ISSUE #14 This Here... “...sucked all the creative air out of the rooms...” (H Waldrop)

into seeing this latest epic asap, especially given the good EGOTORIAL buzz surrounding it. But no, not in this case. I was vaguely reminded of my unwillingness to go see the original Star BB complains that we rarely sit and watch anything on TV Wars, in that case primarily because I was put off by the together (with the possible exceptions of TNA Wrestling, relentless hype. When The Empire Strikes Back came out, I which I’ve managed to get her into, and the local news at saw both in a special double feature at the local flick nearest dinner time). This isn’t really surprising, since when I’m to Tufnell Park, where I was then living, and reflected working (most of the time since September, but sadly not so afterwards that I was glad I hadn’t given in on the first one, much this month), I’m ready for bed around 8 since I get up since although I liked Empire a lot, the first one, eh, not so at 4am or so most days, and in any case whereas her taste much, since it suffers from the same problem as the later runs to whatever is on the Hallmark or Lifetime channels, Lord of the Rings epics, in that the central character, be it mine is an eclectic mix of rasslin’, MSNBC and Family Guy Frodo Baggins or Luke Skywalker, is an insufferable little tit. reruns. Overall I thought Nevertheless, the newest this Valentine’s incarnation of weekend I was Star Trek was persuaded to bloody good! I participate in the especially liked purchase of a the neat, if pay-per-view obvious movie for explanation for Saturday night, the continuity which is how I differences between this and finally got to see Spot the insufferable tit the J.J. Abrams’ Roddenberry’s Star Trek. original. The recreation of each character’s younger version was also for For those who may have forgotten why I rarely tend to see the most part spot-on, and Nimoy’s turn as the older Spock all these blockbuster epics when they come out, I dislike was integral rather than distracting. The sequel, possibly out going to the theater primarily because I have a strong in 2012, presumably before the end of the world kicks in, aversion to the smell of popcorn, at least the stuff they sell in may actually get me into the theater again, though I’m the ciné parlors, which always reminds me of warmed-over probably due maybe one more theater movie before then. cat sick. There are very rare exceptions, the most recent Crank 3, maybe? being Watchmen, which we saw after Corflu Zed during our sojourn in Hollywood in a rather upscale joint with little overt evidence of feline regurgitation. You might have also It’s all good. thought that given my notable history as a Star Trek fandom Nic Farey, February 2010 refugee, having run ST cons back in the day, that I’d be well

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given ahead of time) has been top-notch - these people like THE COMPANY OF DOGS to make sure you’re as well-informed as possible about your pet’s condition. Firstly, thanks to all those who expressed sympathy (in locs and elsewhere) on the loss of the wonderful Bosstone. After six months or so, we were chatting to Lindsey, top bartender at our awesome local Aces & Ales, and it transpired that due to a forced move into an apartment, she and her husband were no longer able to keep their dog and were looking for a home for her. “I’ll take her!”, I offered, only then adding “Er - what kind of dog?”

BB has been banging on for years about wanting a lapdog of some description, which it quickly turned out that this one transparently isn’t. Lulu is a shepherd mix of some stripe, We retrieved a nicely groggy beast after a couple days, we think possibly Akita and maybe even a dollop of mastiff. bringing her home all the while singing “Did I Shave My She weighs in at 50 pounds or so (23 kilos in French money) Leg for This?” Although short-haired, her coat is still not and appears to have fairly boundless energy interspersed quite fully grown back in after three months. The surgeon with periods of recuperative sleep . tells us that it will be something like six months before she’s back to full trim, although the way she boings about the place right now you couldn’t tell.

We managed to get all BB’s progeny here for the Xmas hols, and one of our projects was to try to get to the animal shelter and rescue some kind of tinier mutt for her. The fairly thorough website gives you a decent list to look through, but of course that’s no substitute for actually going to see the animal. We’d picked out a couple of likely prospects - there weren’t really that many since she’s a terrier fan (Yorkies especially since future Oscar-winner son Dan has one) and almost everything round here seems to be some kind of chihuahua mix. The assumption has to be that not only are LULU there a lot of chihuahuas around, but they also apparently like to fuck a lot and aren’t too fussy about who with. (Several fannish pet names suggest themselves at this point.) We took her to the local vet for an update of shots, and Almost all the puppies we went to look at were already asked them to check out the fact that she appeared to be gone, and the one that wasn’t was obviously much too favoring one back leg somewhat. Having checked her out aggressive. Somewhat disappointed, we browsed the rest of thoroughly, the X-Rays showed she had a condition which, the kennels, at least the smaller dog parts, in a fairly cursory despite having some intense sports-sounding descriptor way before coming back outside, since Dan and Joe wanted (patellar luxation), basically meant that her knees are to get over to the Strip for some bar-hopping. fucked. The simple description of this condition is that the kneecap jumps out of place. In Lulu’s case this was because As we walked toward the exit, past the rather small exercise the usual “groove” in which the patella resides was pens, we noticed a woman with a small, chocolate-colored extremely shallow - this is a condition that tends to affect dog which was a little oasis of calm amid the expected smaller dogs more frequently, I’m told. Corrective surgery is cacophony. We asked the lady walking this little mutt what the solution: they go in and make a new groove for the the story was, and it transpired she was waiting for her kneecap. Ah well, lucky for the poor pooch that I still had daughter (who works at the shelter) to confirm that, money (apart from fixing the knee, the surgery also excises although originally interested in adopting the dog, wasn’t $1300 from the wallet). This having been said, I have no now going to do so. “I’ll take her!”, I cried, in a flash of déjà complaints about the Mountain Vista Animal Hospital, who vu. are a concerned, caring and able bunch and, compared to what I would have likely paid back in Maryland, pretty It took a minute to get all this sorted out, as there’s fuckin cheap actually. Also I have to say the quality of understandably a bit of paperwork involved, and as the dog information given there (including the quote for the surgery hadn’t yet been spayed we’d have to wait until that

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procedure was carried out, meaning we’d be able to collect And so it came to pass that we collected “Godiva” (who her on Boxing Day (26th December for you heathen would of course get a new name), all the while a little colonials). trepidatious about how BB, not to mention Lulu, would take to the new arrival, and moderately ceremoniously dumped We’ve been accredited by no less than the great luminaries in her in BB’s lap. Bill, of course, took a bunch of photos, this area, the Katzes, as fine and willing party hosts - a chore including this one in which he swears she’s smiling! which isn’t so bad when you got a bob or two. BB loves being the thoughtful hostess, although the party lead-up is when she tends to become Martha Stewart, causing the rest of us to hide in the office/under tables/up the pub etc. As 2009 Boxing Day fell on a Saturday, and we’d been encouraged to throw fan bashes on Vegrants “off weeks” (meetings are first and third Saturdays of the month, barring special visits by out-of-town luminaries eg Steve Green), and I thought back to my Hitchin days when my good friend Tony Russell and his much-missed late wife Erika always had open house on Boxing Day. Dubbed “Waifs and Strays” by Erika, who was German, there would be a hot dish of some kind in a crockpot, but mostly meats, cheeses, bread and pickles, and of course a suitable amount of drink. Both as a kind of thank you to our Vegas friends and in part as a small tribute to Erika’s generosity of years past, the invitations to “Waifs and Strays” at the Farey house were pinged out. I also wanted to BB & B show off the rebuilt deck, since me and a couple of the lads from Able Body had got this finished up a few days prior. After some bantering, bandying and bartering over the next You get an idea from this photo, but basically it looks like a couple days, the latest addition to the family is rechristened rug pattern in redwood. I invited the chaps and their “Bailey”, and she has celebrated ever since by chewing up families along too so they could share in the plaudits. anything she can get them little pointy teeth on and being fairly recalcitrant about being house-trained. Oh yeah, she is of course a chihuahua mix. TUNES! (REDUX) It’s probably interesting to note that BB was barely aware of the Clash before she met me (other than the knowledge that she liked the song ‘Rock the Casbah’), and was also unaware of many of the bands and artists of whom I am rather fond. Having sat in the Sarf Lunnun park where Difford and Tilbrook were said to have composed the basics of many of their songs, and having a great affinity for “slice of life” songwriting (cf the Clash’s ‘Stay Free’) it’s no surprise that I would be a fan of Squeeze. Early singles like ‘Cool for Cats’ and most notably ‘Up the Junction’ struck a chord with many people, reflecting accurately the lives they were leading with catchy tunes, memorable wordplay and wry L-R: Brandon, me, Kevin after a hard day’s drinking work observation, often with more than a hint of gritty realism Since we were told to pick the dog up after 4pm, I more or concealed in the mix (this latter being most evident in one of less arranged ahead of time for Bill Mills to drive us up my favorite Squeeze songs, ‘Vicky Verky’ from the third there, since I knew I was going to be more or less (more) album Argybargy. ‘Another Nail in my Heart’, also from that unfit by that point. The pickup actually took well over an disc, was one song I seemed to instantly know all the words hour (the place is 20 minutes away) and of course BB’s usual to.) paranoia was in full-on mode after we’d been disappeared Post-Argybargy, 1980 saw the departure of the stylish and for a while. Fortunately the duties of the hostess kept her often irreverent Jools Holland who was replaced by Paul occupied while we continued our stealth mission. Carrack, who had been a member of the chart-toppers Ace

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(‘How Long’) and had also played with Roxy Music! Carrack overall design of instruments, he gave a most succinct ended up only staying with the band for this one album, answer: “Ashtrays.” though he did rejoin later, and was the lead vocal on RASSLIN’ probably Squeeze’s The big news of late is of course the arrival of Hulk Hogan best-known single and a large number of his clapped-out pals at TNA, and the worldwide: rather sweeping changes this has brought about. On the ‘Tempted’. The immediate plus side, the “Hogan debut” show, a live three- album, in many hour special which went out on a Monday night in direct ways a significant competition with WWE Raw, won the ratings hands down change of direction and, according to Online World of Wrestling columnist Jay for the boys, was Shannon, also produced the superior show. WWE’s East Side Story. programming response was to bring back Bret “the Hitman” Hart after 12 years, still seething from the Montreal Screwjob, Although presaged to have Vince McMahon kick him in the nuts, both in this respect to a figuratively and literally. large extent by Argybargy, East Side Story was considered by most critics to mark a turning point for the band, away from My own initial reaction to the acquisition of Hogan as what the “New Wave” tag with which they’d inexplicably been appears to be the “face” of TNA, and knowing that the lumped, and into more varied styles. ‘Tempted’ is a fine slice perennial heel administrator Eric “Easy E” Bischoff was of blue-eyed soul, something the boys could be said to have coming along for the ride, was that with head writer Vince perfected with the later ‘Black Coffee in Bed’ (BB’s favorite). Russo, TNA now has all the people in place who were ‘Messed Around’ is pure rockabilly, and the single ‘Labelled considered to be the main contributors to the wrecking of With Love’ is a straight-up cry-in-yer-beer country lament. WCW. I was willing, however, (and still am to an extent) to Glenn Tilbrook was said to have thought this song too give them some leeway, even though they bring back Sean country, but was supposedly persuaded by producer Elvis Waltman (X-Pac) and Scott Hall (who is not allowed to Costello, whose own country album Almost Blue would hit actually wrestle, it seems, presumably due to the usual the racks later that same year. It’s easy to see this track as a locomotive breath), even though they dug up the Nasty Boys kind of novelty item threatening, along with the mega-hit from whatever tuppeny regional promotion they had been ‘Tempted’, to overshadow the set, but really there isn’t a duff hiding in, even though there are unsettling signs that once tune anywhere in the lot. again this is looking like payday for the Hulksters otherwise unemployable buddies. David Fricke, in his Rolling Stone review, compares the Difford/Tilbrook writing team to Lennon/McCartney, an The tease at the Genesis PPV with the appearance of Jeff over-the-top comparison to be sure, and all the less accurate Hardy, whom I still cannot fuckin stand but would since it’s well-known that almost every Beatles song credited undoubtedly be a huge draw has yet to result in an actual to L/M was really either Lennon or McCartney, whereas signing. Perhaps they’re worried that he and Hall would be Squeeze tunes were a genuine collaboration (usually too much of a pisshead quotient. However, the additions of Difford’s lyrics and Tilbrook’s music). This having been said, Brian Kendrick and Ken Anderson have to be seen as there’s no doubt that the sheer songcraft evident in gems like positives. Both are accomplished heels, Kendrick can add ‘In Quintessence’, ‘Piccadilly’ and ‘Someone Else’s Heart’ even more fizz to the X Division with his undoubted skills, firmly establishes the team in the first and Anderson (formerly “Kennedy”) is one division along with contemporaries Costello of the best workers of the mic there is, and Nick Lowe. unerringly drawing huge heat from any crowd. Although, given TNA’s predilection The replacement of Jools Holland dimmed for face/heel turns, maybe we can expect the overall personality quotient of the band both to be on the side of the angels ere long. somewhat (the underrated and very solid rhythm section of Bentley & Lavis rarely get Speaking of turns (and Arnie the K has face time), but Paul Carrack seems to bring wondered aloud whether there’s anybody more of a stylistic variation to proceedings. the company hasn’t turned at some time or And Carrack, in a music press interview another), the heel turn of champion A J after ‘Tempted’ became a hit was memorable Styles can be said to have generated a huge to me (a fellow keyboard player). Asked TWANG! noise, which would be the bounds what improvement he might make to the of credulity stretched to breaking point, further exacerbated by the presence of Ric

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Flair, taking the champ under his flabby wing and Anderson contributes to his eventual loss. The PPV was announcing to all and sundry that Styles is “the new Nature solid, if unspectacular (having no X-Division matches Boy”. The fact that this came out of nowhere, has no internal obviates a lot of the usual high spots), and even the two logic, and is not even remotely believable given Styles’ bathroom break bouts (3D/Nasty Boys and Foley/Abyss) known reputation as a born-again goody-two-shoes, and came off better than expected. treats a previous attempt at turning A J heel (which was cut Hopefully the promotion will start to bring some stability to very short) as never having happened, makes it all the the storylines, which did happen at the PPV to an extent, and worse. The only conceivable spin I can put on this to make in any case is easier to do with a more focused event such as any sense out of it at all is that Flair will be turned upon at this. It remains to be seen how Hogan’s monster ego will some point and denigrated as a sinister Svengali figure, work with the still excellent TNA roster. And one thing Arnie intent on the corruption of TNA’s finest, noblest... well, you is right about: Lord, the Hulkster is fuckin’ incoherent get the drift. The concept of Flair as manipulator at least sometimes! yields a ring of truth when rapped lightly and held up to the ear. As heel turns go, even Bill Goldberg’s ill-advised and badly handled switch back in the WCW days was better than LOCO CITATO this. [[Editorial comment looks like this. Yes, the date is correct The Against All Odds PPV on February 14th was mostly on Sheryl’s loc, which should of course have appeared in #13, about the 8-man tournament to anoint the #1 challenger for but only just turned up in the clutter that is still the East the winner of the Styles/Samoa Joe World Heavyweight Side Insurgent Office...]] Championship match. Every match in this knockout From: 25509 Jonnie Court, Gaithersburg MD 20882 tournament except the last was uncannily predicted by Jay September 4 Shannon (at onlineworldofwrestling.com), who correctly deduced the final pairing of D’Angelo Dinero and Mr. Sheryl Birkhead (BS, MS, BS, DVM) writes: Anderson, but not the eventual winner (Dinero). Okay, I’m ignoring all the very specific signs that the Saint Leonard address is a bit passé, but I’ll just go with it and presume mail forwarding is in effect. Several points of clarification on my last loc... apparently (sounded plausible to me) the coaxial cable from about 1975 needed to be replaced - or rather that new cable would be much more efficient (as per the electrician). [[While this might appear to be instant bollocks, the sparky may have had a point, since (a) the insulation component of coax does degrade over time (causing signal loss), and/or (b) the impedance value of your old cable may be inappropriate for the honkin’ new digital age...]] In retrospect this should have been an easy call, since, as Jay I have a small woodstove in the basement fireplace and a also predicted, AJ Styles retained his championship, so woodstove insert in the upstairs fireplace. Ironically (the guy having Anderson take the #1 contender spot would have who built and sold the house gave me all the paperwork) the created an unlikely heel/heel matchup (although as I original BuckStove lasted from 1980 to 2006. The insert I had commented earlier, I fully expect Mr. A to turn face at some put in (I had to settle for what the chimney sweep people point - possibly around the same time Matt Morgan’s carried - around here not many people have such things!) inevitable heel turn occurs). The wisdom of having the when the old one died (and I had flue liners put in) needs the Championship match before the tournament final on the card firebricks replaced - after only 3 seasons of use. I had no idea is a bit suspect, since most knowledgeable fans would then about this - but understand the concept of the ceramic “tiles” have deduced the Dinero win. The bookers tried to make this needing to be replaced... but after only three seasons???? Oh a less likely outcome by having the Pope attacked by (yawn) well, in the big scheme of things it is one of the cheaper Hall and Waltman immediately before the final match, with things that needs doing. the result that he barely makes it to the ring in time. The roof antenna is wired into the TV in the living room and Excellent heel work and characteristic cockiness from Mr. down into the little under-the-stairs room in the basement

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that has the splitter. From there the cables go to the rec room was aware that I had not pulled back in after passing (well - and back upstairs to one of the bedrooms. The electrician duh - yeah!). After letting me squirm a while he finally said (and yes, I understand loss over distance travelled) said all he was going to let us go with just a warning this time. I said that cable is so old (put in around 1980 or so) - and I saw thank you. He had started to walk back to his car, but at that how brittle they were when one separated in my hand) it all he wheeled around and leaned in the window - “What did needs to be replaced. Ah, but the economy has made all this you say???!!!”. Gulp, I managed to squeak out thank you, and moot. Right now it is a race to see if the bank balance hits he stepped back and let it go. I can, um... er... only imagine zero before I can figure out a way to generate income from what he thought I had said and that he was not used to being the little stock I have. It is going to be close!! Stay tuned (if thanked. your digital converted so allows)! I must say that some of the photos you reproduce come out TV and even the computer still come under the heading of so glossily well - nice job. frills if I am forced into a corner. I will admit the computer ✻ ✻ ✻ trumps TV since all my business records are on computer but From: 108 Grand Canyon, Madison WI 53705 I need to get those money trees in the back yard to produce. September 8 Since I don’t go anywhere, I don’t need to be concerned over room rates. Somehow the idea of saving for a trip seems Tracy Benton writes: ludicrous when I keep siphoning off anything saved to pay Was just reviewing This Here... #10 and #11 and considering such silly things as the electric bill... or the property tax bill. how much my dad would have enjoyed them. Your tales of Way down deep I cringe over the room rates you are rambling here and there are right up his alley, and he would mentioning - agh - this is just for, essentially, renting a small have argued wrasslin with you. But he passed away in 2007 place overnight... and a laundry surcharge! Ah well, my so that loc is not to be and you are stuck with this lowly PoC. rationalization is not going to change anything. If I were My fave was your take on the hard rock songs, GnR is NOT going to be a hotel guest I would love it to be 5-star, but the HARD ROCK in my opinion. They are merely “loud rock”. likelihood of that is between slim and non-existent. My And why is Nirvana even considered? father used to say: “Spit in one hand and wish in the other, [...] and see which one fills up first.” [[Sorry Tracy, the last sentence was rendered illegible by Um... talking about the letters you are entitled to add to your some kind of USPS franking, reading “But I only watch name... I am entitled to B.S. (twice), M.S. (once) and DVM - these shows to ... the screen anyway”...]] in chronological order, BS, MS, BS, DVM, and that’s a lot of ✻ ✻ ✻ BS (too obvious to pass up, sorry). From: pamelaboal@westfieldway.fsnet.co.uk Oh yeah, my father had a PhD in agricultural economics, and that is really apropos of nothing, just wanted to pass it along. December 4 [[I’ve no doubt you’re aware of the common interpretation of Pamela Boal writes: those degrees: BS (Bull Shit), MS (More Shit), PhD (Piled Oh my goodness you really are the most adverse event prone Higher and Deeper)...]] person I know. I sincerely hope that you are now [...] comfortably settled in your new home with employment to sustain you. Sympathy over the loss of Bosstone it is hard to While I was at Penn State I was the only one in the group I lose canine friends, especially before their due time. hung out with to have a car. One weekend I drove another science-major type (she, Organic Chemistry; I started as The cartoon on page three is really neat. It addresses not only Geochemistry and changed to Solid State Science) to her music but many 1984 type concerns of today. home for the weekend. On the way there we had a nice long Still a big topic in the LoCs, smoking. I have been smoking stretch of divided (i.e. high speed) highway that was wide for sixty years, as I have singularly failed to give up after open and absolutely deserted. For some reason I pulled over many attempts I must conclude that I do not really wish to to the right to pass a car (and checked to be sure I was not relinquish my fifteen to twenty a day. It is possible to be a blocking anyone - nope, no-one in sight) and just stayed out considerate smoker, for example we go out in to the garden there. It seemed innocuous to me - no-one in sight and an to puff when the grandchildren are here or in our covered open road... We were talking when suddenly a flashing light passage when the weather is inclement. Most smokers are started up behind me. I looked up, put on the turn signal and content to remove themselves from non smoking areas. moved back into the right-hand lane, expecting the cop to Drinkers are less considerate when they lovingly breath their just zip on by. Nope, he pulled in behind us and the light fumes in to my face and give me a migraine headache. Of kept going. Okay, message received. I pulled over and gave course my head tells me of the dangers of smoking but my him all the paperwork he requested. He wanted to know if I habit reminds me that of the ten people close to me who

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have cancer, only two were smokers, it was his alcohol Gong's jazz-tinged and blissed out form of space rock is pickled liver that killed him and her cancer was unrelated to perfect trance/rave music. Strange. smoking, might even have been related to an over long term ✻ ✻ ✻ medication. From: 2202 E. 22nd Street, Austin, TX 78722 I so agree with Mike Meara on the matter of paper zines. I'm December 16 going to be mean here and point out (hasn't every one) that you called Mike - Mark. Howard Waldrop writes: [[Mark pointed out that I’d called Mike “Mark” after I’d First a new Chunga, now This Here... It’s been a fanzine kind sent him the pdf. My reaction was a predictable: “At this of week in America. Thanks. point, fuck it”...]] Ah, the days of Mott the Hoople, whose version of ‘All the One reason why my LoCs have tended to be brief is that I Young Dudes’ was better than Bowie’s. Everybody was have been busy with preparing items for publication. The waiting for Glam Rock to transmogrify into something else. first fruit of that labour a collection of my poetry entitled - A (Didn’t happen.) Punk sucked all the creative air out of the Million Capillary Thoughts - is available on rooms and the glam rockers stuck safety pins in their noses www.abook2read.com £2 to download. No print copy as yet etc. Like muscle-man movies in Italy: overnight the same that depends on the number of downloads. Yes, me the great people started making spaghetti westerns... disliker of the web is publishing on line. At 74 one is aware [[Actually I thought the glams kept their heads down for a that time may be running out and I'm certainly not going to bit until they re-emerged as “ New Romantics”, with the beat them, so if I am to get things done I must join em. ludicrously made-up Steve Strange of Visage as perhaps ✻ ✻ ✻ their apotheosis...]] From: [email protected] December 5 Steve Jeffery writes: Ah, so that's how your subtitles work. A phrase dropped out of a letter completely out of context. [[Jeez, it’s taken you 13 issues to figure that out? You must be taking the piss...]] The Sainted Ones, Claire and Mark, mark their 40th ish of Banana Wings with a run down of all their subtitles back to issue 1 (although given BW started as two independently edited and differently titled zines, it gets a little murky at that point). I was particularly taken by “the penguin state of goths” (20), “my brain's bigger on the inside” (34) and “I am perversely disappointed that they have dismantled the otter” (28). However I still do remember the context for “Dead Coypus Levitate” (8, Nov 1997), which comes from the opening line of John Sweeney's Purple Homicide, about Martin Bell's anti-sleaze campaign against Neil and Christine Hamilton in 1997. The full quote is: “Dead coypus levitate as the witches come ✻ ✻ ✻ to Knutsford Heath to watch the murder of a day-old From: 4030 8th Street South, Arlington VA 22204 politician called Martin Bell.” December 17 Ah, the ‘death of fanzines’ discussion. Like ‘home taping is Alexis Gilliland writes: killing live music’, which I remember hearing over 30 years back. Haven't noticed bands have stopped touring though. Thank you for This Here... #13, which arrived in the run up In fact a colleague at work was talking about having gone to to the winter solstice. Sorry to hear about your loss of see Gong play the other night. Apparently they haven't Bosstone, but even the best of dogs are mortal, as are their changed much (a bit older and weirder), but somewhere masters. Will my current cats outlive me? Maybe, maybe not, between the 70s and now “da youf” (as I believe they if they do, that’s their problem. represent themselves, blood) have also discovered that Mike Meara wonders if doing cons and fanzines are still the most common forms of fannish interaction. Good question.

THIS HERE... 7 THIS HERE... #14 The truth which I had imagined to be self-evident turns out tears below the zip code of my address, which extend to the to be problematical since the culture changes and the typical other side of the fold. Also, over on the left side of the sheet fan has more options than ever before, most of which are there's a 2-inch tear at about a 45-degree angle and a closed somehow connected to the internet. Unless you define fans tear below the 5-cent stamp on the upper right. Even the in terms of fanzines and cons, that truth of mine is probably envelope in which the sheet arrived isn't in the best of shape, less than totally true. It is hard to think of someone being warped and twisted as you can see both front and rear. immersed in The World of Warcraft, for instance, as anything [...] but a fan, even without the traditional fannish stigmata. Facebook and LiveJournal seem also fannish, though Twitter may be only fakefannish. You ask Eric Lindsay why you can’t be a faned and a pinko commie sympathizer? Probably because you are not John Boardman is why. Generally, however, faneds prefer to get their fantasy fix from fiction (or rassling) rather than politics. You also say Marx was right. Well, yes, but as Joe Major noted, there are errors of fact in the Koran as well. To be specific, Marx was an excellent journalist, and when he stuck to what he knew he was right more often than not. The ongoing housing bubble in the US supports what Marx had to say about the problem of excess production, for example. However, when he let his mind run free in the fields of theory, old Karl made some assumptions about human nature that have not been verified by observations in the field. Thus, capitalists and their governments tend to be interactive systems, so that the same individual is often wearing two hats, and trying to balance the demands of both sides. The result is that the pure capitalism of Marx is often balanced by the pragmatic need to survive. [[Which is, I think, more or less what I said, though perhaps couched in different terms...]] You mention the Pasadena bid for the Nasfic. Our Friday night Raleigh Nasfic bid party at Westercon reminded those good old boys that, hey, there was also a Nasfic coming up,

and on Saturday, after they won their Pasadena bid for next [[Robt’s email, subject: “Every fanzine editor’s nightmare”, year’s Westercon, they did a little celebrating, and after a also contained the kind offer to print from the efanzines pdf, few beers posted the Pasadena Nasfic bid (same guests, date which I accepted with alacrity. The venerable Lichtman and hotel as Westercon) on Facebook early Sunday morning. followed up on December 22 with “Print job turned out good Later on Sunday Lee asked them about it and was told not to - all that nice color on 24# paper...”. This, presumably, now worry it was a hoax bid. Which was funny in a Three means that you don’t owe me “locs out the wazoo”, Robert, Stooges sort of way, as they gave the whole Raleigh concom but perhaps locs out of half the wazoo. Or half a loc out the a hotfoot via the internet. For whatever reason they filed the wazoo. Please ensure you generate these from a clean paperwork at Anticipation, so the Pasadena Nasfic hoax bid wazoo...]] was also a real bid, though it lost by a10 to 1 margin. Other ✻ ✻ ✻ changes: Lee will be doing the green room, and Warren Buff and Mike Pederson are co-chairs. That should do for now. From: [email protected] ✻ ✻ ✻ December 20 From: [email protected] Brad Foster writes: December 17 Got in my copy of the luck number This Here... 13 this week, and much appreciated. Sorry to see you weren't able to use Robert Lichtman writes: any of the three fillos on hand in this one, but even if I didn't Today's mail brought the attached, rather chewed up item -- have a real contribution in it, glad you still sent me a copy! containing within the outer sheet (pages 21&22) of THIS HERE #12. If you make the JPG big enough, you can see the

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[[Eek! I have fillos of yours somewhere? And some of Alexis’ of "the same" these days. And, less time to really pursue cartoons which he likes to badger me about not having used music for it's own sake. If I could get a decent turntable too, I’ll warrant. Well, I’m finally starting to get the office again, I've piles of great music here to enjoy, trapped in room into some semblance of order (at least better than it vinyl. was), so de-piling and better filing may now ensue...]] Maybe 2010 will be the year of BEAM #2? I've done some other color pieces since, but that cover is still one of my favorites of recent pieces, so hope it gets out there next year! [[Well, BEAM #2 was intended for Summer of last year, then Fall, then Xmas... I’m still waiting on the final contributions (note WAHF, Curt Phillips), which are really central to the issue and which is at this point laid out and ready, apart from the missing pieces. As a further noodge to the recalcitrant, I’d really like to get the fucker out (a) at least in time for Corflu Cobalt, which we sadly won’t be attending, and (b) while I still have the money to punt it - issue #1 ran to almost $1000...] ✻ ✻ ✻ From: [email protected] December 27 Shelby Vick writes: THIS HERE. . .THIS HERE. . .THIS HERE. . .THIS HERE. . . THIS HERE. . .THIS HERE. . .THIS HERE. . .THIS HERE. . . I should write it on the blackboard ONE HUNDRED times -- becos doing it here, I just cut'n'paste, Nic. Well, prepare yourself for a LO-O-ONG LoC! Just hoping I'll finish it in time for the NEXT ish of THIS HERE. . . THIS HERE. . . ish 13 was FULL of hooks for me! Probably Sorry to hear of the passing of Bosstone. We lost one of our due to the fact that I consider 13 a lucky number. My oldest own furry little family members this past summer. Bummer daughter, Diane, was not only born on the 13th, but FRIDAY for sure. the 13th!!! Oh, and regarding your comment up front on the efficiency [[As was BB’s youngest, in fact...]] of your movers: "It was, though, a pretty awesome sight seeing these guys wrap and pack stuff at lightning speed, Your Egotorial and Moving Mars and the loss of Bosstone and there's no doubt they knew their business." Just were all quite (excuse the unintended pun) moving. And as reminds me of something someone once said about having far as moving is concerned, the only advantage I have found to pay for unnecessary auto repairs: It's rare that they don't to moving (other, of course, than the final reaching of my do the job well. The replacement equipment will be new and destination) was the paring-down of accumulations, as with top of the line, they will do a superior job of installation and your storage bin. Things that used to be So Important checking it out, and your vehicle will run very smoothly. The become much less important when it comes to moving. question is, was the work needed in the first place. (As in, Enjoyed the cartoon on Tunes (Redux) but that's about the was your initial packing -really- that badly done?) only comment I have there. I'm old-fashioned, and prefer [[Apparently our attempts at packing would have been blues and some classical and crooned tunes -- not a fan of sufficient for a local move, but not a cross-country one...]] rock. Re your remark on Pearl Jam: I don't recall the exact night in Then you get to Rasslin', which is much more my cuppa. the early nineties, but Cindy and I were driving back late I've been following pro rasslin' for over sixty years now, first from an art festival down in Houston, and I was scrolling local and then on local TV and then Turner brought it onto through the radio bands looking for something interesting, cable, and on and on. Even my wife, Suzanne, was not just a when I hit "Jeremy". I'd not heard anything like that, and rasslin' fan becos of me but, as a teenager, she and her from there found all kinds of great new sounds through the brother locked - I think it was Gorgeous George - in his grunge explosion. Have to admit, I'm still waiting for the dressing room until he agree to give her an autograph! next interesting sound to appear, but buried under too much

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Some people say it's all fake - I retort that it's entertainment, It's OUR business, not the government's! and I love it -- so there. Okay, okay; I said I'd keep the smoking business short. I'll Afraid, tho, that I pay less attentions to the frills, as who is only add that I get anywhere from three days to five days off champion, who does it best, etc. I just wanna enjoy it. It's a pack of cigs. like some people will say when looking at a magnificent Sheryl Birkhead brings up DA “deals”, which led you to talk painting, "I don't know much about art -- but I like that!" I about judges. Lemme tell you about a local 'judge' -- and I go thru life without picking things apart to see what they're use the term VERY loosely! Diane was sued by a renter who, abpit. but just enjoy the ultimate effect. Kinda like, in Space becos of non-payment of rent, was EVENTUALLY evicted (a Opera, where the secret is to lift your sense of disbelief - or, long, drawn-out process in Florida). AFTER being evicted, as I sometimes say in Planetary Stories, 'Leave your Sense of she made a copy of a piece of art ON DIANE'S FRONT Disbelief in the Airlock' and come inside. PORCH (she told Diane she had no other place to do it since www.planetarystories.com Diane had evicted her). She left it there, even tho Diane told In the LoCs, Mike Meara brings up Facebook and Twitter her again and again to come get it. and all that. I'm with him there. Tried Facebook, was Now, in Florida the law says that an object left behind for disappointed, and dropped out. Never tried Twitter and more than 30 days belongs to the landlord. So, after FOUR doubt if I ever will. Listservs are a fine way of keeping up months, Diane took possession of it. Several more months with fannish things - plus, of cuss, fanzines! Why do people passed and the gal brought a lawsuit against Diane, asking keep insisting on trying to 'improve things'? Remember the for return of her 'art' (Diane also kept the mold) as it was 'her old saying, 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it!' trademarked creation, and only source of income.' Pamela Boal sez she remembers Brian Glover as an actor At this point let me mention that the mold had a rather than an rassler. Hey! What's the dif? If a rassler ain't COPYRIGHT symbol, not a Trademark, and that the gal was a good actor, he don't go much as a rassler! not only a real estate agent, but a BROKER as well. Smoking. Here, I could go on forever -- but will try to Before the appearance at the judge's office, Diane presented condense. I have been a smoker since I was seventeen. At him with evidence to that effect, pointing out the copyright first, it was for the pleasure and satisfaction, as well as symbol as well as giving him copies of the gal's real estate blending with my peers. Smoked a coupla packs a day for ads. many years. Remind myself of my mother who, in the early forties, was told by the doctor that she could add ten years to At the evidentiary hearing, Diane showed up with an her life if she'd stop smoking. Her response? "Why should I attorney. The plaintiff had none. The judge said, 'I'm not add ten years if I'm in misery missing my smokes?" supposed to give you advice, but you need to retain a lawyer and present a bond showing the art item is yours," and She died at seventy of emphysema. Had an oxygen tank by postponed the hearing. her chair -- but would, now and then, turn off the oxygen and puff one more. To shorten it, hearings stretched on and on. At the third one, Diane asked the judge if he had examined her evidence. Once I quit for nine years, but started in again. Dumbest "Not yet," was the judge's only response! The final outcome, thing I've ever done, but I still don't buy this Stop Smoking after things stretched out for a year, was -- the judge crap. Okay, okay -- so it's a health hazard! So's driving a car supported the plaintiff and found against my daughter! The Since when was the government appointed our national plaintiff NEVER presented evidence of ownership -- and, in watchdog? They say science has proven secondhand smoke the final hearing, the gal ADMITTED she had just bought the kills THOUSANDS each year (and their so-called 'scientific piece of art. When Diane's lawyer said 'Perjury!', the judge studies' are full of bull!) but how about the carbon-monoxide told them he had never sworn anyone in, so it couldn't be issued by autos? perjury! [[Apparently there’s now also “third-hand smoke”, which is Aaarrghhh! nicotine residue left on surfaces...]] TOLD you this was gonna be long – and I'm still not thru! For that matter, if the government wants to cut down deaths, it could do MUCH more by having every driver hafta take Those ‘toy cars’ on our roads today? It's all part of a renewal driver's license tests; look at how many die in auto- conspiracy. (Yeah, yeah – ‘conspiracy theorists’ that related deaths! And, as well, there are hundreds of everyone makes fun of.) What I'm referring to appeared in thousands of uninsured drivers out there, as well as the Reader's Digest over twenty years ago. It was an article unlicensed drivers! I say that if we wanna smoke, it's OUR bragging about a new engine some named Japanese car maker had come up with. Unfortunately, I forget the name health that's involved, not the public health. We can drink, we inhabit dangerous hiways, we are very unhealthy as a of the manufacturer. ANYwee, they said it had a fair nation with our eating habits. amount of power and got about fifty miles to the gallon.

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According to the Digest, the engine was sold to an American Remember, that's $19.95 a YEAR. How does that compare car maker, and would be on the road soon. with your telephone bill? Yeah! I ain't seen it yet, and can only assume that, when the Hey! I've finished THIS HERE. . . #13, dammitall! And my American manufacturer bought it, extra money was paid the lengthy LoC. Eagerly awaiting #14. Japanese so they wouldn't manufacture it as well. [[And thank you Shel the Shill. After that lot it must be time Conspiracy? I don't see the Reader's Digest as a mag to start for a good-lookin’ photo..]] conspiracy rumors! ✻ ✻ ✻ Then Chris Garcia writes about the horror of computer crashes. Can't argue that, but I CAN brag. When mine crashed, I turned it over to my computer friend who has guided me these many years. By some miracle of technology – perhaps assisted by him being the one who had assembled and continually updated my previous computer – he was able to save almost EVERYthing when he fixed me a NEW computer. I call it a 3M computer – Monster Mutant Machine. It has about 600 gigs of hardrive, including a 160 gig separate hardrive, and 4 gigs of RAM. As I sed, a Monster! Then Chris brings up that dreaded subject, ‘politics'. He sez, among other things, that our financial system is “all messed up” and I can't disagree a bit. He also points out that there is no political or economic system that is perfect. I'd only like to add that, as long as people are involved with it, there will never be! Now, since ‘people’ and ‘politics’ kinda go with each other, that just means either that I'm a pessimist. . .or a realist. The Electronic Ghods are against my long letter! My computer's power went off in the middle of this. Yeah, my Monster Machine DOES have a battery backup that is SUPPOSED to gimme power long enuf to save what's onscreen. Obviously, it doesn't work! All this talk about whether paper fanzines are live or dead, brings the obvious conclusion – paper fanzines are vampires, those that are both paper and electronic. Changing from one to the other like that has been brought on by the consumption of digital ink; the digital ink can, under the Still hot at 63! right phase of the moon – or whatever! – can transform a paper fanzine into a digital one. From: 55 Cromwell Road, Croydon CR0 2JZ, UK Eric Lindsay's mention of the trifecta of telephone, TV and December 30 computer on one cable brings up my latest crusade: magicJack. It's a gadget that costs $19.95 a year, plugs into James Bacon writes: your cable, and gives you free long distance, voice mail, [...] directory assistance, etc. I have friends who have used it for Good to hear you are settled in Las Vegas. Is it very like CSI a couple of years, with complete satisfaction, and I switched portrays? to it a coupla months ago and can't complain at all. You can use it for incoming and outgoing calls whilst using your You are right about travel being a cost - but one can get away computer. Of course, your computer must be on for it to doing things on the cheap at times. I went to Montreal - slept operate, but that's no biggy; it doesn't cost another dime to on mate’s floor - thanks to Joel in consuite - ate like a king - leave your computer on all the time. Many of my friends do and didn’t spend too much. that. It would be good to see you & Bobbie over of course. Cobalt and Odyssey in the one week offer a great opportunity.

THIS HERE... 11 THIS HERE... #14 [[So, who’s going to be the one to suggest to BB that we’ll be prices, too. They look neat, though…keep one in your sleeping on floors for a week? (A: Not me, pal.) And once Cadillac glove compartment as a spare, just in case. again I have to factor in care & feeding of pets & evil I should send some money off to Corflu Cobalt for stepthing while away, and by no means least lost wages. supporting memberships. No way could I possibly go. You seem to have a total fuckin blind spot about the fact Recently, in Ontario, a truck driver was fined megabucks for that I DO NOT GET PAID HOLIDAYS...]] smoking in his office, namely the cab of his truck. The Good to hear Las Vegas fans looking after you. This is good - conviction stuck, too. That’s a bit much, but I have seen isolation ain’t helpful, and I think you sometimes feed off reports of stranger charges, circumstances and convictions. good vibes. Randy Byers reminds me of the fanzine lounge’s neighbours Arnie the FanFather - Holy Hubbard Batman! - sounds like a at L.A.con IV. Yes, the furries were just down the hall, and I cult. THE CULT OF CORE! Well if it works & you are think they had about the same size of space as Milt Stevens writing - bring it on!! had for our lounge. I never saw anyone in fursuits or Looking forward to B - cannot wait. Have a few single dollar anything like that. The strangest costumes I saw were people bills, enclosed - not much but a beer or stamp at least. doing yoga in the hallway between the lounges and the escalators. The furries seemed to have no interest or even Also some zines. curiosity into what we were doing in that large room we Best as always, FUCK Right OFF. had. [[Your package was so thoroughly wrapped it took almost a What year is Chris Garcia threatening a BArea Corflu? I month to even attempt to get the thing open. Dosh much wonder if I should even consider thinking about going? appreciated - couple of beers, as it happens...]] We’d have ourselves a blast, but the money is nowhere on ✻ ✻ ✻ the horizon. From: [email protected] [[The rumor mill suggests that the next Corflu (2011) will be January 1 punted by Garcia & chums. We’ll find out soon enough...]] Lloyd Penney writes: (By the way, we’re watching Turner Classic Movies right now. I knew some station would broadcast 2010 (the [...] movie).) Congratulations on your full ensconcement (is that a word?) Not much of a loc, but hey, it’s New Year’s Day’s Eve, and in Vegas. The Fanfather, I see, has asked for, shall we say, a we are tired and too full of good food, and could use another few favours? You seem to be enjoying the company of the six-hour nap. We hope you and Bobbie have enjoyed your Vegrants, and they seem to be enjoying you and Bobbie, holidays, and it’s back to the grind in a couple of days, Let’s especially in the musical department. all make those last two days last forever. See you next issue. I know what you mean about paying the bills. No one seems ✻ ✻ ✻ to be hiring any more; it’s all contract work and From: [email protected] secondments. I won’t complain right now; I started a new editorial job in November with the Law Society of Upper January 2 Canada, and with my regular evening job at the Globe and Jerry Kaufman writes: Mail newspaper, we’re doing fine. The daytime contract is [...] up in April, but I hope I might be able to stay with them. Please? I didn't know that Arnie had started a new zine until you mentioned contributing to it. I mentioned this to Suzle, who Next time we move, I want a mover to do it for us. I just said she though I'd been reading it all along. It seems she's about killed myself last time, and it took about 48 straight on Arnie's email list, while I'm not. But Suzle assumed I was. hours of moving to do it. No more; I’m in no shape to do it. So now I have to go to efanzines to read it for myself. We also had only a few people helping us out, which made it worse. Lots of promises went unfulfilled that day. We’ve I heard some "good" (as in full of disaster) moving stories. been in our apartment for about 12 years, and we get a ton of Yours, ending up with no possessions and a deceased pet, is breaks when it comes to rental. among the better. I hope that by now, just at the start of a new year, you have the possessions. And condolences on We’ve had Smart cars here for some years now, and they are Bosstone. neat for tooting around the city. As much as I might like one, I know that it’s a glorified go-kart on the highway, and with I thought your estimate of the number of American smokers anything else on the road, should the Smart car meet it was high, but I googled some stats, and it turns out you're quickly, you are a goner. It’s not big enough to offer any pretty close to the mark. However, I saw some news today protection. They are made by BMW, and they have BMW that North Carolina is banning smoking from restaurants

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and so forth (no details, though - it was a crawl at the bottom That's about it for now. Hope everything goes well for you of the screen) so I'm also right about the trend toward fewer in your new town. and fewer places that will welcome cigarette fiends. ✻ ✻ ✻ Thanks for the "Killer Kowalski" nod toward my (non- From: [email protected] existent) wrestling skills, Too bad I can't terrorize anyone January 5 with them. I noted that Alexis G referred to the WWE and the NWA's use of "scripted and choreographed violence" as Uncle Johnny Nielsen-Hall writes: though this were something quite recent. I'm sure this has Thanks for this latest gripping instalment in the long slow been going on for at least sixty years - I remember watching motion car crash that is your life. What isn't clear from the wrestling in the 1960s a bit, and maybe even earlier. It was Moving Mars tale is why you decided to move to Nevada at very nearly the same, except that the wrestler's physiques all, but I have arrived at the conclusion that the previously weren't as sculpted as they are today. related tales of woe about living in Maryland provide the [[They’re “sculpted” in WWE certainly, since Vince motive. Forty plus years ago, I thought I might live in the McMahon has a known affinity for muscle-builder types U.S.A. Due to my innate laziness mainly, it never panned out which adds intriguing homoerotic elements to it all. TNA’s that way and as things turned out in later periods of my life roster is much more about performers who can actually it was just as well, because I think I'd be dead. But my brief wrestle, which is why the best “undersized” guys, who time in California taught me that in many ways I was too formerly had a good home in WCW’s cruiserweight division, reserved, too private to ever be a proper American. I was seem to find their way there. Other than the overused Rey always better equipped to live here,among the grumpy Mysterio Jr., WWE really has no good little ‘uns...]] moaning British, although, paradoxically, I am probably one of the few Brits who actually prefers Britain as it is now, to [...] what it was then. ✻ ✻ ✻ But I digress. I was very sorry to read of the difficulties you From: [email protected] encountered making the move, and to read of the loss of January 4 your poor old dog really made me sad. Jason Burnett writes: I first saw Mott the Hoople at a gig in Dartford, and my Just received This Here... #13. Thanks for the ish - I'm brain sez this was about 1969, but that doesn't mean it was. enjoying it greatly. They were nothing like the glam band they became and were pretty rubbish, sez my brain, and therefore when ‘All The Your pack and move to Las Vegas experience sounds truly Young Dudes’ broke over the wireless in ‘72 I was pretty hellish - I'm now more pleased than ever on how smoothly bloody amazed. I never bought the albums, but I had all the our move to Minneapolis from New Orleans went. We were singles up to Saturday Gigs (was it?). I know those albums moving from New Orleans, so it was probably about the were big sellers, but I think you are the first person I know to same distance as your move. We contracted with a company extol the virtues of one of them. Im not sure its enough to called ABF Freight. The way it worked was they parked make me want to listen to them now, in another age, another their trailer in front of our house, we put our stuff in and put century. But then I don't listen to too much Rock at all up a divider wall, then they filled the rest of the trailer with anymore. That makes me sound like some miserable old whatever they could find that needed to go to Minneapolis, bastard, but I think its just that I want to hear something then transported the whole thing, unloaded the other stuff, new, and mostly my quest for new stuff takes me deeper and and parked the trailer in front of our new house for us to deeper into electronica, chillout and classical realms. But you unload it. They charged by linear foot of trailer used, and by know this. Have you ever hear any Moonhead CD's? If not, pruning our belongings RUTHLESSLY we managed to cram ask Arnie to lend you his. the stuff we were keeping into 8 feet. The whole lot set us back about $2000, but I'm not not in the least exaggerating I write this as snow gently falls from dark grey skies outside when using the word "ruthlessly" - our couch and my window.To be sure, there are advantages to Nevada. I bet entertainment centers were the only large pieces of furniture your heating bills are zilch, for a start. that made the trip with us, and Angel and I each trimmed [[Never heard of Moonhead, other than as a Pink Floyd song our book collections by about a third (painful though it was). and also something by Aslan (was it?). The heating bills I also sold off near-complete runs of Mangazine, Giant aren’t exactly zilch - it does get down around freezing of a Robot, and MWAN. Still, in retrospect it was better to have night in December and January, but during the days now done that than to have been in New Orleans for Katrina. (mid-February) it’s usually doors and windows open during Condolences on the loss of Bosstone. the days since we’re back up around 70 for a high (21C). Being the desert it starts to get colder pretty quick after dark, but then it warms up quick too. The AC during the

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summer is what jacks up the bills, of course. I had one bill of longer than the majority that are benefitted by it”. Seems almost $300 in, I’m guessing, August, but the last several logical to me. I wonder how soon we’ll find out whether months the lecky has been a much more manageable $80 or he’s right? thereabouts...]] ✻ ✻ ✻ From: [email protected] January 10 Mike (“Mark”) Meara writes: I’m in France as I attempt to construct something resembling a loc on THIS HERE… #13. A pretty desperate manoevre, especially as it’s so perishing cold here. The heating system is throbbing along at warp factor six in an attempt to keep the anti-therms at bay, and I’m certain the circuit-breakers cannae take it much longer. I’ve put on some French music for inspiration – Gus Viseur, accordionist and master of bal musette. Anything further from Mott the Hoople would be hard to imagine. In this bright and shiny new year of 2010 (it being the fourth day thereof as I write this) I anticipate celebrating the fortieth anniversary of living in the same house. I have never been keen on moving around, and that lack of enthusiasm has transmogrified (whatever that means – is it something cats I never even knew that the Russians had naked women do?) with the passing years into outright horror. Having reading the news, and now it seems I’ve missed it. Aww. read the story of your move to Las Vegas, the intensity of But the Canadians are still at it, so that’s ok. News must be that horror has been raised to the power of X The real dull in that part of Canada. I wonder if those Toronto Unknowable. The density of horror could not be greater if studios have glass windows, like usual? Or do they too have Cthulhu himself had spontaneously imploded to form a an oversleeve of frosted plastic? neutron star while I was standing next to him in the queue at So, the Koran says humanity was created from a blood clot? Starbucks. Well, half right anyway. And it hasn’t improved much since, No, that’s just silly. I never go to Starbucks. as far as I can see. I hope Las Vegas is to your liking? [[It also says, in various places, that mankind (Adam, in I think I must have missed the ish with the Roxy Music stuff fact) was created from a sperm, dust, and water...]] in it. My favourite Roxy Music album, by a long way, is Lots of other good words in the ever-excellent lettercol, but I AVALON, which probably means that I don’t really like think I’ll call it a night right here, since that’s what it is. Time Roxy Music at all. I actually do like bits from almost all their to snuggle under the Tog-factor 12 duvet with Pat, who is, I other albums, but usually only two or three tracks from each hope keeping my side warm, as instructed. (That’s what you one. I like Eno’s ambient stuff too, very different though it get for daring to beat me at Scrabble…) is. Why do you refer to me as “Mark” in your comment on my WAHF loc? Do you know something I don’t? (Well, of course you do – I meant something relevant.) Curt Phillips, with kind words and promising a loc, not to mention the 8 months late article for BEAM #2; Steve Green, [[One of those little errors which creep in, I’m afraid, with issues of The Fortnightly Fix, recommended and especially when The Plum is brought to mind. Either that or available at http://efanzines.com/FFix/index.htm ; Paul Di you yourself may be in line for sainthood...]] Filippo, with a typically esoteric package, this time Did you see the CD reissue of the Blind Faith album? It had containing a copy of the 1966 Fawcett Gold Medal paperpack the original cover art, but also an oversleeve of frosted of John D. MacDonald’s The Soft Touch; John Hertz, with the plastic. A neat compromise. usual clump of Vanamonde; Randy Byers, once again noting Lots of heavy economic shit in the lettercol, way too much that I fail to send him an actual copy (since I use his mailing for my enfeebled brain at this late hour. But I was rather list which he is not on, had similar problem with Banana taken with Chris Garcia’s idea that “no way of thinking lasts Wings mailing list passim) - this became obvious since he

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received carl juarez’ copy, being his repository for - er - mail. ✔ The following (genuine) photo was widely circulated The Inevitable Byers was, among others, also happy to print around holiday time - apologies to those who’ve already seen the pdf; Shelby Vick, with a pre-loc Xmas slonc on it. December 25; Alan J Sullivan sends a Xmas card to the old address, which does get forwarded here (after Xmas) - note to UK printers, please advise the little squit (© Arrows of Desire and Norman Tebbit) of the new addy; It Goes on the Shelf #31 from Ned Brooks; John Hertz, with some typically spidery scrawl, the salient bit of which I got was “I agree with you about The Satanic Verses”; Andy Robson: “It’s no good sneaking off to North Virginia (isn’t that NV?) we’ll still find you.”, and enclosing Krax Magazine #46, a fine poetry selection, c/w Krax Reviews which says nice things about BEAM #1 and others. (63 Dixon Lane, Leeds LS12 4RR, UK); Lisa & Joseph Major’s Alexiad Vol 9. No. 1; Steve Sneyd, several times I think. They’re here somewhere Steve... INDULGE ME

✔ Typical Vegas story: A guy is sitting at a casino bar MIRANDA when a rather attractive woman comes along and engages him in conversation, but it soon becomes apparent she is a THIS HERE... is written, edited and produced by: Nic Farey, prostitute. She tells him: “Look, the deal is I’ll do anything published by Seven Views of Jerusalem in the US and you want for $300, but you have to be able to say it in three Fishlifter Press in the UK. words.” The guy sips at his drink, thinking for a moment, pulls three hundred out his wallet, places it in front of her Locs & that to: 3345 Cape Cod Drive, Las Vegas NV 89122, or and says “Paint my house”. Email [email protected] Art/photo credits this issue: Steve Jeffery (pp4, 9); Bill Mills ✔ Friday February 12th, as I was sitting in a bar (p3) (imagine that!) waiting for the evil stepthing to finish a meeting, I heard that on that day there was recorded snow on Print copies of This Here... are limited. If you got one, it’s the ground in 49 of the likely for one of the following reasons: 50 states (i.e. all the ✪ You have locced, or I think you probably will continental US plus ✪ You also send me actual paper copies of stuff Alaska). ✪ I heard you like actual paper copies of stuff ✔ For some ✪ I like you, and I know where you live reason I always ✪ I can think of no other way of pissing you off from thought that Benazir here Bhutto was highly ✪ You’re mentioned in here somewhere knobbable.

✔ I’m pretty Requests for a print copy will be treated sure I may have sympathetically, or thrown away, depending on how I mentioned this before, feel that day and whether it’s accompanied by money. but most of the colonials of my By the Grace of Burns we’ll also be at acquaintance (except a www.efanzines.com certain Vegrant or two) think Marmite is well disgusting, “You love this town, even if that doesn’t ring especially Marmite on true. You’ve been all over, and it’s been all toast with peanut over you.” butter, my preferred mode of consumption.

THIS HERE... 15 THIS HERE... #14 ERE... H HIS 3345 Cape Cod Drive T Las Vegas, NV 89122 USA [email protected]

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