Friday, January 01, 2010


I always get a bit antsy on days like today. It just seems like things need to fast forward now. Not that I haven’t liked being off or anything but let’s face it, another set of numbers is unlikely to change anything is it? However much we want it to. But we can help one another through the shit storm. There will be casualties but that’s life. It’s the greed that needs to be brought into check. I have no idea how that could be achieved because it’s those that are alleged to be running the show who are the worst offenders. The populace is so punch drunk (and presumably stupid) that they’d rather vote for some sub-karaoke bilge than an actual government. How do they engage the public to take an interest? They can’t because of their creepiness and greediness and general inability to do anything of value. But anyway, sometimes things do take an unexpected turn. But would or will anybody notice?

The first Lefsetz letter of 2010 – or was it the last one of 2009 (not sure because I turned in before “the bells”) – is full of his same old bullshit. Your reporter almost went off on one when he read it but then realised that the guy only services a scene that celebrates itself. Some of them might throw their toys out of the pram if he begins to get close but thems the breaks. His taste in music is closer to the great unwashed than he seems to perceive. I really should unsubscribe but actually enjoy the incessant whining. The same old mantra. The next revolution will sweep all of that away. It’s fermenting someplace. It has to be.

Meanwhile, there are things dotted on the horizon that will pepper this coming year with some relief. The first major happening being a trip to Stockholm for a very special event on March 5th, full details in due course. And there’s the Glasgow Film Festival in February which includes a Pere Ubu show at The Classic Grand on February 20th. In a film related subject, Ben brought to my attention that a major figure in horror fandom died the week before Christmas...

RIP – Chas Balun.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for mentioning Chas. I think I might have seen a mention of it somewhere but last week my mom had an operation (she's fine) and my dog's been hobbling around with a bad back all month (she might need a $5000 operation and I gotta carry her up & down the stairs and give her 8 pills a day) so it sorta went in one eye and out the other.

I never met Chas or even emailed him but his article in the book, Spatterpunk, turned me onto a lot of films I hadn't heard before. Then I bought More Gore Score and started watching the films that he recommended.

I won't say, "I never would have heard about those films if it wasn't for him" but because of him I heard about them years earlier than I would have otherwise.

So hat's off to Chas.

- Russell

elhombremalo said...

Lefsetz - I gave up on him when he slammed Elvis Costello for having had 2 failed marriages. I'm not a huge Costello fan, but that seemed monstrously petty : it isn't like he's the only person in showbusiness with those stats. I had also got tired of the same-ness of Bob's schtick