming Susan with it all, but up till now I've been mollifying myself by telling me, at least you're clever and often funny, Harlan, so you'll NEVER be them.

But your warning is a VERY good one, Mark. And I think as soon as Craig Yoe and I have reached some minimal rapprochement, I'm outta there.

Of course, I still have the promise I made about the Coliseum full-KontaKt Kontest, and I can't get out of that before Groth runs&hides, or I'll be the dick they're trying to paint me as being.

Weary, but aware ... and grateful for your concern, I remain, well...you know.

Harlan,

I hope you know what you are doing, engaging in verbal warfare over on The Beat. When interacting with these individuals, I am reminded of the quote by Nietzche:

"Those who do battle with monsters must take care that they do not thereby become a monster. Always remember that when you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes back into you."

Just be careful, Harlan,

Mark

Final Show Tonight!!!!
That's right, my final rant will be tonight, Sat May 5 at 8:30pm at The Skylight Theatre, 1816 1/2 N. Vermont in Los Feliz. After receiving outrageously favorable reviews, we are being forced out
by a spittoonery who wishes to fabricate custom built spittoons
at inflated prices. Such are the wages of capitalist sin.
If I were still alive I would force all my so-called friends
to see this show! And my good friend Lenny Bruce agrees with me.

Unsung Ellison
Please pardon this late entry to the Unsung Ellison.

One story steps forward immediately: "Ernest and the Machine God" from the DEATHBIRD STORIES collection.

In those days, nothing was more important than girls and cars -- especially girls -- and given my lack of accomplishment with each, I found in Ernest the ultimate superhero. The imagery of the story's final scenes is so powerful that it lingers to this day. That, I submit, is great writing.

Thank you.

Go off to see the Wizard
If you go to Mike Jittlov's WizWorld! at http://www.wizworld.com/
and scroll down to
Check out the
WIZ-LINKS!
at http://www.wizworld.com/wizlinks.html
, look for the
JITTLOVIAN QUICKTIME CLIPS.
Click there and you'll see
Jittlov's favorite Moneygami dollar bill folds at
http://www.wizworld.com/moneygami and you'll find a number of photos, including
Elf:
http://www.wizworld.com/moneygami/moneygami_elf.jpg

Wander around and about the web site, there's something amazing in every nook and most crannies.

Greensburg Kansas wiped off the map
SFWA member R. P. Bird lived in Greensburg, Kansas with his elderly mother. He grew up there, and returned a few years ago. The town of Greensburg, hit by a tornado estimated to be three-quarters of a mile wide, no longer exists. Bird's home and everything he owned are gone. He and his mother (and their cats!) survived with minor injuries.

This might be a time for SFWA to help out. That's all I know at the moment. The town is evacuated and the residents are in a shelter in a nearby town.

It's a very rural, remote area of Kansas (basically the southwestern corner, between Wichita and Dodge City).

BRIAN PHILLIPS:

Yes.

-he

RYAN LEASHER:

For you only. True anecdote.

One night, perhaps two-three years ago, Susan and I and less than half a dozen friends, we're having dinner at Mogo's Mongolian Barbeque in the Valley. I'm shuckin' & jivin' as usual with my posse, and there's this guy at a nearby table, also dining with a few friends. When he's done eating, he walks ove and says, "Are you Harlan Ellison?" This is not an unusual sometimes-happens-with-me, and I smile up and say, "Uh, does Harlan Ellison owe you money?" He laughs and says, "No," and I laugh and say, "Yeah, okay, I'm Harlan Ellison." And he hands me a cunningly origami'd dollar bill, signed, and says, "I'm an admirer of your work, and I thought you might like to have this." The dollar bill has been amazingly folded and refolded to be a little man, and I look at the signature, even as I ask him, "And what's YOUR name," as my brain registers that the signature in my hand is ...

MIKE JITTLOV

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Holeemuther'a'mercy!

Well, I nearly crapped silver dollars. MikefuckinJittlov, ladeez an' germs.

I spilled verbiage all down my bib telling him what a HUUUUGE admirer of his film I am, and he seemed pleased...smiled gently...walked away.

When you come to my house, on the jamb between the short hallway giving onto the laundry and book-wrapping room and the front potty, you will see encased in a plastic box, so you can see all sides of it, my own personal Mike Jittlov origami dollar.

Don't tell ME I'm not a star! Look what I get just for being me! Yipppeeee.

Yr. pal, Harlan

Sorry Tony !!!
Argh! Barney has reminded me it is Tony Isabella's quote, not Harlan's. ARGH! Ok, off to correct myself to the hubby.

Tony - sorry for mis-attributing your quote to Mr. E. I know I'd seen that on the Pavvy before but for life of me it slipped my mind.

Peg

a big wad o' postcards
BD -- sorry, sir, but the topic's been around a few days & has probably already jumped the shark. The PW "Shannon" page is (predictably) running away with itself, with half the posts griping about how pointless it all is -- I guess irony is indeed dead. I'm reminded why Our Host says the Internet Dawn will come to be seen as a huge brake upon intellect & discourse.

Susan E -- The "Rabbit Hole" arrived spotless sometime in the past few days & was at my PO box yesterday.

Paul in Austin -- a candle for your recovery to a satisfying life. The "NEW! IMPROVED! DOGFOOD!" line is apt in light of the "contamination" lately noted. I live in serious farm country, with farmers & ranchers all a little peevish about such cases -- all aftermarket -- making their staples look bad. Turns out that most of the pet-killing stuff has been high-end commercial foods, those sold as "uber-proteinated" or whatever. The crap that's killing animals is a chemical (coal tar?) that spikes tests for protein, without actually adding any protein content. For this we're paying two/fourfold what top-end Purina goes for.

A-TC -- the "pornsite" joke caught up with me on a second pass & caused distinct chortling. For a brief moment, I had hope there'd be similar steady passive income for an aging lupine fanboy such as myself, but alas.

Laurie -- the "Magna Carta" story is pathetic, yet hilarious. I think there was an SNL sketch about a game show, something like "Everybody Knows," where you got points not for the actual answer but for guess what the highschoolers said ("Street Smarts" had elements of this). You should take solace in a few things: the kid learned SOMETHING, however weird; when cornered, he demonstrated a vivid imagination;

Per the "Galaxy Quest" glasses -- when in doubt, root around for their own fanboys. Not much relevant info -- "The "unconfirmed" story surrounding these glasses is that they were produced for members of the film production crew and staff as gifts." That may be why (a) they look so much like the $T@R W@R$ glasses, & (b) the suckers ain't easy to find, with cited prices of $50-$100/set. Anyway, a nice photo of the unboxed set at http://www.glassnews.com/022600.htm

per generalised ignorance -- yes, having spent six years in New Mexico, I've heard it all. "How much postage do I have to add to send this to you?" "I've heard you shouldn't drink the water there." (Sadly, you probably shouldn't, but it's due to high natural radioactivity rather than Aztec Two-Step.) "I'd like to visit sometime, but I'll have to get my passport renewed." "I'd feel like an 'outside' there." (Codeword for "caucasoid." Actually, it's had a thriving Jewish community since something like 1695, & the Spanish-speakers & Tribes folks prefer the outback anyway.)

DTS -- tnx for the petition call, & I'll be spreading it afield. However, note that it contains little that some (such as me) haven't been saying for five years & more, only to hear most of the "progressives" respond, "Oh, no, it can't _possibly_ be so bad! Now, let us go work like proper bipartisans to find a middle ground -- & stop trying to stir things up!!" Because of such stonewalling by the "reasonable" people, I'm all but burned out on politics, & am about ready to let the Merkins of all hues enjoy the outfall. Sure, it'll take a few years (minimum) of Democratic rule to put things in order, & then the quacking will come again for Bread And Circuses -- so nu?



I often take refuge in shining literary moments instead, like Rod Serling's outro to the original "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street":

"The tools of conquest do not necessarily come with bombs and explosions and fallout. There are weapons that are simply thoughts, attitudes, prejudices--to be found only in the minds of men. For the record, prejudices can kill and suspicion can destroy, and a thoughtless, frightened search for a scapegoat has a fallout all its own--for the children, and the children yet unborn. And the pity of it is that these things cannot be confined to The Twilight Zone."

Heidi MacDonald's THE BEAT
http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/05/03/when-gary-met-shannon/

I know you are often fond of using Isabella's quote about the uninvolved but there is just no way I'm wading into that fracass without Kevlar and hip-waders and a cup. All I'd be tempted to do is define certain terms and Charles has that surrounded in his professional capacity, so all that's left is to stand on the sidelines and beat drums until the natives are in a frenzy. I'll leave that to Kevin and Frank.

If you want or need declarations from me - they're pretty simple and predictable - like the author of this post.

Susan (and Navan Ghee) seem to be the smartest and sanest people in the room. Of course smart and sane don't always win the day and some days the day really needs to be won. So I don't honestly know what to tell you.

The least noble part of me is sort of sad that it's Gary Groth who has decided to participate (in the Woody Allen sense of "90% of life is who shows up for the job") in the part of "lifelong guy I'm having a feud with" role. I would have hoped for William F. Buckley or Joe R. Lansdale to make it more interesting - but if it's Gary, well then, fuck it, it's Gary.

There has been a bit of sideline discussion of course, none of which is secret squirrel stuff. I'm just not saying much because, once LAWYERS ears perk up there big rotating billable time ears even I know to drink from the shut up cup.

But I have a note here that will cheer you, as much for "tone" as message and will probably send it along anon.

- Barney

Question for Harlan Ellison
After listening to a vintage episode of the BBC's "My Music!" show hosted by Steve Race, I happened to look at the back of Dave Brubeck's "Time Out" album. At the bottom of the liner notes, I noticed that Race wrote them.

I realize that you are quite fond of music. I also know about your recorded chorus appearance in "Kismet". What I don't know (is a lot - Ed.) have you ever written liner notes for recordings that do not feature you?

Also, here is an odd fact: for those of you who are Spike Jones fans, if you buy the collection "Spiked" on Catalyst, the notes for this were written by Thomas Pynchon.

Brian Phillips

Whoops...gotta double-post because of an unintentional slight. The correct spelling is "Jittlov".

--
Ryan

Wow...a Mike Jitlov WIZARD OF SPEED AND TIME reference. For anyone who hasn't seen WOSAT, it's a fun watch. The film has a warm, nougat center. It's actually one of the movies that distracted me from writing and pulled me into visual effects.

Wait...that...that doesn't sound so good, does it?

--
Ryan

Oh great, now I am thinking of Amanda Bynes, with multiple sex partners. Hellhounds on my trail; I will leave the trail of breadcrumbs.

-----------

Adam Troy Castro, I heard you are Fidel's little bro. Revolution--may the red diaper babies run the pumping station.

Let's all have fun on Castro's dime. We just funnin with ya, pal. Kiss.

----------

Fuckin Spiderman, fucking shit, fuckin shit, in the deepest eyeset of Satan, fuckin broomhandle up the bum of Baal. Sell-out ass Sam Raimi--fuckin Tobie McGuire and his dimples; scrub them dimples with a blow torch. CGI bitches, CGI cockholes.

Yes, I am finished. Nice to vent.

First things first. Susan,
Apparently I will be requiring a DWST Omnibus as well, if you please, to replace my original one. Harlan may remember signing it at the GrandMaster/Nebulas last May. It was in three or four pieces, he showed it to you and asked if you had any available, but since there were none to be had in the Cayman recesses of your sale boxes just then he gave it back to this sunburned, slightly trembling cat. That was my first, only, personal hello to HE. I gave a write-up on that meeting somewhere on here.

For everyone, The Book is $20.00 + $5.00 S&H (CA denizens bend over for the extra $1.65 sales tax). It says so in the Rabbit Hole, i assume that's correct. I'd hate to think Susan was lyin' to us. :) Thank you so much.
Harlan, any bon mots you care to jot down will be, of course, lagniappe.
------------------------

Been gone awhile, just making a few rounds, catching up on 2 weeks worth of posts. Please excuse the length.
I recently had a surgery scare. Right there in the ole' chest area. Turns out i don't need it after all, everything is in it's proper place and doing what it's supposed to do.
Lessons learned:
1) Mortality sucks.
2) You do not want to hear yourself say, "There's not a problem, right?"....followed by the doctor's lengthy silence.
3) Wishing for shit is as useful as praying for it. You want to go do something? Go DO it. Some folks don't get a second opinion in their favor.
------------------------

Good to see all back safe and sound from the premiere. I trust the Ghost will soon be same. Things were built tough what were born back in the day...yes, Harlan?
On Nobel nomination- well... i've been saying it for years. One day El Jefe, one damn day.
Thank you for the pictures Steve, David. Thanks everyone else for the posts. Voyeurism is what places for reality when it takes 2/3rds of a day just to leave your state.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Erik N~ Thank you very much for the mini-documentary-cum-interveiw. You know we appreciate it. I feel a bit like Snoopy at the theatre box getting passed over, just standing there while everyone else says, "One, please." I have no doubts it was good. Harlan's shaken visage when he first gets on the stage is proof enough for me.
-------------------------------------------

Bret~ How you doin' bro! And i thought you were shy 'cause you liked my hat. Congratulations on the book. I had no idea you were Halden Wofferd! Friend of mine had your CD, jeez, years ago (the one song i remember was I Don't Care). Couldn't remember the name of the group. Next time, plug yer wares, it's really damn good. I feel proud to know you (sorta know ya). Now, about those El Camino burgers.....
-------------------------------------------

I will repeat forever: Mike Jacka is, seriously, one funny man.
-------------------------------------------

Keith~ Have as safe a trip as possible. If you pass near New Zealand, say hi to the kakapos.
==============================================================================

This is a week-old topic, please skip as needed.
---------
My Knowledge, Your Ignorance

KOS said in his post of April 29~ "I decided long ago that it is not my job to educate fools, nor to grade the intellectual efforts of casual acquaintances as they come to my attention."
Five years ago i (31) was sitting with a group of 17-21 age kids. My fiancees' friend was going off to school so her parents were having a good-bye-for-now party. Talk got to serial killers, mass murderers, and i mentioned Manson. Talked about a few points and, as i do, looked at people around the room, looking at their eyes. This girl, perhaps seventeen, looked angry, and i asked if she had a different take. She said, "No. I have no idea who you're talking about."
Even in this age of condescension toward intellect and reasoning and the glorification of Hostels and Saws, i would have bet my life that kids still know Charlie. To be fair, everyone else was hip, but these were her PEERS. I could only hope she was raised in a home where those things were mentioned in a 'watch out for strangers' kind of way, lest they allow their daughter to dwell on the queasiness, rather than my suspected ambivalence towards education. The gang started to explain, with me filling in the details. I thought she OUGHT to know, if she were going to participate in the conversation. I know, head into wall time, and i don't do it always. The idea is that even as it should be the responsibility of the powerful to help and enable the weaker, so should the ones with certain knowledge do the same for those without. I am terribly ignorant of many things, but I am willing to admit that and learn about what i don't know, or what i am wrong about. People tend to get angry about the word 'ignorance' and they shouldn't. It's a perfectly functional, innocent word. We are all ignorant of SOMETHING. But in most of the publics mind, there is a prejudice towards that word because, to them, it equals STUPID. Which is wrong, of course, but they are ignorant of that fact. And that is okay. It just needs to be explained.
Which brings me to.......
-------------

Adam-Troy, vis a vie last weeks postings~ I swear you sound like the twin i never had. I empathize deeply, deeply, with the mum you maintain for as long as you can and the inevitable outbursts that can decimate a room. I only nodded my head at your anecdote, then shake my head sadly that i expected to.

I hear a lot of things. Some of it i laugh at, some i ignore, and some things i hear are of such a profoundly, cataclysmically insane nature, i have no choice but to speak out and say, no sir/ma'am, you're wrong. Of course, i do live in Texas (winking, Cindy), but hell, this is Austin, arguably the most collegic and aware, (not urbane, true) but well-read folk in the surrounding 300 miles, and i get the same crazy stuff i got from adults when i was in high-school in Maryland.

To wit: I wish i had a dollar for every conversation I've had in Texas that ran thus
Me- "I'm from Maryland."
X- "Where?"
Me- "Maryland. I'm from up north."
X- "Oh, north. That near Dallas?"
:)

We all hear things.
Silly stuff- "Italians invented noodles...spaghetti and stuff."
Astounding things- "Spain is in Mexico, right?"
Unintentionally hilarious things- "Pink Floyd...now which one was he?"
Gullible stuff- "The President can't be lying. Someone would find out."
Obvious stuff- "This is Pine furniture? Like, made from Pine trees?"
Deeper meaning stuff- "I can't be gay. I have hemorrhoids."
Ridiculous stuff- "Soooo...which way is clockwise?"
Crazy stuff- "LOOSE CHANGE is all the scientific proof you need of the Administration's 9/11 conspiracy."
Idiotic stuff- "No, really, if you read the Necronomicon out loud, bad stuff will happen. The Arab that wrote it was crazy and conjured demons."
Amazing stuff- "Are there time zones in other countries?"

Male and female, troll and fairy alike. Teeth-gritting? Oh yes, ATC. Nodding, he says, i can't believe i have any enamel left in my head.

It's not folks that mistake D.C for BC, when thinking about Canada, who i worry about so much as are those that do- - -

Dangerous stuff- Watched a guy put an iron frying pan on a campfire. Cooking. For a while. Then reached to take it after half and hour or so and burned hell outta himself. What he said? " I thought because we were outside, it wouldn't get hot."
This was Autumn, maybe 50 degrees, but reGARDless, that is a Darwin Award waiting to happen.

What gets me is what i know gets to Adam, symbolized by the comment spewed by the woman (sorry, i cannot change her gender. It's spring, and idiots are a-bloomin') after I said 'you don't know what you're talking about. neither you or i have that kind of a scientific background or knowledge to comprehensively judge wether or not any of that has any empirical truth to it at all. i don't know if it's true, but i suspect it's not, and you can't make blanket judgments on things you know nothing about.'
She rolled her eyes and said in the exact same tone you would use to explain to your child that they should have a parachute on their person when they jump from the plane at 6,000 feet,
"You don't NEED to know something about something to just TALK about it."

What does one do when stunned? I try. Really i do, but that was it. "No, i guess not. Not if you want to appear like a lumbering, sense-deprived, diarretic-mouthed I.U.D for information... (yes, i talk like that when the bough breaks)...etc.

What we need is a MythBusters for Literature, Geography, everything. And if someone comes up with a question we've never heard before, a new MB series is born!
Truly and seriously, a lot of this is people simply not taking time to think about the question they're asking. They are so used to being in front of a computer or having a machine by their side that will get the answer for them, they just don't use any deductive reasoning.

Give you a quickie example. When i was a punk kid, a real punky boyo, late-80's, i wore upon my face a chain connecting my pierced ear to my pierced nose. I was hanging around this gal for some days, when one day she gives me a sideways look and says, "You know, i still don't understand that thing. Doesn't it pull like hell when you turn your head?"
I will let that sink in and just say, i swear, these are otherwise well-adjsuted citizens who vote and brush their teeth. She got mad when i made my smart aleck remark, tilting my head and saying, "Ow. Ow." Sardonically. But the point is, she had to have thought about his previously if she "still" didn't get it. By the way, she was in her 20's.

Keith Cramer has apparently got the shit-storm rained on him too, telling people where they fuck up as though he is acting nobler than thou, and all he's doing is pointing it out. I do the same. My friends know to tell me when i'm a dolt. Now, if i brace someone (and the only reason i do would be because they were going to do something dangerous or hurt themselves or others, or..okay, maybe that crazy comment) and say something, i have gotten to the point of prefacing with, " i just noticed..." or " Hey, did you know...". But that's crap. We shouldn't have to. We serve the commonweal just by being conscious, by watching out for our cousins.
Sometimes one is surrounded by a culture of people too full of pride to admit they’re wrong, and the situation dictates the encounter. If it's just the two of you/us, one on one, and you bring up a faux pas, they'll say, "I did? Hell, i wasn't looking." However, in a group, with ego on the line, they say, "No I didn't, i don't need your help, etc.".

These are direct lineal descendants of the folk for whom the extreme parentalistic warning labels and stickers were conceived. The ones on chainsaws that say "WARNING!!! Do Not Attempt To Stop Chain With Bare Hands." Or the one i saw on an adult Superman halloween costume- "This product will not enable wearer to fly."
I wondered if it said the same on the kids version? The ones who can't believe they are expected to think, thereby rendering themselves accountable for their own decisions and even their own ideas. They are the cause of the white side of the last page of my phone bill having small printing across the exact middle of it "This page left blank intentionally."

Look, i'm just as big a dork as anyone else. I do my part, what i perceive to be the the things i can do. To elucidate, to help.
I don't shake hands. It's a stupid, outmoded way of behaving. ""Possibly" helping to spread germs" aside, (as though that's a BAD thing), the real point was lost ages ago. I can see you're not wearing a weapon, Mr. Man. I clasp the hands, arms, shoulders of people all the time, (i am a bit of the 'touchy-person') but not as an archaic way of just greeting someone.
As Mike Jittlow said in The Wizard Of Speed And Time~ "If you have to grab a part of my body and 'shake' it before you can even be friendly to me, you've got far worse problems than you think i have."
And yet, even though we know a handshake will not seal a bargain in this age of duplicity and mishonesty, i am looked upon as odd when i decline, politely, to shake hands. Usually with a brush-off and a "Ppfft, what for? You look honest.", i say. And really, folk are STILL half and half really nice and really crappy.

I seem to have wandered quite far. My apologies. I am tired, glad not to be very sick, and just pouring out what i've been feeling these past few days as i read what folk say here. I do like this place much. Rick has done one hell of a job. So, back to the point.

We should all tell everyone what we believe to be true. Then we will all know where correct information is needed, be it for ourselves or someone else.
Educate, elucidate....something-ate! We don't have to 'all get along,' because we won't, but can't we at least help each other not get along as informed, as educated, as intelligently as possible?

I am one with Edith Sitwell's words,
"I am patient with stupidity, but not with those that are proud of it."
======================================================================

Totally off topic, i heard a great line at Target last year. Not being a smartass, this is really good. I like it.

He- "We need light bulbs."
She- "What kind?"
He- ".......Lots of them."
........................................Priceless
============================================

Tim Case, et al: Unsung Ellison, and then some~

Obviously, XENOGENESIS doesn't get much play, though it should.

ALL THE SOUNDS OF FEAR & THE LINGERING SCENT OF WOODSMOKE-- The two greatest Twilight Zones never filmed.

MEMOS FROM PURGATORY-- He did this at 21. Twenty-One? Jesus, i couldn't even see straight for the hormones, let alone come up with this scheme. I wanted to write, and did, but fuck, man.

I know that it's a collaboration, but i've read it to a dozen-plus people, and I have met no one who dislikes COME TO ME NOT IN WINTER'S WHITE. Tight, that. Strong. Like a suspension bridge; take away either contribution, it will fall instantly. Okay, i'm stretching now.

KNOX still hurts.

THE WINE HAS BEEN LEFT OPEN TOO LONG etc.. Yes it's science fiction and yes it's pretty doggone good.

PRIDE IN THE PROFESSION. Early, but nicely rounded. There are ones like that, for example, NOTHING FOR MY NOON MEAL, THE PLACE WITH NO NAME, THE!TEDDY!CRAZY!SHOW!!, in that I like the idea so much, what is being asked of me to think about, that any inconsistencies or juvenilia problems I might have, i overlook completely. I can be 'taken there', and that's what they were born and bred to do.
Heck, i think that as a whole, Alone Against Tomorrow was a, if not THE, pivotal book for Harlan's work. Much as his writing has sharpened, i'd start any newbie on that one.

On a personal note, ALIVE AND WELL ON A FRIENDLESS VOYAGE & OH YE OF LITTLE FAITH both hit me in the solar plexus and kept me down for a day. People tend to laud the former more than the latter. All i can say is, sometimes a story doesn't need much decoration. Sometimes the story needs you to be thrown headlong into it, like a metaphor into a brick wall, and drag you directly to LIFE without passing GO and without collecting those wooden nickels you call

Also, the intro to WATCHING, which made me THINK about movies, why they are there and what they are for. Young kid needed that. And Installment 11 in EDGE IN MY VOICE, the one savaging OUTLAND. I thought i was the only science geek that thought the movie blew radioactive monkey nuts because of stupid mistakes. I am not alone....
===========================================

Was watching Bush dancing.
*sigh*
I wish we, as a nation collective, could just invoke the 25th Amendment, drop the fucker into the Mariana Trench, and be done with.
Yeah, i know. "Look who'd be in charge then." It's like a game of Who Do You Want To Fuck You- Alfred E. Neuman or Sauron?
Isn't it the Apocalypse yet?
----------------

Cheers, good wishes and happiness to you all.
Paul

Disclaimer-- -- All quotations are true and accurate. Seriously gang, I HEARD people, man and woman alike, say those things. And you wonder why sales of New and Improved Dog Food is on the rise. I'll bet you also push that little button on the tall metal pole, hoping it will make the lights change in your favor, don't you? You poor deluded soul.
Love ya anyways,
p

Dreams with Sharp Teeth
Hi Susan,

If you still have a copy, what are the chances of ordering a signed copy of Dreams with Sharp Teeth from the UK? Do you want funds via paypal, UK cheque or US money order, etc? Lemme know and I'll see what is best for both.

FAQ

Ah, the wonders going on, over at the PUBLISHERS WEEKLY blog called THE BEAT, hosted by Heidi MacDonald. Big times are following the news item "When Gary Met Shannon." Substantive nasties tossed at ellison by the usual suspects and nothing less than elaborate posturing my the author himself, tough and perfectly grammatical. Girth, width, height, depth...can such miracles exist? Yes! In thunder.

Go. Go see.

-he

Hermann - No; I speak of Tinny Tim, the pathetic crippled orphan robot with a crutch for his right arm, who falls under the influence of Bender Bending Rodriguez on various occasions during the run of "Futurama". Runs money for the Robot Mafia. Programmed to make oilade. Cute kid. Very Dickensian, if Dickens wrote robots annoying enough to kick to death with magnetic work-boots.

Did I say "devestated"? A misspelled understatement. TORN ASUNDER, ah sez.

And I have a dictionary. The desk doesn't wobble a lick, either.

I have to admit I'm very aroused by watching beautiful above average young women being slowly tortured to death. After all it's not that much different from Poe's maxim that "the most poetical subject in the world is a beautiful young woman who is dead." That's why I'm so eagerly anticipating the Eli Roth film Hostel II, the first one I didn't care about, but this second one is more traditional and I will probably be very excited by it. But I can assure old Harlan Ellison that I have no grudge against feminists, his pet theory being that we who are artistically blood-thirsty are actually playing out our inability to deal with women as equals, or some such preposterously laughable bunk from the pages of a long defunct magazine circa early 1980's when this sort of paleo-political correctness was in its gestation period. It's the autonomic nerve system in me that responds to such images not political theory. Adrenaline.

By the way, what's with Patrick McGrath's off the wall feminist harangues and semiotic clap-trap in the Centipede Press editions of the classic gothic novels? What an upstart hack. I always thought there was something fishy about Jerad Walters

I also adore the scene in The Howling (1981) where the 9 foot tall werewolf has the beautiful young female journalist by the throat and is kind of throttling her, and you can hear her bones cracking and splintering as she screams...The only significant film Joe Dante ever made along with Piranha. After that he came under the influence of the icky E.T. period Steven Spielberg (although he redeemed himself through the mass child enslavement in Temple of Doom, that and showing Kate Capshaw wearing a skin-tight 1930's Shanghai dress).

I think Frank Darabont has all the directorial flair of a bowel of tepid farina. What a completely characterless director.

A VERY WORTHWHILE USE OF YOUR TIME...
THE FOLLOWING IS FROM AN ONLINE VERSION OF "THE NATION."
THERE'S A CALL TO SIGN A PETITION -- I KNOW THIS MY SECOND SUCH POSTING, but THIS PETITION IS WELL WORTH YOUR WHILE.
(The essay follows -- and I pasted the link at bottom).

Peter Rothberg
Thu May 3, 5:02 PM ET

The Nation -- For the past seven years, George Bush has repeatedly violated the Constitution. Even worse, Congress has knowingly let it happen.

There's been the legalization of torture, warrantless wiretaps and the Military Commissions Act (MCA), which gives the president absolute power to decide who is an enemy of the US, to imprison people indefinitely without charging them with a crime, and to define what is -- and what is not -- torture and abuse.

This act represented an unprecedented attack on the basic system of habeas corpus--a fundamental Constitutional right that protects against unlawful and indefinite imprisonment. Translated from


Latin it means "show me the body." It has acted historically as an important instrument to safeguard individual freedom against arbitrary executive power.

The MCA, passed by the Republican Congress soon before the 2006 elections, was sparked by the Supreme Court's ruling in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld that the original military commission system established by President Bush to try detainees at Guantanamo Bay was unfair and illegal.

This wide-ranging legislation eliminated a cornerstone of the Constitution by depriving habeas corpus rights from certain individuals and allowing the US government to continue to hold hundreds of prisoners indefinitely and without recourse.

In response, the Restoring the Constitution Act, introduced by Senator and Presidential candidate Christopher Dodd, Congressman Jerrold Nadler and Congresswoman Jane Harman restores habeas corpus and due process to detainees held at Guantanamo Bay and to other detainees held by the federal government.

Moreover, this bill would prevent the current and future presidents from making up their own rules on torture, and make clear that the federal government must comply with the Geneva Conventions. The bill asserts that the Constitution is the law of the land -- and that no president can make up his or her own rules regarding torture and abuse.

The ACLU has created a website to help promote grassroots support for restoring the US Constitution. Sign the petition which will be delivered to Congress on June 26 (the one-year anniversary of the MCA's ratification), learn more about the issue, encourage others to get involved and implore your legislators to support Dodd and Nadler's bill. This is one issue left, right and center should agree on.
GO TO THE LINK BELOW TO SIGN THE PETITION!!

https://secure.aclu.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=habeas_petition

sweet dreams? or just dreams with sharp teeth?
Oh Harlan, that's a terribly gracious offer. Perhaps were we located just a tad more conveniently! ;-) Although, if you're ever just in the neighborhood... *laf*

However, the offer serves as a slightly mischievous inspiration, since of course, I have several of your recordings. Perhaps a little late night subliminal entertainment, after he's nodded off, via your electronic dopplegangers?

He won't know what hit him.

Peg

UH ... ER ...

calls, not "call's."

-he

PEG, darlin':

I'll do anything to make a new convert-reader. We call's 'em apostates.

So...

Woudl you like me to come over at bedtime and read him my stories one by one, till his li'l curly head drops off into sweet slumber?

Is no pruhblum. Gled too doo eet.

Yr. pal, Susan's husband.

Messages and minor victory
Susan - membership renewal check in the post today. I bolloxed the postage so I threw in some cash, please accept any excess as a small thank you for your tireless efforts, quality product, and putting up with my flakiness and tardiness!

Rick - thank you, oh thank you, for the Preview button. ;-)

SoCal webderdenizens (Steve Barber, Duane, Harlan and Susan (of course!), Lynn, Frank, and any other I may have missed (only out of forgetfulness or uncertainty and not of spite)):

Woefully, I missed the big DWST party. Would anyone be up for a Pinks Redux or other social shindig? I'm out to SD in June (9-17-ish, tbc) to help Dad recover from knee surgery. I hope to make it up to LaLa land at some point in the window, for visitation with the inlaws, and would enjoy immensely the chance to hook up with the locals. Outings in SD would be welcome also - I'll be free much of the time - but I figure that'd be impractical for the majority of folks.

Minor victory - the hubby, despite several attempts, has never developed a taste for Harlan's work. I weep, but all marriages have their compromises.

However, having now served for some time as the *volunteer* HOA president; and spent considerable time dealing with maintenance and repairs for our complex; but more to the point, having dealt with demanding, unsatisfied, opinionated, yet unassisting residents (and in particular upon the latest brouhaha involving one of the exemplars of such qualities, who has in fact sold her property, and will be moving in less than 2 months, but sees fit to continue to harangue and moan and kvetch over matters which are literally none of her business now); after all this he has fully adopted one of our host's quotes which I shared recently, "Hell hath no fury like the uninvolved." He's even adapted it further, "Hell hath no fury like the uninformed" to have arsenal for a full range of idiotic encounters.

I thought his twist captured quite well the spirit of much of the internet woes and ignorant actions and opinions belabored here.

The Eraseboard Jungle...
Just thought I'd share a few of my recent memorable moments as a teacher...Here are some of the best answers on test questions I've gotten in a while:

"If you could be present at one of the historical events studied this last semester in World History, which one would you pick and why?"

One of my students said he'd like to have been in Brazil during the 1800s for the signing of the Magna Carta. He said he'd have liked to have seen the King of Portugal's face when he read it. (I've just had a talk with him. Yes, I often do doubt my teaching ability!)

Another student answered that all of the events we'd studied so far were too depressing for him to want to be present for any of them but he would like to be present for a FUTURE historical event--when world peace is declared.

Best email ever from a former student:

"Dear Ms. Boxer:
I am just finishing up my first year at Santa Monica City College and will start my second year in the summer term. I really like SMCC! I have a 3.9 grade average so far and would have a four point if I weren't staying out all night most nights. I haven't really had any problems yet except that my roommate threw me out last week when she found out I was working as a dominatrix. Hope everything's OK in your classroom.
Respectfully,
Sophia

Harlan,

I thought I WAS being hip, responding to what I saw as Mr. Castro's self-deprecating riff. Much like Adam-Troy, my apologies to anyone who thought I might be supporting such spam behavior.

(Leaves muttering to self, "I AM funny, I AM funny, I AM funny....")

Miof Oz?

"Devestated," my ass, Lane.

Buy a dictienerry.

Yr. Pal, Hermann

Whoops
Harlan, Rick: That was *actually* me, doing a silly self-deprecating riff on the amanda bynes spam, as a joke. I didn't think, for one second, that anybody would think it was real. Sorry.

RICK:

There's also an "amanda bynes" porn spam a bit earlier today. Could you flense that, as well, please? Thank you.

Harlan

MIKE JACKA: Get hip, son. That "porn castro" thing is obviously a spam bullshit intruder.

ADAM-TROY: Somebody's got your name/e.mail/site/whatever. You oughtta take remedial action. Ask Cliff Meth or Rick Wyatt how to track'm back and flatten 'em.

RICK WYATT, first & foremost, my friend, but also,
coincidentally, by happenstance,
My Esteemed White Wizard Webmaster: Would you please delete the posting in question, from earlier today.

Yr. Pal, one'n all, Harlan

Introduction Collection

HARLAN-

As I sit here struggling to decide if I should buy one of the dwindling copies of DREAMS solely for the "Memoir" piece, I must ask:

Might we someday be blessed with a collection of your book introductions, gathered wonderfully in a single volume?

--
Ryan

Susan is going to town. She must have sold girlscout cookies as a kid. She is a dervish, that one.

Quit tiring her out guys, she is doing her best, and for that we all should just say thanks.

----------

Boy, did Kevin Greenlee turn out to be a wet mop.

thank god for royalty checks...
Susan-
The check for my HERC membership is en route from SC as we speak...does the $15 include the Rabbit Hole as well? Hope the CDs will be ordered next.
Best-
Tally

PS- I eagerly await the debut of DWST...and I am very very envious of those who attended the WGA event...keep those piccies comin'.

Breaking the rules, with apologies to Rick
SUSAN
- I went back and reread the post and saw that I'd mistaken "20 copies" for $20.00. Please let me know the proper amount.
Subscription renewal $15.00
Postage for one (1) book $4.00
DREAMS $ ?

Best,
Shane

CORRECTION
SUSAN-Please hold DREAMS for me. Also, I see by the label on the back of the "Rabbit Hole" envelope I've reached the end of my subscription, so a check for $39.00 should be found in your post box.

KEITH- Safe travels,pal, and I look forward to stories of the fiords. Ah, the fiords, I'm pining for the fiords.

Best,
Shane

SUSAN
- Please hold DREAMS for me. Also, I see by the label on the back of the "Rabbit Hole" envelope I've reached the end of my subscription, so a check for $39.00 should be found in your post box.

KEITH
- Safe travels,pal, and I look forward to the stories of fiords. Ah, the fiords, I'm pining for the fiords.

Best,
Shane

.
SUSAN ELLISON:

Thanks for reserving a copy of DREAMS for me. All I need is the price and I'll send the check right out. Thank you!

MICHAEL ZUZEL

I appreciate the tip on your ISLETS site. I'll be sure to visit and explore!

Readability?


Mark:

That piece you directed us to about Romney and _Battlefield Earth_ included a link to a "textstats" page on Amazon about the book, which included an interesting statistical analysis of the novel's content, including the illuminating information that it sells for a value of 13,000 words per dollar:

http://www.amazon.com/Battlefield-Earth-Saga-Year-3000/dp/sitb-next/1592120539/ref=sbx_txt/104-5416580-6045556#textstats

I've never seen this before. Does Amazon do this for all books, or just a select few? How do you get to this page for a given book? (I wanted to obtain the Fog Index, Flesch Index, Flesch-Kincaid Index, and complexity stats for, oh, say, _An Edge In My Voice_. . . )

Ryan--Your membership is fine.

Kristin--I'll check.

DREAMS. Hold for: Tony, Steve, Mike, David.

Derek: VOICE FROM THE EDGE VOLUME 1 & 2. Only in cassettes.

A follow up to John Zeock's posting about Battlefield Earth being Romney's favorite book:

http://www.slate.com/id/2165373?nav=tap3

Keith have a wonderful trip, hopefully we can touch base when you get back

Mark

A Good Read
Roy Edroso is a writer -- no, strike that, a searingly talented and funny writer -- who runs "alicublog", where he mostly goofs on the more influential right-wing imbecile pundits of our modern era. Recently he has been doing a series of terrific riffs on the nature of art vs. propaganda, and today he posted one of his best yet.

http://alicublog.blogspot.com/2007_04_29_archive.html#8978692678825743412

Excerpt:

"But I fear that if I let such relative externalities as politics sink so deep into my own bedrock that I would let them affect my ability to appreciate the things in life that are really beautiful -- the things that make life worth all the tedious business that goes with it -- that I had to say, no, I reject the appeal of this character, this melody, this gesture, because it conflicts with my political program, then I will have lost my soul."

Damn, but that fucker can write.

red-eye transfer
Tonight, a fat jet screams out of BWI airport destined for Iceland, and we'll be on it. Then we transfer to another plane and continue on to Amsterdam.

Yep, it's time once again to get out there and see what other people are doing to their part of world. Some would call it vacation. Since my lovely girlfriend packed all night last night, and finally climbed into bed this morning at 5am, I call it the beginning of a 7-day sleep-deprivation experiment.

Thehe weather will be rain, followed by ropes of falling precipitation, followed by more rain, for the entire trip save this weekend. It was not originally on the itinerary, but now I'm sure I will have plenty of time to peruse the bookstores.

Harlan, if there's anything you're looking for, from that corner of terra, let me know.

-Keith

On The Road Has Arrived/ 2008 I-Con Question
It was an Ellison cornucopia in the Cassel mailbox yesterday. Received volume 3 of On The Road with that haunting photo of Harlan at his parents' gravestone on the cover. When I first saw the photo at the link above I knew there had to be a story behind it, and voila, there it was; another piece of Harlan's life writ tiny upon the CD notes page. Nice.

Also received Rabbit Hole. Harlan, Debbie and I used to trek to I-Con every other year when you attended. We loved it. When we moved to Arizona in 2002 the only things I knew I would miss about the East Coase were going to Yankee games and our I-Con weekends.

Then your bi-annual trek to I-Con ended as well. Until 2008, according to Rabbit Hole. Is there anything special that prompted you to make a return appearance? Hmmm, 2500 miles is really not that far.....

-TODD

Must be something wrong with the site. I can't get to the link Castro posted.

Big Fat Guy in Naked Glory
adam-troy castro porn adam-troy castro porn xxxclusive pictures turn your head turn your head

Shannon Wheeler yells at Gary Groth then buys a Harlan book
http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/05/03/when-gary-met-shannon/

If this link has already been posted then I apologize
for the repeat. Work has been busy and I have only lightly
skimmed the pavilion the last couple weeks.

It is an article where Gary Groth tries to get Shannon Wheeler
to buy more stuff from him because Harlan is suing him. At
this point Shannon goes off on him and then goes off to buy
a Harlan Ellison book. I was quite amused by that.

Watching and Waiting
I, like FinderDoug, would simply adore a complete WATCHING. It is my all-time favoritest of favorite Ellison books (which is saying a lot). Seeing Kubrick's A CLOCKWORK ORANGE at 11 was the cause for the paradigm shift in my head that forced me to realize that Movies could be Art, but it was WATCHING which then focused that realization and taught me what to do with it and how to even start comprehending and analyzing and thinking about film. I'm not dogmatic about it, there's things I grew to disagree with or modify a bit for my own use, but to this day, after four years of film school and reading any number of Fo'Real Academica Scholahs, I STILL go back to WATCHING, still pull out a passage or an essay to inform my thinking about and attempted work in the medium.

Years ago I dug around and procured the missing columns in their original F&SF publications, and I wouldn't give up my dog-eared paperback copy for the world, but to have everything in one volume for easy access would be divine...(with, if Harlan, y'know, felt like it, maybe...the long-awaited essay on Cronenberg? There's only more wonderful material to talk about, and Harlan's got Josh now, who can tell stories out of school on David from "History"...how about it, Harlan? Let me make this bloodthirsty demand of your art, let me tell you what you should be writing, because, damn it, I'm the consumer, and my every whim must be met!)

Also, HARLAN:
NY Daily News articles in the post this morning. Should make it to you by the end of the next week.


Jason

I'm even more distraught that I can't spell "DEVASTATED" when chiding a man of letters... that almost kills the shuck and jive as soundly as Keith Cramer's "Transformers" interjection...

Harlan,

If I pine, it is only because the dusky corners of my world are so brilliantly illuminated by the merest collection of your genius that my heart literally cramps in the absence of such; I s'pose I'll just have to go back to "Absalom! Absalom!" by that ratbag hack Faulkner for my amusements. SIGH

Or, put differently (and to invoke Tinny Tim), "You have raised my hopes and dashed them quite expertly, sir!"

(I have every faith you know what you're doing, by the by. No one knows the Harlan Ellison racket like you. And maybe Dewey Spitzer of Egg Harbor City, NJ, but that kid has WAAAAAY too much time on his hands...)

And despite being devestated, DEVESTATED I say, by word that I once AGAIN will be deprived a pony, I've managed to slog through my tears and heartbreak to put out a feeler in the direction of someone who may still have a set of the four glasses, mayhap still boxed AND with the gag certificate of authenticity the set came with (all of which sported the same number, ha-ha, how geeky cute.) I'll know when I know. And when I know, you'll know - you know?

Anyway, off we go. Write if you get work!

USA
Her that she picked up and fished amanda bynes porn around thirty. amanda bynes nude There in and headed upstairs. Emily gasped with my dad at least.

OH, FINDER/DOUG, BY THE WAY . . . .

As long as I'm bowing to your every wish (don't fret, Kristin, I know what I'm doing), here's my latest childish demand of you and The Flying Blue Monkey Squad:

My friend Peter David, knowing that among the many items I collect are Promotional -- Collectable, that is -- Drinking Glasses, sent me this week a wonderful gift of two (of the set of 4) promotional glasses released in 1999 to accompany the release of the terrific film GALAXY QUEST with Alan Rickman, Sigourney Weaver, Tim Allen, Tony Shalhoub, Sam Rockwell and Enrico Colantoni. Originally, it was a boxed set of four -- one each featuring Allen, Weaver, Rickman and one with the star trio. Boxed, as I said.

Well, Peter caught an offer on E.Bay for 3 of the four, and ordered them. One of the three got broken in transit; and the box was not included in the deal. But Peter has sent me the two (what a doll that man is), and I am slavering for someone to locate the other two for me. Love to have the box, too, but not absolutely necessary. One mustn't be greedy.

I have the Tim Allen glass and the tripartite-star glass. If anyone can find me the remaining two, well...

You know I'm good for it.

Hopefully, Yr. Pal, Harlan

Susan: Do I need to renew my HERC membership??? i did not expect to have to ask this so soon (there had been as few as two issues a year lately, and now two in a MONTH??)

Harlan: That stinks - that they are leaving out the uncollected material. You don't get the whole picture with just the original book - you need a pile of old F&SF's too.

Kristin

DOUGBABYSWEETIECHICKIEHONEY:

No.

But, if the book does well for M PRESS (in association with Edgeworks Abbey), there is every reason to believe that a sorta something for which you pine openly in your tragic little post would be looked upon with sanguine surmise by the good Rob Simpson, editor at said publishing concern. You could always apprise him of the preceding, if you were of a mind.

Yr. Pal, Harlan

Susan - Rabbit Hole has hit the East Coast - very nice. :) And it's virtually up to the minute, too!

Harlan - Will the forthcoming new edition of "Harlan Ellison's Watching" include the previously uncollected balance of the F&SF columns? Will it add in the previously omitted "Interim Apologia 31 1/2", perhaps as an appendix, for us completist pains in the ass? Will it have a shiny new DVD of the like-named commentaries from that program from that cable station that now shows way too many giant lizard and mutant fish movies, in a neatly bound-in pocket woven from the finest wool gathered from the huacayas alpacas still roaming the stretch of the Camino Real from Quito to Cusco?

Am I asking too much of a trade paperback?

Damn. Same thing happened with Zora Neale Hurston's "Tell My Mule"...

Memoir and other delusions
For Mike Valerio et al:

Just a reminder that if you're wondering whether/if a particular Ellison title has ever been collected in a particular Ellison book, a handy reference is available online:

http://www.islets.net/contents.html

Simply use the "search" function of your browser to find the title, and prestochango, instant enlightenment.

The list is not entirely up to date (I'm trying, pant, pant), but it is fairly complete and detailed, even down to differentiating the contents of distinct editions of the same volume (i.e., new introductions, etc).

I'm now 12 years into the maintenance of Islets of Langerhans and occasionally wonder whether it has outlived its utility. Then I see a question like yours and think, "What the hell." And renew the domain for another year.

One other note: As someone who would have given my left (fill in vital organ here) to be with you all at the "Sharp Teeth" premiere and associated carryings-on, I thank everyone for providing the priceless visual and narrative accountings of so many aspects of that wonderful event. Living vicariously ain't the greatest, but it's still living.

Cheers to Harlan and all ...

Zuz

RE: MORALES'S POST OF A MOMENT AGO

Oh, Robert John, you li'l dickens you!

Out from under the cabbage leaf you draw me ... and thence I post I on the PW/BEAT site ... and now I've amused myself yet again at the cost of a Dignity I ne'er possessed to begin with.

You li'l dickens!

Dimpling prettily, I remain, Yr. Pal, Harlan

A Nice Story
http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/05/03/when-gary-met-shannon/

Can I get one, too?
Hi Susan,

Could I get a copy of Dreams as well? I can get you my HERC # if you need it. All I need is a price.

Thanks,
Tony Adams

m.romney
mitt romney's favorite novel is battle field earth....further, deponent sayeth not. jz

Books and Galleries
SUSAN - Reserve another of those volumes for me as well. (If I'd known there'd be such a paucity, I'd have bought one at the screening. I need to plan ahead, obviously...)
______________________________

JAN - Thank you, and others, for the nice comments on my pics. Glad to know they -- and Erik's terrific EVENING WITH SHARP TEETH -- made some of you feel like you were included. Erik's docu-screening was terrific and definitely recounts the evening well.
______________________________

My website, for future reference, can be located as www.barbergallery.net.

(I've been posting the direct links to the Ellison-related galleries, but all of them can be located via my site's front page.)

It's my understanding that Rick is planning a grander picture page, which I'm looking forward to as well.

Bush announced on the air that he is..."COMMANDER GUY"(sic)!

...And 76% of the Republicans still support him, apparently knowing no embarrassment.

So much for evolution.

**(Steve, I'll be in touch with you soon now with those questions. Probably the whole bit tomorrow. Thanks)

Ordering DREAMS Omnibus
.
SUSAN & HARLAN:

OK, sold! I'll take one of those DREAMS WITH SHARP TEETH volumes.

Just give me a total and I'll send out a check.

And if HE would like to inscribe a little something, that would be swell, too.

Thanks a bunch! - MV

Kos, Patti defines anarchism pretty acurately in that simple lyric. She is a bit naive, like many 60's radicals, but her heart and head are in the right place. I just wish the girl would eat. She always looks so sickly. I know she would never touch any demon drug. The horror. Gurgle.

Anarchism is about the people taking power, not some overseer or boss dictating life for us.

------------

Lyric of the day:

Who'll walk me down to church when I'm sixty years of age
When the ragged dog they gave me has been ten years in the grave
And señorita play guitar, play it just for you
My rosary has broken and my beads have all slipped through

And the future you're giving me holds nothing for a gun
I've no wish to be living sixty years on

Lyrics, Bernie Taupin.

Best CD of the Eighties
Recently listened for the first in years listening, to Patti Smith's 1988 "Dream Of Life".

Astounding all over again.

The songs on it speak -directly- to what is happening today. Give it a listen, and attend directly to the lyrics of "People Have The Power" and "Up There DownThere".

"The people have the power
"The power to dream / to rule
to wrestle the world from fools
it's decreed the people rule"

And if you blush at the lyrics, ask what happened to you, why did you change?

KOS

to hell with protocol

SUSAN:

Geez, if there are only 20 copies left of that sucker, could you lay aside one with my name on it? Since my Rabbit Holes always seem to show up several days after everybody else's, I'm afraid they'll be gone if I wait until then. Yeah, yeah, I overlooked _Dreams with Sharp Teeth_ because I figgered it was another "mere" omnibus, and I'm too busy collecting old magazines with uncollected Ellisonia in them, right now.

JAN:

I tend to miss the trees for the forest, I guess. And I don't know shit about cars, having avoided securing a driver's license until I was 27, and then having given up car ownership again something like 5 years ago, so why would I know what models are in the background of that photo?! (I do feel a bit sheepish about the newspaper, though; and me a sometime French speaker. . . .)

As for folks in the video, I assume you caught the fact that it's Tim Richmond (I'm fairly certain) who's on his feet before anyone else right after the screening ends. Can't remember whether the people sitting to either side of me show up in any of the shots that pass over me in the audience, but Kristin Ruhle was sitting immediately to my left; and though he's not a Webderlander, you ought to know that the tall, craggy-looking gentleman to my right was the Grammy-winning, golden basso reader of hundreds of audiobooks (including Bradbury's _Something Wicked This Way Comes_ for Blackstone, dammit), who also produces most of Harlan's audio work these days, Stefan Rudnicki.

Sorry for double posting, just found out DREAMS had three uncollected pieces - had no idea.

What is that MEMOIR: I HAVE NO MOUTH...? I thought DREAMS... was just a regular omnibus volume. Harlan, why do you do that to us? :-)

I must say today I'm a little disappointed in David, considering that he's recording some Doyle. :-) As everyone can see, without looking at the credits, that those are European cars! I have never seen an Opel in the US, and there's a Fiat behind it and what must be a Peugeot in front. Besides, the newspaper he carries has "Le" in it's title. He he.

Another matter: Thanks to Barber's photo page, there may be other people than David (and the obvious ones) in the EVENING WITH... video that I should have recognized, but I wasn't sure. There are so many Barber's on google that I think we should have a permanent link to the photos from Pink's - they're a part of Webderland history, and I enjoyed them.

Rick?

Susan / Harlan:

Does HERC still have copies of the first two volumes of THE VOICE FROM THE EDGE on CD?

My RABBIT HOLES are packed away somewhere, so I can't check them. My apologies!

Derek

Last Night's Lost
Did anyone catch the (actual) commercial for the Atlantis Resort during last night's episode? Interesting matching of sponsor and program, considering that's one of the prevailing theories of the identity of the island. It reminds me of when Phillips Milk of Magnesia sponsored a WOR-TV airing of "Woman on the Run" (ba dum bum).

DAVID LOFTUS:

The jewel-case photo on the back of the liner for ON THE ROAD WITH ELLISON, Vol. 2:

It was Paris. The street was the Rue du Cirque off the Champs Elysee. The film cases are precisely that: film cases that contained the reels of "Demon With a Glass Hand" that had just won an international film award of some sort, and I was carrying the "movie" to be screened for an audience in the city of Metz, at their Film Festival. I was in the company of one of the best people I've ever known, my friend and editor, Jacques Chambon...now, untimely, stunningly, deceased before his time, too young and too wonderful simply to have dropped dead in his country garden one afternoon, without warning.

Those were fine days with my pal, Jacques.

I am wearing the newsboy's cap I still wear after all these years...the one I wore as a young boy in Painesville, in the '40s, when I sold the Cleveland Plain Dealer (Sunday edition) on the corner of State and Main. That cap, Union Made, is only slightly frayed, wears like iron, has some of my favorite pinback buttons on it, and can be seen on my head in my cameo appearance in "The Discarded" episode of the forthcoming MASTERS OF SCIENCE FICTION series on ABC-tv.

Yr. Pal, Harlan

JASON MICHELITCH:

Terrific. Thank you. What you snagged will be sufficient. You can fold 'em, slap 'em in a regular envelope, and send 'em to me at

Harlan Ellison
c/o HERC
PO Box 55548
Sherman Oaks, CA
91413-0548

Again, thanks. Yr. Pal, Harlan

VALERIO ...

AND EVERYONE ELSE ...

Mike, you're a HERC member. DREAMS is listed on every insert "books available" flyer in every RABBIT HOLE you got/get.

But I was amazed, a moment ago, when Susan advised me that of the several thousand copies of the tripartite DREAMS volume that we bought as remainders from Book-Of-The-Month Club's QPB (the only edition, an original) back in the early '90s, all of them have been sold and we now only have, to my amazement...

20 copies left for sale.

My, how time flies.

Yr. Pal, Harlan

VALERIO ...

AND EVERYONE ELSE ...

Mike, you're a HERC member. DREAMS is listed on every insert "books available" flyer in every RABBIT HOLE you got/get.

But I was amazed, a moment ago, when Susan advised me that of the several thousand copies of the tripartite DREAMS volume that we bought as remainders from Book-Of-The-Month Club's QPB (the only edition, an original) back in the early '90s, all of them have been sold and we now only have, to my amazement...

20 copies left for sale.

My, how time flies.

Yr. Pal, Harlan

MIKE VALERIO:

Getting a mint copy of DREAMS WITH SHARP TEETH (the book, not the movie) could not be simpler. We have all the stock of same...apart from crappy used copies available, I presume, on Ebay somewhere. But just ask Susan for the information. We even sign 'em; and they cost far less in brand-new condition than the scunge copies.

Happy to oblige. Happy to make an honest buck.

Yr. Pal, Susan

a (near) embarrassment of riches

Holy Cats!

Another volume of "On the Road with Ellison" due out in a week or so . . . another volume of "Voice from the Edge" stories on the way . . . and dat wonderful film about Da Man. What a great year this is turning out to be!

HARLAN:

I pulled out my copy of "On the Road" volume 2 and looked at it last night. Where was the cover photo taken? It's obviously a narrow, older street so it can't be LA or too many other towns west of the Mississippi. My first thought was Boston -- on the way to a reading or day in the window of the late, lamented Avenue Victor Hugo bookstore, maybe?

But then I saw the photo credit inside: Jacques Chambon. Gotta be Paris. But what're you carrying? It ain't the Olympia. Instead, two very large but narrow cases that, I'm guessing, contain reels of film. WTF?

Is it Paris? What's the story there?

More VOICE FROM THE EDGE recordings! Woo-hoo!

I'll now return to my regularly scheduled quasi-lurking.

--
Ryan

"Masters of Science Fiction" will be shown this coming August
Cinematic Happenings Under Development, (aka CHUD.Com) states that "Masters of Science Fiction" will be shown this coming August on Saturdays, but only four of the six completed episodes.

For more go to
http://www.chud.com/index.php?type=thud&id=10068
and scroll down to MASTERS OF SUMMER SCHEDULING.

NY DAILY NEWS ARTICLE
Hey Harlan,

The guy at the deli wouldn't give up the front covers (he wanted 'em for returns) but I managed to snag the bodies of two copies of yesterday's NY Daily News, with the article on ABC and "Masters" inside. I took a look at the inside front cover, and there was no mention of the article in the TOC, so hopefully you wouldn't have wanted it anyway.

If you still need a couple copies of the article, let me know when is a good time to call, so that I may hear exactly what you want sent and how it is you would want me to send it. Or just post it up here, if the mailing address you want it sent to is safe for public consumption. Whatuther yer druthers.

Jason

Windows Vista

Vista's current kinks include mindlessly stupid dialog boxes asking questions about "Do you really mean to do this?" type of logically insultives. My response is YEAH!..I really mean it .. why do you think I entered the command in the first place?

Question About MEMOIR: I HAVE NO MOUTH AND I MUST SCREAM
To DON HILLIARD:

Well, that explains it. DREAMS WITH SHARP TEETH is one of the very few HE volumes that I don't own. Guess I'll have to do somthing about that.

Thanks very much for the info, my friend.

I hope that someone does something nice for you today!

*** Harlan *** No problem and my pleasure. And it needed doing.

Susan should have a letter explaining whatever isn't self-explanatory. A "hard copy" could also be produced of the contents on that CD-R, but I don't really think that's necessary at this point. For the record, what comes after the closing date on that clocks in at around 4,500 words. I figured the ghost of Scott Meredith would want to know. ;-)

Hugs to the Electric Baby. Hope to see the both of you soon.

Regards and all the best - Barney

RH41
Susan,
Rabbit Hole 41 arrived in my corner of Orange County today. As always a well laid out impressive flyer.
Erik,
Thanks for the links to the video and song. For some reason my computer can't show me the video past "this country has ever produced". I guess I will wait for the DVD to see the rest.
I also enjoyed the song, it has been rolling in the back of my head since I heard it today at lunchtime. You say the CD is long out of print but if the artist manages to make a download available I will pony up my credit card.

Harlan....

Says....

We're not alone....

M. Valerio: "Memoir" is included in the DREAMS WITH SHARP TEETH omnibus TPB (replacing a story duplicated between two of the collections in said omnibus). Never seen it anywhere else.

Question About MEMOIR: i HAVE NO MOUTH AND I MUST SCREAM
.
I'm probably going to feel stupid for asking this, but I'll ask it anyway.

Has HE's essay MEMOIR: i HAVE NO MOUTH, AND I MUST SCREAM (originally published in something called STARSHIP back in the Summer of 1980) ever appeared anywhere else?

I just came upon a ratty and faded photocopy that somebody must have given me nearly three decades ago (since I would swear I've never seen a copy of whatever STARSHIP was). I was going to pitch it out, confident that it must have been published in one of HE's essay collections since then.

But I just thumbed through all my copies of the collections all and I can't seem to find it in any of them.

Did just miss it in all my thumbing? Or has this piece never appeared anywhere else?

Thanks in advance for any help...

Question About MEMOIR: i HAVE NO MOUTH AND I MUST SCREAM
I'm probab

JAN:

They're not sunglasses. They're regular prescription for my farsightedness (or is it nearsightedness? i can NEVER get those two unbollixed...well, anyhow...), but they are lightly tinted. My eyes are extremely sensitive to stage lights or direct sun shining at them, and I wear these tinted glasses all the time.

My sunglasses (also prescription) are much darker.

-he

?que pasa?
SEEN LISTED ON AMAZON:
PULP FICTION THE VILLAINS
Hardcover: 528 pages
Publisher: Quercus (July 4, 2007)
ISBN-10: 1847240763
ISBN-13: 978-1847240767

?Que pasa?

PERSONAL THANKYOU TO MR. B. DANNELKE:

I got everything! Geeeeezus, kiddo!

Herniated, just from the lifting, I remain, as always,

Yr. Pal, Harlan

HELP, plz.

If anyone in the NYC area (Bob? Peter? Cliff?) could snag me a couple of copies of today's NY DAILY NEWS with Bianculli's piece on the ABC scheduling nightmare, I'd apppreciate it. Give me a call, and I'll tell you which sections and/or pages I need for scrapbook and archive provenance, so you won't get stuck having to ship the entire paper. I will recompense as requested. Do NOT, I repeat, DO NOT tell me recompense isn't required; it is; otherwise, I'm a mooch and a schnorrer.

But, pleeeeez, somebody grab'em up today, if you can.

Thanks in advance...whomever.

Yr. Pal, Harlan

ALEX JAY BERMAN:

Damned if I know. Why don't you ask Ben?

-he

ain't life grand?

All RI-I-I-IGHT!!!

I turn up five or six times in Evening With Sharp Teeth (and I can recognize what an old girlfriend once called my "fat laughter" in the background of a number of other shots).


Jan wrote: "Good to see Loftus and Herzog. . . "

And that's the first and last time I'm ever gonna be mentioned in the same sentence with Werner Herzog!

Seriously, I'm ALMOST finished with my extensive report on the screening for DocumentaryFilms.net, and I'll let you know when it goes online. It's both exciting and a little disappointing to see the video about the screening go on the Internet before my piece, because now there's an audiovisual record against which to compare my notes. So they were really good to begin with, but they weren't entirely accurate or complete. . . .

There's something familiar about the byline on that piece from the NY Daily News about the raw deal "Masters of Science Fiction" is getting . . . seems like I've heard the name David Bianculli on NPR in the past. Isn't he a commentator on "All Things Considered" or the afternoon business and finance show? Since he seems to be a sympathetic party, maybe Erik Nelson oughta shoot over a DVD copy of "Dreams with Sharp Teeth" to him, yes?

I'm getting ready to do a little audio recording myself in the near future: Sherlock Holmes, O. Henry, maybe a little Jack London.

I’m in An Evening With Sharp Teeth!! I’m in An Evening With Sharp Teeth!!

I’m the white-haired guy to whom Harlan says, “You think you’re old?”

I’m in it!! I’m in it!!

(Wait a minute…Damn! Was that my fifteen minutes?)

Mike

Ellisinger
Harlan: if ever I make it to Wonderland, I'm bringin' my guitar.

"Who was that masked muggerfugger?"

"Oh, him? Why he's the Finder Doug!"

"Hiyo, Mousepad, Away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Letter Arrived


Harlan and Susan,

The letter arrived today. Many thanks.

Bob

Thanks for the video, Erik!

My favorite bits are where Josh leans into the shot while Harlan's talking. ;-)

Good to see Loftus and Herzog.

Harlan, just out of curiosity, why did you perform the stories with sunglasses on?

Halan-
The package arrived safely and I am taking it and pizza over to Fred and Joan’s house tonight. They wanted to watch it with just the 3 of us before the party so they could give it their undivided attention. It will be on during the party too! May I post here tomorrow or would you rather I call/write? I will mail it back to you on Monday. You really are the sweetest!
Yours,
Patricia

Harlan, thank you for the kind comments. I know you have a lot of days were you are dancing as fast as you can, so no problem on this one. It is extremely frustrating to be unable to remember where I have seen the info from time to time I was looking at. Thanks to Ray Carlson and FinderDoug for the info to track down the magazine. I did go ahead and do the 6 issue subscription, I tried to post it in US$ but it posted as 26 pounds so not totally sure how much I just spent. I have subscribed to all different kinds of sf/fantasy magazines over the years, I'm sure I'll enjoy this one.
Thanks for the answer Adam-Troy, I need to track down some of your other work amd check it out also.

Actually, Bush isn't worth much more than the screed Harlan just laid out, like ice on an aching tooth.

Nah, I will continue to call you by your first name. You deserve at least that much respect. We tire you so, but in love. We are rugrats, but cute ones.

I think Carlin has you beat on how many times he was Court Martialed, I may be wrong. Damn, I love me some infidels.

----------------

God, not Hitchens compliments, anything but that. Hitchens is so hardline on his anti-religion gimmick that he reminds me of the rigid religious nutters that he pretends to loathe. We must never forget that the black church saved America--needs to save it again, before it sinks.

Hitchens has nothing to offer. He is a dirtbag and his gift as a writer is limited. In a world with James Wolcott and Alex Cockburn and Lewis Lapham and the god, Gore Vidal, who needs Chris, the septic bug?

His views on the war are bogus; this wasn't his war anyway. This war belongs to one man, and I think you all know who it is. Wars always begin with the person who brung it.

Hitchens is the bad potato at the bottom of the bag that Iraqi children play stickball with. Right jolly ole ponce.

The end of "An Evening With Sharp Teeth"
Mr. Ellison: Babs says you were a tad off when you hit the high C over C during that song; otherwise, not bad.