Finished!
Jun 05I finished Holmes on the Range over the weekend. I had to put it aside for awhile, due to work, but plowed through on Saturday. I whole heartedly approve. I don’t know if Hockensmith is in the Baker Street Irregulars already or if he even gives a shit, but if this doesn’t gain him access, it’ll be a crime.
For those not in the know, the Baker Street Irregulars, currently, are a prestigious gathering of Sherlock Holmes enthusiasts in the US. Prestigious to the point that you can join a local chapter, but you can’t just join the main group – that’s by invite only, and to get invited you either have to make a name for yourself in a local chapter (“Bob made cookies for our meetings, every meeting for 25 years. Let Bob in.”) or you’ve made a name for yourself in Sherlockian publications. It’s pretty vague, and since it’s invite only, they’ve never bothered to outline the path to initiation very well – it’s one of those you-have-to-throw-yourself-into-it sort of deals. You know. You have to nerd out – but I seem to recall that authors of notable Holmesian books count.
After all the dreadful pastiche shit I’ve read over the years, Hockensmith deserves a medal. I don’t want to give anything in the book away, but he didn’t just place his characters in the same universe, he actually manages to weave faith, whispy elements of some Holmes stories along the way. It’d be a great story all by itself, but as an homage to the canon, it makes me giggle.
Being a member of the BSI would be ginchy – I don’t have many aspirations, but that one would certainly be sweet (truthfully, I’d also like to be a Blue Blazer Irregular, but I’m not sure how one would go about achieving that.) But frankly, like all fandoms, they’ve been a bunch of spazzes in the past. Rex Stout (author of the equally spiffy Nero Wolfe books) was invited to present a lecture at one of their dinners – they were a men-only group at the time. And he argued, in spectacluar fashion, that Dr. Waston wasn’t who they thought he was (Attacking Fangirls take note – you might find it amusing.) And boy howdy, did it make a stink. So, while I’m sure they’re a fun bunch these days, it doesn’t sound like my cup of tea. That said, it doesn’t change my feelings that Holmes fans everywhere need to stand up and give a nod to Hockensmith.
Yeehaw.
WikiWikiWhack: The Baker Street Irregulars, Rex Stout.
YouTube is my master
Jun 01OOooh, magical YouTube goodness abounds.
First up, the music video for Cleanin’ Up The Town by The Bus Boys. The source video is harsh, but it’s still a treat (oh 80s videos – you were so cheap.)
Next, the directors cut of G4’s Star Trek Cribs. I laughed so hard, I made an icon out of it. Artwork. Dope!
The sound cuts out sometimes, at random intervals, which sucks.
And Dan Aykroyd buys a vineyard and says there will be no Ghostbusters 3.
Souvenir of Canada
May 30I have no clear gauge of Douglas Coupland’s notariety outside of Canada – I mean, he wrote Generation X, so I’m guessing someone out there must know him. But to us, particularly on the West Coast, he’s just Douglas. Nice guy, a bit strange, writes good books.
A few years back he wrote a book called Souvenir of Canada, in which he attempted to outline things that are particularly Canadian, and shoot down a few things that non-Canadians think are Canadian, but actually aren’t. I have it – it’s a really nice book. Then he followed up with a second volume, suggesting the potential for a series. Again, great book. And ultimately, they turned into exactly what he wanted – something Canadians can give to their pals before they get on the plane and go back from whence they came.
And I’m saying all this, because the made a movie out of the books, and they just opened. I have no idea if they’ll ever make it to the US or anywhere else, but if you have the chance, check it out. And if you don’t, buy the book. In fact, buy the book anyhow. It’s great, eh?
PS – The trailers are stupid. Ignore the first part and just watch the montage at the end.
PPS – In Generation X, Coupland outlines the CostCo shopping list for a funky, late 90s style, high-tech company. He based that list on the CostCo shopping list of Radical Entertainment, a Vancouver video game development house. Coupland had a high school pal that worked there as a producer. I worked there as a grunt, which is how I know this. JPod, his latest novel is, apparently, specifically about a Vancouver video game company. I am, for obvious reasons, curious to read it.
WikiWikiWhack: Douglas Coupland, JPoD.
Two points of interest.
May 28First off, the people who brought us Puzzle Pirates has an open Beta for their new MMORPG, Bang! Howdy. It’s all about cowboys, cowgirls, and… well, I don’t know, I’m still installing. But I dug Puzzle Pirates, so this should be fun. And for the time being, it’s free.
And, after weeks of transcribing (we talked for an hour – it’s, like nearly 7000 words, and I left stuff out!) I’ve posted my interview with Rick Moranis. Lots of good stuff.
