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 Bo