[ Currently: Listening to Blonde on Blonde– Bob Dylan ]
Today, as I have every six months for the past ten years, I got my teeth cleaned. During that same period except when she is on vacation, the same technician has cleaned my teeth. The visit started normally enough. We discussed the weekend and what we’ve been up to.

“You are a writer? What do you write? Have you written a book?” I know I had mention previously that I’m a writer. Not exactly something you hide.

I had just finished telling her about me and Brandy’s upcoming New York vacation and how my last trip was work related. A research trip for something I was writing.

“I’m a critic. Primarily write about pop culture. I have two pieces in the current [Austin] Chronicle.”

“Yeah, but have you written a book?” Why does that always come up? Am I not a “real” writer with some 300,000 published words over the best decade but no book? Sadly for most, the book, regardless of its quality or who published it, legitimatizes a writer. Thankfully for these occasions, I have produced a book. I tell her about Geek Confidential.

“So what’s next? What were you researching in New York?”

“Have you heard of Irving Klaw? He’s my grandfather.” I wasn’t expect much of a response. The technician, as evident by her family photos and her manners of speech, is clearly a suburbanite and not the type usually knowledgeable about Bettie Page and Irving Klaw.

“As in Bettie Page? No way! I saw that movie [The Notorious Bettie Page] about her on HBO. That was your grandfather and grandmother taking the pics?”

I then explained about how the woman, Paula, was actually my grandfather’s sister and filled her in on a some family history. She enjoyed the movie and was astonished about some of the things I told her about Irving. About how he practically invented the pin up industry in 1940s and his works helped to change the public perceptions about pornography.

It continually amazes me who knows about my grandfather and who wants to learn more. With HBO showing Notorious six times in April, I imagine more interested folks are going to be asking about my grandfather. I’m prepared to be pleasantly surprised.

Dental Revelations was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon

[  Currently: Listening to Blonde on Blonde– Bob Dylan ]
Today, as I have every six months for the past ten years, I got my teeth cleaned. During that same period except when she is on vacation, the same technician has cleaned my teeth. The visit started normally enough. We discussed the weekend and what we’ve been up to.

"You are a writer? What do you write? Have you written a book?" I know I had mention previously that I’m a writer. Not exactly something you hide.

I had just finished telling her about me and Brandy’s upcoming New York vacation and how my last trip was work related. A research trip for something I was writing.

"I’m a critic. Primarily write about pop culture. I have two pieces in the current [Austin] Chronicle."

"Yeah, but have you written a book?" Why does that always come up? Am I not a "real" writer with some 300,000 published words over the best decade but no book? Sadly for most, the book, regardless of its quality or who published it, legitimatizes a writer. Thankfully for these occasions, I have produced a book. I tell her about Geek Confidential.

"So what’s next? What were you researching in New York?"

"Have you heard of Irving Klaw? He’s my grandfather." I wasn’t expect much of a response. The technician, as evident by her family photos and her manners of speech, is clearly a suburbanite and not the type usually knowledgeable about Bettie Page and Irving Klaw.

"As in Bettie Page? No way! I saw that movie [The Notorious Bettie Page] about her on HBO. That was your grandfather and grandmother taking the pics?"

I then explained about how the woman, Paula, was actually my grandfather’s sister and filled her in on a some family history. She enjoyed the movie and was astonished about some of the things I told her about Irving. About how he practically invented the pin up industry in 1940s and his works helped to change the public perceptions about pornography.

It continually amazes me who knows about my grandfather and who wants to learn more. With HBO showing Notorious six times in April, I imagine more interested folks are going to be asking about my grandfather. I’m prepared to be pleasantly surprised.

Michael Moorcock offers this moving, heartfelt eulogy for his friend Arthur C. Clarke.

Moorcock on Clarke was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon

Michael Moorcock offers this moving, heartfelt eulogy for his friend Arthur C. Clarke.

Entertainment Weekly offers up the first images from the Benicio Del Toro-starring, Joe Johnston-helmed The Wolfman remake. Pretty impressive, but with Rick Baker behind the makeup, I wasn’t too concerned. With the under appreciated Johnston directing and the perfect Del Toro casting, this might actually be pretty good. Course, I thought the same of the disastrous Van Helsing, so initial looks can be deceiving.

The New Wolfman was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon

Entertainment Weekly offers up the first images from the Benicio Del Toro-starring, Joe Johnston-helmed The Wolfman remake. Pretty impressive, but with Rick Baker behind the makeup, I wasn’t too concerned. With the under appreciated Johnston directing and the perfect Del Toro casting, this might actually be pretty good. Course, I thought the same of the disastrous Van Helsing, so initial looks can be deceiving.

From Publishers Weekly, March 19:

This could be terrifying news for the American book industry. What happens if Barnes & Noble buys Borders? Or if Borders is chopped up into smaller companies?

Imagine the megalithic Barnes & Noble tromping throughout the US with no stiff competition? Sure, Amazon offers some resistance but online has yet to replace the neighborhood book store.

What happens if B&N decides to not carry an author or title? With no Borders, publishers will have little recourse.

What’s worse than two gigantic book chains? There being only one…

(Thanks to Jeff VanderMeer for the link and for offering a unique solution)

Borders Considers Sale was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon

From Publishers Weekly, March 19:

This could be terrifying news for the American book industry. What happens if Barnes & Noble buys Borders? Or if Borders is chopped up into smaller companies?

Imagine the megalithic Barnes & Noble tromping throughout the US with no stiff competition? Sure, Amazon offers some resistance but online has yet to replace the neighborhood book store.

What happens if B&N decides to not carry an author or title? With no Borders, publishers will have little recourse.

What’s worse than two gigantic book chains? There being only one…

(Thanks to Jeff VanderMeer for the link and for offering a unique solution)

The latest issue of The Austin Chronicle contains my feature on the unique internet movie review site, Spill.

Animated Opinions was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon

The latest issue of The Austin Chronicle contains my feature on the unique internet movie review site, Spill.