tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7983462.post115928158497183845..comments2024-02-12T03:04:46.091-08:00Comments on AttackingtheDemi-Puppets: The Matter of TaoKing Wenclashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709139159194279478noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7983462.post-47025612985457562682009-11-08T18:23:12.846-08:002009-11-08T18:23:12.846-08:00i think tao lin is talented
calm
fair
logical
cons...i think tao lin is talented<br />calm<br />fair<br />logical<br />consistent in his philosophy<br />funny<br />and i like reading him more<br />than any of the writers who attack him<br />i think they seem to hate him<br />like he was an alien<br />from another<br />plantAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7983462.post-68746805956703199062007-05-25T07:49:00.000-07:002007-05-25T07:49:00.000-07:00This king person couldn't write his way... out of ...This king person couldn't write his way... out of his "strong enough psyche" (nice consonance, though). You sound like a whack-ass paranoiac! Calm the fuck down. (I came from Tao's blog, this is linked vaguely in the press section.)B. Michael Paynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05102174408768996907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7983462.post-1164521076868249702006-11-25T22:04:00.000-08:002006-11-25T22:04:00.000-08:00I run the ULA Book Review Blog.King has made some ...I run the ULA Book Review Blog.<BR/><BR/>King has made some interesting and important points. At times he is being provocative, and that's his job. The world needs provocative people. I can not and will not criticze him for his outrage, and for him doing "his job".<BR/><BR/>Regarding the ULA, I am a newbie member. King is important to the ULA. Our general stance is that "mainstream" writing can and should be more provocative and challenging. King states this position forcefully. Sometimes it comes out personally.<BR/><BR/>Being from the Canadian wing of the ULA, I can both agree and disagree with elements of The King's comments. Canadians can be forceful, but then we feel guilty about it, and apologize.<BR/><BR/>The ULA is an organization that has active members with various points of view. Its democracy is one of its strengths. I support The King in his comments--he is trying to make the world a better place.<BR/><BR/>On the other hand, the ULA Book Review Blog has also posted a review of Tao Lin's books, and has posted a review by Tao.<BR/><BR/>Sometimes the dialogue to improve our world gets very personal. As a Canadian (well, I'm originally from Brooklyn but I've been Canadianized) I feel bad when it gets too personal--there are human beings involved, with feelings.<BR/><BR/>Isn't there enough pain in this world? I have seen too many situations where political points are scored at someone's personal expense.<BR/><BR/>Still, in a world where the OJ Simpson "If I'd Killed Her And That Guy I Woulda Done It Like This" book and tv show almost was published, it is easy to understand how outrage is a reasonable response.<BR/><BR/>So. More power to The King. More power to those who wrote in the comments section to express a concern about misogyny and a male domination of underground writing. More power to freedom of expression, to dialogue, and to us all contributing to, hopefully, a better world.<BR/><BR/>I don't think that this will get me kicked out of the ULA, either. The King doesn't work that way, and neither does the ULA.Victor Schwartzmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14273185330221071734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7983462.post-1159738511468841732006-10-01T14:35:00.000-07:002006-10-01T14:35:00.000-07:00For the millionth time, I'm not defending Moody an...For the millionth time, I'm not defending Moody and Eggers. They can kiss my ass.<BR/>I post all over the damn place - it's just that your precious blog forces me to register.<BR/>Sorry I didn't defend you last Spring from some LA Times chick - I must have missed that one. Maybe I was doing art that night - look on some Bay Area walls and you'll see the Arms Akimbo stuff.<BR/>I wander around the Web when I'm bored and/or drunk reading mostly underground stuff and picking arguments when I see something that bugs me. I thought that was free expression, but apparently it's being a big rich corporate blackballer.jimmy gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12434938879390034763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7983462.post-1159648021642592342006-09-30T13:27:00.000-07:002006-09-30T13:27:00.000-07:00The Ultimate in Comedy: Any outsider writer defend...The Ultimate in Comedy: Any outsider writer defending well-placed rich aristocrats like Moody and Eggers.<BR/>Our friend "Grace" picks this blog out of 50,000+ others to put his first and only remarks. Kind of curious.<BR/>Did anyone appear to defend me against the scorn of Erika Schickel (daughter of a famous film critic) in the L.A. Times this past spring? WasMr. Grace anywhere around? Of course not!<BR/>He appears to defend only those who really need it.<BR/>It's like a bad movie melodrama from the 30s, in back-and-white, about the French Revolution; the grubby citizens the bad guys of course, led by mean Madame LaFarge. There's always some clueless bovine peasant or servant on hand to defend the aristocrats at the last minute, stoically and stupidly sacrificing himself in the process. Anything for his betters!<BR/>House slave behavior-- but unlike the house slaves at MediaBistro, some of these people aren't at that level-- yet still don't know what side they're on.<BR/>Scarlett O'Hara yells for Big Joe. "Big Joe! Big Joe!" and here comes running Big Joe to the rescue. Anything for Miss Scarlett!<BR/>This slave mentality existing throughout the literary world is pathetic.<BR/>Writers have it in their power at any time-- ANY TIME-- to throw off the present corrupt system which does nothing but take advantage of them. But they need also the imagination to do this.King Wenclashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13709139159194279478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7983462.post-1159647503498817222006-09-30T13:18:00.000-07:002006-09-30T13:18:00.000-07:00Which is why the concern for Moody and Eggers is s...Which is why the concern for Moody and Eggers is so ridiculous.<BR/>These guys not only have no trouble whatsoever gaining access-- getting their words and ideas out there-- but they move into the few places which normally would go to undergrounders. They want ALL.<BR/>I have very few outlets for my words. The ULA site and my blog. Lit journals-- n+1 not the only one-- refuse to print my letters.<BR/>I'm now blocked from amending my Wiki profile. The anonymous person posting an obviously biased version of me isn't! <BR/>It's why I've called people like Eggers totalitarians. They will ruthlessly crush any dissent and disagreement.<BR/>"Quilty"-- a friend of Eggers I heard from during the Ruminator thing-- says a have not enough "bona fide" writing.<BR/>What would the person call this blog?<BR/>How many words are on it? Isn't that enough?<BR/>They leave me one outlet-- then disqualify it as illegitimate!<BR/>Amazing.<BR/>Wiki is turning into an elitist entity-- not the democratic outlet it purports to be-- as evidenced by the deletion of articles on underground writers like Jeff Somers.<BR/>We don't exist and the establishment doesn't want us to exist.<BR/>What was Somer's crime? He's likely never mentioned Dave Eggers in his life. He happens to be at least as good a writer. But he's gone-- wiped out.<BR/>Believe this-- the mainstream at first opportunity will wipe out every evidence which ever existed of the Underground Literary Alliance.<BR/>This, in fact, is already happening, as I'll point out in an upcoming post-- presuming I'm allowed to post on my own blog!King Wenclashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13709139159194279478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7983462.post-1159646656562265372006-09-30T13:04:00.000-07:002006-09-30T13:04:00.000-07:00Sonnenfeld sent me some of his stuff. Frankly I th...Sonnenfeld sent me some of his stuff. Frankly I think it was the best presentation of the ULA's case: there are voices out there that have something to say and an interesting way of saying it but the literary academic media establishment wants to block off any access that they might have because that would present a threat to their hegemony.Jimbohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18284416001554911018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7983462.post-1159642076731093522006-09-30T11:47:00.000-07:002006-09-30T11:47:00.000-07:00Maybe you're right, Pat. Maybe not.Sonnenfeld is a...Maybe you're right, Pat. Maybe not.<BR/>Sonnenfeld is a genuine underground writer. I first heard from him over ten years ago. I doubt if his work appeals to the literati-- it's mainly mail art; one of the roots of zines. I've celebrated him for this reason.<BR/><BR/>Regardless of the quality of Tao's writing, I still wouldn't want to work with him, for the reasons I've stated.King Wenclashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13709139159194279478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7983462.post-1159616853542088832006-09-30T04:47:00.000-07:002006-09-30T04:47:00.000-07:00I think my hamster story was much better than his....I think my hamster story was much better than his.Jimbohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18284416001554911018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7983462.post-1159588397274034832006-09-29T20:53:00.000-07:002006-09-29T20:53:00.000-07:00I think Tao had some legitimate points on his blog...I think Tao had some legitimate points on his blog. This first serial rights thing is pretty archaic.<BR/><BR/>As to his actual writing, it's hard for me to agree that he's posing. His blog is one of the most honest I've ever read, like yours, Karl. You might not agree with what he has to say, but his reasons for his beliefs remain consistant. He seems to have a unique personality, yes, but that doesn't mean he's posing.<BR/><BR/>You have no problem with experimental, postmodern writers as long as they're in the ULA. Mark Sonnenfeld is a great example. I have a feeling that if Tao was actually in the ULA, you'd be singing a different tune.Pat Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00278011851716362717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7983462.post-1159557751983508992006-09-29T12:22:00.000-07:002006-09-29T12:22:00.000-07:00I think making good art is a more powerful rejoind...I think making good art is a more powerful rejoinder than whining about notalents who screw up and get attention. I guess there's my ideological difference with the ULA.<BR/><BR/>As for who thinks I'm an asshole, it's your King who's announced I'm a fraud, a corporate shill, part of the conspiracy against him, etc. If he is speaking for the ULA, as you say he does, then there's your answer. Personally I don't see why underground artists of any caliber need the king's prattling, but hey, it's your party. Have a good time.jimmy gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12434938879390034763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7983462.post-1159553667838807222006-09-29T11:14:00.000-07:002006-09-29T11:14:00.000-07:00Hey Leopold,I got no beef with you. Congrats on y...Hey Leopold,<BR/>I got no beef with you. Congrats on your work. I find your publicity director - or whatever his title is - to be counterproductive to your efforts, so I've been calling him on his shit. And read what I've written - I've never stuck up for Eggers (the damage he's done to the Bay Area art scene is fuckedup) or Moody.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the invite to join you, but I've got a gang, and members of your gang think I'm an asshole.jimmy gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12434938879390034763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7983462.post-1159548061373777712006-09-29T09:41:00.000-07:002006-09-29T09:41:00.000-07:00WenclasAfter the interview I didn't want to talk s...Wenclas<BR/><BR/>After the interview I didn't want to talk shit about the ula anymore.<BR/><BR/>I still don't want to.Noah Cicerohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08739671905998435933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7983462.post-1159546942315596902006-09-29T09:22:00.000-07:002006-09-29T09:22:00.000-07:00"We ARE the people.We're still coming. Sound scary..."We ARE the people.<BR/>We're still coming. Sound scary, "Grace"? Get used to it."<BR/><BR/>Scary? What would be scary about your whining? Your recent comments only prove my recent point: you'd rather trash Eggers and Moody - which you did, once more - than promote any real writing. Attacking Tao Lin? That you're on top of. Distributing brave, new writing to the masses? Well, you have these day jobs, and you're a little disorganized, but you'll get to it in a second as soon as we stop arguing, and...what, is that a half-finished beer? OK, what were you saying? Oh yeah, Moody lives on Fisher Island.<BR/><BR/>I designed two posters this week, illegally copied them and will put up about 200 this weekend. What'd you do? Call a bunch of people rotten names. I'm so terrified of your burgeoning movement.jimmy gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12434938879390034763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7983462.post-1159542364388837282006-09-29T08:06:00.000-07:002006-09-29T08:06:00.000-07:00(p.s. to Tao:Now you see what it's like to initiat...(p.s. to Tao:<BR/>Now you see what it's like to initiate literary fights. You initiated this one. Do you have the stomach for it? No. Someone like Noah should see this and do a better job of guiding your behavior.<BR/>Was this my fight? Not really. Sorry to get involved. Whitney's reference to the ULA, mentioned on the ULA's forum, got me reading the debate. Your response to my comments set me off. They were that goofy; in my opinion, that phony.<BR/>Tao, if you don't have a strong enough psyche for these kinds of debates, then don't enter the arena.)King Wenclashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13709139159194279478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7983462.post-1159541437196670102006-09-29T07:50:00.000-07:002006-09-29T07:50:00.000-07:00I make noise about the mainstream because it truly...I make noise about the mainstream because it truly is corrupt. It's sad that many writers choose to turn a blind eye.<BR/>Is 28,000 a huge number of hits? I don't think so. What someone like Drudge gets is.<BR/>Tao, I don't hate you. But there remain too many questions regarding you for me to warm up to you.<BR/>Such as: what role you played in Noah's leaving the ULA, and the way he did it. (Through his interview with you.)<BR/>Remember? First he threw the ULA under the bus, then quickly enough threw Tim Hall under the bus. (Tim, of course, the last one to know.)<BR/>I have to tell you both I was laughing during that interview when Tim was vociferously defending Noah, and attacking me, and all that came from Noah was: silence.<BR/>The comedian on stage proclaiming loudly his friendship, and right behind him his friend about to pull out from under him the rug upon which the comedian is standing.<BR/>(I guess you had your reasons. It was still hilarious.)<BR/>Great yuks. Remember? Tim yelling that I was "Chilly Charlie"? It was great fun.<BR/>(The only question is which one of you two was "Charlie"-- on the Charlie blog later implying the person was with the ULA.)<BR/>Care to be honest for a change? Right now?<BR/>Going to fess up?<BR/>I realize that going after Tao is for me a tactical mistake. I'm sure I'm pissing off a few ULAers who might admire the guy.<BR/>My question: Is this anyone we could ever work with?<BR/>No way! He's too devious. Sorry, I already have quite enough knives in my backside. Thanks anyway.<BR/>Besides being an obvious con-man, including in his writing, Tao is also a depressive personality; a walking prescription for disaster. Someday he's going to blow up faster than Terrell Owens.<BR/>Will Noah be around to pick up the pieces? Who knows? By then he may have already moved on to a better deal.<BR/>I've known many many people in my life. As I said, upon reading Tao's statements my brain was flashing warning lights.<BR/>A question, oh great strategists:<BR/>what's your plan behind your attack on Whitney? <BR/>YOU are the guys who seek publication within the mainstream. You network heavily; you admit this; yet you shit-on the very editors you look to for help.<BR/>Explanation?<BR/>My task-- the task of all ULAers now, when, yes, believe it or not, we're still in the early stages of building a movement-- is to lay down a solid foundation. Part of this is working with people you can trust.<BR/>I'd like to work with Noah on projects-- at least wouldn't be against it-- but would I ever want him again on our team?<BR/>The way he was engaging in friendly e-mail conversations with me while simultaneously forwarding them to Hall and complaining about me? (Simultaneously doing the same thing with Tim's e-mails???)<BR/>These are not the kind of people with whom you can build an organization-- especially one like ours which depends on trust and honesty.<BR/>The ULA is being constructed for the long run. Our goals are ambitious. Our main writers will be those who can appeal to a large body of people-- not a narrow audience of literati, which is Tao's appeal. Sorry for being blunt.<BR/>We're suffering short-term setbacks but overall we're in good shape, with some of the best performers and poets on the planet in our ranks (Walsh for instance), a great all-purpose cartoonist like Yul Tolbert, solid internet people like Leopold and Pat Simonelli; video expert Patrick King; and so on. New guy Victor is doing a great job with our Review blog. Take a look.<BR/>All we need to do is get better focused. The only thing which has been holding us back has been our lack of money and the necessity to drain our energies on shitty jobs. On the other hand, this keeps us close to the people. We ARE the people.<BR/>We're still coming. Sound scary, "Grace"? Get used to it.<BR/>Not use the Internet? We're using it greatly-- including with this blog at which you're posting. Our site will be getting better, if we put all the skills we comprise behind it.<BR/>A contradiction in your argument: <BR/>On the one hand you say the lit-world is tiny; that no one's ever heard of Eggers and Moody.<BR/>On the other hand you chastize me for attacking them.<BR/>I guess that lit-world isn't so tiny and unimportant after all!<BR/>Actually, it is tiny. I don't see the ULA as suffering any great damage by exposing the corrupt cockroaches who exist in it. We can, as you imply, bypass them, the whole scene, at any time.<BR/>We'll do it with great shows and writings.<BR/>I'm not going to stop exposing these guys.<BR/>1.) It's one way to make noise.<BR/>2.) It solidifies us as the good guys.<BR/>3.) Someone has to do it, for literature's sake.<BR/>So, as they're not important, Noah, don't sweat it. I kind of think that with all their millions, Eggers and Moody will survive.<BR/>After they're booted out of the literary scene, they can still clink wineglasses together on Fisher's Island.King Wenclashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13709139159194279478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7983462.post-1159535715043467802006-09-29T06:15:00.000-07:002006-09-29T06:15:00.000-07:00When I was a child I had a pet hamster but my fath...When I was a child I had a pet hamster but my father cut its head off. He left it sitting upright in its cage a profusion of bright red bubbles crowning the stump of its neck, like a salmon roe sushi but wrapped in light brown fur instead of seaweed.Jimbohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18284416001554911018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7983462.post-1159471506700520642006-09-28T12:25:00.000-07:002006-09-28T12:25:00.000-07:00"King" would rather snarl about Moody and the esta..."King" would rather snarl about Moody and the establishment til the day he dies than promote real work that matters.<BR/><BR/>Count up the number of blog posts that whine about corruption vs. the number that discuss and link to writers he admires.jimmy gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12434938879390034763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7983462.post-1159470055778713202006-09-28T12:00:00.000-07:002006-09-28T12:00:00.000-07:00Wenclas,I think we should just forget them.The ric...Wenclas,<BR/><BR/>I think we should just forget them.<BR/>The rick moodys, dave eggers, and Rushdie's of the lit world.<BR/><BR/>Just forget all that.<BR/><BR/>Go our own way.<BR/><BR/>Use the internet has a way to reach people. Use the internet to meet other like minded writers and publishers. <BR/><BR/>The Bear Parade site has gotten over 28,000 hits. That is an insane number. <BR/><BR/>I have talked to a lot of writers, lit-mag editors, and publishers that share these values. A new outlook on literature is growing, but you got your self shut up here in ULA land. <BR/><BR/>The internet is the way to go. The internet offers a huge amount of exposure. The internet can get writing out there and read. We aren't making any money but we are being read.<BR/><BR/>The kids that were becoming zinesters in 96 are becoming internet writers in 2006.<BR/><BR/>I think a lot of the presses that are related to the internet mag world are old world presses.<BR/><BR/>But there is talk of some very intelligent, very non-corporate old world writing people wanting to start a press.<BR/><BR/>This is going to take time, the internet has given us a new world, a new means of production, a new way of doing things. <BR/><BR/>Every business sector is trying to adjust to this.<BR/><BR/>Things are changing, we have to change with them.Noah Cicerohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08739671905998435933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7983462.post-1159467700646535782006-09-28T11:21:00.000-07:002006-09-28T11:21:00.000-07:00why do you hate me?i'm not out for myself, i'm out...why do you hate me?<BR/><BR/>i'm not out for myself, i'm out for anyone who isn't an asshole<BR/><BR/>i'm against assholes, i'm for non-assholes<BR/><BR/>bear parade pays, gives you the password to edit your own work, does not edit your work, is run by one person who is friends with all the contributors, and has like 60,000 hits in half a year<BR/><BR/>ass hi books publishes its books for free, colloborates on all books, etc.<BR/><BR/>those are the things i'm involved with<BR/><BR/>the presses that publish me are independent and anti-corporationsTao Linhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04807160197099916059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7983462.post-1159460155687323482006-09-28T09:15:00.000-07:002006-09-28T09:15:00.000-07:00(Finally, I can't let this go, but you reveal that...(Finally, I can't let this go, but you reveal that your reason for joining the ULA was being able to sell more of your books, I guess because we had some temporary notoriety. My goal, and I hope that of other ULAers, is creating an independent, lasting entity. Books sold are gravy.<BR/>Yes, I wish we had more people within the group who got the idea, and could work harder for the ULA.<BR/>Too many people today have absorbed completely the Reaganite/Ayn Rand mindset of "me, me, me!"<BR/>It's a sad fact that those with the most energy are those like Tao who are out for themselves. ULAers are much quieter, except I guess me.<BR/>Should I go solo? I probably would've done far better for myself. I had many connections in the late 90s, many enough opportunities.<BR/>Being one of 400,000 demi-puppets didn't seem to me very appealing. Just one more jump-through-the-hoops intellectual slave.<BR/>The ULA, you know, has some very real strengths. <BR/>We put on the best lit shows going.<BR/>We've confronted literary Overdogs (Overdogs of the society) face-to-face, and shown they can't handle ideas.<BR/>We've made some real literary history; the only real actions on the literary scene today.<BR/>Why all the concern about a few rag-tag voices making noise?<BR/>Why don't you show as much concern, Noah, about the takeover of entities like CLMP as you do about me?<BR/>Or is it just about getting your payoff, a la JT Leroy; finding your own little niche in the dominating machine?<BR/>What will you do when you have a few of your essays gutted? (If you avoid real ideas, like Tao does, this won't happen.)<BR/>Will you accept it and take it? Yes? No?<BR/>Or will you be like the prominent writer who told me, after having an essay of hers bounced by the NYer for not being proper enough, "What else can I do? I can't even waitress."<BR/>Sell your souls, oh writers!<BR/>Maybe I am insane-- insane to hang on to my integrity amid the madness of this society.<BR/>Have a good day.)King Wenclashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13709139159194279478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7983462.post-1159459259283260302006-09-28T09:00:00.000-07:002006-09-28T09:00:00.000-07:00By the way, I'm going to continue yelling "ULA! UL...By the way, I'm going to continue yelling "ULA! ULA! ULA!" until people recognize there IS a real literary alternative out there not tied to the media monopilies; one which retains its independent voice; where writers and artists-- NOT plutocrats and monopolists-- are in the driver's seat.King Wenclashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13709139159194279478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7983462.post-1159459109327480632006-09-28T08:58:00.000-07:002006-09-28T08:58:00.000-07:00You're missing the point, Noah.Writers can and sho...You're missing the point, Noah.<BR/>Writers can and should submit to whoever they want. BUT, there's a large portion of writers, some of them very good, who can submit all they want and never get published.<BR/>The fact is that most submissions aren't even opened-- unless the right name is on the return address.<BR/>So what's a writer supposed to do?<BR/>The solution is to start publishing yourself, which is the impetus behind the Underground Literary Alliance.<BR/>Yes, we consist of a wide variety of writers. There's more variety in writing styles-- more originality-- in the ULA than in all of the established lit-scene.<BR/>There's also the question of what happens when the independent writer IS accepted for publication by the mainstream.<BR/>Does he maintain control of his art?<BR/>Do even the renowned writers accepted by The New Yorker have the final word?<BR/>No way! They also must conform. And to who? A literary apparatchik who can't write herslf? It's total nonsense!<BR/>The only way to break out of this trap is to create a truly independent alternative, with all this entails. It's not at all easy.<BR/>Part of it is getting the word out, against all obstacles, more of which seem to be erected all the time.<BR/>SHOULD there be any dissent in the literary world, about how it operates. Should the lit-world, truly corrupt-- in many ways the last bastion (along with the Presidency) of the blueblood WASP-- be exempt?<BR/>I don't understand the logic.<BR/>I'm going to turn your idea around. You say I should be going after the ruling class (Moody's not part of it???). I guess through politics, or maybe futilely blowing myself up.<BR/>I say that writers have to FIRST clean up their own house before complaining about anything else. The old Elvis song: "Clean Up Your Own Backyard.)<BR/>It's curious to me what creatures lit-people like Maud Newton be. Attacking the very distant figure of George W. Bush, impossible to reach, while fawning endlessly over the media monopolies.<BR/>The lit-world is relatively small, as you indicate. It might be one arena where real change CAN be made. That's the idea anyway.<BR/>(Yeah, I love the hypocrisy of the literati. The employees of the media conglomerates taking their paychecks to enforce conformity of styles, voices, and ideas, while still believing they're good "liberals," they really are!<BR/>The truth is they're conformists at everything.<BR/>"Are we at war with Eurasia or Eastasia today?"<BR/>Bush is completely OUT among the literati, so this person will safely bash him night and day.<BR/>Where were these people BEFORE the war began-- when enough noise might have stopped it? The ULA visited the heart of them, at Housing Works in Jan '03, asking for a discussion about the war instead of feckless readings about candy bars and trees. We were quickly shown the door. An anti-war person then among the literary trendoids was nowhere to be found.)<BR/>re Tao: sorry for bashing him, but I find his ideas silly, if not abhorrent. He is, however, a perfect example of how one has to ruthlessly-- ruthlessly-- promote oneself, a la Mitch Albom, in order to be recognized by the mainstream, if you don't already have proper entree.<BR/>Watch for my upcoming Monday Report, which further addresses your questions.King Wenclashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13709139159194279478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7983462.post-1159430043140699832006-09-28T00:54:00.000-07:002006-09-28T00:54:00.000-07:00Wenclas,I don't comprehend something in your philo...Wenclas,<BR/><BR/>I don't comprehend something in your philosophy Wenclas.<BR/><BR/>A writer should not submit to magazines nor to book presses.<BR/><BR/>So that means that writers should only be part of The ULA and submit to ULA related things?<BR/><BR/>That writers should only get publicity through The ULA?<BR/><BR/>That the ULA should attack Rick Moody and Dave Eggers, even though no one in America knows who they are, except for a small population?<BR/><BR/>Wenclas several people in the lit-world have voiced what you have, Dennis Loy Johnson says what you say about literature on Mobylives?<BR/><BR/>Tao Lin is saying some of the same things.<BR/><BR/>The Foetry people have.<BR/><BR/>But you like still yelling, ULA ULA ULA!!!<BR/><BR/>What for?<BR/><BR/>Why?<BR/><BR/>What you're talking about is a complete destruction of the literary world. The literary world is tied into the ruling class, which means you would have to destroy the ruling class to destroy the literary world. Which means you aren't fighting a literary battle here. You should be a communist or a radical of some sort gathering machine guns and handing pamphlets out to poor angry people. <BR/><BR/>Either you are conscious of this and just want attention, or you're insane. Which one? <BR/><BR/>Also Tao's influence on me has been positive, unlike you he actually knows about the literary world and has an idea of how to get books sold, since that interview I've sold more books in the last year than I did in the first two years of the book being out. <BR/><BR/>Lately I've seen Tao's a writing here and there, a little of me, and in my writing there's a little of him here and there.<BR/><BR/>That is what a movement is about: A real movement.<BR/><BR/>ULA writers don't affect each other's writing. As far as I could there was no real communication between the writers. But still you called it a movement.<BR/><BR/>We got Ellen Kennedy and Gene Morgan. Gene Morgan who using Bear Parade as a new way of getting literature out to people, he is very intelligent and very influential in how we think about this new world of literature. Bear parade has 28,000 hits, an insane amount for a web ebook press that is less than a year old.Noah Cicerohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08739671905998435933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7983462.post-1159403090237955432006-09-27T17:24:00.000-07:002006-09-27T17:24:00.000-07:00Chairman Of The Boredhttp://paleblueauto-mobile.bl...Chairman Of The Bored<BR/><BR/>http://paleblueauto-mobile.blogspot.comJ.D. Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11717929318883497333noreply@blogger.com