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p.s. Hey. FYI, I'm heading down to Lyon today for the premiere of Christophe Honore's new opera within which Kiddiepunk aka Michael Salerno has created the scenic effects aka film/visuals, and I'll be back in Paris on Monday afternoon, which means that on Monday you'll get a rerun post and a limited, non-interactive p.s. ** Scunnard, Right? Most of them. Good question about the baby piano. The Alps! Way up! Sweet. Is it near Sils St. Marie? That's the only place high up in the Alps that I've ever set foot. Rome is super. You can pretty easily walk its whole length, or the length of its original main area. But, yeah, SunBlock and a giant hip-flash full of Vittel is highly recommended. Things are very good here with me, yeah. And with you, it sure seems. Synchronicity is the key to happiness or something. ** David Ehrenstein, I think I remember you mentioning that about your father and your life on the road. That's so great, so 'Day of the Locust' or Aaron Copland or something that's really American in the good way. Unfortunately for me, that film isn't downloadable in France, but I'll spread the word. Everyone, Mr. Ehrenstein urges you to download a film which he characterizes as 'A Masterpiece of Non-Fiction Filmmaking Not To Be Missed Under Any circumstances', and, unless you live in a country that blocks you, which is the case for me, you can score it here. ** Nicola, Hey, bud! Yes, I did very luckily get your book just two days ago because my former place of residence, les Recollets, kindly gave me the chance to come up there and retrieve your package rather than just refusing it as 'addressee unknown.' Of course I will share your thing. Sounds really valuable and great. Everyone, Nicola is a very longtime d.l. of this humble blog, and she has something that I think is of great interest and opportunity to tell you about, so please read this and do what's what. Nicola: 'So ... I was wondering if you could put in a mention to a new blog called Feminist Academic Collective (which resides at feministacademiccollective.com)? It's literally only just started (yesterday!) but we'd love for anyone who's interested to join us. Just email us at feministacademiccollective@gmail.com and we'll add you - and if anyone wants to post that would be so cool too! The posts only need to be really brief and on anything related to feminist, queer, trans*, gender, masculinities, sexualities, etc theory and/or politics. The idea is not to be 'productive' but to be 'collective' so it's totally fine for people to join us but not to post. Anyway, we'd love to include anyone for whom it might be 'their bag'.' ** Etc etc etc, Hi, C. MM, 'Merzbox', yum, me too. Hm, I don't know re: your changing tastes thing. I've just, at least temporarily, lost almost all interest in 'the song', or in the standard song, which, little tweaks notwithstanding, is what seemingly 90% of contempt music makers play reverently with. Weird since I was such a devoted indie rock guy for so long. My opinion on Barney overall is positive in the sense of supporting what he does and tries to do, and mixed tilting slightly to the negative on the work itself, but the guy can make some great moments. I had dinner with him, and he's a cool guy. Happiest weekend to you! ** Bill, Hi. Yeah, I was surprised by how many cool ones I managed to find out there. The Tuttuki Bako finger thing and the kooky, spooky trees are my favorites, I think. I do remember the Spawn figures. Wow. I interviewed Clive Barker once when he was in the middle of being involved with them. He was very wide-eyed, kid-like about getting to do them. ** H, Hi! I love the spooky tree toy! If it wasn't insanely rare and expensive, it would already be wending its way to me through the post. No, I ordered 'Breezeway', but it hasn't arrived yet. I'm very excited to read it. He's incapable of anything but greatness in my book. Bon weekend! ** Adrienne White, Howdy, my dear pal, Adrienne! So great to see you! Beados, sweet, I'll look into them. Hooray for your masterful kiddo! I hope everything is wonderfulness incarnate with you! ** _Black_Acrylic, I can only imagine, Ben, and I do, and I just hope there's a huge breakthrough in the immediate offing. Hooray about the shape taking of your DJ Day! I'm super excited! ** Rewritedept, Barring any last minute shift to the slightly nearer or further, which I will alert you to, if so, your post will launch here next Friday. I haven't listened to the podcast yet, but I'm angling to let it cushion my train ride to Lyon today. Oh, yes, I'll send you my new address. ASAP. Thanks! Thanks for the Ohio answer. Thought that might be the case. Lovely weekend to you too. ** Sypha, Me too. It broke my brother's arm. ** Alistair McCartney, Hi, Alistair! Yes, to LACMA! And with perfect timing since I'll be able to do my annual Halloween in LA visit at the same time. Two birds with one gig. Not sure yet when I'll head to Australia. We (Zac and I) are trying for this summer. Late summer. Might be early fall, though. It's a big trip to try to organize, but yeah, very excited! And particularly about Tasmania, partly to get to see, yes, the great art museum there. Shame that the timing will probably exclude you and Tim and us hooking up there, but who knows. Good weekend to you too, dear pal! ** Misanthrope, Oh, that paragraph was perfectly interesting. You know I like incomprehensible prose, ha ha. I was tired as fuck yesterday, but today I'm just south of quite perky. God, those are sad stories about your co-workers. That second guy's manager is beyond a dick. Wtf?! I hope your weekend is a magic flying carpet. With guard rails, of course. ** Okay. I made a new gif work, and it's my proudest one yet, if that matters whatsoever. You're welcome to spend your local weekend time doing anything from enjoying/taking it seriously to using it as an excuse to play the game of identifying the gifs' sources to show yourself what a smarty pants you are, or anything in between. The blog will see you on Monday, and I will see you on Tuesday.