Pranks, Punk and Industrial Culture from V. Vale

WELCOME TO V. VALE’s RE/SEARCH NEWSLETTER #90, February 2010
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RE/SEARCH | 20 Romolo #B | San Francisco CA 94133 | 415.362.1465
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TABLE OF CONTENTS:
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1. MESSAGE FROM YOUR EDITOR, V. VALE
2. Watch our Counter Culture Hour NEW TIME 6 PM Pacific Time, Saturday February 13, 2010 – also simulcast ON-LINE EVERYWHERE
3. FORTHCOMING EVENTS
4. What We’ve Attended/What We’ve Been Reading/Seeing
5. Stephane von Stephane column: interview with filmmaker Paul Clipson
6. Recommended Links – send some!
7. QUOTES
8. 3rd Request: Help commemorate the late Eva Pierrakos!
9. Letters from Readers
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[COMMERCIAL:] If everyone receiving this newsletter ordered one book a year from us (how about as a gift for SOMEONE ELSE?!), we’d be survivable. Our classic books that are low in stock include MODERN PRIMITIVES, INCREDIBLY STRANGE MUSIC, BOB FLANAGAN, and more — get ‘em while you still can, brand new! Or maybe “collect” our 3 hardbacks: R/S#4/5: Burroughs-Gysin-Throb.Gristle; Industrial Culture Handbook, and Pranks – lim. ed. hardbacks that are beautiful.
THE NEWEST BOOKS TO APPEAR under the RE/SEARCH logo (for you elite completist collectors of RE/SEARCH):
() DO ANDROIDS SLEEP WITH ELECTRIC SHEEP by monochrom of Vienna, Austria, and
() BURNING MAN LIVE! A Collection of 13 Years of P*ss Clear, the “zine” published by Adrian Roberts AT THE PLAYA.
Please support RE/SEARCH and order them DIRECT from us, not an Internet discounter, from our website at http://www.researchpubs.com Or feel free to call us at 415-362-1465 … V. Vale will autograph upon request … Also available is a set of 9 issues of Search & Destroy 1977-79 for $40 plus shipping – that was V. Vale’s first publication, way back when — a bargain. Think.
Thanks to Yasmine Mehmet, who while picking up books for the Yick Wo Silent Auction (Live Worms Gallery 1345 Grant Street, March 11, 4-9PM FREE!) bought herself and family and friends a bunch o’ books from the RE/Search office in North Beach!
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1. MESSAGE FROM YOUR EDITOR, V. VALE, RE/SEARCH FOUNDER (and previously the founder of SEARCH & DESTROY magazine before that): Today, almost out of nowhere, we got a press release: “A Major Exhibition Celebrating JG Ballard titled CRASH. 11 February – 1 April 2010 at Gagosian Gallery, 6-24 Britannia Street, London WC1X 9JD T. 44.207.841.9960 london@gagosian.com Hours: Tue-Sat 10-6 – Opening reception: Thursday, February 11th from 6 to 8pm – Everything is becoming science fiction. From the margins of an almost invisible literature has sprung the intact reality of the twentieth century. –JG Ballard

“Gagosian Gallery London will present “Crash,” a major group exhibition which takes its title from the famous novel by JG Ballard.
Ballard’s novels stand among the most visionary, provocative literature of the twentieth century, with his ominous predictions regarding the fate of Western culture and his insights into the dark psychopathology of the human race. This exhibition pays homage to his work and cultural influence by highlighting his great passion for the visual arts, from the Surrealists to the Pop artists of the 1960s and 1970s. It includes examples of these specific inspirations as well as works by contemporary artists who have, in turn, been inspired by Ballard’s vision.

“His first published short story “Prima Belladonna” appeared in 1956, the same year as the celebrated Independent Group’s exhibition “This is Tomorrow” at the Whitechapel Gallery, which marked the birth of Pop Art in Britain. It was here, and in the work of Surrealists such as Salvador Dali and Paul Delvaux, that Ballard found the seeds of what he called a “fiction for the present day.” With its dystopian depictions of the future, its bleak man-made landscapes and the recounting of the psychological effects of technological, social and environmental developments on humans, his work has resonated strongly among other writers, filmmakers and visual artists. The exhibition “Crash” brings together works by artists who have been irrevocably influenced by the Ballardian universe, from his contemporaries such as Ed Ruscha, Richard Hamilton, Andy Warhol and Helmut Newton, to younger artists such as Tacita Dean, Jenny Saville, Glenn Brown and Mike Nelson. The exhibition is organized in association with the Estate of JG Ballard.

“List of artists: Richard Artschwager, Francis Bacon, JG Ballard, Hans Bellmer, Glenn Brown, Chris Burden, Jake & Dinos Chapman, John Currin, Salvador Dali, Giorgio de Chirico, Tacita Dean, Jeremy Deller, Paul Delvaux, Cyprien Gaillard, Douglas Gordon, Loris Gréaud, Richard Hamilton, John Hilliard and Jemima Stehli, Roger Hiorns, Damien Hirst, Dan Holdsworth, Carsten Holler, Edward Hopper, Allen Jones, Mike Kelley, Jeff Koons, Roy Lichtenstein, Vera Lutter, Florian Maier-Aichen, Adam McEwen, Malcolm Morley, Mike Nelson, Helmut Newton, Cady Noland, Claes Oldenburg, Eduardo Paolozzi, Steven Parrino, Richard Prince, Robert Rauschenberg, Gerhard Richter, Ed Ruscha, Jenny Saville, George Shaw, Cindy Sherman, Andy Warhol, Rachel Whiteread, Christopher Williams, Jane and Louise Wilson, Christopher Wool and Cerith Wyn Evans.

“For further inquiries please contact the gallery at london@gagosian.com or at +44.207.841.9960.” [end of press release]

Well, reading the list of participating artists certain piqued interest in experiencing firsthand this exhibition/installation. Strange how J.G. Ballard’s biggest influence may come AFTER his death on April 19, 2009. The idea that a writer who is not necessarily known as an “artist” may have a huge “art exhibition” within a year of his decease is kind of, well, mind-boggling. A multitude of questions are instantly raised. For example, whose idea was this? How did it happen so fast? Who did the work of “curating” this event? The amount of organization required seems somewhat daunting. Also, word has it that a substantial “catalog” is being prepared as a printed accompaniment. Gagosian Publications seem to have quite thorough production values, so we are hoping for the best…

We here at RE/Search can NEVER have enough Ballardiana in our lives, and if more writings and interviews and critical commentary and photos and letters and videos ET AL start surfacing, so much the better! Ballard-influenced art — yes! We are particularly looking forward to seeing Ballard’s own photos (recently discovered) of his own car crash, at the exhibition… — V. Vale

2. Counter Culture Hour – NEW TIME – NOW ON AT 6:00 PM PACIFIC TIME.
We are repeating this, as due to Channel 29 “moving house,” it was not online in January! Apologies to San Franciscans who saw it last month, but it is definitely worth a 2nd viewing!

LYDIA LUNCH talks at the RE/Search office, with clips from TEENAGE JESUS AND THE JERKS live in San Francisco Oct 8, 2009, at Slim’s. This is one of the most inspiring episodes yet! Edited/produced by Marian Wallace; interviews by V. Vale.
The Counter Culture Hour (aka RE/SEARCH TV) is also ON-LINE as well as on cable access San Francisco Channel 29 — 6:00pm Pacific Time, Sat Jan 9, 2010 ALSO on-line (simulcast) – at this link:

http://72.47.201.244/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1881&Itemid=1801

USA west coast: 6:00 PM Saturday, Jan 9
USA east coast: 9:00 PM Saturday, Jan 9
London: 2:00 AM Sunday, Jan 10
Tokyo: 10:00 AM Sunday, Jan 10
You get the picture! Would you like to have a Counter Culture Hour showing in your town? Please write and ask us how you can do this. (write: info@researchpubs.com)

The new management is working towards having all shows available all the time in an archive, but this is mostly likely a ways off, so your best bet to see the shows is when they air: 2nd Saturday of the month at 6:00 PM PST.

3. FORTHCOMING EVENTS

() LONDON, U.K.: Thur Feb 11, 6-8pm. CRASH at Gogosian Gallery in London. Opening Feb 11, 2010. Artwork inspired by J.G. Ballard’s CRASH. Artists include: JGB himself as well as Chris Burden, Damien Hirst and many others. Through April 1.

() $ March 3, Wednesday – Dean Snider Birthday film screening. “A long time ago or so it seems, people made films just for the fun of it. Then someone got the idea that film had to hurt. No pain, no gain. Somehow film showcases decided they were right. Today people still make films just for the fun of it. And we show them at the No Nothing Cinema.”– Dean Snider
Dolby Lab Screening Room – A dual-cinema birthday celebration for the late legendary underground San Francisco filmmaker Dean Snider, featuring rarely screened 35mm works and newly preserved 16mm prints. Somewhere in-between we might find ourselves venturing from one venue to another on a large bus with several Mariachi. Between 1979-1992, Dean made over one-hundred films‚Äîmany produced in the early 1980s during the first years of the No Nothing Cinema, a free underground screening venue that Snider was instrumental in creating. His movies contain the feisty anarchistic sense of energy that No Nothing represented‚Äîsarcastic, funny, beautiful, sometimes fast‚Äîalways engaging, even down the very layers of celluloid in which he hand scratched those initials ‚ “D.S.” ‚All the while he created some of the most self-revealing personal films you may ever have the chance of experiencing. — DOUGLAS KATELUS http://www.sfcinematheque.org/#/calendar/201003030/

() $upport: Indy Film Fest: Feb 4-18 at the Roxie, 16th St near Valencia St, S.F. http://www.sfindie.com/ Many filmmakers, directors and actors will be available after their screenings to answer your questions! Can’t get that on a DVD. To find out where all the accompanying parties will be: http://sfindie.bside.com/2010/films/category/Party

() $ NOW THRU APRIL 24. Hypnodrome presents “Pearls Over Shanghai” featuring Cockettes Originals. John Waters attended in January! Hypnodrome, 575 10th St/near Bryant, tel 415-377-4202. The Hypnodrome survived the huge city flash flood, and is still red-hot! www.thrillpeddlers.com

() FREE. Fri Feb 5 is William S. Burroughs’s Birthday – if still alive, WSB would have been 96 today…

() $ Sat-Sun Feb 6-7, 10-5pm. SF Antiquarian Book Fair, SF Concourse, 7th St/Brannan. www.sfbookandpaperfair.com – click on dollar signs for discount ($7) ticket – save $3.

() $ Sun Feb 7, Balboa Theater: “If you have never had the wonderful opportunity to meet the great Russian animator Yuri Norstein do not miss this rare chance on 7 February at the Balboa Theater. Even if you don’t think that you care about animation (which is hard for me to imagine) you will enjoy his beautiful films.” – Nik & Nancy

() FREE. Sun Feb 14, 1-3pm, Cartoon Art Museum, 655 Mission St. Rob Reger & Buzz Parker book signing with Emily the Strange.

() FREE. Feb 16, 7:30pm, Moe’s Books, Telegraph nr Dwight, Berkeley. Chuck Stein, author of Persephone Unveiled and translator of The Odyssey will read. We are told that “Chuck is a terrific poet and performer” – see moesbooks.com

() FREE. Fri Feb 19, 6pm Diane di Prima is celebrated at MCCLA Theatre, 2868 Mission St, tel 821-1155. www.missionculturalcenter.org

() FREE. Fri Feb 26, 7:30pm, YBCA RBI Global Lives Project Opening Night Party FREE – rsvp at ybcafree.org

() $ Sat Feb. 27, 8:30 pm, Other Cinema/ATA Gallery, 992 Valencia/21st St, S.F – “Dear Vale, We met a few years back at Beyond Baroque when you were in LA w/ the PRANKS 2 book party. Just wanted to give you info on an event that I’ll be doing at Other Cinema: “Filmmaker/archivist Ross Lipman and the Billboard Liberation Front’s Jack Napier present an evening of secular magic; the alchemical act of transmuting everyday life into fiction–and vice versa” (sounds “Ballardian” to us.) … “includes films, performance essays… a PowerPoint performance on the birth of the TV Spectacle, Ferdinand Marcos hawking a tribe of cave people to feed his wife’s shoe habit, an enigmatic Butoh performance in the streets of Brooklyn (by SF-expatriate artist Leigh Evans), and the most recent breathtaking hijinx of the Billboard Liberation Front. Enjoy pranks, hoaxes, forgeries, and guerilla theater in a bewildering tapestry of transfigured reality! http://www.othercinema.com/ ”

() FREE. SATURDAY, 3-6pm every weekend. Savoy Tivoli, Grant Ave near Union St, S.F. MAL SHARPE (featured in our PRANKS book) writes: “We are still at the Savoy-Tivoli in San Francisco every Saturday from 3-6pm plus The No Name Bar in Sausalito every Sunday from 3-6pm. The winter has been cold and rainy but both these spots have been packed every weekend.See MAL while you can — he is a local treasure and rare role model.

() $ 10pm All Events: Sat Feb 27, March 6, April 3 – featuring DAN CARBONE (2/27/10 also with Rick Shapiro). The Dark Room, 2263 Mission (18th -19th Sts), tel 401-7987. See more about these events in the last section of this newsletter!

() $ NOW through April 11. Berkeley Art Museum, 2626 Bancroft Ave, Berkeley. Ahmet Ogut: The Exploded City / Things We Count. We think JG Ballard would have liked this exhibition! http://bampfa.berkeley.edu/exhibition/231

() Tue March 2, YBCA Galleries are FREE. Other SF museums are free too.

() $Grey School of Wizardry launches new “Magister” Study Program. Master Wizard, Oberon is the real thing. If you’re interested in the occult, magic and wizardry, this is where to go. The Grey School of Wizardry (GSW) is a highly interactive online school specializing in occult magick, metaphysical arcana, and the “Wisdom of the Ages.” GSW is incorporated in the State of California as a non-profit Federally tax-exempt 501(c)(3) educational institution. This School is a progeny of the Grey Council, an alliance of several dozen renowned mages and sages. Members of the Grey Council follow many different paths, with differing orientations and perspectives, but they all hope to spark the imagination, beauty, and power of the minds of seekers everywhere.
$100/year for unlimited “non-matriculating” classes. Or enroll as Apprentice, Magisters, or Journeyman. resources@greyschool.com, oberon@mcn.org
Read about Oberon in our “Modern Pagans” book.

4. What We’ve Attended/What We’ve Been Reading/Seeing/Listening to/What We’ve Been Sent

() Feb 1, Memorial Service for George Tsongas took place at Caffe Trieste in North Beach, S.F. – George’s favorite hangout. While self-avowedly NOT a “Beat” Poet, nevertheless George was well-known as a San Francisco Poet who happened to live during the Beat Generation and subsequent decades…

() Feb 2, SF Public Library. Diane di Prima has been crowned the 5th Poet Laureate of San Francisco for the next two years. The SFPL hosted a celebration and presentation (“Poetry as Spiritual Practice”) with Diane Di Prima on Feb. 2 for an overflow crowd. Hers is poetry with cultural -comment, -reaction, -hopes. Humanistic with revolutionary ideas. She’s been in San Francisco for over 30 years and saw it from the dreams of what could be to the shambles of how it fell to the real-estate interests. She almost cried on-stage while speaking about this, and the audience almost joined in the tears. You could have heard a pin drop during her talk and reading, punctuated by laughter and applause, of course. Watch for events with Diane this year and next. http://dianediprima.com/bio.html

() Eddie Muller’s annual FILM NOIR FILM FESTIVAL at the Castro Theater. Wish we could have gone EVERY NIGHT! Jello Biafra tries to see all the films, every year!

() BOOKS: 1. Science and Sanity, by Korzybski (highly recommended) 2. The Golem by Gustav Meyrink (Madge Pemberton translation, also highly recommended). 3. Nordic Noir.

() MOVIES (mainstream): 1. BOOK OF ELI (apocalypse film). 2. EDGE OF DARKNESS (conspiracy film)

() MUSIC: Nasa Space Universe new CD (find them on MySpace). When we need sonic adrenalin, NSU delivers the medicine! Great “Dark Side” artwork/collages, too, with Nietzschean aspirations.

() Attempted to visit the new, larger, dryer Survival Research Laboratories “shop” in Petaluma. Eavesdropped on funny pranksterish conversations featuring Kimric Smythe, Jon Sarriugarte and others on the topic(s) of sabotaging desert raves and other unwelcome music “events.” Heard the story of an amazing car parts collector who was going out of business and possibly becoming non compos mentis as well. Bram was in town — hence the get-together. Karen Marcelo, uber-documentarian, was sorely missed…come back, soonest!

() We at RE/Search have to salute Ed Woo, who got the RE/Searchmobile up and running (clutch and brakes went out at the same time). If anyone needs a 100% honest, reliable and extremely competent/efficient San Francisco car mechanic, please contact us at RE/Search (tel 415-362-1465; or email info@researchpubs.com . We are filtering calls as Ed asked us not to send him anyone who might be “a pain.” Hopefully there are none on this newsletter list, but…

() Verna Doherty from Seattle visited. She is looking to interview anyone who might have “known” Flipper, especially Will Shatter. Contact us and we will pass info along…

() Poet BRETT RALPH was in town, visited our office (very funny conversations) and we went to a jam-packed party in his honor in the Sunset District… V. Vale played piano…

() Poet/All-Around Beat Girl Reincarnated Stellar and friends hosted an outstanding poetry reading at the Beat Museum on January 23…

() Winston Smith threw what turned out to be an amazing art opening at his new gallery/work space at 50 Bannam Alley on Jan. 28. Saw Susie Bright, Ron Turner, Rob Reger, et al…

5. Stephane von Stephane Interview with Filmmaker Paul Clipson

Excerpts of a Conversation with Experimental Film-maker Paul Clipson Dec. 20, 2009.
“Watching a Paul Clipson film is like watching ‘2001, A Space Odyssey’; Kubrick’s film starts out trippy enough but once you enter the Monolith it gets even trippier. With Clipson’s films you BEGIN by entering the Monolith and go from there.” – Stephane von Stephane Born in Ohio, raised in Michigan, Paul attended the University of Michigan, and has been in S.F. since 1992. Since 2003, he’s made over 20 experimental shorts and a dozen 30-45 minute films. His work has screened in the past year at the Rotterdam Film Festival, the Cinémathèque Française in Paris and in the New York Film Festival Views From The Avant Garde program. He has two upcoming live shows: one for the the San Francisco Cinematheque’s Apparent Motion Festival with Jefre Cantu-Ledesma on February 20th, and another on February 26th at the Berkeley Art Museum in collaboration with electronic musician Gregg Kowalsky.

Stephane von Stephane: So, you make experimental film; obviously your goal is NOT to make a living making films?
Paul Clipson: Well, yes it IS my goal to make a living doing my films. I’m resistant to art in practical terms, that’s a very damaging notion, even though everything in our lives is reduced to practical terms. I think art is one of the few areas where there is a crossover to the irrational and impractical and the subconscious. So, it’s important to think that I might be able to make a living at it. [Ah, a fellow dreamer! Making art is at least nourishment for the spirit.]

S.v.S: When I first saw one of your films I was reminded of being a kid (6 or 8 years old) and being in church and not wanting to be there, so I’d turn around and just stare at the stained-glass windows and the colors were so intense and beautiful, I’d squint my eyes and blur the image, or just focus on one color or another, all the while listening to a language I didn’t understand (Latin) and smelling the incense wafting through the air.
Paul: Hmmn. That’s about a sense of a place and an experience and being a part of it or not being a part of it, or perhaps being MORE of a part of it because you’re applying some sort of perceptual awareness to your surroundings that’s in reaction to or against what’s going on with the purpose of that space. There are more parts of life that are like experimental films than people tend to be aware of. For me making films helps me to be a bit more connected to the abstract in the everyday. The rational mind is prone to siphoning and filtering out interesting visual phenomenon because our consciousness decides that it’s not important or useful to us for getting home at the end of the day to see layers of amazing light reflections because these are distractions.

For example, when you’re on a bus at night looking out the window and there are all kinds of incredible abstract layers of things to be seen that are happening naturally around you, but you don’t always notice, because you’re looking for a street sign to know when you’re going to get off the bus. But if you actually look at everything between your eyes and the sign you’re looking for, there are people in the foreground in and out of focus, there’s the inside of the bus that’s lit up so it’s reflecting the other people’s faces, there are reflections from the outside reflecting on the pane of glass which includes lights of cars going by in perspective, so that’s like already five layers of phenomenon occurring before one’s eyes in a single moment of sitting on a bus…which is kind of like what I’m doing in my films.

S.v.S.: How do you get ideas for your films? Are you constantly thinking about what scenes you’d make, being that you double and triple expose? Do you storyboard in advance? Do you note places to remember to come back to when you’ve been walking around the city or countryside or do you only shoot on the fly when you have camera in hand?
Paul: I don’t storyboard, I often go out on the fly and begin filming. I do think of places to go, and return to favorite places. The Botanical Gardens in Golden Gate Park is a great place to go for inspiration because it’s so dense. It’s not a natural space but it’s filled with natural elements. It’s humming with activity, it’s easy to get lost there. There’s water, there’s color. There’s foliage. In New York, I’m always looking for old spaces that are forgotten or not seen: train yards, train tracks, areas of overlapping time. Places where there’s a division of a time past existing right next to a time in the present tense. A combining of states of time largely unnoticed or even forbidden to most people that don’t live around them. In the film ‘Stalker’ by Andrei Tarkovsky where three men in a jeep drive onto train tracks and go into an area called “The Zone” which is a forbidden place and they’re fired on by security forces because they’re breaching this sense of time. Train tracks now have signs near them saying that you’re breaking the law if you even walk near the tracks. It’s like you’re going back in time and they’re trying to stop you, because you’re ‘endangering’ yourself, so they say…

S.v.S.: Let’s talk about your influences, some of your favorites are mine also: Orsen Welles, Michelangelo Antonioni are two of my favorite film directors. Giorgio De Chirico is one of my favorite painters. Kafka of course, but I’m not familiar with Morton Feldman…
Paul: He’s a 20th century composer…from the modern, avant garde school…who came out of New York in the 40’s & 50’s, and through John Cage associated with Jackson Pollock, Willem DeKooning, and appropriated what he saw going on in their work as painters. I love the idea of cross-pollination from one form of art to another. I think it strengthens the arts. From this influence of painters like Philip Guston, Feldman began drawing visual diagrams of scores where he gave the musicians specific parameters of keys or notes to play but not when or for how long. I find his approach to music and sound very visual, sculptural, volumetric, physical measurings of time as if you’re walking through a forest or past pillars of space.

S.v.S.: Reminds me of taking acid, like walking through music. I think everything can be registered in the brain on a chemical level. Watching your films has that kind of chemical registration for me. A happy accident?
Paul: It could be the result of several things happening at once. My interest is to create strokes or lines as one draws on a piece of paper, but because film introduces the element of TIME, these strokes and their position in time is not necessarily known when you make them. I work in a way that layers the images, like strokes of a brush floating in my mind as I make them. I don’t actually control the images I make. Because of the chemical process of film, you record things and then you process the film and see it a couple of weeks later, so it’s like you’re writing down collected experiences, putting them into an envelope and mailing them off…

S.v.S.: …to yourself in the future?
Paul: Yes, so it’s as if these present ideas are connected to ideas that you’ve already had: where each moment has a resilience and a gravity and when put together begins to create a kind of enigmatic activity. That’s why I think of De Chirico or Antonioni who are affected by associations of space and time of day and light and shadow. Welles is also a good example of the idea of layers of time. His films are narratives but they visualize a velocity of time in which he’s talking about personalities that have histories where the past and present are connected. I’m thinking of MR. ARKADIN where a character is going back in time through people who knew him in the past and he’s erasing that time. While MR. ARKADIN is a chaotic, disturbing film in terms of its surface textures, it’s also striving to connect art with memory, and its structure is very much like making collages with film, which is what I like to do.
[TO BE CONTINUED WITH PART 2 NEXT MONTH! -- MORE OF PAUL CLIPSON]
~Stephane Von Stephane
A DVD of short films made in collaboration with Jefre Cantu-Ledesma is coming out in a month or two called WITHIN MIRRORS. Here’s the site: http://www.studentsofdecay.com/homepage.htm and Paul’s website: http://www.withinmirrors.org/

6. RECOMMENDED LINKS (send some!)

() from jpm: “I found this as a starting point of a blog that some young girl wrote to defend her generation. I opened up her premise article and found it to be way more informative and to the point. I won’t bother linking you to the other article. It’s a waste of time. But this, the one she reacted to, hits the nail, I think, right on the head: https://www.adbusters.org/magazine/79/hipster.html

This young kid is one hell of an insanely able guitarist!!!!!!!!!

() from Babalou: http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/Science-Fiction-News.asp?NewsNum=2724 and http://www.alternet.org/media/144893/drone_porn:_the_newest_youtube_hit/

() from Steven Gray: “You’ll come for the decor and stay for the dolorous: http://unhappyhipsters.com/ ”

() blog on visiting V. Vale: http://isawyoushine.blogspot.com/2010/01/research-visit-with-vvale.html

() From Sharon Leong: Enjoy! A little old school but funny … http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xJWxPE8G2c

() From Mako Sano: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Dweller_on_Two_Planets

http://www.tslpl.org/spirituality/910428.htm

() 5 & 3 ways to protect yourself on facebook: http://www.nytimes.com/external/readwriteweb/2009/09/16/16readwriteweb-5-easy-steps-to-stay-safe-and-private-on-fac-6393.html?pagewanted=2&em

http://www.nytimes.com/external/readwriteweb/2010/01/20/20readwriteweb-the-3-facebook-settings-every-user-should-c-29287.html?em

() financial apocalypse website: http://covertress.blogspot.com/2010/01/optimist-or-pessimist-test-your-2010.html

() Wise Bread is a community of bloggers here to help you live large on a small budget. http://www.wisebread.com/

() V. Vale on NPR talking about JG Ballard: http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wamc/.artsmain/article/11/1172/1597296/Radio/TTBOOK.Reality.

() Andrew Keen: After TV? http://andrewkeen.typepad.com/aftertv/

7. QUOTES -

() In 1998, Sony sold 700,000 camcorders that had the capability to see through clothing (“Night Shot” setting). But most people never knew…

() “Secrecy is the keystone of all tyranny. Not force, but secrecy–censorship. When any government or any church, for that matter, undertakes to say to its subjects: This you may not read, this you must not see, this you are forbidden to know, the end result is tyranny and oppression.” -Robert A. Heinlein, If This Goes On…

() “The pathetic truth at the center of the housing fiasco is that prices have to come down far further if any normal wage-earner will ever afford to buy a house again in America on anything like normal terms.” – James Howard Kunstler

() Thoughtcrime: “To the future or to the past, to a time when thought is free… to a time when truth exists, and what is done cannot be undone… From the age of uniformity, from the age of solitude, from the age of Big Brother, from the age of doublethink–greetings!” – George Orwell, 1984

() “Most people go through life dreading they’ll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They’ve already passed their test in life. They’re aristocrats.” – Diane Arbus

() “In order to be irreplaceable one most always be different.” – Coco Chanel

() “The love that lasts the longest is the love that is never returned.”- Somerset Maugham

() It’s not just the story, it’s the TELLING of the story that’s important.” – v. vale

() “Being late is an insidious form of disrespect for others…” – Nassim Nicholas Taleb

() “Happiness in many languages means “luck”.” – Taleb

() “The idea is far greater than the man.” – Taleb

8. 3RD & LAST Notice: Project by Eddie Ritter and Andrew Ness to commemorate the late Eva Pierrakos (70s Punk Scene). They write: “We are collecting mementos of the life of Eva Pierrakos, including her photographic work, graphic work, videos, writing and correspondence as well as corresponding work in which Eva served as the subject and use of which is not restricted by intellectual property rights considerations. Please contact Eddie Ritter at threeritters@bredband.net or Andrew Ness at Andrew.Oliver.Ness@gmail.com should you wish to submit materials for compilation into a memorial presentation album, for discussion of format of submission.”

9. Letters from Our Readers:

() “Article just published… Here’s the link (featuring Richard Peterson, Search & Destroy photographer, and V. Vale, Search & Destroy publisher/editor) http://www.mightymercury.com/home/366-where-theres-a-will-theres-a-way-diy-culture-vs-corporate-personhood.html
– Thanks again for helping. I’m likely to be in your area sometime this summer, not sure yet. – Z.K.”

() “Hi Vale, I’ve met you a few times through George and Mike Kuchar. I’ve appeared in many of their videos and they have documented a lot of my work. I’m doing a new series of shows a the Dark Room (on Mission and 18th Street). I’m a solo performer and I’ve gotten a lot of awards for my work including a Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award and a Guardian Goldie… I feel that many people who are on your list would be very interested in my shows.My work has been described by the Guardian as “Jonathan Winters meets Cocteau.”

“Please have a look at my promo video “Debbie & the Demons!” by Mike Kuchar. This will give you a bit of an idea what I am up to on stage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaRCfRFAG2s

“My website is dancarbone.net which will has bio info, past works, as well as critical analysis. There is more specific information on the upcoming shows at: darkroomsf.com I’d appreciate it if you could mention me on your list … – Dan Carbone” Well, we are definitely fans of George and Mike Kuchar, so we print this here. Please give us feedback if you attend, dear newsletter readers!” – V. Vale

() “Cleaning out my inbox… I love this paragraph you wrote. On 12 Nov 2009, at 23:39, RE/Search Publications wrote:

“We don’t have enough time to see every film, hear every musical recording, read every book and poem and essay written since the beginning of time (note: we’re not encompassing all the “live” human performances available these days). We need a guide who is reliable, trustworthy, free from vested interests — possessed of that rarest of all human facilities, DISCRIMINATION. Yet we want someone who is reasonably “encyclopedic.” We don’t have time to trust every person who passes themselves off as a guide, so we have to be exceedingly careful who we choose. And RE/Search has chosen just a handful: William S. Burroughs, J.G. Ballard, Surrealism, Situationism…” – sent by Little Shiva

() From Alexander Laurence: “Subject: “Gimme Something Better “- “How come you weren’t involved more with the book? You documented those bands, and had firsthand experience. This book seems vague and fuzzy and many people trying to remember what happened 30 years ago.” No comment needed!

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FEBRUARY 2010 RE/Search eNewsletter written by V. Vale & other contributors. Newsletter and website powered by http://www.laughingsquid.com.
DISCLAIMER : If you’re receiving V. VALE’s newsletter, it’s because you **or someone you know** has sent your address to us, or signed our mailing list at an event!
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RE/SEARCH | 20 Romolo #B | San Francisco CA 94133 | 415.362.1465
http://www.researchpubs.com | http://www.myspace.com/researchpubs | info@researchpubs.com

WELCOME TO V. VALE’s RE/SEARCH NEWSLETTER #89, January 2010
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RE/SEARCH | 20 Romolo #B | San Francisco CA 94133 | 415.362.1465
www.researchpubs.com | http://www.myspace.com/researchpubs | info@researchpubs.com
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**TO RECEIVE LAST-MINUTE LOCAL S.F. BAY AREA NEWS OF RE/SEARCH-recommended EVENTS, reply to this newsletter & in subject line  write “local subscribe” // If you’re receiving multiple eNewsletters please let us know WHAT to delete from our list!

TABLE OF CONTENTS:
___________________________________________
1. MESSAGE FROM YOUR EDITOR, V. VALE
2. Watch our Counter Culture Hour NEW TIME 6 PM Pacific Time, Saturday January 9, 2109 – also simulcast ON LINE EVERYWHERE
3. FORTHCOMING EVENTS
4. What We’ve Attended/What We’ve Been Reading/Seeing
5. Stephane von Stephane column will return next month.
6. Recommended Links – send some!
7. QUOTES
8. 2nd Request: Help commemorate the late Eva Pierrakos!
9. Letters from Readers
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please add info@researchpubs.com to your ADDRESS BOOK. If you change your email, send it plus your “old” email address to delete. Lastly, forward our newsletter to your friends! If you are on aol, please make sure you can receive our newsletter -  we get the most returns from addresses at AOL, Hotmail and Yahoo!
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[COMMERCIAL:] If everyone receiving this newsletter ordered one book a year from us (how about as a gift for SOMEONE ELSE?!), we’d be survivable. Our classic books that are low in stock include MODERN PRIMITIVES, INCREDIBLY STRANGE MUSIC, BOB FLANAGAN, and more — get ‘em while you still can, brand new!
THE NEWEST BOOKS TO APPEAR under the RE/SEARCH logo (for you elite completist collectors of RE/SEARCH):
() DO ANDROIDS SLEEP WITH ELECTRIC SHEEP by monochrom of Vienna, Austria, and
() BURNING MAN LIVE! A Collection of 13 Years of P*ss Clear, the “zine” published by Adrian Roberts AT THE PLAYA.
Please support RE/SEARCH and order them DIRECT from us, not an Internet discounter, from our website at http://www.researchpubs.com Or feel free to call us at 415-362-1465 … V. Vale will autograph upon request … Also available is a set of 9 issues of Search & Destroy 1977-79 for $40 plus shipping – that was V. Vale’s first publication, way back when — a bargain. Think.
Thanks to Raub Shapiro (Homestead bar, Folsom/19th St, S.F.) and David King (he created the CRASS logo) for visiting our office and buying xmas presents — they made our month!
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1.  MESSAGE FROM YOUR EDITOR, V. VALE, RE/SEARCH FOUNDER (and founder of SEARCH & DESTROY magazine before that):

Due to the pressure of time, 2010’s New Year’s Message will be mercifully succinct (we’re thinking, naturally, about “New Year’s Resolutions”). Or, ha ha, think of the below as your new TEN COMMANDMENTS for 2010:

1. Set your house in order. (Use a Feng Shui guidebook or two.)
2. Settle unpaid obligations to clear your mind of past guilt, which preys on your subconscious and “drags you down.” With some people, the mantra is: “Don’t go away mad, just go away.”
3. Make a list of goals, post it in plain sight, and keep adding to the list.
4. Attend as many parties as possible, especially if they’re free.
5. Make a list of your best friends / allies, and focus on having fun with them, regularly. (Zen proverb: “Old friends, new clothes.”)
6. Invite your friends to parties, especially “good” ones.
7. Make a list of the most radical, far-seeing, prophetic, visionary individuals and groups in the entire world, and stay in touch with them (our personal choice includes Nassim Taleb, James Howard Kunstler, Michael Ruppert, The Yes Men – etc.).
8. Read the greatest books ever written, see the greatest films ever made. (Ignore contemporary corporate media marketing hype. In fact, ignore corporate media, period.)
9. Invite friends over for lunch/dinner – or at least tea/snacks.
10. MUTUAL AID IS THE KEY TO SURVIVING THE (possibly calamitous) FUTURE. Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst!
– Yours in comradeship, V. Vale

2.  Counter Culture Hour - NEW TIME – NOW ON AT 6:00 PM PACIFIC TIME. LYDIA LUNCH talks at the RE/Search office, with clips from TEENAGE JESUS AND THE JERKS live in San Francisco Oct 8, 2009, at Slim’s. This is one of the most inspiring episodes yet! Edited/produced by Marian Wallace; interviews by V. Vale.
The Counter Culture Hour (aka RE/SEARCH TV)  is also ON-LINE as well as on cable access San Francisco Channel 29 — 6:00pm Pacific Time, Sat Jan 9, 2010 ALSO on-line (simulcast) – at this link:

http://72.47.201.244/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1881&Itemid=1801

USA west coast: 6:00 PM Saturday, Jan 9
USA east coast: 9:00 PM Saturday, Jan 9
London: 2:00 AM Sunday, Jan 10
Tokyo: 10:00 AM Sunday, Jan 10
You get the picture…
Would you like to have a Counter Culture Hour showing in your town? Please write and ask us how you can do this… (write:  info@researchpubs.com)

3. FORTHCOMING EVENTS

() WEEKENDS at the HYPNODROME, SAN FRANCISCO: “AND by popular demand: Pearls Over Shanghai with original Cockettes members will continue through April 2010 – Saturdays and Sundays. It’s a must-see, a piece of San Francisco history brought into the present in lurid color. Great music written and performed by Richard “Scrumbly” Koldewyn. http://thrillpeddlers.com/  Hypnodrome, 575 10th St/Brannan, S.F. 415-377-4202. NOTE: The Hypnodrome survived a near-disastrous flooding (huge pipe burst on Division Street around the corner) and is now renewed and ready for action, after a three-week cleanup marathon by Hypnodrome steel-willed stalwarts. Support local theater!

() FREE! Fri Jan 15, 6pm, SOMArts Cultural Center, 934 Brannan St/9th St, S.F. www.somarts.org – SOMArts Cultural Center’s Bay Gallery invites visitors to take a trip into the world of sumo wrestling as seen through the eyes of twenty artists from the Bay Area and beyond with Into the Ring, Sumo-style. This eclectic exhibition of paintings, photography, drawing and more, curated by sumo-loving artist MariNaomi, contains pieces that represent varied views of the sumo wrestler, ranging from serious to sensuous to quirky and fun… It is a show not to be missed!”

() FREE! Thur Jan 14 7pm, Modern Times Bookstore, Valencia/19th St, S.F.
Margaret Killjoy – Mythmakers and Lawbreakers: Anarchist Writers on Fiction – A series of 14 original interviews with writers, including Ursula K. Le Guin, Michael Moorcock, and Alan Moore,  examining the ways anarchist politics have shaped their writing. Intro by Kim Stanley Robinson.

() FREE! Sat Jan 16, 6pm, Jancar Jones Gallery: “Editions.”

() $7. Fri Jan 22, 8pm, SUB-Mission, 2183 Mission/18th St. “The Octavian Show, The Jank, & Middle Class Murder.”You’ve received this email because your personality profile passed a rigorous battery of professional psychological evaluations, marketing analyses, criminal background check in the 23 most important nations, and even a remote-clairvoyant aural inspection.”
.
() Jan 22-31. NOIR CITY 8 (Film Festival). The Castro Theatre, 429 Castro St, SF. 415-621-6120 – Tickets for NOIR CITY 8 are now available online through Brown Paper Tickets, including the Noir City Passport, your key to **ALL** NOIR CITY 8 events at the Castro. “M is for Mystery” is official festival bookseller for the 8th NCF. http://www.noircity.com

() FREE – but in NYC! The 9th Annual No Pants Subway Ride will take place on Sunday, January 10 in New York and cities around the world. Details for New York:
http://improveverywhere.com/2010/01/04/no-pants-subway-ride-2010-details-for-new-york/  Details for other cities:

http://improveverywhere.com/2010/01/04/global-no-pants-subway-ride-2010/

() $$ Jan 23, 8pm, Edwardian Ball, Regency Ballroom, Van Ness/Sutter St,S.F. Jill Tracy will perform.

() $$ Sat Jan 30, 5pm, The Wave: “A 1967 Classroom experiment in fascism that shook a school. ” The Marsh.

() FREE! Tue Feb 2, 6pm, SF Main Library, Koret Auditorium.San Francisco Poet Laureate Diane di Prima gives a reading and address.

() $$. Thur, Feb 11, 8pm, CAFE DU NORD. Club Foot 30th Anniversary Concert w/members of Longshoremen, Club Foot Orchestra, etc. Attend and see/catch up with people you haven’t seen in decades!

() Thur. Feb 11, Feb 11th 2010. 7:30pm – DUST AND ILLUSIONS  -  **THE** film about Burning Man! Delancey Street Foundation Theater, 600 Embarcadero St, San Francisco, CA 94107. Get Tickets Now. Low Income Tickets at $8, Regular $12, Door $15. (Only 140 seats available)  After 9 months of sold out screenings through the states, and a success at San Francisco Documentary Film Festival, here is the 1st of a series of screenings in San Francisco & Bay Area. DIRECTOR will be in attendance for Q&A. And drinks. RE/SEARCH HOPES TO BE THERE!! Support local filmmaker OLIVIER BONIN, who has made a dazzling documentary with magisterial fairness. www.dustandillusions.com
“KEVIN BALKTICK: “Dust and Illusions is the only worthwhile documentary about Burning Man. Most are navel-gazing, utopian affairs. This movie is a candid look at the event’s history and development from a simple beach party (with a huge burning wooden man) into a 50,000 person weeklong adventure in the desert. It highlights many of the artists behind the monumental sculptural installations, and gives a voice to its discontents as well as cult members.” K.B. speaks “the truth.”

4. What We’ve Attended/What We’ve Been Reading/Seeing/Listening to/What We’ve Been Sent

() Our longtime collaborator CHARLES GATEWOOD sent us an email: “Could you please mention my new book, A Complete Unknown? It shows rare photos of Dylan taken in 1966, and more info is available at www.ACompleteUnknown.com. Happy trails, Charles.” This is a beautiful, rare, limited edition — note that we seem to now be in the Age of Limited Editions. Well, anything’s better than a day job!

() Our summer intern, Stellar Cassidy, gifted us with a handmade “zine” titled Diamond Tumbleweeds” and a handmade CD titled “the secret secretaries.” Each CD “dust jacket” was personally hand-typed on a vintage pre-electric manual typewriter! And each CD was personally “burned” on a home computer. The zine was beautifully and passionately produced. “Nuff said. Write us at RE/Search if you want to know more…

() Our pal JACK RABID sent us his latest magazine, THE BIG TAKEOVER #65. We immediately read the interview with THE CONTROLLERS, whom we ourselves featured in our SEARCH & DESTROY #10 magazine (still available from http://www.researchpubs.com ). Then we read the Thurston Moore interview, and then the LOU BARLOW interview, and so on… THE BIG TAKEOVER magazine series probably gave us the most “credible” and in-depth history of Post-1970s “Punk” (??) Rock music, up to the minute. At least you can read the interviews and decide for YOURSELF if a band might possibly interest you, on deeper  levels… Available from (back issues too!) http://www.bigtakeover.com

() Our friend RATSO from New York F–in’ City had sent to us “A Fish Hook An Open Eye” – the CD from Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers. Nick Cave called her “the band of the day.” She has brought the vast heritage of her Indian cultural ancestry to the Velvet Underground-and-beyond minimalist-Indie-Rock “zeitgeist” and produced a virtuoso marriage of music and thrills that ripple up and down your spine. Available from Kepler Events, 174 Delancey St #LFE, NY NY 10002. Or write kepler.events@gmail.com

() THE SUN #406, Oct 2009 issue had an excellent interview with JAMES HOWARD KUNSTLER. www.thesunmagazine.org  (not EVERYTHING is available for free online…)  Additionally, we recommend Kunstler’s 2010 FORECAST blog at www.kunstler.com

() Eric Predoehl gave us a “dyn-o-mite” homemade DVD of THE SONICS who, impossibly, played Halloween, Oct 31, 2008 – Thanks, Eric!

() WAR & THE NOBLE SAVAGE by GYRUS was sent to us — if you are prescient, you can guess the philosophy of the contents of this small-press production by DreamFlesh Press of London. It is available from http://dreamflesh.com/projects/war-noble-savage/  .  Here’s a sample quote from the book: “…For large stretches of our prehistory, “partnership” rather than “dominator” social norms held sway. Society was more female-centred… These partnership societies were held to be generally peaceful, eventually battered into submission by horse-borne, hierarchical warriors (the Indo-Europeans)… from the central Asian Steppes. With their battle-axes they brought a monomaniacal Sky God; the rest, as they say, is history.” We salute this condensed compendium of radical thinking, this crucible of inspiration…

() Colin Turner of LAST GASP sent us James Stark’s newest book: “The Band CRIME, Punk 77 Revisited: A Photographic Look at the Band Crime and Punk.” Well, since we at RE/Search published James Stark’s PUNK 77 (still available from http://www.researchpubs.com)  we obviously cast a favorable eye upon this almost-tell-all memoir, available from www.lastgasp.com

() Little Shiva (Belgium) sent us her beautiful, handmade postcards – order from www.littleshiva.com

() Oscar Dancigers and Dave Mage dropped by their new DVD of LUIS BUNUEL’s DEATH I THE GARDEN, with a booklet, video interviews with Michel Piccoli & Victor Fuentes (film critic), new subtitles — all in all, a happy addition to the limited library of BUNUEL FILMS currently available. As we consider LUIS BUNUEL as our favorite filmmaker of all time — well, this is obviously an essential experience! Order from Microcinema, 1636 Bush St #2, SF CA 94109. 415-447-9750.

() Dec 4 in Los Angeles we met members of NASA SPACE UNIVERSE at our after-party following the Beyond Baroque “Naked Lunch” event, and last Monday they visited us in San Francisco along with their pal Mikey who has a band of his own. NSU gave us a driving, innaresting pre-release CD (“sounds like an SST record!”) with great stop-and-start rhythmic surprises, machine-gun drumming, adventurous bass playing, and over-the-top vocals by Burroughs-inspired vocalist Kevin. Become their MySpace “friend”! We missed their Sunday night San Francisco illegal concert under the freeway at 15th St/San Bruno, but heard that the highly perceptive San Francisco’s Finest just told them to “clean up after yourselves before you leave.” Guaranteed, this is one of the most intelligent/fun “bands” on the planet — our thanks to “Maria” (assistant to Eva from U.S.C., wife of the publisher of NO magazine, Bruce Kalberg) who introduced us to NSU..

() Joseph Pope sent us his labor-of-love, lavishly produced vinyl 2LP-with-booklet “ROCKY MOUNTAIN LOW: The Colorado Musical Underground of the Late 1970s.” With bonus CD. Order from www.rockymountainlow.com or write info@rockymountainlow.com This contains an ultra-rare recording of JELLO BIAFRA WITH THE HEALERS. Listen to the ORIGINAL recording of “California Uber Alles.” This is a limited edition, and highly recommended for those who love real history. Check out the 1977 photo of Jello Biafra with Joey Ramone!

() The DIY production of MEDITATE AND DESTROY DVD was sent to us by director Sarah Levine — get it from www.medittaeanddestroy.com .
While we have “issues” with any institutionalization of “Buddhist” concepts, nevertheless in general it is not a bad idea for people, including so-called Punk Rockers — to “meditate”… although personally, we prefer the Thich Nhat Han “teachings” advising that, e.g., washing dishes gives a great opportunity for meditation, and, whenever you see a body of water like a lake, river or ocean, meditate… Just as doing yoga at home seems infinitely preferable to attending any class –  especially where you have to pay money… Likewise, we feel “funny” about the possible “canonization” of a “Punk Rock Buddhist” “teacher” but hopefully, REAL Punk Rockers will know that the first rule of Punk Rock is: THINK FOR  **YOURSELF**. Or as Bob Dylan put it, “Don’t follow leaders / watch yo-ur parking meters.”

5.  Stephane von Stephane will return next month…

6. RECOMMENDED LINKS (send some!)

() from Ed Hardy: “I wanted you to be aware of… NY artist Ruth Marten – [she] does amazing work and considers herself part of the “steam punk” movement… Ruth is a painter and illustrator and in the 70s was actually tattooing underground in NY; the only person besides deVita on the scene then. She is a great person and has an interesting history…”

() From Karen M: “Someone was telling me this story over the weekend.This French guy built luxury submarines with the Sultan of Dubai but since theres no such thing as a luxury submarine,
he was arrested for fraud.  He escaped by disguising as a woman and building his own scuba, then once he was out on international waters he took a dinghy to India! The guy used to be a covert French spy. Check out the submarine though – steampunkish, actually:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/k0re/4153311443/  ”

() from Mako Sano: http://www.mapsofwar.com/images/EMPIRE17.swf

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEheh1BH34Q&hd=1

http://www.4shared.com/dir/25180745/7a0e8721/Kraftwerk_-_The_Warfield_Theat.html

() from Rick McGrath: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1234430/Mystery-spiral-blue-
light-display-hovers-Norway.html?ITO=1490#ixzz0ZCOomAQa

() New Art of Bleeding video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxUfzuSUxYg

()  from Sharon Leong: http://www.urlesque.com/2009/07/29/little-rock-gods-a-video-collection/

() from Matt Gonzalez: http://shop.ebay.com/coins-b-me/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p4340

() from Jon Reiss (former SRL videographer): http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jon-reiss/a-christmas-and-hanukah-l_b_395890.html

() From Graham Rae: “Best wigga trash I have EVER seen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wL2MA4H1G8I

()  from Babalou: “Neverwas Haul ??? !!! The trailer: http://www.doctorparnassus.com/

()  from Skot Armst: http://www.freewebs.com/palimpsests/twelvedays.htm

() from Marc Fischer:  “R.I.P. Roland S. Howard who died this morning, Dec 30, 2009.”

() an e-card from Jean-Jacques Perrey: 1.  Type http://www.americangreetings.com/?source=ag999&rr=y into your web browser 2.  Locate the ecard pickup link in the upper right-hand corner of the page  3.  Enter the following code –> 5058994179457

() Photos of modern Dubai from a 19th century plate camera -

http://pagesperso-orange.fr/martin.becka/page1/page4/page4.html

() from Little Shiva: “Fingerpainting on Mars a lançé son premier satellite, M-110, le 1 janvier 2010. http://issuu.com/fingerpaintingonmars/docs/m-110 http://www.fingerpaintingonmars.com ”

() from Michael Pilmer: “Heads up on the Ultra-Devo-lux Limited Edition (box set) of 2 CDs, 2 DVDs, a poster, a 7″ single, an EP and much more – when they’re gone, they’re gone. Order from www.clubdevo.com ”

7. QUOTES -

() “You can fake intelligence, but you can’t fake wit.” – Oscar Wilde

() “By dint of not following our nature, we have no nature to follow.”

() “When you feel good, you feel nothing.” – Buckminster Fuller

() “He who knows how to be poor, knows everything.” – unknown

() “People thought I named myself after William Burroughs but I’d never heard of him and I still haven’t read a word he’s written.” – Augusten Burroughs” If this is “true” (and I doubt it) he owes it to himself to read at least one word, like my favorite WSB-inspired quote: “Belief is the enemy of knowledge… All knowledge is a work in progress. Our lives are a work in progress.”

8. 2nd Notice: Project by Eddie Ritter and Andrew Ness to commemorate the late Eva Pierrakos (70s Punk Scene). They write: “We are collecting mementos of the life of Eva Pierrakos, including her photographic work, graphic work, videos, writing and correspondence as well as corresponding work in which Eva served as the subject and use of which is not restricted by intellectual property rights considerations. Please contact Eddie Ritter at threeritters@bredband.net or Andrew Ness at Andrew.Oliver.Ness@gmail.com should you wish to submit materials for compilation into a memorial presentation album, for discussion of format of submission.”

9. Letters from Our Readers:

() “Wonderful “Message from the Editor”! [in December 2009 newsletter] “We seekers are out there/here, quietly (mostly) working away individually or in small groups, away from the commercial mindlessness that pervades in the culture at large. Thanks to RE/Search for keeping the Torch (Touch?!) of the Marvelous. Best wishes, Brian”

() “Great message this week! – Nancy Peters”

() “Vale, Good to see you. Great event [WSBurroughs Memorial at Beyond Baroque, Dec 4-5, 2009].  I’m going to further investigate Burroughs as you’ve piqued my interest. I realized how much I didn’t know about him! It’s nice to know there’s always more to discover. Loved the film and slides. You should do a book + art exhibit of your photographs. Anyhow, sorry I missed the after-party…
“This week the Tom Waits Orphans LP box comes out – 7LPs in a slipcase. This is something I designed and worked on for over a year (with stops and starts)… All the best – Johnny B”

() “…Kitty corner, comes from catty-corner — which is based on the French “quatre” for four — and then something about the four corners and dice that led to an old English word “cater” — to make diagonal.

“More Burroughs ! Give me some notice and I will help promote it. Maybe we could do something at the Commonwealth Club, where I’m now Chairman of the Business and Leadership Forum. Think about what a cool panel might be around this. http://ww.commonwealthclub.org/  I’m also going to be doing a series at the Club in April on self-publishing, and may connect with you on that as well. All the best, Kevin O’Malley”

() from Steven Rodriguez: “Hello Val, …my GF and I dropped by your office a few years ago and were very excited to grab some T-shirts and other things… anyhow, very happy to see a new RE/SEARCH book on the local bookstore shelf! Always interested in keeping up with your guy’s activities. Cheers!”

() “I love your books! Hi, My name is Michael Jacobson. I run an online gallery for asemic writing (like Brion Gysin’s calligraphy) called The New Post-Literate. I just posted a link to Re/Search. I hope you don’t mind. It was through RE/Search that I discovered the industrial music scene [INDUSTRIAL CULTURE HANDBOOK] and learned more about WS Burroughs. So Thanks! I hope you have a moment to visit the gallery. To me, the gallery represents the continuation of experimental literary practices which Burroughs and Gysin greatly expanded on, from Dada, Surrealism, Lettrisme, etc. Thanks for your time, M~”

() “Mr. Vale, Please call me ‘Bill.’ I am not much for formalities…
“The economy for the independent book-seller is indeed terrible. This is deeply depressing to me as an academic. So many critically important books historically have been published by independent presses willing to take a chance.
“I vividly recall seeing MODERN PRIMITIVES when it was published. I was shocked and fascinated, thinking this was the most interesting thing I had ever seen. I bought a copy, took it home  and showed it to my wife who promptly told me if I did not take the book out of the house she would divorce me because the content was disturbing. This made me even more interested that an intelligent person had such a visceral reaction to something that was obviously culturally important.
“Fast forward a decade, I am no longer married, had a child whose baby sitter was heavily tattooed. This cemented and rekindled a long buried interest in body art. More generally it also inspired me to get a large tattoo myself.
“The point of this story is that I have met a few people that figured in MODERN PRIMITIVES and consider it a critically important book. I have not used it in the past as a required text but am doing so now as the content is no longer as shocking as it once was (even college professors must be careful about what book we require). The text and figures in it were way ahead of its time and you published a great book you should be proud of.  Lots of publishers get rich printing cra-p and never do a bit of good. MODERN PRIMITIVES did a great deal of good and influenced countless people. I for one admire what you did.
“If you ever find yourself in the New York City, I would love to meet you. You have at least one fan in the state! – Bill P.”

() from Stevphen Shukaitis, Autonomedia Editorial Collective http://www.autonomedia.org  http://info.interactivist.net
“Autonomy is not a fixed, essential state. Like gender, autonomy is created through its performance, by doing/becoming; it is a political practice. To become autonomous is to refuse authoritarian and compulsory cultures of separation and hierarchy through embodied practices of welcoming difference… Becoming autonomous is a political position for it thwarts the exclusions of proprietary knowledge and jealous hoarding of resources, and replaces the social and economic hierarchies on which these depend with a politics of skill exchange, welcome, and collaboration. Freely sharing these with others creates a common wealth of knowledge and power that subverts the domination and hegemony of the master’s rule.” – subRosa Collective

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JANUARY 2010 RE/Search eNewsletter written by V. Vale & other contributors. Newsletter and website powered by http://www.laughingsquid.com.
DISCLAIMER : If you’re receiving V. VALE’s newsletter, it’s because you **or someone you know** has sent your address to us, or signed our mailing list at an event!
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RE/SEARCH | 20 Romolo #B | San Francisco CA 94133 | 415.362.1465

http://www.researchpubs.com | http://www.myspace.com/researchpubs | info@researchpubs.com

–

Happy holidays! Here’s hoping your spirits are and remain intact.

A special seasonal offer from us at RE/SEARCH:
Order by December 31, 2009 for a $5 coupon (orders under $40 not including shipping) or $10 coupon (orders over $40 not including shipping). You can mention this offer in the “message” entry on the order page or call us or email for immediate attention and total. If you are paying by paypal, please subtract from the total OR if this offer is mentioned, we will refund the proper amount offered.

Alternate offer: If you would like to order several gifts to be sent to separate addresses, let us know and we’ll give free shipping on all orders sent to USA addresses. Overseas, $5 off per order.

Please only ask for one of the above offers! (we are not made of money, so to speak, nor do we work for the USPS)

If everyone on our list orders just one of their holiday gifts from RE/Search … we’d be most appreciative!

All orders will be sent same or next day by either USA media mail, or Priority Mail for an extra $2 per address. Overseas orders will be sent by Global Priority.

If you’ve ordered in December already – thank you! Please ask for a $5-$10 coupon for your next order, should you order again by March 31, 2010.

Hoping to hear from you.
V. Vale

WELCOME TO V. VALE’s RE/SEARCH NEWSLETTER #88, December 2009
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RE/SEARCH | 20 Romolo #B | San Francisco CA 94133 | 415.362.1465
www.researchpubs.com | http://www.myspace.com/researchpubs | info@researchpubs.com

**IF YOU LIVE IN San Francisco BAY AREA, PLEASE **REPLY** TO THIS NEWSLETTER IF YOU WISH TO RECEIVE LAST-MINUTE LOCAL NEWS OF RE/SEARCH-recommended EVENTS! In subject line please write “local subscribe”  // If you’re receiving multiple eNewsletters please let us know WHAT to delete from our list!

TABLE OF CONTENTS:
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1. MESSAGE FROM YOUR EDITOR, V. VALE
2. Watch our Counter Culture Hour NEW TIME 6 PM Pacific Time, Saturday December 12, 2009 also simulcast ON LINE EVERYWHERE
3. FORTHCOMING EVENTS - RE/Search in Los Angeles Dec 4th! plus more
4. What We’ve Attended/What We’ve Been Reading/Seeing – J.G. Ballard Memorial in London
5. Stephane von Stephane column
6. Recommended Links – send some!
7. QUOTES
8. Readers’ request for mementos to commemorate the late Eva Pierrakos
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please add info@researchpubs.com to your ADDRESS BOOK. If you change your email, send it plus your “old” email address to delete. Lastly, forward our newsletter to your friends! If you are on aol, please make sure you can receive our newsletter -  we get the most returns from addresses at AOL, Hotmail and Yahoo!
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[COMMERCIAL:] THE NEWEST BOOKS TO APPEAR under the RE/SEARCH logo (for you completist collectors of RE/SEARCH): DO ANDROIDS SLEEP WITH ELECTRIC SHEEP by monochrom of Vienna, Austria, and BURNING MAN LIVE! A Collection of 13 Years of P*ss Clear, the “zine” published by Adrian Roberts AT THE PLAYA. Please support RE/SEARCH and order them DIRECT from us, not an Internet discounter, from our website at http://www.researchpubs.com — you can order them as gifts for people, and incidentally read them yourselves before you give them… V. Vale will autograph upon request… Also available is a set of 9 issues of Search & Destroy 1977-79 for $40 plus shipping – that was V. Vale’s first publication, way back when…

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1.  MESSAGE FROM YOUR EDITOR, V. VALE: In the midst of preparing to give a presentation on William S. Burroughs TOMORROW NIGHT (Friday Dec. 4 at Beyond Baroque, 681 Venice Blvd, Venice CA, 7:30pm), I received an email having to do with photographs of William and guns (tangentially). Now, I am quite sure I am the FIRST to “out” Burroughs by printing photos of him with then-state-of-the-art civilian firearms which were procured from otherwise left-leaning Bay Area artists — why “Leftists” are so afraid of firearms has always seemed slightly daft. You can bet that Rightwingers (don’t these Left/Right terms now seem faintly quaint and pathetic?) are proud to proclaim that “I’ll give up my gun when they pry my cold, cold fingers off it.” Now there used to be a saying, “God made man, but Samuel Colt made them equal” which begs being updated, 21st-century style, to: “God (just noticed, “God” is one letter away from being “Gold”) made woman and man (yes, and LBGT et als) but Samuel Colt made them equal.” And it still seems strange how the most extreme violence in movies is okay, but put in the littlest bit of love or sex and — boom, you get an “R” rating.

Why do we still value William Burroughs (and his younger British “literary soul brother” J.G. Ballard) after their bodies have left the planet? There are many, many reasons having to do with valuing “truth” and “honesty” and hating authoritarianism and hypocrisy. Hating bullies and racial/sexual bigots. Loving justice, social justice, and learning for its own sake. Loving poetry, which someone said “must be made by all.” Loving creativity, UNCENSO-RED, and valuing Dreams, Surrealism-in-Life, Chance, Luck, the Unconscious or Subconscious, and Originality. Recognizing that one can tap the potential for a trance state breakthrough which always existed in our backbrain. Recognizing that our greatest creativity sometimes happens when we are just “channeling” and being intuitive — not exercising rigid, logical, methodological processes.

There is an intimate connection between Burroughs’ writing and his speech — both he and J.G. Ballard had an inimitable verbal style — and both could talk as well as they could write. Someone said that Ballard had (to paraphrase) an amazing, astounding simile- and metaphor-generating machine in his brain that worked continually and seemingly effortlessly. Someone else said that “All reading is a preparation for writing.” But how many of us can express ourselves uninhibitedly in our own unique vocabulary and style? The most amazing “style” would be if every sentence we said could be recognized as ours — just as almost every sentence J.G. Ballard and William S. Burroughs wrote can be recognized as “Ballardian” or “Burroughsian.” Well, let us all strive toward that!

Mainly, the complete works of Burroughs and Ballard — (fiction, poetry, short stories, interviews, articles, radio interviews, et al) need to be studied for their overarching critique of what Burroughs called The Control Process — that which controls us even unbeknownst to ourselves. Just WHY do we want a certain article of clothing or iPhone or car or piece of furniture or vacation destination? Often, we do not know why. Just guessing that many people go throughout their entire lives not knowing WHY they like what they think they like, not knowing WHY they made a certain choice, not knowing WHY they’re content with extinguishing the curiosity(ies) they were born with. Many are content with watching OTHER PEOPLE LIVE — in movies, on television, et al — and rarely questioning why THEY aren’t on a quest, whatever the goal. Yes, what happened to the notion of an entire generation being SEEKERS, as in the now-maligned Sixties? The Sixties wasn’t just about drugs; it was also about investigating the “Wisdom of the East” — Zen, the I Ching, the Tarot, the writings of Gurdjieff, Ouspensky, Crowley and numerous lesser-knowns who went to Tibet and the Amazon and other “exotic” locales in search of revelation, transcendence, and greater knowledge as to the mystery of existence, of all life on earth (and the universe, for that matter).

But we are truly in the age of De-Evolution, and we can only hope that a few — just a few — SEEKERS still exist who are not easily satisfied, and who are relentless in their quest for rare truths, insights and Surrealist marvels. Diligence, perseverance, and taking pains are necessary to lead a life where freedom and consciousness are the highest goals. Skeptical empiricism, teamed with an outlook informed by Surrealism and Situationism, can function to harness the infinite depths of the Imagination we are all born with, to create a future beyond the tawdry limitations “framed” by the capitalist Control Process. And Seekers could do well to absorb themselves in the complete works of Burroughs and Ballard, whose Black Humor visions and writings seem to be more extreme and deadly-truthful than the output of 99% of most living so-called “writers” on this planet. A real writer tries to tell the truth, the whole truth, all the truth. How many writers do that today? Not many. And, it is not enough just to produce “shock” — there has to be a larger overriding moral and ethical vision somehow embodying universal social justice. We are looking for writers who will write a different, “better” future…

Ingmar Bergman once said, “To shoot a film is to organize an entire universe.” Well, that’s what Burroughs and Ballard both did — they not only organized but created (through writing) new universes — with just a pen and paper. It’s the imagination which creates The Future, and our world needs all the imaginativeness we can muster, to survive what may well be very perilous times just around the corner…  — V. Vale

2.  Counter Culture Hour - NEW TIME – NOW ON AT 6:00 PM PACIFIC TIME
More from Hector Penalosa — and another ZEROS show!
The Counter Culture Hour is also ON-LINE as well as on cable access San Francisco Channel 29 — 6:00pm Pacific Time, Sat December 12, 2009 ALSO on-line (simulcast) – at this link:

http://72.47.201.244/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1881&Itemid=1801

USA west coast: 6:00 PM Saturday, December 12th
USA east coast: 9:00 PM Saturday, December 12th
London: 2:00 AM Sunday, December 13th
Tokyo: 10:00 AM Sunday,  December 13th
You get the picture…
Would you like to have a Counter Culture Hour showing in your town? Please write and ask us how you can do this.
Hector Penalosa, was a founding member of the ZEROS (70s Punk band featured in our SEARCH & DESTROY magazine). Sometimes called the Mexican Ramones, they have a beat you can dance to – great songs. Hector talks about making art and more.

3. FORTHCOMING EVENTS

() RE/SEARCH’s founder V. VALE WILL BE IN LOS ANGELES TOMORROW, FRIDAY, DEC 4, 7:30pm – come visit and talk with us! BEYOND BAROQUE, 681 VENICE BLVD, VENICE CA (LOS ANGELES). This event is part of the 50th ANNIVERSARY OF NAKED LUNCH CELEBRATION at Beyond Baroque, hosted by Richard Modiano. Topic: The Influence and Impact of WILLIAM S. BURROUGHS, with V. VALE, a film by MARC OLMSTED, trailers, and Q&A with Vale, Olmsted, and FRED DEWEY.  V. VALE of Re/Search has interviewed Burroughs on and off over a period of more than 20 years. Poet and filmmaker MARC OLMSTED will be present for the screening of his rarely seen short film “Burroughs on Bowery.” The evening will conclude with a Q&A session with Vale, Olmsted, and writer and BB Director FRED DEWEY. Last-minute Special Added Attraction! – GERALD V. CASALE, a founding theoretician of DEVO, will tell about his encounters with William S. Burroughs, and answer questions live! (DEVO has just finished a continental USA tour, and have new vinyl LP re-releases, etc, available! New DEVO LP of all-new material is forthcoming, soon…)

() SAT Dec 5  -  12 noon until?
Marathon reading of WILLIAM S. BURROUGHS’ NAKED LUNCH
Scheduled readers and slots for those who show up.  Hosted by RICHARD MODIANO.

http://www.beyondbaroque.org/

() FRI-SAT Dec 4-5: Curious Exhibits: A series of moving vignettes. Including: “Kodori (little bird)” with original music by Peter Whitehead. Created specifically for dancer Cari Bellinghausen. Noh Space, 2840 Mariposa Street at Florida,  8pm
Tickets: call 415-713-0148 or visit www.brownpapertickets.com/event/86879

() FREE, SATURDAY, Dec 5, Post Brothers Present: EXERCISES IN SEEING, a one night only exhibition held entirely in the dark
Free and open to the public. Queen’s Nails Projects, 3191 Mission St, San Francisco, California.

() SUNDAY, DEC 6, Get cheap, remade, or totally free clothing today at two events. First, there’s Indie Mart Vintage Party, with 12 vendors selling rebuilt vintage items (clothing, accessories) at 1453 Valencia Street. Then, there’s  a co-ed clothing swap in the Dogpatch area, where you can bring clean & unwanted clothing to swap for other peoples’ threads (there’s also a craft sale & local artists selling handmade goods). Cowley Studios, 2325 3rd street (at 20th), Studio 224.

() FREE, DEC 8, Radar Reading hosted by Michelle Tea, featuring Zoey Kroll, Eric Drooker, Daphnie Gottlieb, Kat Marie Yoas. San Francisco Public Library, Main Branch – Latino/Hispanic Room, 100 Larkin St. (at Grove).

() FREE (but RSVP by emailing sfmt@ybca.org). FRIDAY, DEC 11, 7:30 pm, SF Mime Troupe 50th Anniversary Performance. “Tonight see a special performance of the classic theater piece, “Ghosts.” Revived for this evening only, “Ghosts,” is a satire created for the opening of the Moscone Center featuring the original cast. Enjoy live music, cocktails and more.” Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission Street.

() THUR, DEC 10, Thursday Night Soul Party with The Hi-Nobles, Barbary Coasters, The Mindless Things at Annie’s Social Club. Support Annie’s Social Club while you can — it closes its doors by 2010 and we’ll miss it.

() FREE. SUNDAY, DEC 13, 1-4 PM. Does the Secret Mind Whisper? – A Celebration of Bob Kaufman. “For the second year in a row Justin Desmangles hosts a celebration of the life, mission and legacy of poet Bob Kaufman (1928-1986), whose spirit and poetry continue to breathe life into San Francisco’s and the global poetry scene. Gone, but not forgotten, Bob Kaufman is not only a leading figure in the literary and cultural revolution known today as the Beat Generation, he is also a pioneering poet of the Black Conciousness Movement, and one of the most celebrated African-American poets of his generation throughout the French speaking world.” Main Lubrary, Koren Auditorium (Lower  Level),

() FREE, SUNDAY, DEC 13, 7:00 P.M. – Ed Hardy at Beat Museum, book signing. The book, “Beyond Skin,” a beautiful 240 page book of tattoo designs, will be signed. As the Beat Museum wrote us,”It turns out Ed Hardy, a protege of Sailor Jerry Collins, is a huge Beat fan!  In fact he told me how he first read “Howl” and “On The Road” and “Bomb” back in the fifties when he was like 14 years old.” Beat Museum, Broadway/Romolo alley, San Francisco (just east of Columbus).

() SATURDAY, DEC 19, 2 pm. The Compots Cup 2009. “Join the best fighting robots in the country doing what they do best – thrashing, crashing, smashing and obliterating each other inside our specially built bulletproof robot arena. Yeah, this is what they used to have on TV, but it’s way better live – the sights, the sounds, the smells, the NOISE. Mm, noise.” http://combots.net/

() WEEKENDS at the HYPNODROME, SAN FRANCISCO: “AND by popular demand: Pearls Over Shanghai with original Cockettes members will continue through New Year’s Day 2010 – Saturdays and Sundays. It’s a must-see, a piece of San Francisco history brought into the present in lurid color. Great music written and performed by Richard “Scrumbly” Koldewyn. http://thrillpeddlers.com/

4. What We’ve Attended/What We’ve Been Reading/Seeing/Listening to/What We’ve Been Sent

() J.G. BALLARD’s last book, MIRACLES OF LIFE. We re-read it to prepare for attending the private J.G. BALLARD MEMORIAL Nov 15, 2009 at the top of the Tate Modern. See Rick McGrath’s website to find photos, texts, etc.

http://www.ballardian.com/rick-mcgraths-letter-from-london-jg-ballard-memorial

Find MIRACLES OF LIFE and other J.G. Ballard books at your local bookstore – (over 20 novels from 1961-2008, many short stories, interviews, critical writing) ask your favorite bookstore to order! Look for them used! (Also on Rick McGrath’s site: a detailed and illustrated Ballard bibliography http://www.ballardian.com/jg-ballard-bibliography)

5.  Stephane von Stephane

Book: AMERICAN ON PURPOSE, ‘the improbable adventures of an unlikely patriot’ by Craig Ferguson (about Craig Ferguson) An egotistical bast@rd if there ever was one, he’d say. Also frequently refers to himself as a douche-bag with a creepy laugh. I love this guy! I really only know him from his talk show, The Late Late Show, on CBS following David Letterman.
But it seems many people know him from his role on the Drew Carrey Show as Drew’s pissy English boss. He is actually very Scottish and hilarious. Recently he’s become a U.S. citizen and he does think America is the best country in the world. Part of that comes from his parents, and everyone else from that generation loving the G.I.s in WWII. He has the opinion that if one works hard one can live the dream in the U.S.A. Also, he says for the Scottish Work = Love. He admits that he now realizes a little bit of luck helps too. I would say it’s all about who you know and being in the right place at the right time, which could fall into the category of luck I guess. As we all know, ‘luck favors the prepared’. Though he was seemingly too drunk most of the time to be truly prepared for much of anything but a sloppy one-night stand. He does have a natural charm and charisma, which often trump preparedness.
Anyway, I think the reason I love him so much is that he is the first person on the network t.v. machine who represents m-m-m-my generation. Actually, he’s younger than me but he left high school early, left home and went to live in Glasgow to be in a punk band. This was when Glasgow was a happenin’ spot, with the Hellfire Club raging, and there was a real punk scene there. And drug scene, like there was in all punk scenes the world over. Naturally he gets heavily into drugs, but mostly drinking, gets married, moves to N.Y. for a while in the early 80’s, gets into acting, gets divorced, moves to London, falls in love, nearly stops drinking, but then keeps drinking, nearly commits suicide, goes into rehab, goes to Hollywood,
writes scripts, acts in sitcoms, gets married again, directs and stars in a film he writes, has a kid, gets divorced again, falls in love again, gets married again and now is the hottest man on late night t.v.
That’s the short version. In his autobiography he goes into detail of course and in a witty, touching and compelling way reveals himself, reviles himself and re-invents himself. Sounds to me very much like an American of my generation. He has an obvious disdain for show business, though he clearly loves the sound of his own voice and admittedly loves the money. His monologue is loosely based on a few topical talking points, but he lets his wacked-out mind go to places only a former stoner can come up with and just riffs about whatever, yet it all ties together. That’s his brilliance.
I recommend staying up late, late some time and catching his show. When he had ‘The Damned’ on his show he looked so damned happy. One of the first punk singles he bought was ‘New Rose’ by The Damned (me too!) And when the Sex Pistols were on the show he was totally jazzed, even though they looked and sounded a bit worse for the wear-and-tear. When he does interviews with actors/actresses he tries to engage them in actual conversations, rather than stick to the script about whatever new film they are there to plug. Some of them can do this, others are noticeably perturbed. But at least he’s doing it HIS WAY!
I have always relished life’s ironic twists, and managed to find the humor in my own ironic twisted circumstances and Ferguson’s book is filled with his own. My favorite is when he’s in a posh hotel in London having flown in on the Concorde for the premiere of his film and glances out the window at a train station below where he see a photo booth which he had once spent a drunken night sleeping in as he had no place else to go. I love that kind of thing. So, I recommend this book. Craig is on the cover (egotistical bast-rd) wearing a leather jacket and boots with a red, white and blue kilt. Classic. Very punk rock. Very m-m-m-my generation!~Stephane Von Stephane

6. RECOMMENDED LINKS (send some!)

() this might be the best web site i’ve seen in awhile -KM

http://japanesebugfights.com

() www.ballardian.com

7. QUOTES -
() “If you don’t run your own life, somebody else will.” -unknown

8. Project by Eddie Ritter and Andrew Ness to commemorate the late Eva Pierrakos. They write:
We are collecting mementoes of the life of Eva Pierrakos, including her photographic work, graphic work, videos, writing and correspondence as well as corresponding work in which Eva served as the subject and use of which is not restricted by intellectual property rights considerations. Please contact Eddie Ritter at threeritters@bredband.net or Andrew Ness at Andrew.Oliver.Ness@gmail.com should you wish to submit materials for compilation into a memorial presentation album, for discussion of format of submission.

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DECEMBER 2009 RE/Search eNewsletter written by V. Vale & other contributors. Newsletter and website powered by http://www.laughingsquid.com.
DISCLAIMER : If you’re receiving V. VALE’s newsletter, it’s because you **or someone you know** has sent your address to us, or signed our mailing list at an event!
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RE/SEARCH | 20 Romolo #B | San Francisco CA 94133 | 415.362.1465

http://www.researchpubs.com | http://www.myspace.com/researchpubs | info@researchpubs.com

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WELCOME TO V. VALE’s RE/SEARCH NEWSLETTER #87, November 2009
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RE/SEARCH | 20 Romolo #B | San Francisco CA 94133 | 415.362.1465
www.researchpubs.com | http://www.myspace.com/researchpubs | info@researchpubs.com

**IF YOU LIVE IN San Francisco BAY AREA, PLEASE **REPLY** TO THIS NEWSLETTER IF YOU WISH TO RECEIVE LAST-MINUTE LOCAL NEWS OF RE/SEARCH-recommended EVENTS! In subject line please write “local subscribe”

TABLE OF CONTENTS:
___________________________________________
1. MESSAGE FROM YOUR EDITOR, V. VALE
2. Watch our Counter Culture Hour NEW TIME 6 PM, featuring Hector Penalosa of 70s punk band, THE ZEROS — NOV 7, 2009 – now simulcast on-line and on Channel 29, SF. Also including Gilman Street show!
3. FORTHCOMING EVENTS – RE/Search will be present at some of these!
4. What We’ve Attended/What We’ve Been Reading/Seeing/Listening to/What We’ve Been Sent..
5. FILM REVIEWS – new column by Michael Raines
6. Leave this space blank…
7. Recommended Links-  from Phil G. and others – thanks!
8. QUOTES
9. Feedback from Readers
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please add info@researchpubs.com to your ADDRESS BOOK. If you change your email, send it plus your “old” email address to delete. Lastly, forward our newsletter to your friends! If you are on aol, please make sure you can receive our newsletter -  we get the most returns from addresses at AOL, Hotmail and Yahoo!
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[COMMERCIAL:] THE NEWEST BOOKS TO APPEAR under the RE/SEARCH logo (for you completist collectors of RE/SEARCH): DO ANDROIDS SLEEP WITH ELECTRIC SHEEP by monochrom of Vienna, Austria, and BURNING MAN LIVE! A Collection of 13 Years of P*ss Clear, the “zine” published by Adrian Roberts AT THE PLAYA. Please support RE/SEARCH and order them DIRECT from us, not an Internet discounter, from our website at http://www.researchpubs.com — you can order them as gifts for people, and incidentally read them yourselves before you give them… V. Vale will autograph upon request… (can’t get THAT at the hated amazon – never thought the word “amazon” would become a hate word equivalent to the worst global corporation or fascist or Hitlerian state)

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1.  MESSAGE FROM YOUR EDITOR, V. VALE: “‘Information Overload’ vs. ‘Encyclopedic Overview’ in the Age of the Tyranny of the Internet.”

Someone recently boasted to us, “I don’t have to remember anything anymore, because I can just look it up instantly on my iPhone.” And indeed, we were at dinner recently when the topic of “The President’s Analyst” came up (“Who directed it?”) and someone at the table, a graphic designer named Allan, within seconds produced the name of the overlooked genius [?] behind the film, “Theodore J. Flicker,” and proceeded to recite the cast, plot details, et al. However, who was the person at the table who had initially IDENTIFIED this “unknown prophetic masterpiece” of a film, out of the million films made to date? Well, it was Gerald V. Casale, one of the visionaries of the larger cultural philosophy behind the band DEVO.

We don’t have enough time to see every film, hear every musical recording, read every book and poem and essay written since the beginning of time (note: we’re not encompassing all the “live” human performances available these days). We need a guide who is reliable, trustworthy, free from vested interests — possessed of that rarest of all human facilities, DISCRIMINATION. Yet we want someone who is reasonably “encyclopedic.” We don’t have time to trust every person who passes themselves off as a guide, so we have to be exceedingly careful who we choose. And RE/Search has chosen just a handful: William S. Burroughs, J.G. Ballard, Surrealism, Situationism…

In “real life” we try to be as discriminating as possible who we “socialize” with. Personally, I’d rather socialize with a “book” ! (I treat books as people — I argue with them, identify their best ideas and quotations, muse over their most poetic sentences, etc. And I’m continually wondering how they might be Against the Status Quo.) As Burroughs put it [paraphrased], “Every conversation with someone creates a Third Mind.” Couple that thought with “Judge by results,” and a simple review of any social interaction (i.e., dinner, interview, chat, brief meet-and-greet) reveals the richness (or not) of the experience. We are always searching for new thoughts, new ideas, new film or book or music recommendations which will resonate with our outlook on life which is continually being tested and (hopefully) expanded and refined… But with gold, not dross…

Last night we had dinner with Jack Rabid who is the cultural critic behind The Big Takeover magazine — a project done out of his passion to discover “the best” of music being produced for the past thirty-some years, mostly in the context of the original spirit behind the International Punk Rock Cultural Revolution. Jack had just sent his 65th issue [!] to press, and he wanted to go to an Italian (as opposed to Chinese, or Thai, or Nouvelle Cuisine [does that category even exist anymore?!]) restaurant in our North Beach neighborhood. We went to our personal favorite (one seemingly avoided by tourists) and resumed talking “all over the map.” However, we were quickly overheard by our waiter, David, a red-haired British man from Bath, England, and during the evening — well, the restaurant was mostly deserted, sadly enough — he joined in our debates, which became quite spirited.

A sample: Q by David: “What’s your favorite record of all time?” A by Jack Rabid: “All the recordings of the Buzzcocks.” Well, that reply touched off an internal debate about how most of the lastingly “real” social-critical and personal/internal “issues” which songs can embody have pretty much all been touched upon by the Buzzcocks — more so than, say, the Sex Pistols or Clash or… We agreed that the Saints FIRST album was a classic (its hit single “Stranded” is a classic song of social alienation), but not the second, which had horns… Which were the best Clash songs? …

Curiously, David had no use for songs emanating from 80s Southern California bands, naming Social Distortion (That isn’t punk rock, that’s just anger. There has to be some ‘art’ in the writing of the songs.”) His attack on Black Flag roused the ire of Jack, who has an encyclopedic knowledge of all the band members, singers, songs, and history of almost every band ever associated with “Punk Rock,” and David got a fact-filled lecture… The whole evening was like a small roller-coaster tour of Punk Rock history from 1975 through the 80s. The first ground-breaking DEVO film, which presaged the entire genre of MTV, had been finished in **1975**! And yes, it seems like David Byrne of the Talking Heads had quite possibly appropriated the persona and dance moves of Mark Mothersbaugh in that film. You get the picture…

A true history of any social movement like Punk Rock would certainly attempt to identify “Who Did What, FIRST…” We want to identify and give voice to the ORIGINATORS, not the imitators… This was always a goal of SEARCH & DESTROY and RE/SEARCH…

RE the Internet; Jerry Connolly (SmartGuyRecords) said, “The Internet offers a more efficient way to f*ck people.” Briefly, it has made everything “free” — writing, music, filmmaking. Nobody has to pay for content anymore — you could spend the REST OF YOUR LIFE surfing the web for “free” everything! Which means that most of the content of the future will be created by trust-fund folks! Definitely, QUALITY is already being replaced by QUANTITY — it is truly the AGE OF QUANTITY now… which falls right into the trend known as DE-EVOLUTION…

At this point, the Grim Reaper of Time is knocking on our door, and this essay will have to be continued later (if there **IS** a “later”)… — Bon Voyage, fellow seekers! — V. Vale

2.  Counter Culture Hour – NEW TIME – NOW ON AT 6:00 PM PACIFIC TIME
The Counter Culture Hour is also ON-LINE as well as on cable access San Francisco Channel 29 — 6:00pm Pacific Time, Sat November 7, 2009 ALSO on-line (simulcast) – at this link:

http://72.47.201.244/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1881&Itemid=1801

USA west coast: 6:00 PM Saturday, November 14th
USA east coast: 9:00 PM Saturday, November 14th
London: 2:00 AM Sunday, November 15th
Tokyo: 10:00 AM Sunday,  November 15th
You get the picture…
Would you like to have a Counter Culture Hour showing in your town? Please write and ask us how you can do this.
This month’s episode features Hector Penalosa, a founder of the ZEROS (70s Punk band featured in our SEARCH & DESTROY magazine), including the Zeros’ recent show at Gilman Street this year.

3. FORTHCOMING EVENTS

() SUN NOV 15 marks the birthday of our major influence J.G. BALLARD — there is a private celebration and memorial honoring J.G. Ballard at the Tate Modern (JGB would have liked that) organized by his longterm agent Margaret Hanbury, at 11AM. More on this later…

() DEVO is on a major USA tour playing concerts of their first and third albums (which have been re-released both on VINYL, and CD w/extra tracks). The band has never sounded more energetic, with superb sound reproduction at live shows (much better than in the 70s at the Mabuhay). They also have a new album due to be released in a couple months or so, of all-new material. Here are the DEVO TOUR DATES:
Nov 13: CHICAGO
NOV 16: WASHINGTON, D.C.
NOV 21: NEW YORK CITY
NOV 24: TORONTO

() City Lights’ “Naked Lunch” anniversary celebration at San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI) Lecture Hall & Amnesia Bar:

FREE **Friday, November 20th, 2009, 7:00 P.M. William S. Burroughs: An Evening about the author of The Naked Lunch
Location: SFAI Lecture Hall – 800 Chestnut Street – San Francisco – CA – 94133 – Hosted by Jonah Raskin & Peter Maravelis – Opening statements by Lynn Hershman-Leeson – presentations by Bill Berkson, Diane di Prima, Oliver Harris, Ron Loewinsohn, Jonah Raskin, DJ Spooky, and others, followed by a roundtable discussion.
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FREE **Saturday, November 21, 2009, 1:00 P.M.
From Interzone To The Western Lands: William S. Burroughs Remembered
Location: SFAI Lecture Hall, 800 Chestnut Street, San Francisco, CA 94133
hosted by Peter Maravelis
William S. Burroughs and Naked Lunch are remembered by friends and  afficionados of his work (including RE/SEARCH).
Participants: Charles Gatewood, V. Vale, Mel Clay, and Kathelin Gray
To be followed by a sampling of William S. Burroughs films and performance videos
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FREE **Sunday, November 22, 2009, 7:00 P.M. – Naked Lunch REDUX – Location: Amnesia Bar, 853 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA 94110, in SF’s Mission District – hosted by Peter Maravelis – Local authors read excerpts from The Naked Lunch Participants: Mindy Bagdon, Craig Clevenger, Stephen Elliot, Marcus Ewert, Daphne Gottlieb, Alan Kauffman, Jon Longhi, Michael McClure, and Johnny Strike.

() T.D. Skatchit & Co. presents their first sound recording of Skatch music for your listening pleasure! First there was the Electric Light then The Talking Machine. Now witness The Skatchbox; a new musical invention by Thomas Skatchit. Built out of cardboard boxes and played with combs, this recession era wonder conjures up sounds previously unknown to man. ** T.D. Skatchit & Company CD Release Show – Friday, Nov 20, 2009 8:00 PM
Community Music Center, 544 Capp Street, Between 20th and 21st, SF.

() FRI NOV 13, 10pm, SF NEW YORK NIGHT TRAIN SOUL CLAP and DANCE-OFF “$100 dance contest all night dancing to DJs JONATHAN TOUBIN, IAN SVENONIUS, PAUL PAUL, PRIMO, and JELLO BIAFRA.” 111 Minna

() LOS ANGELES: THUR NOV 12, 9pm, http://artofbleeding.com/show-faq.html ART OF BLEEDING at “WIG OUT! GET YOUR HEALTH CARE ON!” Bordello, Los Angeles, CA
Special surprise guests from The Art of Bleeding tread oh-so-gently on the fractured, lacerated toes of the health care issue at this long-runnning wig-preoccupied cabaret. Performances begin at 10pm with the wheezy hand-cranked sounds of Weasels Exist. Cabaret acts (including The Art of Bleeding) begin at 11pm.  Other performers: Wig-Out impressaria Jean Natalia, Michael Lucid of Pretty Things, Creekbird, Penny Starr Jr., Machina Candeo, Eric Anthony, and Andrew Ableson. DJ My Little Pony closes out the evening, encouraging you to drag those crutches to the dance floor. Door: $8 w/ wig, $10 without. Location: 901 E. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.

() HYPNODROME, SAN FRANCISCO: “AND by popular demand: Pearls Over Shanghai with original Cockettes members will continue through New Year’s Day 2010 – Saturdays and Sundays. It’s a must-see, a piece of San Francisco history brought into the present in lurid color. Great music written and performed by Richard “Scrumbly” Koldewyn.

http://thrillpeddlers.com/

Thrillpeddlers have been performing authentic Grand Guignol horror plays, fet1sh vignettes, and lights-out spookshows in San Francisco for more than 15 years.

** Have your next birthday celebration at Hypnodrome! **

() LOS ANGELES, Sun NOV 15, 4pm: Brendan Mullen Memorial: Nov 15, Echoplex **The memorial for Brendan Mullen. Echoplex (entrance at 1154 Glendale Boulevard, Echo Park, 90026; between Park and Montana avenues; there are city parking lots south of Sunset off of Lemoyne, Logan and Echo Park avenues and there will be valet parking). The memorial starts at 5 p.m., with an Irish wake to follow. (Funny, I thought he was Scottish!)

() OAKLAND, NOV 28, 8pm: West Oakie Turkey Shoot Benefit for the Golden Mean, Saturday, November 28 at 8:00pm @ Kraftworks **With the holiday spirit upon us it’s time for a good old fashioned turkey shoot and ho-down. Times is hard and we know not all of you can afford a turkey this year, so drop your last dollar on us and hope your aim is as good as you say. 3 birds will go home to the best shots of the night. While you’re waiting your turn to shoot, get liquored up at the Boiler Bar enjoy strange art vehicles and take in the sights of our stage. Featured Art: The Front Porch / Golden Mean / Electrobite / Wrecker – Featured Acts: EL RADIO FANTASTIQUE / The Easy Leaves / Mykee Ramen / Highlights of The Boiler Bar performers, Including JD Limelight, Tanzee, Denzel, & Jodi – Details: November 28th 2009, 8pm-2am @ 2600 Magnolia at 26th street in West Oakland (Enter through the Parking Lot Gate) $10 donation to support the Golden Mean – RE/SEARCH will attempt to be there!!

() Fri-Sat-Sun, Nov 13/14/15 12-6pm  http://www.greenfestivals.org/san-francisco 635 8th St., SF – Fri 5pm Kevin Danaher. 6pm Medea Benjamin. – Sat 1pm Laura Flanders. 4pm Alan Greene Food. 5pm Caroline Casey tide turning. 6pm Paul Stamets Mushrooms can save the world. – Sun 12pm ecosystem rights. 1pm Starhawk letting the wilderness in. 3 raw vendors selling food Lydia’s, Cafe Gratitude, Blessings were selling food last year,

() SAT NOV 14 Noon, “KFC Boycott Action Please join us at KFC 510 Miller Ave. in Mill Valley to protest the horrible treatment and slaughter of chickens for meals at KFC.  We have lots of posters and literature to distribute, or you can bring your own. Let’s stop the killing chickens and all animals! — Claire.” To subscribe to Bay Area Animal Rights Network please send blank email  to: baarn-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

() SUN NOV 15: Beach Clean-up 10am – 12pm Ocean Beach entrance – Stairway 17 in front of Golden Gate Park, SF. Description: Stairway 17 is directly across from the Beach Chalet Restaurant at 1000 Great Highway San Francisco, CA 94121 http://www.sfsurfrider.org

() SUN NOV 15: “the Official Green Fest After Party w/ DEAD PREZ” on Sun Nov 15, 8pm-4am “CORRECTED DATE 1015 Folsom featuring DEAD PREZ, Sake One, J-Boogie w/ Aima the Dreamer, David Satori, El Diablo & Sidecar Tommy of Beats Antique, Lotus Drops, Sweet Anomaly, Wisdom w/ DJ Skwint & Seasunz and many more!”. http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=176042476360&mid=1441a8cG27b4e6f0G3d138a4G7

() TUE NOV 17, SF: Gardening in Small, Urban Spaces 11/17/09 (Tues.)  6-7:30 pm @ SF Main Library Latino/Hispanic B, 100 Larkin St. (at Grove) http://www.sfpl.org Fred Bove, permaculturist and former director of Adult Education at Strybing Arboretum, will be at the Library to talk about gardening in small, urban spaces.This talk will take us beyond the herb garden on the kitchen counter to an awareness of the amount of produce that can be coaxed out of tiny spaces for little effort or money: potatoes on the Chronicle building, gardening outside of windows and porches in hanging bags in Cuba.

() FRI NOV 20, 8pm: ‘Mission Control Fundraising Sextravaganza!’

() FRI NOV 20 9pm, The Black Rock Arts Foundation presents their third annual fundraising event, The Artumnal Gathering. The Bently Reserve 400 Sansome St., SF, CA 94111 $35 presale online, $45 at the door. http://www.blackrockarts.org/events/artumnal http://bentlyreserve.com

() THUR DEC 3, 8pm sharp: Alessandra Celletti and Hans-Joachim Roedelius Live at Theatre 39, Pier 39 at Fisherman’s Wharf — Advance Tickets available now at Amoeba SF and Berkeley! In San Francisco they will play at Theatre 39 at Pier 39 at Fisherman’s Wharf. Alessandra will play a solo piano set of her own and other composers’ works and sing two songs. After a short intermission Alessandra and Roedelius will perform “Sustanza” with piano, electronics and sung or spoken vocals in English, German and Corsican. “Sustanza” ends with a reworking of “By this River” which was written as a Cluster & Eno song but was recorded by Eno as part of “Before and After Science”. A book/DVD signing will follow immediately after the concert.

() FRI NOV 13, 9pm: The Towne Dandies — Last Days of the British Raj: A post-Victorian tragi-comedy. Chez Poulet, 3359 Army(Cesar Chavez) @ Mission.

() PETALUMA: SAT NOV 21, 7 p.m.  Loren Rhoads reads and discusses Morbid Curiosity Cures the Blues at Copperfield’s Books, Petaluma, CA.  Venue information:  http://copperfieldsbooks.com

() NOV 13-14, 8pm: The Bacchae: A Ritual of Coming Out. **The Circle of Dionysos proudly presents ritual theatre performances of The Bacchae: A Ritual of Coming Out onNovember 13-14, 2009, 8:00 p.m. at Mama Calizo’s Voice Factory at 1519 Mission Street in San Francisco. $20 donation is requested. No one turned away due to a lack of funds. Euripides’ ‘The Bacchae’ is one of the best known Greek Tragedies. It is the story of a confrontation between Dionysos, The God of Ecstasy and the repressive and patriarchal ruling family of Thebes. We cannot help but notice that it holds important parallels to the trials members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community face today when coming out. For more information please contact: Patricia Kevena Fili, 510-872-0568 pkf@circleofdionysos.org & www.thepaganalliance.org

() THUR NOV 12, 5:30pm: AN ART PROJECT BY JONATHON KEATS **PUBLIC RECEPTION. In the wake of global economic collapse, conceptual artist Jonathon Keats introduces a hedge against future catastrophe by creating a mirror economy designed to skyrocket as world markets plummet. The first holistic response to the great recession, this far-reaching financial innovation seeks to offset materialism with modern science, by exploiting the economic potential of antimatter. The trading desk of the First Bank of Antimatter opens on November 12th. Refreshments will be served.

() Fri, Dec 4, 7:30 pm, Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Avenue at McAllister, San Francisco.  LOST LANDSCAPES OF SAN FRANCISCO Curated and presented by Rick Prelinger, under the auspices of the Long Now Foundation Seminars About Long Term Thinking. Rick Prelinger, a guerrilla archivist who collects the uncollected and makes it accessible, presents the fourth of his annual Lost Landscapes of San Francisco screenings. As in past years, Lost Landscapes 4  will be an eclectic montage of rediscovered and rarely-seen film clips showing life, landscapes, labor and leisure in a vanished San Francisco as captured by amateurs, newsreel cameramen and industrial filmmakers. This year’s Lost Landscapes  will include much new and unseen material from Prelinger Archives and other collections, including newly discovered films shot by longtime San Francisco residents. Unlike most film screenings, Lost Landscapes relies on audience members for the soundtrack — we encourage viewers to interact with the film, shout out questions and identify mystery scenes. Prelinger will preface the screening with a brief talk on how historical memory is shifting away from mass culture towards individual expression, and what consequences will arise from the emerging massive matrix of personal records.

() LOS ANGELES, SAT DEC 5, 8pm: Alessandra Celletti & Hans-Joachim Roedelius Live at Zipper Hall, 200 South Grand Street (next to MOCA). In Los Angeles they will play at the futuristic Zipper Hall/Colburn School of Music downtown. Alessandra will play a solo piano set of her own and other composers’ works and sing two songs. After a short intermission Alessandra and Roedelius will perform “Sustanza” with two grand pianos, electronics and sung or spoken vocals in English, German and Corsican. (Please check the attached audio excerpt (“Our North”) which features Alessandra’s haunting vocal melted around the edges by the masterful electronics of Roedelius.) “Sustanza” ends with a reworking of “By this River” which was written as a Cluster & Eno song but recorded by Eno as part of “Before and After Science”. A book signing will follow immediately after the concert. Advance tickets are available at Amoeba in Hollywood. Buy now before the event sells out!

() FRI-SAT NOV 13-14, 7pm: The Go Go Spectacular It is the Theatrical extravaganza of the year! **LIVE ACTION 1960s VARIETY SHOW! Join us for an outrageous, theatrical tribute to the great 60’s variety shows like Laugh-In, Shindig, and Hullabaloo. The Go Go Spectacular will be an action-packed night filled with live performances by The Barbary Coasters and Deke Dickerson’s All Star Frat Band doing a special all go go set! Special guests, comedy, historic tributes to the 1960s by author Domenic Priore (Riot on Sunset Strip and Pop Surf Culture) and author Lynn Peril (Pink Think: Becoming a Woman in Many Uneasy Lessons), vocal powerhouses Scotty from the Hi-Nobles and Alotta Boutte, Kitten on the Keys and Kellita of Hot Pink Feathers go all-out go go and as much shimmying and shaking as The Devil-Ettes and The Mini Skirt Mob can cram into two hours! The Brava Theatre, 2781 24th St, San Francisco $25 in advance, $35 at door. www.devilettes.com http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/79932

() MON NOV 30 8pm, CLASSICAL REVOLUTION Presents JACK CURTIS DUBOWSKY ENSEMBLE with George Hurd Ensemble and Build (NYC) – a triple bill of post-classical composer ensembles. (Note: JACK CURTIS DUBOWSKY ENSEMBLE is on FIRST at 8PM.  DOORS 730PM.  Please arrive Promptly!) @ Café Du Nord 2170 Market Street, San Francisco CA 94114, Near Church Street MUNI Underground. Tel: 415 861 5016. This show is 21+. $10 BOX OFFICE:   Tickets are available at the door.  Tickets are available on online at ticketweb.com.   http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=508305
EVENT WEBSITE:  http://cafedunord.com/?temp=calendar http://www.cafedunord.com/brilliant/cal/p.event.php?E_id=1255990503&B_id=1257202320&P_id=3

() THURSDAY, NOV 12TH COSMIC HEX and KITTEN69.COM serve up: THE VORTEX ROOM THURSDAY TURKEY FILM FEAST! **THE CREEPING TERROR (1964) at 9PM and DEATH BED: THE BED THAT EATS (1977) at 11PM ALL MONTH We’re THAWING out only the TASTIEST double platters of CINEMATIC JUNK just for YOU! …Plus TRASHY SHORTS and SURPRISES from THE COSMIC HEX before and between FEATURES… DOORS at 8PM; $5 PRIX FIXE — COMFORTING DRINKS AND FROZEN FLICKS — 1082 HOWARD ST @ 7TH, SF

() FRI NOV 13 7pm, Grant’s Tomb Gallery & Guerilla Project.or present: Project: Kinkade Cannibalized! –An unflattering exhibition of augmented/destroyed/rehabilitated Thomas “The Painter of Light” Kinkade images. Winston Smith’s “Grant’s Tomb Gallery” 50-A Bannam Place San Francisco
(Near Corner of Union & Grant in North Beach)

() THUR NOV 19 8pm Droneshift, a 2 hour drone: Many many musicians trading off in a seamless flow of sounds and textures! A must see/hear with a wide variety of acoustic and electronic instruments. Tickets: $6 – $10. The Luggage Store, SF — 1007 Market Street

() FRI NOV 13, 8pm: OVERLAPPING WORLDs:  SUN CIRCLE / FILMS BY PAUL CLIPSON ; DATE PALMS / FILMS; ELM / VIDEO BY JON PORRAS. An evening of experimental sound, music and image. Artist’s Television Access, $7-10 — 992 Valencia Street (at 21st), San Francisco, CA 94110 (415) 824-3890 — http://www.atasite.org/calendar/?x=4316

() FREE! Nov 12 – Dec 19 | Opening Reception 11.12.09, 7-10 pm – JIGSAWMENTALLAMA: A group exhibition of work by: KEITH BOADWEE > SCOTT HEWICKER > ANNE MCGUIRE > AUSTIN MCQUINN > TOBAN NICHOLS > SONJA NILSSON > MARGARET TEDESCO > SKYE THORSTENSON > GRANT WORTH. With weekly screenings of film and video works by: KENNETH ANGER > HARRY DODGE & STANYA KAHN > CRAIG GOODMAN > SCOTT HEWICKER > KALUP LINZY > ANNE MCGUIRE > JACK SMITH > SKYE THORSTENSON > RYAN TRECARTIN. First Friday night screening event this Friday November 13th. Join us for an evening of film and video at DCP. The first installment in the weekly series features recent video works by: Scott Hewicker, Harry Dodge and Stanya Kahn, Ryan Trecartin and a special film screening of Jack Smith’s legendary ‘Fl@ming Creatures’ (projected in 16mm – Courtesy of Canyon Cinema). Doors open at 7pm, program starts at 7.30pm sharp – seating is limited. Screening events are free and open to the general public on a space available basis. You may RSVP to reserve a seat. Please send an email to info@davidcunninghamprojects.com.

4. What We’ve Attended/What We’ve Been Reading/Seeing/Listening to/What We’ve Been Sent

() The early classic DEVO albums have been reissued on virgin VINYL with of course full-size beautiful artwork. I don’t care what any critics say; vinyl sounds warmer and “better” to my ears than any CD. However, these albums have also been re-released on CD with (of course) bonus tracks. Find them at your local Amoeba store or order direct at the DEVO website!

() “Happy Fall, everyone.  I just posted my article about my trip to the 2009 KROK Festival (with loads of photos) on my AWN blog spot.  You can read it at http://sprockets.animationblogspot.com/ Hope you all enjoy reading it and sailing down the river with me. – Nancy Denny-Phelps of Sprocket Ensemble”

() “I’VE SEEN FILMS ANNOUNCES” THE 2010 CALL FOR ENTRIES: “It’s time to put on your shorts!” Rutger Hauer challenges filmmakers to show him ”things never seen before”. He will personally award the winners during the Festival’s Award Evening. The deadline to submit films for the 2010 I’VE SEEN FILMS International Film Festival is Monday, April 5, 2010. The 2010 Festival edition competition – further to the main film categories – will include a special section dedicated to feature films and works dealing with themes and images from Arts (painting, sculpture, theater, poetry and literature).
Submission forms, Call for Entry document and complete information regarding eligibility and entry rules and regulations are available at: www.icfilms.org/eng/regulations.php  -  The I’VE SEEN FILMS International Film Festival was founded in 2007 by Rutger Hauer and it aims to promote on a world-wide basis and also through the internet streaming medium the works of filmmakers desiring powerful exposure and visibility to their films.

() PHAT MAN DEE: TORCH OF BLUE. CD by Burning Man singer – www.phatmandee.com – given to us at the Roxie Theatre Screening of DUST AND ILLUSIONS – great Burning Man documentary. This film is currently screening on the East Coast in the Boston – New York area – look for it!

() THE YES MEN SAVE THE WORLD is another poetic, beautiful documentary currently touring the USA – look for it in your town! It recently played the Roxie Theatre in S.F. Please note that the YES MEN are interviewed in RE/Search’s book PRANKS 2, available from www.researchpubs.com

5. FILM REVIEW – new column by Michael Raines -
A MARKER POINT ON ANDREI TARKOVSKY
———————————————————————————————-
In Andrei Tarkovsky’s relatively short career, he managed to transcend experimental cinema, incorporating symbolism and mysticism into man’s physical relationship to nature.  Tarkovsky committed his whole self to his work, while some how remaining elusive throughout his career.  Although much has been written and speculated on this artist, few critics have been able to capture the meaning and mood of his films, while allowing the artist the revrence and respect of his often private and personal life.

Chris Marker’s One Day In The Life of Andrei Arsenevich is like a defibrillator, pumping life back into the notorious auteur – often being held for ransom by the intellectually “undead”.  One Day is structured in three sequences or parts, which although seemingly random at first, overlap and bleed into each other, creating a narrative more concerned with the nature of time and its relation to memory, than it is to inform or dramatize.

The documentary does not rely on a typical talking-head format, instead it’s a kind of “spy” movie – part expose`, part home movie, part essay.  Showing the unavoidably profound, in the banality of the mundane.  Like peering through a hole in the wall, and witnessing the last moments of a dying man.

One Day was made for the French film series Cinema de notre temps.  Shot during the production of The Stranger, which, because of the accelerated growth of his cancer, proved to be Tarkovsky’s final film. Although the bulk of One Day was shot before his death in 1986, the official premiere wasn’t until 1999 on French Television.

Early into One Day we see Tarkovsky on the set of The Sacrifice, shooting the climax of the film. We are told in a narration track by Alexandra Stewart (a common voice in Marker’s films), that this is already the second attempt at filming the final sequence and that due to extreme circumstances – a house going up in flames – there will not be a third opportunity. It becomes apparent that to properly execute the scene, as intended by Tarkovsky, a combination of four elements – earth, wind, fire, and rain – must be linked together in one single take, while ensuring the protagonist hits his marks. Stewart explains that, “for Andrei, cinema worked best when fitting all action into a single frame.  Where the tracking shot is no longer a moral issue but a metaphysical one.”  We are then shown the final scene from The Sacrifice: a house on fire, flames blowing in the wind, the soft drizzle of rain, and the muddy terrain from which the house sits on.  All the while the protagonist staggering about as his family runs into the foreground from a distance. We begin to understand Tarkovsky’s reoccurring theme involving man’s marriage with nature. This is further demonstrated at the end of the film when the young boy rests underneath a dead tree, looking up into the sky – almost the exact same image that began his career in Ivan’s Childhood.

Stewart explains, “The naïve American contemplates the sky with low-camera angles pointing upwards, while, the Russian, at least this particular Russian, settles and contemplates the earth with camera angles just above the characters, pointing downwards.”  Tarkovsky is more fascinated with the use of film as a reflective device, than as a projective one. “Often the character himself confronts paintings, on true mirror, in accessible beauty; against which he must measure himself nonetheless,” says Stewart adding, “the reflection in the painting – a kind of double exposure- is a second approach to the mirror, than the mirror itself becomes a metaphor for painting.”  We get the sense that for Tarkovsky, film is the new painting, the ultimate mirror in today’s time. Tarkovsky once said, “My goal is to place cinema on par with all the other arts.”  One speculates if he meant ABOVE all the other arts.

Another segment of the film shows Tarkovsky on his deathbed, just months after the completion of principal photography on The Sacrifice.  We watch as he supervises the editing of the final scene.  It’s during these parts we meet Larisa, wife of Tarkovsky, and witness the reunion of Andrei Jr, and his father after a six-year separation.  It’s an image that feels slightly familiar, all the more underlined when Stewart states, “This image conjured up other images, other films.  As though all the children who inhabit his work had gathered at the bed-side of Andrei Tarkovsky, who was dying.”  Later we see a scene in which Larisa exits their home, only to be met with rain outside. Seeing this she throws her arms up into the sky, looks past the camera, and proclaims, “ Like in The Mirror, like in Stalker…it’s raining!” It’s clear there is little distinction between Tarkovsky’s life and his work.  Tarkovsky died at the Hartmann clinic in Paris on December 29th, at the age of 54.  It was the start of a new year.

Tarkovsky once predicted, well before his career, that he would only complete seven films in his life.  Whether this was a conscious goal or a rare insight, sadly, he did in fact only make seven films.  But each film delivers a kind of religious experience, balancing between the subjective and the objective, as if you where both the character and the god.   A perspective scarcely found in films made before or after him.

The documentary allows Tarkovsky to live – even if he is dying – as the audience watches select stages of his life unfold into a tapestry of isolated moments.  The moments Marker gives priority over seem to attest more to his deep friendship and appreciation for Tarkovsky, with less of a focus on continuity and time line.  Though we get glimpses into his films, with analytical commentary, it’s really the scenes with Tarkovsky, his family, and his relationship with his crew that speak to you.

Tarkovsky stressed that,  “cinema was the only art that operates with the concept of time.  It is the fixing of reality, the fixing of time. “  It seems as though Marker’s interest in structure is synonyms with Tarkovsky’s. Marker’s use of masking images over images invokes a mood so similar to the feeling of memory-a kind of sea of combined thoughts, past and present experiences, that watching One Day feels like you dreamt it, or at least shared a memory with Tarkovsky himself.  In short, a visual poem dedicated to the spirit of the man.

One Day in the Life of Andrei Arsenevich is available on DVD (PAL ONLY), released by the British Film Institute. It can also be found on surrealmoviez.info as a VHS-RIP.

6.  Pretend this is a blank “space” for “meditation” …

7. RECOMMENDED LINKS

() “Psychic computer shows your thoughts on screen – Times Online  http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/living/article6898177.ece

() From JOE CARDUCCI: “The New Vulgate issue no. 19 is up.  It’s got some news on Black Flag history, some military history, a Fotopoulos drawing, some photographs, links and a joke. http://newvulgate.blogspot.com/

() “Two Cornish Rex cats perplexed by the Dreamachine, accompanied by the voice of William S Burroughs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEUOYo0GhOg

8. QUOTES from our RE/SEARCH J.G. BALLARD QUOTES book (still available):

() “People do the strangest things for the most trivial reasons.” – from COCAINE NIGHTS, quoted on p.387

() “The only definition of real happiness: to find yourself and be who you are.” ibid

() “Nothing is true. Nothing is untrue.” – ibid

() “You can do all the housework in five minutes if you don’t make a fet*sh of it.” – ibid

() “I think the chief enemy of creativity in the world today is that so much thinking is done for you.” – ibid

() “I detest postmodern architecture in any form whatsoever.” – ibid

() “I was searching for a different kind of magic.” – from DAY OF CREATION, quoted on p.387

() “If you compromise with your own obsessions — that way lies disaster.” – JGB QUOTES, p. 386

9. FEEDBACK FROM READERS:

()  “LENORE KANDEL PASSES AWAY AT 77: Lenore Kandel was one of the original poets in the SF scene.  Her most famous work, “The Love Book” was seized by the authorities as pornographic for it’s frank sexual style which is one thing women were not supposed to write about. She was also featured in Kerouac’s novel “Big Sur” portrayed as Romana Swartz, a “big Rumanian monster beauty” along with her then-boyfriend Lew Welch as Dave Wain.”

() “Some of you know that I’ve been writing a book about independent film distribution and marketing inspired by my experiences releasing Bomb It.  Well the book is about to land! It is titled Think Outside the Box Office  The official release date is November 16th.  I’m going to be doing some events – I’m the keynote speaker at the CPH:DOX Forum in Copenhagen on November 13th.  Then in NY on the 17th I’m giving a presentation at the IFC Center and then on the 19th I’m speaking at  DIY:DaysLA.   I’ll be signing books at all of the events.   More info below and on my blog.  Thanks to all who have helped me on it!

“Indiewire will be putting out 3 of the chapters of the book for sneak previews in advance of the release.  The first came out today  (it will be on the front page for another hour or so): http://www.indiewire.com/article/jon_reiss_think_outside_the_box_office/   jonreiss.com/blog  twitter.com/Jon_Reiss
facebook.com/ThinkOutsidetheBoxOffice  – I hope to see you at one of the events.   I’ll be doing a book signing on the west side of Los Angeles in early December location TBD. ~ JON REISS. jon@jonreiss.com ”

() “Hi Vale, how’s it all going out there lately? I’ve been thinking about you and co- First with the death of JG Ballard, I went back to some of the books you’d given me and I had never gotten through, and finally polished a couple off, very satisfying.  Then I saw your name in an Artforum article on him, which was very well-written if you haven’t seen it, there’s a pretty lengthy tribute section.  Then I read that one of the members of Blue Cheer died, and thought of you again; finally I  went to MOMA (I’m living in Brooklyn now) yesterday, and they had some exhibit on the overlap of music and visual art in seventies New York, and had a few volumes of Search and Destroy (I think 3-5) on display; apparently they’re in the permanent collection, pretty cool. Anyway, nothing important to say, just wanted to say hi.  Have you thought any more about writing your memoirs?  I don’t want you putting it off for twenty-five years and then getting senile. Do it! Ok, hope all is well, -Nate”

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NOVEMBER 2009 RE/Search eNewsletter written by V. Vale & other contributors; mainly Brady Welch. Newsletter and website powered by http://www.laughingsquid.com.
DISCLAIMER : If you’re receiving V. VALE’s newsletter, it’s because you **or someone you know** has sent your address to us, or signed our mailing list at an event!
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RE/SEARCH | 20 Romolo #B | San Francisco CA 94133 | 415.362.1465
http://www.researchpubs.com | http://www.myspace.com/researchpubs | info@researchpubs.com

“Prepare for the worst, but hope for the best.”

QUOTED FROM OUR MODERN PRIMITIVES book (20th Anniversary soon):

() “We are setting out to create new worlds, new beings, new modes of consciousness.” – William S. Burroughs

() “We have the right to do what we want with our lives.” – “Things To Come”

() “The best way to keep something bad from happening is to see it ahead of time … and you can’t see it if you refuse to face the possibility.” – William S. Burroughs

() “Be regular and orderly in your life, so that you may be violent and original in your work.” – Flaubert

FROM J.G. BALLARD (his Birthday coming up: November 15, celebrated with a private memorial service at the Tate Modern, London, U.K.):

From J.G. Ballard QUOTES (published by RE/Search):

() “The Arab world, the Moslem world, may well take the place of the Communist world as the great bogeyman of the future.” [spoken in 1993!, p. 9]

() “There is a deep melancholy about fields full of old machinery or wrecked cars because they seem to challenge the assumptions of a civilization based on an all-potent technology. These machine graveyards warn us that nothing endures.” [p.178]

WELCOME TO V. VALE’s RE/SEARCH NEWSLETTER #86, October 2009
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RE/SEARCH | 20 Romolo #B | San Francisco CA 94133 | 415.362.1465
www.researchpubs.com | http://www.myspace.com/researchpubs | info@researchpubs.com

**IF YOU LIVE IN San Francisco BAY AREA, PLEASE **REPLY** TO THIS NEWSLETTER IF YOU WISH TO RECEIVE LAST-MINUTE LOCAL NEWS OF RE/SEARCH-recommended EVENTS! In subject line please write “local subscribe”

TABLE OF CONTENTS:
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1. MESSAGE FROM YOUR EDITOR, V. VALE
2. Watch our Counter Culture Hour NEW show, featuring the A.P.P. conference in Las Vegas, May 2009 (Association of Professional Piercers) — Oct. 10, 2009 – now simulcast on-line and on Channel 29.
3. FORTHCOMING EVENTS – RE/Search will be present at some of these!
4. What We’ve Attended/What We’ve Been Reading/Seeing/Listening to/What We’ve Been Sent..
5. FILM REVIEWS – new column by Michael Raines
6. Stephane von Stephane
7. Leave this space blank…
8. Recommended Links-  from Phil G. and others – thanks!
9. QUOTES -
10. Feedback from Readers
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please add info@researchpubs.com to your ADDRESS BOOK. If you change your email, send it plus your “old” email address to delete. Lastly, forward our newsletter to your friends! If you are on aol, please make sure you can receive our newsletter -  we get the most returns from addresses at AOL, Hotmail and Yahoo!

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1.  MESSAGE FROM YOUR EDITOR: It’s always a pleasure to have LYDIA LUNCH as a houseguest, however briefly (and last night’s stay was brief). Her seminal NO WAVE band TEENAGE JESUS AND THE JERKS played Thur Oct 8, 9pm, at Slim’s 9th/Folsom St, S.F. We were still jetlagged from our voyage to Germany and made it to Slim’s around 10pm, just in time to catch an intense, wall-of-sound finale of solid noise and intense female screaming-into-the-microphone from BURMESE. Sadly, we missed T.I.T.S., a local all-female group — one of their members, Kim, had met me about eleven years ago when I gave a lecture at CCA (California College of Art) in Oakland.
Our friend Johannes from monochrom (Austrian art-philosophy-technology collective) had arrived earlier and mercifully had saved us a table on the left side near the stage (it’s getting harder to stand up for hours at music clubs). BURMESE cleared the stage and we saw a red Fender guitar placed against a Fender Twin Reverb amp in the center, a deep snare drum and high cymbal set up stage left, and a big bass amp on the right.
TEENAGE JESUS AND THE JERKS hit the stage — the current incarnation includes Jim Sclavunos on drum & cymbal (he played standing up), and Al Kizys on bass — both in Yes Men-style suits, flanking LYDIA LUNCH in a black cocktail dress. Jim, who’s about 6′3, started the set hitting his deep snare drum exceptionally hard (drum, right hand; cymbal, left hand) and the intense, minimalist, Dadaist, archetypal Punk Rock set began. The scales fell from our eyes, and we realized this is what Punk Rock was in stark outline form — and we thought, “WE could play guitar like this. WE could play drums like this. It’s very simple. But it’s also very precise. And that’s what makes it exciting.” The 23-minute set was over in little over a heartbeat. We felt this was the skeleton archetype of Punk Rock.
The show got us to thinking, What exactly is/was Punk Rock? During the early years, SEARCH & DESTROY magazine tried to map out the philosophical parameters, which remarkably resemble the description of Luis Bunuel films printed in last month’s newsletter — i.e., PUNK IS CHARACTERIZED BY:
() D-I-Y (Do It Yourself; Make It Yourself; Think for Yourself)
() Anyone Can Do It — not precisely the same as the previous
() being anti-authoritarian  (anti-patriarch, anti-macho, anti-cop, anti-military, anti-fascist, anti-racist. The only “authority” is Yourself.)
() Black Humor – in clothes, hairstyles, lyrics, band names, posters, speech
() anti-religious, anti-clerical (a favorite song by U.X.A. contained the line “Mash Down Rome!”)
() including something “Surreal” or Dada (whenever possible)
() Remember the line: “An easy way to raise your intelligence — ask, Is it against the status quo?”

() Financial Minimalism (Don’t display ostentatious wealth, even if you have it)

() Be skeptical and empirical about EVERYTHING / EVERYONE / DISTRUST ALL CORPORATE MEDIA
Now, we at RE/Search, which longtime readers know emerged from SEARCH & DESTROY, were asked last night as to our opinion of a new book on the local punk rock “scene,” the questioner noting that V. VALE did **NOT*** participate. I replied, “It’s just another corporate punk rock book written by ‘journalists’ ” — and journalists are paid to go for the lurid, the sensational, emphasizing sex, drugs and violence. Would YOU like to be a journalist kissing up to a corporate publisher (‘Please, Mr Big Bucks, give me a book contract, or pay me for writing an article on anything?!”) whose only agenda is maximum profit as fast as possible? So if you see ANY punk rock book published by a major corporation, beware — it HAS been slanted and edited for maximum scandal/shock-potential. Guaranteed, it also contains the least possible inspiration-potential for envisioning a more creative, ethical, truth-telling and just world… which was what so-called “PUNK” was REALLY ABOUT… It was a Cultural Revolution and a Philosophy and a Vision of a New Society which has yet to be supplanted!

2.  Counter Culture Hour – New fall line-up of shows!
The Counter Culture Hour is NOW simulcast ON-LINE as well as on cable access San Francisco Channel 29 — 6:30pm Pacific Time, Sat September 12, 2009 ALSO on-line – symulcast – at this link:

http://72.47.201.244/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1881&Itemid=1801

USA west coast: 6:30 PM Saturday, October 10th
USA east coast: 9:30 PM Saturday, October 10th
London: 2:30 AM Sunday, October 11th
Tokyo: 10:30 AM Sunday, October 11th
You get the picture…
Would you like to have a Counter Culture Hour showing in your town? Please write and ask us how you can do this.
This month’s episode features interviews with attendees and luminaries from The Association of Professional Piercers convention in Las Vegas this past May 2009–
Watch for more new shows with Gee Vaucher, a founder of CRASS; Hector Penalosa, a founder of the ZEROS (70s Punk band featured in our SEARCH & DESTROY magazine); and Lydia Lunch…

3. FORTHCOMING EVENTS

() SUN, OCT 11, 2pm. Professor Greg Robinson gives a talk and book signing for his newly released “A Tragedy of Democracy: Japanese Confinement in North America. 1840 Sutter St/Webster-Buchanan, S.F. FREE. 415-921-5007 or njahs@njahs.org. G. Robinson also wrote “By Order of the President: FDR and the Internment of Japanese Americans.”

() SUN, OCT 11, 5pm. Appearing in person at Cinematheque for the first time in over a decade, P. Adams Sitney will discuss his latest book, accompanied by screenings of Stan Brakhage’s Visions in Meditation #2: Mesa Verde, Robert Beavers’ Amor and Warren Sonbert’s Rude Awakening. RE/SEARCH will be there! San Francisco Cinematheque at CCA campus, 1111 8th St, San Francisco. SFC Office: 145 9th St #240, S.F. 415-552-1990.

() TUE OCT 13, 7pm, Balboa Thtr, 3630 Balboa St, S.F. JOHN STANLEY hosts a rare showing of a complete 1973 Bob Wilkins CREATURE FEATURES SHOW, featuring “Creature Walks Among Us.” For the film connoisseur!

() SAT-SUN OCT 17-18, 11-7pm. ALTERNATIVE PRESS EXPO (APE). RE/SEARCH will be there sharing a table with CHARLES GATEWOOD. The Concourse, 620 7th St/Brannan, S.F.

() THUR OCT 22, 7pm. “DUST AND ILLUSIONS” a Burning Man documentary will screen at the ROXIE Thtr, 3117 16th St, S.F. RE/SEARCH will be there to sell our BURNING MAN LIVE! book! This screening is part of the 8th annual SF DocFest, sponsored by SF IndieFest (curator: Jeff Ross), which will screen Oct. 16 to 29 at the Roxie Theater, 3117 16th Street in SF. This year, the festival will run for 14 days and will present more than 50 films, including features and shorts. Highlights include Dust and Illusions, a critical documentary about Burning Man by Olivier Bonin.

() OCT 30. YES MEN movie premieres THIS MONTH! (title: The Yes Men Fix the World) – Opens in SF Bay Area Oct 30th – RE/SEARCH will have a table at the Roxie Theater, 16th/Valencia St, S.F. The YES MEN were featured in our PRANKS 2 book, and YES MEN (hopefully) will appear IN PERSON!  “It’s amazing what you can do with a $10 suit, an easy target, and some basic PowerPoint skills,” says co-conspirator Mike Bonanno.  http://www.theyesmenfixtheworld.com  Watch for The Yes Men Fix the World in *your* town! Opens in NYC NOW. It appears the film will play BOTH the Roxie Theater AND the Kabuki Theater! See it or…

() NOW and ongoing at HYPNODROME – Shocktoberfest!! 2009: Torture Garden and The Phantom Limb.
- Every Thursday and Friday through Nov. 20th. RE/Search published the original version of Torture Garden by Octave Mirbeau, on which this production is based (1922). Mirbeaus’s sensual and disturbing novel follows a young man’s journey to the ends of desire and depravity in a grand Chinese palace garden where torture is enjoyed and practiced as a form of art itself.

AND by popular demand: Pearls Over Shanghai with original Cockettes members will continue through New Year’s Day 2010 – Saturdays and Sundays. It’s a must-see, a piece of San Francisco history brought into the present in lurid color. Great music written and performed by Richard “Scrumbly” Koldewyn.

http://thrillpeddlers.com/

Thrillpeddlers have been performing authentic Grand Guignol horror plays, fet1sh vignettes, and lights-out spookshows in San Francisco for more than 15 years.

** Have your next birthday celebration at Hypnodrome! **

() Saturday Oct 24, Ninth Street Independent Film Center – Tribute to Chick Strand, 7:30-10:30 pm – $10. – 145 Ninth Street
Hosted by Canyon Cinema and SF Cinematheque – Chick Strand is one of the original San Francisco/Northern California experimental film-makers

() Fri OCT 9, Lumiere Thtr, S.F. CHELSEA ON THE ROCKS  Journey inside Manhattan’s celebrated bohemian landmark (film). Opens Fri October 9 in Bay Area at Landmark’s Lumiere Theatre in San Francisco and Landmark’s Shattuck Cinemas in Berkeley. Look for “Chelsea on the Rocks” in your town.

()  Sat Nov. 7, 2009, 8:00 pm  JACK CURTIS DUBOWSKY ENSEMBLE
Trinity Chapel 2320 Dana Street, Berkeley, CA 94704 One Block from UC Berkeley Campus. 15 minute walk from BART. $12 general, $8 students/seniors/disabled (suggested donation). No one turned away for lack of funds. TEL 510 549 3864
In its 36th year, Trinity Chamber Concerts’ mission is to present solo and small ensemble works from ancient to modern by Bay Area performers. Trinity is dedicated to cultivating a diverse program of performances that expands the possibilities of what is considered chamber music, and in doing so have included familiar works from the established Baroque, Classical, Romantic and 20th Century repertoire alongside seldom-performed works from the past and works of contemporary composers and improvisers.

() SUN NOV 8, 1pm. FREE. AMIRI BARAKA (LeRoi Jones) IN PERSON! SF Public Library, Main Branch, Koret Auditorium, 100 Larkin St.

() LOS ANGELES, Sun OCT 11, 8pm: monochrom in Los Angeles: “Reach Out And Touch Face: A Rant About Failing.” Johannes Grenzfurthner will give a lecture/performance at Machine Project (1200 D North Alvarado, Los Angeles, CA 90026).

() SAN DIEGO, Fri OCT 16. monochrom in San Diego: Context Hacking: Some Examples of How to Mess with Art, the Media System, Law and the Market. 9255 Towne Center Drive, Suite 400, San Diego, CA 92121. If you’re in San Diego, try to experience the Recombinant Media Lab installation at U.C. San Diego curated by Naut Humon — it’s free (10-screen, 16-channel sound). Email  naut@recombinantmedialabs.org for an appointment.

() HAWAII INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, Oct 17, 7pm & OCT 24, 1030AM – World Premiere of San Francisco filmmaker Emiko Mori’s ED HARDY: TATTOO THE WORLD, a documentary. Hopefully it will premiere in San Francisco soon!

4. What We’ve Attended/What We’ve Been Reading/Seeing/Listening to/What We’ve Been Sent

() FRI OCT 9 SAVAGE REPUBLIC played the Part-Time Punks festival (along with the RAINCOATS, a U.K. 70s female Punk band) at the Mezzanine, 444 Jessie St/5th St, S.F. We wanted to attend but were just too jet-lagged…Reportedly Viv Albertine (Slits) and members of Gang of Four and Section 25 were present to deejay and ??? So, we stayed home and wrote this newsletter! SAVAGE REPUBLIC is now one of our favorite bands and we urge readers to support their tours and recordings… you will not be disappointed!

() Essen, Germany: The site of the BMX conference 2009 – Body Modification Exchange. The most extreme shows we’ve ever seen. Find out more about BMX on the Counter Culture Hour this month in Stephan’s interview. (See 2 above.) Took place at a *utopian* venue — Imperfekt Haus — a real estate mogul’s tax write off – a place for international artists to live, work (rent-free studios in most cases), and show to the public. Could this happen in the U.S.A.?? Could this happen in real-estate-greed-dominated San Francisco? Everyone knows that realtors are the Enemy of Artists. And Artists are the ritual sacrifice: they move into terrible neighborhoods for the “lower rents,” get killed and robbed, then realtors come in to gentrify and make their blood money sky-high profits.

() From monochrom, who just put on their third annual Conference in San Francisco:
“We may not forget that mankind is a sexual and tool-using species, and that’s why our annual conference Arse Elektronika deals with sex, technology and the future.
“Last weekend we presented Arse Elektronika 2009 with the general theme: “Of Intercourse and Intracourse.” As bio-hacking, sexually enhanced bodies, genetic utopias and a plethora of gender have long been the focus of literature, science-fiction, and increasingly, p0rnography. This year saw us exploring the possibilities that fictional and authentic bodies have to offer.
“We presented plant p0rnography, biometrics in the bedroom, hypercrotches and nanobots. Jason Scott tried to find the “the smallest particle of erotica” and R.U. Sirius wanted to know what sex without meat may feel like. We featured science-fiction and cross-species sexuality. We hacked tantra and built sex devices with zip-ties. Uncle Abdul (who won this year’s Arse Elektronika Lifetime Award) helped us shock ourselves in the nu+s and Allen Stein revealed that he hates the term “teledildonics” and uses “browser based telemetry of genital haptic devices.” We checked out a steampunk vibrator and asked the simple question: will genetic engineering bring us some cool stuff on the sex market within the next decade?
“Our world is already way more bizarre than our ancestors could have ever imagined, but it may not be bizarre enough. “Bizarre enough for what?” — you might ask. Bizarre enough to subvert the heter0sexist matrix that is underlying our world and that we should hack and overcome for some quite pressing reasons within the next century!
“Don’t you think, replicants?   — JG”

5. FILM REVIEWS – new column by Michael Raines — coming next month

6. Stephane von Stephane Review of Synecdoche, (Written and Directed by Charlie Kaufman – ‘Being John Malkovich’, ‘Adaptation’, ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’.) WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS!

The day after watching Synecdoche I had a surreal experience befitting the tone of the film. (When one focuses on the details too intensely, one misses the bigger picture). I was driving on the freeway and looked away for two seconds to fix my window. I looked back at the road only to see a row of brake-lights ahead of me,
one truck stopped in the middle of the freeway, it’s load dislodged. A giant, obese, child-sized teddy bear was bouncing towards me in slow motion. (In the film it might have been a giant pink box with a nose drawn on it.) I jammed on the brakes and swerved to miss the truck. I had an adrenaline rush that lasted half an hour. I love adrenaline! Greatest natural drug known – can only occur if one’s life is truly in danger. The message I took from this film is that one should live as though your life IS truly in danger. We’re all asleep and the roof is on fire. The main character, Caden Cotard  (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is a playwright who’s marriage is breaking up and who’s health is mysteriously disintegrating. He’s focusing on the details of his health and missing the bigger picture of his marriage. He lacks social graces and is self conscious to the point of near paralysis. The woman who works at the box office where his play is running is clearly in love with him, but he can’t act on his attraction to her. Here, he’s missing the details while focusing on the bigger picture of his play. It’s fitting that the title of the film has multiple meanings: a term denoting a part of something is used to refer to the whole thing, or a term denoting a thing (a “whole”) is used to refer to part of it, or a term denoting a specific class of thing is used to refer to a larger, more general class, or a term denoting a general class of thing is used to refer to a smaller, more specific class, or a term denoting a material is used to refer to an object composed of that material. Whew!!!
The film builds slowly from an intimate look at his family life wherein there are missed symbolic clues as to what is coming next (i.e. cartoons on t.v. where the character is clearly Caden) and a huge stage set for an endless play Caden writes and directs which becomes as complex as a multi-tiered life-sized chess game. Caden is able to put on this complicated play thanks to some Foundation’s ‘Genius Grant’ and ends up writing and re-writing the content for his entire life. (Oh, so that’s why everyone wants those grants! lol) His life becomes the play and all the people in his life are the characters and he casts actors to play the real people including himself, and then, as the actors have lives of their own he needs to cast actors to play the original actors in order to capture the daily developments of relationships. When his wife (Katherine Keener) leaves him, taking their daughter and moving to Berlin to pursue a painting career, he does in fact have a relationship with the Box Office girl (Samantha Morton). But, he can’t commit and has to watch as she drifts into a relationship with a loser and is living in a house which IS literally on fire though no one seems to notice. It starts out smoldering slowly and throughout the film becomes more engulfed in flame. I found this to be hilarious, that’s my sense of humor.
When I saw the trailer for this film in the theatre I thought “Oh good a new film by my favorite screenwriter Charlie Kaufman.” But it looked so depressing that I thought I might give it a miss entirely. On the surface it seems depressing, but I found it to have so much humor that it wasn’t as much of downer as I thought it would be. Not exactly ‘uplifting’ mind you, but several scenes are hilarious. Caden travels to Berlin hoping to see his daughter, and attends an opening of his ex-wife’s paintings. The paintings are all slightly larger than postage stamp size and each one has a magnifying glass hanging next to it so people can see. (Hilarious!) Again, the message is that it’s the myopic view that keeps us from embracing the whole of life. There are instances though, when the small view supplies Caden with the long view, as when he picks up a magazine and see pictures of his wife and her entire fabulous life in Berlin, his daughter and her (in his mind) less than fabulous life growing up with mom and her lesbian lover (Jennifer Jason Leigh). At one point he gets a message from his wife that his daughter does NOT want him to read her diary which she has left behind. Naturally, he DOES read her diary which mysteriously updates itself at many points in the film. He is searching for clues as to what he had been missing in his ‘family life’ and thinks he’s found one when he reads that her favorite color is pink, etc. He goes to the toy store and the only pink item available is a giant pink box with a nose drawn on it which he buys and sends to her in Berlin. Later, while in Berlin, he sees the pink-nose box discarded in an alley. (When one’s motivation for giving is untrue, the gift gets tossed back?) He does end up re-marrying but is not able to keep that relationship going either. In his ‘play within a play’ his 2nd ex-wife (Michelle Williams) while ironing clothes furiously, blurts out to their young daughter “Daddy doesn’t live here anymore, he had to go Find Himself!” Which I found to be hilarious, perhaps it was Williams’ spot-on delivery, or just my odd sense of humor.  Another character diffusing the heaviness of the film is Caden’s therapist (Hope Davis) who is more interested in pushing her self-help books than helping her clients. At one point she is seated next to him on an airplane while he is reading her book.
Caden thinks he holds it all together because he is directing the thing, but as his and the actors lives all go on and on without conclusion, the bodies age, life goes on, and nothing is really together at all. Ironically, the director with all the health problems ends up outliving most of the cast. We all miss clues which should be obvious and misinterpret clues which are not clues at all. It’s all a grand illusion, people! We don’t have control! The roof is on fire and we are all asleep. Live as though your life IS in danger (because it IS, and that’s hilarious)…and don’t forget adrenaline!!!
http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2617835545/ (warning: don’t watch the trailer or you might not want to watch the film)
~Stephane Von Stephane

http://twitter.com/VonStephane

7.  Pretend this is a blank “space” for “meditation” …

8. RECOMMENDED LINKS

() ART of CHESS – from friend of PhG. Grand Masters Lev Alburt and Jennifer Shahade played on Yoko Ono’s famous all white chess set called “Play By Trust” last night. Here’s a photo of the work.

http://www.japanfocus.org/data/con9,2%282%29.jpg

Chess sets by Marcel Duchamp, Man Ray and D…ali and more at the exhibit. Check it out until Oct. 30th. Maybe you’ll never think of chess the same way again.
Phil G sends: http://francisnaumann.com/index.html
Also see: http://www.laffinthedark.com/articles/sal/sal1.htm – great site http://www.laffinthedark.com/
http://gawker.com/5364046/the-fake-new-york-post-get-yours-now – New York Post hijacking by THE YES MEN! http://nypost-se.com/

() Make sure your oropharynx is clear before clicking – you’re going to laugh. –RB – http://thereifixedit.com/

() Here’s a video of my pet lobster I made a few years ago. Hope you like it. Took forever to get this footage. –JM

http://www.youtube.com/user/themobbster#play/uploads/3/8beWiypYAW8

() was this sand sculpture-themed event totally cool?  — DS

http://laughingsquid.com/photos-sand-by-the-ton-grand-opening-of-the-big-art-studios-at-american-steel/

()  Wayne Zebza show in Hawaii through Nov. 8. “Aloha, more information at:” http://galerie103.com/ROADTRIP.htm

() km wrote:  you guys probably heard that the Philippines is majorly flooded. typhoon 2x as bad as Katrina. 1 month’s worth of rain in 8 hrs! here’s a pic of people using power lines as a pedestrian lane:
http://i38.tinypic.com/kccfb7.jpg – good thing the power’s out!

() SB wrote: “Sad news, Bill has lost the battle. Ace Junkyard is shutting down for good:

http://laughingsquid.com/ace-junkyard-is-dead-long-live-ace-junkyard/

() “like that bit in Bowling for Concubine where people were asked to describe suspects  –PhG http://poststuff2.entensity.net/092809/image.php?pic=google.jpg

() “Hey, visit BreakThru Radio NOW to hear my interview with *Joe Pernice* and Joe’s live performance at The Kennel Studio! –Jack Rabid  http://www.breakthruradio.com/index.php?show=7984

() from Ferrara BP: “Some serious industrial mayhem here, folks (you’ll have to watch to the very end for the Grand Guignol finale)…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CV64lW0CTwI

() “I was watching a movie about Tommy Chong and his conviction and they mentioned this at the end.  I never heard of it so I looked it up.  There was quite the funny quotation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whizzinator

() Chris C wrote: “I put a picture of you and Burroughs on my blog, linking back to your website if you click on it. It’s in the context of the big event at St. Mark’s church in NY!!! http://anagramseverywhere.wordpress.com/

() Daniel K wrote: “October 2009 issue of Artforum there is a tribute to JGB, “The Future That Had Arrived” with contributions by four writers: Robert Weil,
David Cronenberg, Dominique Gonzalez-Foerester, Clark Coolidge

9. QUOTES

() “SABOT means boot. From the French… Like sabotage … From old French labor disputes. Originally it meant to smash new industrial equipment by kicking it. With your boots.” — Lee Child, Persuader, p169 (hardback)

() “Books constitute a unique medium. They are distinct from exhibitions and events. They travel easily and have a lasting quality, becoming archives of the joint activity of writers, artists, curators, designers, editors and readers.” – source unknown

10. FEEDBACK FROM READERS:

() “R.I.P. Jim Carroll
“I mixed sound for The Jim Carroll Band at Mabuhay Gardens many times, even when they weren’t even a band yet. It was a bunch of Hippies from Bolinas called “Amsterdam” with Jim reading his poetry. They eventually rocked out, Jim made the Hippies from Bolinas cut their hair and buy new clothes and the next thing you knew, it was the Jim Carroll Band. Jim was a recluse over the last few years, very hard to find. I know he took a lot of slack for “Columbine” because the perpetrators were influenced by “Basketball Diaries”. I have some great recordings of them from their live shows at the Fab Mab.
“Jim was always very polite and cool to work with. I’m surprised he lived this long. So was he, I’m sure.
“R.I.P. Jim Carroll. — Charles Oliphant”

() “Hi Vale, Just thought I’d send in a quick report – I caught the Avengers along with Pansy Division last night at Dante’s, a club here in Portland.  Great punk energy!  Original Avengers Penelope Houston and Greg Ingraham are sharing the drummer with Pansy Division, as well as their bass player (who’s on guitar in PD). –Curt”

() “Vale et al, Is “hardest-corn” adult movies some new mid-western euphemism? The best to you all, Dean”

() “yes please keep sending me your info. Cordially, efe”

() “Oh, yeah! I’m a huge Buñuel fan, and Simon of the Desert is one of my faves! –LS”

() “Manson did get a record contract 6 months before the murders. the record was released on ESP records run by Bernard and his wife Flavia. Bernard was a CIA agent trippy huh. yes but true. I am friends with Bernard and Flavia. Bernard got his start at Capitol Records and was famous for signing all the sh!tty (good) bands and letting all the good (sh!tty) acts go (like Phoebe Snow) who signed with another exec at capitol on the recommendation that Bernard said she s^cked.
“Ever since Guns and Roses recorded a manson song and david geffen has been trying to get charlie to record another album. Manson says he wont record with another label only with ESP. Flavia owns ESP now after her divorse from Bernard. Charlie sends Flavia christmas gifts every year. Flavia wants nothing to do with Manson and refuses to even open the presents and has a closet full of unopened gifts from him. I have seen this closet.
“I have no proof but I think the CIA had done the brainwashing in the Manson family not charlie.
“100 records were pressed as promo and to get ready for release then the murders happened. I think there are three records that have been tracked down and still exist. Flavia got a hold of one and had it archived on DAT TAPE. My friend harvey sorgen from Hot Tuna got the gig from flavia to archive the record.  He stopped into bread alone bakery one day and said hey John look at this and showed me the record. Ah woodstock. the FUGS are on ESP too.
“peace, John the Baker”

() “Hello! My name is Anvar and I’m from Uzbekistan. I’m work for www.imho.uz website and write books & music reviews. Send your promo-packs for reviews and cooperation.  Thank you!
Kalandarov Anvar
Dustlik 6-35
p.Ulugbek
Tashkent 100214
Uzbekistan
omphallos@mail.ru

() “gonna read some Montaigne, thanks chuck”

() “You helped me become the woman I am today! Cheers!” – basalt

() Ethan Port writes: “1. The new Savage Republic “Sword Fighter / Taranto!!!!” 7″ single on A Silent Place just arrived. We will be sending out your orders this week. We have about 10 copies left of the Red vinyl. We have been told by A Silent Place that the numbered Red vinyl is now sold out, but there are still copies available in the un-numbered black vinyl.
You can order your copy from Mobilization.com or form “A Silent Place”.  We will also have copies of the single at our upcoming shows.
2. Upcoming Savage Republic shows (San Francisco, Los Angeles, Prague, Wroclaw, Vienna). As always you can find the current schedule at Mobilization.com. ”

() Brad Cooper here – just finished the music video for Eric Mcfadden’s cover of U2’s “Wake Up Dead man”. The song is used in the film “Toma’s Salvation” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsiaqq45SZs

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OCTOBER 2009 RE/Search eNewsletter written by V. Vale & other contributors. Newsletter and website powered by http://www.laughingsquid.com.
DISCLAIMER : If you’re receiving V. VALE’s newsletter, it’s because you **or someone you know** has sent your address to us, or signed our mailing list at an event!
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RE/SEARCH | 20 Romolo #B | San Francisco CA 94133 | 415.362.1465
http://www.researchpubs.com | http://www.myspace.com/researchpubs | info@researchpubs.com

WELCOME TO V. VALE’s RE/SEARCH NEWSLETTER #85, September 2009
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RE/SEARCH | 20 Romolo #B | San Francisco CA 94133 | 415.362.1465
www.researchpubs.com | http://www.myspace.com/researchpubs | info@researchpubs.com

**IF YOU LIVE IN San Francisco BAY AREA, PLEASE **REPLY** TO THIS NEWSLETTER IF YOU WISH TO RECEIVE LAST-MINUTE LOCAL NEWS OF RE/SEARCH-recommended EVENTS! In subject line please write “local subscribe”

TABLE OF CONTENTS:
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1. MESSAGE FROM YOUR EDITOR
2. Counter Culture Hour featuring Margaret Wertheim and the Institute for Figuring’s Coral Reef exhibit — Sept. 12, 2009 – now on-line!
3. FORTHCOMING EVENTS – RE/Search will be present at some of these!
4. What We’ve Attended/What We’ve Been Reading/Seeing/Listening to/What We’ve Been Sent..
5. REVIEW of NIN “last” concert and Negative Trend / Oxbow show at Eagle Tavern
6. Stephane von Stephane interview with photographer Ruby Ray
7. Leave this space blank…
8. Recommended Links- from Phil G. and others – thanks!
9. QUOTES –
10. Feedback from Readers
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1. MESSAGE FROM YOUR EDITOR: Sometimes we want to positively grab someone and “shake them to their roots” (we know who we have in mind). But should it be inadvertently damaging to them, we know we’ll get caught, because we’re the obvious suspect. So, we sublimate! That’s what artists have done for thousands of years — take the drive to destroy and use that energy to create something instead. Everybody on the planet needs a medium of creative expression — haven’t we learned that yet from the lessons of Manson (if only he’d gotten that record contract) and Hitler (if only he’d gotten a gallery show of his paintings). If you can’t compose a song or paint a painting, then write a Richard Stark or a Lee Child novel — we’ve read (or tried to read) every single one! And, just beating on a drum is excellent “therapy” — this doesn’t take much practice, depending on one’s standards for judging excellence.

Montaigne wrote an excellent essay On Death over 400 years ago that almost seems like it were written last month. It begins with a great quotation: “To philosophize is to doubt…” and we wonder why Montaigne, a skeptic, was not taught in our Philosophy 101 class. Actually, virtually all the skeptics were omitted in that class … which is why we’re making up for lost time now and doing a quick “catch-up.” Therefore, we highly recommend “The Complete Works of Montaigne” — you will find surprising “insights” you did not expect, as well as hours of black humor to savor. Read this book and you may never look at a “cripple” the same way again!

One of the most memorable characters in certain Luis Bunuel movies is a dwarf. We just viewed “Simon of the Desert” and cannot recommend more highly setting the goal of watching every single Luis Bunuel movie ever made — sequentially, if possible. With Bunuel, you know what you’re getting: a film experience that’s
() anti-authoritarian (anti-patriarch, anti-macho, anti-cop, anti-military, anti-fascist, anti-racist)
() full of eroticism, much subtler and more tantalizing than in the hardest-corn “adult movies.” Passion, surprise, and great subjective camerawork!
() anti-religious, anti-clerical (yet complexly so; as Bunuel once said, “Thank God I’m an atheist!”)
() full of Black Humor (whenever possible)
() celebrating CHANCE and the random/unexpected encounter or opportunity or revelation
() including something “Surreal” (whenever possible)
Most films by others are tainted by compromises and kneeling to the boss (or to the boss’s ideas). Not Bunuel.
It’s also a “great idea” to read every book/ magazine containing quotes or interviews from Luis Bunuel – John Baxter’s biography is a good start. And, of course, to track down documentaries or video interviews with Bunuel, or anybody who ever worked with him – Simone Signoret, in her autobiography “Nostalgia Isn’t What It Used To Be,” says, “Every actor who has ever worked with [Bunuel] has said the same thing: if you spend a day with Don Luis it’s not like work, it’s fun. It’s like having fun with Becker or laughing with Picasso…”

It’s strange how some of our favorite influences are “B People” (yes, that was a “great” film and a L.A. 70s Punk band): Ballard, Burroughs, Bunuel, Breton…In a media universe of information overload, try a “mono” diet — for a month or two or three just see Bunuel movies and read books and articles about Bunuel… We just did that with J.G. Ballard and will shortly re-enter the Ballardian Universe after our Bunuelian detour. Often, reading a Ballard book we’ve read before (more than once), we find something that seems totally new, and quite startling… What’s going on? Are we under the tyranny of the “repression machine” in our brain, or did we just “space out” during a certain chapter? Ballard particularly seems more prophetic than ever, now…And so does Bunuel… Both offer excellent guidance for wannabe imaginative writers and filmmakers.

2. Counter Culture Hour – New fall line-up of shows!
The Counter Culture Hour is NOW simulcast ON-LINE as well as on cable access San Francisco Channel 29 — 6:30pm Pacific Time, Sat September 11, 2009 on-line (www.accessf.org then go to link for “Access 1 Live Stream” in left column — give it a minute to load or try this link:

http://72.47.201.244/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1882&Itemid=1803

USA west coast: 6:30 PM Saturday, September 12th
USA east coast: 9:30 PM Saturday, September 12th
London: 2:30 AM Sunday, September 13th
Tokyo: 10:30 AM Sunday, September 13th
You get the picture…

Would you like to have a Counter Culture Hour showing in your town? Please write and ask us how you can do this.

The new episode features Margaret Wertheim — she and her twin sister Christine founded THE INSTITUTE FOR FIGURING, which has curated a complexly beautiful “coral reef” installation based on the Art of Crochet, at Track 16 Gallery in Santa Monica earlier this year. Also on the program are previews for shows with Gee Vaucher, a founder of CRASS, and Hector Penalosa, a founder of the ZEROS (70s Punk band featured in SEARCH & DESTROY magazine).

. 3. FORTHCOMING EVENTS

() Sat Sept 12, 2pm Charles Gatewood Show “Celebrity!” and Bob Dylan Book. Charles writes us, “My show “Celebrity!” opens at San Francisco’s Robert Tat Gallery on September 3rd and runs until Halloween. The show, which features rarely seen photographs from the 1960s and 1970s, includes portraits of Bob Dylan, William S. Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg, Rod Stewart, Jimmy Page, Abbie Hoffman, and other counterculture heroes.
“I will be at the gallery September 12th, from 2-5pm, when I will give a gallery talk. I hope you can join us. I also have a new Bob Dylan book, A Complete Unknown, which shows photographs from my April, 1966 shoot with Dylan. The cover image (Dylan with Ray-Bans and cigarette) is well known, but the other pictures have never been published. For more information (and a look at the Dylan pictures), check out ACompleteUnknown.com.” Robert Tat Gallery, 49 Geary St, Suite 211, San Francisco CA 94108 – Roberttat.com CharlesGatewood.com

() Tue Sept 15, 7pm, Roxie Theater, 3117 16th St/Valencia, S.F. Ed Hardy and Lyle Tuttle IN PERSON at the premiere of “HORI SMOKU”, a documentary Sailor Jerry movie (Norman K. Collins). Ed Hardy writes us: “Sailor Jerry was my primary mentor in the tattoo world and very much a character. This film is very entertaining and I’m looking forward to seeing the final cut. The main “talking heads” in it are Mike Malone, Zeke Owen, Bob Roberts, Lyle Tuttle, and me. Don’t know if it’s an “invite only” event. Please RSVP with the link below from Erich Weiss, the filmmaker. He advises everyone to come early, as it will be quite a scene.” RE/Search will be there! www.horismokumovie.com/sfscreening

() Thur Sept 17, Eric Kroll gives a talk: http://www.asmpnorcal.org/drupal/?q=node/805

() Fri Sept 18 AVENGERS play the Bottom of the Hill, 1233 17th St, 415-621-4455 tix $12 all ages http://www.penelope.net/shows.html – The AVENGERS are doing a huge West Coast tour – amazing – support them!

() Sun Sept 20, 8pm, Victoria Theater, 2961 16th St/Mission St: SAVAGE REPUBLIC LIVE! SAN FRANCISCO CINEMATHEQUE PRESENTS: José Antonio Sistiaga: ere erera baleibu icik subua aruaren with a new score composed and performed by Savage Republic, presented in association with Cabinetic, RE/Search, the San Francisco Silent Film Festival and the San Francisco Bay Guardian – Advance tickets available at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/producerevent/76671?prod_id=3517

“Basque abstract artist José Antonio Sistiaga painted directly onto film with homemade inks to create this silent 1970 feature. But Sistiaga’s strangely titled work… is different from the films of Stan Brakhage, who didn’t come to film from painting and had his own rhythm. […] [I]ts combination of color and 35-millimeter ‘scope (with about half an hour in black and white) yields the kind of spectacle one associates with musicals and [science fiction] epics.” (Jonathan Rosenbaum)

“A hand-painted masterpiece of the 1970s; a legendary band of the 1980s. Sistiaga’s rarely-screened ere erera baleibu icik subua aruaren is a work of uncompromising beauty that absolutely deserves a wider appreciation. Savage Republic, one of the unrecognized godfathers of post-rock, formed roughly three decades ago in the midst of the Los Angeles punk rock scene and abruptly disbanded in 1989. In recent years, they’ve reformed and their unique sound (imagine a Middle Eastern surf band backed by the rhythm section from Joy Division) is as compelling and inexorable as ever. For Cinematheque’s season opener, Savage Republic — original members Ethan Port and Thom Fuhrmann joined by Alan Waddington and Kerry Dowling — performs a newly commissioned score to Sistiaga’s prodigious work, presented in a stunning 35mm print from Paris. (Jonathan Marlow). For more information contact: sfc@sfcinema.org or visit: www.sfcinema.org ”
http://events.sfgate.com/san-francisco-ca/events/show/88192515-sistiagas-ere-erera-baleibu-icik-subua-aruaren-with-savage-republic – http://www.sfcinematheque.org/ RE/SEARCH will be present with a small table of books – come visit us!

() Sat Sept 26, 11am-6pm, Music Concourse (Golden Gate Park, between deYoung Museum and S.F. Aquarium): EXPO FOR THE ARTIST. RE/SEARCH will have a table along with Charles Gatewood – visit us! Free! 415-738-4975, www.artsandmedia.net

() Sat Sept 26, BRAVA Theater, 2781 24th St, S.F. Kaleidoscope. Stephanie writes us: “I will be volunteering at this extraordinary burlesque event. http://www.kaleidoscopecabaret.com/

() Sat Oct 1-4 ARSE ELEKTRONIKA in SAN FRANCISCO! Our friends from the Vienna art/philosophy/technology group MONOCHROM will be here in person to stimulate the imaginations of San Franciscans with their provocative explorations and extrapolations centered around the topic: “What will sex be like in the future?” Celebrating the release of the new book, “DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP?” which monochrom produced and RE/SEARCH is releasing — come buy and get your copy autographed by its Austrian authors! From the monochrom website: “October 1-4, 2009 Arse Elektronika 2009: “Of Intercourse and Intracourse” – With talks, machines and performances by Allen Stein, R. U. Sirius, Noah Weinstein, Randy Sarafan, Uncle Abdul, Jonathon Keats, Ani Niow, Jason Scott, Annalee Newitz, Rainer Prohaska, Douglas Spink, Tatiana Bazzichelli, Brooke Campbell, Eleanor Saitta, Reesa Brown, Monika Kribusz, Kim De Vries, Pepper Mint, Micha Cárdenas, Elle Mehrmand and many more… Locations: Roxie Theater, Center for Sex and Culture, PariSoMa, Noisebridge. Detailed schedule: soon.” http://www.monochrom.at/arse-elektronika/

() Sun October 4, 4pm.”Woolsey for Congress ‘Renegade Art & Democracy’ – “To celebrate art and to raise money for the true progressive agenda.” Cornerstone Gardens, 23570 Hwy 121, Sonoma, CA – To see more details and RSVP, follow the link below: http://www.facebook.com/n/event.php&eid=133225196479&mid=10f1460G3e049efdGd1b3d2G7 RE/Search is listing this event because Mark Pauline, Survival Research Laboratories founder, will be present in this “meet and greet” fundraiser.

() Wed Oct 7, 7pm THE LAB, 16th St, S.F.: Book Release party for Monochrom and RE/Search’s next book “Do Androids Sleep with Electric Sheep”? Critical Perspectives on Sexuality and Pornography in Science and Social Fiction.” Speakers would be Johannes Grenzfurthner and Tatiana Bazzichelli, a visiting scholar (author of NETWORKING: The Art as Network — about “the evolution of the Italian hacktivism and net culture from the 1980s till today”) who’s currently doing further work on network culture, hacktivism and net art. Also, V. Vale and Scott Snibby will speak. [More later]

() Thur Oct 8, 9pm, Slim’s (9th/Folsom St, S.F. LYDIA LUNCH with TEENAGE JESUS! No Wave Reunion – one time only! RE/SEARCH will be there!

() Around Thur Oct 22, YES MEN movie premieres (title: “The Yes Men Fix the World”)! Watch for it! RE/SEARCH will have a table -the YES MEN were featured in our PRANKS 2 book, and YES MEN (hopefully) will appear IN PERSON! “It’s amazing what you can do with a $10 suit, an easy target, and some basic PowerPoint skills,” says co-conspirator Mike Bonanno. http://www.theyesmenfixtheworld.com

4. What We’ve Attended/What We’ve Been Reading/Seeing/Listening to/What We’ve Been Sent

() Ah, to be “young” again — full of hatred, nihilism and superiority. Take this example: “I know what you did, you creepy little f– fool! I see the signs, I’ve read the tea leaves… I know… and you will live to regret this more then [sic] anything you have ever regretted during your sad, pathetic, feeble, pitiable, meager, worthless little life. C–. Your idio-tic, petty, small-minded “witchy” ways just ain’t going to stand up to the full force of the horror and the destruction that will be coming in your direction; the devastation and the holocaust that I will unleash on you. It will come like a tornado, and it will up-root and destroy everything that you are, that you have, and that you hold dear. C–. There is power in Magick — you know it, I know it, but, now you are going to feel it, and it will eliminate you and yours from the face of this earth.” While there are definitely people on this planet who deserve this vitriol (we can think of at least three immediately!), well … if the above resonates with you, then you can order your own copy of ANTIBOTHIS’ publication “Chthonic Prose & Theory” by Vadge Moore. Order from www.antibothis.com OR from Thisco, pobox 2274, 1107-001 Lisboa, Portugal. www.thisco.net

() THE BEATS: A Graphic History by Harvey Pekar, Ed Piskor & Paul Buhle. This beautiful graphic novel was published by Hill and Wang — www.fsgbooks.com, www.thebeatsbook.com — time and life are short, and you can whiz through this book in an evening, easy. Besides getting an eyeful of Burroughs, Ginsberg and Kerouac, you can learn about late Beats like the FUGS, too… This book is surprisingly illuminating, even to those of us who’d thought we’d read it all!

() THE RELEVANCE OF REXROTH by KEN KNABB. A visiting German friend of Gee Vaucher named “Martina” turned us on recently to Kenneth Rexroth — more specifically, the above book, which has a lot concentrated within its covers — try reading the book by consulting the index! We highly recommend this slim volume; only $5. Ken Knabb is THE Bay Area “Situationist” — support local publishing!

() PUNK: NO ONE IS INNOCENT (Art-Style-Revolt) published by Kunsthalle Wien. Thanks to POD (deejay/artist now living in Berlin) who sent us a copy via Ulrika of SRL. Large format 9×12 book with color illustrations. Jon Savage, Glenn O’Brien, Wolfgang Muller and Malcolm McLaren are contributors. As McLaren put it, “Today’s internet culture is an extension of a Punk DIY lifestyle: the blog, facebook, YouTube … all contribute to this. It is where the cultural terrorist is born today. In fact, it is where most popular culture is made distributed, needing no longer to be servile to and chained by the corporate world. Because of this, corporate culture is having even a harder time today than ever selling the new generation anything. But Punk remains as enigmatic as ever and will continue to live beyond all of our lifetimes as something so wild, so romantic… at the core of all our dreams.”

() Tue Sept 1 noon we saw a free showing of Subversive Documentaries curated by Paul Clipson, in the Wattis Theatre at SFMOMA: Luis Bunuel’s LES HURDES (Land Without Bread), 1933, 30 min., 16mm, B&W – Georges Franju’s HOTEL DES INVALIDES, 1952, 35mm, B&W – Alain Resnais’ LA CHANT DU STYRENE, 1958, 35mm, color, cinemascope. Wow! As we left, we witnessed the bloody aftermath of a female bicyclist hit-and-run by a car right in front of SFMOMA. Hmmm… (We hope she was “all right.” ??)

() the latest Michael Connelly book, “SCARECROW.” Makes you highly dubious about putting anything personal on the Internet — especially those social networking sites… even the name of your dog.

() the new LYDIA LUNCH book, always an occasion for fanfare and trumpets! LYDIA is coming to San Francisco to do a one-off concert soon. Lydia wrote us: “Just had Akashic stick a copy of WILL WORK FOR DRUGS – my anthology, in the mail to you. Enjoy! I’ll be coming SF Thurs Oct 8 for a TEENAGE JESUS show at Slims (final nails in the coffin that Thurston Moore opened last year with his NO WAVE book). Jim Sclavunos on drum and Al Kizys on bass(SWANS)…” We highly recommend this show from one of the true originals of Punk, still uncompromising and refusing to be “watered down”…

5. MORITZ reviews: NINE INCH NAILS’ “LAST” SHOW, Negative Trend / Oxbow at Eagle Tavern, S.F.

() “Nine Inch Nails in L.A. at the Palladium: Apparently the 10th of September marked the final concert of the rock band Nine Inch Nails, bringing their 20 years of existence to a hiatus. Luckily I got a ticket for the show at the Hollywood Palladium on the 2nd of the same month – one of the last shows. 1994 NIN took their place in Rock’n'Roll history when they released the seminal angst-driven album “The Downward Spiral”. And it was exactly this album in its entirety they chose to perform at the Palladium – for the second time in their career. The Spiral was supplemented by a fistful of different tracks from throughout their career. Also they played “Metal” and the J.G. Ballard- inspired “Cars”, for which original performer Gary Numan joined the band onstage. Despite a sore throat, singer Trent Reznor brought NIN Live to an end full of grace. — Moritz”

() “Semi Feral/Negative Trend/Oxbow (The Eagle Tavern, 8-20): I went to this show with no special expectations, just wanted to have a good time. It turned out that this expectation was sufficiently fulfilled by the opening band Semi Feral. In the classical bar atmosphere they played a well mixed set of songs from a bunch of genres including Grunge, Indie, Math and a bit Punk Rock. Nice drummer. Unfortunately the crowd was a bit slow. That changed when Negative Trend took the stage. They had a lot of fun and presented a traditional set of Punk Rock classics. Finally Oxbow started their set. They took of with two (?) jazzy acoustic/spoken word pieces in the audience – that is: not ON stage. Vocalist Eugene Robinson, all along intensely performing brought this show to a climax (almost in more than one sense), when the guys took their electric guitars and drums and blew away a stunned crowd with heavily distorted instruments and some noisy sound elements. Nonetheless fragments of intense rhythmic structure and some high end guitar play made this music actually quite accessible. Try to see Oxbow whenever you can! – Moritz”

6. Stephane von Stephane on Ruby Ray photo show Tu 9/15/09, 6pm, SF Public Library. Interview with photographer Ruby Ray; August 22, 2009

“MORE TEXT!” “More Photos!” “More Art!” – The opposing opinions of the basic three Search & Destroy staffer camps. “MORE TEXT!” usually won out. That would have been Vales’ opinion and it was his brainchild, so why not have it his way? In the “More Photos!” camp was (among others) photographer extraordinaire Ruby Ray. I recently got together with Ruby to discuss her upcoming photo exhibit at S.F. Library and to take a wee stroll down memory lane. I’d always felt we were of like mind and found her to be a fascinating creature (still do!) That being said, we found during our brief interview that we actually hung with different crowds from within the ’scene’. Considering how relatively small the ‘First Wave Punk’ scene was I found it surprising that I didn’t recognize (or remember) several of the people she mentioned. No matter, though her memory lane has different side-alleys than mine, we still had the locus of the Mabuhay Gardens and our work together on the magazine. All us ‘punk rocker’ types were escapees of one sort or another, but we’d recognize each other. “Look at her now, you see her runnin’ down the alley, all dressed in white, must be an escape…” ~ The Avengers ~ Ruby has many photos of Avengers (Penelope), the Dils, VS, the Zeros, Mutants, UXA, Crime, Dead Kennedys, Sleepers, Negative Trend, Flipper, Factrix, and other assorted fans and hardcore people. We had so many great, under-rated bands in our scene. Part of what Ruby and I discussed was how San Francisco was overlooked by the record labels, when we had arguably the best if not equal talent to N.Y., L.A. and London punk. Search & Destroy chronicled some of the bands, and wish we’d been able to afford twice as many pages and been able to cover ALL the bands. And have More PHOTOS. For me: MORE ART!!
S.v.S: When did we meet, was it 1977?
Ruby Ray: Must have been.
S.v.S.: Were you with Search & Destroy from the beginning? Ruby Ray: Not on the first issue, I met Vale after the first issue came out. I used to see him around North Beach and always wondered who he was. Then one day he came into Tower Records where I worked, carrying a stack of magazines under his arm, so I ran after him to see what he was gonna do with it. And he had brought it to be sold. And Tower Records (used to be on Columbus Avenue) did sell it, they were actually a supporter of S&D. They were practically the only ones who ever paid us. Ivey and Annex and I worked there for many years. So, I went up to Vale and asked what he had and he showed me the magazine and I said “Wow, don’t you need some photos for this?”
S.v.S.: Had you been to the Mabuhay before?
Ruby Ray: No, I hadn’t even heard of it.
S.v.S: Did Vale say he needed a photographer?
Ruby Ray: Yeah, he asked me if I wanted to photograph the Dils and I went and saw them and I was sold. That’s how it started.
S.v.S.: What were you taking photographs of before bands?
Ruby Ray: I used to wander around and just look at things, looking for surrealist moments I would say…
S.v.S.: Did you study photography before?
Ruby Ray: Not really… I took a course at city college for a semester, but it was too boring. I’m more for real life experience, and that’s what S&D was, basically. I think I had a good eye when I got together with Vale, I got thrown into it, it was sink or swim, and it was so much fun. I’m a persevering person, I think I got pretty good pretty fast, considering.
S.v.S.: Did you go use the darkroom at city college?
Ruby Ray: Yeah, and I had a darkroom in my bathroom. Once I learned how to print I really wanted to do that, because I think that’s what made it the art.
S.v.S.: What kind of camera did you have?
Ruby Ray: I had a Pentax at the beginning, but then I won a Nikon in a contest with my photo of VS. That was a great camera and that’s the camera I continue to use even now. Nikon FM. So, all you kids; enter the photo contest! You never know.
S.v.S.: What were some inspirations for your work?
Ruby Ray: I was interested in the early surrealists in Paris and the group around Gertrude Stein and found resonance in the portraits taken of those artists at the time. I liked the idea of dark shadows and the Surrealists had that sort of quality of something mysterious or metaphysical happening in the dark shadows. I really liked De Chirico and his shadows, also Man Ray in how he made photographs that looked liked paintings and his solarizations. I take different things from different inspirations, I poured over Brassai and Cartier-Bresson and the desire to capture the beautiful decisive moment with good angles was very important to me. I looked at the Cubist painters to find out what angles looked good. That’s how I taught myself to see, by analyzing what made those paintings great, and transposed that to photography. I like the Symbolists for their dark romantic vision. I liked the revolutionary fervor and modern look of the Russian Constructivists like Rodchenko. For some reason, I really liked the American photographer Ralph Gibson (http://www.ralphgibson.com/gallery/). I think it was because of how he made a minimal image into a transfixing moment, and his grainy textures.
S.v.S.: Are you from here?
Ruby Ray: No, Buffalo. But in about 1973 Ivey and I got sorta hip and went to NYC and it blew our minds. We’d always thought there must be people thinking and doing interesting things, but we weren’t seeing it in Buffalo! Ivey moved to S.F. about 6 months ahead of me and that started a stream of Buffalonians coming and staying with us throughout the years. Then after 7 or 8 issues of S&D, we went to England for a while and met the people at Rough Trade. They were getting ready to move to S.F. and when they did they opened a shop on Grant Ave. And then I worked in that store, which was run by consensus of all the employees, which could be good or bad…They helped start RE/Search. We wrote about their bands.
S.v.S.: Which bands were on that label?
Ruby Ray: Cabaret Voltaire, Young Marble Giants…
S.v.S.: Oh yeah! I loved them!
Ruby Ray: So, that takes us through the five years covered by this photo show, 77 to 81. After that I moved to New York City till 94. I showed my work there and collaborated with the bands Factrix and Saqqara Dogs as imagist and also created multimedia projection shows live with the bands.
To see Ruby’s photos from the N.Y.C./Saqqara Dogs periods redacted: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKUzLUzu_oc
To see Ruby’s photos from Search & Destroy days, see her show at San Francisco Main Library Jewett Gallery, September 12 through December 6th. Ruby is also working on a book called: Punk Passage; On The Passage Of A Few Persons Though A Rather Brief Period Of Time (which is a Situationist title) Photographic Memoir Of A California First Wave, San Francisco, Los Angeles And Beyond. But,what I am really excited to see is a show of Ruby’s new work as soon as some gallery catches on to the brilliance. Ruby is now using her new photos and then altering and coloring them on the computer. They are composite multiple mirror images, the affect being very geometric, colorful and psychedelic. (Right up my particular side-alley!) ~Stephane von Stephane

7. Pretend this is a blank “space” for “meditation” …

8. RECOMMENDED LINKS

() from Phil G: New Wave Bat Mitzvah: http://www.heebmagazine.com/articles/view/216

http://www.burroughsthemovie.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QksIczveRs – hurry hurry hurry! Schlitze sighting ahead! (seen at http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=1119069050)
() from Graham Rae: “Shake that bear naked”: http://uselessjunk.com/article_full.php?id=112108

http://nakedlunch.org/updates/graham-rae-to-speak-on-burroughs-and-general-semantics/

() from Ken Knabb: Kenneth Rexroth writings on children and childhood at the Bureau of Public
Secrets website: – “The Lore and Language of Schoolchildren”

http://www.bopsecrets.org/rexroth/essays/child-lore.htm

– Rexroth’s Childhood (from his Autobiography)

http://www.bopsecrets.org/rexroth/autobio/1.htm#Childhood

– “A Bestiary for My Daughters”

http://www.bopsecrets.org/rexroth/poems/1950s.htm#BESTIARY

– “Homer in Basic”

http://www.bopsecrets.org/rexroth/poems/1950s.htm#HOMER

() Vaughn Bode’s Cartoon Concert: it only took 35 years to make it there! Bode’s cartoon concert part 2 is there too but wont attach to this email for some reason, Enjoy! – Mark http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C7ArQ5zMbk

() from Michael R: http://www.books.rack111.com/burroughs-books/index.html (Burroughs book covers)

() http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2euCWtVxFA – the new way to promote books is by a YouTube trailer; in this case the new MORBID CURIOSITY anthology edited by Loren Rhoads

() from Karen Marcelo (Karen, don’t stay away in the Philippines too long!): “Here’s one with Ralf even http://www.flickr.com/photos/k0re/7591492/in/set-1025

http://www.thetoyzone.com/2009/blog/10-most-inappropriate-inflatable-toys-ever-made/

() Ever wondered how to patent your great idea? Hugh Loebner wrote: “I have seven patents, all of which I got without a lawyer (pro se, in legal speak). I also published an article “Patent It Yourself” in Spectrum, the Journal of the IEEE. http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/at-work/innovation/doityourself-patents There have been a few changes to the search links since the article was published. Some things to remember. If you want world wide rights, do not publish – publishing the idea kills any right to patent. In the US, you have (or at least used to have) one year after publication to patent (“Statutory Bar”). You say “exhaustive searching.” Did you check out google patent searches? http://www.google.com/patents?hl=en I consider this the best patent search engine, even better than the patent office’s.
This is something i hadn’t considered. I will start checking this way. The best thing to do, if you don’t find anything similar, is to read some patents in the same field, and copy the format. There are only a few sections (abstract, background of the invention, brief description of the drawings, detailed description, drawings, and claims.) Each claim is one sentence. Every term in the claim has have been used in the specification (descriptions, etc) You can buy books on how to patent it yourself — Nolo Press, I think, has some. Good Luck, Hugh.”

9. QUOTES

() “Books constitute a unique medium. They are distinct from exhibitions and events. They travel easily and have a lasting quality, becoming archives of the joint activity of writers, artists, curators, designers, editors and readers.”

() Below are some quotes selected by Michael R., from our J.G. BALLARD CONVERSATIONS book:

“Everyone of us should carry out one meaningless act a day…especially in the public domain.” — p. 36

“Each of us is a kind of ethical Robinson Crusoe building a replica of civilized society from the sort of debris washed up on the beach–on our own beach.” — p. 34

From RE/SEARCH #8/9:
“For Burroughs’ conclusion is that the war between society and individual freedom, a freedom that consists simply of being individual, can never end, and that ultimately the only choice is between living in one’s own nightmares or in other people’s, for those who gain control of the system, like Benway and the Nazi creators of the death camps, merely impose their own fantasies on everyone else.” — Ballard on Burroughs, p. 107

“In the story You! Coma! Marilyn Monroe…I directly equate the physical aspect of Marilyn Monroe’s body with the landscape of dunes around her. The hero attempts to try to make sense of this particular equation, and he realizes that the suicide of Marilyn Monroe is in fact a disaster, though of course, Marilyn Monroe committed suicide as an individual woman, but a disaster of a whole complex of relationships involving this screen actress, who is presented to us in a endless series of advertisements, on a thousand magazine covers, and so on, whose body becomes part of the external landscape of our environment. the immense terraced figure of Marilyn Monroe stretched across a cinema hoarding is as real a portion of our external landscape as any system of mountains or lakes.” p. 155

Here’s a few quotes I’ve read lately that you might like:

“Sensitivity first; intelligence first; and everything else, including money, comes after.” — Bunuel

“Saturation diminishes pleasure” — Bunuel

“There is no such thing as still life in cinema, objects have attitudes” — Jean Epstein

“The entire notion of biography is grounded in the arbitrary ascription of a causal relation between specific traits and subsequent events.” — Taleb

“A life saved is a statistic; a person hurt is an anecdote; statistics are invisible; anecdotes are salient.” — Taleb

“If your interests are sufficiently alive you are sufficiently observant.” — John Huston

“I think that man now realizes that he is an accident. That he is a completely futile being. That he has to play-out the game without reason.” — Francis Bacon

“When people don’t care, they forget about what they deserve.” — dialogue from the film “Flamingo Road”

() “The Internet is not eternal. Books can last thousands of years.” – V.V.

10. FEEDBACK FROM READERS:

() from Matt Gonzalez: “Hello friends, I’m hopeful that you’ll write something for “as it ought to be”…. http://asitoughttobe.wordpress.com/ – matt”

() WINSTON SMITH is looking for an artist-type to share his office space in North Beach. $550/mo plus utilities. Email us at info@winstonsmith.com if you are interested.

() “V. Vale, Thanks for getting back to me so quickly! I was afraid, but unsurprised, that paying positions would be in short supply, but such is the economy these days. No worries! I’m game to come in gratis and see how I can help out. To earn some cash on the side, I currently run a small moving business with my van and a friend…” Well, if YOU need to move, or move some “stuff” – search for “Missionmovers” on www.craigslist.org

() It’s your long lost intern Keith again. This- http://www.themoneytimes.com/20090908/police-four-tried-take-chilis-pepper-id-1083091.html – reminded me of something out of the original Pranks! book, but without the subversion. In any case thought I’d share.

() sent by David P: “A new documentary on William S. Burroughs is in production and the trailer looks fantastic. Titled “A Man Within,” the film is directed by Yony Leyser and features the likes of WSB’s friends and collaborators Laurie Anderson, Iggy Pop, V. Vale, Anne Waldman, James Grauerholz, Genesis P-Orridge, and David Cronenberg. Peter Weller narrates and Sonic Youth composed the soundtrack! William S. Burroughs: A Man Within ”

() from San Francisco photographer Michael Jang who gave us photos for SEARCH & DESTROY: “So here’s a link to that slideshow I did at Pirate Cat Radio: http://www.flickr.com/photos/32691345@N00/sets/72157617366682484/
“I showed Dils, Avengers, Devo,Pistols, Ramones and well as WS Burroughs/McClure and a bunch of other poets. And scroll down a few stories for that 2 part video on FAMLY in LA. The second part about a quarter the way in has a section on Hamburger Eyes. He mentions “an old guy” they have- Ha! That would be me- but at least they sold a bunch of my prints- http://www.hamburgereyes.com/

() “Found you by googling RE/SEARCH 8/9 as i had read such good things about it, having only this summer discovered how great a writer J.G. Ballard was. Better late than never, I suppose! Thought your website was excellent – I’m sure I’ll find more good things – Cheers – Gerry”

() “Vale, There’s this really wonderful short mystery film being produced called “Cahiers du Cinema” directed by Diana Jonestun. I’m in it. Please take a look at the new trailer on YouTube and forward to your friends, and/or publicize in your newsletter. This will help the producers raise finishing funds. Thanks, Lisa Carlson” http://characteractress.blogspot.com/

() sent by Chris T: “Genesis P-Orridge Art Show! INVISIBLE-EXPORTS, 14A Orchard Street, just north of Canal. Hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 11-6:30pm, and by appointment. For more information, call 212 226 5447 or email: info@invisible-exports.com.”

() “Dear Vale, Those of an anti-consumerist bent will enjoy (dare I say “profit from?”) the book Spent: Sex, Evolution, and Consumer Behavior by Goeffrey Miller. Don’t buy it, get it from the library! And read it!! – Michael B, loyal and longtime RE:Search enthusiast. P.S.: It would be fantastic to have your readers put up a website where they “show off” an annotated list of the books they’ve read in the past year. I’m dying to know what other people read, too. My list is ready when they are!!!”

() “Hi Vale, you probably know that Un Chien Andalou by Bunuel heavily references ARTHUR CRAVAN – but not everyone does. The boxing, the paper boat, the woman’s searching eyes (Mina Loy) etc. You may want to mention that HIM in next month’s newsletter…. i m currently in vang vien laos. Odd that the commies have the last proper opium dens on this radioactive cop ridden planet… was in sf few mos ago , said hi to you as you were passing the Trieste – you replied in kind but clearly had no idea who i was…. how soon fake interviewees are 4gotten hee hee hee…. – Dean” (Hey, John, I was in a hurry! You shoulda called me up or come over! – V.)

() “Hi Vale. If you haven’t seen this, you will want to; seems like J.G. Ballard emptying his life in acceptance of death to me: http://www.newyorker.com/fiction/featur … ntPage=all ” – Graham Rae

() sent by Frank Discussion (featured in our PRANKS, and PRANKS 2, books): “The society whose modernization has reached the stage of the integrated spectacle is characterized by the combined effect of five principal features: incessant technological innovation; fusion of state and economy; generalized secrecy; the unanswerable lie; a perpetual present.” – Guy Debord, Comments on the Society of the Spectacle
” In the twenty years since Guy Debord made these observations, two areas have evolved the most: the unanswerable lie and the eternal present. In the United States the democratic party is still playing by ‘the old rules,’ not realizing these rules are outmoded and no longer exist. They stubbornly cling to the old fashioned idea that their lies must at least appear reasonable and have some basis in objective fact. This tactical error has cost them dearly at nearly every turn.
“The Republican party, on the other hand, are the much more modern of the two parties, having long ago broken all ties to the need for their lies to be reasonable or to have any basis in objective fact whatsoever having learned a long time ago these constraints are no longer necessary. This gives the republican party a huge tactical edge: by the time the democrats have debunked one blatant lie, the republicans have moved on to a new lie, leaving the democrats to play a constant game of defense which can only lead to disaster.
“The patriot is now defined as those who most passionately and selflessly defend the most blatant lies, no matter how ridiculous they are, selflessly supporting those lies that obviously lead to breathtaking gains in their own degradation and destruction. The new patriot is ever willing to swear allegiance to each day’s new lie, even when it clearly runs counter to yesterday’s lie. Have a safe and happy 1984! – Frank Discussion”

() sent by Maria from the great KAYO BOOKS, Post/Leavenworth, S.F.: “Amazon has taken much of the romance out of books; the entire business has been ridiculously devalued. My cash offer is best left unsaid since Amazon says it all. However, our customers would be happy to get Mannix, Ballard, Willeford and Punk stuff…” Please support USED BOOKSTORES – again, they (and shoe repairmen) should get FREE RENT. Did you know that the venerable McDONALDs Bookstore at 45 Turk Street, downtown S.F., quietly closed its doors a few months ago – without any publicity or press? That store has been there FOREVER; it’s a San Francisco institution. End of an Era. We urge our readers to value used bookstores as rare landmarks of culture and serendipity.
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SEPTEMBER 2009 RE/Search eNewsletter written by V. Vale & other contributors. Newsletter and website powered by http://www.laughingsquid.com.
DISCLAIMER : If you’re receiving V. VALE’s newsletter, it’s because you **or someone you know** has sent your address to us, or signed our mailing list at an event!
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RE/SEARCH | 20 Romolo #B | San Francisco CA 94133 | 415.362.1465
http://www.researchpubs.com | http://www.myspace.com/researchpubs | info@researchpubs.com

V. Vale’s RE/Search Newsletter August two-thousand-oh-nine
Subject: V. Vale’s RE/Search newsletter August oh-nine

WELCOME TO V. VALE’s RE/SEARCH NEWSLETTER #84, August 2009
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RE/SEARCH | 20 Romolo #B | San Francisco CA 94133 | 415.362.1465
www.researchpubs.com | http://www.myspace.com/researchpubs | info@researchpubs.com

**IF YOU LIVE IN San Francisco BAY AREA, PLEASE **REPLY** TO THIS NEWSLETTER IF YOU WISH TO RECEIVE LAST-MINUTE LOCAL NEWS OF RE/SEARCH-recommended EVENTS! In subject line please write “local subscribe”

TABLE OF CONTENTS:
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1. MESSAGE FROM YOUR EDITOR
2. Counter Culture Hour featuring Dirk Dirksen, the “Pope of Punk” — now on-line!
3. FORTHCOMING EVENTS – Specious Species III release party, this Wednesday and more!
4. What We’ve Attended/What We’ve Been Reading/Seeing/Listening to/What We’ve Been Sent..
5. SALON DU TROLL IN THE VORTEX ROOM – review by Steven Gray
6. Stephane von Stephane review of film “MOON” (beware of spoilers)
7. Matt Gonzalez’s new blog-site “as it ought to be…” http://asitoughttobe.wordpress.com/
8. Recommended Links- from Phil Glatz, Johnny Strike and others – thanks!
9. QUOTES – Famous Last Words
10. Feedback from Readers
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please add info@researchpubs.com to your ADDRESS BOOK. If you change your email, send it plus your “old” email address to delete. Lastly, forward our newsletter to your friends! If you are on aol, please make sure you can receive our newsletter – we get the most returns from addresses at AOL, Hotmail and Yahoo!

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1. MESSAGE FROM YOUR EDITOR:

“Utopia is a country upon which we are always arriving” — who said that quote? — and last night’s show with the MUTANTS (S.F. 70s Punk Band) and a No Name Punk Supergroup (Michael Belfer, Sleepers guitarist; Craig Gray, Negative Trend guitarist; Meri St. Mary (Housecoat Project singer/songwriter), Elliott Shannonhouse (Danelectro short-scale bass) and drummer Tony Sales Jr (son of Hunt Sales, one of the Sales Brothers who backed Iggy Pop, and son of Soupy Sales, childhood icon for many) underscored the difficulties of living in a capitalist for-profit society.

The small bar room and low ceiling of “The Boat Club” which hosted this FREE event greatly enhanced the sounds of the electronically-amplified instruments, creating microtones, phantom cyclic melodies and harmonies, and other sonic waveforms which added up to a rich, almost orchestral palette of sounds enveloping our bodies, those complex processors of sensations and experiences which are organized by our brains. In many social events, fewer people seem preferable to more people, just as quality can seem preferable to quantity — yet we live in an age governed by the Reign of Quantity, as Rene Guenon put it. And we live in an age where the twin “evils” of “The Profit Motive” and “Celebrity” rule most of our social interactions. Not to sound too obvious, but in a society where everything is done for the profit motive, human beings become treated as “things” (Cf. “the trophy wife”) and people’s actions become driven by the motive to make others “Look At Me.”

It’s always pleasurable to hear a band that is just starting out — in its beginning stages of synergetic music creation — and the No Name Punk Supergroup was amazingly “good,” especially considering how few rehearsals (one?) had taken place. For the first time, guitarist Michael Belfer sang duets with Meri St. Mary (remember Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton; Otis Redding and Carla Thomas?). Well, we would like to hear more of this dynamic — an instant classic Country and Western song was our favorite vocal song of the evening. Now lately it has become rare to hear “jam sessions” and we were treated to several which were actually “good” — an obviously improvised, successfully-building-upon-anticipation jam session can practically take an audience into a collective trance state. The rhythm section of Elliott Shannonhouse on super-complicated bass lines, working in synch with the crisp, minimalist yet urgently driving drumming by Tony Sales Jr, provided a foundation for the guitarists to coax beautiful soundscapes out of their guitars.

The Mutants set (sans girl-singers) was perhaps the best purely **musical** performance we have ever heard of their classic songs. Search youtube to see if Tom Curtis posted any video footage! (Mutants at the boat club)…

2. Counter Culture Hour – One more in our re-run series: V. Vale talks with Dirk Dirksen about his career before and during the Fab Mab days in the 1970s in San Francisco. Dirk has recently passed but, through the tireless efforts of his friends spearheaded by Kathy Peck, has had the alley next to the Mabuhay Gardens named after him: Dirk Dirksen Alley (formerly Rowland Alley), complete with dedication plaque.
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Kathy Peck writes:
Hello!
Well, It was closing in on a 3 year endeavor but, worth it.
Now Dirk is a living part of North Beach, San Francisco, Punk Rock History and a California legend with his own street and plaque ensconced in pavement at 443 Broadway and Dirk Dirksen Place. So many of you to thank…Thank you so very much friends, Dirk’s family, punk rockers and the SF City officials for your contribution and support in making this a reality.

Special Thanks to Tom Ammiano and colleagues for helping us pass the legislation for the street renaming in Dirk’s honor and Joel Selvin for his punkish verse dedication that Dirk would have loved.

love Kathy

******
The Counter Culture Hour is NOW simulcast ON-LINE as well as on cable access San Francisco Channel 29 — 6:30pm Pacific Time, Sat August 9, 2009 on-line (www.accessf.org then go to link for “Access 1 Live Stream” in left colulmn– give it a minute to load or try this link:

http://www.accessf.org/stream.php?stream=1).

USA west coast: 6:30 PM Saturday, August 8th
USA east coast: 9:30 PM Saturday, August 8th
London: 2:30 AM Sunday, August 9th
Tokyo: 10:30 AM Sunday, August 9th
You get the picture…

Would you like to have a Counter Culture Hour showing in your town? Please write and ask us how you can do this.

. 3. FORTHCOMING EVENTS

() Sat Sept 12, 2009, 2-5pm opening for Charles Gatewood Photo Show at TAT Gallery, 49 Geary #211, S.F. 94108.
Charles Gatewood: Celebrity! Rarely seen photographs from the 1960s and 1970s of Bob Dylan, Rod Stewart, Carlos Santana, Abbie Hoffman, Boz Scaggs, Al Green, William S. Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg and others. Presented in conjunction with the release of Charles Gatewood’s new limited edition, signed artist’s book on Bob Dylan, A Complete Unknown that will be available for purchase at the Gallery. Meet and talk with the artist!

() Sun Aug 16 CRIME (in one of their rare reunion concerts) plays! A special performance by legendary San Francisco Punk Pioneers CRIME.
+Wild Thing+Contaminators+Primitivas+
Lou Lou & the Guitarfish
$7 All Ages
Sunday, August 16 8pm
Sub-Mission, 2183 Mission, between 17th & 18th

“San Francisco’s Doomed Fest” August 12-16 benefitting the San Francisco All Ages Show Space Project and MaximumRocknRoll. more shows, more bands, more venues at
myspace.com/sanfranciscosdoomed – presented by Thrillhouse Records & MRR

() The Specious Species III release party – 7 PM this coming Wednesday at Dalva (3121 16th Street next to the Roxie Cinema). Featuring Alvin Orloff, Jon Longhi and John Shirley. DJ’s Toph One and Balderdash spin sounds. Free.
Come on down! — Joe (editor)

() Benefit / Fundraiser Show for the San Francisco Tenant’s Union
SATURDAY, AUGUST 8TH This Saturday! (i.e. today) Presented by Alcoholocaust
NOTE THAT THIS IS AN AFTERNOON SHOW – DOORS OPEN AT 3 PM, show at 4 PM, over by 8 PM
-LA PLEBE
-THE BAR FEEDERS
-HIGHTOWER
-THE F*^KING BUCKAROOS
$8.00 – $20.00 Sliding Scale Benefit Show / 21+
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() Thursday, August 20th, The Eagle Tavern on 12th St. at Harrison, San Francisco
Negative Trend with Oxbow. We’re looking into having a RE/Search table at this event.

() Sunday, August 16th, LOS ANGELES at the Grammy Museum. DEVO’s Gerald V. Casale will introduce a screening of Bruce Conner’s “Mongoloid” featuring the DEVO song by the same title.

() If you happen to be in the Grass Valley area, Mary St. Meri reports that Jello Biafra’s new band will be playing the Center For the Arts (main theater) there a week from Sunday. Tickets $18. That would be August 15th in Nevada City. Mary lives in that area, and has a radio show as well as playing live in town at least occasionally. If you live there, check out Meri’s solo act at The Basement there this Sunday.

() Everyone who is interested must already know that Burning Man is coming up this month! If you want a taste of what it will be like, or want to wax nostalgic on past years, buy the RE/Search book, Burning Man Live. Get it for a friend you’re hoping to convince to go! Get it for someone who is too far away to go! Buy it this month and get a free packet of Playa Sand along with your book. Support RE/Search!

http://www.researchpubs.com/Blog/?page_id=13&category=4&product_id=74

Write “eNews Sand offer” in the “how you heard of us” entry line

() RU Sirius on VH-1 about Timothy Leary. RU writes us:

I’m on VH1 Timothy Leary show Thursday August 13. It’s part of a weeklong special feature called Lords of the Revolution, and Leary is sandwiched between The Black Panthers (on August 12) and Andy Warhol (on August 14), which sounds a bit like the story of his life!

The show was put together by Martin Torgoff, who put together the “Drug Years” series for VH1 and wrote the book, “Can’t Find My Way Home.” He does good work, so it should be good. Paul Krassner is also on the show.

Info is here: http://www.vh1.com/shows/lords_of_the_revolution/series.jhtml

btw, dont ask me what time it’s playing. You will have to interpret VH1ese yourself or find it however you find your local tv listings, but I think it repeats a few times… probably forever if I know VH1

Read Timothy Leary’s writing in our new publication, Leary On Drugs, with introduction by RU Sirius – find it here:

http://www.researchpubs.com/Blog/?page_id=13&category=4&product_id=75

() September 15th opening for Ruby Ray photo exhibit at the San Francisco Main Library. Details to follow.

4. What We’ve Attended/What We’ve Been Reading/Seeing/Listening to/What We’ve Been Sent

() Bunuel, Bunuel, and Bunuel – and each one more than one time! More on Luis Bunuel and his fantastic anti-clerical, erotic films next month.

() Dogma 95 “The Celebration” – definitely worth seeing. Dealing with some difficult issues in a “fun” way (?)

() “Pearls Over Shanghai” has been the most successful Hypnodrome/Thrillpeddlers production to date. It is perhaps the best show we have ever seen! We highly recommend you support local San Francisco theater and go experience this fantastically costumed epic musical. Chock full of classic sing-along “future anthems.”
Tickets go fast in this small theater, which has extended the run of “Pearls” up to their yearly Shocktoberfest in the Halloween season. Shows Thursday through Sundays. Tickets at Brown Paper Tickets.
www.thrillpeddlers.com

5. SALON DU TROLL IN THE VORTEX ROOM – review by Steven Gray

Thursday night in the Vortex Room (July 30): none of my friends showed up, but so what, the point of a salon is that you talk to anyone and everyone. I met a woman who knew the girlfriend of the late Sky Saxon (singer for the Seeds), this being an event in honor of him. I’ve been here before (a vortex made of déjà vu) and have known Dog for years (the mastermind behind Salon du Troll), and as Dog is my witness I enjoy his sense of dead-end kitsch and weird expressionism in a time-warp He is the kind of guy who has a pile of magazines and they’re all vintage, like a beatnik anthropologist who studies magazine ads from the 1950’s because the 50’s were another country with bizarre artifacts and mating rites.

So I’m having a glass of wine and staring at a shag rug on the wall. It had the face of Charlie Manson on it, just the thing for the bathroom floor. There were some strange paintings I hadn’t seen before, but I forget where they came from. Then a few musicians took the stage, with a large screen behind them adding a visual dimension to their sound-effects. Michael Belfer (of the Sleepers, Tuxedomoon, etc.) and Craig Gray (Negative Trend, The Toiling Midgets, etc.) did a slow instrumental. The Toiling Midgets recently opened for Flipper and Savage Republic at Café du Nord. Craig had an ‘80’s remake of a 1962 Les Paul I used to play one (borrowed) and understand why he says he’ll never get rid of it. We were talking after the show, this being a club where time warps are part of the atmosphere if not the décor. I remember seeing Negative Trend in the late 1970’s, and went to a party at an apartment south of Market where one or two of the band members lived. There were bond@ge magazines on the coffee table and a punk girl who had gotten herself handcuffed so she could approach a couple of cops and get herself violated in the back seat of a patrol car.
Meri St. Mary (of the Housecoat Project) joined them for a few numbers, singing like a woman who knows a lot of musicians. The Housecoat Project played for the first time in 20 years at the Eagle recently, and she asked me to open for them with a couple of poems. The band was already set up and for the second poem they kicked in behind me, making for a nice momentum. She has a radio show at www.kvmr.org every other Wednesday from midnight to 4 a.m. where she flaunts her historical knowledge of punk The other night she began the show with cuts from Negative Trend (“Meat House”) and the Sleepers.

There followed an intermission which was nearly an hour long. People were drinking and talking, or smoking outside on the sidewalk, so maybe they didn’t notice. I don’t think it was because they wanted to sell more drinks – Dog was recharging the batteries for the video. Finally it started, a documentary of his visit to the home of Mark McCloud, who has lived in the Mission for many years. Sky Saxon would stay with him from time to time and he had every album Sky ever made. He was explaining each one, with the camera zooming in for a close-up on the album. The camera work was kind of nervous, in a shaky hand, with the focus going in and out. It was cinema verite on the verge of vertigo Speaking of disorientation, McCloud has the world’s largest collection of blotter acid on the walls of his home. He has been busted for it by the feds, but he is still with us.

Forgot to mention, Dog recited a short poem which redefines the meaning of strange: “The chocolate river falls from the edge of my mind. A fly trap’s shadow covers the castle. The flower-car works, instead of a hearse.”

6. Stephane von Stephane “MOON” review (spoiler alert)

Film directed by and original story by Duncan Jones, David Bowie’s son. Starring Sam Rockwell and the voice of Kevin Spacey as Gertie the robot on spacestation moon.

In the not too distant future earthlings are mining the moon for helium as a power source because we’ve used up all other energy resources. On the moon base there is apparently only one guy and a robot maintaining all equipment. When we first see Sam, he has long hair and a beard and is perhaps near the end of his 3 year contract with Sarang, the corporation who runs the mining project. He’s going stir crazy and talking to himself, anxious to get back to his wife, and now 3 year old child. He’s going crazy enough to possibly be hallucinating. We can’t tell, he can’t tell and the robot isn’t offering many clues. He really only has the robot to talk to and who wouldn’t go crazy with just the voice of Kevin Spacey for communication? K.S. is pretty perfect as the ‘Hal’-like machine who runs the machine.

There isn’t much story here, but a mood-piece questioning the very nature of what it is to be human, what it is to spend one’s life working for a mega-corporation who have no concerns about it’s workers beyond their usefulness as cogs in the machine, and what it is to die. (You can draw your own comparison to corporate slavery and death here.) The sets are mostly stark white and look like every other filmic space ship/station we’ve seen. Lovely touches to make the ‘clean’ environment looked lived-in, such as the coffee cup sitting on one corner of Gertie’s main ‘body’, and the yellow post-it note on Gertie’s backside with the inevitable ‘kick me’ written on it in sharpie. Sam’s bedroom has photos and posters everywhere. He’s personalized his living space, just like regular old earth corporate employees personalize their ‘cubey’s. We see him exercise, eat Gertie’s bland plastic-pac cooking, view t.v. messages from home, etc. the usual space movie fare. Then, it gets interesting; he hallucinates a strange woman sitting in his living space whom Gertie insists isn’t there. Later, he goes out in a mini-rover to check on a giant lunar module which has crashed into an outpost tower. He sees this strange woman again beckoning before he crashes the rover and seemingly dies. Is she the angel of death (or a viral implant meant to signal the end of Sam’s career)? Is Sam even really dead? We next see Sam in the sick bay with Gertie watching over him. He awakens and we don’t know how long he’s been out and the damn robot won’t say exactly either. He is understandably confused. To make matters worse, there’s a new him or hallucination of himself, lurking around.

I love films that blend reality with fantasy or hallucination and metaphor, like Fight Club, Vanilla Sky, Memento, The Game, half of everything Alfred Hitchcock or Stanley Kubrick ever did, the list goes on and Moon can be added. The original Sam who has begun physically deteriorating begins interacting with the new Sam who is in prime health. At some point original Sam begins to figure out that he’s possibly a clone and becomes obsessed with finding the secret ‘cloning room’. But the new Sam insists that HE is the real Sam and original Sam is the clone. We get a light moment when the two act like children “YOU’RE the Clone!”, “NO! YOU’RE the Clone!” We’ve learned that Sam has anger issues and the two Sam’s beat the cr*p out of each other. Another light moment, and maybe the best scene in the film is when one Sam wants to play music really loud and dance, and the other Sam turns it off, then it’s back on, and back off, made all the more hilarious as the song is ‘Walking on Sunshine’ by Katrina and the Waves, an inane 80’s catchy pop tune. I don’t want to give away the entire film. There is more mystery surrounding a jammed communication tower, and why the Sam’s don’t have contact with earth except minimal messages from the wife. Sam has sent hundreds of messages ‘home’ which haven’t been answered. He again leaves the station against Gertie’s strong advice otherwise, to investigate the communication towers and begins to accept the fact that he may indeed be a clone in a ‘controlled’ environment.

This film has a few flaws and Sam is not the only one confused, the audience is too, but overall it is worth the price of admission. ~ Stephane von Stephane

7. Matt Gonzalez has a new blog!
Matt wowed the country several years ago when he gave Gavin Newsom a run for his money in the San Francisco mayoral race. On a grassroots campaign budget, he got enough votes to cause a run off election — which was also close enough to cause heavy sweating by the well-funded Newsom’s campaign. Matt is solidly of the people and for the people.

Check out the blog! Contribute! http://asitoughttobe.wordpress.com/

Matt asks:
hello friends,
I’m hopeful that you’ll write something for “as it ought to be”…….
matt

8. RECOMMENDED LINKS

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/23/arts/design/23basil.html

DIY Burroughs:

http://languageisavirus.com/cutupmachine.html

This is quite funny what this guy did after his guitar neck was broken by UAL. The video has quite good production value for being done for £90.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1201671/Singers-catchy-complaint-damage-guitar-causes-United-Airlines-share-value-plummet-10.html

http://radio.nymoon.com/liveonballard/

9. QUOTES – Famous Last Words

HA, HA! I’M OUTTA’ HERE: Famous people have a knack for being witty when they’re about to die. In his upcoming book, “Morbid Curiosity,” out in October from Perigee, Alan Petrucelli recounts some of their famous last words. Liberace: “It’s beautiful in heaven, Mother. Yes, of course I’ll play the piano for you.” Elvis Presley: “I’m going into the bathroom to read.” James Brown: “I’m going away tonight.” Eugene O’Neill: “I knew it. I knew it. Born in a hotel room and G*ddam# it! Died in a hotel room.” Tallulah Bankhead: “Codeine, bourbon.” P.T. Barnum: “How were the receipts today at Madison Square Garden?” Oscar Wilde: “Either that wallpaper goes or I do.” Dylan Thomas: “I’ve had eight straight whiskeys, I think that’s the record.” Joan Crawford: “Damn it! Don’t you dare ask God to help me!” Gary Gilmore: “Let’s do it!”

forwarded to us …

“Every dream forgotten is a (potentially precious) experience wasted.” – V.V.

10. FEEDBACK FROM READERS: in answer to “how did you know or find out about RE/Search?”

… through Facebook. I bought two of your books in college in 1995. I’m so glad to see you’re still around!

… saw Breaking Bad – started seach om meth – came into a string of interesting stuff about the dreammachine and are planning building one!

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AUGUST 2009 RE/Search eNewsletter written by V. Vale & other contributors. Newsletter and website powered by http://www.laughingsquid.com.
DISCLAIMER : If you’re receiving V. VALE’s newsletter, it’s because you **or someone you know** has sent your address to us, or signed our mailing list at an event!
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RE/SEARCH | 20 Romolo #B | San Francisco CA 94133 | 415.362.1465
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Sent Wed July 15, 2009
Dear LOCAL (Bay Area) subscribers –
RE/Search recommends the following Bay Area events, and will personally have a table with RE/Search magazines for sale at some of them – come by and talk with us!

() FRI JULY 17, 2009 9pm CAFE DU NORD: FLIPPER, SAVAGE REPUBLIC, TOILING MIDGETS. What an “all star” lineup! This is probably THE place to be tonight (although, sadly, the Zeros are ALSO playing at the Elbo Room tonight — not fair; we want to be at BOTH events). FLIPPER will feature their new bassist; SAVAGE REPUBLIC’s reunion appearances are very rare; TOILING MIDGETS are masters of instrumental emotional moodscapes. Cafe du Nord is at Market / Noe Sts, San Francisco. RE/Search will have a table; hope to see you there.

() FRI JULY 17 9pm ELBO ROOM: ZEROS. ‘Nuff said, as per preceding paragraph. We saw them TWICE at Gilman St a few weeks ago — perfect shows…

() FRI JULY 17 7pm Our friend, SRL hellraiser, world traveler, machine-inventor extraordinaire (google “Neverwas Haul”) and master accordion restorer KIMRIC SMYTHE is hosting an exclusive benefit dinner of epic Steampunk style. The Neverwas Haul is having a event on the 17th. Formal dinner with tea and entertainment +plus steam equipment demonstrations. All the details at

http://www.neverwashaul.com

- this is an extremely rare opportunity to meet, talk and dine with Kimric Smythe and his very imaginative, inventive friends, plus support a good cause!

() SAT JULY 18, 2009 9pm SUPPERCLUB, 857 Harrison (bet 4th-5th Sts, S.F.), THE MARQUIS FETISH BALL. Promoted as San Francisco’s high style event for 2009. Doors at 9, all-night dance space and VIP salon. Bondage performance by MIDORI, AERIAL performanc by Evacide, live model shooting with Charles Gatewood, LIve Drawing by fetish artist Suzanne Forbes. MC’d by NYC’s famous latex diva The Baroness. Outrageous Fashion Show featuring Latex, Corsets, Leather and beyond by BlackLickorish Latex, Antiseptic Fashions, Tactical Corsets, House of Bias. Best-Dressed Contest — winners will participate in a live model shoot for Marquis America and Marquis Fetish Blog. Midnight Raffle with spectacular prizes from Stormy Leather, Madame S, and Stockroom Toys. This is a very insider event for certain individuals of specialized tastes… website: http://www.marquisamerica.com

() SUN JULY 19, 2009 4pm. LUCKY 13. A Sunday Afternoon Show featuring NEGATIVE TREND! RE/Search will be there with a table. Negative Trend’s classic songs have never sounded better, and so much energy emanates from the stage, it’s impossible not to be swept away, singing along with the band. Meet your friends there for a leisurely fun Sunday afternoon get-together — Sunday afternoon shows are all too rare…

() WED-SAT JULY 15-18, 8pm-11:59pm, The Crucible’s Annual FIRE ARTS FESTIVAL featuring our pal KAL SPELLETICH collaborating with a host of other Bay Area Machine Artists. http://thecrucible.org/events/fire-arts-festival/157 NEW LOCATION THIS YEAR! http://kaltek.wordpress.com/

http://kaltek.org/