Um so yeah

Ok, you may have noticed that there have been no posts for over a month. EEK. Sorry. People have been laid off, and those of us still working have been a bit slammed. So, in the new year, we'll try to be back to posting on a semi-regular basis. In the meantime, I don't know. Check out the peeps on our blog roll.

Do tell,

The Editor

Publishing Holiday Happy Hour

Hey kids -

This week's literary event of the week is actually next week, but hell, it's Friday, so we might as well start early. Sarah Reidy over at Soho Press is organizing a massive happy hour at Kings Head Tavern next Thursday so we can all drink our publishing blues away. Word on the street is that beer pong tables have been reserved and drink specials procured. Mention Sarah's name at the door to get a wristband to ensure happy hour prices all night long.

Do tell,

The Editor

Alfred Hitchcock's Terrifying Sex Life

So, there's a new book out about Hitchcock called Spellbound by Beauty: Alfred Hitchcock and His Leading Ladies. Apparently, old AH has some real issues with the ladies and basically treated the actresses he worked with like crap, even driving more Tippi Hedren into "clinical shock" (whatever the hell that might be). But my favorite bit of info?

"Among the more astonishing revelations is that the filmmaker, who wed lifelong collaborator Alma Reveille in 1926, experienced sex but once in his life — and that occasion produced their only child, Patricia. This, the writer suggests, resulted in Hitchcock's compensating need to harass many of his lovely leading ladies."

UM. Yeah. World famous director. You're telling me there weren't tons of young wanna-be actresses willing to sleep their way into a movie? I mean, I know he started directing in the 30s, but for sure, by the 50s and 60s (ahem, Mad Men) this wouldn't have been at all strange. So, what's up Hitch? Underlying mother issues? Secretly gay? Perhaps an ED issue? I need more information! I hope Donald Spoto's next book is entitled Alfred Hitchcock and His Flaccid Penis. Now, that I would buy in a heartbeat.

--Paige Sexie

Hmm, you know what would be cool? If I were even the slightest bit tech-savvy and could figure out how to give each contributor their own little log-in, so this thing would say things like "posted by ladytron" or "posted by slunchie." Yes, I think that would be awesome. And that I wouldn't be responsible for posting everyone's things myself. And then I wouldn't get mean emails complaining that I neglected to post something and now it's out of date.

If you are smarter than me (not hard), please leave instructions on how I can do this in the comments or email me. Much obliged.

Do tell,

The Editor

W: The Memoir?

The AP has an article about the possibility of a Bush memoir...and what the best strategy for it would be. The consensus seems to be that he should wait. You know, until we all stop hating him quite so much. Because apparently, after a few years, we'll all forget what a horrifically bad prez he actually was. I think the only way I would read it would be if he focused on his early days...Bush getting wasted and doing stupid things? Fun to read about it. Bush lying to the American people and creating a shit torm that will probably takes years to get out of it. Yeah, I'm living it. No thanks.

But apparently, waiting is the strategy. For this reason:

"Bush has likened his fate to Harry Truman, highly disliked upon leaving office in 1953 but now virtually iconic in American politics. But it took years for him to gain such affection and Truman's two-volume memoir, published in the 1950s, is less remembered than a book about him published in the 1990s, David McCullough's million-selling Truman."

If we ever get to the day when people look back fondly on W, I'm going to lose a lot of the faith that I gained last night.

On an unrelated note, I just pulled a hair out of coffee. Sigh.

--Ladytron

RIP: Michael Crichton

Some sad news on this otherwise extremely happy day (for all us democrats, at least). Michael Crichton passed away yesterday, apparently after a bout with cancer. I have to confess, I have never actually read anything by him (I know, I know), but I've seen jurassic park many a time, and damn, I do love me some ER. Also, fun fact, Crichton was good friends with artist Jasper Johns, who's stuff is amazing, so that makes him even cooler in my book. RIP.

Vote!

This week's literary event has nothing to do with books...unless you figure Obama and McCain both have some. But seriously, people, just freaking vote. Today.

p.s. yeah, I know we haven't posted in awhile but for some reason, the economy being in the shitter has somehow equalled more work. bizarre. I haven't even had a chance to read the comic strips on my daily calendar. honest to blog. it's stuck on october 21st. so, yeah. hopefully, we'll get back on track soon with nice frequent posts but until then, um, go obama.