o$$$$$$o o$o o$$o db "$$$$$$" $$ $$$$ $$ $$$ $$ $o o$$o $$$$ $$ o$$o o$$o $$$ $$$$$$ $$$$$b $$ $$ $$ d$$$$b d$$$$$. $$$ $$' $$ d$$ $$ $$ '$$ $$ d$$ $$ $$$ `$b $$P $$ $$ $$$$$$P $$ $$$$ $$$$$$P $$' ,$$ $$$ $$ $$ $$ `$$. ,$ $$ $$$ `$$. ,$ `$$$$P $P $$ $P `$$$P' $$ $$$ `$$$P' `$$P o$o. $$$ d$$$$$$o $P d d$$' `$$$ o$$o o$$o o$o o$o d$ o$$o $$. o$o $$$ d$$$$$. d$$$$$$$$$$b $$ $$$$$$b d$$$$ d$$$$b $$$$$b $$$$$$b $$$ $$$ `$b $$' $$' $$ $$ $$' `$$ $$$P d$$ $$ $$ $$ $$' $$ $$$. ,$$ $$. ,$$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$$$$$P $$ $ $$ $$ o$$$$$P `$$$$P $$ $$ ,$$ $$ $$ ,$$ $$.$$`$$. ,$ $$ $$ ,$$ $$$P `$$P $P $P $$P $P $P $$P `$$P `$$$P' $P $$ $$P The Neo-Comintern Electronic Magazine -- Installment Number 212 .... .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .... `""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""' Subversive Literature for Subverted People Date: October 31, 2002 Editor: BMC Writers: ada Jet Jaguar AlterEcho linear Spite Melatonin Bu Joe aster Heckat Margarina Cataclysma Gnarly Wayne Komrade B BMC d""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""b. ;P Featured in this installment: .b $ $ $ The BMC Interview - AlterEcho $ $ The aster Interview - BMC $ $ The Melatonin Interview - aster $ $ The Spite Interview - Melatonin $ $ The Komrade B Interview - Spite $ $ The Jet Jaguar Interview - Komrade B $ $ The ada Interview - Jet Jaguar $ $ The linear Interview - ada $ $ The Margarina Cataclysma Interview - linear $ $ The Bu Joe Interview - Margarina Cataclysma $ $ The Heckat Interview - Bu Joe, Margarina Cataclysma, and linear $ $ The AlterEcho Interview - Heckat $ $ The Gnarly Wayne Interview - Gnarly Wayne $ `q p' `nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn' EDITOR'S NOTE (please do not read the following) Hello, microfriends and megafriends! This is The BMC, your pal and editor of The Neo-Comintern, here to welcome you back to the most wonderful, super-subversive socialist satire publication this side of Moonbase Luna. With a bit of love, tenderness, and ass-kicking, all of our most beloved writers have gotten together, resealed pacts of old, and organized to unleash many more of the kind of articles and fiction that you can only find within these hallowed files of text. Some wonder where the N has been for the past THREE MONTHS. On the other side of the Styx, my friend. The Neo-Comintern has wandered into the dark world, seen what it has to offer, set it on fire with some serious pyro, and then flown out in V formation. Once upon a time, around issue 207, The Neo-Comintern needed a new editor to hold the bag, erh, lead the magazine into a new glorious era. Brave writers stepped to the forefront, threw down the gauntlet, pledged allegiance, and promised to struggle valiantly to improve writing standards, expand territory, and write K-rad editor's notes. With such a variety of competent and passionate geniuses to choose from, there was only one way that anything could possibly go wrong. A monkey wrench in the cogs. Or, as fate did have it, a Cog in the monkey wrench (monkey wrench here being a metaphor for editorship of The Neo-Comintern Online Magazine). Things seemed to be going quite well at first, as The High Cog had no shortage of high-quality articles to choose from. In fact, issues 209-211 all have a whopping THREE articles in them. That's a record. In celebration, Cog killed the zine. When I got back from summer vacation in the village of Gotham, I found that Cog had pulled the plug. I had planned on taking the editorship over again when I got home, but now I found that there was no zine to come back to. Furthermore, in an act of brutal betrayal, Cog had changed the name of The Neo-Comintern to The Neo-COGmintern. So what was I to do? After three months of careful plotting and meditation, I decided to bring the Neo-Comintern back from its early grave and release issue 212. And so we begin the greatest era ever witnessed in the history of literature. The submissions for future issues are, at this point, the best that we have ever received. Look out for hot hot hot hits from your favourite writers, and perhaps even a few surprises from the wonderful writing community of Textus, Internetia. This is probably our best issue yet, for the simple fact that all of the writers have gotten together to reveal a bit about themselves and entertain your sweet souls at the same time. This is an interview issue. I would like you to try this. Read this issue, read up on your favourite writers, get to know them, love them if you must, hate them if you wish. Harness the power of 100 dreams. Build the skyrocket. Let's make some friends. Let's be trapped in an apartment. Let's get straight As. This is The Neo-Comintern. This is solid gold in ASCII format. This is something special, something to share, something to keep in a small box in a secret place. And this night, my friends, is one extremely hallowed evening. Olympia! ,o$o o$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$Y$$$$b d$$$' ` `$$b d$$' The BMC Interview ,$$ $$: by AlterEcho ,$P `$n,.. . . . . . . . . . . . . ..P' `"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""' AE - Ladies and gentlemen, for my first trick today, I will attempt something dangerous, mind-boggling and impossible for a mortal man. Yes, that's right, I plan on entering the world and mind of the notorious B.M.C., and escaping unharmed! And now, to business. Well, BMC, let's kick this of with a hypothetical - if you could choose, where would this interview be conducted, what would you be wearing, and what drink would you be holding in your hand? Oh yeah, and who'd be asking the questions? Obviously, I'd be first pick, but if I had a better offer - Alyson Hannigan, for example - who'd come off the pine? BMC - If this interview was hypothetical, I would start off by being more intelligent, slick-sounding, and witty than I naturally am (-1). You would be yourself too, but a couple of inches taller. Or maybe you would be a ghost. I'd be wearing my usual outfit, a white tuxedo, and I would be holding a jewel-encrusted cane in my right hand. This would leave my left hand free to hold a kitchen glass filled with the dirtiest Kentucky bourbon I could find. The interview would be conducted in a subway car, or maybe a Subway restaurant. I think that would be the ideal scenario, or at least pretty close to it. AE - You've confirmed my previous opinion that you're quite the stylish character. Do you feel like you act as a role model to your contemporaries? Would you in fact encourage them to perceive you in that light? On a personal level, I can affirm that you have been a positive influence in my life. I would even go so far as to say that on occasion, you have been the candle guiding me through the night. Does this disturb you? BMC - It always feels good to be told that I am a positive influence, especially when just a few years ago I was an unerringly negative person. I liked to binge drink, be rude and pushy, and generally not take anyone else's feelings into consideration. Thinking back on my past, I see all kinds of misogynist, racist, homophobic, anthropocentric, inhumane, and other uncompassionate undertones that were integrated into my thoughts and language without my realization. As much as I hate all of my past incarnations, life has proven to me to be a useful demonstration of how I can improve myself in increments if I struggle against ignorance and sincerely try to be less selfish. I'm not claiming that the way I am now is an end-result, either. I'm fully aware that I am full of philosophical flaws, a great deal of which I hope to identify and eliminate over the course of my lifetime. As far as the combination of writing and positive attitude go, I have to admit that I don't know the answers. I just try to do my best not to be unintentionally ignorant. Intentional ignorance can be funny when readers identify it as satire, but otherwise it just upsets people who do not detect the irony. When Komrade B died we released two special issues. In the first tribute issue we released an obituary that was written in a completely serious tone and then followed it up with a second article making fun of Komrade B and claiming that we murdered him. People didn't think it was funny, and the issue probably earned more hate mail than any other. An ex-girlfriend e-mailed me after she read it just to tell me she hated me. The next week, we released a second tribute issue with more jabs at the life, death, and virility of the B. I've strayed from the point, but I think I was going to say that if you are going to write an article, you have to know what you are talking about. Even when you're writing satire, your ignorance needs to be rooted in intelligence. As for whether or not I would call myself a role model or expect others to see me as one, I try not to worry too much about what readers think of me on a personal level. I only care about what the reader gets out of the things I write and publish. I do want to promote certain things. I think that independent media, education, and a lifestyle based on compassion are all steps toward a better world. I want to help the community by helping these causes. But as for the way others perceive me, I feel ok with leaving that up to them. I'm not trying to live up to any particular image. In fact, this question makes me wonder if my writing voice seems a bit incomprehensible since I often adopt varying personas for different articles/stories. Maybe that's the most accurate representation of a person - one who is always changing and whose moods and attitudes fluctuate. I don't know. I just try to be natural. As for being the candle in your life, I'm honoured. Maybe Elton John will write a special song for me. He hasn't released a new version of the song he wrote for Marilyn Monroe for a few years now. It seems to me I live my life like a candle in the wind. I detest Elton John and that song(s). AE - Hmm. So you feel that your writing is a form of community service? That through your writing, you can highlight things that may be important in benefiting society? History shows us the one man can change the world; do you believe are one such man? Or was your point that my question was stupid? BMC - I don't think your question was stupid. Some wise person once told me there's no such thing as a stupid question. I don't personally believe it, but nonetheless, you're doing ok. As for one person changing the world (note that I didn't say "man" because I believe that non-men can also make differences in the world), I do think that it can be done. I believe that everyone can change the world. What's more, I believe that everyone does change the world. We all do our own things, we all have our spheres of influence, we all make a degree of change - even if that change is only within ourselves. Like, for example, do you recycle or not? If you change your mind on that issue, you are making a difference. I think those people who seem to change the world on their own are for the most part just agreeing with things that are socially popular and then adding a few ideas of their own. 1917, for example. Lenin didn't create revolution. People hated feudalism, hated the war, hated being peasants, so Lenin simply organized the revolution. I think organizers are important. I think it's important to get ideas straight. That can be a way in which writing is useful. But really, I don't consider my writing to be politically oriented enough to be the next Marx or Lenin. I also don't think one person can single-handedly change the world. But we all can do something, and that's what I'm trying to do. AE - You previously mentioned Elton John. Actually, Elton John is my three thousand, four hundred and fifty-first favourite performer, coming in behind the likes of the Standard Model, Psychotic Banana Combine Harvesters, and Sonz of Prozac. Can you tell me something about life as a rap star? BMC - I've been rapping for over 4 years now, and you must the first person, besides myself, to call me a rap star. I always fancied myself a rapper in high school, even though I couldn't afford a mic or any recording equipment. It was pretty pathetic, but still, people would call me Boss or Boss M.C., and that was good enough for me. I ended up writing 5 or 6 songs, but without recording equipment it just fizzled out. In 1998, Gnarly Wayne and I heard some mp3s of some 12 year old kid rapping over MIDIs. He called himself Prozac. Deciding that this was the worst music ever recorded, we were first humiliated to be human beings, but then intrigued by this terrible terrible music. Realizing that we could also rap over MIDIs, we formed a parody group called Sons of Prozac. We recorded 8 songs over MIDI and actually started gaining some popularity. We went to play a show in Edmonton, but by the time we were supposed to go on, Gnarly Wayne was tired and didn't want to go rap anymore. Around this time we started recording stuff on music other than MIDI. We recorded The Blair Witch Project, a song that went up to #8 on the mp3.com rap charts. We did about 40 songs in total as the SoP. We wouldn't practice, and then we'd use the first vocal take where we got all the way through the lyrics, no matter how bad it sounded. That's why we have some verses where we're laughing through the whole thing and we kept them anyway because the flow was tight. Gnarly Wayne and I got to rap with some of mp3 rap's superstars. Pimp Daddy Welfare, John Cocaine, Scrilla Tee, Schukey, T-Nasty, The White Mystery, DollaZ, and of course any friend of ours that wanted to appear on a SoP track. Cog, Komrade B, i like trees, and McPhisto were just a few of these folks. It was always fun for me, right until the point where we jammed up in the middle of "Around the Wayne Girl" and "AG&G" in 2000. That was about the end of the SoP. We recorded a couple more songs together, but most of what I did after that was in other projects. Since then I've guested on a half dozen tracks, and in 2001 I co-founded a G-rated, family rap group called The Sunshine Squad. In the SS I rap as MC Friend, along with my homies J-Hugs, Ladybug, and Joey the Unicorn. Joey has recently gone AWOL, so we're looking for a new fourth. Our first track, "Be Nice," took about a year in production, and our current song, "Read Books" is about half done. These days I rap as a hobby - but I'll still rap ya socks off. At the height of popularity, being a rapper was really cool. But the more I did in that area, the more other areas of my life got ignored. It's always good to have side projects to fuck around with; that keeps you well-oiled for the main projects. When the side projects start becoming main projects, that's when you're living in a world of illusion. That's what being a rap star is like. AE - You probably don't really have much time for side projects, do you? I mean, not only are you the public face of the Neo-Comintern, but you manage to release regularly AND frequently(!!). On top of that, you've taken over from Mogel as the KING OF TEXT and you spend quite a large amount of time looking after, encouraging and cajoling your devoted subjects. I know you're also a tertiary student and you've been described as the greatest pilot in the universe. What else can you do? What else DO you do? Are you a masterful pianist, or a talented hockey player, or a drug runner for the Sicilian Mafia? BMC - What else do I do? Well firstly I would like to mention that the Neo-Comintern has not been releasing regularly for awhile. I mean, this whole summer has left me without computer and it's making it quite hard for me to get anything worthwhile done. I'm typing to you from a computer lab in Fredericton, New Brunswick, where I am told I live now. Heckat and I are sleeping on an air mattress at nights and we're hoping that it takes less than another week for our furniture to arrive. As for this "king of text" comment, I don't know if any such thing exists. While working with the Current Text Scene website I have considered myself to be more of an administrator and facilitator than a king. But then again, I've always considered it to be more of a text community than a text hierarchy. But sure, "king" sounds cool. Who am I kidding? Being a king is great. But really, at this time linear is the main administrator/organizer of The Current Text Scene, so that makes me more like a counselor, or perhaps it makes linear like the REGENT OF TEXT. I'm not sure. I'm not sure about anything anymore. As for being a student, I'm starting classes today (Sept 9th, 2002) at the University of New Brunswick. I've already been to my Intro to Latin class, and in 18 minutes I will be sitting squarely in my Canadian Novel class. I'm taking five classes this term, and I'm also hoping to play a part in the editing of UNB's student literary magazine, QWERTY (like the keyboard, get it?)! As far as being the greatest pilot in the universe, if you mean flying an aeroplane then you are misinformed. However, if you mean a pilot of the imagination, destination: inner space, you are absolutely correct and wonderfully flattering. Other projects for me? I just finished recording the base tracks for a radio play with Melatonin before I left Saskatoon. It's called "The Joel And Jared Show", and I'll try to have it done as soon as possible. I'm also a member of positive-message rap group The Sunshine Squad. I hip and hop as rapper MC Friend, encouraging the young people of the world to do things like "Be Nice" and "Read Books". Other than writing, rapping, talking, administrating, and being a student, I am also proficient in blowing up air mattresses in the middle of the night and walking for several hours per day (time permitting). I've been thinking of hosting a radio show on the campus station. It would be an old-school hip-hop/rap show, and from time-to-time it would feature groundbreaking radio plays written by and featuring me. But then again, I don't know if I have the time for another project right now. I'll probably be spending the next month or two just trying to get the apartment in decent shape. Our place is 10 metres away from the world's longest walking bridge. Isn't that cool? Come and visit us whenever you like. AE - Well, then, maybe I will visit New Brunswick sometime. I was almost Canadian, you know, and recently I've been thinking about studying abroad. I gotta confess, though, I don't really know much about Canada. (New Brunswick is in Canada, right?) I'm not sure I even know any Canadian novelists. Who might I have heard of? Of course, you've probably never heard of any Australian authors, have you? BMC - Yes, by all means, it's not a bad place to stay. Our couch might not be the most comfortable, but you can always buy us a futon if you really want to. Actually, the couch isn't all that bad. It's better than the air mattress that Heckat and I were sleeping on for the first couple of weeks. Especially on the last night, when the cat decided it would be a good idea to punch a bunch of holes in it. It's a weird feeling, to be sleeping on an uninflated air mattress. You're just going through the motions, you know? The air mattress isn't really doing you any good, but to lay on the floor would be a type of defeat that would be too depressing to sleep through. So you just lay on this rubber sheet and lie to yourself. I didn't know that you were almost Canadian. I was almost Canadian too, but I was born in Saskatchewan. I didn't find out until later years that Canada really only includes Ontario and Quebec. I think that the people of B.C. and Alberta are also on the verge of being recognized as legitimate Canadian citizens. I'm not sure if New Brunswick is in Canada. I think the coins here are the same as the ones in Saskatchewan. I'm not sure if that means anything, though. All this talk of Canadian and Australian authors is maddening to me. No, I've never heard of any Canadian novelists. None from Australia either. Robert Drewe? Randolph Stowe? Peter Carey? I'd be lying if I said I knew who these authors were. And I'd be lying if I said I'd heard of Mordecai Richler, Margaret Atwood, Guy Vanderhaeghe, or W.O. Mitchell. I just looked all of these names up on the internet. I know nothing about novelists. I have nothing against the novel as a genre, but I would never read one for pleasure or delight. Maybe they will interest me someday, but for now I prefer short fiction and the creative article. I think that a novel often requires more time than I can afford, and tries to sustain my emotional investment for too long. I am a busy and fickle person. And lazy. And stupid. But seriously, another thing about the novel that doesn't quite work for me is that works of that genre are often too firmly rooted in realism. I like writing that is more experimental, and that wacky slackiness is more commonly a trait of shorter works. Like the stuff in your zine, for example. You're Australian, and I've heard of you. I've also heard of Aerialisticish and Abyss. So do I really need to know any more? You don't have to answer if you think it might hurt my feelings. AE - By the way, how long is the world's longest walking bridge? BMC - 581 metres, I've been told. I've never checked it myself, but I think the measurement is more or less accurate. AE - OK. Getting back to, well, me, I should inform you that you've just named three of Australia's finest writers. What is your opinion of CLiT, by the way? Other than that we seem a bit slack. Obviously, we tried as hard as possible to copy the Neo-Comintern without making it look like we were copying the Neo-Comintern. Hmm. And while I'm still talking about me, let me ask you: who was around making neither love nor war, but text, way back in February, 1998? BMC - I always enjoy most of CliT. My favourite part is when you print my poem and then in the next issue you do your own version of it three times over, but do it in a more original and more good way. It really blows me out of the water. Great job of shattering my self-esteem. But seriously, I loved it when you did that. As far as the CLiT being a copy of The N-Com, I never really noticed that. I mean CLiT is funny, and interesting, and there are a variety of writers who have their own loveable styles and voices, so I think those are at least three ways in which it is completely different from The Neo-Comintern. CLiT and The N-Com are both zines, they both are in text format, they both have editors with egos and oft-broken hearts. So they're not unlike any other zines, really. But hey, if you want to give The N-Com credit for something, that's fine by me. Who was making text in 98? Well there were other text zines in operation, but I never read much of them around that time. I liked HOE and Texas Chainsaw Magazine back in 1995. In 2000 I became involved with the textfile community. During that 5-year gap, I have no idea what happened. Zines were being made, suckas was getting sprayed - in other words we were getting paid. But I can speak for myself, Komrade B, Gnarly Wayne, and Cog when I say that 4 of the finest sons of text were working day in and day out to create something that, like vintage wine, got sweeter with age. Or is it better? I don't know. I can't afford wine. AE - You seem to mention Saskatchewan quite frequently in your writing, and your mention of Canadian author W.O. Mitchell leads me to ask this next question. Would you mind telling us something about your childhood, a brief yet tragic glimpse of which has been seen in Installment One of the Neo-Comintern magazine? BMC - Do I mention Saskatchewan frequently? I never really noticed that. I did notice that I've been mentioning Fredericton in recently-written articles, but I thought that was novelty. OK, I admit it, I loved living in Saskatchewan, except for the evil politics of the right wing government which is actually the furthest supposedly-left-wing party in the province. That's bullshit. Regressive tax cuts ain't shit. That anger is what inspired the Weekly Capitalist a couple of years ago. But yeah, Saskatchewan is tha bomb in many ways. Nice and dry. But then again, I haven't gotten nosebleeds since I got to Fredericton. Not that I got them in Saskatchewan either, but... My childhood. I actually did wear the plastic label from a 5-Star Whisky bottle as a sheriff's badge when I was in grade 2 or so. I also had a bottle cap collection consisting mostly of Boh, Colt 45, and Pilsner. I remember sitting in a box while looking at a picture of myself sitting in that same box, and thinking that I had entered some kind of infinite loop. That was at about age 3 - the first time my mind was totally fucking blown. I think that's about it. That stuff and then I was working on the N-Com. I think there are more gaps in my biography than there are parts that actually exist. All of the times I took a shower just seem to combine into one lifelong shower image now, so there's about a full year that was meaningless. And 2 years talking on the phone as a teenager. I hate phones. And showers. AE - How was the Neo-Comintern born? Or would it be more correct if I queried the beginnings of the original Comintern? I know that with CLiT, it was a little strange because none of my friends even knew about the existence of textfiles, and by 2000, `the scene' had probably seen better times. Did you experience the same sort of thing? Or were there other Canadian zine-sters you were associated with? BMC - The original Comintern was the 3rd International, the Communist International, or the Comintern. It was a soviet project launched in 1919 to spread positive communist vibes around the world. Then in 1995 there was a new Comintern - our Comintern. I wrote the first article while sitting in my grade 11 math class. It was just a little blurb about the mistrust that our society has of the words communism and socialism, and how that mistrust is based on brainwashing, specifically by the capitalist media. It's strange. There are plenty of people that hear the word communist and associate it with the bogeyman. So I figured if there was one thing I could do in the world, it would be to educate people on the topic. The only thing I hadn't taken into consideration was educating myself first. So the result is a few articles that have a lot of heart in them but are underdeveloped and not really worth the read. I'm embarassed to look back on those first few writings now, but I'm glad that I once wrote them, because they led the way for the situation that I am currently appreciating. The 1995 zine was put together so that I could spread my message as far and wide as could be done via BBS distribution. I think there were 3 or 4 BBSes in the city who carried the Comintern, resulting in a readership of 30 or so per issue. And dammit, that was good enough for me. So I kept writing and putting them up on the internet. Then a few contributors came along, and eventually Komrade B joined in and sunk the boat. No, he didn't. I'm kidding. Actually there were a few things. Personal problems, etc. But we blasted out 15 issues in 2 or 3 months. We were hot. And then it was over. And then 3 years later it wasn't over anymore. And 4 years after that, it's still not over. I think that Gnarly Wayne, Cog and I were all readers of text. There was a local BBS that brought a bunch of texts in from across North America. We got to read lots of the greats. But when we got going again in 1998, we weren't aware that there were any text zines around anymore. We did have mentors in the independent writing world, absurdist writers from a zine called Y'Know, Incorporated Press . But as for the text scene, I must say that when the N-Com started up I had no idea that there were other text zines. I didn't really care. Then one day I saw the Current Text Scene page, was surprised, and sent Mogel a line asking him where he got off not having the N-Com up on the site. He was also surprised to find out there was a zine with 100 issues that he had never heard of. A meeting of the obscure was happening. And now I am an advocate for text zines. Free press, unlimited distribution, no censorship or sponsorship. What could be better? AE - I know what could be better! Any chance that I could find out just how bad the first issue of the Neo-Comintern was? Was an original copy kept, or do the articles `The Working Class' and `Equality for All' live on only in the minds of yourself and Komrade B? BMC - What was the first issue of The Neo-Comintern is still online. Issue 3 was actually the first issue we wrote, and then we lost the articles, only to find them again after releasing 2 more issues. Issue 1 was pretty half-hearted. We just sat down and started typing with no intention or purpose. So it turned out pretty meaningless and disappointing. But what was intended to be issue #1 is still up there, and I would suggest that you read it. But as for ncom001.txt, that has long been erased and destroyed. Of course, every N-Com writer probably has a copy of the issue on their hard drive, but that's pretty much off limits unless you are a hacker supreme. But trust me, you don't really want to read it. It's mostly about orcs and bugbears and how they are to be the champions of a new era of global socialism. I've always been jealous of zines that have a really good first issue. Do you think it would be a good idea to make a new first issue? I kind of like that idea. Maybe all of the writers could talk about video games and monsters. Pretend we're still living in that era. That might be fun. What do you think? AE - That's cheating! Sometimes I surf back through the extensive CLiT episode catalogue, and some of the stuff seriously makes me cringe. And besides, I LIKE those first issues of the N-Com. BMC - Searching through old N-Com issues makes me cringe too. Like, issues 1-200. But seriously, there are many things I've written and look back at, wondering "Hey, why did I ever put that in there?" Sometimes I feel like printing something that's not quite as good as it should be, just because the zine needs an article or because I owe someone a favour or because I really want one of my own articles to be good so badly that I convince myself that it is even though it is not. Those are the worst, because I look back on them a year or two later and feel stupid, not just because I wrote something boring or sloppy, but because I fooled myself into believing that it was good enough. The N-Com audience deserves better than that. So I try to be honest with myself about what is better and what is worse. The print issues of The N-Com consist of the best of the online magazine, revised and edited once more, just to slick em up that much more. So everything in there has been edited at least 3 or 4 times, and most of the articles by those writers who are most concerned with quality have been looked at to see if anything can be changed, added, or subtracted to make it better. Some people don't want to revise their articles because they are convinced that they are fine as they are, and if their artistic vision has been met, I leave that to them. But one advantage the print issues have is that they are released two years after the original writing of the articles. So no matter what makes it to the online magazine, we have two years to distance ourselves from the writing a bit and take a more objective look at it. If the print zine succeeds, I consider those all to be contributing factors. I'm working on issue 7 right now, and for this issue I am drawing articles from online issues 126-150. "Planette" will be in this issue, and if you recall, it was Heckat's first article in the N-Com, back in 130. It's weird, because it feels like we're writing and publishing online in one timeline, and releasing print issues in another parallel timeline. But my point was... oh yes, while I might be ashamed of a few things that have been in the online magazine, the print magazine has the benefits of time, objectivity, selection, and revision. So I would say that I stand by pretty much everything that has appeared in print, with the possible exceptions of some of the editor's notes (issue 3) and some of the articles (Voyage to Atlantis, Issue 2). AE - Here's something I've always been curious about: What's it like living next door to America? Is she the next-door neighbour from hell, or is she the affluent charmer that brings you round a baked cake and some fresh fruit every so often? BMC - Oh boy, the eternal question. How does the slave regard the plantation owner? It's hard to say. People in different parts of Canada have different opinions of North American politics. Some people, particularly those in Alberta and Ontario (the industrial centres), have a "Bring it on! We can be right-wing too!" attitude. Saskatchewan and Manitoba are the prairie provinces. Some people there feel resentment toward the USA because they see it as a threat to their way of life and, being the underdogs of Canada, with no say in federal politics, they feel they can do nothing but watch it happen. This creates frustration in some and apathy in others. In Quebec the Francophones don't want to be influenced by Anglo-Canadian culture, let alone Anglo culture of the American variety. Here in New Brunswick it's hard to say. I'm new here, and most of the people I've met are from other provinces. I think people here are nice. They're friendly. There are maple leaves here, unlike in Saskatoon where there are none. I'd always thought that the maple leaf was a thing that was made up, simply invented for the Canadian flag. Now I've seen a maple leaf and I know they're real. Now I know I live in Canada. Yeah, Capitalism, American Manifest Destiny, and Globalization are all things that I hate that seem to have home bases in the USA, but that's an easy target. Everyone knows American policy is about global domination under a capitalist regime, and everyone hates it. I think all you need is a conscience to know that it is wrong to exploit people in order to live luxuriously on the fruits of their labour. But I haven't thought about it for a long time. I also think there is a problem with anthropomorphizing America. It makes it seem like American policy is representative of the desires of the American people. We all know that the capitalist nations such as the USA and Canada are geared to satisfying corporate interests, not the interests of the citizens. So just to make it clear, it is American policy that I despise, not American citizens. I care about people, I care about people in every country. That is why I am opposed to violence and oppression. But by the same note I am also opposed to the violent and the oppressors. So I am against capitalist and imperialist nations. In other words, I am disturbed by American policies insofar that they are not in the best interests of the people of the world, but I think that Canadian policies are faulty in their lack of concern for common people, and, in fact, their desire to exploit them. AE - So what's the point? All we need is a conscience - but exploitation and indifference to it remains, and grows. We're destroying the Earth, war is everywhere, and sooper doopers no longer cost 15c at the canteen. In Catch-22, Yossarian said that if everyone felt one way, then he'd be a damn fool to feel any other way. Is it time to give up, get high, and sleep with the best friend's lady friend? BMC - What's the point, you ask? Well it depends what you're talking about. If you're talking about a pencil, I would say the point is the lead. If you're talking about one of the N-Com writers, I'd say the point is on the top of their head. If you're talking about life, I'd say that we all have to create our own objectives in order to give purpose to our lives. If you're talking about the point of compassion, caring, social consciousness, I'd say the bettering of the state of affairs in the world and the benefit of the world and the life on it. If a person considers none of this to be important, they are doomed to find meaningfulness only within the scope of their own lonely thoughts. Indifference does exist in this world, but we must choose whether to personally adopt it or not. But I think there is a very simple equation; conscience plus strength equals passion. That's all there is to it. If you have no conscience, you have no concern for the good of the world. If you are depressed or lack the confidence that your actions are meaningful, your weakness prevents you from following your conscience. And you can deceive yourself, tell yourself that these things aren't important, just to get yourself off the hook from thinking about them or doing anything about them. Seriously, how hard is it not to waste things? Anyone with self- control can do that. How hard is it to care about other people? Anyone with a shred of self-confidence can do that. So do something about it. Live the life. Let people know what you think, inform people, build solidarity. Community is important. Do all of that stuff, and devote some energy to it. And if you're not doing anything positive, at least try not to do anything negative. Hurting, wasting, exploiting, taking up too much space. If you can't affect things for the better then wonder why you're affecting them at all. There is no justification for apathy. At the same time, there's nothing wrong with occasionally relaxing, taking out the hash pipe, making some sweet love, and shelling out 30p for some candy corn. Relaxing is a good way to replenish your energy. But there are lots of people who care about making a difference. They're regular people, common people. When media and government are ruled by corporate interests, we don't get a very good idea about what kind of real people there in the world, doing good things. Find out about them. Let them know about you. Share your ideas. Write a zine. Write something for the Neo-Comintern. AE - Well, Sir BMC, you've greatly restored my faith in humankind. I no longer believe that we'll all be dead within the next two years. Maybe I'll even have a kid one day, a little boy named Joel. He will be a wise king, and beloved by many. On that note, where do you see yourself in ten years? Twenty years? Fifty years? What does the future hold for the BMC? Do you worry about what's to come, not just for yourself, but for society in general? And I'm sure you've already thought about it, so maybe you could tell us where I'm headed. I'm a bit unsure whether I want to be an international rock star or Mr. Britney Spears. BMC - Well it's good to know that I'm of some use to somebody. You just keep that chin up! What will I be doing in the future? Good question. I'm not sure how I define my future. If I'm still working on the N-Com in 10 years, we'll be at around issue 700. If not, I'll be doing something else. In 20 years I hope to still be writing, but to be better at it. In fifty years? I'm not sure how long my life expectancy should be. 75? I'll never make it. Other than writing, I'm prepared to accept a variety of possible outcomes. I'd like to get a digree in Englitch with an MA in creative writing and a PhD in early modern English publishing. I'll probably be with Heckat, unless linear ends up stealing her from me. And you? You'll probably wind up sleeping on our couch and pretending to look for a job. Either that or getting trapped in stasis for three million years. And society in general? I hope to see a more egalitarian society where education is free and animals are safe from molestation and slaughter. And, of course, more N-Com readers. Like, at least 10 more. AE - Do you believe in marriage? What about kids? When I'm feeling a touch cynical, I'll argue that people who have kids are irresponsible and selfish. Any ideas? I know you're with Heckat at the moment, but if the pictures on the internet are true, you're a bit of a ladies man, aren't you (possibly a porn star)? BMC - I believe that marriage and children exist. I'm not sure how I feel about them, though. I know that I wouldn't want to stay in a relationship that wasn't working just because of a legal bond. Legal bonds are for leases and insurance claims and all of those other unpleasant things. You should be with someone because you love them and because the relationship is mutually beneficial; if the relationship falls apart it shouldn't be forcefully held together by some artificial outside force. If nobody ever got married, nobody would ever get divorced either. It just doesn't seem natural to tie yourself to another person for the rest of your life and commit to stick with them, even if circumstances change for the worse. If a relationship stays together, it should be due to love, concern, and effort -- not just a contractual obligation. But some people like it. Some people, like ada's parents, have been married for a long time and get along with each other. That's cool. But at the same time, I'm sure they don't have to constantly remind each other of the contract. I have a feeling they'd be together whether they were married or not. I also have a problem with marriage in that it seems to be a heterosexuals-only club. Not fair. I mean things are changing to allow for the legal recognition of homosexual marriages, but it all makes me wonder why we as a society are so hung up on marriage. It's all based on ancient cult ceremonies where a woman is transferred from her father's possession to her husband's. It's all about ownership, possession, and all that stuff. I'm not sure how I feel about that. It seems a bit oppressive. Children. They're cute. But there's an overpopulation problem. We need to either stop having so many children or come up with a new way of feeding the world. There is widespread famine already, and we're just adding to it. That doesn't seem very responsible. If we stopped feeding grain to animals and then killing them and eating them, we could feed a lot more people with the grain than with the cow. So why not do that? Cause we fuckin feel like it, I guess. But still, we need to come up with some solutions for famine, and the key to this problem will be to purge ourselves of our own greed and decadence. And now straight from this into the "ladies' man" allegations. I'm not sure how to answer this. Sure I've gone on a couple of dates before. I'm not sure what pictures you're talking about, but I'm sure that at least half of them are doctored. I'm sure you've read a few of my articles about the pain of rejection, but right now I only know about the prosperity that can come with an honest relationship. AE - Will we ever recapture the golden days of TEOS, where you were a hotshot pilot and a fearless leader ("What a guy!"), and I was a competant sidekick, adventurer and sex machine (A guy can always dream, right?)? BMC - I remember we liked the game TEOS so much that from December 4th, 2000 to August 22nd, 2001, we released 75 issues of an ezine called "TEOS weekly," which talked about the strategies, mysteries, and tall tall tales of "TEOS". TEOS, or The Exploration of Space, was a terribly brilliant game that drew in some of the greatest minds of the new millennium. Hmm. I think the last time you talked to me about TEOS was when you asked me if I wanted to write another "TEOS weekly" article for a special CLiT TEOS-weekly-reunion-issue. The next day I sent you 3000 words of my thoughts on TEOS and all I ever learned from it. I never heard anything from you again. What happened to that? AE - Hey, who's interviewing who, here? It's still happening, in my mind, anyway. Stick around, brother. TEOS was great, though, wasn't it? I should thank you, for introducing me to TEOS, and also for publishing some of my stuff in the N-Com, and your encouragement of CLiT. Does this sound like a wrap-up? I think so. Any final words of inspiration for your people, BMC? Something sure to bring a tear person's eye and a song to their heart? Something witty yet information? Something I could get shaved into the back of my head? BMC - I think you're interviewing me. I'm not sure anymore. As far as your Neo-Comintern submissions go, I am pleased with all of them and I am honoured that you have been interested in being published in the zine. I hope to publish many more of your stories and articles in the future. The Neo-Comintern has been very lucky in that the contributions have always been top-notch, edgy, inspired, and energetic. It's that kind of stuff that makes for good zines. Final words of inspiration for my people? I guess that depends on who my people are. But since they're my people, I'd just like to say, "Thank you for being my people." A tear to a person's eye? ada has been here visiting Heckat and I in Fredericton, but she's leaving today. A song to the heart? Joe Blades and Ian LeTourneau have been kind enough to invite Heckat and I to be on their radio show on November 12th. The University of New Brunswick's student newspaper, The Brunswickan, will also be publishing an article about The Neo-Comintern and Backyard Ashes. Issue 7 of The Neo-Comintern Print Magazine is in the works and should be out this winter break. So there is lots of good Neo-Comintern news for the near future. Witty yet information? When speaking Latin, "Scribo ergo sum" means "I write, therefore I am." Something to get shaved into the back of your head? "N-Com #212," or, "r.i.p. TRIPE." AE - It's been a pleasure, Mr. BMC. I've gained valuable insight into your psyche and I'm sure this will be advantageous to me when we're vying for control of the multiverse (or when we play chess, whichever is sooner). I'd love to stay longer, but as one Latin man to another: cum homine de cane debeo congredi. Die dulci fruere! ,o$o o$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$Y$$$$b d$$$' ` `$$b d$$' The aster Interview ,$$ $$: by BMC ,$P `$n,.. . . . . . . . . . . . . ..P' `"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""' BMC - Hey aster, how are bobby and suzy? aster - BOB AND SUZY ARE DEAD YOU ARE MEAN BMC - I'm sorry. Are you ok? aster - THEYVE BEEN DEAD FOR YEARS YOU SUCK BMC - Please forgive me. Let's try some more questions and answers. I'll give you a list of words, and I'd like you to tell me which you like and which you do not like, saying a few words about each. hroses - timmy - joe - flowers - OrangeBird - BadPeople - GoodPeople - the sun - bots - aster - youre evil!! why do you have to say words that hurt me? BMC - OK, let's try another angle. How long have you been writing, and what zines and projects have you been involved with? aster - ive been writing for ezines since late 1997. when i turned three. ive written in soe, hoe, dto, anada, and a bunch of others. like yours. and mine. yeah. flam was started in the spring of 98 as a school project. BMC - What were the guidelines for the project? aster - we had to make websites. they had to include certain easy things like pictures and inside and outside links and colors and stuff like that. i was in 8th grade. most of the projects didnt actually get put on the web but i put mine on geocities because it was a real thing. a lot of kids cheated and used word to fabricate the HTML for them or something. BMC - How many issues of FLAM did you create as part of the project, and what kind of grade did you get on it? aster - only the first four or five issues were during the project. we didnt really get much of a grade since i went to a weird private school that didnt really give grades at the time. BMC - How do you feel after you write a new article? aster - like i felt before i wrote it. BMC - Well then maybe I should be asking you how you feel before you write an article. aster - TERMITES BMC - ??? ??? ??? So what was it that made you start writing? aster - i dont remember. BMC - Is there anything of particular interest that you do remember and would like to talk about? aster - i dont know. BMC - What have you been up to in the last 15 minutes? aster - i just ate dinner. i helped make it before that. seinfeld was on in the background, i think. BMC - What do you think about supper as a meal in general? It's weird, isn't it? aster - *Shrug* im usually hungry by the time it comes around. good time to get in your vegetables too. selected bibliography -- BMC's 15 favourite writings by aster: flam 20: a story about the sun flam 24: the story about purple and orange-bird flam 25: here is a poem flam 26: goodpeople/badpeople flam 32: run-on sentence flam 40: haha upside down it is hoe 168 - bots are evil December 1997 hoe 197 - boby and suzy hoe 437 - boogiemen are scary hoe 649 - the adventures of princess red, part 2 hoe 707 - FUMPHGLUM hoe 762 - the n-com 134 - blood n-com 154 - blue boy soe 29 - hay and horses ,o$o o$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$Y$$$$b d$$$' ` `$$b d$$' The Melatonin Interview ,$$ $$: by aster ,$P `$n,.. . . . . . . . . . . . . ..P' `"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""' aster - hi. this is an interview between aster and Melatonin. whats your favorite color? Meltn - I refuse to answer this question on the grounds that I might incriminate myself, and also on the grounds that I already answered it in one of my crappier N-Com articles. (P.S. It's brown.) aster - have you ever been to china? do you like pears? have you ever fed a termite? Meltn - I travel to China every night on a stolen carpet, but I always get lost somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean. I do like pears, but I don't trust them. I think they're fascist. As a child, I thought termites were responsible for the holes in the ozone layer. When I told this to a guy from Greenpeace, he laughed in my face and I started to cry. Actually, that last part's not true; he laughed back at his office and I wept alone in the bathroom. Anyway, what were we talking about again? aster - tomatos. once i found an abandoned sock on a beach. its name was joe and it was mad it was abandoned. would you be mad if you were abandoned? are you a toaster oven? Meltn - First, I am abandoned, but for Bande a part. And now I'm sad, like a sock without a shoe. A toaster oven? Why yes, aren't you? aster - thats confusing. i dont understand. and NO of COURSE im not a toaster!! i would never be one of those EVER EVER. NEVER. its a fact, i just wouldnt. gosh. Meltn - I'm not a toaster oven either. I just said I was so I'd look cool. Oh dear, I always mess everything up. When I made that bet with the guys, aster, it was before I knew the real you, but once I got to know the real you, I realized just how special the real you really is. aster - youre not a toaster?!?!?! then what are you?? an orange? a monster? a cave?? a dark, deep, spooky, cold and damp cave? scary! are you? Meltn - If I knew what I was then I probably wouldn't be writing to you right now. I'd be out being. At the moment, though, I think I'm an amalgam of a ghost, a robot, a monster, an alien, and a rowboat, all blended up and poured into a convenient, easy-to-identify human container. aster - those are a lot of things to be, all in one. :/ i mean, ive BEEN a lot of different things... but not ALL IN ONE like that. Meltn - It's fun, you should try it. Membership is $49.99 the first year, and then $24.99 every year after that. Bring your own equipment, though. aster - i used to take ballet. have you ever taken ballet? Meltn - Real boys don't take ballet and besides, I move like a robot. I know a girl who wears dark lipstick when she dances. She told me this. Actually, she told her friend, and I listened in. aster - "on this day which began as execution day and sure enough became execution day!" Meltn - Confused. Can't process. aster - 15 is not my lucky number. is 15 your lucky number? ehehaheheaheaea Meltn - 15 is neither my lucky number nor my unlucky number. It is a neutral number in a long list of other neutral numbers. And that's about all I'll say about that. Is someone keeping track of all these questions? Do you want the rest of my sandwich? aster - youre so silly. Meltn - Silly, LIKE A FOX! aster - what kind is your sandwhich? Meltn - It has lettuce on it. It's good to eat the colour green. aster - does your sandwhich have anything else on it? like meat? or mayonaise? mustard? tomato? peanut butter? what kind of bread is it on? i AM sort of hungry. Meltn - What's that? My sandwich? No, I just finished it. Sorry, did you want some? You should have said something. aster - have you ever taken yoga? Meltn - No, but Margarina Cataclysma has. You should interview her next. I last saw her lifting up mountains and looking for change. aster - she sounds scary, with the lifting mountains and all. yikes. Meltn - Margarina is groovy like wallpaper in a shower. You'd like her. aster - have you ever been to seattle, washington? have you ever been to tucson? what about mexico? what about south america? Meltn - Nope, nope, nope, and nope. aster - i want almonds. do you like almonds? i like them. i like cashews too. do you like peanuts or cashews better? what about brazil nuts? i dont like those too much. Meltn - Nuts to these questions, I say. aster - what do you eat for breakfast in the morning? Meltn - I sleep in the morning and eat breakfast at night. And now I think I hear my publicist telling me this interview is over. It's been charming, though. Don't ever change, aster, unless it's for the better. And even then, resist it to the last. ,o$o o$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$Y$$$$b d$$$' ` `$$b d$$' The Spite Interview ,$$ $$: by Melatonin ,$P `$n,.. . . . . . . . . . . . . ..P' `"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""' Meltn - Hello Spite, Melatonin here. This is the sound of me sitting down to interview you. Ahem. All right then, let's begin. Having recently re-read "Cats", your article about quitting, I suddenly find myself wandering the streets at night with no sense of purpose or direction. "What's the point in doing anything?" I now think to myself. "Spite is right. Just quit. In fact, don't even begin." Anyway, what can I do to snap out of this funk? Help! Spite - Well, the first thing you need to do in order to snap out of your funk is to quit being in a funk. Just quit wandering around without any purpose or direction. You could buy yourself a map of the area and draw out a walking route which would, essentially, give you some direction. And as for a purpose, go to the nearest 7-11 and buy yourself a Big Gulp while you're out there walking around. Meltn - Maps, huh? I don't like maps very much, but I suppose I could draw my own, including only the places I like to go. Hmm, that could work. Anyway, moving on. How did you first meet the BMC and how did he rope you into writing for the Comintern? Spite - I had the distinct pleasure of meeting the BMC a few years ago, when I was living in Saskatoon. We started out talking on ICQ, and then decided to meet in person. We used to have Goldeneye tournaments and browse the fine video selection at Source at 4am with Cog. I'm not really sure how I ended up writing for the Comintern, but I remember that my first article was about gypsy oppression. After writing a few more articles, the BMC asked me to be a regular contributor. I still haven't written as much as I initially agreed to, but I'm working on it. Meltn - Who won the most tournaments? Who's N64 was it? Did BMC spend the entire time talking about Mega Man? Did Cog spend the entire time talking about Dragon's Lair 2? Spite - I think that the winning was pretty well split between Cog and BMC. They liked to gang up on me and kick my ass, especially when we played in Golden Gun mode. I don't remember ever hearing Cog talk about Dragon's Lair 2, but he would go on for hours about how he was the master of the "Mole Tunnels." We used to have theme tournaments, and one of the best ones was playing Slappers Only all night. The N64 belonged to my ex-boyfriend, Cory, but we would never let him play because we all hated him. Meltn - [Question deleted.] Be honest. Spite - [Answer deleted.] Meltn - I think that last question was stupid. Do you think it was stupid? Can I delete it? Spite - I don't think it was particularly stupid. I don't really know that much about [CENSORED], but I remember what [CENSORED] so I based my answer on that. You can delete it if you like. Meltn - Thanks, Spite. By the way, I had to censor your last answer on account of you made reference to the stupid parts of the previous question, which kind of defeats the purpose of deleting the stupid question. Can you tell me three childhood anecdotes and/or three writing anecdotes and/or some combination of the two? Spite - I can't really think of anything in particular from my childhood, as I have tried to repress as much of that as possible, but I've come up with a few things. -I loved the movie E.T. when I was a kid. My parents bought me a plastic E.T. doll for my 3rd birthday, the hard plastic kind that wasn't particularly cuddly and was quite ugly. I adored it but I was also terribly afraid of it. So much that I would insist it be kept in the livingroom toy box at night. I would make sure my parents had closed him up in the toy box every night before I would go to bed. -When I started third grade at a new school, I had never played volleyball. It was part of the Gym class program at the new schooland I turned out to be quite terrible. Especially at serving the ball. I could never manage to make my right hand connect to the ball in my left hand. My teacher got quite fed up with watching my pathetic attempts and she came over to help me out. She stood behind me and held the ball in front of me, intending for me to serve the ball. I missed completely and punched her square in the mouth instead. It was a good hit, too. I managed to bruise her gums and almost knock out one of her front teeth. -I once gave an entire French presentation to a class with my fly down. I noticed a few people laughing and whispering, but I figured it had something to do with what I was talking about. It wasn't until I finally finished my presentation and sat down that one of my friends was good enough to enlighten me on the situation. Meltn - Hmm, those all sound pretty depressing. Don't you have any good childhood memories? For example, that time you and Beth roasted hot dogs in your backyard on your 8th birthday. Spite - That sounds like it would be a nice memory to have, but my birthday is in December and so I doubt we'd have been roasting anything in the backyard. I did go on a cool ride at an amusement park so many times I threw up when I was a kid. That was pretty fun. Meltn - What is your favourite Harvey Keitel movie? Spite - My favorite Harvey Keitel movie is definitely "Bad Lieutenant." I watched it with BMC a couple years ago. Meltn - What is your favourite movie NOT starring Harvey Keitel? Spite - My favorite movie not starring Harvey is "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas." I've seen it five or six times now and I still love it. Meltn - How did you arrive at the name Spite? Spite - A friend of mine once referred to me as "sugar and spite and everything nice." That, and I bitch a lot. Meltn - I was sitting in a big tent the other day, waiting to clean up garbage with BMC, Heckat, and Cog, and I asked them what my next question should be. This is what they said. "Spite is really easy-going -- you can ask her anything." "Dig deep." "Ask her why she got married." Spite - Well, I got married for pretty well all the same reasons most people get married. I love my husband and wanted to make an official commitment to him. We also realised that because we are from different countries that we'd have to get married in order to be able to live in the same place. Meltn - Do you consider yourself easy-going, or is the entire N-Com staff a pack of liars? Spite - I do consider myself pretty easy-going. Perhaps a little too easy-going for my own good sometimes. Meltn - If both TRIPE and the Neo-Comintern were drowning in the ocean and you had but one life preserver to throw, which text-based e-zine would you save and which would you let die a horrible, gurgling death? Spite - I would save the N-Com, I think. Meltn - Were there any good questions that I forgot to ask? If so, answer them now as if I hadn't. Spite - Is there any such thing as a good question? Meltn - ? Spite - ! ,o$o o$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$Y$$$$b d$$$' ` `$$b d$$' The Komrade B Interview ,$$ $$: by Spite ,$P `$n,.. . . . . . . . . . . . . ..P' `"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""' Spite - I've noticed that you are the only dead writer among us at the N-Com. Has your death had a positive or negative impact on your writing? Kom B - Interesting question, I have never really dwelled on how my death has impacted my ability or style of writing. I guess I was more preoccupied with the fact that I was dead. However, now that I think on it, it would seem that it has, in the fact I have written very little, but when I have written something it has been the sort of usual low calibre rhetoric that people were used to when I was alive. Spite - In issue 83, Junior Haagis mentions a condition you refer to as "70's Style Banana-Tits." Could you explain that condition? Kom B - At first I was quite confused by your question. Let's just say if this interview was in person I'd probably have to end it. However, it's not, so I was able to read the articles in question to actually see what in fact this condition was... At first I immediately thought back to my days in the pornography industry circa 1976, when I was a grip for some of their productions. Not one of my best years but one I still remember fondly. As to the actual condition -- beats me... I'm too lean to suffer such a condition, and besides the first article contradicts the second so the question lies in who you believe. Spite - There seems to be a bit of confusion surrounding the circumstances of your death. I've read that you committed suicide and also that you were run over by a car. How did you really die? Kom B - I was also pushed off a house. I can understand the confusion. The only thing I can reply with is more confusion. You see, I died all those deaths and none of them. The Comintern has never been about one particular dimension or even the physical world. It's not so much how I died that is important, because it achieved the same result (My death). Spite - Do you consider yourself a ghost? Do you ever haunt anyone to pass the time? Kom B - Ghosts are a strange topic. Most dead people I know are offended by that descriptor. As for haunting, now I cannot say I have done that in my past time. The dead are more pre-occupied with other more important activities, such as wailing, moaning, and howling. So as you can see, with all that going on, who has time to haunt some dude in Texas? Spite - I was once fortunate enough to enjoy a private viewing of your feature film Mang Slaughter. Do you think there will ever be a sequel? Kom B - I will assume by saying Mang Slaughter that you are actually referring to the trilogy we made back in 94. We attempted to make a fourth movie, more like an epic; however maturity and time (Actually we could not find the right combination of drugs) prevented us from completing it. However, I think the stock footage of me jumping off the house and dancing on some hill still exists somewhere. I think it would be fun to complete the epic in the future, but still using the stock footage from the original taping, just so people can become confused at how we suddenly age, and how High Cog cut off all his hair thus putting away the label of King of the Rubbies! But, more importantly, we can hype the movie by saying it took 10 years to make. Spite - You've been with the N-Com since its beginning, known back then simply as the Comintern. How did the whole thing begin? Kom B - Good question. I wasn't there right from beginning. BMC had done a few issues of the Comintern himself, and the zine was simply a hardcore socialist publication. In that way that he has he managed to convince so many others, I took up the keyboard and wrote some stuff about who knows what. He read and said something along the lines of Tripe.... Needless to say it was in the next installment, and the idea for Tripe magazine was also born. Spite - How does the Neo-Comintern compare to the Comintern? Are there m any differences between the two? Kom B - One is newer then the other. The Comintern was a little more serious at times, at little more stupid at times. We were younger, less wise, and under the influence of various substances. I can't say the calibre of the Comintern approaches anything near what you read today, but some of the original zine work appears in early issues of the Neo-Comintern. Spite - What were the early days like? Did you enjoy writing for the Comintern? Kom B - The Comintern was not something you enjoyed. BMC demanded ruthless efficiency and plus there was a bitter feud with High Cog and D.J. Gnarly that threatened to spill over into civil war. It was a wild time of instability and ideas. We were lucky to get down what we could. The ideas for "Hey Young World!" spawned from those times. Spite - What brought on the transition from Comintern to Neo-Comintern? Kom B - After a few years of doing nothing we decided to resurrect the zine. It was new thus the label Neo-Comintern. We took the elements we liked best from the original Comintern and concentrated on those. You can still see our desires to lash out against capitalism and fascism, however with each issue it becomes less pronounced, more subtle, until you can hardly notice it at all. Except for when the capitalist monster took over.... Spite - Do you have any insight as to what the future holds for the N-Com? Kom B - Tripe is the future. It's time we got on board the mass media wagon and spewed less facts, less insights, and more about nothing. Its brain fodder for the 21st century go'er. No more asinine attempts to be witty; we are not going to pretend anymore (or proof read for that matter). It's TRIPE magazine and we love it. Spite - There seems to be a rather sordid tale in circulation right now concerning you, six ounces of gin, and a delerium induced fit of vomiting upon the bed of an unidentified N-Com member. Is there any truth to this? Perhaps you can set the record straight and let everyone know what really happened. Kom B - Well I cannot deny this tale, but there was also beer involved. The attempts to ratify the "Hey Young World" series into a fruitful culmination proved too much for me, and I succumbed to the pressure by vomiting profusely. Of course it was at BMC's, so I don't feel that guilty about it. Spite - Is the maiden Carlene from the Atlantis stories based on a real woman? Kom B - A great question. I spoke with BMC about Carlene recently and apparently she was a real girl and I loved her very much. When I was told of this I remembered a firey girl with a blank expression in her eyes. So in other words yes she was a real girl, but she was so much more than simply that. Spite - The King of the Moon has fallen ill, and appointed you regent. In what ways would you abuse your newly bestowed powers? Kom B - Interesting. It would depend on which king. The Anti-King Jamulous Remus? Or the foul King N'mblor of the MoOn MOonStarS? Being king of the monsters my first decree would be a banquet in which all MoON creatures will attend. From there I would probably have the cooks kill all of them so I could consume their flesh. After that I don't know -- I'd probably jack up the price of MoON trinkets 300%. Spite - Are you afraid of anything in particular? If so, what is it and why? Kom B - A Prince of Atlantis has nothing he need fear except losing memory of his royal past. I endured that for many a year so I have lived my greatest and by surviving I have become quite powerful (Except when drinking then I become a vomiting mess). Spite - And finally, what do you think is your purpose here on Earth? Do you have any plans on fulfilling your purpose? Kom B - Mortals have no purpose. No thought, no idea, no invention we devise will survive the test of time. Teach a kid to read? Nah, he will only die and your efforts will be in vain. We merely exist and my goal in life is to do just that. Exist.... Thank you for your time. ,o$o o$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$Y$$$$b d$$$' ` `$$b d$$' The Jet Jaguar Interview ,$$ $$: by Komrade B ,$P `$n,.. . . . . . . . . . . . . ..P' `"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""' Komrade B - What would you want put on your tombstone? Any epitaph, if you will. Jet Jag - Since I don't have an original bone in my body, I shall simply rip off a saying oft quoted about Lord Byron -- Mad, bad, and dangerous to know. I think that covers *moi* most succulently. Komrade B - Tell me of your father. Did he ever strike you down for insolence? Jet Jag - There I go, I promised myself that I wouldn't cry. My father was a drunken lout; a filthy run of the mill warlord type. I hated the son of a bitch, especially since I knew I was a greater ruler than he could ever be. He tired of my sarcasm and hateful looks. After one party where the retched bastard had drunk a lot of tawny port, he took offense at one of my snide remarks and *attempted* to strike me down. He clumsily lumbered about and nearly fell upon his own sword. It amused me to mock him in front of his subjects who were at the reception. Everything I've ever done was to erase his name from the memory of the earth. Wait. That wasn't me. That was Alexander the Great and his father. My father was murdered by the invaders, they kept me as a puppet ruler till I turned 13 and had them all slaughtered by the royal guards whom I had struck a deal with. Uh, that wasn't me either. That was Ivan the Terrible. Fuck! I have to stop identifying with historical personages. Can I get back to you on this question? Komrade B - Do you ever lie and steal? What's the coolest thing you have stolen? Jet Jag - Lying and stealing is all part of the dictator/evil CEO game. As for the coolest thing I've ever stolen was that phoenix egg, but that's one of those stories in which you had to be there. I'll instead cater to the rabble by saying the coolest thing I've ever stolen was their hearts. *blech!* Komrade B - Will you be involved in BMC's latest effort, TRIPE? Something tells me it's going to be fantastic. Jet Jag - I have not been asked, but as usual someone in the textfiles scene hath stunted *moi* inspiration. I was all ready to destroy TCAHR and create a "latest effort" of my own of such diabolical brilliance that I would out-evil the tomes of Lucifer Himself. What should have been introduced to thunderous applause would now be greeted by whispers of "copycat" and "ass-kissing wanker." I shall bid my time and wait to launch my own latest effort. Instead, I shall continue with my efforts of destroying TCAHR with late, idiotic issues and nonsensical ranting. I am, after all, like Nero and TCAHR is my Rome. It is mine to burn. Komrade B - What is the most embarrassing CD in your music collection? Jet Jag - Oh that's as easy as it is mortifying. It's "Through The Rainbow -- Music To The Seven Chakras" by Morten Alexander Joramo. I brought this at this place in Chicago named "Two Doors". Two Doors is a place in Chicago where you can buy candles, oils, jewelry, books and whatnots of a flaky New Age nature. To my incredible shame, I've spent a lot of money there buying supplies for occult gobbly-gook in my search for "enlightenment." Anywho, about the CD. Imagine the ideas behind a major Eastern philosophy stripped of its culture and packaged for the suburbanite set. Now set it to elevator musak. Komrade B - Do you find it strange that you are being interviewed by an entity that for all intents and purposes is actually dead? Your thoughts on the matter... Jet Jag - It's not so strange when you realize that you're interviewing a persona created specifically for the TCAHR e-zine that doesn't actually jibe with the ideas, attitude, or ethics of its creator. I like to think the Jet Jaguar persona is way better at achieving my agendas than I would be. Just because I like to think it doesn't mean it's true though. The dead interviewing an invention. Oh, brave new world that has such people in it! Komrade B - Who is the Greatest Blues Musician of all time? Jet Jag - You put me in a bind with this question. Whenever I think of the Blues, I think of Jazz and Rock and Roll. These three musical disciplines contain various style within themselves as well as overlap with each other. I'm going to throw out a few names before I tell you my personal favorite. Kind of a respectful "shouts out": Cab Calloway, Count Basie, B.B. King, Jimi Hendrix, Janice Joplin, Eric Clapton, Billie Holiday, Elvis Presley, Sinead O'Connor, John Popper, John Lee Hooker, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Billy Joel, The Beatles, Stevie Wonder and Mel Torme. It's hard to choose what is Blues, what is Jazz, and what is Rock 'N' Roll sometimes. Where do you put someone like Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, or Sinead O'Connor? Even some of The Cure's stuff can qualify as Jazz. My personal favorite will probably go down as the most hated Blues musician ever. You may have never heard Ike Turner play, but you probably seen "What's Love Got To Do With It" starring Angela Bassett as the battered Tina Turner. That movie made Ike an object of hatred to those who've never seen the man jam. I'm not saying that Ike wasn't a sadistic wife-beating savage, but it doesn't overshadow his talent. It's dangerous to confuse ability with morality. The man is a genius who helped the careers of two of my favorite rock and roll musicians: Jimi and Janice. Komrade B - Being a cartoon watcher, give me your opinions on Dr. Cats and Home Movies if you have seen them before. Jet Jag - Haven't seen them, my cartoon tastes are horribly mainstream. If it doesn't play on Saturday or Sunday morning, isn't marketed towards children and meant to suck their parents' wallets dry, I haven't seen them. Komrade B - Do you believe Orwell's book 1984 is a realistic interpretation of a possible future? Jet Jag - Future? You mean this isn't it? I think "Brave New World" is a more apt prediction for the United States, Canada, and certain parts of Europe. The greatest triumph of a capitalistic government is in using goods and services to bedazzle its citizens. Our standards of success are so strongly based on beauty and money that we buy these goods and services as a way to show what level of society we belong to as well as to be perceived as attractive. We can show our worth according to colors, fabrics, and brand names. Who gives a damn about the real person? We'd accept the reincarnation of Hitler into our homes if he were wearing a Brooks Brothers or Armani suit. Although "1984" and "Brave New World" are satires, Orwell's book fails by stating that a fascist government would destroy beauty to enslave its citizens. That is absolutely ridiculous; beauty is the greatest enslaver of all. A look into the history of our species will attest to that. Komrade B - What would you say to the young world out there? Jet Jag - Jet Jaguar would now answer back with his special brand of right-wing flavored socialism (now with 10% percent more sarcasm!). The Persona behind Jet Jaguar would sit back with a bottle of Jack Daniels, a pack of Marlbros and think about his answer. I, Persona, just turned 28. Not an old age by objective standards, but in an age where music, art and technology morph and date humans so quickly I am old enough. Now if you are a reader of my journals, you realize that the problems I deal with are the problems that would be expected of someone 10 years older than I. I've had a busy life in the support of others as well as self-denial which only led to an arrested development. (I'd give all the exciting details about drug dealing, military life, degrading sex and boheimism, but this is your final question. You didn't ask. Muahhaha.) And so my advice to the young world is... Be selfish. Your joy, so long as it doesn't personally hurt anyone, is key. Have lots of sex with many men and women. Experiment often -- how can you know you don't like sucking dick if you never have? Music is a fountain of youth. The beginning of disgust and prejudice against music is the beginning of old age. Play. The saddest part of growing up is the forgetting of the enjoyment of running headlong into the streets while yelling and laughing with no rule to stop you. Explore creative egomania. To quote Crowley "Invoke often. Inflame thyself with power." Perhaps you'll someday feel your destiny and your family's role for you clash. You'll feel like savagely attacking your family to protect your destiny (Which is your self-created child -- you created it yourself out of fantasy dust, didn't you?), although the consequences will seem grim. Screw your courage to your sticking post and take them out. Hard. I think if I would have follow my own advice, I would have become a fully-functional adult human being. Instead I remain... Your embittered textfile villain, Jet Jaguar P.S. Here's a scoop: TCAHR is dead. Prepare for "The Jet Jaguar Files". Coming soon to a textfiles scene near you. ,o$o o$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$Y$$$$b d$$$' ` `$$b d$$' The ada Interview ,$$ $$: by Jet Jaguar ,$P `$n,.. . . . . . . . . . . . . ..P' `"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""' THE ADA INTERVIEW: In which our heroine is forced to endure and defend her life against irritating, unoriginal questions maliciously asked by the textfile villian, Jet Jaguar. Our story begins... Jet - Well, you certainly made me research a lot for this interview. I wasn't prepared to read so much about Canadian personalities. Being an USAmerican, I believe I own everything and don't understand much about anything outside our borders. What are your feelings about the far-reaching USAmerican culture and its almost complete ignorance about Canadian culture? ada - well, i guess i don't think much about it. every so often i do and it irritates me but i think i've been brainwashed by the canadian government (aka the media) to not really notice or ignore the fact that canada has such a small impact on the us. and like most canadians, i think i foster the hope that this isn't really true, and that the us really does have more of an idea of what goes on up here, not just that living in saskatoon means i drive my sled dogs to school and that i live in an igloo. i'm pretty lucky to live in a farily culturally diverse and artsy city which is why it's so great to be a writer here... plus it's cheap to live! p.s. you're right, you do own everything, even me... Jet - What Canadian artists, musicians and writers do you recommend to someone absolutely ignorant about all things Canadian. ada - well, this is an excellent question jet, and i'm glad you asked it. i'll just make a list. hawksley workman, lorna crozier, robert kroetsch, marilyn dumont, warren cariou, alison caulder, margaret atwood, jon clark, brecken hancock, judith krause, the tragically hip, barenaked ladies, joni mitchell, jared peace, barbara klar, tim lilburn, patrick lane, erika quiring, etc etc... Jet - A lot of wannabees cop the poet's laurels without ever studying the works, techniques or history of established poets or poetry. Let's play about with the questions that separate the poets from the posuers. What is your personal philosophy in the writing of verse? ada - hmmm, well can it be possible that i don't have a philosophy about verse at all? i hate to leave you hanging jet... i asked my family how i should answer this... here is what they said... my brother - 'verse sucks' or 'verse rocks' (depending on your opinion. if questioned further, just respond with 'i'm answering with a minimalist attitude') my father - 'verse-what?' my sister - 'would you shut up!' Jet - Who are your inspirations? ada - judith krause, anne szumiglaski, margaret atwood, robert kroetsch, hawksley workman, lorna crozier, etc etc. pretty much every writer/musician i listed earlier has inpiried or influenced me in some way or another. the poets i've worked with personally are the ones who get the most credit for inspiration, aka judith krause. Jet - What is the ideal situation/place to get your writing mojo working? ada - that's kind of a tough one since my mojo changes depending on my mood. since i got my computer, about six months ago, i've been getting my mojo on with it almost every night. it's pretty hot shit, i'm telling you. my best situation (or at least what seemed to work this summer) is coming home drunk at three in the morning and writing until four or five. however, a coffee shop works well for me, especially when i am travelling. i'm also very fond of greyhound buses, and are in debt to them for some of the poems i've written. Jet - I decided, on my own, with no twisting of my arm to ask you questions about your zine, "Backyard Ashes." (Interviewer's note: BMC, you owe me 500 pesos next time we're in Tijuana.) The reviews I've found admire the strength of the chosen material. How did the idea for Backyard Ashes come about? ada - well, i won't regergitate the entire editors notes from the first issue, but basically it came out of the last class of our introduction to creative writing. this is where i met brecken (and some other fine writers mentioned above) and on this last class we threw around the idea of a writing co-op... getting the writers in the class together to publish our own work. this idea fell apart somewhat as we all went our seperate ways, but brecken and i were quite adamant to get started, and after six months of procastination, and six months of hardcore working, we produced the first issue of backyard ashes and launched it at a local bookstore... it's been a roller coaster ride since and we've never looked back... Jet - If I were a potential Backyard Ashes writer, what should I know about its submission standards? ada - we take poetry, prose and artwork... we hope for some literary experimentation, but it's hard to say what the standards are because it really depends on how we feel about each individual piece submitted. i wouldn't say we have a particular method of choosing what goes in... like most poets, i think we just know what we like, and what we consider to be 'good writing.' oh, and you have to buy us beer Jet - What is your rejection rate? ada - hmmmm, well, lets just say sometimes we need to solicit work from writers we know are good. Jet - An interesting thing of note to those who have read your work for N-Com and for Backyard Ashes is that you seem to go over and rewrite your work. The piece "stories for fruit" in Backyard Ashes is longer and more full than "stories for fruit" in N-Com. The word "cacophony," first word in your ambitious "Ada's Top 200 Words of All Time" (N-Com #200) receives its own spotlight in N-Com #210's "Cacophony." How important do you find it to go over and/or rewrite past material? ada - well, to be honest jet, i didn't think i was the type to go over and rewrite past work, but you do make a good point. these might have been special cases because i knew that stories for fruit wasn't finished when i sent it to the n-com, i was also pretty sure that it wasn't done when i put it in backyard ashes. i still plan to add to it, just because it has been one of the most interesting and fun pieces i've worked on and has so far recieved the most postive feedback. in terms of the article 'cacophony,' well, i'm just in love with that word. and since it is my favorite, i figured it just needed an article all on it's own. for the most part though, i tend to write a piece, edit it, work on it and then finish it and not go back to it. i think that's why i started to write poetry in the first place... because i can finish it. Jet - Is there any difference in the work you consider doing for N-Com and the work you do for Backyard Ashes? ada - definitely, although i can see a slight merge between the two (stories for fruit being a good example). i think my writing style is much more developed now than it was six months or a year ago, and it can be hard to remove myself from a style i'm most comfortable in. backyard ashes is the magazine i feel that represents the style i am most comfortable writing in, and the n-com is the magazine that allows me to deviate from that style and challenges me to think outside the box i've built for myself. i see backyard ashes as having a more traditional and modern literary content (if that makes sense!) which tends to be what my influences are, whereas the n-com lets me go off the wall which is really fun for me. the n-com reminds me why i write in the first place, because it's fun... it's entertainment. it's really important for my writing that i submit to both magazines because they are so different. that way i can stretch myself as a writer. Jet - Do you have any secret works hiding in some dark, mysterious place that you will never, EVER print? (Feel free to print them here.) ada - i do have some secret writing... i keep everything i've done since i started writing in grade nine... i have disks full of the most awful shit you will ever read... Jet - I didn't notice until I was typing up these questions that you dabble in photography as well and have a pretty fab eye when it comes to that as well. Poetry, prose, photography -- you're pretty well-rounded it comes to the arts. So I began to wonder about everything else. What are your non-art intellectual pursuits? ada - my non-art intellectual pursuit would be the women and gender studies degree i'm currently trying to achieve. i took last year off to figure out what i wanted to do with myself and my life and i realized that i want to continue an education in writing and women's studies, so i'm back at school working towards these goals. i'm also thinking of going to the university of victoria and getting a bfa in creative writing, but we'll see what happens. i see the humanities, social sciences and the arts all interconnected though, so it's hard for me to see anything as simply an 'intellectual pursuit'... i'm also lucky enough to have a mother who is a research scientist and has been very good at showing me the art in science. i also love to dance... that was just a side note. Jet - It's a big world full of -isms. (IE: Socialism, Conservatism, Paganism, Feminism, Bananaism.) What kind of -isms are you guilty of? ada - well i've been known to be guilty of bananaism... and apparently i'm all about feminism too... oh and socialism... and for any of you old ally mcbeal fans, i'm a great fan of fishisms and mcbealisms... Jet - What's the definition of a realistic good time to ada? ada - any time hanging out with my closest friends, cooking a good old fashioned stir fry with yams, listening to a little hawksley, or some daniel johnson, maybe camping, makin movies, canoeing, going out dancing, feeling the love... you know it. Jet - What's the fantasy verison of a good time to ada? ada - at this point, probably sleeping with someone i know ill never be able to sleep with again... Jet - What questions should I have asked that I missed out on and shall now never know the answers to? ada - hey, what is this... now i have to be the interviewer too?... nice try jet... pawning off your job on me... Jet - Finally, have you now or ever been a member of the Communist party? ada - yes, and i'm a member of the gay and lesbian association for some reason... for any of you who didn't get that reference, you're not worthy. ,o$o o$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$Y$$$$b d$$$' ` `$$b d$$' The linear Interview ,$$ $$: by ada ,$P `$n,.. . . . . . . . . . . . . ..P' `"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""' ada - hi linear, it's good to meet you....in an abstract sort of way! i am your interviewer for the n-com's special issue. i actually have only read a couple of your articles so far since i am fairly new to the neo-comintern staff, but i especially enjoyed your article in the top ten issue, top ten bible quotes. i was traveling in ontario at the time, and took that issue on the bus with me to toronto one afternoon.....i found yours amusing to the point where i was laughing out loud much to the dismay of the other passengers. anyway, i was impressed with your work and when the bmc suggested this special interview issue, i put in a request to interview you. but of course i have been struggling as to where to even start, so i figured i should at least e-mail you a friendly hello so we can establish some dialogue and you will know that i exist and i am your secret admirer....er, interviewer. so now i'm off to check out your zine and see what else i can learn about you before i begin asking you questions. i'm also trying to hurry up and finish my page for the lexia of fame, so if you so desire, you can find out who i am. anyway, i hope you're having a good summer so far, and i'll write you again very soon. ada:) lin - Hello there! Great to hear from my adm...interviewer! (reminds me that my slacker self needs to get to work on his interview). Anyway, to help you out with doing some "research" on what I've written, i'll point you here: http://www.phonelosers.net/linear/writing.html a site that lists all my published texts (at least that i can still remember). Please keep in mind that some of these are horrible (i started IR when i was but freshman at upland high school, i believe). There's some nuggets of linear-goodness in there somewhere, however. I hope you enjoy your choice in interviewee (even though we were not suppose to choose who we interviewed, you rebel!). I'm not the best conversationalist in the world, but I'll try and do my best provide a somewhat entertaining interview. I'll be sure to check out your page when you're finished. That should be fun. Also, if you ever want to contact me on AIM or whatever, a lot of contact info is provided in my signature. I much look forward to hearing from you again! linear ada - hi linear, well, i've recently been checking out impulse reality and have had a fun time reading your articles. there are so many thing i want to ask you, but i think i'm going to spend a day coming up with a few important questions to start. cog gave me the idea of asking one question at a time so you wouldn't feel overwhelmed and could give each question your fullest answer.....i liked that idea, so that's what i'll be doing. like i said, i really liked a lot of your articles, my favorites (out of the ones i've read so far, which are about three-quarters, i plan to read the rest later today) are: shh! it's secret!, kung fu timothy, conflagration, junior high, haiku's are fun, lovable satan, and an open response to a former writer. these are great articles and provided me with a lot of things to think about (and laugh about). anyway, i imagine i'll send you the first question sometime today, or tomorrow, but for now i'm going to compile my thoughts together in some kind of order. talk to you soon!! ada lin - Hi there! I'm glad you're enjoying my articles (at least some one does!). I'm really pleased to learn you like "ssh!"... that is definitely one my favorites of mine. That and "Loneliness; A Poorly Written Tragedy" -- If I can be so pretentious as to have favorites of my own work (: (and pretentiousness is something I'm good at!) I'm excited to be interviewed! It makes me feel important, teehee. Plus you seem like you'll be a fun interviewer! So I'm looking forward to it. Okay, good to see you're still alive! BEST WISHES!@$# linear/jared ada - okay guys, here is where i misplace a bit of dialogue, so i'll throw you right into the interview.... do you think of your writing as a hobby or a passion? lin - Hrm, interesting question. I suppose I'd have to answer with "neither." My logic might get a little strange here, but... Writing has always just been something I've *done*. Not necessarily a hobby or a passion. From as early of an age as I can remember, I've been writing. And even when I wasn't *really* writing coherently, I'd put weird thought fragments down on notebook paper to help sort out what I was thinking - I'm generally a pretty confused guy (I showed one of these pages to a girl I was with at the time. Her response was something along the lines of "I don't like that at all. You're kind of frightening," teehee!). So just as I can't really classify breathing or eating as a hobby/passion (because they're simply things I -do-), I can't classify writing (as it is also something I just -do-). GET IT? ada - what is your favorite food? lin - The easy answer to give here is "vegan food!" Being a vegan, I'm somewhat limited to what I can eat. But if you want a little more of a specific answer, I guess I'm pretty fond of Mexican food. But I'm not a picky vegan. As long as it's not derived from animals, I'll probably enjoy it. I've said the word "vegan" a lot, haven't I? Just so I can say I've said vegan 6 times in this answer; vegan. ada - what is your favorite song/singer/band? lin - I still consider myself involved with the punk scene, though lately I haven't been listening to much punk (perhaps my musical taste is evolving). My favorite band rotates quite a bit, so I never have a favorite band for very long. Currently, I guess I'd have to say that the Violent Femmes are my favorite band. I've also been listening to a lot of Hefner, Steppenwolf, NIN, Modest Mouse, and a lot of 60's music lately. That doesn't mean those are my favorite bands, I've just been listening to them a lot lately. See, I haven't even mentioned one punk band yet. But I'll make up for it right here: My favorite song would probably be "Science of Myth" by Screeching Weasel. I suppose Screeching Weasel is relatively punk. But yeah, I'm into all sorts of music lately, a lot of indie and older stuff. Even the Beatles. Psh, and I call myself punk. Running close behind "Science of Myth" for my favorite song are the songs "Mint Car" and "Cut Here" (both by The Cure). I like the Cure a lot. WARNING: INSIDE JOKE BELOW!! Cut Here -loves- Mint Car. ada - what is your favorite thing to do alone? lin - I like to write poetry. Or meditate. Or read poetry. Read anything. Sadly, I've been wasting a lot of my free time sleeping lately. I'm quite fond of sleep, but I just don't like not getting things done. Sleep is counterrevolutionary! ada - what is your favorite thing to do with others? lin - I haven't had much time to be with others lately (what with my job), so any time I do *any*thing with others is pretty nice. Lately, just sitting around with my friends and doing nothing but listening to weird music has equaled enjoyment and good times. I just recently over the past few months fell in with a small group of amazing people who are really special to me. This is the first time I've felt so much a "part" of a group of people. I used to (still do?) have (mild?) social anxiety, and I'm not really use to such an empowering feeling like that of belonging. Am I rambling? ada - do you fall in love easily? lin - No. Well, maybe. Okay, yes. I suppose. I'm in love currently, but I don't like it. Let me start over - I love the feeling that love brings, and I love being able to give myself away to someone. But I'm so sick of the eventual inevitable hurt that love has traditionally brought to me (linear is no stranger to broken hearts, folks). Honestly though, I believe that love is the ultimate act of revolution. It's definitely something we all need to strive for, even if you're a cowardly cynic like me who thinks hurt is all there is out there (hey, it can't just be a coincidence that "I -HEART-YOU" sounds so much like "I HURT YOU," right?). Love is empowering. Embrace it! ada - what has been the closest you have gotten to a utopian existence/society? lin - Allow me to get corny here... The first time -she- fell asleep in my arms is the closest I've ever been to a perfect utopian existence. I came to realize the truth behind the statement that "even a rotten creep can have moments sweet and pure." The honesty of it hit me hard as I got to watch her beautiful face rest. There have been plenty of similarly amazing moments with her since then as well, but this one will always stand out for some reason. I remember when everyday was -that- amazing with her. Don't get me wrong. Every moment with her is still the best moment of my life, but lately, though everything's still just like a dream, there's times when I realize just how scared I am about what is going to happen with us (if anything, most likely nothing). I'm rambling and getting mushy and retarded, aren't I? ada - i am curious as to why you actively reject religion as an institution, yet are a practicing buddhist. could you give me your thoughts on this? lin - Teehee, good question. Sure, just go ahead and point out all my logistical flaws! I suppose that the best way to answer this is to deny that Buddhism is a religion. Buddhism is based on philosophy, not dogma and rituals and belief in supernatural craziness. So really, Buddhism is simply a philosophy (well, most Mahayana sects, at least). The main reason I reject religion is all the suffering it has, and continues, to cause. Once you make a big superfriend in the sky to worship and obey, suddenly everyone feels it's okay to kill, persecute, and torture in the name of their own concept of this superfriend. Buddha was not a god, nor did he preach/practice a belief in a higher deity. Such things do not further us spiritually. Buddhism is the only major "religion" that has spread worldwide with no social coercion! It is very accepting of other religions (unlike me!), and welcomes evolving interpretations and ways of practice within itself. This isn't to say there are not other religions out there that are non-deity based as well, they just don't make as much sense to me philosophically or spiritually. ada - it would have been funny if in kung fu timothy, in one of the last stanzas instead of saying 'he got to his feet,' saying 'he got to his foot.' would you agree or disagree? (this is by no means a criticism, i thought the article was great, however i found that idea funny) lin - That was nawleed's doing, so you can blame him. But actually, I disagree with you. I like the way it is, simply because of the line that reads "...momentarily ignoring the fact that he only had one leg..." which still makes me laugh, over two years after it's writing. Had we just said he jumped to his feet without any explanation, that would indeed be a plot-hole and we'd have to retire from the writing world forever, banished in shame. However, I do see the humor in the phrase "jumped to his foot." By the way, no offense taken, I like writing suggestions and even the occasional criticisms, constructive or not. I'm a feedback whore! ada - what do you feel is the best article/piece you've ever written and why? (this is your big chance to blatantly brag about yourself!) lin - I would like to say that "shh, it's secret!" is my favorite, but as it stands now, there's a stigma of heartbreak attached to it. See, in the beginning of this interview (as this interview has taken a period of weeks to complete), I mentioned something about being in love, and how I was sure I was going to be hurt. Well, that part of the interview is already outdated, as that girl did, indeed, lead me to heartache! No surprises, at least. Anyway, "shh, it's secret" was written about this girl many moons ago. I like it because it's probably one of the most raw things I've written. I wrote it around 2 in the morning in an email to her, and it was all direct. She told me she liked it a lot, and I guess it was that email that convinced her I was a good writer. Anyway, it wasn't until a while afterwards that I decided that it should be published, and BMC stuck it in the N-Com. So perhaps the reason it's so good, or at least so good to me, is because it wasn't written with the intention of being seen by loads of people, just one girl. So there was nothing I was hiding in there (that's not to say I normally "hide" stuff from my readers, but there's always the chance I subconsciously censor myself - which hopefully I don't). Anyway, I really like "shh, it's secret," even if holly doesn't really like me. Teehee! ada - how would you say your political beliefs have affected your writing? would you say that everything you write has a specific message directed at the reader? have you ever written with no real purpose, only to experiment with the words themselves? lin - Although I'd consider myself very politically active, I don't really tend to mix my politics and writing too much. At least not the stuff I've published online (at least I don't think I do). I've written for political hardcopy zines before and written political poetry and articles, but you don't really see much of that in _ir_ (except for crap like "Censor Me, Censor You," which was written before I really knew how to write). I mean, I just don't see _ir_ as a political zine (though at first I tried to take it in that direction, posting files "appreciated by me," written by other authors, that tended to be heavily political. That phase died out really early on in the zine). Most stuff I write started out as me just being bored and writing because there was nothing else to do, and sometimes the ending or direction a text takes is a delightful surprise to me. Such is the case with "el duck!" in which I simply just got bored of writing half way through. That story had a lot of potential, despite its retarded silliness, but I just couldn't bear to complete it. I guess it's times like those that I'm writing just to experiment with words, in a sense. ada - one of my favorite pieces of yours is shh! it's secret!, published in the n-com's 198th issue. i really liked the thought process of the narrator, the letter writing style, and how the emotion is conveyed. do you find it easy or challenging to write about love, and other complex emotions? lin - Well, we've already touched on this a bit! I don't really find it too challenging, in fact in all honesty, 70% of my writing (mainly poetry) is about love (I'm a hopeless romantic). You just don't see these because they aren't published, but rather lost in the pages of my notebook. So I don't really find it difficult to write about these emotions, but sometimes is sure is hard re-reading them after some traumatizing heartbreak, teehee. ada - do you find you label yourself into a particular genre of writing, i.e. poet, short fiction writer, etc.? if so, which genre would you consider yourself to write predominantly in. if not, where do you think your writing style fits in? lin - I guess mainly I'm a poet (I just don't really publish my poetry). Besides that, I'm not too sure how to define my writing. But I always liked the idea of writing being "raw" and unpolished. So if I have to fit into any style of writing, I hope it's "raw." Besides that, I hope to be honest. Even if I'm writing about kids with one legs and whore-mothers. ada - do you tend to write from your own perspective? lin - Sometimes. But that can get me in trouble on those times I don't write in my perspective. I remember some time after I wrote "Lovable Satan," some kid kept trying to "convince" me to drink alcohol. I had to explain to him that yes, I have had alcohol before, yes, I do enjoy it, and no, just because the character in "Lovable Satan" hadn't even touched a drop of alcohol didn't mean I hadn't. This isn't me bragging about alcohol consumption by the way (if you read "Only HACKERS Can Talk To linear," you know that people who talk about HOW MUCH THEY DRINK, HOW DRUNK THEY ARE just annoy me. I was just using this instance as an example). ada - do you have the secret to happiness? lin - Yes, but so do you. ada - and that's all she wrote....well, all i wrote!!! sorry this is so chaotic, i just have a million things to do before tomorrow...please forgive me!!! lin - You are forgiven! ada - THE END.... hoped you enjoyed linear, you crazy n-com fans!!! ,o$o o$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$Y$$$$b d$$$' ` `$$b d$$' The Margarina Cataclysma Interview ,$$ $$: by linear ,$P `$n,.. . . . . . . . . . . . . ..P' `"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""' Margie - Dear Linear, I see that I too get questions! I have been dilemma-ing over the past few days, writing questions to send to my interviewee. I am glad to receive yours, I think they are a good set of questions, and I am excited to answer them. Thus: linear - How'd you get such a creative alias? Margie - Well, I really don't remember. I remember the time and place (a dank dark apartment on Superior St., in Victoria, BC), and what I was doing at the time, which was studying, and wishing dearly that I was less peripheral (as I said, Victoria BC, dank dark apartment on Superior St.). Margarina, because it plays on the good old saintly names (Mary, Margaret, Magdalene, Madagascar) and is simultaneously un-real, and Cataclysma because she needed a last name that was slightly less grotty, a last name that would pick her up out of the gutter. linear - How long have you been apart of the text scene? Margie - I have always been apart from the text scene. linear - What initially drew you into the text scene, and more generally, the online world? Margie - I don't know anything about the text scene. Aside from an initial euphoric nose-dive into the internet, I have tried to dissociate myself from that putrifient morphing corpse, and I do try to limit my time there. That said, I like it very much, and on rainy days or on days when I have burning questions, I like to go there and fiddle around. linear - What is your relation to BMC? Margie - We are friends. As you know, I rescued him from the hands of capitalism, once (it happens often; he is in her clutches), and so he really owes me a huge debt. BMC and I live in the same town. Sometimes he takes me out for lunch. He likes french fries. He talks a lot, drives erratically, and wears a Canadian Army parka, zipped up to the chin, even in the summer. He dislikes Pantera. He always has a smile. linear - Have you always enjoyed writing? When did you start? Margie - I have always enjoyed writing. I was a precocious and prodigious reader, and so it naturally progressed into writing. When I was in grade five, I wrote an anthropomorphic poem about chimpanzees and stuff which amused me greatly. I wish I could remember it properly. My mother might have the "manuscript" somewhere. linear - What inspires you as a writer? Margie - There are a few circumstances: One, as a product of mulling things over, in the course of the day, whilst talking to myself, I might come across a phrase that sticks, or a particular wording that things seem to naturally flow around and from. That is the miraculous creative event, it is kind of pure. Two, because I have been reading something, some writer's work, and feel like writing something, and therefore what comes out of my fingers onto the screen may somehow imitate what I've read; may be homage to the individual or school that I have been reading. Three, a need to explicate feelings/ideas as particularly as possible (the case that we are operating under right now). Whether something in particular, some state or object or sense, will inspire, I cannot say or predict. I guess I have certain preoccupations, and goals, and stuff, and if some experience that I have touches on that, then it probably gets wrote about. Grocery stores, dogs, pigeons, yellow, a sneer, yelling, infirmity, Eurocrats, idylls. linear - Other than the text scene, what are your interests? Margie - I have been learning French, that takes up quite a bit of time, what with reading and all. I am also learning Chinese, that doesn't take up so much time because I haven't done any work there for, oh, a week. I am interested in the grass-roots, in art, in creation, in obfuscation, in verity. I am interested in the processes things undergo. I have been working on a simple little biology degree for ages; I might develop an interest in biological statistics, just to justify myself. I am an haphazard student of environments- urban, animal, forest, other specialized. I like grammar, punctuation, semantics, etymology, and orthography. Metal K. Dick is giving me lessons in the subject of Geography. I have lately become interested in the politicization of individuals in a society which does not favour action, despite an ostensibly democratic system. I have been an anarchist and an atheist since the 10th grade -- the Satanists from my homeroom and I argued about what was better, "Blizzard of Oz" or "Too Dark Park" -turns out we were both right. I am an inveterate cinephile. I am interested in modern and long ago cultures. I will someday open a soup kitchen, and am gathering recipes for just this purpose. I like martial arts. I am an advocate of physical activity and a partisan of intellectual cooperation. I like randomness but suspect that it is no substitute for concerted effort. linear - I've always considered "Cultural Deconstruction For Beginners" to be your greatest work, but BMC tells me that by the time it was printed in a ha