Pranks, Punk and Industrial Culture from V. Vale

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V. VALE APRIL 2013 NEWSLETTER

March 28, 2013 By: admin Category: Blog Comments Off

WELCOME TO V. VALE’s RE/SEARCH NEWSLETTER #114, APRIL 2013 Add Us to Your Address Book! You are Receiving this Email because You or Someone You Know Signed Up to Our Newsletter in the Past. Scroll to the Bottom of this Email to UNSUBSCRIBE. Are you receiving this newsletter (annoyingly) TWICE? PLEASE tell us which address to delete.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1A. MESSAGE FROM YOUR EDITOR, V. VALE in Philadelphia April 10: Tacita Dean’s “JG” Project. Marian Wallace is showing video about JG Ballard. East Coast RE/Search friends, please try to attend!
1B. “Weird Science” essay by V. Vale
1C. LYDIA LUNCH & HENRY ROLLINS: The New Line of “RE/SEARCH Pocketbooks” – order now! (Some call them RE/Search “baby” books; they’re small & “cute”. Others call them RE/Search mini-books.)
2. Counter Culture Hour Sat April 13, 2013 – 6:00 PM PACIFIC TIME – SF cable channel 29, also simulcast on-line (see below): Spain Rodriguez (r.i.p.) is featured in an interview from 5 years ago!
3. **MEDITATION SPACE** [blank]
4. FORTHCOMING EVENTS
5. What We’ve Attended/What We’ve Been Reading/Seeing:
6. MEDITATION SPACE No. 2
7. Recommended Links – send some!
8. QUOTES
9. Letters from Readers
10. Sponsors (Please check ‘em out! – they make this “free” newsletter possible!)
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1A. MESSAGE FROM YOUR EDITOR V. VALE, RE/SEARCH founder gives a J.G. BALLARD lecture Wed APRIL 10 in PHILADELPHIA at Arcadia University Art Gallery – come visit us! Vale will have all (4) RE/Search JG Ballard books for sale, plus “Search&Destroy#10″ w/a JG Ballard interview, plus the RE/Search JGBallard Astrology Chart. This lecture is part of Berlin/U.K. artist TACITA DEAN’S “JG” Presentation, detailed below:

Tacita Dean, JG, 2013. Color and black & white anamorphic 35mm film with optical sound, 26:30 minutes. Courtesy of the artist and Frith Street Gallery, London/Marian Goodman Gallery, New York/Paris.
Arcadia University Art Gallery
Tacita Dean
JG

February 7–April 21, 2013

Arcadia University Art Gallery
450 S. Easton Rd.
Glenside, Pennsylvania 19038

T 215 572 2131 (2133)

www.arcadia.edu/tacitadean

Arcadia University Art Gallery is pleased to announce the presentation of JG by Berlin-based British artist Tacita Dean, who RE/Search met at J.G. Ballard’s Memorial Service at the top of the Tate Modern, Nov 15, 2009. Commissioned by the gallery and funded by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, JG is a sequel in technique to FILM, Dean’s 2011 project for Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall. The new 26 ½ minute work is a looped, 35mm anamorphic film shot on location in the saline landscapes of Utah and Southern California using Dean’s recently developed and patented system of aperture gate masking.

The project is inspired by her correspondence with British author J. G. Ballard (1930 – 2009) regarding connections between his short story “The Voices of Time” (1960) and Robert Smithson’s iconic earthwork and film, Spiral Jetty (both 1970). An unprecedented departure from her previous 16mm films, JG attempts to respond to Ballard’s challenge, posed to her shortly before he died, that Dean should “treat the Spiral Jetty as a mystery her film would solve.”

JG advances the aperture gate masking invention that Dean developed for FILM. This labor-intensive process, analogous to a form of stenciling, allows her to use different shaped masks to expose and re-expose the negative within a single film frame. Requiring that the film be put through the camera multiple times, the technique gives each frame the capacity to traverse time and location in ways that parallel the effects of Ballard’s fiction and Smithson’s earthwork and film. The process also serves to restore the spontaneity and invention that distinguished early cinema in comparison to the relative ease and what Dean calls “the end of risk” afforded by digital postproduction. JG is a work that could only be made using 35mm film, but it is also about drawing and collage and, as such, strives to return film to the physical, artisanal medium it was at its origin.

Mindful of Smithson’s film of his own earthwork, as well the medium’s dependency on the spooling and looping of celluloid though camera and projector, JG proposes a matrix of visual and literary correspondences that pushes previously unimagined capacities of film. The result is a visually stunning, elliptical interpretation of a speculative conversation between Ballard, Smithson, and Dean that reaches across decades and disciplines.

Organized by Gallery Director Richard Torchia, JG will commence with a lecture by Dean on February 7 in the Commons Great Room at 6:30 PM and coincides with other events and exhibitions in Philadelphia and New York.

International House (3701 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, ihousephilly.org) begins a Ballard-themed film series on Tuesday, February 5, at 7pm, with remarks by Dean. The featured films, Ballard’s favorites chosen with the assistance of Claire Walsh, the author’s longtime partner, include the Russian war epic Come and See (1985) on February 5, the sci-fi adventure Mad Max 2 (1981) on March 1, and the film noir Point Blank (1967) on March 27.

Dean’s 2008 installation Merce Cunningham Performs STILLNESS… (six performances, six films) will be presented at Philadelphia’s Fabric Workshop and Museum (from February 2 through March 17, 2013;fabricworkshopandmuseum.org). In New York, the Marian Goodman Gallery will present Fatigues, Dean’s large-scale blackboard drawing created for Documenta 13, from February 1 to March 9, 2013 (mariangoodman.com).

Additional events at Arcadia will continue through April 21, including a lecture on April 10 by V. Vale, the publisher of RE/Search editions, whose 1984 monograph on Ballard remains the most comprehensive introduction to his work. Vale also published (3) other JG Ballard books.

JG is accompanied by Key Stroke, a collaborative artists’ book featuring photographs that Dean took on location with Ballard’s 35mm camera, given to her by Claire Walsh, and facsimiles of a manuscript by British novelist Will Self produced on Ballard’s typewriter, also given to him by Walsh. A second publication includes texts by Jeremy Millar, Walsh, Torchia and Dean. Both books are designed by Dean’s long-term collaborator, Martyn Ridgewell. They’re available in a very limited beautiful box.
,b.For more information about upcoming events, the exhibition, and directions to the gallery, please visit arcadia.edu/tacitadean

1B. “Weird Science” at Jack Hanley Gallery, NYC, opening Fri April 5, 2013.
V. Vale wrote an essay for Kal Spelletich/Matt Heckert’s Show, reprinted here below:

TECHNOLOGY CHANGES THE FUTURE, INCLUDING ART (“WEIRD SCIENCE”)

Kal Spelletich, Matthew Heckert, V. Vale at Jack Hanley Gallery, New York City.
327 Broome Street, New York, NY 10002 646-918-6824. www.jackhanley.com

Because of the lack of a stifling hierarchical, authoritarian, tradition-bound institutional hegemony, California’s Wild West engendered a climate of unprecedented imaginative creativity (the freedom to play, take risks, take chances, and be wild and free) which has almost singlehandedly created the start-up culture of the 21st Century, typified by Apple Computers, Google, FaceBook, YouTube, Twitter, the GoPro, Burning Man, and other inventions both real and virtual. Silicon Valley and Hollywood created the last fifty years of most of the world’s technological and cultural innovation. (There are a few exceptions, like “Gangnam Style,” but they remain minor. Most of the “Designing of the Future” has sprung from the West Coast.)
Forty years ago the British futurist-visionary J.G. Ballard wrote, “Sex times technology equals the future.” (1972) However, it can be argued that technology in itself changes the future. And that includes the future of all culture, including “art.”
In the last hundred years, the definition of art has expanded almost infinitely. Marcel Duchamp said, “Anything is art if an artist says it is.” Duchamp invented the concept of the “readymade,” which included industrially-manufactured objects such as a urinal, a bicycle wheel and a stool. Simply by titling and autographing them, he made them museum-worthy and valued at probably $1,000,000 or more in today’s dollars. He also helped invent conceptual and performance art: he gave himself a haircut with a star emblazed on top (anticipating ’90s hip-hop stars) and also played chess in public with a naked woman (that was called art, too). His last grand meisterwerk was an installation which could only be viewed through a peephole in a door (thus rendering the viewer a Peeping Tom or Tomasina) featuring a naked woman, legs spread, holding aloft a lantern in one hand, with a fake stream of water nearby (Freudian symbolism?).
Duchamp came to the West Coast (otherwise known as the Best Coast, the Left Coast, the Free Coast) and quickly adapted to the Wild West pioneering mentality where social pedigrees, privilege, and titular wealth were largely ignored. But much earlier, foreseeing the influence of technology on the future, in 1915 he had begun engineering his precarious “Bride Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors, Even”—a kind of perpetual-motion masterpiece of “useless” technology. Duchamp’s detailed drawings reveal him to be a kind of “weird scientist” decidedly uninterested in anything but the metaphoric, the impractical, the conceptual. Four hundred years earlier, Leonardo da Vinci was producing the same kind of highly detailed “schematic” drawings hinting at a science of poetic alterity, much like Duchamp adumbrated.
Duchamp is now considered the Godfather of 20th Century Conceptual Art and has long been part of the Pantheon of Blue Chip Artists. But most people forget that it was not until 1963, in California, that he was given his very first museum show, by the prescient uber-curator Walter Hopps, at the Pasadena Art Museum.
Walter Hopps almost single-handedly catalyzed the West Coast School of Art which included Ed Kienholz, the first Californian artist to make art out of that singularly American invention, the automobile. Predating Ballard’s “Crash,” Kienholz created an installation titled “‘Back Seat Dodge ’38″ which showed a woman in the backseat of the car in some unidentified stage of sexual intercourse. This once-shocking tableau has now been permanently enshrined as a classic work of bona fide art at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Again, technology creates the future.
Of course, technology was used in Europe to change the world and bring innovation into culture—think of Gutenberg’s printing press, circa 1436. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Italian Futurists (particularly one Luigi Russolo) created a strange orchestra of music-and-noise-producing machines to honor the industrial age’s contribution to changing the world’s soundtrack by increasing ambient noise decibel levels. The Swiss artist Jean Tinguely began collecting abandoned rusty machinery and fashioning machinery which drew, painted, produced sound and sometimes self-destructed. Some of the machines were grouped into installations which school children could activate. Today there is a Tinguely Museum in Basel, Switzerland.

Flash forward ahead several decades to the birth of the Industrial Culture Movement, most prominently spearheaded by an art company calling itself “Survival Research Laboratories” in context of the beginning of the Seventies Punk Rock Cultural Revolution. Principals Mark Pauline, Eric Werner and Matt Heckert were the mainstay of the anarchic gathering of wayward talents. During this decade, San Francisco had begun its deleterious shift from a manufacturing economy to a service, design and marketing economy, as labor began to be exported overseas by unpatriotic corporations and CEOs. The result was that literally dozens of light machine shops and small factories were abandoned almost overnight, their contents left to attract dust and rust. Sensing that this machinery could be used to make art, the can-do young American mechanical engineers in SRL began breaking in and carting off this detritus. One of them was San Francisco Art Institute student Matthew Heckert, who taught himself welding “outside of class.” Quickly he began fabricating large-scale performance art machines for deployment in city-block-wide outdoor performances accompanied by high-volume weird-musical-collages, which he curated.
A San Francisco Punk Rock publisher named V. Vale (disclosure: that would be me) began publicizing the work and theory of SRL beginning in the last issue of “Search & Destroy” magazine (1979), the first three tabloid issues of “RE/Search,” the “Industrial Culture Handbook,” and two books titled “Pranks” (Volume One and Volume Two). RE/Search also published an early SRL video titled “Menacing Machine Mayhem.” These books reached artists and rebels worldwide. This video, and other videos of these “industrial art machine” performances, began inspiring other artist-engineers all over the world, as well as attracting new talent to pilgrimage to San Francisco and join SRL.
One such innovative artist compelled to join Survival Research Laboratories was Kal Spelletich from Iowa. Mr. Spelletich had managed to find the RE/Search “Pranks” issue and had been so impressed by what he read that he raised money, sold off his possessions, and drove to San Francisco straight to the SRL shop to join the crew.
SRL’s unique artistic start-up environment of self-financing, hunter-gatherer-foraging-for-abandoned-art-materials, self-tutoring, self-apprenticeship, and empirical trial-and-error engineering investigations was not without excitement. Sadly, one ill-fated experiment resulted in SRL founder Mark Pauline’s right hand being blown apart—it was Matt Heckert who rushed him to the genius S.F. General Hospital microsurgery unit two blocks away. After various toes were grafted on, the bloody stump was restored to a level of usability.
Years passed. More and more art machines were designed, engineered and deployed in huge live art performances and installations. Robotics and drone-guidance technology became incorporated. SRL began giving shows all over the world. More and more SRL individuals developed their talents, skills, and then broke off to create their own opuses of work. Matt Heckert had created dozens of very strange musical soundtracks from the myriad records he discovered in his travels. Heckert, a musician in the Punk band Pink Section (and other bands), began to fuse his talent for engineering with his love for music. Subsequently he invented a number of interactive music-and-noise generating art-machines, to be used in installations, exhibitions, and also in live performances of his mechanical orchestra.
Kal Spelletich, in his voyages all over the world (one of his favorite experiences was visiting Africa, as well as India), has created a number of interactive machine-art installations, performances, exhibits, and even food-and-art machines (many grateful art lovers have eaten his delicious sausages worldwide; sometimes experiencing intense art makes one very hungry). Some of his interactive art machines have been used to educate and inspire young audiences composed of grade school and high school students. Adults have been enlivened by his cocktail-making robotics (shaken, not stirred).
As for New York, it has long been known that for an artist to “make it,” that artist must have a showing in New York. And the avant-garde gallerist Jack Hanley has stuck his neck out to provide a Manhattan home base for this “Weird Science” art exhibition, showcasing two quiet-but-in-it-for-the-long-term technological-artistic innovators living in the Bay Area: Matt Heckert and Kal Spelletich. Both are iconcolastic spirits who have harnessed their rebellious impulses in the service of transgressive yet illuminating creativity: inventing art machines and installations which radiate rhizomatic puzzlement, suggest unexpected affinities, and activate (hopefully) reverberating radicalization.
Both Matt Heckert and Kal Spelletich have used technology to suggest futures which will not be circumscribed by fascistic functionality. Both are engaged in the great project of imagining into existence new modes of interactivity, new modes of being, new modes of transcending a future imprisoned by banal borderlines of conceptuality. Their machine fusions of art with technology are creating new anthropological-mythological enigmas to be decoded by future generations of art historians. So, enjoy them now!
—V. Vale, RE/Search founder-writer-curator-musician, www.researchpubs.com

1C. MESSAGE FROM V. VALE: LYDIA LUNCH and HENRY ROLLINS: New Pocketbooks from RE/Search. Order Now!
**** Brand-new books!***
The 1st and 2nd in our new “RE/SEARCH Pocketbook” series of interview books. Order direct from http://www.researchpubs.com ) – order BOTH and we’ll send you a “Goals of Life” w-i-p.
“Henry Rollins” and “Lydia Lunch” are now out! We’re working on “George Kuchar” and “Ed Hardy” now…
With the launch of the new RE/Search Pocketbook Series, we are finally making available these never-before-available RE/Search-quality interviews with Henry Rollins, Lydia Lunch, George Kuchar, Ed Hardy and more…

() DATING A.I.: A Guide to Falling In Love with Artificial Intelligence, by Alex Zhavoronkoff, Ph.D. is the clearest introduction to what Artificial Intelligence **is**. See our promo video: The CLEAREST (& FUNNIEST) INTRO to ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: RE/SEARCH’s DATING AI! http://prezi.com/zmgq5tizxnfy/dating-ai-for-researchpubs/?auth_key=60e67d8b57d9a22b5f3db997515c62d51ff6d601 … – order from http://www.researchpubs.com/Blog/products-page/new/dating-ai-by-dr-alex-z/
- here’s the first review of DATING A.I.: http://bltnotjustasandwich.com/2012/11/27/book-review-dating-ai-a-guide-to-falling-in-love-with-artificial-intelligence/

2. Counter Culture Hour – Saturday April 13, 2013 6pm: Due to popular demand — Spain Rodriguez will re-air. If you missed this last month, you have another chance to learn about this underground comic artist, who recently departed earth.

The Counter Culture Hour (aka RE/SEARCH TV) is also simulcast ON-LINE as well as on cable access San Francisco Channel 29 — 6pm Pacific Time, Sat Apr 13, 2013
- see this link at broadcast time:

http://www.bavc.org/public-access-tv/live-stream/channel-29-stream

You need a fairly decent internet connection and computer to “get it.”
USA west coast: 6:00 PM Saturday, Apr 13, 2013
USA east coast: 9:00 PM Sunday, Apr 14, 2013
Tokyo: 10:00 AM Sunday, Apr 14, 2013
If you cannot get this online email us at info@researchpubs.com

See RE/Search channel on youtube: “researchpubs”
There are also several episodes of The Counter Culture Hour on “veoh.com” — channel named “counterculture”

3. This is blank space a la John Cage aka “Meditation Space”!

4. FORTHCOMING EVENTS (San Francisco unless Otherwise Noted)

() FREE. Sat March 30, 7pm. Emerald Tablet, 80 Fresno Alley, presents free readings by “The Two Austrians of North Beach” plus a Swiss poet. http://emtab.org

() FREE, 7pm Tue April 2, our newsletter sponsor OUT OF OUR… has a 15th issue release party at Emerald Tablet, 80 Fresno Alley – http://emtab.org

() FREE. Mon April 1, Noon. St. Stupid’s Day PARADE; meet at Embarcadero Plaza/foot of Market St! RAIN or SHINE. San Francisco’s annual right-left-right of spring marches thru the Financial district yet again. Sponsored by the First Church of the Last Laugh, this modern update of the medieval Feast of Fools leads its many costumed followers to the Stations of Stupid. Bring your collection of solo’d socks to trade at the old Pacific Stock Exchange. Gather the pennies from the desk drawer and couch cushions to toss at the Bankers Heart. Come be a part of the spectacle of the Leap of Faith, the knocking on the door of the Tomb of Stupid, take a break at the Parade Rest Stop and fling your losing lottery tickets at the Federal Reserve Bank HQ. This will be the 35th time this edgy light-hearted poke at the business of religion and the religion of business meets to fulfill the one holy day obligation of the world’s oldest religion, the world’s largest church….you’re already a member. Come find out why. www.saintstupid.com

() FREE. Tue Apr 2, 11-5pm, SFMOMA: Garry Winogrand Photo Show. Noon: Erin O’Toole presents special program on G.W. Museum & program admission are free! (N.B.: SFMOMA will be CLOSED for 3 years or more, so go while you can!). ALSO FREE TODAY: De Young Museum (“Girl with a Pearl Earring”; Legion of Honor Museum, Yerba Buena Center.

() FREE. Sat-Sun, all of April. Mal Sharpe’s band, 1-5pm? Savoy Tivoli, Grant Ave near Union St, S.F.
p.s. He’s right out in the open, so just walk by to hear!

() NEW YORK. Sun April 1, 2013, 12 noon: Joey Skaggs’ (read him in our PRANKS books) puts on this annually: The 28th Annual April Fools’ Day Parade will begin at Fifth Avenue and 59th Street at 12 noon. Also, see photo of William S. Burroughs by Peter Hujar in Pace/Magill Gallery show til April 20.

() LOS ANGELES. April dates for Meri St Mary readings: : 4/11/13 STORIES on Sunset Echo Park/Silverlake
2: 4/13/13 BEYOND BAROQUE in Venice
3: 4/14/13 THE LAST BOOKSTORE Downtown LA

() FREE. Wed-Sun April 3-7, 10 AM-6pm, Friends of Library Book Sale at Fort Mason. Sun: books $1 each!

() $ Thur April 4, 8pm. Slims, 333 11th St/Folsom, SF. 10pm Galaxxy Chamber with puppets by Shadow Circus Creature Theater. (N.B: We like Galaxxy Chamber). Also Coo Coo Birds, Linda Imperial Band, Hibbidy Dibbity.

() $$ Tue April 9, Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, tour to support “Push the Sky Away,” new album. ‘Nuff said! Jubilee Street” – uncensored video: http://blogs.sfweekly.com/shookdown/2013/02/nick_cave_the_bad_seeds_san_francisco_show_bill_graham_civic.php

() Wed April 10, 530pm, PHILADELPHIA: V. Vale lecture at Arcadia University Art Gallery on J.G. Ballard.

() FREE. Thur Apr 11, 8pm. “SF’s Lost Cemeteries” film at Calif. Inst. of Integral Studies (CIIS), 1453 Mission/11th St, SF.

() $3 Sun April 14, 10-4pm KUSF Rock N’ Swap. USF McLaren Hall, 2130 Fulton/Masonic, SF. Mickey McGowan may be there!

() FREE. Thur April 18, 5:30pm-8pm. Read your favorite poem or perform one at City Hall’s Open Mic Poetry: the 8th Annual Poems Under the Dome. www.poemdome.net

() FREE. Sun April 21, 11-4pm. “Sunday Streets in the Mission”: Valencia St from Duboce to 24th St closed to cars for a people playground. https://www.facebook.com/events/535603236484632

() $ Mon April 29, 730pm RE/SEARCH & Emerald Tablet (80 Fresno St) present all the way from JAPAN: a 2-hour program featuring Punk Rocker HIDEpresenting his take on the Fukushima/Nuclear Power Plant disaster (20,000 dead), with illustrations, Q&A, full-blown Japan-eccentricity. Only 40 seats for this rare, very strange, possibly over-the-top event – Japanophiles take note! If you wish to attend please email Vale at info@researchpubs.com and you will be instructed – at this early date we haven’t set up Brown Paper Tickets yet.
HERE is a hint at what will happen Mon April 29: “Please come to my talk and spoken words and Q & A show, you will see and experience first time in music history of the universe. I think Japanese punk rocker speak out in english to only talk, not play music, just TALK for 2 hours or more about free subjects, kind of TV style Q & A. Japan had massive attack tunami and earthquake and atomic power plant blow up our mind about 2 years ago. This is my kind of timing to use the japan facts and my music art working progression to over seas. This show is most of time i like do Q & A with attendance ask me whatever your curiosity to answer, subject of nuclear, sex, breakfast, foot pedals, kingdom of bhutan, my neighborhood, parallel world,etc. My 52 years life experience think about japan is well know mind control from USA & ENGLAND with totally “MANGA” stupidity presence of japan isolation era with funky style just well copyed and manga eat all japanese brains or I can see just little bit “Oh man, I am seeing the future of the control by corporations and one country call THE EARTH.” that why we are robots.”
This promises definitely to be a fun, weird, memorable evening! Support HIDE – hands across the sea!
http://www.facebook.com/hide.u.fujiwara

5. What We’ve Attended/What We’ve Been Reading/Seeing/Listening to/What We’ve Been Sent/Given

() big 10-page intv w/V. Vale in the new print version of SFAQ (San Francisco Art Quarterly) available at galleries, City Lights Bookstore, Tattoo City, SFAI, etc. Write RE/Search if you want a copy!

() Eric Christensen made a documentary including Yoko Ono, Mouse&Kelley, Roger Dean, Victor Moscoso, Ethan Russell. Bonus disc included. www.thecoverstoryalbumart.com – 415.793.7301 – here are stories revealing how certain “classic” album covers were made…

() Penny Rimbaud and Gee Vaucher (CRASS founders) were just here! Watch for a forthcoming Counter Culture Hour episode with them! Does anyone want to write in about any of their events they had here and in NYC in March? Please do!

6. MEDITATION SPACE No. 2

7. RECOMMENDED LINKS (send some!)

() The CLEAREST (& FUNNIEST) INTRO to ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: RE/SEARCH’s DATING AI! http://prezi.com/zmgq5tizxnfy/dating-ai-for-researchpubs/?auth_key=60e67d8b57d9a22b5f3db997515c62d51ff6d601 … … – order from http://www.researchpubs.com/Blog/products-page/new/dating-ai-by-dr-alex-z/ …

() from V in London: http://ubumexico.centro.org.mx/sound/burroughs_william/RET/Burroughs-William_RET_3-04-We-Are-The-Night-Family.mp3
www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/2013/02/18/the-ticket-that-exploded-an-ongoing-opera

http://dangerousminds.net/comments/rub_out_the_words_the_letters_of_william_s._burroughs_1959-1974

Who said it: SpongeBog or Nietzsche? (i got 11 out of 15!) http://www.buzzfeed.com/hnigatu/who-said-it-spongebob-or-nietzsche

() from R.U.Sirius:

http://www.theverge.com/2013/3/7/4036040/cypherpunks-julian-assange-wikileaks-encryption-surveillance-dystopia

() from Skot A: http://dangerousminds.net/comments/nuggets_on_video_sixties_garage_rock_proto-punk_megapost_part_1
- http://www.buzzfeed.com/perpetua/7-sound-recordings-made-before-thomas-edison (scary, ancient sound files)
- surveillance: http://installationcctv.com/surveillance-camera-players-1984/

() Video of Ed Hardy painting: http://vimeo.com/michaeljohnevans/edhardy

() R.I.P. Spain (cartoonist): http://youtu.be/3RCmCE72U0I

() from Mark Pauline, SRL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AT1mIAkJG34 spine robot hurls cinder block 16 feet!

() from Danielle N: “I THINK THIS IS AMAZING” – Agreed! Inspiring, Gives “Hope”! Patti @ Age 31. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k21olN29oPA

() from Harry B: “…word I made up”: http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20120827113135AA9FLY9

() Cacophony Society book forthcoming (see also our PRANKS 2 book) http://www.lastgasp.com/blog/publishing/tales-of-the-san-francisco-cacophony-society/

() Congrats Jon Moritsugu & Amy: http://cuff.org/2013/03/2013-awards-announcement/

() from Winston Smith: Gee Vaucher Show in S.F.: http://www.voiceplaces.com/first-impressions-prints-by-gee-vaucher-san-francisco-bay-area-3406113-e/

() from Nancy F: “Our history in 2 minutes”: http://marcbrecy.perso.neuf.fr/history.html

() from Phil G: “I wonder who in their right mind would want these. Since the Google folks are so smart, how can they rationalize all the negatives? If it was just a few geeks with homemade versions of these, they would be run out of town.” http://www.edrants.com/thirty-five-arguments-against-google-glass/

() from Skot A: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiVjne26a0k

() from Mark P http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTmJbqcwG1A – SRL at XFF, L.A.

() from Ralf: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLXXLY7zewo

() Burroughs, Zappa, Gysin: http://gothamist.com/2013/03/26/frank_zappa_reads_william_s_burroug.php

() from Bruno R: http://24.media.tumblr.com/fbb86608ca7ea64c369f4687578190d1/tumblr_mh5kbdb5dD1rowbi5o1_400.gif

() follow Poet/Performance Artist Ada McCartney on FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/ada.mccartney?ref=ts&fref=ts

8. QUOTES

() “In the complex world, the notion of “cause” itself is suspect; it is either nearly impossible to detect or not really defined—another reason to ignore newspapers, with their constant supply of causes for things.” –Nassim Taleb, Antifragile

() ““In medicine, we are discovering the healing powers of fasting, as the avoidance of the hormonal rushes that come with the ingestion of food. Hormones convey information to the different parts of our system, and too much of them confuses our biology. Here again, as with news received at too high a frequency, too much information becomes harmful—daily news and sugar confuse our system in the same manner.” –Nassim Taleb, Antifragile

() The Table of Contents of J.G. Ballard’s 2006 novel, KINGDOM COME, reads like a kind of poetry: “The Homecoming. The Riot. The Resistance Movement. Snakes and Ladders. Accidents and Emergencies. The Beach at the Holiday Inn. Street People. A Hard Night. Neon Palaces. Towards a Willed Madness. The Prisoner in the Tower. The Bomb Attack. The Geometry of the Crowd. A Failed Revolution. The Need to Understand. A New Politics. The Trenchcoat Hero. The Women’s Refuge. A Fascist State. Lonely, Lost, Angry. A Bullet in the Hand. An Anxious Intermission. The Old Man’s Quest. The Stricken City. Assassination. The Consumer Life. Work Makes You Free. Normality. Shrines and Altars. Prayers and Wool-Wash Cycles. Tell Him. The Last Stand. Exit Strategies. A Solar Cult.”

“Sitting in his Shepperton semi, Ballard has issued a series of bulletins on the modern world of almost unerring prescience. Other writers describe; Ballard anticipates. To paraphrse the title of one of his short story collections, he has provided us with our own myths of the near future.” – Will Self

9. LETTERS FROM READERS:

() “Hi Vale, I’m glad you got to see the Llyn Foulkes show, & that you were impressed enough to write about it to the extent that you did! If you got the catalogue, you saw that I was the one who wrote the essay about his music (which he very much appreciated). My old friend Norton Wisdom, also a painter who has long done live painting performances in addition to his studio work & who has painted live with Llyn playing his Machine many times, turned me on to Llyn and pushed things far enough for me to get to write that essay (if I never told you about Norton, a lifelong Angeleno except for the early ‘70s when he got an MFA in art at Berkeley alongside my brother, then I should send you the piece I did on him for The Wire, in 2005—also on my website). Anyway, since I couldn’t get the museum to fly me out for the opening (though they did pay respectably for my essay), I decided to skip the opening and flew out a week later instead. In my three days there (after a quick visit to Berkeley), I saw the show twice, spending a couple hours each time, and got to see Llyn perform on his Machine (with Norton painting) at his performance space (The Church of Art) next door to his studio and live-in loft, just east of downtown at the Brewery. I’ve tried to interest small labels (Zorn’s Tzadik, & Cryptogramophone in LA) in producing a CD of his improvisational work on the Machine, but no go. So, the idea of flying the Machine to NY for the show here probably won’t happen. Anyway, keep well. All best, Jason W.”

() “Hey Vale, I’m glad you discovered Llyn Foulkes! I learned about him thru a show at the Oakland museum about 15 years ago….I wish I could go catch this retrospective in LA…I will certainly try !!!
[about City Lights event with Stewart Home] … but anyhooooo, I’m still glad I went, I had always wanted to see the Odd Fellows hall, so thanks for alerting me.
I also booked tix to the Crass event on 3/17. Great to talk last Saturday !!! I’ll email you pics of Lucky’s sculpture…. best, Dave S”

() ”Hi Vale: See that you have a book out with Lydia Lunch and Henry Rollins. Have you not considered to combine my film with it in which they both play the lead, Lydia also wrote the script (so I even gave her a co-directorscredit for that reason) and Mike Kuchar did the camera. It is called: Kiss Napoleon Goodbye produced in 1991. Jim Thirlwell did the great soundtrack. It would at least be good if you could somehow announce the fact that this dvd is available as I included 3 very good poetry- performances by Lydia on it as extras (and can be ordered since a few years in los angeles @Cult Love, Babeth” – [note, order the film from: Nico B, www.cultepics.com, or write nico@cultepics.com ]

() Thanks for plugging my book of poems in your newsletter – Jet Shock and Culture Lag. – Steven”

() [SRL mini-Show: SRL demo'd their SPINE ROBOT live!] “Fun at the California Academy of Sciences last night (Thur March 7, 2013). Special thanks to jonko and abraham for getting it all ready and down there. We were right next to the Goggle self-driving car that was showing its 3-D scanning output on a screen live and the robot camera guys from Portrero hill (jason worked on the robot arm in a car for them last year). You could see the spine robot in the scene moving around! Got some great shots of the spine in action, we brought cinder blocks but being next to the goggle car, it wasn’t going to work out to throw them, so we chucked traffic cones instead.
“Picked up Nina at one point. Drone camera worked great got some good footage but no gps as it was under a metal awning and couldnt get a full signal, had to drive it manually. No crashes anyway and didnt cut anyone with the blades. Sent in my budget for a possible future Las Vegas show; they want to do a bigger show now. We’ll see…Mark Pauline”
“Lots of fun at the SRL show last night, March 7, 2013! I put this quick little teaser reel together from my grainy little point-and-shoot coolpix. Pretty rough, and it doesn’t show the crowds or crazy shenanigans…The video camera and drone footage will make a more impressive video when they’ve been processed.
“At one point in the evening, Mark picked me and John up together and the spine didn’t flinch for a second under the weight (lots of oohs and ahhs from the crowd). At another point, I swung Nina around a little too quickly in her evening wear and she almost ended up on top of the Google car. Looking forward to seeing that from multiple camera angles. And on Google maps. Sorry Nina. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-OaUoz1lXc - Abraham”

() “Dear friends, Antonino’s film Let Fury Have the Hour is out now on iTunes! If you haven’t seen it, please check it out. If you have, see it again. We deeply appreciate your support. And please forward this message to everyone everywhere! Many thanks! La Lutta NMC “Kudos to writer-director Antonino D’Ambrosio for taking such an eclectic and disparate number of aims, thoughts, subjects and mediums and creating the smart and inspiring — and uniquely whole —documentary that is “Let Fury Have the Hour.” A kind of think/performance piece about what’s termed here “creative reaction,” the film hears from a stirring swath of socially conscious artists whose work largely emerged as an anger-channeling counter to the Reagan-Thatcher era of conservative individualism. – LA Times – from Winston Smith

10. **SPONSORS** (Without them you would NOT be receiving this newsletter – Please go to their websites!)
If you would like to subscribe, we ask for a 3-month minimum ($33).
1. 47 Canal Street (Gallery w/events, NYC) – 47CanalStreet.com – we hope they survived Hurricane Sandy intact!
2. Emerald Tablet (Gallery w/events), Fresno Alley (100 feet from RE/Search! in North Beach). emtab.org – lots of free or low cost local community events; check out their schedule! http://emtab.org/ – they’re open during North Beach Art Walk…
3. Emily Armstrong’s blog: www.gonightclubbing.com (last button on the left, scroll through the posts!)
4. Contribute to (& Order copies of!) “OUT OF OUR” – Steven Gray & Sarah Page’s San Francisco Poetry Magazine: outofour.com
5. From our friends Amy and Brian: check out their “simple business software for art galleries: gallerystar.com
6. V. Vale’s RE/Search Newsletter is cordially sponsored by “Beyond the Beyond.”
Information Wants To Be Free WE MEAN IT MAN! $0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0 http://blog.wired.com/sterling
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8. Mrs Dalloway (Catering, Bay Area): Holly Erickson’s catering/foodblog/cookbook
www.mrsdallowayscatering.com and lightscameracuisine.foodblog.com
9. Philip Lenihan. A founder of Sluggo magazine from Austin, Texas.
10. Mal Sharpe, Jennifer Sharpe.
11. Charels H. Kerr Publishing Company – Penelope Rosemont, Chicago Surrealist Group founder.
12. Kevin O’Malley+Christie Dames, the High-Heeled Anarchist: TechTalk/Studio: http://techtalkstudio.com + Commonwealth Club, San Francisco.

RE/Search THANKS (3) SPONSORS who Wish to Remain Anonymous – you know who you are! And yes, we NEEDED Your Support! (B.H., DaveS., V.V.)

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APRIL 2013 RE/Search eNewsletter written by V. Vale & other contributors. RE/Search website powered by http://www.laughingsquid.com. Add us (“info@researchpubs.com”) to Your Address Book
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RE/Search Publications
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info@researchpubs.com
www.researchpubs.com

V. Vale March Newsletter 2013

March 06, 2013 By: admin Category: Blog 1 Comment →

WELCOME TO V. VALE’s RE/SEARCH NEWSLETTER #113, FEB-MARCH 2013 Add Us to Your Address Book! You are Receiving this Email because You or Someone You Know Signed Up to Our Newsletter in the Past. Scroll to the Bottom of this Email to UNSUBSCRIBE. Are you receiving this newsletter (annoyingly) TWICE? PLEASE tell us which address to delete.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1A. MESSAGE FROM YOUR EDITOR, V. VALE: How I Came to Like Llyn Foulkes (Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, Retrospective NOW!)
1B. LYDIA LUNCH & HENRY ROLLINS: The New Line of “RE/SEARCH Pocketbooks” – order now! (Some call them RE/Search “baby” books; they’re small & “cute”. Others call them RE/Search mini-books.)
2. Counter Culture Hour Sat March 9, 2013 – 6:00 PM PACIFIC TIME – SF cable channel 29, also simulcast on-line (see below):
3. **MEDITATION SPACE** [blank]
4. FORTHCOMING EVENTS – RE/Search’s benefit for CRASS (GeeVaucher&PennyRimbaud)! See Gee’s new film! Plus live interview.
5. What We’ve Attended/What We’ve Been Reading/Seeing:
6. MEDITATION SPACE No. 2
7. Recommended Links – send some!
8. QUOTES
9. Letters from Readers
10. Sponsors (Please check ‘em out! – they make this “free” newsletter possible!)
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1A. MESSAGE FROM YOUR EDITOR, V. VALE: (essay)

HOW I CAME TO LIKE LLYN FOULKES

It all started with lunch (at an authentic, non-expensive Italian restaurant in San Francisco’s romantic North Beach) with the artist and guru of tattoo, Ed H. “I’m going to Los Angeles to see the first big art show of Llyn Foulkes at the Hammer Museum. I’ve known him since around 1963; he’s part of that very important group of West Coast artists that started around the Ferus Gallery directed by Walter Hopps, whom I got to know before he died.”

I had to admit I had never heard of Llyn Foulkes. As soon as I got home, I googled and found examples of his art which immediately seemed puzzling and enigmatic (“What’s going on here?”) but also darkly humorous. As good fortune would have it, I found myself in Los Angeles Saturday night, Feb, 2, 2013 at 6pm attending the invitation-only opening.

The Hammer Museum is huge. After being vetted by the admissions counter, one ascends a flight of stairs and encounters a spacious plein-air balcony overlooking a large courtyard. My friend David C. (a computer scientist who has won an Academy Award) and I started wading through the crowd of people toward the museum entrance when we encountered the artist/curator Laurie Steelink, plus her friends the art critic Tibby Rothman and the writer Kristine McKenna (from the Punk Rock ’70s First Generation; now an Arts Writer with an impressive C.V.). Next I saw Suzanne Stefanac, a former San Franciscan/writer from the ’80s Punk scene: “old-school reunion”!

David and I entered the first room, an alcove to the right, and cursorily began to inspect the artist’s early hand-made sketches, drawings, and cartoon-like explorations. However, there were so many (plus, they were somewhat small) that it would have taken literally hours to thoroughly experience these monochromatic works. But the kinship to the early generation of Los Angeles artistic innovators such as Big Daddy Roth, Von Dutch and other members of the late Fifties “CounterCulture Rat Pack” was immediately apparent. Also apparent was Foulkes’s technical mastery of the medium: a kind of Zen capturing of inspiration via his whirlwind application of ink to paper sans erasures. I found out later that Foulkes had wanted to become a cartoonist; don’t know why that never happened—guess he didn’t make the right “connection” with a publisher.

We made a mental note to return (which, sadly, never happened) and proceeded to the next large gallery. The first work which immediately made us a fan was a 1953 oil on wood titled “Images of Perception,” done when the artist was but 19 years old. The title card seemingly captured the ethos of Foulkes’ future trajectory as an innovator, non-conformist and idiosyncratic West Coast Master: “When Llyn Foulkes was seventeen, a friend introduced him to the surrealist paintings of Salvador Dali, which inspired him to paint. He borrowed the artist’s autobiography, “The Secret Life of Salvador Dali” (1947) from the school library and never returned it. (The book is still in his possession.) Dali’s influence on Foulkes is undeniable in this early painting, with its eerie landscape of morphing human and animal forms.” (Dali painted Cadaques; Foulkes painted L.A. desert rocks.)

Actually, this colorful 1953 painting shouted “Yves Tanguy” at me, and since I am a long-term Tanguy fan I immediately liked it on a primitive emotional-response level. Obviously, this work was done by somebody who could really paint, and while the homage to the school of Surrealism was apparent, nevertheless—had any Surrealist incorporated blue jeans in a painting before?! (And speaking of Dali, has anyone read his books, interviews and biographies? Dali’s paintings reflect but a fraction of his imaginative, pranksterish universe.)

At lunch, Ed H. had “filled me in”: Born in the small town of Yakima, Washington Nov 17, 1934, Foulkes had been drafted and spent two years inspecting bombed-out post-WWII cities in Europe (a traumatic experience, affecting future art production?). Foulkes then migrated to Los Angeles in 1957 at the age of 23 to better develop his artistic future. After two years at Chouinard Art School (now Cal Arts) he decided he’d learned enough and continued his workaholic quest to realize all of his unique vision and talents. In 1962 the genius American curator Walter Hopps gave him his first show at the Pasadena Art Museum (Duchamp’s first American show was there, too, curated by Hopps). Living in a Los Angeles dominated by Hollywood mythography, and exploring the surrounding deserts and rocks in the Eagle Rock, Joshua Tree and Chatsworth environs, Foulkes developed his own California-based imagery via a process-intensive craft which refused to be subservient to a specific look or style. He continually strived to make two-dimensional art look three-dimensional; the deeper the perspective the better—often achieving this with thick layers of paint, or cloth, or plastic, or wood or whatever it takes to make the paintings emerge almost aggressively out of the frame to confront the viewer. Never shirking controversy, Foulkes even included a dead possum (and later, a dead cat) in his artworks (sadly, he threw out the work with the dead possum years ago).

I particularly liked a wall-size cabinet-of-curiosities photo collage incorporating strange objets, Foulkes’ cow that pre-dated Warhol’s Pop Art cow paintings; a life-size anatomy drawing; dozens of small photographs, a framed newspaper about the Kennedy assassinations, odd objects and curios on shelves; bones, bird wings, animal skulls and other examples of the art of taxidermy, plus ancient telephones, bottles, clocks—what a mosaic reflecting a beautifully curious mind! Also, what a panoply of forgotten Americana history and aesthetics.

The show turned out to be somewhat overwhelming, so below l will only spotlight a few out of the more than 140 artworks in the Hammer Museum show, which travels in June to the New Museum, NYC (however, that show will include around 90 works).

Right away, one particularly striking, predominantly-white “painting” featured a small tarnished mirror on top of a cascading flow of white plastic goo oozing out to form layers of fabric extruding fully a foot out of the frame, like some kind of horror-movie sequence captured in stop-motion by a 3-D printer. This was weird!

Next of note were a series of “Bloody Head” portrait-paintings in a variety of sizes and different-colored frames. Each face was obscured by an overlay: an envelope or collage or paint or other material. Sometimes there was handwriting above… what a strange idea for a series of artworks?!

Next I focused on a large painting resembling the cover of a medical textbook. It was titled “Case Number 542-3786″; the imagery featured a woman in a long white dress (face not shown) within a Red Cross red square within a circle within a larger blue cross. Below that was the flesh-toned back torso of a man with strange skin patterns showing perhaps the after-effects of acupuncture cupping? This is a medical book cover from an alternate universe, and reminded me of J.G. Ballard.

Another weirdly-humorous 3-D portrait showed a fat man in a blue suit and diagonal-striped tie whose cartoon-like arm extended well out of the frame, its hand apparently about to flip a large coin. The face was covered by a dollar bill bearing pop-out eyes glued appropriately underneath wiry disheveled hair sticking out. The man has a large double chin above a pink shirt collar.

Then, a more spectacular tableau: “The Last Outpost” (1983) featured the Lone Ranger lying in the foreground, seemingly smiling (or grimacing?) with his pistol fallen from his hand, The pants of his blue uniform are tucked into black cowboy boots. Above him to the right is a pioneer woman (long white dress) whose head is a small Mickey Mouse?! Far in the background a man is walking along a curving road; at a distance stands a lone telegraph pole (or is it a cross?). Desert mountains recede into the distance. This painting was framed with beautifully-patterned wood featuring a horseshoe at the top center, enhancing the “Wild West” feeling. The Mickey Mouse woman seems to be leaning on a white marble column, and the entire work seems to be—yes—a kind of diorama. Dioramas are one of my favorite “art forms”—something I instantly realized—and wondered if this format requires a bit more process of “legitimation” and “historification”: perhaps a book titled “A History of the Diorama As Art”?

Having long been a fan of Arcimboldo, I immediately liked the painting of a rock formation titled “Portrait of Leo Dorcey,” an actor who portrayed one of the Dead-End Kids in ’30s movies. I also liked another rock formation painting incorporating a letter to someone named “Rabyn” deploring the conservatism of the L.A. art scene: “Rabyn’s Rock,” 1984.

The next piéce de resistance (“O’Pablo,” 1983) was a spectacular (and somewhat x-rated) diorama showing a murdered art critic with a full erection bursting from a hole in his trousers. A yellow cartoon-bird reading a book has a speech bubble proclaiming “All Aboard for L.A.,” perching on top of a coffin-length crate bearing the address to “Asher Faure Gallery, L.A. 90069.” A naked child, back to audience, is standing on the crate contemplating a blackboard above; next to the child is a rock dripping with blood… There’s a lot more details, but, you get the general idea: this is a visual critique of art critics in general, and it’s shocking and funny—i.e., transgressive.

For those who remember the seventies, there was a lovely satirical portrait of Ronald Reagan, face covered by a child’s hockey mask (?), a ruler, one eyeball in the center, and blood dripping down the face from where the eyes should have been…

“School Days,” 1996: A landscape of a junk-and-debris-filled foreground, smoke ascending, an American flagpole in the center, and in the distance to the right a bright yellow McDonalds “M” frame. We’re guessing that Foulkes does not like huge corporations, and that McDonalds did not sue for trademark infringement.

Llyn Foulkes also does not like Walt Disney and his empire, because he was told about certain adverse experiences from his father-in-law Ward Kimball, an early Disney animator. His portrait titled “Corporate Kiss” (2001) shows a small Mickey Mouse head kissing the face of the male subject. Likewise, Foulkes’s “Mr President” (2006) shows a portrait of George Washington with part of a Mickey Mouse head covering Washington’s face. “Deliverance” (2007) shows the outline of a man with a pistol pointing at a dead Mickey Mouse on the floor of an art studio (the window shows a rock formation in the distance, with the top of a child’s head peering through the window). Smoke is escaping through a hole in Mickey’s chest…

But the Disney empire is not the only subject of critical commentary: in “Pop,” (1985-90) a bug-eyed man sits watching a television while his young daughter touches his upper right arm. In the foreground, his ears covered by headphones, a young man (presumably the son) is facing his dad while reading a page from a Disney “mind-control” text Foulkes was given by his father-in-law. The dad’s shirt is open, revealing a Superman logo underneath, and his right side reveals a pistol. On the wall is a picture of an atom bomb explosion (Hiroshima) as well as the famous “Hollywood” sign. Symbolism, yes!

Death, an ever-present possibility, is dealt with in his noir, heavily textured “The Awakening,” (1994-2012) which shows an old man reading a book while an old woman lies curled next to him in bed. Both figures appear naked.

A special darkened room was dedicated to the most spectacular diorama of all: “The Last Frontier.” Beautifully lit, this is a deep-focus 3-D installation that’s magical in its contradictory imagery. A man with his back to us is viewing a computer monitor set on a strangely-textured rock formation. Behind that is a dead cat, while further in the distance a pioneer woman holding a gun (?) with her back to us stares at a mountainous valley in the distance. To the left is a long-haired male figure sitting in a Buddha-like pose, with a large begging bowl (?) in his lap, facing the audience but looking down. Of course there are more details, but, this viewing experience is unforgettable—the lighting is so amazing.

Did I mention that this private opening party was jammed and that it was difficult to see a lot of the exhibition? Nevertheless, the immediacy, epic scope and sometimes shocking 3-Dimensionality of the artwork produced a powerful emotional impact, despite the teeming masses. Ideally, one would pay a return visit during a time when most people are absent.

So… what is the artist really like? At home, we searched for interviews online and were happy to discover that Foulkes is as irascible, iconoclastic, sardonic and forthright as we had hoped. He is a genuine character, an Original. Perhaps it’s true that had he been less abrasive, he would have become a household name decades ago. No matter, now his Day in the Sun is here, at age 78, thanks to the collective and sustained prescient support of curator Ali Subotnick, Hammer Museum Director Ann Philbin, and of course the Hammer Museum’s entire staff, including one Morgan Kroll.

A not-insignificant sidenote: Llyn Foulkes is also a storied musician playing his own complex orchestral invention titled “The Machine.” He has played concerts in Europe (at Documenta 2012) and did a music performance Feb 26, 2013 at the Hammer Museum. His website lists his gallery and music news: www.llynfoulkes.com

The Llyn Foulkes Retrospective can be seen now through May 19, 2013 at the UCLA Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd, Westwood (Los Angeles). 310.443.7000, www.hammer.ucla.edu (It’s closed on Monday, and Thursday is free day.) This show will travel to the New Museum in New York June 2013 and to the Museum Kurhaus Kleve in Germany November 2013. A catalog is available from the Hammer Museum store for $60.

1B. MESSAGE FROM V. VALE: LYDIA LUNCH and HENRY ROLLINS: New Pocketbooks from RE/Search. Order Now!
**** Brand-new books!***
The 1st and 2nd in our new “RE/SEARCH Pocketbook” series of interview books. Order direct from http://www.researchpubs.com )
“Henry Rollins” and “Lydia Lunch” are now out! We’re working on “George Kuchar” and “Ed Hardy” now…

With the launch of the new RE/Search Pocketbook Series, we are finally making available these never-before-available RE/Search-quality interviews with Henry Rollins, Lydia Lunch, George Kuchar, Ed Hardy and more…

() DATING A.I.: A Guide to Falling In Love with Artificial Intelligence, by Alex Zhavoronkoff, Ph.D. is the clearest introduction to what Artificial Intelligence **is**. See our promo video: The CLEAREST (& FUNNIEST) INTRO to ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: RE/SEARCH’s DATING AI! http://prezi.com/zmgq5tizxnfy/dating-ai-for-researchpubs/?auth_key=60e67d8b57d9a22b5f3db997515c62d51ff6d601 … – order from http://www.researchpubs.com/Blog/products-page/new/dating-ai-by-dr-alex-z/
- here’s the first review of DATING A.I.: http://bltnotjustasandwich.com/2012/11/27/book-review-dating-ai-a-guide-to-falling-in-love-with-artificial-intelligence/

2. Counter Culture Hour – Saturday March 9, 2013 6pm: R.I.P. Spain Rodriguez, 60s Underground Cartoonist.

The Counter Culture Hour (aka RE/SEARCH TV) is also simulcast ON-LINE as well as on cable access San Francisco Channel 29 — 6pm Pacific Time, Sat Dec 8, 2012
- see this link at broadcast time:

http://www.bavc.org/public-access-tv/live-stream/channel-29-stream

You need a fairly decent internet connection and computer to “get it.”
USA west coast: 6:00 PM Saturday, Mar 9, 2013
USA east coast: 9:00 PM Sunday, Mar 10, Jan 13, 2013
Tokyo: 10:00 AM Sunday, Mar 10, 2013
If you cannot get this online email us at info@researchpubs.com

() Historical Record: Aired Feb 9, 2013 6:00 PM Pacific Time – improved version of the Punk Reunion Sept 2012 at Lennon Studios, featuring Steve Tupper, founder of Subterranean Records, Jeff Rafael, drummer of the Nuns, the Avengers, Zeros, The Urge, Frightwig, more…

See RE/Search channel on youtube: “researchpubs”
There are also several episodes of The Counter Culture Hour on “veoh.com” — channel named “counterculture”

3. This is blank space a la John Cage aka “Meditation Space”!

4. FORTHCOMING EVENTS (San Francisco unless Otherwise Noted)

()() SPECIAL EVENT! Crass founding members, Gee Vaucher and Penny Rimbaud are coming to town!
RE/Search and Emerald Tablet will be co-hosting the USA Premiere of Gee Vaucher’s new 1-hour film: ANGEL
March 17, 8 PM, 80 Fresno Alley, near Grant Street in North Beach.
This is a one-night-only, very-limited-seating event. http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/347672

After the screening V. Vale will interview Penny and Gee on stage, and moderate questions from the audience.
RECEPTION FOLLOWING – with Crass founders Gee Vaucher and Penny Rimbaud.
Their books and artwork will be on view and for sale. Get them signed!
As this event is directly in support of Gee and Penny’s trip to San Francisco, only 40 tickets will be sold at $23 each through Brown Paper Tickets. All money goes directly to Gee & Penny. http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/347672

Telephone 415-362-1465 for more information.

() FREE. Sat-Sun, all of March. Mal Sharpe’s band, 1-5pm? Savoy Tivoli, Grant Ave near Union St, S.F.

() $$ GOOD CAUSE: TOMFEST: Tribute to Tom Mallon at Great American Music Hall. Sun March 3, Doors 630pm, Show 730pm. 859 O’Farrell St/Larkin-Hyde, SF. Event benefits Tom Mallon, who recorded many “Punk” bands locally, and also brain-cancer research. Bands include Toiling Midgets, Penelope Houston’s group, Frightwig, Chuck Prophet’s group, etc.

() $$ Sun March 3 NoisePop Film and Music Festival “Let Fury Have the Hour” – RE/Search recommends seeing this film!
Special screening of “Let Fury Have the Hour”! NYC d irector Antonino D’Ambrosio will be present to autograph his book of same title! http://www.atasite.org/2013/03/let-fury-have-the-hour/

() Tu March 5: Bay Lights Unveiling on the Bay Bridge, San Francisco section. www.thebaylights.org – however, we’ve watched the Bay Lights for sometime now!

() FREE. Thur Mar 7, 5:30pm: 1st Thursday Art Receptions: 49 Geary, 77 Geary, 14 Geary, 251 Post, etc.

() FREE or $$?. Thur March 7, 6pm, Calif. Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park, across from deYoung Museum. SRL will demonstrate their ever-evolving spine-robot machine, documenting the performance with homemade drone video cameras. srl.org

() FREE. Sat-Sun Mar 16-17, 11-6pm, Anarchist Book Fair. Armory @ Mission/14th St. https://www.facebook.com/events/315726928523586 http://bayareaanarchistbookfair.wordpress.com – take the bus, free parking is hard to find! RE/Search will have a table w/Charles Gatewood – meet us!

() Sun March 17 8pm – ONLY 40 TICKETS for RE/Search’s CRASS event: Be Part of a Very Tiny Party! Gee’s new film will premiere; live Q&A interview, reception afterwards. http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/347672

() FREE Mon Mar 25, 7pm City Lights presents an evening with RICHARD HELL promoting his newest book; book-signing afterwards.

() Thu-Fri-Sat March 29-June 1, 8pm Weekends March-June Tinsel Tarts in a Hot Coma The Next Cockettes Musical – Only at The Hypnodrome 575 10th St., San Francisco – Map Tickets $30 and $35 – remember this is LIVE THEATER, only 45 seats including special “shock boxes” for couples – highly recommended
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THE FOLLOWING ARE here as HISTORICAL RECORDS for FEBRUARY 2013:
() Jan 31-Feb 3 Los Angeles Art Book Fair. Also Llyn Foulkes opening at Hammer Museum.
() $ BERKELEY BAM/PFA. Feb 2-22, Silent Film Festival w/Live Musical Accompaniment! http://www.bampfa.berkeley.edu/filmseries/onlocation
() SAVAGE REPUBLIC TOURS EUROPE in FEBRUARY 2013: http://mobilization.com/artists/Savage%20Republic/tours.shtml – also see http://www.facebook.com/ethanportpage
Feb 5 Frankfurt, Germany @ Das Bett
Feb 6 Hamburg, Germany @ Hafenklang
Feb 7 Berlin, Germany @ K-17
Feb 8 Warsaw, Poland @ Cafe Kulturalna
Feb 9 Wroclaw, Poland @ Liverpool Club
Feb 10 TBA
Feb 11 TBA
Feb 12 Lyon, France @ Le Sonic!
Feb 13 Marseille, France @ La Poste a Galene
Feb 14 Geneva, Switzerland @ Le Kab
Feb 15 Tournai, Belgium @ Water Moulin
Feb 16 Paris, France @ Petit Bain
() https://www.facebook.com/pages/San-Francisco-Bike-Party/118246874907825
() Wed Feb 6 V. Vale plays piano at Caffe Trieste w/Ned Boynton band, Elvis Presley, Dean Martin, Tara, Frank & Harriett, et al
() FREE. Tu Feb 8: Free Museum Day: SFMOMA, DeYoung, Palace of Legion of Honor, Conservatory of Flowers in GGPark. http://sanfrancisco.about.com/od/museums/ss/freemuseumdays_3.htm.
() Feb 8 Ed Hardy gives presentation at SFAI. That night, 6-8pm FREE Gutai Celebration! http://www.sfai.edu/gutai Saw Christopher Coppola at Tosca’s
() FREE. Wed Feb 9: 1st Wed Free Day at SF Zoo, Exploratorium.
() $$ Feb 7-21 Roxie Thtr, Brava Thtr, SF: IndieFest – go to each theater’s website for complete listings!!
() FREE Fri Feb 8, 5-9pm, first show of Janet Pak’s ArtX Gallery. www.artxgallery.com Runway SF, 1355 Market Street, 4th floor bet. 9-10th St.
() Feb 11 Dona intvs V. Vale for Lithuanian Punk Rock Radio Show
() FREE Sun Feb 10, 12-5pm. Erotic Photo Show w/Michael Rosen, et al, Mission St/4th-5th Sts. Must be 21+. http://www.eroticartevents.com
() Thrillpeddlers.com Thur, Fri, Sat (Feb 14,15,16) V. Vale interviewed live Scrumbly Coldwyn, Pam Tent (author of “Midnight at the Palace” – about the Cockettes , Bambi Lake, Todd Trexler (Cockettes poster creator), Rumi Misabu, Debra Beaver Bauer (Cockettes member), Sebastian (Cockettes manager).
() Feb 21 RE/Search at Joshua Mohr’s “Fight Song” reading at Winston Smith’s Gallery. Peter Maravelis/City Lights production.
() Feb 23 RE/Search at dinner party for Phoebe Gloeckner. Saw Kevin Killian & Dodie Bellamy, Paul Mavrides, Jakoub, Scott MacLeod, more.
() Feb 27 V. Vale interviewed for Berlin documentary on “Industrial Music”
() Feb 27 RE/Search attends Jaron Lanier talk/music performance at SFAI, produced by Lynn Hershman-Leeson
() Feb 28 RE/Search attended Stewart Home (Jarett Kobek, Janey Smith, John Tottenham, more) reading at Odd Fellows Hall, produced by Peter Maravelis & Rebekah Weikel (Penny-Ante Press), later go to Pilsner Inn on Church St near Market. See Peter Plate. Cab ride to North Beach w/Fred Young.
() DEADLINE Sat FEB 23: Submit your “Noir” Art to: http://occca.org/EXHIBITIONS.html#graphique – you may be in an Art Show!
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5. What We’ve Attended/What We’ve Been Reading/Seeing/Listening to/What We’ve Been Sent/Given

() big 10-page intv w/V. Vale in the new print version of SFAQ (San Francisco Art Quarterly) available at galleries, City Lights Bookstore, Tattoo City, SFAI, etc. Write RE/Search if you want a copy!

() Interview with V. Vale by Nate Luce in Ad Hoc magazine‘s first issue: http://adhoc.fm/post/ad-hoc-issue-1-now-available/ – Nate Luce has launched his kickstarter campaign to raise money for his new project http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/720077024/new-camp

() Surely one of the most thankless propositions in the world is publishing a book of your poetry. It can’t ever be done for the profit motive! And if you’re trying to be “political” you’ve narrowed your reading audience down 90%. Nevertheless, self-publishing persists, and there’s probably no better feeling than NEVER having to deal with an editor who tells you what to do! So, for a genuine self-published poetry book, you could go to http://www.outofour.com/Jet.html It’s published by Steven Gray, who is a great Ballardian photographer (if he ever takes any more) and quite sizzling blues guitarist…

() Note: Thank you to All who have sent us Your Creativity, and we will try very hard to at least LIST what you sent and where it can be obtained.

6. MEDITATION SPACE No. 2

7. RECOMMENDED LINKS (send some!)

() The CLEAREST (& FUNNIEST) INTRO to ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: RE/SEARCH‘s DATING AI! http://prezi.com/zmgq5tizxnfy/dating-ai-for-researchpubs/?auth_key=60e67d8b57d9a22b5f3db997515c62d51ff6d601 … … – order from http://www.researchpubs.com/Blog/products-page/new/dating-ai-by-dr-alex-z/ …

() Check out an online Video Art piece by Ken Goldberg: http://memento.ieor.berkeley.edu/bloom/Mori.html

() from V in London: kadrey.tumblr.com/post/39468799842/martin-denny-was-it-really-love

http://www.ica.org.uk/35802/Talks/BAFTA-Masterclass-Labs-Peter-Strickland-on-Sound.html

berberian sound studio: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1833844/
www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/2013/02/18/the-ticket-that-exploded-an-ongoing-opera

() from Frank H: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtlYi1yLTVQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player

() Mark Pauline/Amy Critchett at the White House!?! http://archive.srl.org/2013/02/26/mark-pauline-at-the-white-house-2/

() from Ed H: Sad that he passed http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/20/world/asia/donald-richie-american-expert-on-japan-is-dead-at-88.html?hp&_r=0

() from GX Jupitter-Larsen: https://vimeo.com/56228480

() from DavidAlbertCox.com/blog: http://www.othercinema.com/otherzine/?issueid=28&article_id=163

() from Skot A: http://boingboing.net/2013/02/19/jesus-christ-is-my-nigga.html
- http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/01/12/songs-of-a-tyrant-meet-googoosha-dictators-daughter-and-pop-star/
- http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/happy-valentines-day-i-hate-you/

() from Amy: http://www.flickr.com/photos/amybean/sets/72157631370560352/with/7915140836/

() from Gail T: http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2013/01/a-man-feeding-swans-in-the-snow/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+colossal+(Colossal)

() from Jason Weiss: translation of César Vallejo, Six chronicles from Paris, late 1920s—

http://www.itinerariesofahummingbird.com/cesar-vallejo.html

() from Phil W: 40-min A.I. video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gC4Hp37h2nY&list=PL9DE34F460531BC84
(see it, then read our DATING A.I. book!)

() from Ed H: documentary on legendary tattoo artist Thom DeVita:

http://www.vice.com/tattoo-age/thom-devita-part-1

http://www.vice.com/tattoo-age/thom-devita-part-2

http://www.vice.com/tattoo-age/thom-devita-part-3

http://www.vice.com/tattoo-age/thom-devita-part-4

http://www.vice.com/tattoo-age/thom-devita-part-5

() from Jon Longhi: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibU60m8I53w&feature=youtu.be
“Having A Book Moment With Jon Longhi” – This week I review “Those F*cking Unicorns” and “A Guide To Troubled Birds” -

() from James Mc: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=DpRpLQKeJ0o&NR=1

- http://www.zengardner.com/the-damned-human-race-mark-twain-essay/
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMarsBr2PKA

() Jon Moritsugu’s “cult classic” HIPPY PORN film now available after a long absence: http://www.fandor.com/films/hippy_porn – this is the celluloid that was a major French cult hit, running theatrically in Paris for 1 1/2 years! A trio of angst-dripping, pseudo-intellectual, art school brats wallow in self-pity, narcissism, and extreme ennui. Rock-and-roll, manifestos, shoplifting, and rat hunting collide head-on.

() from Ralf: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/09/zorb-ball-ski-slope-russian

() from Karen M: http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-02-25/japan-matrix-now-reality-humans-are-used-living-batteries

() R.U. Sirius essay on “Free Internet vs. Middle Class Creatives”: http://www.theverge.com/2013/1/23/3899518/information-wants-to-be-free-world-world-isnt-ready

() from Marc F: http://www.alisant.net/cca/sitespecific/cage.html

() EXTREME FUTURIST FESTIVAL PHOTO/VIDEO LINKS:
() Gil Kuno https://plus.google.com/photos/111060832881578879724/albums/5827360097988539105?authkey=CK69teeTzZLrtQE
() Curious Josh http://www.curiousjosh.com/g1/survival-research-labs-extreme-futurist
() David Cotner http://blogs.laweekly.com/arts/2012/12/survival_research_laboratories.php
() Stephan Meyers http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephan/sets/72157632318049511/
() Steve Bage http://archive.srl.org/2012/12/29/srl-xff-documented/
() Karen Marcelo (now traveling; lucky girl!) http://srl.org/shows/xff/

8. QUOTES

() “I’ve had a problem with corporate art since the beginning. I had my first exhibition nine months before Andy Warhol showed his soup cans. I just walked in and said, “Oh, that’s cute.” It’s like a joke. That’s all I could think of it. I’m looking at the paintings and, well, anybody could have done them. No reason to treat them with any value as a painting. And yet, I knew that one of my huge paintings which had recently been on display and took seven years to complete would sell for far less than one of his soup cans.” – Llyn Foulkes, quoted in “Art in America” magazine

9. LETTERS FROM READERS:

() “The Henry Rollins book is fantastic, by the way.” – Garrett L. Vale’s reply: Thanks, Garrett. By the Way, readers (those of you who’ve gotten this far), this first in the line of RE/Search “Mini Books” can be ordered from www.researchpubs.com – so if you’d like a “Henry Rollins baby book” of your own, please find us! We’re here…

() “Vale! I read the Henry Rollins book in one sitting – it was so inspirational, you know what questions to ask – I came away from the book feeling better — feeling charged. HR has a way of making you feel lazy…I am going to review the HR book soon!” – longtime RE/Search subscriber & mail artist/writer – send him some mail art of your own! to Jim Hayes, POB 1459, Marietta, GA 30061 – He also wrote one of my favorite “band on the road” books titled JUCIFER RISING… what uncompromising determination!

() “According to the journalists the world ended. The Mayan calendar just said it’s the end of one “cycle”, just as a week
or a year ends. There never was any mentioning of the world to end. The end of the world just sells more papers and fear. A small difference. In a country with so blatantly stupid people posing as journalists as yours or mine you should have been aware of it, Vale. If you took 5 minutes researching the Mayan calendar.. or asking somebody who spent those 5 minutes.
“What these 5 minutes of research won’t give you is the significance of this new cycle: it’s the change of the “male guard” to the “female guard”. We all know women can be as shitty and violent as men (Margret Thatcher, Concoleezza Rice, etc.etc.) but .. anyway, the planet’s timetable involves these kind of things to keep it going instead of grinding to a halt. Don’t expect results too early;-) Not all parts of society are as blinded and stuck into short-term-memory as mass media will allow, of course. Frans Have a good new year, Vale.” Frans Stummer, Illustration Fontarbeiten Storyboard, www.frans-stummer.de

() “Dear Vale, …To be honest, meeting you was one of the brightest highlights of my entire trip to Los Angeles [for Extreme Futurist Festival 2013]. When I mention it to my friends here in Kalamazoo, they are all very jealous indeed.
“Though you wouldn’t know it from the music I make, I adore punk rock, especially the music form Great Britain in the late 1970s and early 1980s American hardcore. I cut my musical teeth on it and don’t think I will ever stop loving it!
Finally, did I give you a jump drive when I saw you? [NO] If not, i’ll have to send one your way. I’ve been recording music since around 1997, and I think you might enjoy some of the back catalog.
“Lovely to hear from you, and if I ever make it to San Francisco, I will be certain to look you up!” – Sid Redlin, [synth/noise/and more musician - [google him, please! I especially liked his live performance with ADA McCartney).] Sid’s music is worth checking out!

() our PRANKS book (available in HB and PB editions!) got these tributes: “This book is the closest thing to a bible that I own.” – Hollywood Psychic. “One of the most underrated and important books ever (John Waters knows what’s up): youtu.be/zkN6UP7x9AA – “Dirty Cyclist” – “Thank f*ck this is back in print as some f*cker stole my copy (you know who you are!) and the originals were starting to cost silly money (the Burroughs one is also a belter, highly recommended.” – Terry P. Power “A great book that does indeed include hundreds of different pranks from well-known RE/Search contributors.” – Barney23

() from Andrew in U.K.: “I just got hold of Nicholas Royle’s First Novel (not actually his first novel). I’ve never read his fiction before, although I read his book on Freud, The Sandman & the uncanny at university. I picked it up because it seems somewhat Ballardian. The first chapter is called Very Low-flying Aircraft. Also, strangely, Terry Wilson is mentioned on the first page… Also: “I’m reading a crime novel that maybe might appeal to you both. It’s not amazing, but quite compelling so far. Gun Machine by Warren Ellis. He’s from the next town over from where I grew up! He has some rather grotesque turns of phrase, and there are a lot of good observations about the “digital world”.” … “‘m very excited about this upcoming exhibition in London, after you insisted that I go to the Schwitters show in Berkeley: http://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/exhibition/schwitters-britain The idea of Schwitters imprisoned on the Isle of Man, giving poetry performances for fellow prisoners of war, then later wandering around the Lake District creating Merz Barns, seems very bizarre to me!”

() “Hello! Just wanted to say thanks for the nice welcome and fascinating conversation yesterday. I was sorry I couldn’t stick around for lunch, hope it was tasty! I’m looking forward to part II / ’77 and beyond! As I mentioned, I won’t be airing this til next month, so I’m happy to come by at your convenience to continue the conversation. After that, I’ll probably assemble things into a 2-part series, and add some musical interludes. In that regard, if you have any songs or sounds in particular that you’d like me to play on these shows – whether it be from Search & Destroy era, some incredibly strange music, or beyond – let me know.
If you’d like to check out some of my past shows in the archives, you can do so any time. Here’s some links to a few recently archived shows:
* CRUCIAL CHAOS featuring live acoustic set + interview with South Yorkshire cult legends UV PØP: http://wnyu.org/2012-04-19_crucialchaos
* CRUCIAL CHAOS: “Desert Dysphoria” featuring projects from the Ascetic House Collective of Tempe, Arizona: http://wnyu.org/2012-12-13_crucialchaos
* CRUCIAL CHAOS: “Ktitinas Chaosas: Sounds from the Eastern European Underground” featuring Nindzė (read: “Ninja”), co-organizer of Vilnius non-profit zine and comic collective Kitokia Grafika: http://wnyu.org/2011-12-22_crucialchaos
I’ll bring you some of my past show flyers next time! Thanks again and best wishes, Dona
P.S. the website for our documentary is below in case you’d like to check out some photos from the shoot, more info about those Lithuanian pagans, etc! ” www.landofsongs.com

() “Hi Vale. We just met (again) at Caffe Trieste and I was telling you about our comic and MTV. Here’s the comic book link: (not finished yet, still coloring pages etc.) http://cancercomicbook.com/BOOK1_Feb7.pdf Here’s the link to the MTV show trailer:

http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/853973/world-of-jenks-season-2-kaylins-trailer.jhtml#id=1696844

Should be good. We hope to bring a spirit of Punk back to that channel… we’re rebelling against the social taboos of cancer and I even play a bunch of punk songs on camera.. haha.. Take care! Watch out March 4th 11pm for our show! – Jon”

10. **SPONSORS** (Without them you would NOT be receiving this newsletter – Please go to their websites!)
1. 47 Canal Street (Gallery w/events, NYC) – 47CanalStreet.com – we hope they survived Hurricane Sandy intact!
2. Emerald Tablet (Gallery w/events), Fresno Alley (100 feet from RE/Search! in North Beach). emtab.org – lots of free or low cost local community events; check out their schedule! http://emtab.org/ – they’re open during North Beach Art Walk…
3. Emily Armstrong’s blog: www.gonightclubbing.com (last button on the left, scroll through the posts!)
4. Contribute to (& Order copies of!) “OUT OF OUR” – Steven Gray & Sarah Page’s San Francisco Poetry Magazine: outofour.com
5. From our friends Amy and Brian: check out their “simple business software for art galleries: gallerystar.com
6. V. Vale’s RE/Search Newsletter is cordially sponsored by “Beyond the Beyond.”
Information Wants To Be Free WE MEAN IT MAN! $0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0 http://blog.wired.com/sterling
7. www.SOPHIAGASPARIAN.com “fine art about equal human rights worldwide”
8. Mrs Dalloway (Catering, Bay Area): Holly Erickson’s catering/foodblog/cookbook
www.mrsdallowayscatering.com and lightscameracuisine.foodblog.com
9. Ryan Shepard – thank you!
10. Jodi Donkel Photographer – thank you! Her work is on FaceBook. Google her!
11. Philip Lenihan. A founder of Sluggo magazine from Austin, Texas.
12. Mal Sharpe, Jennifer Sharpe.
13. Penelope Rosemont, Chicago Surrealist Group founder.
RE/Search THANKS (3) SPONSORS who Wish to Remain Anonymous – you know who you are! And yes, we NEEDED Your Support! (B.H., DaveS., V.V.)

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FEB-MARCH 2013 RE/Search eNewsletter written by V. Vale & other contributors. RE/Search website powered by http://www.laughingsquid.com. Add us (“info@researchpubs.com”) to Your Address Book
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Physical Address since May 1979: RE/SEARCH | 20 Romolo #B | San Francisco CA 94133-4041 | 415.362.1465
http://www.researchpubs.com | http://www.myspace.com/researchpubs | info@researchpubs.com facebook: “RE/Search Fan Page” twitter: @valeRESearch

RE/Search Publications
20 Romolo Place #B
San Francisco, CA 94133-4041
(415) 362-1465
info@researchpubs.com

V. Vale RE/SEARCH Newsletter Jan 2013

January 01, 2013 By: admin Category: Blog Comments Off

WELCOME TO V. VALE’s RE/SEARCH NEWSLETTER #112, JAN 2013 Add Us to Your Address Book! You are Receiving this Email because You or Someone You Know Signed Up to Our Newsletter in the Past. Scroll to the Bottom of this Email to UNSUBSCRIBE. Are you receiving this newsletter (annoyingly) TWICE? PLEASE tell us which address to delete.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1A. MESSAGE FROM YOUR EDITOR, V. VALE: New Year’s Uniform 2013, post-Dec-21,2012.
1B. LYDIA LUNCH & HENRY ROLLINS: The New Line of “RE/SEARCH Pocketbooks” – pre-order and save!
2. Counter Culture Hour Sat Jan 12, 2013 – 6:00 PM PACIFIC TIME – SF cable channel 29, also simulcast on-line (see below):
3. **MEDITATION SPACE** [blank]
4. FORTHCOMING EVENTS -
5. What We’ve Attended/What We’ve Been Reading/Seeing: Psychic TV. Taleb’s ANTIFRAGILE.
6. New Year’s Resolutions
7. Recommended Links – send some!
8. QUOTES
9. Letters from Readers
10. Sponsors (Please check ‘em out! – they make this “free” newsletter possible!)
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please add info@researchpubs.com to your WHITE LIST in your email preferences, or to your ADDRESS BOOK. If you change your email, send it plus your “old” email address to delete. Lastly, forward our newsletter to your friends! If you are on AOL, please make sure you can receive our newsletter – we get the most returns from addresses at AOL, Hotmail, Comcast and Yahoo!
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1A. MESSAGE FROM YOUR EDITOR, V. VALE: A NEW UNIFORM FOR A NEW YEAR
According to the Mayan Calendar (and frankly, we at RE/SEARCH question the “authenticity” of this so-called calendar), our world ended Dec 21-ish, 2012. On Saturday night, Dec 22, SURVIVAL RESEARCH LABORATORIES (SRL) inaugurated the post-Mayan Calendar NEW ERA with an uncensored, thunderously-loud, flame-throwing, heat-blasting display of robotic pyrotechnics in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, surrounded by high-rise buildings. This in the context of what surely must have been the Greatest Event of the Year: The Extreme Futurist Festival 2012, which also featured LYDIA LUNCH, NEGATIVLAND, avant-garde musicians and DJs, and a host of farsighted presenters bombarding our conventionally-framed neuronic networks with their new informational pathways positing future trans-human super-Spock-ish evolvers. (Nary a word about DEvolution, harrumph…) Actually, one of our favorite performers, ADA McCartney (backed by Sid Redlin, a synth-wizard from Michigan), recited a long Spoken Word warning that “The Future Will Be Dirty… Rusty… Decrepit” (my paraphrasing).
This event, the second of its kind (the first XFF2011 happened a year ago) was forced into being by one Rachel Haywire and her friends Christopher Jannette, Sean Humphries, Nicholas Carlough, and others. Here’s their mission statement for 2012 from extremefuturistfestival.com:
“Extreme Futurist Festival is a 2 day arts and technology festival focusing on radical voices of the new evolution. Last year we had a great event and were called “a TED conference for the counterculture” by the LA Weekly. This year we seek to make XFF an even more epic experience. People are going insane over the Mayan calendar hype about the world ending on 12/21/12. This is why we have decided to bring them the apocalypse they deserve. We are throwing an end-of-the-world conference that you will not forget. Children get in free.
“We will be focusing on cutting-edge science and technology along with transgressive performance art and music. Showcasing the most innovative and subversive memetics of our time, we see to highlight an extreme future that breaks the formula of modern culture.
“The future has been commodified by the mainstream in an effort to make revolutionary technologies easy to digest. As a result we are now living in an era of complacency, in which the true leaders and game changers are made to feel like outsiders.
“It is time to rise against the dominant current of our society and declare that nothing is too extreme. We refuse to be assimilated into a carbon-copied version of a new humanity. As evolutionary agents we will push the boundaries of what it means to transform our species.
“XFF is organized by Rachel Haywire, Christopher Jannette, Nicholas Carlough, and Sean Humphries.”
We wish we could have cloned ourselves so we could have seen every single presentation. We recommend going to extremefuturistfestival.com and reading all the biographies of all the speakers, artists, performers, et al. For example, we met three people from Australia: filmmaker Richard Wolstencroft (and his lovely companion whose name we didn’t catch), and an Australian still photographer. We met several synth-deejay-whatever-they-were’s — our favorite was Daniel Finfer’s ANCIENT LASERS, because his one-man orchestra produced such traditionally “beautiful” music. Mind you, EVERYBODY (musicians, that is) had something to offer at least occasionally — in terms of unique inventiveness, originality — and a few were kind of over-the-top (did they have any vocal cords left after their performance?).
There were other types of “creatives” there. We met a few hyperactive multi-media artists like Gil Kuno. Then there was Kevin Mack, who’s pioneering 3-D-printers-used-to-produce-sculpture. We liked Joe Holliday, one of XFF’s facilitators; he got us a black cloth to cover our table overnight. A surprise show-up: the two Kevins from NASA Space Universe (one of our favorite living L.A.-based bands — they tour on a dime, play in people’s kitchens and under freeway overpasses, and always “push the envelope”; really like their unpretentious Neo-DADA attitude). In the flesh was Lisa Carver: a real beauty and totally charming in person. There was the other-worldly Chana De Wolf, thin beyond belief, who presented on cryonics. The amazing Lisa Bufano showed us how the human SPIRIT can transcend physical adversity of the first magnitude. Dixon’s Violin took us out of this world. We admired the COLOR self-published books by James Curcio, and the “coming-of-age cyber travel memoir ACIDEXIA” by Rachel Haywire. Aubrey de Grey and Maria Entraigues presented their gerontology findings with vivid PowerPoint slides. Ach, there were so many people I wanted to talk to, but time did not permit.
The genial genius Russian gerontology-with-gusto researcher who penned our latest book, DATING A.I., flew in from Moscow and networked with old friends and new colleagues: Alex Zhavoronkoff. People flew in from all over the planet to congregate at the Vortex Immersion Dome, 451 South Beaudry Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90017.
Art critic David Cotner had attended some of RE/Search’s presentations at Beyond Baroque (and after-parties) but he truly outdid himself with his review of XFF2012 for L.A. Weekly. Here’s an excerpt:
“Downtown Los Angeles on the cusp of 2013 doesn’t give us Blade Runner — the real future, apparently here and unfortunately now, lies in real estate. The future is a convalescent home for the privileged and ideas that no one wants to retire. The most compelling, immediate moment comes when the peerless Lisa Bufano — whose feet and fingers were amputated after illness at age 21 — affixes wooden prostheses like an Amish cyborg and slowly gets to her feet on a stage in a beautiful moment that feels like it was drawn by the animator Winsor McCay, as a captivated audience stands drenched in drones and feedback. But is this futurism, or pragmatism? Extremities indeed.
Survival Research Laboratories Show: “Some elements, beyond the ones falling from the skies: a hanging red neon skull, splayed pig carcasses trussed to metal frames and cardboard shanties waiting ominously at one end of the killing field… A man-sized cylinder around which is stretched an image of an old sick Judy Garland weeble-wobbles on its convex base [one of several images contributed from RE/SEARCH's book archives] , and after a half-hour wait, a mobile claw machine rolls out to visit the cylinders, examining them like the most hellish possible Martian rover while the growing sound of bombers and air-raid sirens assaults the crowd.
“If Survival Research Technologies teaches us anything about the future, it is that it is meant to be survived, that research is not always as boring as it should be and that the oldest technology — the human perception of time — can be hacked so that thirty minutes, under the proper violent frightening circumstances, can in fact feel like thirty whole minutes. Not the ten minutes it might ordinarily feel like because we feel like we’ve seen it all before.” [Full article at http://blogs.laweekly.com/arts/2012/12/survival_research_laboratories.php ]
Now, after seeing SRL in the context of an environment where action movies full of special effects, explosions, flames and violence are filmed — it all made sense why Los Angeles is the perfect host city for an SRL Show! An SRL Show is like a live action movie with 3-D sound and visuals (much louder, much more flammable, much more tactile, much more smellable — i.e., odoriferous) but of course SRL gives forth an out-of-control arsenal of perverse metaphors to grant a much more totalizing “weird” and thought-provoking aesthetic experience than the normal Hollywood action film would furnish.
For those not quite in the “know,” for years SRL has had difficulty in getting permission to stage a show; police and fire authorities everywhere are stuck in a mono-planar sense of “reality” which excludes metaphor, the symbolic, the poetic, the aesthetically challenging. So, the XFF2012 SRL Show was gratifying for many reasons, not the least of which involved all the SRL crew members who united to prepare for and accomplish the Dec 22 machine performance, which seemed to go largely without a hitch. It was like seeing the modern-day Knights of the Round Table reuniting to accomplish a mission. Michael Wehner came from Harvard to assist; Eric Paulos came from Carnegie Mellon; others voyaged from afar, including everyone who drove from the Bay Area to L.A. Women included Susan Joyce; Babalou and Katy Bell who did considerable admin; Karen Marcelo; Amy Critchett; Jennifer Holmes — altogether, too many women and men to name here in this small column…
And looking at the [male] humans facilitating and expediting the SRL show, what stood out? The highly practical coveralls — cheap, with practical pockets, uni-color, who-cares-if-they-get-dirty — distinctive, signature, masculine — and they protect your “real” clothes from disaster. Yes, the SRL coverall is the perfect uniform for 2013. What style! What functionality! What simplicity! What practicality: even if you’ve just rolled on oil-slick pavements and immersed yourself with kerosene and diesel fuel — just throw the coverall in the washing machine and spin-dry it (no ironing necessary) and you’re ready to GO AGAIN! And, they come in a variety of colors.
Truly, the SRL coverall is today’s state-of-the-moment defining masculine-clothing aesthetic, kinda equivalent to the long dusters featured in Sergio Leone’s “Once Upon A Time in the West.” Available at working-class clothing stores anywhere in America. If you’re a man, flaunt your masculinity: wear an SRL coverall. You’ll never look back. (Of course, it helps if you really CAN run a c-and-c lathe, or a drill press, or power tools, or know how to weld.) Mark our words: those skills WILL come back, and may be the difference between survival and patsyhood… The artists’ cooperative collective endeavor that is SRL — i.e., no bullshit, no petty hierarchy games, just lots of diligence, perseverance, pains, and black humor — may be our most practical role model for surviving the future. Perfect that SRL’s performance ended the Extreme Futurist Festival 2012 and ushered in the post-Mayan Calendar NEW ERA…

EXTREME FUTURIST FESTIVAL PHOTO/VIDEO LINKS:
() Gil Kuno https://plus.google.com/photos/111060832881578879724/albums/5827360097988539105?authkey=CK69teeTzZLrtQE
() Curious Josh http://www.curiousjosh.com/g1/survival-research-labs-extreme-futurist
() David Cotner http://blogs.laweekly.com/arts/2012/12/survival_research_laboratories.php
() Stephan Meyers http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephan/sets/72157632318049511/
() Steve Bage http://archive.srl.org/2012/12/29/srl-xff-documented/
() Karen Marcelo (now in Tokyo; lucky girl!) http://srl.org/shows/xff/

1B. MESSAGE FROM V. VALE: LYDIA LUNCH and HENRY ROLLINS: New Pocketbooks from RE/Search. Pre-Order & Save!
**** Forthcoming new books!***
The 1st and 2nd in our new “RE/SEARCH Pocketbook” series of interview books. Order direct and SAVE! – THIS offer expires Jan 31, 2013)
“Henry Rollins” and “Lydia Lunch” are due out in about a month-plus!

With the launch of the new RE/Search Pocketbook Series, we are finally making available a transcript of a lengthy phone interview with Henry Rollins from awhile back. It is our position that a lot of people do not really “know” Henry Rollins and that their opinion of him is based on ancient information. For example, few people we know have seen his book, OCCUPANTS, which came out a year ago in beautiful 9.4×12.4″ hardback, on glossy paper, featuring some of the most darkly beautiful sunlit-noir photographs we’ve seen. His commentary is by turns disturbing, illuminating, sardonic, and compassionate. Henry has strayed down crooked trails and managed to avoid genuine (not metaphoric) minefields, away from the land of Hilton Hotels and American Express cards… and brought us back geographically-challenging photographs and memories…
The second RE/Search Pocketbook is an edited presentation of several Lydia Lunch interviews, including one from November 2012. It will ignite your funny bone with a burning desire to go out and raise some hell! Time is goin’ by faster than a speeding bullet, so DO SOMETHING with your lame-ass so-called “life”!!!

() DATING A.I.: A Guide to Falling In Love with Artificial Intelligence, by Alex Zhavoronkoff, Ph.D. is the clearest introduction to what Artificial Intelligence **is**. Go to our QUOTES section below – every quote is taken from DATING A.I. – and see if that doesn’t inspire you to order RE/SEARCH’s new DATING A.I. book – order from http://www.researchpubs.com

2. Counter Culture Hour – Saturday Jan 12, 2013 6:00 PM Pacific Time – 2012 PUNK REUNION Featuring Steve Tupper of Subterranean Records, Jeff Raphael of The Nuns, and…

The Counter Culture Hour (aka RE/SEARCH TV) is also simulcast ON-LINE as well as on cable access San Francisco Channel 29 — 6pm Pacific Time, Sat Dec 8, 2012
- see this link at broadcast time:

http://www.bavc.org/public-access-tv/live-stream/channel-29-stream

You need a fairly decent internet connection and computer to “get it.”
USA west coast: 6:00 PM Saturday, Jan 12, 2013
USA east coast: 9:00 PM Saturday, Jan 12, 2013
London: 2:00 AM Sunday, Jan 13, 2013
Tokyo: 10:00 AM Sunday, Jan 13, 2013
If you cannot get this online email us at info@researchpubs.com
Would you like to have a Counter Culture Hour showing in your town? Please write & ask us how you can do this. (write: info@researchpubs.com)

See RE/Search channel on youtube: “researchpubs”
There are also several episodes of The Counter Culture Hour on “veoh.com” — channel named “counterculture”

3. This is blank space a la John Cage aka “Meditation Space”!

4. FORTHCOMING EVENTS (San Francisco unless Otherwise Noted)

() $ Support Thrillpeddlers’ Hypnodrome – the only Grand Guignol Theatre in the world! http://thrillpeddlers.com/ –

() FREE Fri Jan 4. North Beach First Fridays Art Crawl. San Francisco First Fridays Bike Party.

() FREE Sat-Sun Jan 5-6. **If** you have a B of A credit or debit card, you can get in free to: Legion of Honor, de Young, Museums.

() FREE Sun Jan 6 Asian Art Museum All Day. 2pm TCHO Factory Tour & Tastings.

() FREE Wed Jan 9 Free SF Zoo Day

() $10 Fri Jan 11, 8pm Emerald Tablet (a hundred feet from the RE/SEARCH office) hosts a Mario Guarneri jazz ensemble show: keep jazz alive.

() FREE Fri Jan 25, 530pm, Embarcadero Plaza (usually): Critical Mass Bicycle City Tour

5. What We’ve Attended/What We’ve Been Reading/Seeing/Listening to/What We’ve Been Sent/Given

() At the last minute Ari B. gave us a complementary ticket to Psychic TV Dec 15, 2012 at the Uptown in Oakland, so off we went! And we were treated to the most “beautiful” (from a musical standpoint) concert Genesis P-Orridge has ever gifted us with. It turned out that many of the songs were by Can, Hawkwind, Funkadelic, or someone else, but — if you haven’t heard the songs before, they may as well have been written yesterday. Hence, what we saw was the PSYCHIC TV COVER BAND, and every song was evocative. P-Orridge was in fine voice; this was definitely the most soaringly beautiful 60s-ish guitar-and-keyboards-and-percussion-with-loops band we’ve seen in many a year. Every band member got his or her chance to “shine.” Mercifully, there were a lot of dynamics, plenty of quiet passages, and even some rare speed-up and slow-down tempo shifts which very few bands pull off as well as, say, Blue Cheer used to do live in concert decades ago.
The Uptown is a small but long rectangular club with a hard-to-find balcony at the very rear. We estimated that maybe 200 people packed the club — not a huge number, yet we missed an old Genesis P-Orridge fan, the Japanese-American Tom I — he was there, but we never spotted him. The audience seemed more quality than quantity; there were quite a number of intriguingly-dressed women, and a wide variety of odd-looking (or is the word “unusual-looking”) men—the kind who are rarely seen in public. There is a very useful patio in the back where smokers (and those wishing to avoid the opening acts) can hang out and talk; people can also hang out in front on the sidewalk, half a block from the considerably larger Fox Theater where we saw New Order play a couple months earlier to about 2,500 people. In the back was a small merch table, as well as a large round table with high stools positioned right behind the sound booth. Those of us who like to sit down sat there; standing up for a concert seems so, 20th-century.
Somebody has put together a collage of futuristic background videos including fractals, 3-D-ish animations, geometric convergences, the predictable Gen-and-Lady-Jaye twin-narcissism-memorializing, and other Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) and robotics-inspired simulacra. These projections enhanced the total experience. Sound balance was excellent, in that at least 77% of Gen’s vocals could be deciphered and consequently comprehended.
The band ended with a rave-ish trance state improv which seemed to satisfy the audience, and then came back for a single encore before disappearing in the room behind the stage. Post-show, Gen was not available for visitation. His hair has never looked better: platinum blonde, and REAL. It’s not a wig, it’s not hair extensions; it’s his own genetic birthright. Just dyed, bouffant style.
Judging by the band, and how great the concert sounded, Gen has — yet again — reinvented himself. He has improved his singing and honed his repertoire to pure gold—other songwriters’ golden melodies. Too bad there weren’t ten times more people to appreciate the latest iteration of the “Genesis P-Orridge Experience.” We were very happy to have attended this somewhat unique, improvisatory, beautiful and thoroughly-amusing musical performance, by a real kind-of-classic 60s-ish rock band, who had all the classic moves down. Definitely NOT Throbbing Gristle. We would recommend this concert to anybody, including nieces and nephews who ask, “What was the Sixties like?!”

() We recommend Nassim Taleb’s ANTIFRAGILE which has universally received unfavorable-to-tepidly-acknowledging reviews. We say: There are GEMS OF INSIGHT in this book, and you must dig to find them… but THEY ARE THERE. Who would you rather have dinner with: Taleb, or one of these two-bit namby-pamby so-called “book critics”?! There are FEW people on the planet as interesting and original as Taleb; ANYTHING he writes or says is worth investigating. Selah. (Thanks to our former intern Richard W who sent us a review copy from Noo Yawk City.)

() We were disturbed by reading a solipsistic short story by Teju Cole, and will probably read his first novel. Is he the latest African-American iteration of DJ Spooky in hipster-academic-streetwise couture? The New York City New Yorker-type literati-establishment seems to have given him their 100% endorsement, and a professorship, too. Probably because of his high-culture name-dropping of elite restaurants, expensive gourmet dishes, and other “insider” references. Hmm… Survival of the Canniest! And yes, we can’t decide HOW MUCH we like his writing style, where essential information (about the identity of the narrator, etc—not to mention PLOT) seems to have been deliberately withheld… Oh well, at least FEELING gets communicated: the kind of uncertainty/instability/unreliability Haruki Murakami writes all too well about…

() We voyeured through the heavy, hardback, coffee-table book of photographs minimalistically titled KATE MOSS. Raises unsettling questions RE beauty, under-agedness, fantasizing, aging, identity and goddess mythology. Kate Moss recently said something to the effect that she likes wearing the same thing now: black jeans. Or gray. If you always wear the same thing, the paparazzi get bored and leave you alone. WHATEVER WORKS!

6. NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
() Create As Much As Possible In As Many Different Media As Possible.
() Erase Separation Between Art & Life (Humor Can Be ART, Too).
() Work all the time and Don’t Slack Off.
() LISTEN More Carefully to Your Significant Other(s)!
() Read more books about SCIENCE and ART.

7. RECOMMENDED LINKS (send some!)

() http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/15/a-counterculture-totem-to-return-as-a-leaner-magazine/

() V. Vale Intv by Peter Cavagnaro BAM/PFA Nov 13, 2012 http://blook.bampfa.berkeley.edu/2012/11/q-a-v-vale.html

() from Chris T in NYC: This is a pretty great site. http://the-talks.com/a-to-z/
- Subconscious War is a short documentary on media, reality, and the culture of violence, It covers the prophecies of Aldous Huxley and Neil Postman’s grim assessment of our Brave New World and relates these to our violence and the cultural influences that fosters it today. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=5pAeOUDsDO8#!

() from Monte C: http://www.dailysquib.co.uk/index.php?news=3089 – direct from hell: Kissinger intv

() from Kimric S: Cool old style robotics

() from John R: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9kBmkhe9HA&feature=youtube_gdata_player

() from Phil G: “I like it!” http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/bob-dylan-transforms-vintage-magazine-covers-for-revisionist-art-exhibit-20121129

http://www.gagosian.com/exhibitions/bob-dylan–november-28-2012

() from Graham Rae: …a Chicago park. Must have gotten lost near Ayrshire. Should have turned left at Albaquerque!

http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM58A7_Robert_Burns_Garfield_Park_Chicago_IL

() from Vermilion: (2) SPAIN Obits: http://www.sfgate.com/art/article/Spain-Rodriguez-Zap-Comix-artist-dies-4075158.php

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/rip-spain-rodriguez-zap-comix-pioneer-and-loved-sf-artist-dies-at-72/2012/11/29/f12ac87e-39d9-11e2-a263-f0ebffed2f15_blog.html

http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121129/CITYANDREGION/121129238/1116

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/03/arts/spain-rodriguez-creator-of-underground-comics-dies-at-72.html?_r=0

http://comicsbeat.com/rip-spain-rodriguez/

FRANCESCA WOODMAN: Francesca Woodman photos: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/art-news/9279676/Blurred-genius-the-photographs-of-Francesca-Woodman.html

() from Ed H: “Don’t know if the link here is of interest, some young guys have been doing a series of short docs on contemporary tattooers. I participated in the deVita one. Both parts of it, and many others, are on this link. I’ve only watched the deVita ones. http://www.vice.com/tattoo-age/thom-devita-part-1

() from V in London: “I can’t remember if i sent you the link to Alan Moore’s short film called Jimmy’s Emd. It is on the link below:

http://jimmysend.com/

8. QUOTES (all taken from DATING A.I., RE/SEARCH’s new book by Alex Zhavoronkoff, Ph.D)

() “The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them.”—Ernest Hemingway, p. 257

() “A military arms race is a classic Hobbesian Trap. One nation gets a new weapon; the other nation must defend against it and develop its own new weapon. It is a cycle. Each time around, the probability of conflict increases. The motivation for the country with a new weapon to use it before the other country has countered it increases the likelihood of a first-strike.” p. 227

() “All human beings harbor zombie ideas. They’re convenient, even if obsolete.” p. 213

() “Furniture can be works of art.” p. 212

() “The road to success is always under construction.”—James C. Miller, p. 208

() “Dreaming is necessary for all mammals. Emotional energy is used to drive the dreams.” p. 162

() “If you can recognize the need for improvement, things are already improving.” p. 149

() “Humor is built around imperfection.” p. 134

() “If you don’t want to be replaced by a computer, don’t act like one.”—Arno Penzias, p. 125

() “The best way to predict the future is to create it.”—Dr. Forrest C. Shaklee, p. 125

() “Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.”—Scott Adams, The Dilbert Principle, p. 107

() “Creativity is just connecting things…connect experiences…and synthesize new things.”—Steve Jobs, p. 107

() “Try not to become a man of success but rather try to become a man of value.”—Albert Einstein, p. 91

() “A relationship…is like a box of chocolates: you may be knowledgeable about what you’re getting, but be prepared for the unexpected.” p. 77

() “The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.”—Alan Watts, p. 58

[See why we published DATING A.I.? Please order it from our website: http://www.researchpubs.com - Thank You]

9. LETTERS FROM READERS:

() “Hi Vale, I went to a dream machine launch this evening in london. Andrew was looking for an email address so that he could send an email in hopes that he could find a copy of Days End by Terry Wilson to purchase. Terry Wilson was present at this event and i asked him whether there was a copy of this book available for andrew to purchase. i managed to get an email address from the producer of the event to give to andrew re: a lead on how he could get a copy of the book. unfortunately andrew said that he only has one copy of his book. I mentioned that andrew was one of your interns and terry said that he knew you. I wish that you could have come out to london for this event!
“Info about the event in case you are interested and a short video clip of a dream machine:
http://briongysin.com/?p=1684 – “from V in London

() “Thanks for the newsletter. You and your subscribers may be interested in this great weekly podcast from UK (Scotland I think, though the presenters sound English). Much music from dark corners presented in an entertaining package. http://www.projectmoonbase.com It’s on iTunes as well as other sources. – Phil G.”

() “Hi Vale, Mark F. and I both liked this new book a lot and I think it’s right up your alley:
The Last Policeman by Ben Winters http://boingboing.net/2012/11/10/the-last-policeman-a-whodunit.html It’s a noir-ish police procedural that takes place 6 months before an asteroid is expected to destroy life on Earth. Hope you are all well! …-david pesco”

() from Ron Turner, Last Gasp godfather: “It is with great sadness that I inform you of the passing this morning of Spain Rodriguez. He passed at home with his daughter and wife at his bedside at about 7 this morning. He had been fighting cancer for a long time. He was a wonderful father, husband, and friend. His art challenged, changed and enlightened and entertained us for over five decades. His passing coincided with the penumbra eclipse of the moon, like Spain’s shadow from the outer edge of the art world’s face. Services are pending, please give the family some time. You will be sent details as they are known.”

10. **SPONSORS** (Without them you would NOT be receiving this newsletter – Please go to their websites!)
1. 47 Canal Street (Gallery w/events, NYC) – 47CanalStreet.com – we hope they survived Hurricane Sandy intact!
2. Emerald Tablet (Gallery w/events), Fresno Alley (100 feet from RE/Search! in North Beach). emtab.org – lots of free or low cost local community events; check out their schedule! http://emtab.org/ – they’re open during North Beach Art Walk…
3. Emily Armstrong’s blog: www.gonightclubbing.com (last button on the left, scroll through the posts!)
4. Contribute to (& Order copies of!) “OUT OF OUR” – Steven Gray & Sarah Page’s San Francisco Poetry Magazine: outofour.com
5. From our friends Amy and Brian: check out their “simple business software for art galleries: gallerystar.com
6. V. Vale’s RE/Search Newsletter is cordially sponsored by “Beyond the Beyond.”
Information Wants To Be Free WE MEAN IT MAN! $0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0 http://blog.wired.com/sterling
7. www.SOPHIAGASPARIAN.com “fine art about equal human rights worldwide”
8. Mrs Dalloway (Catering, Bay Area): Holly Erickson’s catering/foodblog/cookbook
www.mrsdallowayscatering.com and lightscameracuisine.foodblog.com
9. Ryan Shepard – thank you!
10. Jodi Donkel Photographer – thank you! Her work is on FaceBook. Google her!
RE/Search THANKS (3) SPONSORS who Wish to Remain Anonymous – you know who you are! And yes, we NEEDED Your Support! (B.H., D.S., V.V.)

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JAN 2013 RE/Search eNewsletter written by V. Vale & other contributors. RE/Search website powered by http://www.laughingsquid.com. Add us (“info@researchpubs.com”) to Your Address Book
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Physical Address since May 1979: RE/SEARCH | 20 Romolo #B | San Francisco CA 94133-4041 | 415.362.1465
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RE/Search Publications
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San Francisco, CA 94133-4041
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info@researchpubs.com

V. Vale’s RE/SEARCH Newsletter #111, Dec 2012

November 24, 2012 By: admin Category: Blog Comments Off

WELCOME TO V. VALE’s RE/SEARCH NEWSLETTER #111, Dec 2012 Add Us to Your Address Book! You are receiving this Email because You or Someone You Know Signed Up to Our Newsletter in the Past. Scroll to the Bottom of this Email to UNSUBSCRIBE. Are you receiving this newsletter (annoyingly) TWICE? PLEASE tell us which address to delete.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS:

1. MESSAGE FROM YOUR EDITOR, V. VALE: Henry Rollins. [Imagine] A FUTURE WITHOUT CAPITALISM?!

2. Counter Culture Hour Sat Dec 8, 2012 – 6:00 PM PACIFIC TIME – SF cable channel 29, also simulcast on-line (see below):

3. R.I.P. MANWOMAN (featured in our MODERN PRIMITIVES book)

4. FORTHCOMING EVENTS -

5. What We’ve Attended/What We’ve Been Reading/Seeing:

6. An essay inspired by RE/SEARCH’s NEXT BOOK, DATING AI by Alex Zhavaronkoff – by Patrick Kwon

7. Recommended Links – send some!

8. QUOTES – We Need More “Last Words of the Dying”…

9. Letters from Readers

10. Sponsors (Please check ‘em out! – they make this “free” newsletter possible!)

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1. MESSAGE FROM V. VALE: HENRY ROLLINS. [IMAGINE] A FUTURE WITHOUT CAPITALISM?!

**** Yet another forthcoming new book!***

the first in our new “RE/SEARCH Pocketbook” series of interview books. Order direct and receive a FREE color photo of Henry Rollins with Nick Cave! Be sure to ask for FREE PHOTOGRAPH. (autographed by photographer V. Vale – offer expires Dec 31, 2012)

“Henry Rollins” is due out in about a month!

“Henry Rollins” pocketbook due December 2012

With the launch of the new RE/Search Pocketbook Series, we are finally making available a transcript of a lengthy phone interview with Henry Rollins. It is our position that a lot of people do not really “know” Henry Rollins and that their opinion of him is based on 25-year-old information. Almost nobody we know has seen his book, OCCUPANTS, which came out a year ago in beautiful 9.4×12.4″ hardback, on glossy paper, featuring some of the most haunting, darkly beautiful photographs we’ve seen. Each photograph has an accompanying essay, which is by turns disturbing, illuminating, sardonic, compassionate, and mysterious. Truly hell and heaven co-exist on this tiny planet, and Hieronymus Bosch’s 530-year-old visions can yet be found if one strays down crooked trails, away from the land of Hilton Hotels and American Express cards… And Henry has traveled the ends of the earth, the forbidden zones, and brought us back photographs and memories…

We feel lazy today, and besides, it’s the day after Thanksgiving, Black-Stay-At-Home-Day. By good fortune, RE/Search was invited to an incredible feast a mere four blocks away in North Beach, hosted by two independent, non-day-job-enslaved writers and their families. (Try being a writer for 30 years, and see how long you last!) We were still in the grip of a question posed by a visitor from Norway three days ago: [Imagine] a future without CAPITALISM?! We weren’t (and still are not) completely sure what capitalism **IS**. Does it mean: “Do whatever it takes to make maximum profit as fast as possible”? Does it mean treating people like commodities, like things: “What can you do for ME? What have you done for me… lately?” I posed the question to the two freelance writers and there never was any agreement as to what would constitute a society free from any taint/twinge/reverberation of “capitalism”. We all work hard for a living and frequently invent our own jobs.

The three of us were not accustomed to going to an office or factory and working for a “boss,” yet all of us had certainly had temp jobs (especially in our youth) and had worked for “bosses”– but not in prolonged, year-after-year Mon-Fri 9-5pm situations. No, for decades most of us had sat at home day and night trying to write, and trying to get PAID for writing — at least enough to make the rent every month and put food on the table.

The most commercially successful writer had just come off a 15-city tour where he had cumulatively autographed hundreds of books at book signings all over the USA. The other writer makes a living writing HOW-TO-DO-IT books–not a dishonorable task–but probably would have enjoyed having his art photography and philosophical essay books sell in much greater numbers. They both had lived all over the world, more or less, and ended up settling in beautiful North Beach to raise families. (Well, there ARE worse places to live on the planet…) And one of the writers had recently inherited a country house in Norway.

It turns out that Norway has the Number One highest standard of living on the planet, thanks to its state-owned oil companies (which have exploited Nigeria, Ghana, and elsewhere?). Norway has rich fishing grounds. That translates to: free higher education at the 5 universities in the 5 largest cities. Free medical care. A welfare system which makes homelessness very difficult to achieve. Who would want to leave this materialistic, freedom-from-want nirvana? Well, someone rebellious, bored and idealistic; someone who hasn’t forgotten the goal of “working for more freedom and more consciousness for more people” — you guessed it, Hegel said it first.

Sometimes streams and tributaries coalesce to form a larger river, and sometimes fate brings three people into your life almost seemingly randomly who all coalesce to raise permanently-annoying questions. The first was Mark K. from London, who had worked on the OCCUPY TIMES OF LONDON, a newspaper which sprang out of the Occupy London movement. He showed us a book by McKenzie WARK, whom he considered one of the most visionary/futuristic minds alive today, and told us that a fellow worker on the OCCUPY TIMES OF LONDON was also coming to San Francisco soon.

A few days later we noticed that McKenzie Wark was giving a free talk at the Art, Technology and Culture Colloqium at U.C. Berkeley (curated by Ken Goldberg, who is also a SRL associate). We attended his talk, discovered he was staying at a hotel a block from RE/Search headquarters in North Beach, and made an appointment to interview him the next morning before he left noon-ish to catch a plane back to New York City. (That happened; more on this later). A couple days later we got a visit from R, in town from London (but originally from Norway), and had an all-too-short conversation in which that dreaded question-meme was raised: [Imagine] A Future Without Capitalism?

I immediately argued that I was a kind of capitalist and always had been: it costs x dollars to print a publication, i sell it for more than it cost to print it, and pay my rent and food bill from the difference. Naturally, there are times when I don’t get paid – like when the lovely founder of the putatively anarchist _ Press refused to pay me for thousands of dollars worth of books, hence causing me to question anarchism forever — and many small stores have never paid me because, well, they’re small stores. I’ve always said that the only person who understands a small publisher is another small publisher (i.e., one who’s actually DONE it). But while I have never done publishing for the profit motive, nevertheless the hard cold fact exists that I have made a profit, and lived on this profit, so I didn’t have to have a day job. (The best years of my life were when I had my own typesetting business, and lived off of typesetting, NOT book or magazine publishing.)

But that simple question was raised by R: [Imagine] A FUTURE WITHOUT CAPITALISM? After about an hour discussion, R left. Later, I emailed R:

Q: Ah, the nagging question you raised: what is the economic-social system we can kluge together from previously-existing models found in ANTHROPOLOGY, so we can have technological inventiveness without CAPITALISM? How about just a teeny bit of capitalism in there somewhere?

Wish I could see it clearly, but…

A: Ah, I know! It is a nagging and tricky question of which answers are nigh on impossible to find. The problem of capitalism is that it has colonized all other ways of being, thinking, relating, connecting… Yet anthropology (and I’m sure other disciplines too), teaches us that even under capitalism there are so many different ways of being human that don’t fit the rational-actor theory we believe we operate under. In fact, I would say we only operate inside it, we don’t fully relate or function on its terms. But – of course – working out how we throw it off is far from clear at present; and Occupy was just one in many spaces attempting to create a space where a different logic of thought and practice was in operation. I have hopes we’ll be able to make steps towards better things in the years to come.

Q: Perhaps Occupy Times and the scaled-down concentrated camaraderie engendered by working hard on a collective not-for-profit publishing project is a kind of future social/economic model in itself, somehow…? The big question of SCALE haunts all “utopian” envisionings/imaginings/social experiments/et al… Something that can at least temporarily work on a small scale – can it work ALL OVER THE WORLD?

We at RE/Search welcome any responses to this question: [IMAGINE] A FUTURE WITHOUT CAPITALISM?!

2. Counter Culture Hour – Saturday December 8, 2012 6:00 PM Pacific Time

Finally: ’70s PUNK REUNION at LENNON STUDIOS Sept 14-16, 2012, with a history of Subterranean Records by Steve Tupper and an interview with Jeff Rafael of the Nuns.

The Counter Culture Hour (aka RE/SEARCH TV) is also simulcast ON-LINE as well as on cable access San Francisco Channel 29 — 6pm Pacific Time, Sat Dec 8, 2012

- see this link at broadcast time:

http://www.bavc.org/public-access-tv/live-stream/channel-29-stream

You need a fairly decent internet connection and computer to “get it.”

USA west coast: 6:00 PM Saturday, Dec 8, 2012

USA east coast: 9:00 PM Saturday, Dec 8, 2012

London: 2:00 AM Sunday, Dec 9, 2012

Tokyo: 10:00 AM Sunday, Dec 9, 2012

If you cannot get this online email us at info@researchpubs.com

Would you like to have a Counter Culture Hour showing in your town? Please write & ask us how you can do this. (write: info@researchpubs.com)

See RE/Search channel on youtube: “researchpubs”

There are also several episodes of The Counter Culture Hour on “veoh.com” — channel named “counterculture”

3. R.I.P. MANWOMAN. Best known for his work to reclaim the swastika to its original, universal, iconic spiritual status. Manwoman quotes Carl Jung as saying: “If you slice through every religion there are universal archetypes: death, rebirth, the sacred mother giving birth to the divine child.” And guess what pours through my dreams night after night? It’s the archetypes but totally free from any organized religion. I see my duty as an artist and poet to refresh these archetypes. -Manwoman http://www.needlesandsins.com/2012/11/rip-manwoman.html

Manwoman is featured in RE/Search’s 20^th-anniversary MODERN PRIMITIVES hardback/paperback, printed on glossy paper for superior photographic reproduction. This is probably the “best” interview with this taboo-challenging pioneer of body modification; read it and weep! Order Modern Primitives from http://www.researchpubs.com/Blog/tattoo-piercing-sexuality-drugs/

4. FORTHCOMING EVENTS (San Francisco unless Otherwise Noted)

() $ Sun Nov 25, 7pm YOSHI’s, 1330 Fillmore St/ bet. Ellis/Eddy St, SF: HENRY ROLLINS finishes a 3-show run in San Francisco of his tour, THE LONG MARCH. Highly recommended – RE/SEARCH will be there Sun night!

() $ Support Thrillpeddlers’ Hypnodrome – the only Grand Guignol Theatre in the world! Plus, V. Vale occasionally plays opening piano (as audience files in)…

http://thrillpeddlers.com/ - DEC 8, 8pm Jill Tracy plays live a full concert to celebrate her new CD, “Silver Smoke, Star of Night” [ http://jilltracy.com/jt/albums/silver-smoke-star-of-night-tales-of-the-accidental-album/ ] complete with special guests, short films and ghost stories. All Ages Show! tickets at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/298088

() $ Wed Nov 28 Another Hole in the Head Film Fest Nov 28-Dec 9: 50 “weird” films in 11 days: http://sfdocfest.festivalgenius.com/2012/films/forbiddenzone_richardelfman_sfdocfest2012

() $ Thur Nov 29 **AUSTRALIA** DEVO kicks off their Nov-Dec 2012 Australia/New Zealand tour in Melbourne!

() $ Fri Nov 30, 4pm-midnite, RallyPad, 144 2nd St/Howard, SF. A FUND-RAISER. Panel w/V. Vale, R.U. Sirius, Rachel (XFF Organizer). 7:30-10:30 Dorkbot featuring Mark Pauline (showing videos), Ken Goldberg, Tiffany Shlain, Mark Pesce, Amy Critchett, more. This is a fundraiser & XFF are requesting donations of $10-$40 (more if you can). See http://dorkbot.org/dorkbotsf/archive/201211/ and http://xffpreparty.eventbrite.com

() $ **SAN JOSE**: NOW through Dec 8: ZERO1Biennial: Seeking Silicon Valley. www.zero1biennial.org Facebook / Twitter

() $ NOW through ? RECOMMENDED: HOLY MOTORS is now playing at Landmark’s Embarcadero Center Cinema in San Francisco. Digital photos at: http://holymotorsfilm.com/wp/downloads

() $ Fri-Sat Dec 7-8. Benefit for Carole Lennon; many bands will play. Stay tuned!

() FREE (BERKELEY) Sat Dec 8:, 10-5pm East Bay Alternative Book and Zine Fest, 2050 Center St (near University, bet Shattuck & Milvia; Berkeley City College. RE/SEARCH WILL HAVE A TABLE!

() FREE Sun Dec 9, 3-5pm V. VALE gives a FREE class (“RE/Search the Future Forever!”) at the Free University, Viracocha, 998Valencia/21st St. Come early and see our former intern Joe Donohoe give a presentation on Kurosawa and Pasolini!

() $ Sun Dec 9, 8pm, Regency Ballroom, JOHN CALE – ’nuff said! Cass McCombs: opening act. http://www.goldenvoice.com/shows/details/?id=38245

() FREE Tue Dec 11, 730pm, Green Arcade Bookstore, 1680 Market/Gough Sts, SF – Homage to writer Etel Adnan.

() $ Wed Dec 12, 730pm, Meri St Meri reads (to promote her new book, “You Tore Us”; V. Vale wrote an introduction) at a secret Hayes Valley location: The Museum of Living Art. For location, details & password call 415 789 8203 beginning December 1st. Later that night, 10pm Meri St. Mary will be reading & signing from YOU TORE US @ Salon du Troll’s Holidays On the Cheap hosted by Dog Swan @ 1082 Howard (between 6th & 7th) for & by the “inspired, impoverished & infamous local artists & performances” TBA. This event will go til 2am & beyond. 7$ donation @ the door.

() $23 Sat Dec 15 9pm, Sun Dec 16 1:30AM: Psychic TV featuring Lumerians / King Dude. The Uptown Nightclub, Oakland, CA – 21 years and over. http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=4859065

() $ Fri-Sat Dec 21-22 **LOS ANGELES** Xtreme Futurist Fest. RE/Search will present, and have a table. Dec 22 special event: SRL is scheduled to do a very rare LIVE SHOW! http://extremefuturistfestival.com/ also go to: http://archive.srl.org/2012/11/03/srl-at-the-extreme-futurist-festival-2012/

Just Added for the XFF Music Concert Fri Nite 12/21/12: LYDIA LUNCH (all the way from Barcelona, Spain) and Negativeland (from North Carolina). V. Vale will give at least (2) presentations. RE/Search’s new book, DATING AI, is written by Alex Zhavaronkoff — who may well appear IN PERSON (99% chance) all the way from Russia!

() FREE MON DEC 31, 9-midnite. Riptide / 3639 Taraval Av/ 46th-47th Av, SF. THE REMONES (Ramones tribute band!!) 21+ show by Scott Alcoholocaust

() FUTURE, THE: go to www.babygramps.com to find his tour schedule! We like the over-the-top Punk Americana this legend of living pulchritude creates, both live and in recordings. Some very deep cultural waters await you…

5. What We’ve Attended/What We’ve Been Reading/Seeing/Listening to/What We’ve Been Sent/Given

() Big Takeover #71 (Beach House cover): concluding part two of our awesome features on Nada Surf, ’60s stars Love (on Da Capo & Forever Changes),

Nuggets/Patti Smith legend Lenny Kaye Pt 2, and The Descendents, as well as a fabulous history interview with ’70s L.A. Dangerhouse punks The Deadbeats, and newer greats Maximo Park, DIIV, and M. Ward. (A jam-packed 164-page issue! ORDER FROM: <http://bigtakeover.stores.yahoo.net/> + if you would like to receive it, or subscribe <http://bigtakeover.stores.yahoo.net/> + if you’ve been meaning to, or renew your subscription <http://bigtakeover.stores.yahoo.net/> if it has run out. And remember, Big Takeover issues, back issues, t-shirts, CDs (including the limited edition Springhouse CD album, From Now to OK), and our other fun stuff (Big Takeover beer cozies, magnets, buttons, signed posters, etc.) and subscriptions also make the perfect X-mas/Holiday gifts! Especially in this time when we are all trying to economize. (NOTE ABOUT T-SHIRTS- NEW KID SIZES! In addition to our four mens and three women’s sizes, we now offer six children’s sizes, 2T, 3T, 4T, and onesies 6 months, 12 months, and 18 months! For the cool kid in your world!)

If you want to subscribe or renew or give the gift that keeps on giving, just go to our secure online Yahoo store <http://bigtakeover.stores.yahoo.net/> (and feel free to indicate which issue you’d like to start with (only $20 for four issues or $32 for overseas, or $26 for Canada. Or, for those in the U.S. you can send us a check made out to “Big Takeover” for $20 to the following address: The Big Takeover, 356 4th St., Upper Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11215 - Or if you want to pre-order just the upcoming issue 71, you can send us a check for $6 to that address or order online. Best, Jack Rabid”

() Michael Shamberg sent us his DVD of ps. beirut chapter I + II. Writer: Etel Adnan. Players include Emmanuelle Riva (voice), Bernard Sumner from New Order singing “Procession,” Margarethe von Trotta, more. We recommend it for its grace and poetic ephemerality! It’s zero budget D-I-Y but looks beautiful.

() Deborah Iyall (of Romeo Void fame) & her hot band played a rockin’-out set at the SFAI Alumni Weekend Nov 3. She has released (3) CDs lately: ”Singing until Sunrise,” “Knife in Water Dialog,” and “Stay Strong.”

() V from London sent us the best present: a beautiful British Library CD titled “The Spoken Word: William S Burroughs and Brion Gysin” available fromwww.bl.uk/shop – ‘Nuff said!

() Ian W. gave us 2 CDs involving Frightwig: 1) Wild Women Never Die…They Just Dye Their Hair [a kind of classic] and 2) ”Gone to Ground” - all lyrics by MIA D’BRUZZI. www.gonetogroundband.com

() Our former intern Erica Olsen has a new book, “Recapture & Other Stories” – www.recapturestories.com – intv at http://torreyhouse.com/press-room/recapture/a-conversation-with-erica-olsen/

() McKenzie Wark gave us his new hardback bearing an innovative dust jacket which, unfolded, becomes a beautiful poster full of graphics and thought-provoking quotes: THE BEACH BENEATH THE STREET (a 2012 “take” on how Situationism is still relevant today).

6. A commentary on Artificial Intelligence and “DATING A.I.” by Dr. Alex Zhavoronkoff, RE/SEARCH’s NEXT BOOK.

from Patrick Kwon

NOTE: Pre-Order “DATING A.I.” and get a free copy of MODERN PAGANS **or** PUNK 77 (You must tell us which book you want for free): www.researchpubs.com

“Peter and Serena are at dinner. The conversation is clumsy, as it might often be on a first date. To Peter, who dates often, tonight is an exercise in routine. Peter has playfully courted Serena in the past, only he doesn’t remember. Serena, however, has total recall of the event—every detail. That’s because she has a photographic memory. She is also an android.”

In DATING AI, Zhavoronkoff delivers anecdotal witticisms like the one above. Scenarios that speculate about the rise of a new, nuanced relationship between people and a fully incarnated Artificial Intelligence. And while the thrust of this ultra-chic tutorial explores the romantic and perfunctory aspects of these new paradigms, Zhavoronkoff is careful to address a wide spectrum of scenarios in this brave new world. He illuminates how fragile and curious relationships could be, given the radical nature of tomorrow’s advanced communications. That is, he gently ushers us into this unknown future with a kind of Socratic dialogue, thus depicting a full-bodied corporality and dimensionality.

In 1983, Isaac Asimov wrote THE ROBOTS OF DAWN, where a roboticide has just occurred. During the inquiry, Elijah Bailey, a famous agoraphobic detective, discovers that a woman has had sexual/romantic relations with a life-like robot; androids of this kind are described as humaniform.

THE ROBOTS OF DAWN was the first book I ever read. Even then, to my young mind, the idea of a relationship with a certain facsimile of sentient-ness didn’t seem so impossibly alien. We often speak to machines, as we do animals, with a gratifying sense of familiarity; perhaps this typifies the very nature of our way of relating to other entities. Philosophers often ask what our purpose, as humans, might BE. Do we give purpose—assign meaning—to everything? I recall the way that I yell at a blown fuse, or a television, or coddle my car, or coax my computer from the threshold of blipping out. Typically, many of us dialogue with functional objects or tools in our environment. Some objects evince a binary decision-making capability, and when that decision fails to—or achieves—our intention, we praise or denigrate the act. This is a relationship—at its most rudimentary.

Back in the mid-nineties, I used to own a Tamagotchi: a virtual pet that you had to nurture—much like a flour sack baby. But the Tamagotchi exhibited alerts that warned you about the needs of the ”pet”: when it was hungry, or needed to use the bathroom, or take a nap. I let mine “die” within a month.

More recently, I bought an iPhone 4S. The 4S is equipped with an algorithmic personality, which is allegedly female. If you ask her name, she will say that her name is Siri. And if you ask her what is her full name, she will say that it is Siri Alpha. These names cannot not evoke some kind of emotional reaction. I would say that this is intentional. And what is the intention? To usher us into an environment of artificial -rapport, -candor, -emotionality, -sympathy, and -intelligence: Artificial Intelligence. And by artificial, I don’t mean disingenuousness, or a prosthetic quality—rather, exercising a binary, algorithmic logic presaging a new kind of machine-human intimacy. And this is where Dr. Zhavoronkoff serves us: he artfully softens our palate for this perplexing lozenge that we may all be chewing on before Elijah Bailey can discover why anyone might want to terminate a humaniform. [end]

7. RECOMMENDED LINKS (send some!)

() V. Vale Interview by Peter Cavagnaro of BAM/PFA at: http://blook.bampfa.berkeley.edu/2012/11/q-a-v-vale.html

() from Graham R: Ballardian deserted Chinese Disneyland: http://blogs.reuters.com/photographers-blog/2011/12/12/chinas-deserted-fake-disneyland/

() from Chris T: “this article positions him as a creep, but it raises some pretty large issues about surveillance in general.

Plus it’s funny the way he handles angry people. Definitely watch the videos:

http://www.geekwire.com/2012/seattles-creepy-cameraman-pushes-limits-public-surveillance/empty San Francisco: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jDaAo63bivc#!

() from Billy H: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missing_fundamental

() from Gail T: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/10/hitchcock-trailer-anthony-hopkins_n_1955152.html?utm_hp_ref=entertainment

() from Rokko: tiny video of V. Vale playing “Rokko’s Theme” on piano: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXIQnBD4rn8

() Dutch art heist: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/8600706a-1799-11e2-8cbe-00144feabdc0.html#axzz29YNG8KQ8

() from V in London:

http://library.harvard.edu/library-calendar?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D102309246

longnow.org/seminars/02012/dec/11/lost-landscapes-san-francisco-7

think this guy’s writing is funny: www.vice.com/en_uk/read/a-big-night-out-ata-fashion-week-party

() Steven Gray has poems & photos in: www.poeticpinuprevue.com

() from Jon Longhi: http://youtube/46pO6jdsXOo

() from Phil G: “Hi Vale- I’ve been doing some work for takepart.com , the social outreach part of Participant media (“The Help”, “Food Inc., etc.). It’s pretty cool, they are trying to get some messages out about food, the environment, and social issues. Anyway, they put up a series of videos of Henry Rollins, I thought you’d enjoy them: http://www.takepart.com/rollins

a favorite blog: http://tsutpen.blogspot.com/2012/11/when-legends-gather-712.html

() Albanian Leviathan: http://www.romanianstudies.org/content/2012/11/poetry-in-translation-cxlii-parid-teferici-b-1972-albania-in-a-country-as-small-as-this-one-o-tara-atat-de-mica/

() from James M: “You have seen a lot of this in OTHER docs, but NOT ALL scenes. I haven’t seen much of the extended stuff on parts 3 and above including the Nuns @ Winterland greeting “all the Mabuhay crowd gathered here tonight” High Times Tom Forcade financed this for $400,000 just months before he suicided himself in 1978. Some interesting images and audio indeed!!!”

() from Mako S: “…the burroughs letters collection, and must frequently pick it up and read…up to 1974 only…

surely there must be another collection covering the seventies, eighties – interesting years for wsb, no?”

‘Rub Out The Words: The Letters of William S. Burroughs’ out … • www.deathandtaxesmag.com/177688/rub-out-the-words-the-letters-of…

() from Babalou: Con Edison plant explosion Manhattan: http://boingboing.net/2012/10/29/con-ed-transformer-explosion-i.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

() from Charley Brown, Voice Farm: http://www.youtube.com/user/voicefarm08

() from Karen Marcelo: http://www.asklabs.com/blog/13584274

() from Leah & Scott A: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeBwdGXg274&sns=em

() see RE/Search Nov newsletter at wired’s website: http://www.wired.com/beyond_the_beyond/2012/11/the-latest-research-emanation/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wiredbeyond+%28Wired%3A+Blog+-+Beyond+the+Beyond%2FSterling%29

() from Ralf: Svankmajer YBCA alert: http://ybca.org/animating-dark-dreams

() from Karen B: President Truman Called them “Human Secret Weapon”, actually they were life saving soldiers.

Final Installment of the Trilogy of Japanese American WWII history by Junichi Suzuki. DVD:

http://www.domocart.com/domo-store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4&products_id=339

MIS Official Website: http://mis-film.com/

Second of the trilogy: “442 Live With Honor, Die with Dignity” http://www.domocart.com/domo-store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=24

442 Official website: http://www.442film.com/

First of the trilogy: “Toyo’s Camera” http://www.domocart.com/domo-store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4&products_id=200

() from Ken Knabb: LOOKING BACK ON OCCUPY http://www.bopsecrets.org/recent/occupy-looking-back.htm

() SFAQ Gallery: www.evergoldgallery.com

() from Vermilion: ”Vale, Book recommendation: Francesca Woodman photos ISBN 9781935202660 ” (google her!)

8. QUOTES

() “Either that wallpaper goes, or I go!” – Oscar Wilde, on his deathbed in a downscale Paris hotel room

() We are seeking quotes made on people’s deathbeds – literally, people’s “last words”… Send us some!

() The most common last words on downed airplanes’ recovered “black boxes” are: “Oh, s–t!”

9. LETTERS FROM READERS:

() “Hi Vale, In the excerpt of the new Dating AI book, there is mention of the ‘Turing Test’, which probably most people have heard of by now. The short description provided is:

The test is straightforward: A human judge carries on a conversation for five minutes, mainly question and answer, with an unseen person and a supposedly intelligent machine. In the original Turing version, the test uses computer terminals with text only so that visual and aural cues are not involved. If the judge cannot tell the difference between the responses of the person and the machine, then the machine has passed the test.

However – there’s an important twist to the original paper “Computing Machinery and Intelligence” from 1950, which I was made aware of by Bruce Sterling, which I think points out the importance of going back to the source. Sterling’s talk was on the occasion of Turing’s 100th birthday, “Turing Centenary Speech” (reference: http://www.wired.com/beyond_the_beyond/2012/06/turing-centenary-speech-new-aesthetic/)

Here’s the start of the second paragraph of the Turing paper “Computing Machinery and Intelligence” (reference: http://orium.homelinux.org/paper/turingai.pdf)

The new form of the problem can be described in terms of a game which we call the “imitation game.” It is played with three people, a man (A), a woman (B), and an interrogator (C) who may be of either sex. The interrogator stays in a room apart front the other two. The object of the game for the interrogator is to determine which of the other two is the man and which is the woman.

A bit later Turing then changes the scenario:

We now ask the question, “What will happen when a machine takes the part of A in this game?” Will the interrogator decide wrongly as often when the game is played like this as he does when the game is played between a man and a woman? These questions replace our original, “Can machines think?”

So we see there was a gender component to Turing’s original scenario (which I had never seen described anywhere before Sterling’s talk). Here are a couple things Sterling has to say about it:

Bruce Sterling: You could argue that “masculinity” has nothing to do with “intelligence.” I might even agree with you, but if my masculinity isn’t an aspect of my so-called intelligence, what is it?

Mathematics may be sexless, but do we really believe that cognition is some quality we have that is strictly divorced from gender? How can you properly claim that you understand how human brains work, if you can’t create a system that expresses a female sexual identity? Because billions of brains do that every day, and it’s not rare, because women are the majority gender. Where is that aspect of human intelligence supposed to be hiding? Is femininity non-algorithmic? Is femininity a Turing non-computable problem? — Curt: Thought this would be pertinent to Dating AI! Best, Curt”

() “Dear Vale, LTM recordings recently released Varvakios, the sixth studio album by L.A. postpunk group Savage Republic. Recorded in Greece in February 2012 over the course of three hectic days, Varvakios is a sequel of sorts to their 1989 album Customs, and draws on local sights, sounds and synergies. On several tracks the band are joined on violin by Blaine L. Reininger of Tuxedomoon, himself a resident of downtown Athens. Says frontman Thom Fuhrmann: ‘To walk into such a volatile situation and create this music in such a short time was by far the most satisfying experience that I’ve ever had as an artist.’ CD and vinyl versions of the recording are available now through Mobilization.com. The CD and Digital version are released on LTM records.

Savage Republic also self-produced a strictly limited vinyl edition of 300 numbered copies, packaged in a special die cut cover, designed by Ramona Clarke and hand printed by Bruce Licher at Independent Project Press, pressed onto clear vinyl with random smokey streaks, making each copy unique.

The LP edition also includes a beautiful 8.5″x5.5″ eight page full color booklet, printed on photo paper, featuring shots by photographer Nick Paleologos, combining album text with candid photos of Savage Republic during the 3-day recording process, plus images from the street rioting that occurred in Athens during the same time period.

For more information visit Mobilization.com Contact: Ethan Port, Mobilization.com +1 (650) 619-3695

https://www.facebook.com/ethanport

http://SAVAGEREPUBLIC.com

http://F-SPACE.com

() from Bill C–: “In case you missed it, here is a link to a New Statesman review of Extreme Metaphors, a compilation of ~40 years of Ballard interviews:

http://www.newstatesman.com/culture/culture/2012/10/j-g-ballard%E2%80%99s-immersion-catastrophe - I look forward to your newsletter…Patti Smith here in San Diego tonight AND tomorrow.”

() “Hi V, How are you? Wanted to say a *BIG* thank you for your kind words on your newsletter about Kinglux magazine recently. As you’re aware Bruce Sterling reposted your editorial over on Wired, and we made some connections as a result of the extra publicity! Thank you!!

Also, I was speaking to Robert Ansell ( http://boingboing.net/2012/09/24/making-the-book-talismanic-an.html ), whom I’m working with at Fulgur Publishing ( http://fulgur.co.uk/ )

He creates some — scrub that — he creates the most beautiful books on the occult, Austin Osman Spare being his specialism, and we were talking about your influence… In a mirror of my thoughts he said that “You are the internet to men of a certain age”! So once again, your influence has permeated the collective consciousness of the curious and brave.

Finally, and I promise, the unabashed compliments will abide here, the recent Henry Rollins interview you guys did was just superb… So much knowledge and trivia there, I saw it as counterculture primer 101. Essential listening. If the missing segment was filmed you promise to post a link, right?

So, with my enthusiasm firmly embedded here, I send you the very best from sunny autumnal London…

Tony Kinglux” www.kinglux.co.uk

() “dear V.Vale, how are you? here Paolo Campana from the documentary Vinylmania,I hope all is going well with your activity. I hope you have finally received the dvd of the film? If yes I hope you will like it, it would be great to know your opinion. In the dvd I dedicated an entire bonus to our meeting at your place. I’m looking forward hearing news from you – all the best, Paolo Campana, Director, DJ, Via R. Sineo 3, 10124 – Torino, ITALY mailto: campana_p@hotmail.com mobile: +39 335 8183191 – VISIT MY BLOG www.vinylmaniafilm.com – facebook vinylpage http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/vinylmania?ref=ts ”

() from V in London: [funeral notice] “William Snider, born in Cincinnati, buried Jan 11, 1854, aged 13 years 6 months. Killed by being swung around by the heels by a circus clown. Buried in Yerba Buena cemetery, San Francisco, CAL, grave no. 3240.” (Those were the days!?)

() from John Johnson, one of our favorite zine creators: ” I received the JGBallard Conversations book and have been enjoying it immensely. Thanks so much. I just finished the David Pringle interview. It brought to mind that my best friend (Allen Levine) was William Burroughs’ personal assistant. I’m originally from Lawrence, Kansas. Small world. ~ John”

() “[Recommend] The Age of Wire & String and Notable American Women by Ben Marcus & Scorch Atlas. They ain’t Ballard, but that ain’t gonna happen. Ash”

() “Hi Vale, Thanks for the invite to the Hypnodrome yesterday. Your musical piano intro was fantastic, as was the show itself! You know, what I found really interesting was how willing and able we all are, at any age, to play around with interesting concepts, in the right environment. So, what I mean is: the Hypnodrome show involved a storytelling game and a costume contest in which the contestants had to participate, act in character, answer on-the-spot questions on their creations etc. All of a sudden, a theatre full of people was involved in a criss-crossing dialogue playing around with concepts like wormholes, magickal powers etc. …the moment when a 7-or-so-year-old mentions that his character lives inside a wormhole… the entire room is reduced to the same kind of child-like playfulness. It was fantastic!

“It was great to be able to catch up with you at the end of my USA travels. Off to central America (and beyond) from Tuesday. OH… that reminds me. Better than having some copies of the Occupied Times sent to you by post, it turns out that a friend and fellow OT editor is visiting SF within the next couple of weeks. She (Ragnhild) has a copy of the issue with the McKenzie Wark interview, and should also have one or two other issues, if you’d like. One thing I didn’t mention about our paper was the design… two awesome Greek guys have been behind the design since the first issue, and we all love it; the design uses a typeface known as ‘BASTARD’, which is reminiscent of fascistic themes – which is fun! So, hopefully you will enjoy!

“I’ll keep an eye out for your newsletters and new releases— and I really hope I’ll find there, some day, mention of some more trusted writers on the Ballard/Burroughs level. Here’s hoping!

Currently trying to find the best spot to kip @ SFO (there’s actually this fantastic website ‘sleepinginairports.net’ that documents recommendations of the best airport spots to sleep at). Re-listening to Burroughs’s spoken word to transport me away from this perma-daydream environment! Again, It was freat to meet you during my time in SF. Best wishes to you all! - Mark K”

() “Hi Vale,

Following on from my previous email: I finished Observed While Falling. It becomes rather unusual, in several different ways. There are interesting sections about the process of working on the project, the general environment at the time, and the bizarre coincidences that surround the collaboration. There are also sections that express quite a bitterness towards James Grauerholz and, strangely, the nature of Burroughs’ funeral. There’s a long section about control, 9/11, 2012, etc, which features a few brave logical leaps. Peculiar, but interesting.

“It would have been very exciting to see the completed graphic novel, or even to read the text version alongside the images. This book, apparently disapproved of by the Burroughs estate, is quite satisfying as an explanation of why a complete version does not exist.

Best, Andrew

——

“Hi Vale, The Lost Art of Ah Pook and Observed While Falling by Malcolm McNeill are now available! I picked copies up at Foyles this evening after seeing Aline and Robert Crumb speak about their new book. (We got a couple of books signed which was very exciting for Emily — she’s a big fan.)

I’m only 30 pages in, but Observed While Falling (a memoir about the project) is pretty great so far. An interesting description of not only the process of working with Burroughs, but of the general environment of early 70s London.

Best, Andrew”

—–

“There’s a new book out called ‘trust me i’m lying’ by a guy who markets assholes like tucker max and american apparel. In it he explains how/easy it is-to manipulate the media (specifically online) and why the system is setup to be duped. I thought of the pranks issues immediately, and that it had applications for now that maybe hadn’t been as obvious or technically possible when the pranks issues came out. Even though his goals are/were not in line with what i believe REsearch is about , i feel the information inside would be beneficial to pranksters and perhaps he would be a person of interest for the pranks 3 issue (which i pray happens someday). Thanks for all that you do/have done. You are much appreciated. xoxo Sent from The suburbs of Disneyland in slack mafia usa” – Daniel B.

——

“Hi Vale, Loved the interview — you always manage to seamlessly blend historical/philosophical/artistic insights with earthy, practical advice on how to “get shit done.”

“And the Extreme Futurist Festival looks really cool! Out here in the wild jungle of shameless conservatism and nationalism, I sincerely miss the quirky genius that is California… – Ilana in Istanbul”

10. **SPONSORS** (Without them you would NOT be receiving this newsletter – Please go to their websites!)

1. 47 Canal Street (Gallery w/events, NYC) – 47CanalStreet.com – we hope they survived Hurricane Sandy intact!

2. Emerald Tablet (Gallery w/events), Fresno Alley (100 feet from RE/Search! in North Beach). emtab.org – lots of free or low cost local community events; check out their schedule! http://emtab.org/ – they’re open during North Beach Art Walk…

3. Emily Armstrong’s blog: www.gonightclubbing.com (last button on the left, scroll through the posts!)

4. Contribute to (& Order copies of!) “OUT OF OUR” – Steven Gray & Sarah Page’s San Francisco Poetry Magazine: outofour.com

5. From our friends Amy and Brian: check out their ”simple business software for art galleries: gallerystar.com

6. V. Vale’s RE/Search Newsletter is cordially sponsored by “Beyond the Beyond.”

Information Wants To Be Free WE MEAN IT MAN! $0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0 http://blog.wired.com/sterling

7. www.SOPHIAGASPARIAN.com “fine art about equal human rights worldwide”

8. Mrs Dalloway (Catering, Bay Area): Holly Erickson’s catering/foodblog/cookbook

www.mrsdallowayscatering.com and lightscameracuisine.foodblog.com

9. Ryan Shepard – thank you!

RE/Search THANKS (3) SPONSORS who Wish to Remain Anonymous – you know who you are! And yes, we NEEDED Your Support! (B.H., D.S., V.V.)

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DEC 2012 RE/Search eNewsletter written by V. Vale & other contributors. RE/Search website powered by http://www.laughingsquid.com. Add us (“info@researchpubs.com”) to Your Address Book

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Physical Address since May 1979: RE/SEARCH | 20 Romolo #B | San Francisco CA 94133-4041 | 415.362.1465

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V. VALE’s RE/SEARCH NEWSLETTER #110, Nov 2012

November 03, 2012 By: admin Category: Blog, News Comments Off

WELCOME TO V. VALE’s RE/SEARCH NEWSLETTER #110, Nov 2012 Add Us to Your Address Book! You are Receiving this Email because You or Someone You Know Signed Up to Our Newsletter in the Past. Scroll to the Bottom of this Email to UNSUBSCRIBE. Are you receiving this newsletter (annoyingly) TWICE? PLEASE tell us which address to delete.
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Physical address: RE/SEARCH | 20 Romolo #B | San Francisco CA 94133-4041 | 415.362.1465
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TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1. MESSAGE FROM YOUR EDITOR, V. VALE: Theory of an Ideal Daily (Male) Uniform.
2. Counter Culture Hour Sat Nov 10, 2012 – 6:00 PM PACIFIC TIME – SF cable channel 29, also simulcast on-line (see below):
3. **MEDITATION SPACE** [blank]
4. FORTHCOMING EVENTS -
5. What We’ve Attended/What We’ve Been Reading/Seeing:
6. Paul Addis: R.I.P.
7. Recommended Links – send some!
8. QUOTES
9. Letters from Readers
10. Sponsors (Please check ‘em out! – they make this “free” newsletter possible!)
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please add info@researchpubs.com to your WHITE LIST in your email preferences, or to your ADDRESS BOOK. If you change your email, send it plus your “old” email address to delete. Lastly, forward our newsletter to your friends! If you are on AOL, please make sure you can receive our newsletter – we get the most returns from addresses at AOL, Hotmail, Comcast and Yahoo!
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1. MESSAGE FROM V. VALE: “THEORY OF AN IDEAL DAILY UNIFORM.”

(Please note that this essay ONLY applies to human males; human females [who are smarter than the rest of us] are advised to skip this!)
Even though our philosophy has morphed from “Platonic Idealism” to “Skeptical Empiricism” (thanks to Nassim Taleb), nevertheless, old habits of thinking die hard. The part of us that wants to identify with “pure Zen Buddhist practice of non-attachment to the material plane” is congruent with the inquiry, “What are the least amount of possessions we could happily survive with?” And we recall the uniform of Buddhist monks through the ages: a cloak (wear it; sleep in it), a staff, sandals (or shoes?) and a begging bowl.
And what would be the characteristics of an “ideal daily uniform”? 1) Widest temperature range (wind/water/sun resistant) 2) Most useful pockets 3) Lightest weight 4) Minimalist design emphasizing function, to resist “becoming dated.”
Decades ago, after much discussion with friends, we adopted the “artist’s uniform”: wear all black. Consequently, wherever we go in the world, people ask, “Are you an artist?” This question did not offend; au contraire. We wondered why so many clothing designers seem to be photographed wearing all black—and still don’t know the answer, but think it has to do with dealing with so many colors in their work, that black offers a respite and a haven of reliable security.
Why ALL BLACK? 1) I, personally, have black hair, so it’s an “animal” thing. 2) Ninjas wear all black and can disappear in the night; I like the ideal of the Ninja camouflage and mobility. 3) Everything matches; one never need ask in the morning, “What shall I wear? Does this shirt “go” with these pants?” Etc. 4) Maximum social mobility; one can talk with gutter punks or wealthy art collectors… 5) Minimalist inscrutability and non-flamboyance (if you wanna be flamboyant, wear a red scarf or hat or shoes). Red is the second preferred color. White is the third. 6) Black is protective; wearing black can be fear-inspiring. Ideally, criminals are hopefully less likely to want to f– with you if you wear all black.
This kind-of Platonic Ideal of wearing all black had other immediate attractions: first of all, the desire to Simplify Life (as Thoreau said). We don’t like the idea of spending inflated amounts of money on clothing. With this in mind, we could enter any thrift store, rapidly cruise the clothing racks, and exit happily with very little in hand: namely, black cotton shirts with a regular collar and at least one chest pocket (for holding a small digital recorder, a bus transfer, et al). Rarely could we find a black wool coat with enough (and large enough) pockets and a high collar that buttons all the way to the top; generally, we avoid zipper closures on coats (they’re hard to “deal with” while sitting in a chair or car). Black suits can be found, but they have not been adopted by us (yet, even though several of our oldest friends wear ONLY black suits these days — rumpled, of course. We are still thinking about wearing black suits, as they can be thriftily found in, yes, thrift stores).
Our socks are the 6-for-$12 90%-cotton type (all-black, of course) from JC Penney or from Mervyn’s, R.I.P. Boxer shorts (cotton): who cares what color they are, as no one can see ‘em, normally, and they’re economically-priced at JC Penney or Costco. Shoes are ankle-high waterproof Rockports with added $25 innersoles, which could be resoled or reheeled—very important. (Like, save the planet…)
Pants for the last few decades were “classic” Lee regular fit black jeans (hate “relaxed-fit”), made of a heavy denim, with deep pockets made of long-wearing cloth, and most notably, a functionally-large change pocket which could hold a ring of 8 keys plus 5 quarters, a dime, three pennies and a nickel. Sadly, Levis brand and most designer brands feature change pockets which are laughably too small. (FUNCTION first, please!)
But, some years ago we went to London in February and was forced to walk around late at night—and for the first time encountered bone-chilling, windy cold. And our legs froze. So for the first time we thought about finding warmer pants, and we wondered: is there a fabric that’s lightweight, not wool (which is scratchy); water-resistant, wind-resistant, yet BREATHABLE? Historically, we had avoided polyester-type artificial fibers because they were clammy and gross.
We became interested in “technical clothing” made for mountain climbers, professional bicyclists, policemen, armed forces, miners, welders and other real-world professions encountering extremes of climate and temperature. After reading numerous reviews, the most amount of praise centered on Schoeller fabric. But, we didn’t like the design of any pants we found (cargo pants are not our cup-of-tea).
Finally, after years, we thought of googling: “Schoeller fabric jeans.” Now, the invention of “jeans” (originated by Levi-Strauss company) is one of the greatest, classic designs ever seen. (We find it too annoying to get at cargo pants pockets.) If you put your wallet into a right front pocket, it’s practically impossible to lose it. A diary/notebook fits into the left front pocket. Receipts/bus transfers can go into the left rear pocket. We never used the right rear pocket, but more on that later…
To our surprise, we found that someone was thinking exactly like us: they too, for years, had been meditating on the THEORY OF IDEAL PANTS, and had been driven, in a DO-IT-YOURSELF spirit, to import Schoeller fabric from Switzerland, get a sewing machine, and teach themselves how to make jeans made of what may be the best fabric in the world for wind/rain-resistant pants. Yes, this is another Platonic Ideal, but … can one be both a Platonic Idealist AND a Skeptical Empiricist in the same body? Perhaps…
We contacted the maker of these Schoeller fabric jeans and had a small email conversation. First discovery: they were made by ONE PERSON (plus maybe a few friends on call) living in a small city in Oregon on the West Coast of America. Our main concerns were: 1) is the THREAD used all black [we don't like yellow thread so much on black jeans]? (Yes.) 2) Is the change pocket big enough to hold a small camera? (Yes.) 3) Are all the pockets DEEP, and made of extra-long-lasting material? (Yes.) 4. Is the zipper long enough? [We hate low-rise jeans]. (Yes.) 5. The best discovery of all was: the right rear pocket is ZIPPERED, and can hold a USA Passport… Wow!
The trouble with San Francisco buildings is that all of the ones we have lived in have been inadequately insulated for interior living during the colder Bay Area months. None of our apartments have ever had central heating, and they’ve all been cold. So, for several months of the year, we find ourselves wrapping a fleece blanket (African style) around our waist so we can work long hours at the computer—it’s annoying when your legs get cold. Yet we dislike wearing long underwear; it’s too bulky and feels inconvenient; so for decades we lived with cold legs covered with a blanket.
We ordered a pair of these Schoeller-fabric jeans, expecting the worst. The jeans arrived bearing some beautifully-designed labels (hmm…) and were sealed in a waterproof ziplock bag. They were surprising lightweight; less than half the weight of our trusty Lee jeans. We tried them on and—ah, blissful warmth. Measurably warmer than our old standby Lee Jeans in our cold apartment. Great! Next: the pockets: even BETTER than our Lee Jeans; deeper, a harder, more long-lasting fabric, we thought. The change pocket: large! Best of all was the right rear zippered pocket; nothing could be worse than losing a passport while overseas. We wore the new jeans all night till 2AM when we finally finished editing a certain interview project and decided to “hit the sack.”
We also realized that the Schoeller fabric will stay blacker, longer. Even though we washed our Lee jeans in cold water, nevertheless, they faded—and we like our black jeans BLACK, not gray… We will continue to wash these Schoeller fabric jeans in cold water, and hang them up to dry (so as to minimize shrinkage; no dryer, definitely).
Seems hard to believe—in this day and age where, universally, profit comes first—to find what we now consider THE WORLD’S GREATEST BLACK JEANS, bar none. They are made by an individual who consciously set as a goal: To Make the Best Black Jeans in the World. And we feel he has succeeded, in every single detail. The jeans are meticulously detailed, immaculately tailored—a Work of Art. They are hand-made by a real human individual of rare integrity in a small town in America. Will the world beat a path to his door? We fervently hope so. This is the uncompromising spirit that Americans formerly had in droves, before our cojones were cut off by lack of willpower, vision, ethics and integrity.
We hope that the individual behind this start-up can sustain for the long haul, and not compromise on quality, no matter how tempting. These jeans are not cheap; they are made in America and America is expensive to survive in, these days. But, we expect them to outlast any previous jeans we’ve ever owned, and to give us years of faithful service and yes, pleasure. There is a great satisfaction in owning something that you know is of the highest quality, that is made by a genuine idealist (a real person, not a slave laborer), that has been thoroughly thought-out in every detail; a garment whose minimalist functional beauty is unquestionably present in every molecule of its practical being.
Can’t remember when we’ve been so happy with a “mere” article of clothing, but we know that these jeans will help us survive the coldest London winters and being caught in the rain, mists, fog and wind on bicycle rides over the Golden Gate bridge and beyond. My old Lee jeans would get soaked right away on rainy bike rides. This is a major, measurable improvement in the technology known as clothing: that which protects us against the vagaries of weather and challenging environments. These pants have such a soft, brushed interior, you can easily sleep in ‘em if you have to… they’re ideal for world traveling! I think it’s kind of a miracle that they exist, cuz they are exactly what I’ve wanted for literally years! And unlike cargo pants, they are invisible enough to be acceptable at a cocktail party at the top of the Tate Modern…
If you are intrigued, write ThunderboltSportswear. Apologies for the “obsessiveness” of this editorial, which is definitely the most “personal, subjective and confessional” of any yet to appear in a RE/Search Newsletter. Next time: Back to Objectivity… — V. Vale

**** We want everyone to pay attention to this word on our forthcoming new book!
RE/Search’s new book is DATING AI: A Guide to Artificial Intelligence, written by a brilliant Russian scientist named Alex Zhavaronkoff. Finally, here is an easy-to-read, engaging, clear explication of what Artificial Intelligence (AI) **IS.** Almost all questions dealing with how ÅI will impact humanity in the future are explicated and explored, leaving, nevertheless, an immense territory on which all of us can speculate and bring our imaginations to bear.
Here is a NEW brief excerpt from DATING AI, which can now be pre-ordered on the RE/Search website: http://www.researchpubs.com/Blog/pre-orders-soon/ All pre-orders will be given a free RE/Search book (pick one): Punk 77 or Modern Pagans

**NEW EXCERPT** From “Dating AI” by Alex Zhavaronkoff, PhD:

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WHY ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS?
It’s a common perception that computers are the epitome of logic, calculation and rigid execution—which they certainly can be. This perception carries over to artificial intelligence, which people often associate with logic and massive amounts of data. In science fiction it’s common for any form of AI to be depicted as cold, logical, humorless and frequently hostile. Dating AI has a different perspective: Since human beings will create artificial intelligence and this intelligence will be modeled on human behavior, AI will start out with all or most basic human capabilities. This will include emotion and the ability to socialize.
It is almost a certainty that the first relatively autonomous AI, robotic or otherwise, will be created to serve or collaborate with human beings. If this is the case, then personal relationships with AI are not only to be expected but will be built into most forms of artificial intelligence.
I can go further: If it is possible to have relationships with AI at all, which I think likely, then it is probable that one of the greatest of human capabilities—the capacity for love—will also be important to our relationship with AI—and not just for the human. For human beings love is mysterious, difficult, complicated, ephemeral, profound and persistently important. I think it will be equally so for AI, if from a different and instructive perspective. Considering personal, romantic relationships with AI provides an avenue of access, a portal of sorts, into aspects of perception, intelligence, emotion and other elements of what we call ‘the mind.’ It’s a means of looking at the subject in a more familiar and sometimes humorous way, like the dating experience, which I hope will make some ideas about a relatively neglected aspect of artificial intelligence not only approachable, but more understandable.
DEFINING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
There has been so much research done in fields that are relevant to AI (for example: robotics, computer science, neuroscience, nanotechnology and communications), that it’s easy to undervalue the first 100 years of work. I won’t be covering AI history in any detail, but it’s helpful to remember that AI and all its many contributing elements are relatively new fields of study. Over the decades, AI research has had its ups and downs, which should not be surprising considering the diversity of subjects involved and the complexity of the endeavor. But, what exactly is that endeavor?
It’s probably not surprising that there is no single definition for AI, or any universally accepted description of what can or should be accomplished with AI. Fortunately, there is a common perception of artificial intelligence that will do for most purposes. Creating artificial intelligence means using computers to perform at least some aspects of intelligence. Most people think of this as human intelligence, although animal intelligence should also be included. Intelligence, itself one of the most difficult concepts to pin down, is conveniently understood to mean (among other things) the ability to communicate; setting and achieving goals; perception of the environment; and problem solving.
The process of developing AI leads researchers into many aspects of intelligence, and much work is done in specialized areas. Also, there is a pull toward a goal of achieving what is often called Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). This is the kind of higher intelligence we associate with ourselves and perhaps a few animal species. Ultimately, the goal is to achieve a level of artificial intelligence that is conscious, self-aware, independent and sentient. For the most part, that means intelligence like our own.
TURING’S TEST
Since AI is an evolving field moving in tune with many other disciplines, it’s quite likely that over the next several decades there will be many stages of AI, exhibiting a variety of intelligence capabilities—sometimes integrated, sometimes not. As this kind of AI develops, how will we know when we’ve arrived at a functional level of AI—not necessarily a self-aware version, but one that at least can integrate with human society?
Alan Turing, one of the forefathers of computing, cryptography and artificial intelligence, theorized about AI even before the era of modern digital computers. In 1950 he published an abstract work, Computing Machinery and Intelligence in which he proposed an experiment that he called the ‘imitation game’ to assess the intelligence of a machine. It is now known as the Turing Test.
The test is straightforward: A human judge carries on a conversation for five minutes, mainly question and answer, with an unseen person and a supposedly intelligent machine. In the original Turing version, the test uses computer terminals with text only so that visual and aural cues are not involved. If the judge cannot tell the difference between the responses of the person and the machine, then the machine has passed the test.
Modern versions of the test are a little more sophisticated. For example, the best-known variation, called the Loebner Prize, is a contest held annually that uses a panel of judges and is open to text-only and voice-only conversations. So far no machine entry has won the Loebner Prize.
The Turing Test was and is controversial. Even its defenders concede that an AI machine could pass the test and still not be independently functional. This is another way of saying a computer intelligence could sound human but not get things right. It also depends on the subjective opinion of the judge(s), which amounts to something like U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stewart Potter’s test for pornography: “I’ll know it when I see it.” However, subjectivity was part of Alan Turing’s intent. He felt that when machine intelligence could operate in an interview setting and be accepted as if it were another human, that would be enough to qualify the intelligence as ‘thinking.’
“May not machines carry out something which ought to be described as thinking but which is very different from what a man does? This objection is a very strong one, but at least we can say that if, nevertheless, a machine can be constructed to play the imitation game satisfactorily, we need not be troubled by this objection.” —Alan Turing, Computing Machinery and Intelligence.
In the context of Dating AI, it’s helpful to keep in mind Turing’s notion of ‘play[ing] the imitation game satisfactorily.’ I always think of the statement, “On the Internet, no one knows you’re a dog” as an indicator that only a certain level of intelligence and responsiveness is needed to strike up an online relationship. This could also apply to AI.

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Please preorder today!

http://www.researchpubs.com/Blog/pre-orders-soon/

Order now and get a free book: Punk 77 or Modern Pagans, please indicate your 1st choice.

2. Counter Culture Hour – Sat Nov 10, 2012 - 6:00 PM PACIFIC TIME.

Once again we’re postponing – ’70s PUNK REUNION at LENNON STUDIOS Sept 14-16, 2012.
Watch for it next month! We still haven’t had our “Surrealism Panel” with Penelope Rosemont play!
(due to station tech mixups). So please, once again, tune in to see Penelope Rosemont, Dennis Cunningham, and V. Vale discussing “surrealism & secrets of creativity” at Winston Smith’s studio, in front of a live audience!
Edited/filmed/produced by Marian Wallace; interviews by V. Vale.
The Counter Culture Hour (aka RE/SEARCH TV) is also simulcast ON-LINE as well as on cable access San Francisco Channel 29 — 6pm Pacific Time, Sat Nov 10, 2012
- see this link at broadcast time:

http://72.47.201.244/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1881&Itemid=1801

You need a fairly decent internet connection and computer to “get it.”
USA west coast: 6:00 PM Saturday, Nov 10, 2012
USA east coast: 9:00 PM Saturday, Nov 10, 2012
London: 2:00 AM Sunday, Nov 11, 2012
Tokyo: 10:00 AM Sunday, Nov 11, 2012
If you cannot get this online email us at info@researchpubs.com
Would you like to have a Counter Culture Hour showing in your town? Please write & ask us how you can do this. (write: info@researchpubs.com)

See RE/Search channel on youtube: “researchpubs”

3. This is blank space a la John Cage aka “Meditation Space”!

4. FORTHCOMING EVENTS (San Francisco unless Otherwise Noted) (sorry, some have already happened!)

() $ Through Nov 17th, Shocktoberfest at the Hypnodrome “The Bride of Death” and other plays.
http://thrillpeddlers.com/ This appropriate for ages 12 and up…

() $ **SAN JOSE**: NOW through Dec 8: ZERO1Biennial: Seeking Silicon Valley. www.zero1biennial.org Facebook / Twitter

() $? Thur Nov. 1, 715pm Cara Vida & Sal host an open poetry mic: 490 Linden St (Octavia-Laguna, 415-789-8203).
() $ NOW/local. The Eye Must Move — film on Diana Vreeland, playing now at a theater near you! Get out to your local theater, or before you know it, it won’t be there anymore
() FREE Fri Nov 2: “Light a candle for someone you’ve lost … this year or in the past … honor all the ancestors and recently departed. SF candlelight procession departs from 22nd and Bryant around 7pm, south on Bryant to 24th, east to Mission, north to 22nd and back to Bryant. Last year’s had wild sense of direction. Festival of Altars at Garfield Square (Harrison at 25th) open 6 – 11 … info on both at www.dayofthedeadsf.org ALSO: Calling on the Spirits to Face the Future – Dia de los Muertos 2012 at SOMArts Gallery closes November 10 … open today … www.somarts.org has the hours and details on special events … always worth the time, particularly good this year … - from Mike Dingle”
() $$ Sat-Sun Nov 3 5-10pm, THE GALA Return to SFAI Party: Carlos Villa, KAREN FINLEY, Penelope Houston, Debora Iyall (RomeoVoid), 800 Chestnut/Jones, SF www.sfai.edu/Return2SFAI
() FREE Sun Nov 4, 11-4pm, Return to SFAI Winter Art Festival, 800 Chestnut/Jones, North Beach. www.sfai.edu/SFAIWinterArtFest This FREE art festival transforms SFAI’s breathtaking Russian Hill campus into a winter bazaar featuring the exhibition and sale of new art by up to 200 students and alumni.
() FREE Sat Nov 3, 6-9pm Varnish Gallery, 16 Jessie St #C120, presents Isabel Samaras opening – ’nuff said!
() $ Wed Nov 7, 7pm: Steven Cerio’s debut film, “The Pigtail Shadow,” at Roxie Thtr, 16th/Valencia, SF. http://roxie.com/events/details.cfm?EventID=6BEC1B77-1143-DBB3-C6B780F9FDE58D8D&View=weeklist&linkDate={ts%20%272012-11-07%2000%3A00%3A00%27}
() () Nov 8-21 in SF and Berkeley: SF Docfest — lots of great films! May be your only chance to see them! Get out to the Roxie (SF)! The Brava (SF)! The Shattuck (Berkeley) ! See what’s going on in the world! http://www.sfindie.com/ SF DocFest: Because Truth is often Stranger than Fiction. The film festival that provides a manageable amount of the truth.
() $ HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Fri Nov 9, 8pm LYDIA LUNCH (lydia-lunch.org; new album “The Need to Feed”) at Verdi Club, 2424 Mariposa/Potrero, SF. With Algis Kizys (ex-Swans), Bob Bert, (drums, Sonic Youth, Pussy Galore) Weasel Walter (Flying Luttenbachers, gtr): A harrowing cross section of aural schizophrenia from No Wave skronk to bludgeoning Hard Rock and sleazy Jazz Noir to propulsive Psychedelia. The show is titled “RETROVIRUS: You either get it…or you don’t.” RE/Search will be there. Lydia Lunch lives in Barcelona now, so this is a rare opportunity to see her! Set includes songs from Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, 13.13, 8-Eyed Spy and Shotgun Wedding. (Sun Nov 11 Lydia will be in Los Angeles at The Echo; Thur Nov 15 at Brooklyn’s Knitting Factory. Thur Nov 8 Lydia will be in Los Angeles at FIDM Grand Hope Park. Nov 12 Toronto Wrongbar; Nov 13 Hamilton This Ain’t Hollywood.) tickets: http://verdiclub.net/events.html
() FREE? Fri Nov 9, 7-11pm. thru Sun Nov 11. iSFair 2O12 // infOcalypse, Balazos Gallery / SUBmission – 2183 Mission St/17-18th St, SF. A Science Fair-ISh exhibit of conceptual and socially engaged art on tri-fold displays, One-man bands, and a matinee screening.
Friday 11.09: Art Exhibit Opening 7-11
Saturday 11.10: Art Exhibit open at 1, One Man Bands 8-11: Disposable Thumbs, Employee, Rakehell
Sunday 11.11: Exhibit open 1 – 5 Matinee Screening 3-4
Since 1996 The Sociometry Fair has followed the quadrennial Presidential Elections & Olympiads. is agents document guerilla sociometry – social-artist propaganda, pranktivist action, and interventionist art on tri-fold displays – documenting is’s perpetual theme: “individuals and their relationship to groups”. iSFair 2O12 in San Francisco will complete the pentathlon of five fairs convened since the previous century culminating in the coming infOcalypse when is will go analog.
http://www.sociometry.com http://isfair2012.tumblr.com/

() FREE **LOS ANGELES** Nov 11, 10-5pm, Track 16 Gallery “final sale” (our favorite gallery in L.A., R.I.P.?)
http://www.track16.com/exhibitions/2012-10-11-bloodonthetracks/index.php – Serving PBR all day…

() FREE Sun Nov 11, 1:30-4:30 p.m. San Francisco: Medea Benjamin, Cindy Sheehan, and David Swanson – On the traditional Armistice Day, the War and Law League (WALL), http://warandlaw.org, presents a forum on the theme, “U.S. Wars — Are They Lawful?” Main Public Library, Koret Auditorium (basement), 100 Larkin Street at Grove Street, SF.

() $ Fri Nov 16 Laurie Anderson at Mills College

() ? **BERKELEY** Sun Nov 18, 2-5pm, Berkeley Art Museum, RE/Search will host a ZINE WORKSHOP. Everyone attending is invited to make a “zine”; materials will be provided! Title: “Make Your Own Zine with V. Vale.” http://www.bampfa.berkeley.edu/events/education

() FREE? Fri Nov 30, 7pm Xtreme Futurist Festival pre-party in San Francisco; RE/Search will give a presentation & have a table. Google & check FaceBook for details: where, when, et al. Try http://extremefuturistfestival.com/ for more details.

() $ Fri-Sat Dec 7-8. Benefit for Carole Lennon; many bands will play. Stay tuned!

() FREE Tue Dec 11, 730pm, Green Arcade Bookstore, 1680 Market/Gough Sts, SF – Homage to Etel Adnan.

() $ Fri-Sat Dec 21-22 **LOS ANGELES** Xtreme Futurist Fest. RE/Search will present, and have a table. Dec 22 special event… http://extremefuturistfestival.com/

5. What We’ve Attended/What We’ve Been Reading/Seeing/Listening to/What We’ve Been Sent

() Michael Shamberg sent us his DVD of ps. beirut chapter I + II. Writer: Etel Adnan. Players include Emmanuelle Riva (voice), Bernard Sumner from New Order singing “Procession,” Margarethe von Trotta, more.

() The Eye Has To Travel, bio-pic on Diana Vreeland. Highly recommended! A compendium of some of the most important images from the ’60s! (and earlier) – certain images “create the future.” Check it out!

() Alternative Press Expo (APE). So much to see, so little time (only 15 hours) – nice to see friends from L.A.!

() Steven Parr’s Oddball Cinema featured Mark Pauline in interview with Gerry Fialka. Certainly not your everyday conversation, as Gerry delved into brain-patterns and practical-psychological areas. Mark paused for a few seconds after each question was posed, but then produced illuminating anecdotes, which even occasionally answered the quirkily-abstract questions! Mark Pauline also gave a lecture at the S.F. Art Institute auditorium…

() PiL at the Regency. Thanks to our pal Ed K– from the old days, and his charming pal Hans. Johnny Lydon sang (?) and spit for over two hours! There simply was no time to have a warm-up band. For the first time ever we saw a front-line entertainer suddenly exclaim: “I’ve got to go to the f**-ing toilet!” and leave the stage for two or so minutes while the band kept the rhythm going…

() Hassel Smith (whose son, Bruce (born in San Francisco) plays drums for PiL’s current lineup) at the Weinstein Gallery. We were lucky to attend the round-table discussion on Hassel Smith — and see his great (mostly abstract) art retrospective. There’s still time to see this at 291 Geary Street. Hassel Smith is an under-appreciated Bay Area artist. Painter Lucas Reiner flew up from LA for it! Check out HIS paintings at http://www.lucasreiner.com/

() Penelope Rosemont (Chicago Surrealist Group founder) in town for the 4-day Alfred Jarry Celebration (www.citylights.com)

6. Paul Addis: R.I.P.

Hail to the Prankster who lit the Burning Man on fire early (2007). He always carried firecrackers in his backpack, fearlessly practiced urban exploration, and probably was “framed” when he was unfortunately arrested and charged with trying to blow up Grace Cathedral. (“He LOVED that cathedral”—Kevin M.)

+++++
I can’t give justice as a write up to the latest death and tragedy, Paul Addis was complicated (who isn’t?), but he was extra… a friend that I pulled pranks with, and was pranked by. He saved my ass at least once on a billboard prank I pulled years ago – ironically on Apple’s campaign “Think Different” — Paul was a side thinker (a lateral thinker?), and challenged authoritarian clichés in the box we call life.
He fought, he pranked, he challenged, he died. He was dangerous and had been tipping over the edge as of late. I wish otherwise, but I simply could not figure out a way to advise and guide Paul.
He mocked all of us, and especially those that attempt to control and guide this society and bubble we call life. Mr. Addis created a brilliant example of what truly being “fearless” is, and he paid for it with years of his life in a Nevada prison, among other ways.
He gave me once, after he got out of the pen, the highest compliment, as odd as it might sound: “When I was in a dodgy situation in prison, I would think, ‘What would Kevin Mathieu do in this situation?’, and it was always the right answer to get me out of the jam.” What does one say to that?
He pissed me off and many others at his chosen end. Suicide is cheating and wrong. I’ll never be able to ride BART again without thinking about him now. Thanks, a–hole! He did not go softly into that night. He did good, he did slightly bad.
He called for help to me by ripping off my LEGOJeep license plate (I know; it’s an odd way to reach out – I now realize far too frigging belatedly) and I did not call him on it. I should have, when I figured it out weeks later. I have failed when it counts. I was weak, I just wasn’t able to reach out and say, “Hey man, I believe in you, you can get it back together, go take a break – get away – do something different.” Dammit. He was Too alone and Too different. The Man always wins, but Paul meanwhile gave the Man some serious indigestion.
He made people think and re-examine the difference between talk and action. Or may have – I would like to think. What more can one ask for? He served his time and paid the bullshit debt to society for the best prank ever.
There will be an altar at Dias de Los Muertos in SF (tonight) for him. I will be there for that.
I will try and not mull (impossible), I have to do what survivors do: “Just keep moving, just keep moving. ” It isn’t really that bad, just frustrating. It is both less and more that he is gone. It is simply over, and a grand run he took and gave. He is laughing at all of us for our precious conceptions and acceptance of what is OK and viable as a trade-off in society, vs., the right thing to do.
Paul was flawed, he made mistakes, he as of late had especially poor impulse control, and did not know how to control his strength—literally. When you burn inside, sometimes the fire will consume you. And so it has. I wish him satisfaction – now that the pain and injustice of the fire has now gone out. No one else will get burned by his fire that he put out in the only way he could think of. Dammit.

+++++
From Kevin’s Mathieu’s FB page (repost [edited] from Sean Kelly):

“A better explanation of Paul Addis than I could possibly offer, by one who knew him well. “— Kevin

“I first met Paul in Mahoney Hall, University of Miami campus in 1988. We were both 18. We’d sweat and laugh and drink and talk philosophy and ethics and cultures and about all the great stuff we were learning. It was electric. His eyebrows were always high. He was always excited by ideas. He was energy.

“Even then Paul was Paul. He’d walk around campus with a fake pistol in a shoulder holster. As a Miami native I pulled him aside several times and suggested he not carry around a fake gun because Miami is a crazy place… Every time we had a punk rock party, Paul would volunteer to run parking and security. He negotiated with the [a-hole] Dade County police: ‘These are college students, they’re OK.’ He ran interference for his people. Kitchen Club… Churchills (the only punk club in Miami for, like, 5 years?) He was always there. Even if it was crap jam-band stuff. He supported…

“Here is what I will remember: Paul always greeted me with a wide smile and hearty hug. Brains. Fun. He believed that things could, should and would be made better. Paul, this hurt us all really bad. We understand. We still love you.” —Sean Kelly
++++++
And another write-up for Paul, & another:

http://burners.me/2012/10/31/monday-is-the-new-saturday/

https://www.facebook.com/events/415621988487466/permalink/416472038402461/

7. RECOMMENDED LINKS (send some!)

() URGE (reunion) video of “Bit by Bit” http://www.myspace.com/video/rid/111631183
video by Marian Wallace

Look for Mary Lawler’s myspace page and hear all of her songs! An unsung songwriter (so to speak).
Search myspace for: “marylawler” (no space) to find her page.

() from Andrew in Europe: The October Gallery is hosting an exhibition of art by Burroughs in December: http://www.octobergallery.co.uk/exhibitions/2012bur/index.shtml
Genesis P-Orridge exhibition, film in Canada: http://www.festivalphenomena.com/phenomena/fr/festival/2012/invite/

() JG BALLARD-related:
- http://thequietus.com/articles/10226-ballard-extreme-metaphors-simon-sellars-interviewed
- http://thequietus.com/articles/10265-toby-litt-jg-ballard-interview-extract
- http://www.newstatesman.com/culture/culture/2012/10/j-g-ballard%E2%80%99s-immersion-catastrophe

() “Have an animation film to submit to a film festival? I have just posted a short piece about my very eventful trip from Kosovo to Serbia on my AWN blog. http://sprockets.animationblogspot.com/ There’s a call for submissions for the [great] Trickfilm Festival in Stuttgart, German. – Nancy Denny-Phelps

() from our pal in Greece: JG Ballard inspired radio show: http://www.behance.net/gallery/FUCK-YOU-BWANA/5376089

() from Hokan: (old lady vs. car; funny) http://dave6.posterous.com/dont-honk-at-old-people

() from Chris T: Genesis P-Orridge: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XosnPckF-kc&sns=fb
empty San Francisco: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jDaAo63bivc#!

() Mark Pauline/SRL: http://www.theverge.com/2012/10/9/3408030/mark-pauline-spine-robot-machines-robots-terrorism-as-art

() from V in London: m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=9JIwKd8EClY&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D9JIwKd8EClY&gl=GB
Burroughs-by-Brookner film: is.gd/1irDD1

() from Ralf: http://kissenger.lovotics.com/

() from James: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pb01vAth1EI&feature=context-cha

http://fineartamerica.com/art/paintings/barcelona/originals

() from Phil G: “dangerous meme merging”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_tILqds7-jg
- http://www.amazon.com/Avery-Durable-Binder-EZ-Turn-17032/product-reviews/B001B0CTMU – “I was originally going to rate this only 1 star. You see, I’m a big girl and I can only squeeze about 53% of myself into this binder. But then I decided
that I’m not going to worry about the other 47%.”

() from David A: “It may be a rubbish world, but this is real acting quality: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8Gkes9CDBk

() from Graham R: “http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnDPabg2-MY&feature=related

() futurist speculations: www.mg-lj.si

() from James Mc: “You have seen a lot of this in OTHER docs, but NOT ALL scenes. I haven’t seen much of the extended stuff on parts 3 and above including the Nuns @ Winterland greeting “all the Mabuhay crowd gathered here tonight” High Times’s Tom Forcade financed this for $400,000 just months before he suicided himself in 1978. Some interesting images and audio indeed!!!” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDlpwfTj_34&feature=list_other&playnext=1&list=SPEC0E57E03D03BD64

() Sept 5, 1981 SRL show 2nd/Folsom, SF, “An Unfortunate Spectacle of Violent Self Destruction.” Carol Detweiler photos posted by Matt Heckert: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150158940787694.291268.706757693&type=1

() from Bruce Fletcher: “A month of Film Club. Tuesdays in November.” – http://youtu.be/xT5qhPoRS9g

8. QUOTES (taken from our forthcoming RE/SEARCH book, DATING AI: (preorder; pub. date Nov. 18, 2012)

() “I tried to be patient, but it just took too long.”
“I’m not conceited. I’m just unbelievably good.”
“I’m a unique individual, just like everyone else.”
“I never make predictions. I never have and I never will.”
“With enough preparation I can be quite spontaneous.” (p. 85)

() “Behind every budding relationship that goes through a rocky patch there lurks the thought, “Maybe there’s something better out there.” And you both know it. “There are lots of good fish in the sea.” – Gilbert & Sullivan (p. 236)

() “Old joke: What do you get when you cross a gorilla with a parrot? Nobody knows for sure, but if it wants to talk, everybody will listen.” (p. 255)

() “When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often, we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us.” – Helen Keller (p. 27)

() “When it comes right down to it. all you have is your self. Your self is a sun with a thousand rays.” – Pablo Picasso.
“Thoughts become words. Words become actions. Actions become habits. Habits become character. And character becomes your destiny.” (p. 86)

() “Be careful the environment you choose for it will shape you; be careful the friends you choose for you will become like them.” – W. Clement Stone
“Amici, diem perdidi” [Victory loves preparation.] (p. 75)

() “Respect all kinds of creativity, and expect the same from people.” (p.196)

() “Cyborg: a cyborg is humanity’s attempt to meet AI halfway, or more. A cyborg starts with a human being, adds cybernetic technology and typically some kind of brain-computer interface (BCI), and finishes with an electronically enhanced person that is, hopefully, better prepared to join in the activity of AI.” (p. 118)

9. LETTERS FROM READERS:

() Please vote Yes on Props. 30 and 38 in San Francisco – our schools need this funding.

() “Not sure if you’ve heard of this but in case not, Audible.com (a downloadable audiobook site run by Amazon) has a lecture of The Modern Scholar series on science fiction. The professor singles out Ballard as one of the great science fiction writers and discusses a number of his books: http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_3?asin=B002V57U1O&qid=1349631794&sr=1-3 Best,
John Johnson” — [John Johnson is one of our favorite zine creators of all time - V. Vale]

() from Ed H: “Golf club employees in San Juan Capistrano (Orange County) came to the rescue when a shark dropped out of the sky and flopped around on the 12th tee…It had puncture wounds where a bird had apparently snagged it from the Pacific Ocean. An employee rushed the shark to the ocean, and it swam away a few seconds later.” WTF!?

() “Do it. I love ‘em. I think of you as one of the remaining denizens of San Francisco – easily confused with the San-Francisco-themed theme park that most live in. I love your stuff. You’re the best link I know to a broad web of real cultural events. So hell yes.”

() “Yes, I read your editorials. I also share them. – S. from Toronto, Canada (“If you see a job to do, it’s yours!”)

() “Dear V. Vale, Have you seen this? There’s a neat anecdote with Burroughs… cool photographs! http://www.gerardpas.com/library/memoirs/burrough.html I hope all’s well. Best, Sean”

() “Good Evening, RE: http://www.researchpubs.com/Blog/?category=4&product_id=2 Just wondering if you have any signed copies of Daniel P Mannix‘s Memoirs of a Sword Swallower left? That guy rules. Thank you, Phoebe of Australia

() “Hi Vale, There are a couple of Burroughs & Gysin related events coming up in London. The first is a celebration of the anniversary of Final Academy, this Saturday: http://www.thehorsehospital.com/now/final-academy/ The next is the “launch” of a run of Dreamachines: http://briongysin.com/?p=1684 Terry Wilson is a “guest of honour” at the second event…” – from Andrew in Europe

() “Hi! Russ Forster of “8-Track Mind” [featured in our ZINES Vol. One book] told me you all may be into this show. There’s a lot of collage art deploying letterpress, activist art, pseudo science/religion and One Man Bands! ~Thanks! Peter Bergman” http://www.sociometry.com http://isfair2012.tumblr.com/

() [sent Oct 23, 2012] “Hi Vale, There are a couple of Burroughs & Gysin related events coming up in London. The first is a celebration of the anniversary of Final Academy, this Saturday: http://www.thehorsehospital.com/now/final-academy/ The next is the “launch” of a run of Dreamachines: http://briongysin.com/?p=1684 Terry Wilson is a “guest of honour” at the second event, but I’m not sure what that involves. Hopefully I’ll finally be able to get a copy of his book Days Lane (another of his books about time with Gysin). I think it was limited to 50 copies, and I’ve frustratingly never been able to find a copy anywhere, after a few years of searching and emailing various people. I suspect that all remaining copies were sold at the Naked Lunch 50th anniversary festivities in Paris. At this point my accumulated obsession with finding a copy no doubt outweighs my actual interest in the book itself. But I dimly remember a time before the internet when this was the type of behaviour required to find rare books, so I’ll pursue it… Best, Andrew”

() from Sandra D: “Charlie Rose episode of Nov. 2 airing now on KQED World channel 190 digital cable is having a roundtable on publishing airing at the end of the hour with Ken Auletta, Jane Friedman and Jonathan Safran Foer – discuss the future of the book. I’ll try and take notes, but I’ve had a long week so I’m not sure how much I’ll get in writing. It will be online sometime in a week, or longer if they’re still having technical issues with the site. www.charlierose.com

() from Richard M’s friend “Vinnie”: “Media not reporting story on ground. Sporadic gunfire and wide spreading looting in beach communities in Queens Brooklyn and Staten Island. Gas riots in Nassau County. Estimate 72 hours until Walking Dead/Escape from New York. Unsubstantiated report of nuclear reactor in Susquehanna PA going to level 3 alert. Believe me people aren’t going to be lined up Japanese style, boys. [New York Governor] Cuomo, [New York City Mayor] Bloomberg and fat [New Jersey Governor] Christie putting positive spin so as not to cause widespread panic.”

10. **SPONSORS** (Without them you would NOT be receiving this newsletter - Please go to their websites!)
1. 47 Canal Street (Gallery w/events, NYC) – 47CanalStreet.com
2. Emerald Tablet (Gallery w/events), Fresno Alley (100 feet from RE/Search! in North Beach). emtab.org - lots of free or low cost local community events; check out their schedule! http://emtab.org/
3. Emily Armstrong‘s blog: www.gonightclubbing.com (last button on the left, scroll through the posts!)
4. Contribute to (& Order copies of!) “OUT OF OUR” – Steven Gray & Sarah Page’s San Francisco Poetry Magazine: outofour.com
5. From our friends Amy and Brian: check out their ”simple business software for art galleries: gallerystar.com
6. V. Vale’s RE/Search Newsletter is cordially sponsored by “Beyond the Beyond.”
Information Wants To Be Free WE MEAN IT MAN! $0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0 http://blog.wired.com/sterling
7. www.SOPHIAGASPARIAN.com “fine art about equal human rights worldwide”
8. Mrs Dalloway (Catering, Bay Area): Holly Erickson’s catering/foodblog/cookbook
www.mrsdallowayscatering.com and lightscameracuisine.foodblog.com
9. Ryan Shepard – thank you!
RE/Search THANKS (3) SPONSORS who Wish to Remain Anonymous – you know who you are! And yes, we NEEDED Your Support! (B.H., D.S., V.V.)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
NOV 2012 RE/Search eNewsletter written by V. Vale & other contributors. RE/Search website powered by http://www.laughingsquid.com. Add us (“info@researchpubs.com”) to Your Address Book
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Physical Address since May 1979: RE/SEARCH | 20 Romolo #B | San Francisco CA 94133-4041 | 415.362.1465
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RE/Search Publications
20 Romolo Place #B
San Francisco, CA 94133-4041
(415) 362-1465
info@researchpubs.com

Pranks, Punk and Industrial Culture from V. Vale

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