Phil woke up with a printing press. He intends to use it. Anyone interested?

Abattoir Publishing, a brand spanking new (read: most likely doomed) small genre publishing company, is looking for its first slate of books.

We're looking for horror. But we're committing ourselves to a kitchen sink definition of it; we like our horrors pulpy, we like them post-moderny, we like them hybridized, mulched, chopped, mutated or baked into brownies so you barely notice them.

We're looking for novels. You can contact us about short stories and we'll probably read them. But what we really want are novel- or novella-length stories.

We have a website, barely. So go there only to laugh at how minimal it is.

http://www.abattoirpublishing.com


Please contact pgelatt@abattoirpublishing.com for submission guidelines and further information.

Tom, April 26, 2006, 1:19 AM            (abattoir)
                                                  

In autumn 2002, Phil organized a series of Paul Verhoeven film screenings in our apartment. As the series reached its end, it was pretty clear that Verhoeven's career was/is a descending one. But, oh, Phil argued, those later films aren't without their merits.

and it makes perfect sense to me that the horse she rides out on should be the same on which she rode in.

Dug up from Phil's archives and sent to me moments ago, modernarthur.com/blog presents to you Phil's Defense of Late Verhoeven. Enjoy.


Previously: Paul Verhoeven's Cameo



Tom, April 25, 2006, 11:29 PM          (read here)
                                                  

What an absolutely gratifying, satisfying show last night's Clean & Nasty and Friends' was. I haven't smiled like that in weeks. Turns out Charles Redclaw Lavoie plays the harmonica way better than anyone else you know. He claims it's easy, that it's a scam instrument with no wrong notes, but I say I've heard bad harmonica playing and that Charles is just being modest as usual.

And Susan's voice. Susan's golden voice repeating "there's no meaning, there's no meaning"? It's enough to make you actually believe in something. I've never committed anything to any kind of a wishlist, but to hear Susan sing will probably be one of the things I ask for if ever find myself on a deathbed, or recovering from surgery, or awaiting execution. Situations like that. Dire ones.

And did I mention?--I didn't--the showstopper they've got in their latest song, The Cult of Jenni?

Yes, that Jenni. It's as good and stubbornly optimistic as its subject matter.


The next chance you have to see Clean & Nasty is on May 14th in Brooklyn at the Crossroads Cafe (1241A Prospect Ave. at Reeve Place). It'll only cost you $5 and maybe some subway rides--a steal!--you should totally go. What else are you going to do with your Sunday night, watch ten episodes of LOST in a row?


Christine took some photos of last night's show. They can be looked at here.




Tom, April 21, 2006, 10:24 AM          (link here)
                                                  

In typical governmental fashion, foreboding technology has been coupled with lame web design, the result of which allows Rick and I to stand on a corner in Manhattan while Charles photographs us blurrily from Brooklyn.



Tom, April 17, 2006, 5:25 PM
                                                  

Late last week Big Blue went down. Emergency surgery the day of the apparent hard drive attack failed. But!--At least the razzling, dazzling CEO was on hand to document the effort:


Big Blue's dusty innards.

Days of GTA gameplay, months of mp3s at stake, the able hands of Charles and Phil try their ablest.

No luck. Big Blue looks like she's fixed, but she's not, she's just less dusty.


It was... she was so dusty.

. . .

And now the new week has begun and in our living room slumps the once-mighty Big Blue, in the middle of the floor, something to stub our toes on as we figure out what to do next. Our prayers falling on deaf ears, looks like Phil's reaching for his wallet...




Tom, April 17, 2006, 12:56 PM          (link here)
                                                  

AGAIN, NEWS, FIRE

No joke, now my office building is on fire! Rick just called (I'm taking the day off) and he tells of how the 9th floor is aflame (we work on 26) and how a dozen or so firemen are now filing inside. The building's been evacuated. Early reports say it was a moron's carelessly tossed cigarette that started the fire. I'm pretty sure the building is no smoking and I'm pretty sure the owner of the building could pass for Emperor Palpatine's brother, so I wouldn't want to be said sooty-lunged moron, that's for sure. I hope the fire stays on 9.


UPDATE: The fire is under control. Our work, spared.

UPDATE: I've just been told: a couple weeks ago the SVA film department had a fire as well. So alright, who is it?




Tom, April 10, 2006, 6:20 PM           (link here)
                                                  

The doppelgangers of my sister and Phil and then some guy in the middle have a band called Heartless Bastards. At the time of this writing, mp3s can be found here and here, for the songs New Resolution and Onions, respectivelyb (but Gray is the one you should go buy off iTunes).

My sister and cousin were in town this weekend and we went to one of the Heartless Bastards' shows. It was Erin's treat, so thank you to her. The show was good. I had fun this weekend until I threw up into my doggy bag on Irving Place this morning. I'm still goddamn sick, goddamnit.

So, goodnight. As soon as I finish this umpteenth carton of orange juice, I'm declaring this weekend over. Sick, tired, and the thought of two of my loved ones currently onboard airplanes frightens me so.


UPDATE:




Okay.



Tom, April 9, 2006, 6:23 PM
                                                  

01:02:03 04/05/06


Head explodes.



Tom, April 5, 2006, 1:02 AM
                                                  

"Cat’s a-barking in the street. Cat’s a dog, go to sleep."

-- Archer Walsh, fictitious old beatnik

Tom, April 1, 2006, 11:57 PM           (link here)